Baraka
The Tarkatan with blades in his arms.
Baraka was introduced in Mortal Kombat II (1993) as a nomadic mutant of the Tarkatan species, known for their ferocity and strange faces. Like other Tarkatans he has sharp spiked teeth and retractable blades in his arms, which he fights with. He comes from Outworld.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Mortal Kombat
- First game
- Mortal Kombat II (1993)
- Species
- Tarkatan
- Weapon
- Arm blades
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
His early backstory has him lead Outworld's Tarkatan army, a fierce human-demon hybrid race that sometimes served as soldiers for Shao Kahn, and he was an opportunist who allied with villains and betrayed them. Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) reworked him: he was once a respected merchant until he caught the incurable Tarkat disease and was sent to a colony of the infected, whose suffering made him want to help them. He was playable in Mortal Kombat II, Trilogy, Gold, Deception, Armageddon, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, the 2011 game, Mortal Kombat 11 and Mortal Kombat 1, and is a story-mode opponent in Mortal Kombat X.
Reader's Guide
His look in Mortal Kombat II came from an improvised Nosferatu-style mask, fake nails for teeth and shiny cardboard arm blades. John Tobias's idea of showing his violent nature with a funny action helped start the series' Friendship finishers. Critics praised his larger, more sympathetic role in Mortal Kombat 1.
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Elsewhere in Mortal Kombat
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