Highlights

  • Mortal Kombat is a beloved fighting game franchise known for its brutal combat, graphics, and deep lore.
  • The series features a wide range of powerful characters, both morally good and evil, with impressive abilities and achievements.
  • Characters like Raiden, Shao Kahn, Liu Kang, and the One Being stand out as some of the most powerful in the Mortal Kombat universe.

The world of Mortal Kombat is one that's filled with mystery and danger. The series itself is widely well-known for its brutal combat and graphics. This is a video game franchise that has already made a name for itself in the fighting game genre and is one that's beloved by millions of players from all around the world.

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While this game is praised for its combat elements, a lot of fans have also praised it for its deep lore and interesting characters. The dangerous nature of Mortal Kombat naturally calls for tremendously powerful characters, and this video game series has no shortage of them. Talking about the most powerful Mortal Kombat characters has always been an interesting discussion within the game's community fanbase. Taking into account each character's powers and achievements, it can be justifiably noted just which of them stands out as the best of the best.

Updated On December 11, 2023, by Jason Wojnar: Mortal Kombat is a weird franchise when it comes to the power discrepancies between characters. Some of the characters are literal gods, while others are mere mortals with some special powers. All the same, no one ever really seems to die in the series, and the timeline is no stranger to being reset. This updated list below will separate those lucky mortals from the truly powerful. We added one name to the list and also added some info about the existing entries.

The first appearance and latest appearance denotes whether the character was a boss or playable character. Some of the characters had kameos either before their first appearance or after their latest appearance.

15 Geras

three images of Geras stand in the right and left and middle in Mortal Kombat 1.

First Appearance

Mortal Kombat 11

Latest Appearance

Mortal Kombat 1

Geras is the guardian of the hourglass and right-hand being to the keeper of time. In Mortal Kombat 11, this means he is one of the most threatening villains since he is essentially immortal. No matter how brutally he was beaten, he just kept coming back.

Once Liu Kang resets the timeline, he recreates Geras, and the character is now a hero and a great addition to have to the protagonists in their fight against Shang Tsung. Despite his power, he is creatively incapacitated by being dropped into an endless sea and held down by a boat's anchor.

14 Kotal Khan - The Force Of A Realm

Kotal Khan in mortal kombat standing before the camera in armor

First Appearance

Mortal Kombat X

Latest Appearance

Mortal Kombat 11

Most individuals on this list have some kind of metaphysical power or magical essence that makes them truly imposing as both fighters and magic users. Kotal Khan isn't necessarily as "strong" when it comes to magical prowess, but he does possess an impressive physique and immense physical strength. He's also capable of taking punishment, making him a formidable fighter.

But his true power lies in his leadership. He's an incredibly capable Khan and one of the best leaders that Outworld has ever had. Of all the "good and bad" characters found throughout Mortal Kombat, it appears that Kotal Khan is one of the few who actually desires true peace, wanting only for his subjects to prosper and live in harmony.

13 Onaga - Made More Powerful By The Kamidogu

closeup of Onaga from Mortal Kombat: Deception

First Appearance

MK: Deception (Final Boss)

Latest Appearance

MK: Armageddon (Playable)

The Dragon King Onaga was the ruler of Outworld prior to Shao Kahn's reign. Onaga's army was believed to be undefeatable, and he, himself, was formidable. His strength is incredible, and he is resistant to all forms of magic. On top of that, he also has the power to raise the dead.

While Onaga is already powerful by himself, having the Kamidogu pieces with him outright makes him invincible. Unfortunately for him, he may be impervious while in possession of the Kamidogu, but the pieces themselves are breakable.

12 Shujinko - A Fallen Do-Gooder

Shujinko defeating Onaga In his Deception ending

First Appearance

MK: Deception

Latest Appearance

MK 1 (Kameo Fighter)

Shujinko's fate as a character is very unfortunate. He spent his whole life believing he was working for the greater good, only to later discover that he had been manipulated to resurrect a powerful and evil entity: the Dragon King Onaga.

Shujinko, riddled with guilt, spent the latter part of his life undoing the mistake he made. His adventures in unknowingly resurrecting Onaga resulted in him gaining ungodly amounts of power. In the end, he undid his mistakes and brutally defeated Onaga.

11 Raiden - He Just Keeps Coming Back

Raiden with his ball of electricity Mortal Kombat 11

First Appearance

Mortal Kombat (1992)

Latest Appearance

Mortal Kombat 1

Raiden is the god of thunder and the protector of Earthrealm. He eventually rose to the status of Elder God, giving him even more powers and abilities. Raiden is, by far, one of the most powerful characters in the Mortal Kombat franchise and is the spiritual leader of the combatants of Earthrealm, such as Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and others.

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Despite being a powerful figure, Raiden has fallen countless times to the likes of Shao Kahn and eventually being outmatched by his mentee Liu Kang. This, however, doesn't negate Raiden's immense power. He has protected Earthrealm from various threats throughout his existence, at one point even going as far as becoming corrupted for the sake of his realm's safety.

10 Shao Kahn - The Big Bad

Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat 11 holding his hammer

First Appearance

Mortal Kombat 2

Latest Appearance

Mortal Kombat 1

Shao Kahn is one of the main antagonists of the entire Mortal Kombat franchise and is one of the most celebrated villains of all time. He is the hurdle that the heroes of the series must constantly overcome to either save Earthrealm or the entirety of existence.

Shao Kahn has gone to lengths to further extend the capabilities of his powers. As the emperor of Outworld, he conquered various realms and defeated countless powerful combatants. He is versed in many forms of magic, is highly durable, and has immense strength.

