500 years ago, Shang Tsung was banished to the Earth Realm.
With the aid of Goro he was to unbalance the furies and doom the planet to a chaotic existence.
By seizing control of the Shaolin Tournament he tried to tip the scales of order towards chaos.
Only seven warriors survived the battles and Shang Tsung's scheme would come to a violent end at the hands of Liu Kang.
Facing execution for his failure and the apparent death of Goro,
Tsung convinces Shao Kahn to grant him a second chance.
Shang Tsung's new plan is to lure his enemies to compete in the Outworld where they will meet certain death by Shao Kahn himself.
Liu Kang
After winning the Shaolin Tournament from Shang Tsung's clutches Kang returns to his temples.
He discovers his sacred home in ruins, his Shaolin brothers killed in a vicious battle with a horde of Outworld warriors.
Now he travels into the Dark Realm to seek revenge.
- Standard Fireball
- Towards, Towards, High Punch
- Crouching Fireball
- Towards, Towards, Low Punch
- Flying Kick
- Towards, Towards, High Kick
- Bicycle Kick
- Hold Low Kick for 5 seconds then release
With his Shaolin temple in ruins, Liu Kang journeys into the Outworld, enters Shao Kahn's tournament and unleashes a fury that does not end until the defeat of Shao Kahn.
Liu Kang then returns to the seclusion of his Shaolin temple
He pays his respects to his lost brothers and finally realizes that the events which have taken place were all fulfillment of his destiny.
Kung Lao
A former Shaolin Monk and a member of the White Lotus society, he is the last descendant of the Great Kung Lao who was defeated by Goro 500 years ago.
Realizing the danger of the Outworld menace he joins Liu Kang in entering Shao Kahn's contest.
- Teleport
- Down, Up
- Hat Throw
- Away, Towards, Low Punch
- Bullet Kick
- Down + High Kick at the peak of any jump
- Whirlwind Spin
- Up, Up, Low Kick (Keep tapping Low Kick to keep spinning)
A former Shaolin Monk alongside Liu Kang, Kung Lao also grieves the loss of their Shaolin brothers.
He realizes that his ultimate fate lies within the dark realm of the Outworld. He defeats his Outworld opponents until he emerges the supreme champion.
With his strength and spirit in complete alignment he finally avenges the death of his great ancestor.
Although his greatest challenges lie ahead...
Johnny Cage
After Shang Tsung's tournament, the martial arts superstar disappears. He follows Liu Kang into the Outworld.
There he will compete in a twisted tournament which holds the balance of earth's existence--as well as a script for another blockbuster movie.
- Green Flame (Low)
- Half Circle Away to Towards, Low Punch
- Green Flame (High)
- Half Circle Towards to Away, High Punch
- Shadow Kick
- Away, Towards, Low Kick
- Shadow Uppercut
- Away, Down, Away, High Punch
- Low Blow
- Block + Low Punch
After disappearing from the set of his latest movie, Cage finally resurfaces.
He used all his knowledge and experiences as a fighter to end the Outworld menace. Now heralded as a true hero, Cage receives the respect he rightfully deserves.
He also gets his inspiration for the sequel to his blockbuster movie Mortal Kombat.
MK II is released and quickly becomes the greatest motion picture event of all time. Cage realizes that MK III is inevitable.
Reptile
As Shang Tsung's personal protector the elusive Reptile lurks in the shadows stopping all those who would do his master harm.
His human form is believed to disguise a horrid reptilian creature whose race was thought extinct millions of years ago.
- Acid Spit
- Towards, Towards, High Punch
- Force Ball
- Away, Away, High Punch + Low Punch
- Invisibility
- Up, Up, Down, High Punch
- Slide
- Away + Block + Low Punch + Low Kick
Reptile has always loyally served as Shang Tsung's protector.
While maintaining a very low profile in the first tournament he discovered Tsung's plot to force the remaining members of his near extinct race into slavery under Shao Kahn's rule.
Reptile then devises a plan of his own.
He enters the Outworld tournament, defeats Shao Kahn and turns against Shang Tsung, ending his master's scheme.
Now his race can live on in their own peaceful existence.
Sub-Zero
Thought to have been killed in the Shaolin Tournament, Sub-Zero mysteriously returns.
It is believed he travelled into the Outworld to again attempt to assassinate Shang Tsung. To do so he must fight his way through Shao Kahn's tournament.
- Deep Freeze
- Down to Towards, Low Punch
- Ground Freeze
- Down to Away, Low Kick
- Slide
- Away + Block + Low Punch + Low Kick
When Sub-Zero failed to return from the Shaolin tournament and rumor of Shang Tsung's survival reached the Lin Kuei clan, they immediately sent another assassin to complete the task.
This new warrior is actually the younger brother of the original Sub-Zero.
He enters the outworld contest and accomplishes his task.
He learns of Scorpion's foul vendetta against his brother but will never know why his life was spared. Perhaps a third tournament is in his future?
Shang Tsung
After losing control of the Shaolin Tournament, Tsung promises his ruler Shao Kahn to shape events that will lure the earth warriors to compete in his own contest.
Convinced of this plan, Shao Kahn restores Tsung's youth and allows him to live.
- Flames
- Away, Away, High Punch (one)
- Away, Away, Towards, High Punch (two)
- Away, Away, Towards, Towards, High Punch (three)
Shang Tsung not only turns against and defeats both Kintaro and Shao Kahn, he also takes over their rule of the Outworld.
