Mortal Kombat 9/Characters

Here are the characters introduced in this game. For the remaining ones, check the Mortal Kombat 1, Mortal Kombat II, and Mortal Kombat 3 character sheets. For Quan Chi, check the Mythologies: Sub-Zero character sheet. For Kenshi, check the Deadly Alliance character sheet.

Cyber Sub-Zero

Voiced by: Jim Miller

In the original canon, Sub-Zero and Smoke attempted to escape from the Lin Kuei's automation program, but Smoke was still captured and forcibly turned into an cybernetic assassin.

During Mortal Kombat 9's story, Smoke is about to be captured by a team of robotic Lin Kuei until Raiden, who has been receiving premonitions of the future, intervenes and destroys the assault team. This, in turn, leads to Sub-Zero being captured instead of Smoke. Cyber Sub-Zero is the end result of that and also receives a story chapter in Story Mode.

For other tropes which apply to him, check the second game's character sheet. This is only for additional tropes which appear in this game.

And I Must Scream: He remembers every horrific deed he committed under Shao Kahn while a cyborg, but was unable to go against his programming. And then it happens again after Quan Chi binds his soul to him. He just can't catch a break.
An Ice Person: He is Sub-Zero, after all. He shares many of his moves with his human self.
Battle Aura: His body even emanates an icy mist.
BFS: Made of ice, naturally.
Body Snatcher: Shao Kahn's soul does this to Sub-Zero in his arcade ending.
Cybernetics Eat Your Soul:
- Ultimately subverted when Kabal knocks him out, allowing Jax to reformat him and restore his conscience.
- Machine Worship: Subverted as well. Although Kuai Liang doesn't enjoy his current predicament one bit, he pretty much comes to the conclusion that he might as well get used to it and make good use of his new abilities.
A Day in the Limelight: He's the focus of Chapter 14.
For Want of a Nail: Thanks to Raiden's knowledge of the future and the time changes resulted, Sub-Zero has been automated in place of Smoke.
Good Counterpart: Could be considered one to Noob Saibot.
Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot: A Cyborg Lin Kuei, just like his fellow cyborgs... with a little Cyromancer thrown in for good measure. Add in "Outworld Emperor" for his Arcade Mode Ending.
Retraux: Cyber Sub-Zero has a Klassic Costume, a palette swap of Cyrax and Sektor's klassic costumes.
Taking You with Me: His first Fatality. Cyber Sub-Zero latches onto his opponent Saibaman-style and self-destructs, leaving nothing behind except for his frozen lower body.
Teleport Spam: In a fashion similar to Cyrax.
Took a Level in Badass: As if Sub-Zero needed it or anything, but still.
- After his soul and free will are returned, he goes on to defeat Sektor, utterly wrecks Goro and Kintaro in a one-on-two fight, knocks Ermac's block off, and then gets to beat some sense into his big brother Noob Saibot.
- Subverted in the end, as Sindel slaughters him to the ground.
- Gameplay-wise, he has twice as many special moves as regular Sub-Zero, and he hits faster.
Unwilling Roboticisation: Kuai Liang is captured and turned into a cyborg against his will with his mind controlled initially, thanks to Raiden's meddling with the timeline sparing Smoke from this fate.

Skarlet

Voiced by: Dana Lyn Baron

Shao Kahn has many warriors under his command, but his trust lies solely in the fighters of his own creation. Warrior blood gathered from countless battlefields, fused with sorcery, produced his most effective enforcer yet: Skarlet.

An expert tracker, she preys on those deemed enemies of the empire. During kombat, Skarlet gains strength from her opponent's blood, absorbing it through her skin. Shao Kahn has a new mission for this formidable kombatant: discover Quan Chi's true intentions and kill him if he plots betrayal of the emperor.

