7 Mortal Kombat Characters Who Should Never Return

When people think of Mortal Kombat, characters like Scorpion, Liu Kang, Raiden, and Sonya Blade are usually the first to come to mind. But with such a long-running fighting game series, not every fighter has become well-known. Some characters are so forgettable or unpopular that it would be better if they didn’t reappear in future games.

Collections like Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection let players revisit the series’ roots and see the characters from the original arcade games. The 3D era of Mortal Kombat – with games like Deception, Deadly Alliance, and Armageddon – introduced a lot more fighters. In fact, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon boasts the biggest character roster ever, with 62 fighters total, including some lesser-known faces that even longtime fans might not recognize in newer games.

7. Jarek

Okay, so I love a good Mortal Kombat ending, and Jarek’s in MK4 is seriously hilarious. But honestly, as a character, he’s just… not great. The idea was that he’d take over from Kano as the Black Dragon’s boss, but he really doesn’t measure up. He basically tries to be Kano, copying his moves and everything, but without any of the original’s edge. Even his fatalities in MK4 felt like cheap copies – he stole the eye lasers and the heart rip, but they just weren’t as cool or impactful. He just feels like a pale imitation, you know?

Jarek did become more defined in MK: Armageddon, but it wasn’t enough to save the character. Ultimately, he feels like a copy of Kano, but lacks the memorable features – like Kano’s cybernetic eye – that make Kano stand out. With Kano becoming more developed through appearances in several Mortal Kombat films, there’s little reason to revisit Jarek, except maybe as a minor reference.

6. Mokap

Charles Golden, known as Mokap, played a surprisingly significant role in the story of Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. The character is a playful concept – a motion capture performer pulled into the violent world of Mortal Kombat. Originally, Mokap was a nod to Carlos Pesina, the actor who provided the movements for the first Raiden. However, most fans agree that Mokap’s time has passed and he shouldn’t be reintroduced in future games.

Mokap’s fighting style is largely a mix of moves from older characters like Liu Kang, Ermac, and Scorpion. Unlike other unique characters like Meat, he lacks a clear, original playstyle, relying on basic abilities like lifting and fireballs. This, combined with the fact that Mokap has only appeared in 3D Mortal Kombat games, makes it difficult to adapt him effectively to newer 2D titles such as Mortal Kombat 1 and its follow-ups.

5. Bo’ Rai Cho

Bo’ Rai Cho, teacher to iconic Mortal Kombat fighters like Kung Lao and Liu Kang, has a surprisingly unusual fighting style. Rather than using traditional martial arts techniques, he relies on deliberately disgusting attacks – vomiting and farting – to make his opponents sick during a fight. While the concept of a ‘drunken master’ fighting style, as seen with more agility in Mortal Kombat X, is intriguing, Bo’ Rai Cho’s actual moves are pretty repulsive.

Even for a game series known for its violence like Mortal Kombat, Bo’ Rai Cho’s vomiting animation is surprisingly disturbing in high definition – even more so than the usual blood and gore. While his drunken fighting style is interesting, it’s too closely linked to the character’s unpleasant visuals. It might be better for the series to introduce a new character who uses a similar drunken fist style, like Street Fighter 6 did with their character Jamie.

4. Hsu Hao

The developers of Mortal Kombat openly dislike Hsu Hao, with Ed Boon specifically naming him as one of his least favorite characters alongside Mavado. Hsu Hao is a cyborg similar to Kano, but he works for the Red Dragon organization, specializing in sabotage and manipulating the Special Forces team led by Jax and Sonya Blade. While his unique look makes him memorable, his role in the game has become something of a running joke since he first appeared.

Okay, so as a fighting game player, I’ve noticed something kinda hilarious about Hsu Hao. Seriously, almost every time you beat the arcade mode with him, he dies. Like, completely gone, soul lost, no coming back. And it’s not an accident! The developers clearly don’t like him much. Even in newer games like Mortal Kombat 11, they had Erron Black – a character who hasn’t even been around as long – take him out. Honestly, the more they show him getting killed, the funnier it becomes, so they’re leaning into it. I’m all for it – bring on even more death Easter eggs! It’s become a running joke at this point, and it works.

3. Moloch

Moloch is a powerfully built, but not particularly intelligent, character who primarily relies on brute force. He appeared as a challenging sub-boss in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, serving as a hurdle before the final battle. While this three-eyed Oni possesses abilities like self-healing and a breath attack that draws opponents near, he lacks the memorable qualities that make him a standout fighter.

Compared to other memorable sub-bosses in the Mortal Kombat series, Moloch doesn’t quite measure up. Many of these sub-bosses were incredibly challenging, sometimes even comparable to the final boss of their respective games. Goro, the four-armed warrior from the original Mortal Kombat, is a prime example. Others, like Kintaro, Motaro, and the combined force of Noob Saibot and Smoke, have returned as playable characters or in other roles. However, Moloch’s simple design suggests he’s unlikely to reappear as a significant challenge for players in future games.

2. Kai

Many fans forget that Kai has been around as long as characters like Shinnok, first appearing in Mortal Kombat 4. He was created to represent the White Lotus society, the same organization that protects Earthrealm as Liu Kang and Kung Lao. Like other Shaolin fighters, Kai is quick and skilled with fire, using acrobatic moves and unusual martial arts techniques to fight in a distinct style.

Given how unique Kai was when he first appeared in a Midway game, many expected him to become a more prominent character. However, he remained largely in the background, appearing only briefly in cameos and as hidden references. He wasn’t playable again until Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, and even then, his only other role was a small part in the single-player story mode of MK: Deception.

While Kai is a unique character within the White Lotus group, there aren’t many compelling reasons for him to appear in a new Mortal Kombat game. Characters like Kung Jin and Takeda already cover the “fast-paced fighter” role he’d fill, so unless his fighting style was significantly changed, it would be surprising to see him included over other potential newcomers.

1. Kobra

While Kobra briefly appeared as a guest character in Mortal Kombat 1, he hasn’t returned as a playable fighter. And honestly, bringing him back shouldn’t be a priority. His fighting style – a fairly standard street fighting and kickboxing approach with a little fire – doesn’t really fit the world of Mortal Kombat, which is known for its supernatural and fantastical elements. Compared to other characters, Kobra is quite simple and lacks that special something.

Kobra’s appearance is very similar to Ken from Street Fighter, making it difficult to distinguish between the two characters except for Ken’s signature red uniform. As a minor and unremarkable member of the Black Dragon clan, Kobra only appeared in Mortal Kombat: Deception and Armageddon, and his fighting style consisted of simple punches and kicks. Ultimately, Kobra feels too ordinary for a Mortal Kombat game known for its unique cast of ninjas, cyborgs, gods, and monsters.

Which character from Mortal Kombat do you believe is gone for good? Share your thoughts in the comments or discuss it on the ComicBook Forum!

2026-01-12 20:13