Shao Kahn is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. A powerful tyrant of the Outworld throne, he is one of the most celebrated villains in not only the fighting game genre, but the video game genre as a whole. Alongside Shinnok, Shao Kahn serves as a primary antagonist of the franchise in many instances.
Shao Kahn made his debut in Mortal Kombat II as the final boss, a role he also served in Mortal Kombat 3 and in later games. He later returned as the non-playable final boss in Mortal Kombat (2011), serving as the main antagonist of the game's Story Mode.
Shao Kahn returned in Mortal Kombat 11 as a pre-order bonus character while also having a role as a secondary antagonist in the game's Story Mode, in addition to being one of the announcers for the game's Arcade. He reprises his role as a secondary antagonist in the Aftermath Story Mode expansion, serving it alongside Sindel.
A new version of Shao Kahn returns in Mortal Kombat 1 as a playable character, serving as the tertiary antagonist in the game's Story Mode. In the new timeline, Shao Kahn is now referred to as General Shao, a renowned soldier in the Outworld army. His backstory in this timeline is expanded upon, with him being physically improved from being a weak child at birth into a conquering warrior bent on conquest and war by his unnamed father. His skills and tactical brilliance allowed him to lead Outworld into many victories and conquests, establishing himself as Outworld's top general. Shao's desire for conquest however incites a growing animosity with Sindel, Outworld's Empress, as he does not abide himself to Sindel's rule, but what he sees as better for Outworld itself. After his attempt to usurp the Outworld throne, he is imprisoned but later escapes, amassing an army to take Outworld from Mileena's benevolent rule.
Shao Kahn the Konqueror is the emperor of Outworld and has served as the main antagonist for most of the series. In many respects, he resembles a large Asian warrior and is well known for his God-like strength which rivals, if not outright exceeds, that of Raiden. He is also known for his extreme callousness, brutality, ferocity in battle, and fondness for personal executions, although he has occasionally spared the lives of his subordinates after proving their worth to him. He has also spared the lives of other victims such as Sindel and Kitana, raising the latter like his own daughter and treating the former like his own wife. However, his true power that has served him well and allowed him to rise above the image of a mere warlord is his high intelligence and profound knowledge of the black arts. Like his subordinate Shang Tsung, he has the power to consume other souls. It is revealed in Mortal Kombat: Deception that Shao Kahn was an advisor to Outworld as Raiden was to Earthrealm, which would suggest that he is, in fact, a God, as well as the former protector of Outworld during Onaga's rule.
Perhaps Shao Kahn’s greatest strength lies in his ability to work towards his goals with great tenacity and his ability to organize. However, his greatest weakness is his arrogance and overconfidence. Shao Kahn has often underestimated mankind, and therefore tried to conquer Earthrealm many times, with or without a queen (consort), to no success. He also possesses a blinding lust for conquest that can sometimes overwhelm his better judgment, allowing him to be manipulated by those that are cunning enough to exploit this weakness.
Theme songs[]
Shao Kahn's theme (Mortal Kombat: Conquest)
Shao Kahn, the Tyrant (MK11: Aftermath)
Shao Kahn vs Raiden Theme (Mortal Kombat Conquest)
Shao Kahn's Theme - Magma Opus (Mortal Kombat Reconciliation/Pac Man World 2)
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Part II[]
Shao Kahn was first believed to be resurrected according to Raiden after he found Aiko's older self; she figured the war is still raging and Kahn wasn't dead for good. Three months passed, since before Kung Lao came across Aiko, and Raiden and the defenders of Earthrealm resumed their war against him weakening the dimensional fabric. It was hypothesized that Kahn's been regaining his lost strength since his temporary death by Liu Kang and Kung Lao.
It was later unveiled in Aiko's meditation the insurrection against Kahn failed. Kitana was unable to retrieve the throne, only to have him escape while Shang Tsung and the Shokan slaughtered against the Centaurs and Tarkans.
Kahn was then seen inside the Great Pyramid and forcefully summoned Shang to accomplish a task with Quan Chi who revived Kahn via his amulet! The same one he had possession of until his demise. The same artifact succeeded on resurrecting and brainwashing Queen Sindel, to reunite her by Kahn's side and decimate both realms at once underneath the Elder Gods' noses.