With Shao Kahn's armies at his command, he finally unbalances the Furies, and weakens the dimensional gates between the Outworld and the Earth Realm.
Along with his elite group of sorcerers he uses this weakness to march a never-ending horde of demons onto the earth and doom its inhabitants to eternal darkness.
Have a nice day.
Kitana
Her beauty hides her true role as personal assassin for Shao Kahn.
Seen talking to an earth-realm warrior, her motives have come under suspicion by her twin sister Mileena. But only Kitana knows her own true intentions.
- Fan Swipe
- High Punch + Away
- Fan Throw
- Towards, Towards, High Punch + Low Punch
- Fan Lift
- Away, Away, Away, High Punch
- Square Wave Punch
- Half Circle Towards to Away, High Punch
As a result of her years of work as an assassin, Kitana has learned many secrets, especially about her past.
She discovers that Mileena is not her twin but a grotesque clone created by Shang Tsung.
She learns that her parents were former rulers of the Outworld overthrown by Shao Kahn.
Determined to take back what is hers, she must defeat Kahn. She does so by entering the tournament.
She reclaims her parents' castle and restores the Outworld to a realm of beauty.
Jax
His real name is Major Jackson Briggs, leader of a top US special forces unit.
After receiving a distress signal from Lt. Sonya Blade, Jax embarks on a rescue mission.
One that leads him into a ghastly world where he believes that Sonya is still alive.
- Ground Pound
- Hold Low Kick for 3 seconds, then release
- Grab
- Towards, Towards, Low Punch
- Sonic Wave
- Half circle, Towards to Away, High Kick
- Backbreaker
- Block, while in air with opponent
Jax finds Sonya held captive alongside their arch enemy Kano. Her only chance of escape is by Jax entering Shao Kahn's contest.
With fierce determination he catches the Outworld Warriors off guard and Wins the Tournament bringing Shao Kahn's rule to a crashing halt.
During the Chaos that follows, Jax and Sonya escape through the dimensional gate from which they entered.
Kano once again eludes capture but Jax and Sonya know they will cross paths with him in the future.
Mileena
Serving as an assassin along with her twin sister Kitana, Mileena's dazzling appearances conceal her hideous intentions.
At Shao Kahn's request she is asked to watch for her twin's suspected dissension. She must put a stop to it at any costs.
- Teleport Kick
- Towards, Towards, Low Kick
- Roll Attack
- Away, Away, Down, High Kick
- Sai Throw
- Hold Low Punch for 2 seconds then release
Once thought to be Kitana's twin sister, Mileena is actually a grotesque clone created by Shang Tsung.
With Shao Kahn's suspicions of Kitana's motives, Mileena seizes the opportunity to attack Kahn and his minions.
Caught off guard, they are no match for Mileena's speed.
She wins the tournament and together with her secret companion, Baraka, they rule the world as king and queen.
Baraka
He led the attack against Liu Kang's Shaolin temples. Baraka belongs to a nomadic race of mutants living in the wastelands of the Outworld.
His fighting skills gained the attention of Shao Kahn who recruited him into his army.
- Blade Swipe
- Away + High Punch
- Blade Spark
- Down to Away, High Punch
- Blade Fury
- Away, Away, Away, Low Punch
- Double Kick
- Tap High Kick 3 times when close to your opponent
Known for his unpredictable actions and wild fits of anger, Baraka goes on a rampage.
After defeating the earth warriors, he attacks Shang Tsung, Kintaro and finally Shao Kahn himself.
After defeating Shao Kahn, Baraka's race of mutants rise from the wastelands and rebel against what is left of Kahn's army.
They eventually win, and the Outworld comes under the rule of king Baraka.
Scorpion
The hell-spawned spectre rises from the pits.
After learning of Sub-Zero's return, he again stalks the ninja assassin - following him into the dark realm of the Outworld where he continues his own unholy mission.
- Spear
- Away, Away, Low Punch
- Decoy
- Down to Away, High Punch
- Scissor Takedown
- Towards to Away, Low Kick
- Air Throw
- Block, while in air with opponent
Upon learning of Sub-Zero's reappearance, Scorpion enters Shao Kahn's tournament.
He witnesses Sub-Zero spare the life of an opponent and realises that this is not the same Sub-Zero who murdered him so long ago.
He lets the ninja live and goes on to defeat the Outworlders in their unholy contest.
With the defeat of Shao Kahn, he discovers a new purpose for his existence. He becomes the guardian of the new Sub-Zero to atone for murdering his older brother.
Rayden
Watching events unfold from high above, the thunder god realises the grim intentions of Shao Kahn.
After warning the remaining members of the Shaolin Tournament, Raiden soon disappears. He is believed to have ventured into the Outworld alone.
- Lightning Bolt
- Down to Towards, Low Punch
- Flying Thunderbolt
- Away, Away, Towards
- Teleport
- Down, Up
- Shock
- Hold High Punch for 5 seconds, the release when to a standing opponent
Familiar with Shang Tsung's lies and Shao Kahn's brutality, Raiden accepts their challenge to compete in an Outworld tournament.
He is well aware of their scheme to unbalance the furies and invade the earth realm. Raiden vows to use all his might to end their treachery.
By winning the tournament, Raiden destroys Shao Kahn and all his minions.
He also destroys the dimensional gates which would have been their passageway to the earth realm.