All is fair in love, war, and the Mortal Kombat franchise. Afterwards all, everything is fair game in a Tournament that decides the fate of all the Realms. Equally a result, normal martial artists debate with the likes of Cyborgs, Wraiths, Revenants, and fifty-fifty Gods to protect their Realms, conquer other worlds, or fulfill grudges.

In turn, nearly every Mortal Kombat Tournament has a surprise to offer its spectators. While the Shaolin Monk Liu Kang almost e'er becomes Earthrealm's savior, other Kombatants take natural abilities that put superpowers and nuclear weapons to shame. According to the lore of the universe, here are some of the most powerful characters in the franchise.

Updated December xvi, 2021, by Rhenn Taguiam: Fans of Mortal Kombat xi can wait at Rain, Mileena, Sheeva, and Fujin as newcomers to the new timeline forged in the franchise. On top of these appearances are the debuts of unexpected crossover characters in the brutal Mortal Kombat Tournament, such as The Joker, Spawn, Robocop, and Rambo. Unfortunately, information technology seems NetherRealm no longer has plans introducing new characters to MK eleven. With NetherRealm leaving fans content with these characters, lore fans with a knack for power scaling may desire to debate just which characters from the franchise are the almost powerful — before Mortal Kombat 12 can give them the means to show their favorite character's supremacy.

xv Johnny Muzzle

Johnny Cage

Despite his comedic appeal and rather annoying exterior, Johnny Cage packs a dial. While most would wonder what a done-up activeness star is doing in a death tournament similar Mortal Kombat, Johnny's fighting prowess doesn't seem to be solely because of his status as a graphic symbol.

The games somewhen explained that the green energy coming from Johnny Cage is actually a bloodline power. Information technology seems the Cages are actually descendants of aboriginal warriors who tin can tap into special powers to protect Earthrealm. And it's not just any kind of "power" — it allowed Johnny Muzzle to stand up to an Elder God like Shinnok. It'south his green energy blast that managed to stop Shinnok's resurrection programme from fully coming to fruition.

xiv Nightwolf

Nightwolf

Nightwolf from the Matoka Tribe has dedicated himself to becoming one of Earthrealm's protectors, using his magic in the process. Thank you to this ability, Nightwolf has access to an array of magical abilities — including energizing himself and his weapons, and creating auras and shields. Moreover, Nightwolf has some control over nature, being able to summon lightning from clouds or even disintegrating enemies with a beam of light at the price of his own life.

Outside his movelist, Nightwolf has an array of abilities that let him to go toe-to-toe with sorcerers Quan Chi and Shang Tsung. Every bit a Sin Eater, Nightwolf can absorb evil energies without pain his psyche. He may even use the sins of his ancestors to bind evil entities such as Onaga — one of the beings closest to an Elder God's power — to the Netherrealm.

13 Sindel

Sindel

Equally Queen of Edenia, Sindel is no pushover. While she's all-time known for her ultrasonic screaming, her control over sound is merely one of her magical abilities. Sindel tin can really fine-tune her control over sound to achieve different effects. For example, she can use her scream to flay opponents or even paralyze them. Moreover, she can brand her hair prehensile, giving her admission to a wide range of long-ranged moves. She also has powers of levitation.

While her powerset seems limited, Sindel is powerful plenty for Shao Kahn to recognize equally his queen. She can go toe-to-toe against Earthrealm's protectors and defeat them single-handedly, fifty-fifty forcing Nightwolf to use his self-destruct move merely to defeat her.

12 Geras

Geras

Geras was originally created as an bogus construct to protect Kronika, the Keeper of Fourth dimension. Beingness a creation of the Titaness herself, Geras boasts an extraordinary physiology, coupled with superhuman levels of strength, durability, and battle prowess.

Nonetheless, what sets Geras apart from the remainder of the Kombatants isn't necessarily his creation, but rather his nature. Kronika created Geras equally a "stock-still point in time," meaning he's able to restore his previous state regardless of what happened to him. He'south practically accomplished immortality, beingness able to heal from any injury, even fatal ones, in seconds. It took Raiden binding Geras to an ballast and sinking him in the endless Blood Seas to comprise him.

xi Cetrion

Cetrion

Introduced as Shinnok's analogue, Cetrion serves as the Elder God of Calorie-free. Whereas Shinnok represented Darkness, Cetrion represented low-cal and its purity, manipulating the elements and life itself. Cetrion has command over all elements, although she does seem to have a fondness towards manipulating the earth.