In visions during Aiko's heart meld with Kung Lao, he survived during her dystopian future, even domineering both Earthrealm and Outworld; however, he wasn't involved in the former's demise which was led on by Shinnok and Quan Chi. He did, though, intimidate Kung Lao, especially assassinating him in various ways and bashing him in his head he shall fail!
Kahn was seen later with his new queen, Sindel, upon the Balcony, and he ordered his remaining extermination squads to wipe out the Kombatants; however, they broke thru the defense lines in their Animality forms while still putting up a good battle in their human forms. Kahn awaited the Champion's arrival, which happened to be Liu Kang instead of Kung Lao who was brutally killed by his elite general, Motaro! He met up with Liu Kang at his own turf, the Pit III, and was impressed by his increased strength, thinking he'd be a more formidable opponent. Kahn unleashed all his fury in each of his lethal moves including soul fireballs, his charges and eventually his Sledgehammer! His brute strength, and his overzealousness, wasn't enough to win over Liu Kang with his flexibility and resilience! He kept on evading Kahn's brutal onslaughts by aiming for his head making him dazed and ducking from his Air Charges leading to uppercuts! Both warriors' strength began to wane, but not until visions of Liu's fallen friends entered his mind, giving him pent-up energy by sending a powerful uppercut to Kahn which made him plummet into the deathly blades below, instantaneously obliterating his body and soul!!
It was said by Raiden that Kahn has been sent to the Netherrealm...
Mortal Kombat: Vengeance[]
When Kung Lao asked Sindel what was up with Onaga, she mentioned way back in 8450 BC he was the Emperor of Outworld preceding him; Kahn was actually anointed as the Dragon's advisor. Until he became agitated working under him, and so he made an insurrection ruling the realm for himself. He was so power hungry that he poisoned Onaga and made his generals fight against the mummified army. Since then, he reigned supreme and began his conquest of other realms, starting with Edenia, and the Elder Gods established the MK tournament which granted him the right to invade after 10 straight victories. Sindel lost her kingdom, her beloved Jerrod, and soon herself in the process...
Return of the Dragon King[]
Sindel recollected Kahn's imperialistic rule to Kung Lao and Hanzo. Kahn used to be Onaga's most trusted advisor and bodyguard, until he grew weary and became obsessed with ruling Outworld. Despite having the same goals on merging all realms, much like the One Being, the mighty Kombatant challenged his lively extermination squads against Onaga's undead army, which was rumored to be unstoppable. Fortunately, since he was cunning enough to poison the Dragon King, he was able to take Outworld, and soon Edenia, for himself.
Final Kombat[]
Kahn was in his throne room along with Shang, Quan and Onaga as they discussed on uniting against their adversaries during Armageddon while also claiming the prize of Blaze's flames to destroy all. Two eavesdroppers, Taven and Hanzo, listened and were relieved they didn't know it was all a setup. Kahn was the first to take in Quan's words, even coaxing Onaga and Shang who refused to listen. Kahn planned to decimate his enemies, even reunite himself with Sindel, and he was about to head thru the portal to Edenia before Taven and Hanzo were sensed by Shang. He failed to stop them from escaping via Taven's warp ability and Caro's rip.
He was also seen in one of Raiden's visions in which he won over him atop the Pyramid of Argus. Right before he was about to hit him with his fatal Hammer, Raiden uttered the cryptic message, He must win.
Kahn along with Shinnok's doppelganger led the charge within the Army of Darkness down the southern crater. Their enemies met up with them, until Fire God Liu Kang swooped down and stunned Kahn and his men. Nevertheless, he was still on the warpath as he maliciously knocked whoever was in his way using his Hammer, even Mileena. He soon ambushed the savior who was about to confront Blaze until Onaga was struck by lightning and klobbered him resulting in their own feud!
Thankfully, Kahn became nonexistent once he and Onaga were covered by Blaze's eruption.
Trivia[]
- There was a tie between two ideal VAs for Ikran's fic, either Steve Ritchie and/or John Vernon; they may switch roles, but for his wrathful sides, it shall be the former.
- It may be possible he has drawn inspiration from Ganon, the main villain from the Zelda series. Arrogant and zealous, intimidating, uses magic, rules realms with an iron fist, conquering, his outlook and attire, the works!
- His source code description in MK1 is Dominance.
Gallery[]
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Skins[]
