Shinnok
The banished Elder God, father of evil in the realms.
Shinnok is a banished former Elder God and one of the series' main villains. He debuted as the boss of Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero and was both a playable fighter and the final boss of Mortal Kombat 4 (1997).
Lore & Background
In Mortal Kombat 4 he invades and annexes Edenia with Quan Chi's forces and the traitor Tanya, then wars on the Elder Gods, above all Raiden, until Liu Kang defeats him. In Armageddon he poses as a friend to Taven. In the reboot he is sealed in his own amulet until Quan Chi's death frees him in Mortal Kombat X; he corrupts the Jinsei, becomes Corrupted Shinnok and is beaten by Cassie Cage, after which Raiden strips his powers. Mortal Kombat 11 opens with Raiden beheading him and reveals him as Kronika's son and Cetrion's brother.
Reader's Guide
His Mortal Kombat 4 likeness was based on art director Steve Beran. Like Shang Tsung he copied his opponents' moves, and Ed Boon admitted he was not imposing enough as a final boss without moves of his own.
More in Mythology & Deities
Elsewhere in Mortal Kombat
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