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~ Shao Kahn taunting a Mortal Kombat fighter before the fight begins.
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You weak pathetic fools, I've come for your souls!
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~ Shao Kahn in the ending of the 1995 movie.
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All realms will tremble before me! Outworld will again be conquerors, never the conquered!
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~ Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat 11.
Shao Kahn, also referred to as The Konqueror, is one of the two main antagonists (alongside Shinnok) of the Mortal Kombat series. He is the omnipotent emperor of Outworld.
He serves as the unseen overarching antagonist of Mortal Kombat I, the main antagonist of Mortal Kombat II, 3, Shaolin Monks, and (2011), a minor antagonist in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance and Deception, the secondary antagonist of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, a posthumous antagonist in Mortal Kombat X, and the Mortal Kombat X comic series, a DLC character and major antagonist in Mortal Kombat 11, and its story mode DLC, Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath.
In Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Shao Kahn fused with Darkseid into becoming the combined main antagonist Dark Kahn of the crossover video game.
Cast
Voices
Steve Ritchie: Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3 (and its variants), Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Frank Welker: Mortal Kombat movie
John Vernon and Michael Des Barres: Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
Nigel Casey: Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Patrick Seitz: Mortal Kombat VS DC Universe
Bob Carter: Mortal Kombat (2011)
Ike Amadi: Mortal Kombat 11
Fred Tatasciore: Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpionās Revenge
Portrayals
Brian Glynn: motion captures for games Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3 (and the latter's variants)
Brian Thompson: Mortal Kombat Annihilation
Jeffrey Meek: Mortal Kombat Konquest
Aleks Paunovic: Mortal Kombat Legacy
Stephan Scalabrino: face model for Mortal Kombat 11
Personality
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You are nothing!
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~ One of Shao Kahn's taunts.
Shao Kahn is a treacherous, violent, ruthless, sarcastic, persuasive, egotistical and bloodthirsty sadist, so he has driven to his goals by any means, yet also possesses a strange sense of humor, laughing maniacally all the time. He desires only power and will do anything to make sure he has it, showing great paranoia at times. Kahn is also extremely manipulative, malevolent, arrogant, and cruel, so he desires only to conquer other realms and add them to his own. He also shows compassion and romanticism in some media, such as the live-action series (as he seduces and charms several women in the series, including two of Quan Chi's undead female slaves) and shows a fatherly, caring relationship with Kitana despite the fact that she is covertly working against him.
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Don't make me laugh.
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~ One of Shao Kahn's taunts from Mortal Kombat III.
Jeffrey Meek's role is more interesting when one considers that he played Raiden on the same show, occasionally opposite himself. In episode 21 "Stolen Lies", he deceives a society of people called the Shaakans into believing that he is their god; every aspect of their culture (Farland = Outworld, children pretending to steal souls, a six-armed Shokan warrior and Kahn's henchmen on the scarf, a skull on the head of a Shaakan warrior) reflects this blind worship of the Outworld emperor.
In Battlewave, Shao Kahn would arrange a different plan to open the portals. He kidnaps Sonya and, by means of hypnosis and brainwashing, convinces her to marry him. The marriage would weaken the barriers between realms enough to allow Kahn to seize Earth easily (and make Sonya the queen of both realms and his wife). During the wedding ceremony held, however, the wedding would be crashed and he would be stopped by the Earthrealm warriors' interruption, ending with Sonya becoming free from Kahn's influence. In the comic, he claims to not be the romantic type, but he also states that Sonya is very beautiful as his bride. However, he soon comes to realize that both Outworld and Earth would be in turmoil as a result of the wedding.
In Shao Kahn's personal Mortal Kombat: Armageddon ending, he successfully merges all of the Realms to Outworld, but he is soon driven to madness, because there are no longer any realms left to conquer.
In the rebooted timeline, players get to learn more about Shao Kahn's true personality. Throughout his appearences, he shows how little he cares about anyone but himself; only showing concern for those he considers useful. This includes Sindel who he never shows any actual affection despite their interactions making it seem that he did care for her deep down.
Powers and Abilities
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Is that your best?
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~ One of Shao Kahn's taunts.
Shao Kahn is extremely powerful, able to utilize superhuman strength and magic. He wields the powerful Wrath Hammer, which can send opponents flying with one strike, and he seems to have some knowledge in cloning, as seen in Deadly Alliance. Kahn's moves include a powerful shoulder barge, a green star-like fireball that he fires from his facial area, an uppercut that both generates a shield against projectiles and knocks opponents off their feet, and a rising knee attack that generates a streak behind him. He is also shown to be a masterful expert on several Chinese kung fu, including Tai Tzu and Lui He.
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Feel the wrath of Shao Kahn!
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~ Another one of Shao Kahn's taunts.
Another testament to his abilities is that his god-like strength can match (or outright exceed) someone like Raiden's caliber. This fact ultimately holds true in the Mortal Kombat (2011) intro, where he defeats and kills Raiden in the previous timeline. Upon merging Earthrealm with Outworld, Kahn's already powerful might increase to the point where he could put of a good fight against Raiden when fused with the Elder God's powers; even tanking a lighting blast with no visible discomfort. Despite this, Raiden still managed to kill him after a lengthy battle.
