I've always liked Baraka, and he was my favorite in MK2. He has a unique look and moveset. Ermac is cool, but he is the umpteenth palette swapped ninja introduced to the series.

Ermac because he is splendid.

The difference is that they both started as lackeys but Baraka remains one even after so many years. It's another thing to have potential to evolve and another to actually "use" it...Unfortunately Baraka falls into the category of great ideas that became boring after his creators didnt come up with sth interesting to do with him, over the years.
Oh and Ermac doesnt really look like a ninja anymore. Sure he started as one but he looks more like a sorcerer to me now...

Baraka because Wolverine.

I feel like Baraka is much more unique, despite being a lackey. He's a savage brute. His gameplay is kind of sluggish but defintely fun.

I like Ermac, but he's just another ninja. A telekinetic ninja, but a ninja nonetheless.

Wow, I'm really surprised that Ermac is winning. I'd understand if Baraka was like Goro, one of many characters of his species introduced in the series, but he's not. There's only one full blood Tarkatan with an actual name and identity in the MK Universe and it's Baraka. He deserves better.

Very similar opinion to this. I voted for Baraka based largely on the impression I got from MK2 which I can still remember.

I'm in the minority as someone who really doesn't like Ermac. His story does nothing for me and I hate his look. I don't like the turbin-like mummy wrap. What is he supposed to be some shriner or whirling dervish? And his speech pattern seems like a rip off of the Borg from Star Trek. I kept waiting for him to say "Resistance is Futile."

You make it sound as though Ermac's realized his potential at all. He looked cool in MKD. That's about it. To me, Baraka's unique, Ermac's kinda unique (now). I'd still pick his toothiness. Of course, I'm obviously biased

I think I'm going to forfeit voting until Sonya v. Kano.

It's just that I can clearly see who's going to win from here (Hint: Two human Ninjas, Two Monks and a Non-furry Shokan) so I don't see the point of even voting until then. But I do love me some other perspectives on characters so I'll still be reading.

I'd pick Baraka though for a couple of reasons:

1. I've always liked his brutal nature and his moments of Craftiness (Ex:Mileena/Baraka ending in Deception).

2. While understated, his position as general and superiority of all the other Tarkatans is something that's really fascinated me about Baraka. He's not just a tarkatan..He is THE TARKATAN.

3. With Kahn dead, Baraka's henchman days could be over depending on what they do about the story in the next game. Netherrealm vs Earthrealm with A truly chaotic Outworld involved would be very refreshing since it'd be a whole realm of Wildcards (Bo,Tanya,Rain,Baraka,Shokan,Mileena). Heck, He was very loyal to Kahn in MK9 compared to the past games..He might even try to take up ruling over Outworld in Kahns name with Mileena involved in whatever way.

I like Ermac now but back then I didn't even know or hear about Ermac until MK:D. Ermac/Kenshi interaction is interesting and I'd like to see it but all his new potential almost falls by the wayside now that Sindel,Kitana and Jade (aka the only Edenians that would give a shit) are minions in Hell.

On another note..it's kind of funny that both characters had/have a Red theme on MKO.

Sweeeeeet. Ermac is gonna win.

Well, considering that Baraka's look consists mostly of Wolverine and a Halloween mask, I don't think it's that unique.

He did look SUPER cool in Deception, though.

TBH, Mileena is more interesting than Baraka :|
Now where is my flame shield...

baraka all da way

Heh, I don't think you need one... 'cause she is. Baraka's a great design and a great idea, but Mileena is taking the idea of Baraka and making another great idea out of it. Outside of design and fighting style, Baraka doesn't do anything interesting (except for the things he does with Mileena). We all know they both need a new story though, so a fleshing out of their partnership wouldn't hurt either of them.... But still, it's doing Baraka a favor, not the other way around.

I love both Baraka and Ermac, but I had to vote Ermac.

I will say that it makes me upset that Baraka hasn't grown story wise after all these years. I mean Baraka is the leader of the Tarkatan Horde and yet he still serves as a lap-dog. There is so much potential to his development as a character, and it's all going to waste.

Baraka got totally shat on. Daaaamn. Well, it was to be expected. I'm just glad the ugly bastard got to see the second round. That's pretty damn good of an accomplishment.

We'll get 'em next time Baraka...next time.

Baraka might not be one of the more popular characters, but that doesn't make him any less awesome. Though I voted for Ermac, I still like Baraka, I still think he is cool and I still like his gameplay. I just like Ermac a little bit more. ^^

i vote baraka.

They're both lackeys,so i'll say Baraka,just because of seniority.

So I've come to accept that perhaps the Supreme MK Champion final round will likely be Scorpion x Sub-zero. I've decided to vote for Sub-zero just cuz he usually gets the short end of the schtick in everything (i.e. gets beat up by Scorpion in title, trailers, bookends, etc.)

On a side note, which MK FEMALE do you think will make it the farthest? Perhaps maybe just maybe even win! There are 4 left:

1. Kitana (made it to Round 3)
2. Jade (made it to Round 3)
3. Nitara (i'm 100% sure she'll lose this round)
4. Sonya Blade (this one's a toss up too!)

My vote would be Kitana. I think she'll fair off well against Shao Kahn and perhaps move onto Round 4. But then she'll lose to Sub-zero.

Jade will likely lose to Johnny Cage in Round 3.

With Sonya Blade ( if she wins against Kano), she'll most likely lose to Scorpion in the 3rd Round as well.

I expect Sonya Blade to obliterate Kano, no offense Kano fans. ^_^

Noob Saibot vs Scorpion is going to be insane though!

Didnt he? I mean he just started as a ninja wearing red serving Shao Kahn until MKD where he became one of the good guys AND had one of the most awesome scenes in that game (going against a bunch of ppl to free them from Onaga's will). In the reboot he of course had to follow the story he started with, being one of Kahn's minions, but we still got sth new out of his ending which can take his story to many directions for the next game. Baraka...well he was the same old Baraka that got zero development once again. My opinion...dont hate ;)

First vote! Voted Cyrax :). He's a little more polished than Smoke is at the moment.

Cyrax did it well in this game, but I do like Smoke ALOT better.
He is easily in my top 5 of favourite characters in this game. I've always kinda liked him, but never really paid that much attention to him before this game which is the best version of him ever, in my opinion, of course.