WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Mortal Kombat, now in theaters and streaming on HBO Max.

Like many fighting games, the extensive cast of characters in Mortal Kombat are capable of unleashing special moves, powerful attacks that defy conventional human limitations, to punish their opponents. The new Mortal Kombat film provides an explanation as to why the human characters in the film are able to perform their signature moves: arcana. Those that bear the dragon mark, being chosen to participate in the tournament between Earthrealm and Outworld, awaken their fighting spirit in moments of duress or extreme emotion, not unlike Dragon Ball's Super Saiyan combat transformation.

Here are all the Earthrealm characters in Mortal Kombat that awaken their arcana over the course of the film and how. Liu Kang and Kung Lao are not included, as both appear at the start of the film with their respective arcana already fully awakened.

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Kano

JOSH LAWSON as Kano in Mortal Kombat (2021)

As much of a despicable, self-serving character as he is, Kano is actually the first fighter seen activating his arcana in the film. Training at Raiden's temple under Liu Kang and Kung Lao, Kano quickly grows enraged at the humiliation the two younger fighters constantly subject him to in an effort to awaken his arcana.

As the fighters eat dinner after an unsuccessful training session, Kung Lao and Kano get into a heated argument culminating in Kano's arcana activating. As with the video games, this results in a powerful laser beam firing from his right eye, with Liu Kang and Kung Lao impressed that pushing Kano has finally yielded results.

Cole Young

LEWIS TAN as Cole Young in Mortal Kombat (2021)

For much of Mortal Kombat, new protagonist Cole Young ponders if he's worthy of being among the familiar video game characters, coming off a declining career as a washed-up MMA fighter before being recruited to represent Earthrealm at the tournament. After a frustrating lack of progress training at Raiden's temple, Cole returns home where he discovers he cannot escape his destiny.

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Determined to wipe out the Hasashi bloodline once and for all, Goro personally travels to Cole's home and prepares to kill him and his family. After seeing his wife and daughter threatened, Cole's arcana instinctively awakens, with an armor forming over his body, complete with wrist-mounted blades, giving Cole the edge he needs to take on Goro.

Jax Briggs

MEHCAD BROOKS as Major Jackson “Jax” Briggs in Mortal Kombat (2021)

While Jax starts the film with the dragon mark, his participation in the tournament is threatened when Sub-Zero strikes and breaks off both of his arms. While Jax gains new, robotic prosthetics to replace his arms, he is visibly distraught by the impairment he now suffers from as he recovers in Raiden's temple.

Jax's arcana awakens when Shang Tsung leads an attack on the temple, leaving Sonya Blade trapped beneath a pile of rubble. Jax attempts to rescue his friend but his arms strain and break down from the exertion, with the mounting frustration activating Jax's arcana and transforming his prosthetics into the powerful cybernetic arms from games. Jax immediately takes advantage of his new upgrade by hoisting the rubble off Sonya, saving her.

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Sonya Blade

JESSICA MCNAMEE as Sonya Blade in Mortal Kombat (2021)

At the beginning of the film, Sonya doesn't actually bear a dragon mark herself, much to her visible chagrin. Sonya still trains alongside her companions at Raiden's temple, but she is fully aware that she does not qualify to participate in the tournament. This changes when her feud with Kano finally comes to a bloody head.

Betraying Earthrealm to work for Shang Tsung and Outworld, Kano attacks Sonya at her home, resulting in a grueling fight. While Kano's awakened arcana gives him an immediate advantage, Sonya manages to stab him in the eye with a lawn ornament, killing him instantly. Upon killing Kano, Sonya inherits his dragon mark, awakening her arcana as she comes to her fellow Earthrealm champions' aid by killing Mileena with an energy blast.

Directed by Simon McQuoid and produced by James Wan, Mortal Kombat stars Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Mehcad Brooks as Jackson "Jax" Bridges, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Joe Taslim as Bi-Han and Sub-Zero, Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion, Max Huang as Kung Lao, Sisi Stringer as Mileena, Matilda Kimber as Emily Young and Laura Brent as Allison Young. The film is now in theaters and available to stream on HBO Max.

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