9 Blaze - Like Thanos Minus The Stones

Closeup of Blaze in Armageddon

First And Only Appearance: Mortal Kombat Armageddon

Blaze is a fire elemental hailing from Outworld. He is the catalyst of ultimate power, which he grants to those powerful enough to defeat him, giving them god-like abilities.

Blaze's form is borne out of his own ultimate power and makes him one of the most powerful combatants in the series. He is so powerful that he manages to single-handedly cause armageddon by devouring the whole of existence. Blaze was defeated only because of the combined efforts of heroes such as Taven. Considerably weakened, Shao Kahn then finished him off.

8 Quan Chi

Quan Chi Mortal Kombat posing with fist up

First Appearance

Mortal Kombat: Sub-Zero

Latest Appearance

Mortal Kombat 1

There are a handful of fighters capable of immense magical destruction found throughout Mortal Kombat's storylines, but few of them are also capable fighters. Quan Chi is one of the most imposing Kombatants in the series, holding mastery over the dark arts of Necromancy.

An ally to the powerful fallen Elder God, Shinnok, Quan Chi has been a thorn in the side of Earthrealm for some time, causing the deaths of characters in his own right and then bringing them back as allies with his strong magic.

7 Shinnok - He Wants Death And Destruction

Shinnok from Mortal Kombat posing

First Appearance

Mortal Kombat: Sub-Zero

Latest Appearance

Mortal Kombat 1

The ruler of the Netherrealm, Shinnok is a fallen Elder God who wishes to only bring death and destruction to the worlds around him. He was once an Elder God of Death, is incredibly powerful, and serves to manipulate those around him through charisma, dark artifacts, and immense magical power. The son of the titan Kronika, the original Keeper of Time, Shinnok has an intense knowledge of all things in the Mortal Kombat universe.

He may not be as outwardly strong as some of the characters on this list in terms of brute strength or fighting prowess, but Shinnok is definitely one of the strongest beings to ever grace the series, capable of toppling civilizations and destroying timelines.

6 Bi-Han - Specifically During The Sub-Zero Phase

Sub-Zero looking angry in Mortal Kombat 1.

First Appearance

Mortal Kombat (1992)

Latest Appearance

Mortal Kombat 1

Things get a little confusing when talking about Bi-Han. The original Sub-Zero, he is eventually replaced by his brother after his assassination. By the time of Armageddon, Bi-Han became essentially a god through the power of the dragon medallion. He personally defeated powerful figures like Shinnok. To not acknowledge this power would be short of erroneous.

After his fall, he eventually returns as Noob Saibot. But given his streak of failures that followed, it's fairly safe to assume that his peak was during his time as Sub Zero.

5 Cetrion - She Also Just Keeps Coming Back

Mortal Kombat 11 close up of Cetrion

First And Only Appearance Is In Mortal Kombat 11

Cetrion is the Elder Goddess of life, virtue, and light. She is also able to manipulate the elements of Earth, Fire, Air, and Water. Aside from that, she is also able to combine elements to conjure metal, ice, and magma.

Being an Elder Goddess, the extent of Cetrion's powers is incalculable. It is widely believed that Elder Gods and Goddesses don't actually completely disappear from existence, even after dying. In the series, Cetrion only "died" after sacrificing herself to strengthen her mother: the titan Kronika.

4 Kronika - Time And Space Are Her Hobbies

Kronika grinning menacingly

First And Only Appearance Is In Mortal Kombat 11

In the earlier games, it was believed that the Elder Gods were the highest beings in all of existence. However, it was later revealed that this was not the case. There is another form of being even higher and more powerful than the Elder Gods, known as the Titans. Kronika is one of those beings.

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Kronika is the Keeper of Time, the Architect of the Destiny of the Universe, and the mother of the Elder Gods Shinnok and Cetrion. She is able to control the flow of time and manipulate space. She can summon individuals from anywhere in space and from various points in time.

3 Shang Tsung - How Did He Get Here?

Shang Tsung holding soul in his hand

First Appearance

Mortal Kombat (1993)

Latest Appearance

Mortal Kombat 1

Shang Tsung started as a powerful sorcerer who worked for the mighty Shao Kahn. However, as the series progresses, Shang Tsung becomes immensely more powerful, even defeating both his former master and his queen Sindel while fighting them at the same time, absorbing their souls and gaining their strength.

He got so powerful at this point that he managed to overpower the Titan Kronika. Shang Tsung also got hold of Kronika's Crown, which bolstered his power even more.

2 Liu Kang - Him, Too

Fire god liu kang MK 11
Fire god liu kang MK 11

First Appearance

Mortal Kombat (1993)

Latest Appearance

Mortal Kombat 1

Liu Kang is widely considered to be the series' main protagonist. Throughout the character's run in the series, he faces opponents initially believed to be more powerful than he is, and he defeats every single one of them. This includes the likes of Shang Tsung, Prince Goro, Shao Kahn, and even his mentor Raiden.

Liu Kang eventually got transformed into Fire God Liu Kang after being merged with a version of himself from a different timeline, as well as with Raiden. This essentially rose Liu Kang to the status of a god. With his newly gained powers, he managed to defeat both Cetrion and Kronika consecutively.

1 One Being - Responsible For The Realms

Non-Playable Character

One being Shinnok looking at the one being in Mortal Kombat

At the very top of the food chain of the Mortal Kombat universe is an entity only known as the One Being. At the beginning of time, the One Being existed alongside the Elder Gods and he fed on their essences. The Elder Gods decided to get rid of the One Being after being sick of being fed on. It took every single one of their efforts to defeat the One Being.

Even then, the Elder Gods technically never "killed" the one being. Instead, they only split his consciousness into various pieces. These pieces would then end up as the various realms in the Mortal Kombat universe. A being whose consciousness molds entire realms is unarguably the single, most powerful character in Mortal Kombat.