!![[center:''Franchise/MortalKombat'' '''[[Characters/MortalKombat Main Character Index]]'''\\
Original and Reboot Timeline: [[Characters/MortalKombat1992 MK (1992)]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatII MK2]] | [[Characters/MortalKombat3 MK3]] | [=MK4=] | [[Characters/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance Deadly Alliance]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatDeception Deception]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatArmageddon Armageddon]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatVsDCUniverse MK vs. DC Universe]] | [[Characters/MortalKombat9 MK9]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatX MKX]] | [[Characters/MortalKombat11 MK11]]\\
The New Era: [[Characters/MortalKombat1 MK1]]\\
[-Spin-offs: [[Characters/MortalKombatMythologiesSubZero Mythologies: Sub-Zero]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatSpecialForces Special Forces]]\\
Non-video game: [[Characters/MortalKombatTheMovie The Movie]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatConquest Conquest]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatDefendersOfTheRealm Defenders of the Realm]] | [[Characters/MortalKombat2021 2021 Movie]]\\
Individual Characters: [[Characters/MortalKombatHanzoHasashi Scorpion I (Hanzo Hasashi)]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatBiHan Sub-Zero I/Noob Saibot (Bi-Han)]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatJohnnyCage Johnny Cage]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatLiuKang Liu Kang]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatRaiden Raiden]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatShangTsung Shang Tsung]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatKuaiLiang Sub-Zero II/Scorpion II (Kuai Liang)]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatKitana Kitana]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatMileena Mileena]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatShao Shao Kahn/General Shao]] | [[Characters/MortalKombatQuanChi Quan Chi]]-]]]
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!! Spoilers for ''1'', ''2'', ''3'' and ''Mythologies'' will be unmarked

Here, we're going to list the characters introduced in ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4'' and ''Mortal Kombat Gold''.

Shinnok and Fujin can be found in the ''[[Characters/MortalKombatMythologiesSubZero Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero]]'' sheet.

Quan Chi can be found [[Characters/MortalKombatQuanChi here]].
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[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Meat]]
!!Meat
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/meat_rawr_0.png]]
-> '''Debut game:''' ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4''
-> '''Other appearances:''' ''VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon''

->The abomination known only as Meat was the result of a horrific experiment conducted by Shang Tsung. It escaped the evil sorcerer's infamous flesh pits before being completely formed.
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* BodyHorror: He's basically a skinless body with one eye constantly dangling out by an optic nerve.
* CallBack: Fittingly, a creature that looks like Meat is formed in the background of Quan Chi's lab in MKX.
* DemBones: In ''4'', he was just a bloodied skeleton.
* DetachmentCombat: He's capable of removing his head and rolling it to trip enemies, and just sort of falls apart to teleport.
* DittoFighter: In ''[=MK4=]'', he was essentially a "[[{{Irony}} skin]]" over whichever character you chose, acquiring all of his/her moves.
* EyeScream: In a later appearance, one of his eyes is hanging out of his skull by the optic nerve. He can psych himself up to regain health by ''pulling on it.''
* FanDisservice: He's a bloody, skinless corpse only wearing some underwear for clothes, nullifying any {{fanservice}} he could possibly bring as a muscular man.
* JokeCharacter: He's simply a joke skin for characters in ''4'' while his actual playable appearance ain't much to talk about in terms of fighting abilities.
* OverdrawnAtTheBloodBank: Since he doesn't have any skin, he's bleeding before anyone even lays a finger on him.
* PaletteSwap: Of ''everyone'' in ''4'', except Goro and Noob Saibot.
* ShapeshifterIdentityCrisis: His ''Armageddon'' ending gives him the power to shape shift. He loses his sense of identity and goes to seclusion.
* WalkingShirtlessScene: Something tells us this isn't for {{fanservice}} purposes, though.
%%* WrestlerInAllOfUs: His main fighting style.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Reiko]]
!!Reiko
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/199282_reiko.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"I am Reiko. General to Shao Kahn's Army."'']]

-> '''Debut game:''' ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4'' (Ed Boon)
-> '''Other appearances:''' ''VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon'' (David Beron)
-> '''Non-game appearances:''' ''Series/MortalKombatConquest'' (Jim Helsinger), ''Film/MortalKombat2021'' (Nathan Jones), ''WesternAnimation/MortalKombatLegendsBattleOfTheRealms'' (Creator/RobinAtkinDownes)

-> First emerging as a general in Shinnok's war against the heavens and an apparent member of the Brotherhood of Shadow. Reiko has served both the fallen Elder God and Shao Kahn.

-> Believed dead after Shinnok's first defeat by Raiden, he emerged during the events of ''Mortal Kombat 4'' once as an ally of his former master. However in the wake of his masters' second defeat at the hands of Earthrealm's defenders, he disappeared once more.

-> Reiko later emerged as a general in Shao Kahn's army having gained promotion to the position due to his ruthlessness. His ambitions seem to go much further however as his desire to take the emperor of Outworld's throne is all too clear.

