Since its first game, the Mortal Kombat franchise has been host to some of the most unique and layered characters in fighting games. Coupled with its action-packed and heartfelt narrative, the series has introduced players to characters with enough potential to carry their own titles. One of the most intriguing characters in the game and behind the scenes is the crimson ninja, Ermac.
Ermac first appeared in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, but there is some controversy as to his origins. In Mortal Kombat's arcade version, a shortened name of the term Error Macro appeared on its audit menu. When shortened, it spelled out "ERMAC" and led fans of the game to believe they were a secret character. The running joke of its creators denying their existence went on into the next game with secret fighter, Jade, acknowledging that there was no Ermac. This lasted until the character made his official appearance in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. While their real-world origins were nothing short of unorthodox, their in-game beginnings were no different.
In the series, Ermac was a culmination of souls killed in the many battles of Outworld. Due to this, the character often refers to themself as "we/us." Initially, their appearance resembled that of the game's other ninja-like Scorpion and Sub-Zero, the only difference being they wore red rather than the yellow or blue the other two wore. This would last for some time but change as the franchise continued to evolve.
At first, Ermac worked under Shao Khan and his Shadow Priests and took on a villainous role in their early appearances. They became a formidable adversary due to their martial expertise, ability to teleport between the realms and telekinesis that gave them the skills to take on multiple foes at once. Unlike Scorpion, who also has a spiritual origin, Ermac showed little sign of emotion. However, later games would show that they have a conscience regarding the protection of Outworld.
In Mortal Kombat: Deception, the swordsman Kenshi freed Ermac from Shao Khan's hold. This spurred a desire to do right by the people they once saw as foes and fight for the side of good. Sadly, while the change in heart worked well for the character, their face turn was undone thanks to the game's current timeline. While Ermac is still unchained from Shao Khan's control, they have become more of an anti-hero who would fight for Outworld's best interest. The best example of this is shown in Mortal Kombat X when they sided with Kotal Kahn as a potential ruler for Outworld.
Mortal Kombat has consistently proven that the characters who side for good and evil can shift depending on where their interests lie. However, Ermac is one of the most unique examples of that because they recognized that sides don't matter in some cases. Ermac started as a villain that became a hero but later found that the best way to keep their realm safe was to align with the side that ensured its survival. Because of that, Ermac is one of the most layered characters in the franchise.