The icy legacy of Sub-Zero has been tied to Mortal Kombat's story for years. From the ruthless Bi-Han to the current day Sub-Zero, Kuai Liang, many warriors have taken on the mantle of the cryomancer. Like his one-time rival, Scorpion, Sub-Zero has become an iconic part of Mortal Kombat, and video game history.
With Mortal Kombat 11's gear system, players unlocked a new level of customizable freedom. This has allowed Sub-Zero to have a great variety of skins, each one more unique than the last. However, despite the huge array of looks for the polar warrior, there are some skins that stand out from the crowd.
10 Black Ice - A New Shade
A dark and royal variation of Sub-Zero's default skin, Black Ice adds a shadowy tint to his arsenal. Black Ice blends a rich dark blue with black and brown to create a darker and more enigmatic look for the character. This dark mixture allows the silver and blue armour to stand out more, instead of making them clash with the other colours.
The bright blue accents glow with the skin, standing out of the darkness. These accents allow Sub-Zero's masks and weapons to shine, which looks great in the heat of battle. These bright accents also work well with Sub-Zero's radiant ice weapons.
9 Hailstone - Baby Blue
While Hailstone adds a large amount of focus to the colours black and grey, it's the bright and colourful blue and white that catches the viewer's eye. The colours are soft and radiant, blending well with the darker clothing without becoming an eyesore.
The bright blue accents are spread out in the skin, complimenting the silver boots and gauntlets well. The metallic texture of the boots, gauntlets and shoulder armour are a great touch as well, looking great within battle. Any mask with a more metallic and shiny texture is recommended, to truly complete the set.
8 Hanzo's New Friend - Brothers In Arms
Hanzo Hasashi and Kuai Liang's newfound friendship was one of the highlights of MK 11. Their stories showcase a new era for the Lin Kuei and Shirai Ryu clans, and Hanzo's New Friend represents this new bond. The skin uses a brilliant blend of turquoise and white, which looks incredible as Sub-Zero slides around on ice.
Hanzo's New Friend feels like a bulky, powerful set of armour rather than the garbs of a ninja, which works well with Sub-Zero's heavy-hitting fighting style. The shining shoulder pads and gauntlets add to this style, while looking great alongside the silver headband.
7 Furious Winter - A Piece Of History
The citizens of Edenia would be proud, as Kombat League's 4th season, the Fallen Kingdom, allows the kombatants to embrace the traditions of the former empire. Such is the same for Kuai Liang, resulting in a regal purple and gold skin.
The soft golden accents in the armour stand out really well, while adding a sense of majesty. The skin uses a rich shade of violet — a unique addition to the iceman's usual bright blue and turquoise colour schemes. In a way, it's a haunting reminder of Edenia's former glory, and the realm's love for the ornate and majestic.
6 Cold Case - Seeing Red
Cold Case represents the volatile aggression and ingenuity of the Black Dragon Klan, in Kombat League's 16th season, the Season of Lawlessness. Now, Kuai Liang's bright blue is replaced by a bloody crimson, influencing his eyes, ice weapons and clothing.
Like the leader of the Black Dragon Klan, Kano, Cold Case is an outfit altered by cybernetic upgrades. New silver and grey cybernetic arms and boots enhance the look, giving it a villainous vibe. It's a great way of adding some personality to the skin, making Kuai Liang feel like a member of the scummy group of thugs.
5 Ice Magic - Winter Is Coming
A part of the spooky All Hallows Eve skin pack, Ice Magic is a dark and lifeless skin. The skin is influenced by samurai culture, which is seen in the style and shape of the helmet. However, it is also inspired by the Night King from Game of Thrones, which can be seen in the style and build of the upper body armour.
The dull and colourless skin makes Sub-Zero seem like an undead monster, like his former revenant self. It works extremely well alongside the spiritless grey armour, creating an overall unique and frightening look. The flowing grey hair is also a nice touch, adding a unique change to the character.
4 Avalanche - For The Kollectors
Once only attainable via the Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate - Kollector's Edition, this skin is now a rare beauty that appears in the in-game premium store. Sleek and shiny, Avalanche uses Sub-Zero's classic turquoise and black colour scheme, while adding shades of blue and grey to add more intricacy.
One of the best details in this new skin is the variety of textures in the clothing and armour. Avalanche uses a blend of textures, from the slick leathery feel of the pants and elbow pads to the velvety smoothness of the vest and hood. It's an extremely rare 'must-have' skin for Sub-Zero fans.
3 93 Below - Sins Of The Brother
Embracing the klassic style of Mortal Kombat's arcade history, 93 Below updates Sub-Zero's MK 2 look for the future. It's a nostalgic skin that represents the older, more mysterious days of Sub-Zero — one where many details of his origin were unknown.
The skin is an extremely accurate depiction of klassic Kuai, while also acting as an upgrade. Clothing like the padded vest, leather arm straps, and simplistic boots look great thanks to the detailed graphics of MK11, while staying true to the character. The skin is even accurate with small details like the style of the hood, as, unlike Bi-Han's more baggy hood, Kuai Liang's hood is more tight and compact.
2 Tundra - Days Long Forgotten
Tundra isn't just a smart term referencing Sub-Zero's use of the cold. A young Kuai Liang was once known as Tundra in MK9, as he battled alongside fan favourite ninja and ally, Smoke. It's a great callback to an older time in Sub-Zero's life.
The skin is sleek and shiny, with the clothing going with a more simplistic and slick style instead of an intricate look. The gauntlets and boots are smooth, and the bold shade of blue contrasts well with the shine of Sub-Zero's weapons during kombat. Any MK9 fan would appreciate the return of this youthful look.
1 Son Of Arcticka - Kuai Goes Shredder
Mortal Kombat: Deception fans can rejoice, as the Son of Arcticka skin is an updated version of this look. New details are added to the helmet and armour, making the skin look more powerful and modern. The skin also has a reference to 2008's Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, with the dragon logo on the black shoulder pads.
The fur on Sub-Zero's back is a fantastic touch, giving the skin an armoured polar look. However, the greatest part of the skin is the armoured helmet. The intricately detailed look is extremely unique, adding to one of Sub-Zero's best looks yet.
BONUS: Dimitri Vegas As Sub-Zero I - So Bad It's Good
Poor Dimitri Vegas — the guy tried with this one. When Belgian DJ Vegas was revealed to be a skin in MK11, fans were understandably confused. Flashforward a bit to the release of the skin, and fans were gifted with a brand new meme: the voice of Dimitri Vegas.
The skin itself is great, using a blend of metallic and shining armour, as well as shining neon-like accents. However, it's the voice of the skin that is the true gift. Dimitri Vegas provides a hammy, forceful rendition of Sub-Zero, trying to match the intensity and gravitas of Steve Blum. Instead, players are offered the hilarity of Dimitri's faux (and earnest) toughness.