Withal, her true power lies in her nature as an Elderberry God. Essentialy a deity, Cetrion cannot be truly killed like Shinnok. Cetrion tin fifty-fifty survive injuries like decapitation, similar to Shinnok. What holds Cetrion back is her devotion to her female parent, as she can get just as much as a threat should she decide to have matters into her ain easily.

10 Fire God Liu Kang

Liu Kang - Most Powerful Mortal Kombat Character

Players of MK 11 would easily put Liu Kang in literal god-tier. In the game'due south story, Kronika'southward fear of both Liu Kang and Raiden's potential motivated her to manipulate time to pit them against each other endlessly. Unfortunately, Raiden saw through her plan and merged himself with Liu Kang, imbuing his godly essence into him. Liu Kang became a Burn God, possessing the aspect of fire and lightning.

It's difficult to pinpoint the Fire God'south abilities. Withal, it's safe to presume that the Burn down God would have his martial arts imbued with a deity's strength. His feats include annihilating a Netherrealm legion and even besting Kronika. Moreover, given his command over Kronika's Crown and the Hourglass of Time, the Fire God could as well command time to practise his behest. He managed to forge a timeline away from Kronika'south machinations.

9 Onaga

Onaga - Most Powerful Mortal Kombat Character

The Dragon King Onaga served as the ruler of Outworld prior to Shao Kahn. As Outworld's Kahn, Onaga demonstrates superior strength, endurance, and magical resistance. He has the uncanny power to raise the dead, which he used to constantly revive his famed ground forces. Had Shao Kahn not poisoned him, Onaga would take go the biggest mortal threat across the Realms.

In fact, Shao Kahn's selection to eliminate Onaga demonstrates the latter's threat level. His sheer cunning makes him a formidable foe. As a spirit, he duped fighters into giving him a mortal host, absorbing the powers of other Kombatants. Had Shujinko failed to realize his treachery, Onaga could have prepared to defeat Blaze and accomplish unspeakable ability.

8 Raiden

Raiden - Most Powerful Mortal Kombat Character

Formerly the God of Thunder, Raiden is one of the wisest and nigh powerful beings in the universe. His control over lightning allowed him to travel at the speed of lite, summon lightning, and perform resurrection. Raiden isn't indestructible, and cannot employ his powers exterior his domain. He cannot participate in Mortal Kombat, limiting his ability to interfere with Shang Tsung and Quan Chi's plans. In fact, Raiden's non-interfering nature catalyzed conflicts within the franchise. Eventually, he assumed a darker persona to stop it.

Now that he'southward given upwards his godhood to Liu Kang, Raiden is only a mortal. However, he's still no pushover. His millennia's worth of noesis and gainsay training could let Raiden to contend with the likes of Shinnok when information technology comes to cunning and strategy.

vii Quan Chi

Quan Chi - Most Powerful Mortal Kombat Character

Quan Chi is known for two things: being the Netherrealm's near powerful magician, and Shinnok'due south most faithful servant. Even so, his allegiance with the Dark Elder God doesn't mean he's a pushover. Inside Quan Chi is a desire to rule reality, and he has the savage, anesthetic pragmatism to supplement his magical prowess.

Quan Chi matches Delia, Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn, and Shinnok in terms of magic. As a necromancer, he can steal souls and reanimate the dead. His magical feats involve illusions, alteration, agreeableness, and a limited degree of omniscience. It'southward thanks to him that Scorpion became a Wraith, and Shinnok returned to the realm of the living. Had Quan Chi acted alone, his cunning could bear witness plenty to pit the Realms' virtually powerful villains against each other.

6 Shang Tsung

Shang Tsung - Most Powerful Mortal Kombat Character

1 of Mortal Kombat's original champions, the Elderberry Gods cursed Shang Tsung with quick aging due to his ambition. To retain his youth, Shang Tsung must blot the souls of others. Equally cunning every bit he is,he realized that this soul absorption granted him not but the appearance, only the abilities of souls he obtains.