->In ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'', he is Mileena's general in Outworld's civil war, after the death of Shao Kahn. However, a prophecy that he has heard of during one of his contests during his time with Shao Kahn persuaded him to get Outworld's throne. Seeing that Quan Chi led the emperor to his death, he decided to no longer serve anyone and attempted suicide, but Havik had to happen to walk towards him, remind him of the prophecy and stab him with one of the Kamidogu, serving him a first taste of blood magic.

->For tropes applying to Reiko in the new timeline started by ''VideoGame/MortalKombat1'', [[Characters/MortalKombat1 click here]].

----
* AmbiguouslyBrown: He was a fair deal lighter in his debut.
* AssholeVictim: Meets quite the gruesome demise [[spoiler: in the MKX prequel comic, [[CruelAndUnusualDeath as his flesh literally melts from his body as he screams in utter agony]].]] However, he’s such a creep in-universe and out that you’d have an easier time finding a needle in a haystack than finding someone with any sympathy for him.
* BigBadWannabe: Literally, at that. His ending in ''4'' shows that, in the original timeline at least, he liked to enter Shao Khan's throne room, put on his helmet and sit on the throne to get a taste of the power he craved.
* CarryABigStick: Reiko's weapon in ''4'' is a spiked club.
* TheChessmaster: As seen in the prequel comics for ''Mortal Kombat X'', he's correctly predicted every move Kotal Kahn has made and [[spoiler:managed to have his father Kotal K'etz killed in an ambush by Goro and the Red Dragon as a result]].
* TheDragon: To Shao Kahn's BigBad in ''MK: Conquest''. In canon, he served as both Shinnok and Shao Kahn's general in their armies at different points in time. He later serves [[spoiler:former]] Empress Mileena.
* {{Flanderization}}: Not that he had much characterization to begin with, but Midway took his connection to Shao Kahn and ran like ''hell'' with it.
** In ''Deception'', he claims he enjoys sneaking into Kahn's throne room and wearing his helmet. Come ''Armageddon'', he's gone from maskless ninja to a helmetless copy of Kahn (except with proper pants), complete with his weapon being changed from a war club to the ''Crude Hammer'', further emulating Kahn. One of his attacks even generates an aura version of Kahn's helmet. [[spoiler:And what does he do in his ''Armageddon'' ending? Defeats Shao Kahn and claim his helmet, which fuses to his head.]]
** His ''[=MK4=]'' ending has him step through a portal to a throne room and sit, and then Shao Kahn's helmet magically lowers itself onto his head. At this point it was strongly implied that Shao Kahn was dead, and Reiko's bio says that he too was supposed to be dead. So the idea was that Kahn had cheated death by possessing Reiko's body, or something along those lines. The fans generally either did not like this, or did not get it (until ''Deception'', many people believed that this meant he ''was'' Shao Kahn), and the idea was scrapped, and in ''Deadly Alliance'' it was decided to make it that Kahn had never been killed in the first place. The helmet thing is thus a RunningGag. Originally he never even served Kahn; he had only worked for Shinnok.
** In an inversion, the prequel comics for ''Mortal Kombat X'' have made no mention of this obsession whatsoever, and have instead begun to flesh Reiko out as a master tactician who Kotal Kahn recognises as the true threat to his rule.
* FlechetteStorm: Throws a barrage of shuriken at his opponent for his Fatality in ''4''. Noob Saibot's appearance in ''Deception'' and his shuriken's Relic description in ''Armageddon'' affirms that such weapons are signs of membership in the Brotherhood of Shadow.
* GenderBlenderName: His name is one you'd find favored by Japanese women.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: All of his appearances show him with glowing white eyes.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: Meets his end in Issue #30 of the ''MKX'' comics, where his body is destroyed under the weight of Blood Magick and his head split open by Havik.]]
* LudicrousGibs: [[spoiler: His fate in Issue #30, where he melts and has his head ripped apart by Blood Magick.]]
* TheManBehindTheMan: In the comics, while he's an advisor to Mileena, he's the person doing most of the planning, and its said he ingratiated himself with her in order to use Mileena's status as "heir" to Shao Kahn's empire in a bid for control of Outworld.
* MetaphoricallyTrue: [[spoiler: The prophecy "Reiko's blood reigns." Maybe not as Emperor of Outworld, but as the Blood God ruling over all realms. This also ends up applying to his eventual death, where his blood is running in a literal state as he is destroyed by the Blood Magick when his body cannot handle it.]]
* MonochromaticEyes: As covered under GlowingEyesOfDoom, he has blank white eyes that glow.
* StalkerWithACrush: His relationship with Kahn comes off like this, especially the creepy sneaking into his throne room and wearing his helmet. In ''Armageddon'' his outfit's even similar...
* TheStarscream:
** Possibly to Shao Kahn. He certainly wants that helmet.
** Very blatantly one to Quan Chi. He even revels in the fact that his failure to stop Taven in Shao Kahn's war room could possibly lead to the sorcerer's death.
* TreacherousAdvisor: [[spoiler:To Mileena, as he intends to take the Outword Kahnum for himself by gaining the power of Blood God.]]
* UndyingLoyalty: The [=MK1=] version of Reiko has this in spades when it comes to General Shao. The general in his turn sees Reiko like a son.
* UnholyMatrimony: With Mileena in the prequel comics to ''X''. [[spoiler:This is all a ruse, as he doesn't like sharing her bed and instead uses her for his own goals.]]
* UnwittingPawn: [[spoiler: To Havik, who was just manipulating him to get his hands on Shinnok's Amulet.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tanya]]
!!Tanya
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mortal_kombat_x___tanya_render_remade_2_7.png]]

