I think the easiest explanation is that of focusing one's chi in order to turn it into the energy needed to produce a projectile. See Street Fighter for more on that.
The more obscure abilities such as the Kiss of Death or Shadow Kick are probably best left to the imagination. In the case of Sub-Zero and Frost, their power is ancestral and therefore most likely genetic.
Other characters such as Stryker are a no brainer in the fact that the majority of their moves are actual objects and could be done in real life.

It as been stated by Ed Boon and (at the time) John Tobias that the Earth heroes, the first original chosen warriors (Liu Kang, Sonya, Johnny Cage), are no simple ordinary humans.

They were born and gifted with powers that made them represent their realm in Mortal Kombat. They were gifted with unique special abilities that made them stand out.

After MK4 though, it became sort of a common tradition to give most characters some sort of “magical” attack.

MK revolves around the powers of “Chi”, mind control, magic, the supernatural, etc. So its not that difficult to believe that other Earth characters (by the looks of it mainly the bad guys, say, Kobra for example) are interested in these powers and try to learn them to use them in kombat.

That was even implied with Jarek's MKA Bio, but his search was for the "Perfect Fatality".

But as far as we know, Earth warriors are humans, but some of them are gifted with supernatural powers.

This part I didn't know. It'd be nice to see the source that this is from. It does raise the question of 'how do they manage to become born with these gifts?' It's almost like X-Men all over again!

Of course.

There's a huge interview (well, the entire book has Ed and John and almost all the members of the MK Team talking about the games) in one of the EGM Masters series MK Books (MK3 Official Kollectors I believe) were Ed/John addresses this subject and even reinforces it in some of the characters they are discussing in detail (say, you reach a page were its all about Jax, and they would talk all about him).

There is another big book that was published during MK2 that did feature MK1 characters information despite the book being based mainly on the MK2 storyline and characters, MK2 move sets and codes, etc. They also mentioned similar thoughts regarding Earth fighters abilities. In this case, I don’t remember the name of the book. But I’ll try to find the name and if possible a link (I think I still have this book somewhere!)

EDIT: Haha! Found some of the Mk2 mags and Spanish Magazines I was talking about. Theres no info in those pics since I dont have them, but if anyone who has the mags can read and confirm it would be cool: http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s13/nxm_bucket/Scans/Hobby%20Consolas%2062/Imagen-58.jpg, http://www.huguesjohnson.com/features/loser_phase/mkautograph_large.jpg.

"Hobby Consolas" and "Revista Nintendo" (I think those are the names) are two of the Mags that have that info with Ed.

The subject is never really brought up as direct as it was in the EGM books though, but you can also get a

MK is nothing like DC or X-Men lol, supernatural yes but very different.

That's what I love about fantasy and fiction, every series is different. SW is different then LOTR, MK is different from SF, DC to Marvel etc, etc.

MK's origins has always been about the supernatural, very few characters are 100% humanlike with no powers. Stryker is really the only one that comes to mind here. He has no teleports, "magic moves" etc just plain old martial art street fighting, tazers, guns, grenades and a nightstick.

I like to think they received training from some other worldly source. Bo Rai Cho or another special trainer in Outworld could’ve played a great part with the gravity defying moves.

That's a good point too.

Well, didn't Sub-Zero learn his abilities from the Lin Kuei? They never really mentioned how Sonya had gotten her powers, Scorpion and Reptile's are pretty much self-explanitory, and well, the only possible answer is just by learning I guess.

And not just humans from Earth like Stryker.

Mileena and Kitana seem to lack any sort of "magical" abilities or powers if you dont count their special weapons.

Sure they can teleport from one place or another like Jade can, but you dont see them throwing fire balls or doing "magic" like Johnny Cage or Sonya for example.



That makes sense considering Sindel can do wonders with her hair, voice and mouth, but neither Kitana, Mileena or Jade (well, actually, Jade has a weird sort of shadow kick) have any sort of magical attacks.

They either have a special control over their weapons, or special weapons under their control.

The Lin Kuei probably taught Sub-Zero to harness his powers, but how he attained his powers is hereditary since his father had cryomancer skills.

Most others are best left unexplained, but the universal Chi/Fa Jing theory explains well enough.

PS wrong forum.

Sub-Zero learned how to fight from a child from the Lin Kuei, but his powers they just taught him to control over time before he actually mastered the power of Ice/Cold.

As for the origin of his powers, his ancestry has the power of/mastery of cold. He's a Cryolancer human, ability to freeze and is very powerful.

