The Tarkata, also known as Tarkatans, Mutants, and Nomads, are a brutal species of warriors situated in Outworld.
Tarkatans animated in Defenders of the Realm
Previously, The Tarkata were an interspecies breed of warriors. They were considered a mix of a humanoid race from Outworld and a demonic race from the Netherrealm.
However, this has been changed in the new timeline, as Baraka tells D'Vorah in Mortal Kombat X that his realm was conquered by Shao Kahn. This could suggest that the Tarkatans are from their own realm and not a fusion of Outworld and Netherrealm inhabitants as previously established.
Members[]
- Baraka
- Mileena (Half-Tarkatan, Half-Edenian)
- Karbrac (Non-canon character)
- Alien (used a Tarkatan host, adopting Tarkatan physiology, non-canon DLC character)
- Super Tarkatans (MK vs. DC Universe)
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Part II[]
Tarkatans were first seen within Shang Tsung's Island as Liu Kang and Kung Lao were evacuating the collapsing stronghold after the first tournament. Several surviving stragglers followed the main heroes to the Wu Shi Academy and invaded, as well as killed off many monks, with fiery cannons, their own brutality, etc. The group, excepting Sonya whom one took to Outworld, drove them away, though the damage had been done. After the Monks defeated Baraka, Tsung, Kintaro and Kahn, they at times dealt with Karbrac and his clan.
It'd been three months since those incidences, including the failed insurrection, as several more Tarkans fell as they sided with the Centaurs to reclaim Kahn in power, even having numerous bodies littered in and near Kahn's Keep. They once again regrouped as the Konqueror executed the merger as part of his extermination squads, with Baraka and Mileena as a couple generals.
Shinnok's Uprising[]
With Kahn destroyed, the Tarkans only functioned as carnivores, scavengers, and mostly hobos of the Wastelands. They grew very irritable once they noticed the Army of Darkness invading near the Palace, even when Baraka witnessed the escapees of the Netherrealm. He stated to Nightwolf and Sub-Zero he and his kind had their DNA mixed with demons from the underworld itself, possibly mixed codes. Baraka enlisted his warriors to invade the Palace and tear Quan Chi and Shinnok limb from limb since they're a prideful race, never wanting to be dominated and tamed by overlords again! They recklessly dashed to the fray leaving a few stupefied Kombatants behind.
Due to their bloodthirsty actions, the Tarkatans led by Baraka broke thru enemy lines and infiltrated the Palace; however, they never used Cobalt armor, making themselves and Baraka vulnerable to Quan Chi. He was able to sense out the general and have him at his mercy, courtesy of Shinnok's Amulet, till the sorcerer was decapitated by Scorpion, and soon the overlord decimated with the fake artifact! Kitana and the monarchs had to ban the Tarkatans into Outworld on a permanent basis on account on jeopardizing the mission. Although they needed to clean up the prison filled with iron blades and Mileena's scattered corpse!
Mortal Kombat: Vengeance[]
Baraka and his kind hadn't been encountered yet, but it's been implied they'd be hiding within the Wastelands since the heroes would be entering their territory. It's most likely they'd be located where the dark auras of the Deadly Alliance are.
Shokan army decimating the Tarkatan horde
Sure enough, it was confirmed as they were rallied up by Quan Chi when their roars emanated throughout the Palace. The army was unleashed onto the group of heroes en route to Shang Tsung's Palace, along with the Red Dragon criminals. Baraka was also willing to confront his own bloodlust and treacherous kind! They were proven to be overwhelming the team until Raiden and Fujin made a surprise ambush.
Baraka lent the heroes a place to rest before the final battle at one of the deserted Tarkatan War Kamps. More Tarkatans met up with the heroes a few hours later as they went to Shang Tsung's Palace; Raiden and Scorpion infiltrated the place, followed by the other Kombatants while Lao and Fujin shut the Soulnado down. The bloodthirsty mutants, as Baraka assisted the defenders, had fallen, and it's likely their numbers had dwindled greatly...
Baraka was then escorted by Jade and Kitana thru the Palace gates and the royal guards. Sindel made the proposition to him that since he willingly helped the heroes and turned on his more merciless clan, his exile shall be reduced, allowing him to relocate near the Edenian border. Under the condition the Shokan and Centaurs shall keep a sharp eye on him and the Tarkatans.
Return of the Dragon King[]
The Tarkatans were vital for Onaga's new army; they functioned as his main militia and lethal enforcers, especially when they slaughtered the people of Sun Do when they were unable to reveal the location of the final Kamidogu. The time-displaced Baraka functioned as a spy among their ranks, disguised as just a military man, as he dreaded he'd come across his more vicious double, He was disgusted they'd work for another emperor instead of fending for themselves like the new Saurians while also increasing their bloodlust; he was flabbergasted that Onaga governs the undead rather than a lively army unlike Kahn... Still, along with Sonya, Jax, and Hotaru with the Seido soldiers, they marched thru the Outworld frontier en route to Edenia.
The Tarkatans got their blades and hands full as they dealt with the Saurians, Shokan, Centaurs and the heroes consisting of Kuai, Smoke, Sareena, Nightwolf, the treacherous time-displaced Baraka, the Chameleons, and the unlikely allies Dairou and Darrius. They were mostly impaled by their turncoat, even decimating their own ruler, courtesy of his new fiery breath gifted to him by a God of sorts... Their numbers were decimating rather quickly.
Gallery[]
