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With the drop of the official announcement trailer for Mortal Kombat 1 this morning, we got our first glimpse at which fighters we can expect to see in the soft reboot this September. While we can’t be sure how many characters will appear in the new title until its release, we do have a roster of nine confirmed fighters who appeared throughout the trailer.
With that, Mortal Kombat 1 is set to deliver a handful of series staples so far. We’ve compiled a list of each confirmed character that we can expect to see in the upcoming release later this year. We will provide updates to this comprehensive list as they arrive.
Shang Tsung
Shang Tsung is an infamous soul-stealing villain in the Mortal Kombat franchise, and he’s set to return in Mortal Kombat 1. Because he’s conveniently allied, he is able to travel between realms, wreaking havoc across worlds. The formidable foe appeared in the expansion for Mortal Kombat 11, but Shang Tsung is set to take center stage in the upcoming installment.
Raiden
Although he was corrupted in Mortal Kombat 11, Raiden is set to reprise his role as a protagonist and one of the most familiar faces in the franchise. Appearing in every series title prior to Mortal Kombat 1, the God of Thunder maintains close relationships with both Liu Kang and Kung Lao. He is the first character to make an appearance in the announcement trailer for the new title.
Kung Lao
While we can’t be sure which incarnation of Kung Lao will arrive in Mortal Kombat 1, the character was among the first to appear in the announcement trailer. Easily recognizable thanks to his sharp headwear, the Earthrelm champion is dedicated to living a life of peace. However, this doesn’t seem sustainable considering the chaos Shang Tsung is set to bring to the upcoming entry.
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Sub-Zero
What’s Mortal Kombat without Sub-Zero? The iconic character is set to return in Mortal Kombat 1, pleasing long-time players. Also known as Kuai Liang, the ice-cold combatant is capable of getting creative with his abilities, weaponizing icicle spears and dealing a huge amount of damage with frosty blows. He appeared for a short time in the announcement trailer, alongside Scorpion.
Scorpion
Another staple character in the Mortal Kombat franchise, Scorpion is arguably one of the most well-known fighters to date. Equipped with his kunai weapon, the reborn ninja is one of the most popular picks among players, helped in part by his appearance in every series installment. In Mortal Kombat 1, it seems he might finally join forces with his long-time rival, Sub-Zero.
Kitana
While the princess was murdered and resurrected in Mortal Kombat 11, it seems that we might be seeing a different incarnation of Kitana in Mortal Kombat 1. In the announcement trailer, she receives a royal escort alongside her makeshift sister, Mileena. Although, it appears that their sibling rivalry has not dissipated in this timeline. In any case, Kitana is more than capable of holding her own in combat.
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Mileena
The deadly assassin Mileena is one of the most widely popularized fighters in the Mortal Kombat franchise, and she’s coming in hot with the launch of the upcoming title. The fan-favorite character was largely absent from the previous installment, available only in the expansion. However, it appears that Mileena is back with a vengeance in Mortal Kombat 1, shown glaring at her sister, Kitana, in the trailer.
Liu Kang
One of the most heavily represented characters in the announcement trailer for Mortal Kombat 1 was Liu Kang. The new god was given just about as much screen time as the antagonist, Shang Tsung. Given the long-standing rivalry between the two characters, this was not surprising. However, it was jaw-dropping to see Liu Kang body the soul-stealing sorcerer with such ease.
Johnny Cage
While he didn’t make an appearance in the announcement trailer for Mortal Kombat 1, Johnny Cage has since been confirmed to arrive in the new installment with the drop of an all-new gameplay trailer for the game during Summer Game Fest. Those who purchase the Premium Edition will be given an exclusive Jean-Claude Van Damme skin for the character, who has become a fan-favorite over time thanks to his goofball antics. We’ll likely see a lot more of the movie star with additional game trailers.
In the coming months, we can expect to receive more information about additional characters set to arrive in Mortal Kombat 1. Be sure to pre-order the new title starting tomorrow. Those who do so will have a chance to participate in the upcoming beta for the highly anticipated installment to the Mortal Kombat franchise.
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