Mortal Kombat is a classic video game franchise. The amazing, gory fighting game franchise has a long history of innovations and risk-taking that doesn't always go too well. However, some weird calls got rewritten or resigned. Many of those turned into beloved, unique characters that are known by all fans of the franchise.
Much like Smoke, Reptile, and other characters, Jade was nothing but a recoloration of other characters with a quite simple backstory. Over time, she became an iconic Mortal Kombat character, was given greater importance in the plot of the franchise, and turned into such a cool, powerful character with special moves that make her fun and unique.
10 She Was A Pallet Swap
Much like Reptile was just a green version of Scorpion with Scorpion's and Sub-Zero's abilities, Jade debuted as a green version of Kitana in Mortal Kombat 2. Although she was extremely fast and could not be harmed by projectiles, there was nothing original about her at first.
Over time, Jade would become a fully designed character. Although she first showed up in Mortal Kombat 2, she was not playable until Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. She lost her permanent invulnerability to projectiles and got original special attacks.
9 Unlike Mileena and Kitana, She Carries Two Weapons
Jade once used fans as a weapon, just like Kitana. When she was finally updated to be a fully fleshed out, playable character, she got an update. That was when we finally saw her with an original move set and her own signature weapons.
She uses a staff that has changed throughout the Mortal Kombat games. In some, it is a normal staff, in others not so much. Mortal Kombat 11 implies it has magic properties since it glows green and can change length. She also has a boomerang blade named "Razor-rang" that she can make change course after thrown.
8 She Was Badly Portrayed in Movies and Games
Generally speaking, Jade is a good character. Yes, she worked for Shao Khan for a while, but it can be justified as survival. In the world of Mortal Kombat, where there are plenty of evil characters that might kill for no reason at all, Jade is definitely on the good side.
However, a lot like Scorpion being wrongly depicted, Jade appeared as an evil character in the Mortal Kombat movie. She also appeared in Shaolin Monks, although she did merely as an assassin that eventually gets killed.
7 She Is Kitana's Lifelong Friend
Jade is, like Kitana, Edenian. When Shao Khan took everything from Kitana, Jade also lost. Eventually, she started working for Shao Khan. It is not clearly explained why she served him, but considering that Shao Khan is easy to kill those who do not, it can be deduced that she was looking out for herself.
When Shao Khan ordered Reptile and Jade to capture Kitana, she did not want to kill her friend. The Khan promised that Kitana would not be killed, but Jade knew that it was most likely a lie. That's when she decided to help Kitana instead of betraying her, making them both a target to Shao Khan's wrath.
6 Her Design Changed Considerably Throughout The Years
Jade went from Kitana's pallet-swap to a completely original character, from her appearance to her fight style. Although most of the time she was wearing a green one-piece, and looked mostly like a tanned version of Mileena and Kitana, eventually she became completely different. She was no longer a clone of the Edenian princess.
In Mortal Kombat 11, she is mostly wearing green, but there are so many variations to her clothes. She sometimes wears armor, a hoodie, and the game also has a classic version of Jade for the nostalgic players.
5 She Is Kotal's Lover
Long before Kotal was Khan, Jade had something going on with him. Back then, he was just Kotal, an honorable warrior who she admired. It is revealed in Mortal Kombat 11, however, that they both go way back. And she is thrilled to see that he is the current Khan since she believes that he is a much better person to rule Outworld.
Jade both respects and challenges Kotal. Although she wants him to be the Khan, she frequently question some of his decisions. Jade becomes especially angry at Kotal when his hate for the Tarkatans makes him want to execute innocent people just for being Tarkatan.
4 She Has Access To Edenian Magic
Like Johnny Cage, Jade knows to a move called Shadow Kick. This is one of the best moves of Johnny's arsenal. She slides through the screen with a leg up, delivering a powerful kick that causes high damage and throws the opponent afar. Although the moves are extremely similar and seem to share functionality, they do not seem to share the same fighting style or power source.
Jade was trained, and she has access to Edenian Weaponry and Magic. Johnny, on the other hand, understands his own powers. Jade also has a staff that can change lengths, she is capable of changing the course of her razor-rang, and she can summon a green area that grants her immunity to projectiles.
3 She Is Powerful Fighter
Not only she was one of Shao Khan's most powerful servants, she is strong enough to knock down Kotal Khan himself in a fair fight. Just in Mortal Kombat 11, she has also defeated her own revenant, D'Vorah, and even The Collector. There is no doubt that Jade is one of the best female fighters of the Franchise.
Jade's weapons, magic powers, and martial knowledge puts her side by side with the best fighters of the world of Mortal Kombat. One of her quotes when throwing Kotal or Skarlet, "you call that magic?" makes it very clear that neither of their magic powers are enough to impress her.
2 She Died
In Mortal Kombat eleven, the powerful, beautiful version of Jade that defeats Kotal Khan is her younger self. After Raiden changed the timeline, The older Jade died in Mortal Kombat 9. One of the many changes in the main story caused Sindel to crash the meeting that the Earthrealm defenders were having.
Sindel found ten of the Earthrealm defenders and decided to deal with all of them herself. She was so powerful then, that she managed to kill them all, including her own daughter. This caused Quan Chi to take control over their souls, turning them all into Revenants.
1 Her Revenant Self Resents Raiden
Like other revenants, Jade's dead version follows the orders of Emperor and Empress of the underworld, the revenant versions of Liu Kang and Kitana. Although they cannot kill their younger selves, which would cause them to disappear, they still fight them in order to change the timeline. Revenants, Cyber Sub-Zero, and other things are just consequences of one of the many stupid things that Raiden has done.
Revenant Jade seems to be a weaker fighter than her living version since he does not win a single fight in Mortal Kombat 11. In fact, revenant Jade loses to her younger, alive self. She does have a bunch of new powers, though, including necromancy, which did not seem to be part of her Edenian Magical Powers.