The Centaurians are a race very similar to the Centaur legend which their bodies, agility, behaviors and even their ferocity is based on. Motaro is the only known member of the Centaur race. Long ago, they served the Emperor Shao Kahn as one of his Extermination Squads, and they have been in his favor above their most hated foes, the Shokans, ever since. They even proclaim themselves as the so-called greatest of all the species of Outworld.
Motaro and his people appeared twice in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm. He and his Centaurian warriors were present at the castle in which Rain held Kitana hostage. They were later seen during the plot to overthrow Shao Kahn. After being warned by Raiden, Motaro appeared to fight the treacherous Shang Tsung and the Shokans led by Sheeva.
In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, the Centaur race was apparently transformed into Minotaurs due to a curse brought upon them by their sworn enemies, the Shokans.
Known Members[]
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Part II[]
Motaro was the only character that represented the Centaurs. He was enlisted as Kahn's most prestigious general of his extermination squads, much to Sheeva's resentment. He and his group effortlessly caused massive mayhem across Earthrealm as it begun to merge with Outworld. It was proven in the failed insurrection of the Outworld throne that Motaro and his kind survived the civil war over the Shokan and Tarkans. Motaro was encountered by Sonya, Jax, and Johnny Cage as he and his kind ravaged an outdoor studio in Los Angeles killing numerous people including Cage's new manager! He fought bravely, though he was no match for Motaro's teleportation and brutal strength. He begged the agents to go as Motaro used him as a meat shield before decapitating him!
Other Centaurs invaded the Wu Shi Academy, and Kung Lao and a powerless Raiden escorted the hapless monks to safety. Lao fought well, especially attacking their backs and avoiding their mule kicks with his agility and teleportation. Soon, the extermination squads defended Kahn's Tower in New York and with their Animalities and regular skills, the heroes breached thru.
Motaro was at the balcony awaiting Kung Lao. Utilizing his previous strategies, Lao was overmatched, especially with Motaro's strength, brutality, teleportation, and his body taking up the claustrophobic room! He even deflected Lao's razor hat, fatally wounding him! Jax came into the fray, and thanks to his agility, muscle, and quakes with his metallic arms, he defeated Motaro! Sheeva and Nightwolf cursed him into a Minotaur before Kahn was beaten! It's likely Motaro hid himself in disgrace.
Shinnok's Uprising[]
The Centaurs were at the Shokan city, Kuatan, as they were quarrelling over their enemy race on how much land they should expand, even over the Shokan's. Since Kahn is gone, they wanted to expand their portions of land, but under Queen Sindel's rules, the lands remained as they were originally. This angered one of the beasts, until Goro intervened. He made an ultimatum to restore their birthlands or be at his mercy since he favored Kitana's rules over the savage Kahn's. The two races were attacked when Shinnok and Quan Chi invaded the Edenian Palace.
They eventually put aside their differences and worked with the Shokan during the Netherrealm War. They were guards over the Cobalt Mines as the Shokan were forging cobalt equipment which was said to reduce Quan Chi's abilities. A couple Centaurs escorted Sonya and Johnny thru Jade's Desert as she saved Cyrax, and soon met up with the Saurians as well.
With the cavalry rallied, they stormed to the Palace! Quan Chi was exterminated, allowing some Centaurs to participate in Nightwolf's ritual on using their strength to cross into the Netherrealm and revive Liu Kang against Shinnok. Victory was theirs, and the treaty was signed between them and the Shokan.
Mortal Kombat: Vengeance[]
At first it was unlikely, according to the Edenian monarchs, that the Centaurs would work cooperatively with the Shokan. But as it turned out, both races mingled together as they arrived at Shang Tsung's Palace Grounds while they drove back the Tarakatans and assisted the heroes. It's likely they were seen again driving back the nomads outside the place while the Kombatants did it within as Lao and Nightwolf decimated the Deadly Alliance.
Sindel promoted the Centaurs along with the Shokan to watch over Baraka and his sparce Tarkatan horde after she proclaimed Baraka to relocate near the Edenian border upon his assistance to the heroes.
Return of the Dragon King[]
The Centaurs were enlisted by the Edenian royal guard as they heard murmurs of Onaga's resurrection; they participated in the battle against Onaga's forces with the Shokan and Saurians.
Some of them were injured, even when they retaliated with their own quakes countering Jax's. Their casualties were light as some were escorted to the Jinsei Chamber and returned near Edenia.
Final Kombat[]
It's implied the Centaurs are still loyal to the Edenian Resistance, rather than Kahn and the other overlords. Only the Minotaur, Motaro, was dealt with by Taven and Hanzo at Kahn's Tower, but he'd been wounded. He soon returned in time for the Battle of Armageddon, and he was a formidable opponent to the Shokan trio! Luckily, he was outmatched and soon caught in Blaze's lethal firestorm erasing him from existence... The other Centaurs dtill remained loyal, even wished the Shokan luck as they relocated to Australia.
Trivia[]
- Motaro, the most well-known Centaur, was chosen as one of Ikran's Favorite Video Game Villains and one of the Creepiest Enemies!
Gallery[]
