Mortal Kombat 11 has been announced for a release date on April 23, and we're all excited for seeing a return of the most brutal fighting game series around. Of course the first question we have is, what's the roster going to be? What Mortal Kombat 11 fighters will be in the game?
We don't have the full list yet, but we do have a list of all Mortal Kombat 11 Kombatants revealed so far, from the obvious ones in the trailer to slightly more surprising ones. Take some salt with you over the next article...
Frost
Frost returns in Mortal Kombat 11 to give Sub-Zero a run for his icy money. Having benefitted from a number of cybernetic enhancements, she employs speed alongside ice powers to topple her foes. Not only that, but she also takes using one's head a little too literally, to the point where you'll see her use it as a grenade that freezes opponents.
Kitana
10,000 years aren't all that much in the realm of Edenia and Kitana is clear proof of that. Young in appearance and more than able to slice and dice opponents using her trademark fans, the fighter in blue returns for Mortal Kombat 11. Although she doesn't shy away from kicks and punches, her fighting style primarily relies on using the two fans. Whether extended or retracted, they're efficient offensive and defensive tools both in melee and at range.
Kollector
As his name suggests, Mortal Kombat 11's newest debutant, is fond of collecting riches, blood, and the occasional body part. A six-armed working for Shao Kahn, Kollector employs a mixture of artifacts and magic that allows him to deal with his opponents at range while using his fists and knives up close. To prove a point, he's also able to disembowel and rip someone's head off using his bare hands.
Cetrion
Although Shinnok is taking a bit of a break, Mortal Kombat 11 won't be missing its share of Elder Gods, notion further cemented by the introduction of Cetrion. The daughter of Kronika and sibling of Shinnok, she can manipulate the power of the elements. Although air, water, fire, and earth are all under her control, she's particularly fond of summoning boulders to break her opponents. Her toolset gives her plenty of options to damage opponents, including mixing her elements into new ones, while also including a variety of defensive tools meant to keep them from getting close to Cetrion.
Shang Tsung
Shang Tsung hosted the first Mortal Kombat tournament and is, without a doubt, a known figure to older fans of the series. A shapeshifting sorcerer who drains the souls of others to maintain himself healthy and alive, he is confirmed as Mortal Kombat 11's first post-launch DLC character.
Noob Saibot
Formerly known as Bi-Han, Noob Saibot returns in Mortal Kombat 11 in all his mysterious, shadowy glory. A ninja capable of summoning shadow versions of himself to help in battle, many of his moves employ the use of these companions, portals and his trademark scythe weapon.
Kotal Kahn
Kotal Kahn returns in Mortal Kombat 11 and looks more imposing than ever. The Emperor of Outworld brings a variety of moves to the mix, from shapeshifting into a panther or sawing foes with his sword to using sunlight to burn his opponents while gripping them by the throat. If you're a fan of fatalities with sacrificial flair, Kotal Kahn is your go-to.
Jacqui Briggs
Cassie Cage isn't the sole daughter of legendary Mortal Kombat characters that joins Mortal Kombat 11's roster. Jacqui Briggs brings her kickboxing and martial arts expertise to the mix, while also making use of the odd explosive device or two as she fights to protect Earthrealm.
Erron Black
Outworld's favorite gunslinger also returns in Mortal Kombat 11. Erron Black offers his services to those who pay the most while bringing back some of that Old West fashion. Although he specializes in the use of firearms, he's far from a pushover in hand-to-hand combat.
Cassie Cage
Daughter of Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage, Cassie Cage returns to Mortal Kombat 11. She employs a fighting style based on agility and finesse, mixing martial arts (and a split or two) with her dual pistols. Moreso, this time around she also fights alongside a robotic drone that hovers above her, which she uses to perform a couple of her moves.
Johnny Cage
Mr. Hollywood himself joins Mortal Kombat 11's roster. An actor and martial artist, his superficiality might throw one off initially. But beneath it, lies a capable fighter, as proven many times in the past. In Mortal Kombat 11 Johnny Cage comes with a fighting style that mixes his more traditional attacks, like the green fireballs or green shadow kick, with others such as blinding foes with a camera flash, throwing his glasses at enemies or even cutting them using a chainsaw.
Jade
The Neterrealm is in no shortage of warriors in Mortal Kombat 11. A secret character in Mortal Kombat II and friend of Princess Kitana, Jade joins the latest entry's roster alongside her iconic Bo staff. It's not just her dress choice that's changed, however, as this version of Jade is, in fact, "an undead Revenant resurrected by an evil sorcerer".
Kabal
First introduced in Mortal Kombat 3, Kabal has had a taste of both the good and evil sides. In Mortal Kombat 11, he returns as a twisted, evil version of himself, acting in service of the Netherrealm. In battle, he makes use of his two Hookswords, while his respirator acts as a reminder of him surviving an ambush from Shao Kahn's extermination squads.
D'vorah
First introduced in Mortal Kombat X, the Kytinn D'vorah serves Kotal Kahn as his second in command. Part of a species of colonial insects living in human bodies, D'vorah is an agile fighter who also makes use of smaller insects when facing opponents.