Sonya, you're right other then the fact of MK having "super human characters" that's pretty much the case with Sonya with her ability to form energy rings. Although, in the movies she was very human like(no magical rings or anything in either movie)

Scorpion and Reptile, yeah self explanatory. One's an undead spectre with powers and the other has reptilian like powers, invisibility/cloaking, speed, acid etc

Edited: Going off topic

I always sum it up like this for people from Earthrealm:

Training, Tech, Or Magic

(This is only in regards to their special moves and those that have not been stated are simply educated guesses)

Training
Liu Kang
Johnny Cage
Kung Lao
Sonya (I guess an innate ability qualifies as training more than magic)
Jarek
Mavado
Kobra
Kai
Kira

Tech
Kano
Jax
Cyrax
Sektor
Stryker
Mokap
Kabal
Hsu Hao

Magic
Scorpion
Nightwolf
Kenshi
Shujinko

Sub-Zero, Noob, and Frost are all descended from Outworlders. Personally, I'm guessing Smoke is too. Did I miss anyone?

You know, that is a pretty good list, except for a few mistakes you made:

1.- Ed Boon has already confirmed, along with John Tobias, in the MK EGM Masters Kollectors Book, that Sonya doesnt use any sort of technology to do her powers. Her magical powers are just part of hers.

2.- How is it that Kira "fits" the magic part in your list, when she has the exact same pasted/stolenmoves from Sonya and Kano? Yet, you mentioned these two characters in two different categories?

3.- Didnt Shujinko train first in order to get pasted magical powers?

4.- Mokap doesnt fit the "magic" list either considering he also trained with Johnny Cage. How does Mokap fit that list when you list Cage in training?

I actually forgot that Tech was in the middle and wound up listing Mokap in magic. I did the same thing for Kira and training. The reason I put Mokap in Tech is because his special attacks seem to be related to hi equipment more than his martial arts, whereas Johnny's seem to come from him.

Shujinko got his power to imitate from Damshi magically. He trained to master the techniques he imitated, but the techniques themselves were learned through magic.

As for Sonya, learn something new everyday.
It's been fixed.

I've always theorized their powers came from their an ability to tap into the realms themselves. Since they are a part of the shattered One Being, it would make sense that they could tap into that shattered consciousness some how.

So in theory, anyone could do it, but those 8 or so warriors are the ones who have.

I like your method adder, I’d put it:

Training
Liu Kang
Kung Lao
Johnny Cage
Kai
Kobra
Kenshi
Nightwolf

Tech
Jax
Sonya
Kabal
Mavado
Hsu Hao
Kano
Kira
Jarek
Cyrax
Sektor
Smoke
Stryker

Magic
Shujinko

Well, X-Men is based on something that actually exists.

As far as MK goes, I think it is safe to say that the Elder Gods chose certain people to represent certain realms in the Mortal Kombat tournament, and with that, had given power to those without any.

Also, there several new races of species in MK. We have Saurians, Tarkartan, Shokans, Cyromancers. See? There's an explaination for it.

This very well could have been a fan fiction of some sort, but it has been so long that I don't remember. I always thought that Sonya's energy rings were projected from the bracers on her wrists. That they were a government issued weapon to her. Like I said though this was so long ago I can't remember exactly where I read this. It probably was a fan fiction story.

It's true, I believe Sonya, Jax, and Cyrax (If he's in good health) all work for the US Government.

Fan fiction.

Precisely the “power bracers on her wrists” thing was what Ed Boon confirmed not to be part of her character, stating that she, Cage and Liu were “special” humans. You are not the only fan who’ve thought that.

BTW, why did you lock the other thread? Since the topic was brought back it would had been nice to reply there and give my sincere opinions on the matter, since you were willing to talk about it. I'm also sorry if you missunderstoof anything, but there was no need to be rude, you know.

Sonya having skilled use of technology sounds better than randomly being “special”. I don’t care who said it, that just sounds so retarded to me. :P It’s like the rich kid that gets everything without working.

Could even take her up a degree, explaining she’s a secret weapon using all sorts of supposedly banned “Area 51” equipment. (an example)


One’s like Liu Kang's abilities are easier to believe since their real magic is chi (used in all sorts of other fighting games/media).

i personally think that Rayden taught Sonya, Jax and Johnny Cage to overcome their innate fears and develop their innate powers right before each of the tournaments.


As for Liu Kang, he probaly gain his chi based powers from the White Lotus Society. Of Course, his infamous flying kick from Bo Rai Cho.

I do think that Bo Rai Cho helped Rayden with the training of Liu Kang, Sonya, Jax, Johnny Cage and the rest of the Heroes within the each of the Mortal Kombats.

Mick is also one who likes that idea.

But anyways, it doesn’t even matter whether you care or not because it was Ed Boon who said it.

And just so you know, Liu Kang is not the ONLY warrior who uses and controls his “Chi” power. Just as easy as it is to believe that he learned it by training (or whatever magical unexplained means) and discovering his inner secrets and strength, its just as easy to believe the same for Cage, Kenshi, Sonya, Jax, Kung Lao, etc.

You can even see in Deadly Alliance the way they gave certain characters their “Chi” powers and strength in the form of Power-Ups, and Sonya was one of the characters who used her Chi.

As a side note, your suggestion about Area 51 stuff was very cool . Nice idea! It would provide an interesting twist, but it also changes the already established essence of the character, and thats not right. Mixing both elements could work very well though.



That makes perfect sense and suits all the context of the "special or magical warriors" nicely.