# Who is the best Mortal Kombat fighter of all time?

> Mortal Kombat has delivered some of gaming's most iconic fighters across three decades of brutal kombat. From the hellfire-wielding Scorpion to the icy Sub-Zero, which warrior stands above all others?

*By YPB Team · Published May 9, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-mortal-kombat-fighter-of-all-time*

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## Current results (0 votes)

1. **Scorpion**
   The undead specter of the Shirai Ryu ninja clan, driven by vengeance and wielding hellfire, making him the most iconic character in the franchise.
2. **Sub-Zero**
   The Lin Kuei cryomancer who can freeze opponents solid, the eternal rival of Scorpion and one of the series' defining characters.
3. **Liu Kang**
   Earthrealm's greatest champion and Shaolin monk who has canonically won the tournament multiple times, later ascending to godhood.
4. **Raiden**
   The thunder god and eternal protector of Earthrealm, whose wisdom and lightning-based powers have guided fighters across every timeline.
5. **Johnny Cage**
   The Hollywood action star who fights with cocky showmanship and secretly harbors godlike power from a shadow army lineage.
6. **Sonya Blade**
   The no-nonsense Special Forces soldier and founder of Earthrealm's Outworld Investigation Agency, a franchise cornerstone since the original game.
7. **Kitana**
   The Edenian princess wielding deadly steel fans, once an Outworld assassin who ultimately became one of Earthrealm's most crucial allies.
8. **Shang Tsung**
   The ancient shapeshifting sorcerer who can steal souls with a touch, the franchise's original villain and one of its most versatile fighters.
9. **Kung Lao**
   The Shaolin monk who wields a razor-edged hat capable of slicing through enemies, Great Kung Lao's descendant and Liu Kang's best friend.
10. **Noob Saibot**
   The original Sub-Zero reborn as a wraith of darkness, commanding shadow constructs and considered one of the series' most sinister characters.
11. **Mileena**
   The Tarkatan-Edenian hybrid clone of Kitana with a horrifying mouth full of razor teeth, a fan-favorite villain throughout the series.
12. **Shao Kahn**
   The tyrannical emperor of Outworld who wields a skull-topped war hammer, the series' most iconic villain and imposing boss character.
13. **Reptile**
   The last member of the Saurian race serving Shao Kahn, capable of turning invisible and spitting corrosive acid.
14. **Kenshi**
   The blindfolded telekinetic swordsman who draws power from his ancestral katana Sento, a fan favorite introduced in Deadly Alliance.
15. **Jade**
   Kitana's loyal Edenian bodyguard armed with a razor-edged bo staff and glaive, known for her acrobatic fighting style and green combat suit.
16. **Smoke**
   The Lin Kuei ninja turned enenra who can transform into and control smoke, one of the most mysterious and fan-beloved characters.
17. **Ermac**
   A fusion of thousands of fallen warrior souls created by Shao Kahn's sorcery, wielding devastating telekinetic power in battle.

Tags: 2000s, games, classics, legends, all-time