-> '''Debut game:''' ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4'' (Lia Montelongo)
-> '''Other appearances:''' ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception'', ''VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon'', ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'' (Creator/JenniferHale, English; Carla Castañeda, Latin American Spanish)

-> The daughter of an Edenian ambassador to new realms, Tanya allowed fleeing refugees to enter Edenia in order to find safety. However, these unfortunate victims turned out to be Shinnok, Quan Chi, and their deadly Netherrealm forces. Tanya had betrayed her own realm to the fallen god.

-> Despite attempting to lure Liu Kang into a trap, she was eventually undone by Shinnok's defeat at the hands of Earth's warriors. Her treachery known to both Edenia and Earth she fled to Outworld. Eventually, she found herself an enforcer for the Deadly Alliance and imposed the will of her masters on Outworld.

-> Their defeat left her contemplating a return home but after a confrontation with Baraka was drafted into the ranks of the Dragon King Onaga's army. Later bringing her new master to her native realm in search of information on the Kamidogu.

-> In ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'', she makes a cameo appearance in Shao Kahn's Arena, as a captive. She plays a more active role in the storyline in ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'' as one of Mileena's rebels. Mileena convinced her that if she is made to be empress again, she will sever the link that Edenia still shares with Outworld due to Shao Kahn's conquest. She runs across D'Vorah and Cassie Cage at the rebel encampment where she and Rain are guarding Shinnok's amulet. She is able to successfully subdue Cassie but is overpowered by D'Vorah in battle. She survives the events of the game despite her leader being executed by Kotal Kahn and D'Vorah and her whereabouts are currently unknown (her Arcade Ladder ending says she sold out Rain in order to get on Kotal Kahn's good side and save herself in order to get a fresh start at her dreams of a free Edenia, but this does not seem entirely canon). In ''11,'' it's clarified Rain simply parted ways with her after Mileena's death. Kotal eventually caught up with her and murdered her.