Kano
Kano has been part of Mortal Kombat since its very first entry back in 1992, and he's returning to dish out some violence in Mortal Kombat 11. A member of the Black Dragon clan, he's known for making use of his weapons, which include knives and his eye laser. He's also a fan of ripping people's hearts out of their chests.
Kung Lao
Formerly a peace-loving Shaolin Monk, Kung Lao was often forced to showcase his battle prowess against various opponents. While his martial arts skills are anything but lacking, it's his razor-edged hat that sets his fighting style apart from other Kombatants.
Liu Kang
Whether you know him because of his fatalities where he becomes a dragon or his signature bicycle kick, Liu Kang is one of Mortal Kombat's most recognizable faces. Although the reveal trailer doesn't feature him fighting, both Liu Kang and Kung Lao are seen challenged by newcomers Geras and Kronika, which could mean that they've significant roles to play in the story.
Scorpion
One of the classic mainstays of the Mortal Kombat games, along with his iconic "get over here!" taunt, the fiery ninja known as Scorpion was always guaranteed a spot in the Kombat. It looks like he's coming in several varieties too, with different armour types reflecting his modern AND classic designs.
Sub-Zero
Like Scorpion, Sub-Zero has been in every Mortal Kombat game since the first one, and there was literally zero chance of him not turning up in Mortal Kombat 11. Ice powers are still intact, and now he sometimes carries a frozen human skull - for dramatic effect, of course.
Dark Raiden
Raiden is another one of the longest-serving Mortal Kombat characters, except this one has a twist. Due to the red lightning, rather than Raiden's usual blue, the character in the trailer is actually Dark Raiden - his evil alternate version that first appeared in Mortal Kombat Deception in 2004, and who reappeared at the end of Mortal Kombat X. We assume normal Raiden will make an appearance too.
Skarlet
Skarlet was introduced in Mortal Kombat 9 (the reboot one) as the first female ninja character. Unlike Sub-Zero and Scorpion, who wield ice and fire powers respectively, Skarlet has blood magic powers. She seems to be wearing a lot more clothes now. She's actually based on a rumoured glitch in Mortal Kombat II, where Kitana may have appeared in red.
Baraka
The brutal Baraka returns at last in Mortal Kombat 11, complete with sharp teeth and Wolverine-like bone blades. His fatality is tearing his opponent's face off and then eating his brains. Charming as always.
Sonya Blade
Another of the longest-running characters in the series, Sonya was the only female fighter in the original Mortal Kombat's roster. She's back now in full military gear as an official government agent, and the big news is that she's now voiced by UFC champion Ronda Rousey.
Geras
A new fighter for Mortal Kombat 11, and the henchman of the game's new main villain Kronika. He can manipulate time and sands, which seems to be a Prince of Persia reference. He can create a wall of sand and smash his opponent's brain against it. 'Nuff said.
Shao Kahn
The embodiment of all evil and the lord of the Kombat, Shao Kahn is the most powerful character in the series, usually appearing as a final boss, and he'll be back in Mortal Kombat 11. However, like Darkseid in Injustice 2 or Goro in Mortal Kombat X, he'll only be available to pre-order customers as DLC - so probably won't play a role in the story.
Kronika
The female character is seen at the end of the first trailer, stroking a massive hourglass. She's the first major female boss character in the series' history and is the one responsible for causing the havoc in the story campaign. She'll presumably be playable, too.
Spawn
Todd McFarlane's '90s superhero Spawn has been rumoured as a character for the last two Netherrealm games, but now in a Reddit AMA McFarlane was asked about Spawn coming to Mortal Kombat 11 and he replied "I believe he's on his way..." which is as good a confirmation as any. Spawn is, indeed, a Mortal Kombat DLC character playable starting with March 17th, 2020.
Terminator T-800
This one's a blast from the past. The Terminator T-800 arrives straight from the first Terminator movie and into Mortal Kombat 11 as a DLC character playable from October 9. Failing to kill Sarah Connor all those years back is likely to have built up some rage which it'll easily dispense by crushing the skulls of other Kombatants.
Sindel
The fourth of Mortal Kombat's DLC characters and playable starting with November 26, Sindel has been around since Mortal Kombat 3. While she's no stranger to dishing out punches, her specialty is actually the use of her mystical powers that allow her to make use of aerial magic. Thus, she's adept at levitation, manipulating sound waves into impromptu weapons and, most recognizably, blowing the skin off her enemies with her scream.
Nightwolf
Another member of the old guard that's been around since Mortal Kombat 3, Nightwolf is playable now as a DLC character. A member of the fictional Makota tribe in Mortal Kombat 11, he is a shaman and very much in tune with spiritual forces. He can conjure up bows, tomahawks, and daggers made from spirit energy as well as summon three animal companions – a bear, a wolf, and an eagle – to aid him in battle.
The Joker
Playable starting with January 28, 2020, The Joker joins Mortal Kombat 11's roster as one of its DLC characters. He also fought against Mortal Kombat characters in 2008's crossover title Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.
More as we get it! The official story trailer shows both Liu Kang and Kung Lao, but are they actual fighters in the game or are they just in the story cutscenes? We'll find out in the next couple of months, and update the roster when we know for sure.
