Everyone knows the ninjas are the most iconic characters in the Mortal Kombat franchise. What started out with just three in the original game, counting the secret fight with Reptile, wound up exploding into a legion of ninjas representing every color of the rainbow. Now, there are female ninjas, undead ninjas, and ninjas with control over the elements. At this point, they could make up an entire roster of Mortal Kombat ninjas.

Of course, not all of them have caught on with fans. Recent Mortal Kombat games have tried to differentiate them more in their appearance and abilities. Sadly, some of them leave much to be desired. Liu Kang has his work cut out for him in the new timeline if these characters were to return. All Mortal Kombat ninjas have their fans, so which Mortal Kombat ninja is the best will forever remain a hotly debated topic in the Mortal Kombat fandom.

Updated on September 12, 2023, by Michael Colwander: Mortal Kombat 1 is almost here, and it's brought back nearly every Mortal Kombat ninja. More ninjas were added to fully complete this list along with new information, such as whether the character is playable in Mortal Kombat 1.

RELATED: Every Character Confirmed Playable In Mortal Kombat 1

20 Khameleon

Khameleon posing in front of a red background in Mortal Kombat Armageddon

It may be easy to confuse Khameleon with her male counterpart, Chameleon. Each features a similar gimmick where Chameleon can transform into the franchise’s many male ninjas. Meanwhile, Khameleon can transform into any of the franchise’s female ninjas. Sadly, there aren't many female ninjas Khameleon can transform into, which makes her slightly less impressive than Chameleon.

Khameleon has only been playable in two games, and only in certain ports of those games. For Mortal Kombat Trilogy, she was only in the N64 version, while for Mortal Kombat: Armageddon she only appeared in the Wii version. So even the developers knew she wasn’t worth including. Currently, Khameleon isn't playable in Mortal Kombat 1, but she appears alongside Tanya in trailers.

19 Chameleon

Chameleon posing during the character matchup screen in Mortal Kombat Armageddon

Chameleon isn't much better than Khameleon. Chameleon has more characters to transform into, which gives him an edge over Khameleon. Like Khameleon, he was made obsolete by a better version of his character. Shang Tsung can typically transform into anyone in the game, period.

Making matters worse for Chameleon is that Shang Tsung isn’t just a shapeshifter, but is also a fearsome sorcerer when in his normal state. Even in Armageddon where they were forced to give every character a story, Chameleon's background was vague and uninteresting. Chameleon has just been biding his time to become a true champion. That's it. So, with a flat motivation and a move set that’s nothing but a mishmash of better characters, players have little incentive to care about Chameleon. Chameleon isn't in Mortal Kombat 1 at this time.

RELATED: Mortal Kombat 1 Revives a Fan-Favorite Villain — But Not the Way Fans Wanted

18 Triborg

Triborg standing in front of Sektor, Smoke, and Cyrax in Mortal Kombat X.

With so few available roster spots, some characters will get shafted. This happened in Mortal Kombat X as cyber ninjas, Cyrax and Sektor, were left off the main and DLC rosters. NetherRealm Studios went a compromise route by creating Triborg for Kombat Pack 2.

Triborg is a conglomeration of Cyrax, Sektor, and Smoke. Each of Triborg's fighting styles and moves are based on those characters. Triborg is only playable in MKX and Mortal Kombat Mobile, and has become a very forgettable character beyond that. In-universe, Triborg is the last remaining Cyber Lin Kuei and seeks to bring glory to their clan. Triborg is not in Mortal Kombat 1 at this time.

17 Rain

Rain speaking while wearing a mask and holding his water staff in Mortal Kombat 1

Rain was originally a joke character since he wears purple and his name is Rain, alluding to the song by Prince. Early on, he was also the source of frustration among players, as his original iteration in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 had numerous infinite combos, making him one of the cheapest characters in the franchise.

It's hard to come back from the amount of negativity attached to his name, but Rain has become more interesting as the years have gone by. Players later learned he was a prince, just to further cement that "Purple Rain" joke, and his outfit began to reflect that royalty. Rain has trended closer to a mage archetype than a ninja one, but he's still officially a ninja. Rain is a playable character in Mortal Kombat 1, ending his two-game streak of being a DLC character.