Elder Gods (lost their powers and wiped out by Kronika)
Young Liu Kang (from original timeline, currently a god)
Young Johnny Cage (from original timeline)
Young Jax Briggs (from original timeline)
Young Sonya Blade (from original timeline)
Young Sub-Zero (from original timeline)
Young Scorpion (from original timeline, current leader of Shirai Ryu)
Young Kung Lao (from original timeline, current leader of the Shaolin Monks)
Quotes
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Finish him!
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~ Shao Kahn as the announcer.
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Flawless victory.
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Fatality.
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Friendship. Friendship?!
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~ Shao Kahn in disbelief at a character's Friendship in MK II.
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Friendship. Friendship, again?!
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~ Shao Kahn in disbelief at a character's Friendship in MK III.
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You insult me, flea. I am Shao Kahn. I will be your death!
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~ Shao Kahn to Liu Kang and Kung Lao, after blasting Raiden.
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Follow if you want to defeat Shang Tsung. Follow me if you want to die at my hands!
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~ To Liu Kang and Kung Lao.
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But like all who come to this realm, you serve me, whether you are aware of it or not.
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Your soul will soon suffer.
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As I said, all within this realm serve my will, even those that seek to betray me.
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My people have spoken! And a king must, if only once every millennium or so, listen to the will of his people.
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~ Kahn as he brings Kintaro out to fight.
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There is something in you... that makes me feel like a conqueror again!
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You can earn their freedom! If you defeat me, they will be freed!"
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~ Referring to Kitana, Johnny Cage, and Raiden
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Earthrealm will be mine! It will fall as easily as Kung Lao!
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~ After catching Kung Lao by the neck and casually tossing him aside
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Blaze was no match for the Konqueror. His strength increased tenfold, the Forces of Light could not fend him off his final invasion as he merged each realm with Outworld. But his ultimate triumph was soon to be his downfall. With nothing left to conquer, Shao Kahn was driven into madness.
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~ Shao Kahn's ending in Armageddon.
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It is done. Your time has passed. Ages wasted in foolish resistance. Now is the dawn of my rule. [Raiden begins casting a spell] Yes. Pray to the worms, Raiden... as your world ends.
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~ Shao Kahn to Raiden, shortly before killing him in the original timeline.
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The Elder Gods fear me now. Their pathetic Mortal Kombat shackles me no longer. They mascarade as dragons, but are mere toothless worms. I know you can feel it... It is the end of all things.
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~ Shao Kahn while fighting Raiden, repeating the same words he used in the final battle of Armageddon.
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It's a shame Dark Raiden is gone.
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~ Shao Kahn liked Dark Raiden more than normal Raiden
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If Quan Chi or Shang Tsung return I'll kill them.
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~ Shao Kahn to Raiden after mentioning that one of the sorcerers could return
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The Elder Gods are gone Raiden.
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~ Shao Kahn telling Raiden how the Elder Gods will not return
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All these ages you have fought me. You denied me my rightful claim. Not this time.
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~ Shao Kahn to Raiden.
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An anemic effort from ineffectual deities. Today, I become THE Elder God!
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~ Shao Kahn to Raiden after the Elder Gods intervene.
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I am no refugee! I am Kahn of Outworld! Vacate my throne, or I'll soak these sands with your blood!
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~ Shao Kahn to Kotal Kahn.
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I will have my throne! Empires must expand or die!
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~ Shao Kahn and Kotal about to fighting.
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Surrender, on the brink of victory? You're as feeble-minded as Jerrod.
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~ Shao Kahn to Kitana.
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How easily you are felled, Kronika. Once your power's mine, I will rule eternity!
Shao Kahn was the main antagonist in the movie, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, where he was depicted as Raiden's brother.
He always appeared with a cape in official depictions by Midway, which he took off for fights and it was not until Mortal Kombat: Deception that he wore it in combat.
Shao Kahn was originally going to be unmasked with large, fang-like teeth since everyone in Outworld was originally going to be of Baraka's race, the Tarkata. However, in Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, he appeared for the first time unmasked after he threw his hammer at the player, but it was thrown back into his face, smashing his helmet. His appearance was like that of the Mortal Kombat II comic.
Brian Glynn, the stunt actor that portrayed Shao Kahn in the original games, was humorously shorter than the majority of the cast but his figure was noted to be perfect for the character. As a result, his size had to be digitally alerted where Shao Kahn appeared to be taller than the majority of the characters.
In more recent games, Shao Kahn has been scaled down in terms of both size and build.
In a strategy guide in 1993 published for MKII in the UK, he was stated to dress like a 70's disco queen.
Shao Kahn was voted number four on the Top 10 Mortal Kombat Kharacters list made by Screw Attack.
In the internet video, he appeared inĀ Annoying Orange Vs. Mortal Kombat as a minor character who was murdered by Shang Tsung, who then became champion.
Shawn Kittelsen, one of the writers of MK11,Ā confirmed on Twitter that Shao Kahn was not killed inĀ MK11's Story Mode, but was simply blinded by Kitana. This turned out to be true as Kahn later appears in the Aftermath expansion as one of the playable fighters/main characters before getting killed for real after Shang Tsung absorbs hisĀ and Sindel's souls after defeating them both in kombat.
Movies Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins (1995): To be added Mortal Kombat (1995): To be added Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997): To be added Mortal Kombat: Rebirth (2010): To be added Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020): Scorpion | Quan Chi | Shang Tsung | Goro | Shao Kahn | Kano | Baraka | Reptile | Moloch | Motaro Mortal Kombat (2021): To be added
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