->For tropes applying to Tanya in the new timeline started by ''VideoGame/MortalKombat1'', [[Characters/MortalKombat1 click here]].
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* AdaptationalNiceGirl: Downplayed in ''X''. She still remains to be treacherous as her ending shows [[spoiler: her betraying Rain even though he was always on her side]] but she intends to restore Edenia as an idendependent realm, (the same realm Tanya betrayed in the original timeline), making her less selfish than before. While she's still a backstabber, she at least has genuine noble goals in the rebooted timeline.
* AmbiguouslyBrown: Edenia is a FantasyCounterpartCulture of East Asian and Middle Eastern countries and she, like [[Characters/MortalKombatII Jade]] is darker-skinned than other Edenians that we have seen.
* AncientEgypt: Her ''MKX'' look evokes this a lot, right down to her Cleopatra-like hair bob.
* ArchEnemy: Jade took it ''personally'' when Tanya betrayed their people.
* BadassBoast: To Jacqui in ''MKX''.
--> '''Tanya:''' Miss Briggs.\\
'''Jacqui:''' Another Edenian.\\
'''Tanya:''' The only one you need to worry about.
* BattleBoomerang: Her weapon of choice in ''4''.
%%* TheBaroness: Sexpot variety.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: Her ending in ''4'' made this as TheReveal. Also, in another one of her endings, she even betrays and sacrifices ''fellow Edenian Rain'' to die at the hands of Outworlders just to keep herself alive and buy herself time to plot her next nefarious scheme.
* BreakoutCharacter: Tanya was the only new fighter introduced in this game to make several appearances outside of ''4'' (''Armageddon'' did bring back the others but that game brought back every fighter that made an appearance in the ''Mortal Kombat'' franchise until that point). She was a playable fighter in ''Deception'' and ''X'', and since her appearance in ''X'', she became linked with Mileena as her canon love interest. Her relationship with Mileena continues in the new timeline set by ''1'', where she, along with Reiko, are the only ''4'' representatives.
* ChoiceOfTwoWeapons: In ''MKX'', she has two variations that grant her access to weapons, her dual bladed tonfas and her naginata.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Possibly more untrustworthy than Kano. And that's quite a statement. Doesn't stop her from [[{{Hypocrite}} having enough gall]] to [[MoralMyopia call him out on his]].
* LesCollaborateurs: Tanya is this trope for betraying her homeland of Edenia.
* CombatStilettos: Puts them to good use in one of her fatalities in ''MKX''.
* DamageIncreasingDebuff: Her Pyromancer variation in MKX's bread and butter tactic is to splash the opponent with combustive dust, then ignite the dust with her fireballs for greater damage.
* DarkActionGirl: This girl is ''sadistically'' evil in every sense of the word, and knows how to kick ass as well.
* DepravedBisexual: She's a sadistic murderess and pathological traitor. She has the hots for [[IncompatibleOrientation Kung Jin]] and Rain, and definitely has something going on with Mileena according to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouYO9N2apjI&feature=youtu.be&t=3m5s her intro dialogues]]. Tremor, in one of his intro dialogues with her, outright calls her "Mileena's concubine."
* DesignatedGirlFight: A designated Edenian Girl Fight with Jade. The alternate timeline have her fight D'Vorah instead, with Jade being still dead.
* DifficultButAwesome: While she's a difficult character to master in ''Mortal Kombat X'', it's worth getting good with her due to her mix-ups and and unmatched aerial attacks and options.
* DownloadableContent: Is included in ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'''s "Kombat Pack" alongside [[Franchise/FridayThe13th Jason Voorhees]], Franchise/{{Predator}}, and [[VideoGame/MortalKombatSpecialForces Tremor]]. She was released on June 2, 2015. [[EarlyBirdCameo She shows up as an enemy fighter in the Story Mode but is clearly incomplete (she uses Kitana's stance and has no variations).]]
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Mileena seems to be the one person who Tanya [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder won't betray]]. The two of them seem to genuinely be in love with each other, as seen in Mileena's ''[=MK11=]'' ending where [[spoiler:they raise a child together.]] Possibly {{subverted}}, as one of Mileena’s [=MK11=] intro dialogues with Rain heavily implies that Tanya was [[UsingYouAllAlong merely using her all along]], which is something that would be completely in-character for [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder Tanya]] to do.
-->'''Rain:''' Direct your anger at Tanya, Mileena.\\
'''Mileena:''' It was ''YOU'' who betrayed me, not her!\\
'''Rain:''' Think, Mileena. [[ArmorPiercingQuestion Who introduced us?]]
* EvenEvilHasStandards: In new timeline during her intro with Kitana in versus mode, she will express sadness in fighting Kitana, claiming that Edenians shouldn't fight one another and that her family once respected her. Regardless if she's a Revenant or not, Kitana will press on anyway, distrusting of Tanya, given her history of deceit and betrayal in the past.
-->'''Kitana:''' Tanya.\\
'''Tanya:''' Edenians shouldn't fight each other!\\
'''Kitana:''' Our realm is dead, as ''you'' shall be.
* EvilCounterpart: To Jade, being a distrustful Edenian as opposed to Jade's PatrioticFervor. Tanya's allegiance to Mileena further reinforces this as Mileena is Kitana's clone and rival.
* FaceHeelTurn: ''4'' describes her as a freedom fighter trying to take back her realm. But it isn't until [[TheReveal her ending]] that you find out she's a [[TheMole bad guy]].
* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon: ''Deception'''s Konquest Mode even specifically states, "Tanya is beautiful, but she is not to be trusted." Considering that this angel-faced dame went on to betray her Edenian and Earthrealm allies, this is understandable.
* FemmeFatale: She misleads Liu King into a death trap in her ''4'' ending and one of Rain's intro dialogues implies she was using Mileena in a romantic relationship to overthrow her.
* FierySensuality: Tanya is a FemmeFatale and evil sorceress who specializes in seduction, manipulation and fire magic.
* HeelRealization: Her bio for ''Deception'' notes that Tanya, now lonely after the fall of the Deadly Alliance, felt an urge to return to her homeland of Edenia (y'know, the same realm she betrayed back in ''4''?). However, this is where the Tarkatan horde intercepts Tanya and [[HeelFaceDoorSlam forces her to lend her talents to Onaga's cause]].
* HotWitch: A very beautiful woman who's said to have great proficiency with {{the dark arts}}, which is reflected with her fireballs and teleporting abiltities.
* {{Hypocrite}}: Shows disgust towards Kano, calling him names such as "snake and "turncoat". ''This'', coming from Edenia's most selfish, calculating, traitorous woman...