16 Skarlet

Skarlet readying her knife during her character introduction in Mortal Kombat 11

After rumors of her inclusion in the series dated all the way back to Mortal Kombat II, Skarlet finally made her debut in Mortal Kombat (2011), or Mortal Kombat 9, as a downloadable character. She was one of several fighters created by Shao Kahn, giving him the most loyal kind of servant there is. However, a character who lives in total devotion to a more interesting character is hard to get behind. This may explain why Skarlet didn’t return once Mortal Kombat X came out. Skarlet did return in Mortal Kombat 11, though.

It’s not that Skarlet is an awful ninja, but she hasn't done much to differentiate herself in her outings. Her powers were certainly unique. Skarlet gains strength when getting splattered with her enemy’s blood, due to her being composed of blood herself. Still, her personality didn’t shine through very much in her appearances so far. Skarlet isn't in Mortal Kombat 1 at this time, and Nitara uses blood powers instead.

15 Smoke

Smoke with his fist up ready to fight in Mortal Kombat 1

After Reptile in the original Mortal Kombat, the ante had to be upped for hidden characters. MKII included three secret characters, who were all ninjas. Unfortunately for Smoke, he was probably the least memorable of the bunch simply because this incarnation didn't have long to shine. By MK3, when Smoke became a playable character, he had already been converted into a cyborg against his will. From then on, he would disappear until he teamed up with Noob Saibot in Mortal Kombat Deception.

Human Smoke didn't get fleshed out, pun intended, as a character until MK9, where he was spared being turned into a cyborg while Sub-Zero took his place. This was also the first game where human Smoke got his own unique move set, since the playable version of him in Trilogy was almost an exact clone of Scorpion. Smoke is a playable character in Mortal Kombat 1 and in his human form.

RELATED: Mortal Kombat 1's Smoke Could Really Be [Spoiler] In Disguise

14 Tremor

Tremor's character model in Mortal Kombat X

For as long as Tremor has been appearing in tangential roles in the series, starting with Mortal Kombat 4, it certainly took him a long time to make his way to being a playable character. Tremor made his playable debut as a PlayStation Vita-exclusive character in MK9 before finally becoming DLC for all systems in MKX.

In terms of having cool powers, Tremor checks all the boxes. As his name indicates, his powers hinge on the element of earth and being able to use moves that cause earthquakes and other such effects. The problem comes with his story. Tremor is really just a henchman for Kano and the Black Dragon clan. If people want some muscle, a huge rock dude is the way to go, but most want something a little more memorable for his big debut. Tremor is not in Mortal Kombat 1 at this time, although it would be fun to see him go up against Geras and his sand-based powers.

13 Sektor

Sektor Kameo with his eyes emitting a bright blue light in Mortal Kombat 1

Sektor is one of the two original cyber ninjas first introduced in Mortal Kombat 3 and has made frequent appearances ever since. Sektor is a former Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei and later became the Grandmaster of the Cyber Lin Kuei.

Unlike Cyrax, Sektor embraces his cybernetic form. Sektor completely abandoned his humanity. His evil mind mixed with his new enhanced body makes for an imposing force. In both finished timelines, Sub-Zero eventually kills Sektor. In Mortal Kombat 1, Sektor returns as a Kameo character. His role in Liu Kang's new timeline is unknown.

12 Cyrax

Cyrax Kameo with a spinning buzzsaw protruding from his chest cavity in Mortal Kombat 1

Mortal Kombat is full of mirrors. Opposing forces that share numerous similarities and narrative ties. For Sektor, his foil is Cyrax. Cyrax was once an ally to Sektor for the Lin Kuei. Both Cyrax and Sektor appear in human forms and their cyber forms in MK9.

However, Cyrax was forced into the Cyber Initiative against his will. While Sektor has rejected his humanity, Cyrax strives to regain it. Cyrax manages to reclaim his human soul and later sacrifices himself to put a stop to the Lin Kuei's cybernetic plans. Cyrax is a Kameo fighter in Mortal Kombat 1.

11 Frost

Frost Kameo unleashes ice blades during a Fatality in Mortal Kombat 1

Sub-Zero’s female protégé is one of the few characters from Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance that fans seem to remember positively. Frost added some depth to the Lin Kuei clan by showing players another member, and basically playing like an alternative version of Sub-Zero, taking on some of his moves from past games that he wasn’t using anymore.