Ascended Extra/Ascended Glitch: Like Ermac and Blaze, she was born from an initial rumor. In the older arcade games, Kitana, Mileena and Jade sometimes appeared in red outfits due to a programming glitch; fans named the glitch-character Scarlet (or Skarlet, if you prefer). Fans found her Dummied Out, and the first batch of DLC has revealed her.
Bare Your Midriff: Her default outfit in Mortal Kombat 9 is essentially a really skimpy bikini.
Blood Lust: Just look at her Fatalities... Skarlet might very well be Interplay of Sex and Violence personified.
Blood Magic/Bloody Murder: Shao Kahn created her from magically fused blood collected off of battlefields, she enters fights via a pool of blood, and she also uses a projectile attack that's like a blood version of Johnny Cage's. According to her ending, she also grows stronger when the blood of others splashes upon her skin.
The Bus Came Back: After not appearing at all in Mortal Kombat 10, she reappaears in Mortal Kombat 11.
The Cameo: In Story Mode, she appears among the entrants in the background during both Shang Tsung's Mortal Kombat tournament and Shao Kahn's Outworld tournament.
Cast from Hit Points: Using her Blood Ball drains her health.
Combat Stilettos: Used in her Eye Scream-worthy X-Ray Attack.
Contract on the Hitman: Her siding with Reiko ultimately leads Shao Kahn's other assassin, Mileena, to turn on her.
Downloadable Content: In her introduction in Mortal Kombat 9, the only newcomer among the DLC characters. She's on the starting roster in Mortal Kombat 11.
Humanoid Abomination: According to her storyline. She's nothing more than a construct of the blood of fallen warriors mixed with sorcery and made to be entirely loyal to Shao Kahn; additionally, her strength increases when the blood of other fighters comes in contact with her skin. Essentially, Skarlet is to blood as Ermac is to souls.
Knife Nut: Her weapons of choice appear to be throwing knives.
Lady in Red
Leave No Survivors: Anybody opposing Shao Kahn's empire is fair game for her to go after, although Quan Chi takes priority and by said control she unwillingly kills her own master Shao Kahn.
Mistaken Identity: A meta example. Many mistook her for Kira at first. When Ed Boon leaked her leg in a Twitter pic, she was originally believed to be a redesign for Sareena or Sindel.
Picky People Eater: While not choosy about victims overall, in Mortal Kombat 11, she claims Edenian blood is something of a delicacy for her.
Power Echoes: Her mask in Mortal Kombat 11 gives her voice a metallic tinge.
Power Limiter: The reason you see her chained up in Kahn's Arena, despite the fact that Kahn created her.
Retcon: In Mortal Kombat 11, her origin is reworked; rather than a product of Shao Kahn's Flesh Pits, she's a former homeless orphan whom he found begging on the streets and mentored in the ways of Blood Magic.
Remember the New Guy?: Given that she appears as early as the Mortal Kombat 1 portions of the story, she's at least a minor case of this.
Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Once Quan Chi's mind control wears off, and she realizes what she has done by killing her master Shao Kahn, it is on.
Screaming Warrior: She speaks as much as Reptile does in this game, yet seems to be as proficient as Liu Kang in terms of warcries.
She's Got Legs: Both of her outfits in Mortal Kombat 9 have her wear knee high boots that show off her legs.
Stripperiffic: Much like her fellow female fighters, but she appears be wearing even less than them.
Suddenly Voiced: After not talking at all in Mortal Kombat 9, she speaks lines in many scenes in Mortal Kombat 11.
Undying Loyalty: To Shao Kahn, as he created her to have such. Unfortunately, this doesn't stop her from being mind controlled.

Guest Fighters

Kratos

"You will not see the end of this day!"

—Fight intro

Voiced by: Terrence Carson (credited as T.C. Carson)

An exclusive character for the PS3 version of the game, Kratos is the main character of the God of War series, making his second fighting game appearance since Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny.

For other tropes which apply to him, check the God of War character sheet. This is only for these tropes which appear in this game.