* HiddenDepths: In ''MKX'' her goal is to [[spoiler:restore Edenia, since Edenia was never unmerged from Outworld in the current timeline. This is why she joined Mileena, who promised to restore Edenia if she became Empress again]]. However, she seems to be privy to [[spoiler:Rain's plan to usurp power once Mileena has killed herself through prolonged use of Shinnok's amulet]], so her long game beyond said goal is unclear.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Rationalizes her actions as necessary steps for ensuring her own survival. In her ''X'' ending, [[spoiler:she grows uninterested in fellow ally and Edenian Rain and sacrifices his life in order to buy her more time in Outworld to realize her dream of restoring Edenia.]]
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: Her "Edenian Drill" fatality in ''Mortal Kombat X'' in which she uses her CombatStilettos to pierce her opponent's back and then ''slides right through the opponent'', leaving a gaping hole and her covered with entrails while [[BeatStillMyHeart she holds her opponent's heart]].
* IncompatibleOrientation: She's attracted towards Kung Jin, openly describing him as 'quite handsome'. As the latter puts it, she's [[StraightGay barking up the wrong tree]].
* {{Invisibility}}: Gains a move like this in ''Deception'' and ''Armageddon''. Appropriately, the technique is named "Find Me."
* KickChick: Her fighting style and animations in ''X'' get a ''lot'' of use out of her legs.
* KilledOffScreen: Mileena and Rain in ''11'' clarify Kotal killed Tanya after ''X''.
* KissOfDeath: Like Kitana and Sonya, she had a similar move as a Fatality in ''4'' (called Kiss of Deceit; perhaps a nod to [[EvilAllAlong her true nature]]). This fatal peck causes the receiver's body to agonizingly contort before exploding.
* KungFuWizard: Tanya is skilled in magic and martial arts.
* LadyOfBlackMagic: An evil and beautiful villainess who prides herself in her mastery of the dark arts and can conjure damaging [[PlayingWithFire fireballs]].
* LeotardOfPower: And in ''Deception'', it heavily resembles a [[OfCorsetsSexy corset]].
* LongHairIsFeminine: In ''Deception'', although tied up in her alt. Back in ''4'', had it not been for the ponytail, Tanya might've been very well mistaken for having a bob.
* ManipulativeBitch: Her ending in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ub9odaErEo Mortal Kombat 4]] reveals she was lying about her allegiances to Liu King and the heroes to aid Shinnok.
* MiniDressOfPower: Dons a black one as an alt. in ''4''.
* MistakenIdentity: Pre-fight dialogue in MKX has her mix up Ferra and Torr [[spoiler: with a dead co-ed being dragged around by Jason Voorhees]].
* MixAndMatchWeapon: In ''Deception'' and ''Armageddon'', she wields a pair of tonfas with kama-like blades attached known as Kobu Jutsu. Tanya maintains these weapons in the new timeline as a variation.
* MonochromaticEyes: While she had normal eyes in her debut, ''Deception'' would give her blank, white eyes she would keep for future appearances.
* MoralMyopia: She's quick to try and justify her own duplicitous deeds. But when Kano does it, she condemns him.
* MurderousThighs:
** In 4 her bone breaker throw was a NeckSnap done via clinging on her foe head with her thighs and spinning around and her [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FytHUCiuzEU first fatality]] in the same game is a [[NoKillLikeOverkill triple spin version of the throw]]
** This move, which leaps into opponents head, is revamped as a frankensteiner for her X-Ray move last hit, except she leaps onto opponents head from behind.
* PlayingWithFire: Shows up in multiple special moves of hers, particularly during her appearances in ''Deception'' and ''Armageddon''. In ''Mortal Kombat X'' she gets a variation called "Pyromancer" that's dedicated to this trope.
* NaginatasAreFeminine: One of her stances in ''X'' uses one.
* PragmaticVillainy: As her ending happens after ''Mortal Kombat X'''s Story Mode, [[spoiler:Mileena is dead so it's just her and Rain on the run from Outworld's armies. While she likes Rain's talents and "company", he is not going to help her achieve her goals in their current state. So she rats him out in order to be spared by Kotal Kahn. It sentences her to a life of servitude under Kotal but puts her in a better position to try to accomplish her goals long-term]].
* PrimpOfContempt: After performing a brutality in ''X'', Tanya crosses her arms and checks her nails, saying either "You disgust me" or "You may die now."
* TheQuisling: In the original continuity, she's most known for betraying Edenia to Shinnok and his invading Netherrealm forces.
* SheFu: Her fighting style in ''X'' includes a lot of flips.
* ShipperOnDeck: In ''X'', along with Mileena, she sees Kitana and Liu Kang are fit as a BattleCouple, teasing their secret affair for some fun.
* ShortRangeLongRangeWeapon: In ''4'', Tanya can use her boomerang for melee combat.
* SoleSurvivor: Of a full blooded Edenian race after what happen to Kitana, Jade and Sindel in 2011 event. But in Edenian civil, she's not the only Edenian to survive from extinction, one of her fellow is Rain, who is a half-God.
* SpinAttack: Tanya has a special known as the Human Cannon Drill. It involves Tanya corkscrewing under opponent's legs like... well, [[ShapedLikeItself a drill]].
* StanceSystem: In ''Deception'', she had the Zi Ran Men, Yue Chuan, and Kobu Jutsu stances. She keeps the latter two in ''Armageddon''.
* SummonMagic: Her ending in ''Armageddon'' has Tanya transforming into a being known as a Dragon Caller. With the ability to conjure ethereal dragons and give them a corporeal form, Tanya then goes on to conquer all of the realms with her new army.
* TeleportSpam: Tanya has a teleport that carries over across all three of her variations in ''Mortal Kombat X''. [[https://youtu.be/QY2S7w1Bp14?t=159 Expect to see it a lot in high level play.]]
* UnholyMatrimony: A rare lesbian variation. It's mentioned in a mostly offhanded manner in ''X'', but between Mileena's ''[=MK11=]'' appearance having her declare vengeance in Tanya's name multiple times, and her arcade ending seeing them [[spoiler:raising a child together]], the sapphic undertones are pretty hard to deny.
* VowOfCelibacy: Took one as part of being part of the Umgadi; though she and Mileena carry on their relationship in secret, Kitana was able to see it quite clearly.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: In ''Mortal Kombat X'', she and Rain basically disappeared from the story after D'Vorah beats her. Cassie stopped D'Vorah from killing them but that's about it. It's revealed in ''11'' Kotal killed her.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Kai]]
!!Kai
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kai2hw.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"I will not fail."'']]

