Kitana
The Edenian princess who fights with steel fans.
Kitana is a royal from the realm of Edenia who debuted as a playable character in Mortal Kombat II (1993) and fights with steel fans. First presented as the daughter of Shao Kahn, ruler of Outworld, she is later revealed to be the true daughter of King Jerrod of Edenia. One of the series' main characters, she is the love interest of its protagonist Liu Kang, and in Mortal Kombat 11 (2019) she becomes Kahn of Outworld after defeating Shao Kahn.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Mortal Kombat
- First game
- Mortal Kombat II (1993)
- Creator
- Ed Boon; John Tobias
- Species
- Edenian
- Weapon
- Steel fans
Lore & Background
Kitana was first shown as Shao Kahn's daughter and later revealed as the true daughter of King Jerrod of Edenia. She is aligned with several characters, among them Mileena, who first served as her clone. Co-creator John Tobias had planned a character called "Kitsune" for the original game; that character was cut but later came into being as Kitana, a name formed from "Kitsune" and "Katana". In Mortal Kombat 11 she defeats Shao Kahn and becomes Kahn of Outworld.
Reader's Guide
Most of Kitana's special moves use her fans as a melee weapon, as a projectile, or to lift opponents into the air. Her most recurring finisher beheads the opponent with her fan; in Mortal Kombat (2011) she first cuts off the defeated opponent's arms. In Mortal Kombat II she was played, like the game's other palette-swapped female ninjas, by martial artist Katalin Zamiar.
More in Fighting Roster & Fatalities
Elsewhere in Mortal Kombat
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