The original Mortal Kombat arcade game, released in 1992,
revolutionized the fighting game genre. With over two dozen entries and more than 75 characters, the franchise has showcased highly skilled fighters capable of enacting brutal fatalities. Among these, certain characters, like the Great Kung Lao and Shinnok, stand out as particularly powerful.
Updated on July 1, 2024, by Natasha Elder:
With new DLC characters for Mortal Kombat 1 recently announced, we’ve revisited the strongest Mortal Kombat characters, expanding our list and adding some new faces.
15. Quan Chi Debuting in the Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm animated series and later as the main villain of Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Quan Chi is a powerful sorcerer. His necromancy, soul-stealing, shape-shifting, and ability to create clones make him a formidable foe. In Mortal Kombat 1, he evolves from an Outworld miner to a powerful sorcerer.
14. Shujinko First seen in Mortal Kombat: Deception, Shujinko was manipulated by Damashi, leading him to challenge the Elder Gods and accidentally release Onaga. Trained by Bo’ Rai Cho, Shujinko can mimic other fighters’ abilities, making him exceptionally versatile and dangerous.
13. Shao Kahn Shao Kahn, the tyrannical Emperor of Outworld, debuted in Mortal Kombat II as the final boss. His superhuman strength, durability, and ability to absorb souls, along with his mastery of magic and strategy, make him a fearsome adversary.
12. The Great Kung Lao As the first Earthrealm fighter to represent the Order of Light, the Great Kung Lao defeated the sorcerer Shang Tsung. Known for his martial arts proficiency and recognized as Earthrealm’s greatest warrior, he continues to be a pivotal character in the Mortal Kombat universe.
11. Goro Goro, the Shokan prince, is a formidable opponent with immense combat experience. Introduced as a sub-boss in the first Mortal Kombat game, his strength and command over Outworld’s armies ensure his place among the strongest characters.
10. Shinnok Shinnok, the Elder God of Death, first appeared in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero and became a playable character in Mortal Kombat 4. His supernatural powers, including darkness manipulation and shapeshifting, make him a perennial threat.
9. Cetrion Cetrion, the Elder God of life, has control over Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Light. Despite her commitment to virtue, she has killed other Elder Gods to fulfill her mother Kronika’s wishes, proving her formidable strength.
8. Raiden Raiden, the Eternal God of Thunder, has appeared in every generation of Mortal Kombat. Known for his lightning powers, telekinesis, and flight, Raiden remains a significant and powerful figure, even as a mortal champion in Mortal Kombat 1.
7. Onaga The Dragon King Onaga, who ruled Outworld before Shao Kahn, is known for his immense strength and ability to raise the dead. His mere presence instills fear, and his immunity to magic marks him as a significant threat.
6. Blaze Blaze, a fire elemental introduced in Mortal Kombat II, became a world-ending threat in Armageddon. Capable of manipulating fire to enhance his physical attacks, Blaze can devour existence itself if undefeated.
5. Geras Geras, a creation of Kronika, serves as the Guardian of the Hourglass in the new timeline. With godlike strength and the ability to control time, Geras’ immortality and accumulated wisdom make him a formidable opponent.
4. Kronika Kronika, a Titan and the Keeper of Time, can control timelines and reset them at will. Her power to manipulate time and defeat nearly every character in Mortal Kombat 11 underscores her immense strength.
3. Shang Tsung In an ascended form, Shang Tsung surpasses Elder Gods in power, defeating Kronika and an immortal Shao Kahn. His manipulation of timelines and quest for complete order highlight his formidable abilities.
2. Liu Kang Liu Kang, one of the best fighting game protagonists, merged with Raiden to become a God in Mortal Kombat 11. His control over fire and electricity and his ability to create new timelines mark him as one of the strongest characters.
1. The One Being The One Being, although never a playable character, is the strongest entity in Mortal Kombat lore. Existing since the beginning of time and capable of devouring Elder Gods, the One Being’s power surpasses all others, making it the ultimate threat in the Mortal Kombat universe.