Badass Adorable: Usually when a Babality happens, the victim usually does something funny, then realizing their failure throw a tantrum. What does Kratos do? Yank the head off of a Medusa plushie and display it proudly. Not only that, but Baby Kratos still has his six pack and Badass Beard. Even as an infant he's still a BAMF.
Bald of Awesome: Much like his home series, Kratos lacks hair on his scalp.
Combat Pragmatist: Not above blinding his opponent with the head of Helios before attacking him.
Defiant to the End: Born of Executive Meddling. Sony didn't want one of their most iconic Badasses looking weak in the game, so Kratos is the only character who keeps up his menacing sneer even during X-Ray Attacks and Fatalities. He still makes the appropriate grunts and spits blood and such though.
Guest Fighter: From God of War. As the 1Up article said, this role could be the best fit for him.
Quick Time Event: As part of his moveset.
Throw the Dog a Bone: His arcade ending. Possibly the only time a god has shown him respect without being back stabbed.
Weapon of Choice: He brings along an impressive arsenal from God of War 3, including:
- Bow of Apollo: As one of his specials. The normal attack fires two, the enhanced attack fires three.
- Blade of Olympus: Involved in the "Blade of Olympus" fatality, and as the third hit of his enhanced Quick Time Event.
- Blades of Exile: His punches, also involved in the first hit of his X-Ray, as well as in his "Blade of Olympus" fatality.
- Head of Helios
- Nemean Cestus: Involved as the second hit of his X-Ray and in his "Medusa's Gaze" fatality.
- Medusa's Head: Involved in his "Medusa's Gaze" fatality.

Freddy Krueger

Voiced by: Patrick Seitz

The Big Bad of A Nightmare on Elm Street. Appears here as he did in the remake.

A malevolent spirit of the Dream Realm, Freddy Krueger preys on the souls of the living as they sleep. When Shao Kahn began to steal Earthrealm's souls (souls Freddy considered his own), Freddy battled the emperor in the Dream Realm. But Shao Kahn's will was too strong. He pulled Freddy into the real world, where he was mortal, and defeated him. A badly injured yet determined Freddy fitted both his hands with demonically enhanced razor gloves. Once he has killed Shao Kahn, he will find a way back to the Dream Realm, where he will torment Earthrealm's souls for eternity.

For other tropes which apply to him, check the A Nightmare On Elm Street character sheet. This is only for these tropes which appear in this game.

And I Must Scream: His second fatality involves him throwing his opponent into a boiler he summoned, and closing the door of said boiler.
De-Power: Shao Kahn pulled Freddy into the real world to deprive him of his Dream Realm immortality.
Deadpan Snarker: His shushing of the opponent during a throw, as well as the sarcastic wave goodbye during his boiler fatality.
Downloadable Content: He was the fourth and final DLC character released for the game.
Evil Laugh: Two of his only voiced lines in the game are a sinister chuckle and a hearty laugh when he commits a fatality.
Full-Name Basis: On the character selection screen, he's the only other character besides Johnny Cage whose last name is displayed and read by the announcer. During gameplay, however, his victories are only announced with "Freddy wins".
Guest Fighter: From the A Nightmare on Elm Street series. Notably, he's the first of five guest characters in the series to hail from horror films
High-Pressure Blood: His first fatality involves him physically dragging his opponent into the dream realm, leaving only a fountain of blood where they once stood, just like in the movies.
Jump Scare: His Babality has the camera pan into the carriage to show a slash-marked teddy bear... and then baby Freddy attacks the camera.
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: In his ending, Nightwolf's attempt to seal him away so that he can no longer harm the people of Earthrealm only puts Freddy right back into the Dream Realm, the place he's most at home at, so he can continue his killing rampage.
Nightmare Face: Covered in burns, as always.
Silent Snarker: Played with: one of his attacks involves him telling his opponent, "Shhh".
Wolverine Claws: Now on both hands.