What would happen if Shang took Raiden's soul? The Forces of light are screwed

Shang Tsung does not gain the power of whoever's soul he takes. Stealing souls grants him the person's knowledge and skills, rejuvenates his youth, and gives him a little power boost.

Stealing Raiden's soul would probably give Shang a greater power boost than stealing a normal mortal's soul, but it would not make him god-like.

Well, at least now.

The purpose of Raidens invitation in the original Mk was that he could steal his soul specifically.

That doesn't mean anything special. MK1 Shang just hated the gods because of his age curse. Maybe he wanted Raiden's soul for revenge, not for the power.

Well in movie terms, I don't think Shang Tsung would serve Khan if he had Raiden's soul. Shang would still have the same objectives as Khan I think.

I don't think Raiden's soul would make Shang powerful enough to challenge Kahn. Kahn is already presumably Raiden's equal AND has more souls than Shang.

Err, they consume souls, not store them.

By the way, Shang Tsung does indeed gain the abilities and knowledge of those who he vanquishes. It is how he aquired Snake style from a priest - MKDA konquest as I recall.

Then how come Liu Kang's ghost and Kenshi's ancestors were set free when he died, instead of ceasing to exist after Shang stole them? Obviously, they do store them inside and draw on the power over time, rather than eating it all at once and then it's gone.

We've actually known it a little longer than that. Mythologies explained that when Shang took Great Kung Lao's soul 500 years ago, he learned from GKL's memories where the Map of the Elements was hidden, and was able to trade that information to Quan Chi in exchange for help resurrecting Sindel in MK3.

How much more energy does Raiden's soul pack than a mortal's soul? That's the question. Apparently, a lot according to MKD. Few souls are anywhere near Shang's level, but this is a "God" who's at least twice as strong as Shang Tsung, and well, a God, so there may be strange properties to his soul.

Maybe you wouldn't get some kind of Thunder Shang (though that would be kool in a superficial way) but it's not beyond the realms of the plot that he'd become at least twice as powerful. He does seem to gain knowledge through the soul steal so perhaps he would gain Raiden's knowledge and that would give him extra power. Kind of like Agent Smith taking over the Oracle in The Matrix Rev allowed him to become more powerful because he knew how to be more powerful. MK isn't anything like that, but the level of understanding of how Raiden's powers work might allow him to become a serious threat on the level of Kahn.

*shrugs* It could really go any way....

...assuming it's possible. Do gods even have souls?

He has an "essence" that reformed after he blew himself up. There's also the line in Shang's Armageddon bio that reads "In an instant, Raiden's blast destroyed us all! Our souls intertwined, we did battle in the ether."

Shang Tsung can ́t take souls from gods...

Just becuase Shang's never stolen the soul of a god doesn't mean he can't.

I don't think he'd be able to tolerate it, even if he could steal Raidens soul. It'd be his undoing completely.

That would kick ass. Every MK game the good guys awalys win, Shang Tsung with Raiden's powers is a great idea. But like I said in MK the good guys awalys win, so I really doubt that will happen.

In the beginning of Deception, Raiden didn't win against the fight between him and the Deadly Alliance, so I don't see how the good guy won that.

I'd like to see Shang Tsung be dominating with an Elder God's soul, it would be an interesting twist.

Perhaps, this is exactly what has happened already! Think about it:

• In MKD's intro, the three of them (Shang Tsung, Quan Chi, and Raiden) get destroyed by Raiden's ethereal blast.
  
• Shang Tsung's MKA bio indicates the three of their souls did battle in the ether.
  
• With Shang Tsung's return to his body, perhaps be pulled Raiden's soul FROM the ether. It would only be after gaining his first glance at the "soul" of a god that would give him the knowledge he needs to act.
  
• It's just after this event that Raiden returns... as Dark Raiden.
  
• Therefore, perhaps Raiden is really under control of Shang Tsung.
  
• Another element to all this would be the act of tainting Raiden's soul... something that Quan Chi has done for Shang Tsung in the past (with Sindel's soul).
  
• Raiden's MK vs DC ending (while it never happened in the official storyline) shows that Quan Chi as a CHARACTER has a desire to control Raiden.

Makes sense to me.

Uh... ]{0MBAT? On the last thing don't you mean Raiden's ending in MK vs DC? Cause Quan Chi ain't playable (yet anyway) in MK vs DC...

That's exactly what I meant; thank you for the correction.

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