-> '''Debut game:''' ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4'' (Sultan Uddin)
-> '''Other appearances:''' ''VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon''

-> An-ex member of the secret White Lotus Society. Kai gained his skills learning from the great masters throughout Asia. After a chance meeting with Liu Kang looking to train future Shaolin warriors, Kai joined him in China for further instruction.

-> However his training was halted by the invasion of Shinnok's forces. Kai then joined the other Earthrealm warriors to battle alongside Raiden against the fallen Elder God. After Shinnok's defeat, he decided to walk the Earth in search of self-enlightenment. As a sign of thanks and approval Raiden entrusted him with his Lightning Staff to help guide him on his quest. He would eventually return to aid the Forces of Light in the Battle of Armageddon.
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* TheBusCameBack: In ''Armageddon'', he rejoins the Forces of Light in the final battle after disappearing at the end of ''4''.
* CarryABigStick: His weapon in ''Armageddon'' is a spiked club.
* DanceBattler: Kai's fighting style is very nimble and agile and one of his moves has him going into a hand stand to kick his opponent.
* DeathFromAbove: His fireball move in ''Mortal Kombat 4''. He can also invert this and shoot the fireballs ''downward'', causing them to shoot up out of the ground ''under'' his opponent.
%%* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife
* ElementalPunch: Kai's "Renegade Kick" in ''Armageddon'' has him unleash a powerful flaming kick.
* FlatCharacter: What else do you know about him other than the fact that he's a monk seeking self-enlightenment?
%%* HalfTheManHeUsedToBe: His "One In Two" fatality in ''4''.
%%* {{Hunk}}: By ''Armageddon'', definitely.
* JourneyToFindOneself:
** If his ending in ''4'' is any indication, his quest is to find enlightenment.
** This [[NiceJobBreakingItHero screws the Elder Gods completely over]] in ''Armageddon'', where he finally finds oneself -- or more rather, the One Being.
* KukrisAreKool: His weapon in ''4'', although he switches to Raiden's staff after completing Arcade Mode.
* MagicStaff: In Kai's ending in ''4'', Raiden gives him his staff saying it will grant Kai command over lightning and will make him immortal. [[SlidingScaleOfGameplayAndStoryIntegration Beating the game with Kai in ''4'' changes his weapon from the Ghurka Knife to Raiden's Lightning Staff]].
* MartialArtsHeadband: Wears a red headband in ''4'' and was a former member of the White Lotus Society.
* MeaningfulName: In Scottish, Kai means "fire", matching his ability to use flames.
* PlayingWithFire: Like Liu Kang, Kai can conjure flames in battle. Kai adds his own flair to this by summoning them from the ground or launching them into the sky to rain down on the opponent. In ''Armageddon'', he gains a new move that allows him to ignite his foot as he kicks his opponent.
* PowerFloats: Kai's "Headshot" fatality in ''4'' has him levitates in front of his opponent and then throw a fireball at their head, decapitating them.
* PsychicLink: In his ''Armageddon'' ending, Kai develops a psychic link to [[EldritchAbomination the One Being]]. Since reality is formed from the One Being's dreams, Kai is able to witness multiple events from the past and present. But when he looks to the future, he sees nothing.
* PutOnABus: After the events of the fourth game. Possibly justified because he's searching for self-enlightenment.
* RedIsHeroic: He wears red clothing and allies with the heroes to fight Shinnok and the Forces of Darkness.
%%* RoundhouseKick: His "Lunging Roundhouse".
* SpinAttack: Kai can rotate on one hand and spin his legs like propellers, kicking his opponent repeatedly.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: He takes Kung Lao's place as Liu Kang's Shaolin Monk companion as Lao was thought to be dead until ''Gold''.
* TallDarkAndHandsome: While his height is unknown, he is muscular and has dark hair.
* WalkingShirtlessScene: Is shirtless in ''4'', but averted with his armored look in ''Armageddon''.
* WalkingTheEarth: He searches for spiritual enlightenment.
* WarriorMonk: He's a Shaolin Monk who fights against Shinnok's threat.
%%* WarriorPoet
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Jarek]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jarek_looked_really_stupid_in_mk_armageddon.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"Soon I’ll have revenge."'']]