Considering there had already been two versions of Sub-Zero, it’s understandable why the developers felt players didn’t need a third recurring version. Frost did later differentiate herself, becoming more selfish because of her desire to be more noticed. In MK11, Frost received a cybernetic body to aid Kronika with the promise of leading the Cyber Lin Kuei in Kronika's next timeline. Frost is a Kameo fighter in Mortal Kombat 1.

RELATED: Mortal Kombat 1 Resurrects the Franchise's Most Powerful Villain - With a Twist

10 Reptile

Reptile in his human form and his reptilian form in Mortal Kombat 1

Reptile made a memorable splash into the franchise thanks to the circumstances required to encounter him in the original Mortal Kombat. By today’s standards, the secret to getting to the fight against Reptile would have likely been cracked within the first week of the game’s release. Back in the days when players had to rely on word of mouth to learn secrets, Reptile was an elusive secret that teased players with whether he even existed.

Reptile returned in MKII, this time as a playable character with a distinct move set. There was definitely more incentive to care about him by MKII, but his character development stalled out over time. In recent games, Reptile has been more of a joke character than anything. Reptile is a playable character in Mortal Kombat 1 with his most inspired take yet. Reptile can transform between reptilian form and human form in battle. Mortal Kombat fans are already declaring this Reptile the best version yet.

9 Takeda Takahashi

Takeda is ready to fight in a character intro for Mortal Kombat X

Takeda Takahashi is one of a group of characters referred to as the "Kombat Kids." This new generation of fighters is related to, and work alongside, iconic characters in the Mortal Kombat universe.

Takeda is a member of the Shirai Ryu and is a student under the original Scorpion, Hanzo Hasashi. On top of that, Takeda is the son of Kenshi. Takeda's playstyle is incredibly fun as he uses the Shirai Ryu's famed spears in different ways. Takeda will be a playable character in Mortal Kombat 1 through Kombat Pack 1.

8 Tanya

Close up of Tanya scolding Li Mei in Mortal Kombat 1

Tanya has long been a minor antagonist and foil to Kitana and Jade throughout the Mortal Kombat universe. Tanya is an Edenian woman who frequently aligns herself with major antagonists.

Tanya also has a close relationship with Mileena, canonically having a relationship with her in multiple timelines. In the newest timeline, Tanya is the leader of the warrior priestesses known as the Umgadi, who protect the royal family. Tanya appears in trailers for Mortal Kombat 1 butting heads with Li Mei, who is formally a member of the Umgadi. Tanya is a playable character in Mortal Kombat 1.

7 Jade

Jade, wearing a mask, readies her blade in her character intro in Mortal Kombat 11

Mortal Kombat's first female secret character was a green palette swap of Kitana and Mileena named Jade. Much like Reptile in the first Mortal Kombat, Jade didn't have a distinct move set and was instead remembered more for the fun of trying to figure out how to face her. It wasn't until UMK3 that she received more unique traits, like her now signature staff that she uses in combat.

As far as secret characters go, Jade has fared a bit similarly to Reptile in being able to stay relevant outside of her Easter Egg origin. Her significance to the story is definitely stronger, since she is Kitana's most loyal friend, and would even become a general for the army of Edenia. Of MKII's trio of female ninjas, Jade is the least popular, but she still has her passionate fans. Jade is not in Mortal Kombat 1 at this time, but that's expected to change as her fans will be begging for her return.

RELATED: Every Kameo Character In Mortal Kombat 1, So Far

6 Noob Saibot

Noob Saibot is ready to unsheathe his sword during his character intro in Mortal Kombat 11

From a gameplay standpoint, a lot of fans find Noob Saibot to be one of the most annoying Mortal Kombat characters. The first time he was made a playable character in the series, he was given one of the cheapest moves in the franchise to date. He had rapid-fire attacks like his teleport slam, and could even temporarily make all the opponent's attacks do no damage. Naturally, less skilled players loved him, but hardcore fans hated him for giving players easy wins.

In terms of story, Noob Saibot is one of the most intriguing characters in the series. He started out as the original Sub-Zero, Bi-Han, who died against Scorpion in the original Mortal Kombat. By MKII, Bi-Han was resurrected in his spiffy new black duds as a member of the Brotherhood of Shadow. Ironically, it was Quan Chi who brought him back, the sorcerer who was indirectly responsible for his death in the first place. Noob is not in Mortal Kombat 1 at this time, but Bi-Han is as Sub-Zero.

5 Ermac

Ermac charging up a soul attack with his right hand in Mortal Kombat X.