This ability gear up should put Quan Chi as the more powerful sorcerer. However, Shang Tsung's mastery of soul absorption gave him centuries' worth of noesis and abilities that almost match that of Gods. In fact, Shang Tsung trumps Quan Chi in that he created Kronika's Crown. Shang Tsung not merely knows the inner machinations of the Hourglass of Fourth dimension, simply tin withstand its strain should he decide to shape time in his image.

5 Shao Kahn

Shao Kahn - Most Powerful Mortal Kombat Character

People beyond the realms know Shao Kahn for his ferocity, coupled with godlike strength. The Kahn of Outworld wields both fighting prowess and magic. Like Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn can employ soul absorption to steal abilities and knowledge. As a Kombatant, Shao Kahn uses less of his magic and more of his endurance and force. Withal, he can too utilize mysterious green energy to create projectiles, weapons, and force fields in battle.

Shao Kahn is also the stereotypical proud tyrant, which is often the cause of his downfall. Still, his sheer tenacity and ambition requite him more than drive to act towards his goals. Shao Kahn trumps Onaga, as the former really defeated Blaze to attain ultimate power. Sadly, Raiden's efforts would make Shao Kahn'due south futile.

4 Shinnok

Shinnok - Most Powerful Mortal Kombat Character

Shinnok's ambitions to dominion the Realms forced the other Elderberry Gods to banish him. However, Shinnok still possesses control over annihilation under his jurisdiction as the God of Death. He has control over illusions, soul stealing, ability mimicry, and conjuration. These abilities place him above Quan Chi and Shang Tsung. With his Amulet, Shinnok tin can erase people from being, steal souls, or open up portals beyond realms.

As Cetrion's foil, Kronika intended Shinnok to oppose his sis's virtues of Light and Life with Darkness and Death. Given his status equally an Elder God, Shinnok cannot die, and volition ever remain a threat to the universe.

three Kronika

Kronika - Most Powerful Mortal Kombat Character

Despite her brusque stay as the adversary of MK 11, Kronika is non 1 to mess with. Aside from beingness the female parent of Elder Gods Shinnok and Cetrion, the Titaness Kronika is the Keeper of Time. Every bit the Architect of Destiny, she tin can control the menstruation of fourth dimension. She tin even summon individuals from diverse points in time without triggering any paradoxes. Kronika can manipulate energy and the sands of fourth dimension, incorporating them into her attack.

Kronika'south downfall is her lack of omnipotence. She requires energy sources to control the Hourglass, such as her crown, Earthrealm's Jinsei, or the essence of an Elder God. Had she been given enough planning, Kronika could use her time manipulation to win without lifting a finger.

two Blaze

Blaze - Most Powerful Mortal Kombat Character

Blaze's control over fire is an understatement to his full potential. The Edenian Sorceress Delia foresaw a fourth dimension where Mortal Kombat's fighters would threaten existence itself. Bonfire is tasked to oversee these fighters, and impart power and "a wish" to anyone who defeated him. In the events of Armageddon, Blaze organized the final battle as a free-for-all amongst Kombatants. Shao Kahn proved the victor and used his power to rule the realms. This prompted Raiden to transport a message to the past, starting the events of MK 2011.

Interestingly, Blaze's objectives required the assist of Delia's sons, Taven and Daegon, to determine the future of all realms. Had Blaze gained his own ambitions, he could've decided what was "right" for all realms every bit he saw fit.

1 The 1 Being

One Being - Most Powerful Mortal Kombat Character

The beginning of time contained but the I Being and the Elder Gods. The Elderberry Gods rose against the One Existence to stop it from feeding off their essences. The One Beingness then split into each realm and in six Kamidogu. Theoretically, anyone who combined the Kamidogu with Shinnok's Amulet would attain ultimate power.

Others imply that the I Being'southward consciousness forged Onaga and Shao Kahn's ambitions of uniting the Realms. Doing and so would reawaken the Ane Existence. Moreover, the Elder Gods' interference in MK 2011 imply that they only interrupt Mortal Kombat on matters concerning Realm unification, as this may crusade the return of the 1 Being.

MORE: Details Most The Mortal Kombat Movie Debut Trailer Only True Fans Noticed

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Release Date Finally Announced

Read Next