-> '''Debut game:''' ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4'' (Herman Sanchez/Mark Meyers)
-> '''Other appearances:''' ''VideoGame/MortalKombatSpecialForces'', ''VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon''
-> '''Non-game appearances:''' ''Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind''

-> After learning of Kano's apparent demise, Jarek fled to the realm of Edenia. Pursued by special forces members Jax Briggs and Sonya Blade who believe him to be the last member of the criminal Black Dragon clan. However, their plan to bring him in is halted by Shinnok's invasion of the realm. This leads Jarek to reluctantly join forces with them and the rest Earthrealm's warriors to deal with the greater threat.

-> After Shinnok's defeat Jax throws Jarek to his death over a cliffside. Jarek managed to break his fall by digging his blade into the rock face. However, his injuries were still substantial. The time taken to hone his skills and recover, whilst presumed dead, did little to lower his bitterness over having to overcome his wounds. Eventually his desire to kill Jax extended to everyone.

-> Has a short appearance in the ''Mortal Kombat X'' comics, where he and Tasia captured both Cassie Cage and Jacqui Briggs at the direct orders of Erron Black.
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* AnimalThemedFightingStyle: His unarmed style in ''Armageddon'' is Dragon Kung Fu.
%%* ArrogantKungFuGuy
* AssholeVictim: Jax drops him off a cliff right after Jarek betrays his partner. Jarek is so terrified in his final moments of life, he begs to be spared. He's not.
* AuthorAvatar: His facial appearance was based on ''Mortal Kombat'' character designer and modeler Herman Sanchez.
* AxCrazy: [[SanitySlippage Ends up as this]] in ''Armageddon''.
* BeardOfEvil: Sports a messy beard in all his appearances.
* BladeBrake: How he survived Jax dropping him off a cliff at the end of ''4''.
* TheCameo: [[spoiler:Shows up along with Tasia in the ''Mortal Kombat X'' prequel comic, interrupting Cassie's fight against Frost and slaughtering civilians in the process. He even managed to capture both Cassie and Jacqui off-screen thanks to Erron Black, no less.]]
* DirtyCoward: Begs desperately to the point of utter embarrassment for his life in Jax's ''4'' ending after killing Sonya.
* DivergentCharacterEvolution: Originally a clone of Kano in ''4'', he becomes this in ''Armageddon''.
%%* TheDragon
* EnemyMine: Teams up with Sonya and Jax (and the rest of Earthrealm's warriors by proxy) to defeat Shinnok in ''4''. It takes all of five seconds after the Elder God's defeat before Jarek and Sonya are at each other's throats again.
* EyeBeams: In ''[=MK4=]'', because of his previous status as that game's Kano. In an effort to include more new characters in-game, they reskinned Kano as Jarek (hence the reason Jarek has mostly Kano's moves).
* GroundPound: In the form of his signature ''Rhino Stomp''.
%%* {{Hunk}}: A Black Dragon stud.
* KnowsTheRopes: In ''Armageddon'', he gains a move called "Lasso Snatch" in which he throws a lasso at his opponent and brings them over his body, slamming them on the ground.
* MovesetClone: Of Kano in ''[=MK4=]''. Doubles as a ReplacementFlatCharacter.
* TokenEvilTeammate: He fights alongside the Earthrealm warriors despite his continued loyalty to the Black Dragon ''4''. Overlaps with EnemyMine.
* UnEvilLaugh: In ''4'', he has a weird, humming laugh, as shown in his and Jax's endings.
* VillainousBreakdown: In Jax's [=MK4=] ending, he goes from smugly satisfied with himself for throwing Sonya off the cliff to [[AintTooProudtoBeg pathetically begging for his life]] when Jax's about to do the same to him.
* WalkingShirtlessScene: Was this up until he armored up in ''Armageddon''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Elder Gods]]
!!Elder Gods
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/spirits_of_the_elder_gods_2011.png]]

-> '''Debut game:''' ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4''
-> '''Other appearances:''' ''Mortal Kombat: Deception'', ''Mortal Kombat 9'', ''Mortal Kombat 11''

-> The supreme beings of the Mortal Kombat Universe. The Elder Gods are distinct from lesser gods like Raiden due to predating the creation of the realms and having power and authority over all the realms instead of a single one. A lesser god can be promoted to the status of Elder God.

->Before the creation of the realms, the Elder Gods existed in the Void along with the One Being which fed off of their essences. The Elder Gods created the Kamidogu and used it to shatter the One Being. The realms came from its remains and the mortals are its dreams. The Elder rarely intervene in the affairs of the realms. According to one story, when the Elder God Shinnok tried to seize control of the realms, the rest aided Raiden in his battle against their fallen brother. At another point in time, they created the Mortal Kombat tournament to regulate the conflict between realms.

