Summary

• Mortal Kombat 2 features a massive cast of characters, making it difficult for the creative team to choose who to include in the deadly tournament.
• Not all characters in Mortal Kombat 2 have equal chances of winning, as some, like King Jerrod, lack powers or gameplay experience.
• Characters like Jax, Kano, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, Jade, and Baraka have unique abilities and skills that make them formidable opponents in the tournament.

will feature a Mortal Kombat tournament, and that means filling the tournament with killer contestants. Given the abundance of Mortal Kombat characters, there are so many options to choose from for Mortal Kombat 2.

Based on what has been revealed about Mortal Kombat 2 so far, the movie's creative team found it hard to choose which characters to keep in and who to leave out, as the Mortal Kombat 2 cast is monumental, to say the least. Not only are a handful of new characters introduced, but the survivors of the reboot, along with characters who were even killed off in the 2021 movie, are returning for the sequel too. In total, 18 Mortal Kombat characters have been confirmed for Mortal Kombat 2 so far, but not all of them have strong chances in the deadly tournament.

18 King Jerrod

King Jerrod might be royalty, but there's nothing to show that he's remotely powerful. The character is the king of Edenia, but he's quickly killed by Shao Kahn when Kahn takes over the realm and steals his wife, Queen Sindel. While Jerrod is important in the Mortal Kombat lore and is related to some important characters, including Sindel and his daughter, Kitana, he has never even been a playable character in the video game series. However, given that King Jerrod will feature in Mortal Kombat 2, the character could be given some kind of skill set. The sequel can even depict King Jerrod's Mortal Kombat fight with Shao Kahn.

17 Jackson "Jax" Briggs

Jax Briggs, a formidable Special Forces major, is notable for his cybernetic arm enhancements, which give him unparalleled brute strength. These arms allow Jax to deliver crushing blows to his opponents, and his background in military training gives him a tactical advantage too. However, Jax often leans too heavily on his raw power, as he was completely useless before he developed his cybernetic arms in the third act of 2021's Mortal Kombat. While Jax possesses immense power, his over-reliance on strength and emotional triggers prevent him from being the most powerful, even if he is the embodiment of raw force meeting heart.

16 Kano

Kano became an instant hit with audiences in 2021's Mortal Kombat, as the Australian mercenary's banter and constantly switching sides between good and evil depending on how it benefits him made for the reboot's most exciting element. However, he wasn't exactly all that powerful. Kano displayed willpower and fearlessness, and that certainly gives him an edge over other characters, but he was weak without his laser eye, which ultimately didn't give him much of an advantage either. Kano was killed by Sonya Blade, but he'll somehow return from the dead in Mortal Kombat 2.

15 Sonya Blade

Sonya Blade is one of the pillars of the Mortal Kombat series. Her resilience, intelligence, and determination are exemplified in her quest to safeguard Earthrealm from threats in the video game. She achieves the same thing in the 2021 reboot, but the character didn't get a chance to showcase her brute force and military background. One of the standout elements in Sonya's character is her militaristic flair, and her "Kiss of Death," where her deadly kiss would obliterate her opponents in the earlier games. Considering how Mortal Kombat changed Sonya Blade's fatality, she is far from the most powerful in the Mortal Kombat 2 cast.

14 Johnny Cage

Johnny Cage, with his Hollywood charisma, flashy moves, and signature sunglasses, offers a unique blend of self-assured humor and genuine heroism in the Mortal Kombat universe. While the character might seem like he's all talk on the surface and does not possess any powers, Cage is way more than just ego and bravado. Johnny has unmatched martial arts skills honed from his time in Hollywood. As the video game series evolves, Johnny unlocks his own set of energy-based powers too. It's unclear how powerful Karl Urban's Johnny Cage will be when he's introduced in the sequel, but his green energy powers have been teased for the film.

13 Jade

With her emerald-green attire and lethal bo staff, Jade stands tall as one of the most formidable female characters in the universe. Jade is the loyal friend and protector of Princess Kitana, but her character is not without conflict. As Edenian royalty is entangled with the politics of Outworld under Shao Kahn's rule, Jade is often torn between her loyalty to Kitana and her duties to the throne. Jade's weapon of choice, a razor-sharp bo staff, is an extension of her agile combat style. Jade also possesses the ability to control green energy, allowing her to hurl energy projectiles, create protective shields, and even become temporarily invulnerable to enemy attacks.

12 Kitana

Kitana, the Edenian Princess with striking blue attire and razor-edged fans, balances her regal background with deadly combat skills. Raised by Shao Kahn after he conquered Edenia, Kitana grows up believing she's the daughter of a ruthless emperor. However, as she uncovers the dark secrets of her past, she grapples with deep-rooted feelings of betrayal. Given all the characters confirmed for Mortal Kombat 2, including her true father, Kitana's backstory will likely be a cornerstone of the sequel. That means her powers, abilities, and weapons will be on full display, and someone will suffer the wrath of her aerobatics and whirlwind attacks.

11 Baraka

Baraka, with his menacing Tarkatan visage, razor-sharp teeth, and blade-extended arms, is an unmistakable presence in the franchise. Representing the savage Tarkatan race, Baraka embodies primal ferocity, making him a fearsome opponent in battle. However, while Mortal Kombat 2 could depict the character's raw aggression, he could just as easily be depicted as a mindless beast, similar to how Reptile was depicted in 2021's Mortal Kombat. Baraka could be an expendable character and be used as an introductory fight for one of the new protagonists. However, it'd still be a tough fight, and thanks to his retractable blades attached to his arms, Baraka has some of the most gruesome fatalities.

10 Cole Young

It might be disheartening to hear it given that the character's powerfulness was controversial in 2021's Mortal Kombat, but Cole Young is one of the most powerful in the Mortal Kombat 2 cast. Cole is an original character created specifically for the reboot, and many fans took issue with the ease with which the novice took down Goro, the champion of the Mortal Kombat tournament. Nevertheless, Cole achieved exactly that, and his gold armor hints that it won't be easy to take him down in the sequel. Regardless of whether the character is underwritten, Cole is extremely powerful, but he's yet to showcase any fatalities unique to him.

9 Queen Sindel

Queen Sindel, with her flowing white hair and regal presence, is a captivating figure and represents a complex blend of victimhood and power. Her story weaves through tragedy, manipulation, and redemption. While her biggest skill is knowing what to say to people and when to say it so she can maneuver into the right position to retain her royal stature, she's also known for her banshee-like scream. The scream is a sonic wave so potent it can disorient or even shatter her enemies. This sets her apart from other characters, as her fatality doesn't even require her to touch her opponents.