It really is bizarre how many ninjas in Mortal Kombat started out as rumors, only to be made a reality later on. An Error Macro message that appeared in the early days of Mortal Kombat made some people think this was a reference to a character, since in the game the glitch appeared as "Ermacs." So, the development team one day made those rumors a reality.

Like Rain, Ermac came when the ninjas were in overabundance, so it's a testament to the team behind Mortal Kombat that they adapted enough to give Ermac a unique personality. Ermac is one of the more interesting ninjas now, because he's not just one person, but a legion. He's comprised of the souls of many warriors and has a unique telekinetic fighting style that allows him to grab opponents from afar, and even hover in the air. Of all the ninjas, Ermac really stands out as one who has been handled very well in being separated from the pack. Ermac will be a playable character in Mortal Kombat 1 through Kombat Pack 1.

4 Mileena

Mileena looks down before removing her mask in Mortal Kombat 1 video game

Mileena is a clone of Kitana and spends much of her life in a reactionary role. In Mileena’s early years, her story was tied to wanting to kill Kitana and steal her identity. It wasn’t until after Kitana was killed in MK9 that Mileena got some new material and tried to become Shao Kahn’s successor in MKX.

Fortunately, Mileena being a clone didn’t extend to her move set and makes her a totally distinct fighter in that regard. Of course, what immediately caught fans’ attention was that one of her fatalities revealed she has Tarkatan teeth like Baraka. Yet, this has only enhanced her sex appeal with fans. With a face as scary as Mileena’s, it definitely speaks to her popularity that she can boast about having such an accolade. Mileena is a playable character in Mortal Kombat 1 where she's Kitana's twin, but develops the Tarkat disease, which gives her and other Tarkatan their monstrous looks.

3 Kitana

Kitana waves her fans in her fight intro in Mortal Kombat 1

Kitana immediately struck up a chord among fans upon her MKII debut and became one of the most popular ninjas in the franchise. It certainly didn’t hurt that her move set in MKII allowed for some of the best innovative combos in the game, thanks to her fan lift move that could make an opponent levitate. Spamming this move helped many players overcome MKII's harsh A.I.

Kitana had one of the more interesting stories early in Mortal Kombat, what with her being lied to about Shao Kahn being her father, as well as being deceived that Mileena was her sister. MK3 added another wrinkle when Kitana’s mother Sindel was revealed to still be alive, but presumably under the control of Shao Kahn. It was an intriguing start for her character that has helped her endure as not only one of the franchise’s best female characters, but one of Mortal Kombat’s greatest characters overall. Kitana is a playable character in Mortal Kombat 1.

RELATED: Mortal Kombat 1's Kitana Might Be a Villain - and It's What the Character Needs

2 Sub-Zero

Sub-Zero (Bi-Han) prepares to fight in a bar in Mortal Kombat 1

Sub-Zero is the only ninja to have been playable in every single Mortal Kombat fighting game along with his own spinoff. Even Scorpion got omitted from the original version of MK3. Plus, his ice powers instantly made him one of Mortal Kombat’s more unique and recognizable fighters.

Much of Sub-Zero's story centers on his rivalry with Scorpion, which was later mended after Sub-Zero learned Quan Chi lied to him. Sub-Zero has been portrayed by two characters, Bi-Han and his younger brother Kuai Liang, with the latter being the most prevalent Sub-Zero. Bi-Han's Sub-Zero is a playable character in Mortal Kombat 1, while a different Sub-Zero is a Kameo character.

1 Scorpion

Scorpion (Kuai Liang) spins his roped spear in Mortal Kombat 1

Scorpion has long been popular and influential. Scorpion is one of the most recognizable fighting game characters ever made and his "Get over here!" cries have transcended into pop culture. When people think about Mortal Kombat, they likely first think about Scorpion.

Scorpion originally stood out on the original roster due to being an undead warrior, back when Mortal Kombat was grounded relative to its current state. Getting to play as a hellfire-breathing skeleton who is fueled by vengeance for his slain family is a story that immediately stands out. That story was even the centerpiece of the animated movie Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge and served as the introduction to the new live-action Mortal Kombat universe in Mortal Kombat (2021). Scorpion is a playable character in Mortal Kombat 1, but Kuai Liang, Bi-Han's brother, takes up the mantle of Scorpion. Hanzo's status for Mortal Kombat 1 is unknown, but a different Scorpion appears as a Kameo fighter.