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* AdaptationalWimp: While they were useless in previous timelines a more recent one took this to [[{{Exaggerated}} a whole new level]] with them being killed by Cetrion.
* AlienNonInterferenceClause: The Elder Gods avoid interfering in mortal affairs but not out of concern for their welfare. They're afraid doing so will trigger the [[GreaterScopeVillain One Being]]'s return.
* AllPowerfulBystander: The Elder Gods are well-aware of the threat various villains pose to the realms. Yet they refuse to do anything unless ''they themselves'' are directly threatened. [[spoiler:Part of this is [[HandWave explained away]] in ''11'' as [[TimeMaster Kronika]]'s manipulations.]]
* AlwaysABiggerFish: [[spoiler: Kronika's existence and numerous character endings reveal the Elder Gods are dwarfed by the [[OurTitansAreDifferent Titans]] and [[GeniusLoci One Being]].]]
* AmbiguousSituation: [[spoiler:Although Fire God!Liu Kang [[OhMyGods refers to them in exclamation]] the same way Thunder God!Raiden once did it's unknown if they actively exist in that timeline. That being said the only [[OurGodsAreDifferent deities]] actively worshipped are Delia and Argus.]]
* BrokenPedestal: In both timelines seen Raiden starts out with great faith in the Elder Gods only to lose it due to their inaction. [[spoiler:[[FaithHeelTurn The Thunder God now sees them as more burden than help]] hence why he chose to take matters into his own hands at the end of ''X'' and use a more hardline approach to protect Earthrealm.]]
* CainAndAbel: Shinnok and Cetrion respectively.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The only exceptions among them are Shinnok and Cetrion.
* GodIsDead: [[spoiler: Partway through ''11'' Cetrion kills every other Elder God under Kronika's orders and later sacrifices herself to empower her mother. Aside from Shinnok's [[AndIMustScream technically living head]] the Elder Gods are all gone in this timeline.]]
* TheGodsMustBeLazy: The Elder Gods frequently do everything with slackness, most notably failing to enforce the rules of Mortal Kombat during Shao Kahn's invasion of Earthrealm. They only act if directly threatened - and even then not always. The only real exception is Cetrion as she is seen hanging around the mortals more often.
* GoodIsImpotent: Instead of just forbidding Shao Kahn from invading anyone they allow it on the arbitrary conditional clause of "win ten martial arts tournaments first" with ''nothing'' to enforce this besides the threat of retaliation. Meanwhile Sindel and Quan Chi can apparently create a functional Kahn-proof shield around Earthrealm on their own. Evidently the Elder Gods are far from omnipotent.
* ItsAllAboutMe: The Elder Gods have displayed zero empathy for anyone else, including lesser divine beings. All of their actions are solely about them.
* JerkassGods: Whenever the Elder Gods ''do'' get involved it either makes things worse or is just to mess around with mortals:
** For the crime of consuming a soul they cursed [[YourSoulIsMine Shang Tsung]] to [[PowerAtAPrice consume more or rapidly deteriorate and die in return]]. This only made him ''even stronger''. [[spoiler:This is revealed in ''11'' to be a back-up plan for Kronika if she ever needed the power.]]
** They promised to return Scorpion's family and clan to life in exchange for service only to bring them back as [[OurZombiesAreDifferent undead zombies]].
** In ''Mortal Kombat 9'' they justified not doing anything by [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem reinterpreting the tournament]] to apply only to merging realms and not invasions. This is contrary to everything ever said before and since to which Raiden even calls them out on this due to their statement being a DistinctionWithoutADifference.
** They have a habit of screwing over numerous characters in their (usually) non-canon endings.
** [[GodOfEvil Shinnok]] himself is a fallen Elder God who tries attacking Earthrealm in many timelines.
** [[NatureIsNotNice Cetrion]] is no better, [[SixthRangerTraitor betraying and killing her fellow Elder Gods while doing Kronika's bidding]].
* LawfulStupid: The Elder Gods enforce their non-interference rules to the point of near-suicide. Instead of taking care of obvious threats early on their slackness allows them to mushroom until it's a direct danger to them and almost too late to stop it.
* NeutralNoLonger: They ''finally'' get involved at the end of ''[=MK9=]'', giving Raiden the power to destroy Shao Kahn moments before he's about to conquer Earth.
* NoNameGiven: Other than Shinnok and Cetrion none of the Elder Gods are given names.
* NotQuiteTheAlmighty: They aren't the real supreme gods one would think. Instead it's the One Being, who they cut up and split into the Realms in the first place. [[spoiler:[=MK11=] reveals the Titans are also above them.]]
* OurDragonsAreDifferent: Their purest forms are supposed to be ethereal and in the shape of the signature Mortal Kombat dragon.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Shao Kahn and Shinnok call out the Elder Gods on their cowardice in light of the threats both villains pose. Even Raiden calls them out for their inaction in both witnessed timelines.
* SpeakInUnison: Whenever Raiden speaks to them the Elder Gods speak at the same time saying the exact same thing.
* TooDumbToLive: In some non-canon endings the Elder Gods' refusal to do anything allows villains to become powerful enough to actually destroy them. Also almost happens to them in the opening of [=MK9=] where Shao Kahn plans to kill them after getting the power of [[PlayingWithFire Blaze]], only being stopped because of Raiden hitting the ResetButton.
[[/folder]]
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