The Mortal Kombat video game series has introduced a number of powerful Kombatants since it first debuted in the ’90s. Here are the strongest.
The original Mortal Kombat arcade game was released in 1992, and it completely revolutionized the fighting game genre. The franchise has more than two dozen entries, and it has introduced more than 75 characters.
For the most part, these characters are all highly skilled fighters, and they are all capable of using brutal fatalities. Although all the Kombatants introduced are great fighters, but certain characters are far stronger than others.
Many of Mortal Kombat’s characters are Earthrealm humans, but fighters from other realms have also been introduced. Some of these characters are sorcerers, and others are actual Gods who have access to powerful abilities.
On the other side of the spectrum are those who are capable of manipulating the very souls of men. Despite the vast variety of characters, the strongest Mortal Kombat characters stand out above the rest.
#5 Raiden
Raiden is one of the original fighters from the very first game, and he is one of only three characters to appear in every generation of the franchise. He is best known for his iconic costume and lightning powers and is the Eternal God of Thunder who protects Earthrealm. Raiden kickstarts the second Mortal Kombat timeline by sending a message to his past self during the events of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.
Raiden has the ability to generate lightning, which he can use to paralyze or kill opponents. He can also use electricity to move physical objects with the help of telekinesis, and he can create forcefields and blades. His other supernatural powers include flight and teleportation. In Mortal Kombat 1, Raiden is no longer a god but is instead Earthrealm’s champion like Liu Kang in previous timelines. Even so, Raiden plays a significant and pivotal role in Mortal Kombat 1 and earned the right to remain one of the strongest Mortal Kombat characters.
#4 Kronika
Kronika is a Titan — a race of incredibly old and powerful beings. They existed before the realms came into being, and long before the Elder Gods were even born. She is the Keeper of Time, as well as the mother of the Elder Gods Shinnok and Cetrion.
Kronika’s goal was to erase the timeline and create a new one because she believed Raiden’s actions created an imbalance between good and evil. As her title suggests, Kronika can manipulate time to her advantage — which is why she was able to defeat nearly every character in Mortal Komat 11 without difficulty.
#3 Shang Tsung
Shang Tsung is one of Mortal Kombat’s original characters, and he is arguably the most iconic villain of the franchise. He is an extremely powerful sorcerer who steals souls, and he can shape-shift into his victims. He can use fire like Liu Kang and is also capable of serpentine sorcery.
He created Kronika’s crown, which means that he was able to use its full power. He takes the crown in Mortal Komat 11, and it causes his powers to grow exponentially. While in this new ascended form, he is stronger than an Elder God, and he is able to kill Kronika and an immortal version of Shao Kahn with ease. Though he rules a timeline, he later discovers Liu Kang was able to make his own timeline.
Shang Tsung became determined to conquer Liu Kang’s timeline to obtain complete order, beginning with the manipulation and training of his alternate timeline counterpart whom Liu Kang had reborn as an everyday mortal.
#2 Liu Kang
Liu Kang is one of the best fighting game protagonists of all time. In the first few games, he was able to beat powerful villains like Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn, Goro, and Shinnok. He has also clashed with Raiden on a few occasions.
In Mortal Komat 11, two versions of Liu Kang became a single being, and Raiden gave him his powers. As a result, this iteration of Liu Kang became a God with the ability to control both fire and electricity. He then used his newfound power to defeat Kronika.
After defeating Shang Tsung yet again, he started a new timeline where all of the old threats were neutralized — or so he thought. In Mortal Kombat 1, Liu Kang had to gather allies in order to stop his original timeline’s Shang Tsung from conquering his timeline.
#1 The One Being
The One Being is without a doubt the strongest character in the Mortal Kombat universe, and it has never appeared in any of the games as a villain or playable character. According to lore, the One Being and the Elder Gods existed together at the beginning of time, and it fed on their essences.
Despite being all-powerful, the Elder Gods were able to defeat the One Being, and its consciousness was split into the Kamidogu relics that created the Six Realms. In Mortal Kombat X, the One Being was finally resurrected during Shinnok’s ending. It was then able to devour the Elder Gods and destroy all of reality. With Mortal Kombat entering a new timeline, it might be time for the One Being to make not only its playable debut but also be the next timeline-ending threat.
