I like Kotal Kahn, but Shao Kahn is 100x more badass and will always remain MK's most epic boss character.

Shao Kahn

True Kahn > Ugly slow in the head green piece of crap Kahn.

I missed Kung Lao vs Mileena. Mileena Obviously.

The Battle of the Kahns is truly a hard one.

Kotal

I can't believe the score right now...

Shao Kahn was, and always will be, THE Kahn.

No. This is just way too fucking easy. I don't see how Shao Kahn, in ANY way can claim this. And here's why I say Kotal Kahn wins... I'll try to avoid fanboying as much as I can:

- He's NOT a stereotypical war mongering asshole. Kotal actually has a strong sense of honour and respects his opponents. This is why he has managed to get along with Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage in the comics, and therefore heal tensions between Outworld and EarthRealm.
- Kotal actually HAS a backstory. It's kinda embarrassing for Shao Kahn, someone who has been around Mortal Kombat for OVER 20 years to have such a one-sided personality and stay the same throughout. All we know of him is that he once served Onaga as an adviser, poisoned him, took the throne..... and that's about it. Kotal is developed and you can sympathize for him more. You can see that he changes through story progression from an arrogant-blood-loving boy to a wise king who managed to rise above his status.
- EVERYONE respects him. When Shao Kahn was in power, even his own servants admitted he was such an irresponsible dick. Reptile confessed that Shao Kahn always abused him, Shang Tsung, Baraka and Mileena sought to overthrow him. Ermac and Skarlet were his own creations, so they don't really count, since they have to enforce his will. After Kotal got in power, everyone was willing to serve him. He saved Ferra/Torr from Tarkatans, defended Reptile against Mileena, and D'Vorah, (even though she was on an agenda of her own), said that she only served him because of how respectful he was to her.

To sum it all up, Kotal is just more likeable and better developed than Shao. Would you pick a power-hungry douchebag who doesn't care about his subjects, or would you serve someone who has respect for his colleagues and would put his life on the line for them? I'm certain people will only pick Shao Kahn just for the sake of nostalgia. But come on, this is like asking would you rather want Vlad the Impaler or Cyrus the Great to come in power. Vlad is more identifiable, but Cyrus is the better king.

I hope Kotal Kahn wins this. Shao Kahn may be iconic but he's also dead and out of the spotlight. Kotal Kahn is such a well done new character and deserves to go far.

Plus, Kotal is just simply better. He's superior to Shao Kahn in each and every way.

Kotal all the way. Despite his cowardly portrayal in MKX, he's still leagues above Shao Kahn for not trying to conquer every single realm out there. He seeks to rule his land, not mindless conquest.

Hail to the Kahn.

Although Shao Kahn will allways be MKs most Iconic Boss and an OG, Kotal to me is simply more interesting, even if he did go full retard towards the end of Storymode.

I'm glad Shao Kahn sat this game out, (I enjoyed the references to him still) but I would be glad if he sat out another few consecutive games.

Best Kahn > Shitty Shao

Kahn vs Kahn!!! Who will win? Shao Kahn or Kotal Kahn? I say Shao Kahn.

Reality check though...we're not here to pick or "serve" the ruler of the fictional Outworld...we're MK fans who vote for their favorite character.

Kotal Kahn. Shao Kahn is boring as fuck.

This is Mortal Kombat NOT IMMORTAL Kombat, so Shao Kahn shold not return.

You completely missed my point. But if you'd like to look at it that way. Okay.

This was a very difficult decision, but I went with Shao.

I've always loved Shao Kahn's designs while Kotal's alternative is...not to my liking. And while what we know of Shao's story isn't as complex and deep as Kotal's he has at least been more consistent while Kotal is damn near a different guy in the game.

People paint Shao as a mindless brute, and he is in some aspects, but he's nowhere near as dumb as people make him out to be. He ruled by violence, cheating, and instilling fear into others. Pretty fucked up, but it worked for thousands of years. He had to be doing something right. Not to mention his skills in magic are very underrated. Kotal on the other hand is not always as smart as many make him out to be imo. Definitely not stupid, but in the game his plan wasn't very well thought of.

This is probably going to be the most contested match in Round 2.

Shao Kahn is badass in every sense of the word. He isn't a big dumb brute (idk how people are thinking that), he's a gladiator, a warmonger, he's like a Spartan/Hun/Feudal Emperor all mixed into one. He wields so much power that gods fear him. From his "everyone else is just ants compared to me" personality, his design that has been ingrained into our heads since MKII, and gameplay that has us reluctant to ever fight him.

Kotal is cool. I like his look as it stands out from everyone while still being very MK. HIs gameplay is decent. I'm not good with him, but I imagine there are people who are. His backstory and personality are the best things about him. He's a super interesting character who looks like to be going on to big things in the future. But, at the end of the day, even he looks up to Shao as an unmatched figure.

Kotal still has a long way to get to Shao's level, imo. He has a strong start in MKX, and Shao needs a break so he can wreak everyone's shit when he comes back like Onaga, but with a much bigger history. When that day comes I hope Kotal is big enough to meet him.

This one's tough. Kotal has had one of the strongest starts of the series, but it's not enough to overcome decades of Shao being unmatched (as a big bad). I'll give it to Kotal, because he is at the front of a new generation, and Shao is the Emperor of the last.

Shao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well excuse me, but I just don't understand what one has to do with the other. You're saying stuff like "Kotal is more likeable", so he's better.
Shao Kahn is a "bad guy" in this story, a mf boss...he's not meant to be likeable. He is not redeemable and he doesn't need to be, it's just the type of character he is.

Sonya

This Erron Black turned to be a dull and very boring character.

Sonya been one of my favorite characters since MK 1, classic bad ass character all around. I like Erron Black but Sonya gets my vote