Mortal Kombat Codexery

Reptile

The Saurian who began as fighting games' first secret character.

Reptile debuted in the original Mortal Kombat (1992) as a hidden opponent, the first secret character in fighting game history, and became playable in Mortal Kombat II (1993). He is a Saurian, a reptilian humanoid, and one of the last of his race, siding with the series' villains in the hope that serving them will bring the Saurians back.

Quick Facts

Series
Mortal Kombat
First game
Mortal Kombat (1992)
Species
Saurian; Zaterran
Real name
Syzoth

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

In Mortal Kombat II he is Shang Tsung's bodyguard, serving Shao Kahn for the promised revival of his race. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 sends him after Kitana, Mortal Kombat 4 makes him a minion of Shinnok, and in Deadly Alliance he finds a mysterious egg of the Dragon King Onaga, which turns him into Onaga's avatar in Deception. Mortal Kombat X names him Syzoth and has him reveal that Mileena is not Shao Kahn's real daughter, helping Kotal Kahn take the throne. In Mortal Kombat 1 his race, the Zaterrans, still exists; Shang Tsung blackmails him by holding his family hostage, and he then joins Liu Kang's side and becomes Empress Mileena's emissary to the Zaterrans.

Reader's Guide

Ed Boon conceived him after the first game shipped, with John Tobias, as a 'cooler version of Scorpion' hidden in the game; he was finished in one evening and added to the third arcade revision in August 1992. He began as a green palette swap of Scorpion and Sub-Zero, and his MKII Fatalities had him reveal his reptile face to eat the opponent's head or turn invisible.

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Elsewhere in Mortal Kombat

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