For over 30 years, Mortal Kombat has dominated the fighting genre in the gaming industry, thanks to its intense violence and wide range of characters. When it first debuted, the original Mortal Kombat game had only seven playable characters, and only one of them was a female fighter.
However, as time passed and the franchise evolved, the number of female characters has significantly increased. Throughout the series’ numerous mainline games, there have been more than 75 fighters, including a growing roster of remarkable female warriors.
The female fighters in Mortal Kombat have consistently proven their skills and abilities, matching up to their male counterparts. However, they often do not receive the recognition they deserve. With the recent reboot of the Mortal Kombat franchise, it is an ideal opportunity to highlight and examine the top female characters in the game.
It’s important to note that this list is based on personal opinions and there is no definitive answer as to which female character is the ultimate best within the game.
Best Female Fighters In Mortal Kombat
1. Kitana
Kitana stands as one of the most well-known and influential female combatants within the Mortal Kombat series. Not only has she made her mark within the Mortal Kombat franchise, but she has also left a lasting impact within the fighting game genre as a whole.
Kitana made her debut in Mortal Kombat II, showcasing her unique fighting style that set her apart from others. Utilizing metal fans as her weapon of choice, Kitana intrigued and captivated players.
One of her most notable abilities was the ability to throw her fans midair, effectively striking opponents who attempted to approach from above. This move allowed her to control the battle space strategically, while also providing her with an array of impressive combination moves.
As the series progressed, adjustments were made to balance her abilities. Within the storyline, Kitana is known for her strong moral compass. She bravely opposed Shao Khan when she became aware of his sinister intentions, establishing herself as a trustworthy force for good in the Mortal Kombat series.
2. Mileena
Mileena, a female character in Mortal Kombat, is not just Princess Kitana’s duplicate. She possesses her own unique qualities and abilities that make her a formidable opponent. Although she was created by Shang Tsung in his sinister flesh pits, we will focus on her exceptional fighting style. Being a fusion of Kitana and a Tarkatan, Mileena combines immense power with lightning-fast agility.
In the world of Mortal Kombat, there are two female characters with unique fighting styles. Kitana wields two fans while Mileena opts for a pair of sai. What sets Mileena apart is her terrifying Tarkatan teeth, which serve as a deadly weapon.
Not only can she use her teeth to attack her opponents, but she can also satisfy her hunger by performing a Leaping Neckbite. While all fighters in Mortal Kombat can deliver devastating blows, Mileena takes it one step further by using her defeated enemies to create a refreshing smoothie.
3. Sonya Blade
The introduction of Sonya Blade marked the beginning of female representation in the Mortal Kombat series. Since her debut in the first game, she has become a prominent character in almost all Mortal Kombat games, apart from Mortal Kombat 2.
Despite her appearance resembling a fitness instructor rather than a soldier, Sonya Blade’s exceptional agility aligns perfectly with her character. Sonya, one of the female characters in Mortal Kombat, specializes in close-quarters combat and hand-to-hand fighting.
In recent games, her Special Moves have been enhanced with the use of technology, such as Drone Drops and Stun Grenades. She has a wide range of signature moves that she can use in battles.
Among all the female characters in the game, Sonya has remained an iconic figure and has not faded into the background, even with the addition of her daughter to the cast. She is still as relevant and prominent as ever. However, be careful not to ask her for a break, as she might take it too literally.
4. Jade
Initially, Jade was a concealed character in Mortal Kombat II, unavailable for players to use. She had a striking resemblance to Kitana, but with a distinct color scheme, mainly green, which was commonly associated with secret characters.
However, after becoming a playable character, Jade established her unique identity and distinct fighting style, making her a fascinating addition to the roster of Mortal Kombat characters. In the world of Mortal Kombat, there are several powerful female characters who bring their own unique skills and abilities to the fight.
One such character is Jade, who wields a staff and razorangs, using them to inflict significant damage on her opponents. What sets Jade apart is her ability to execute Dodging Shadows, a move that allows her to effortlessly evade incoming projectiles without any harm.
In the game’s storyline, Jade is portrayed as fiercely loyal to Kitana, acting as her dedicated protector. Although Kitana is already a formidable fighter in her own right, Jade remains steadfast by her side.
5. D’Vorah
D’Vorah, a character introduced in Mortal Kombat X, is truly one-of-a-kind and may even be considered unsettling. She is essentially a group of insects controlling a body that vaguely resembles a human.
Her main strategy in battles is to attack her opponents from a distance, utilizing her ability to command a swarm of devil hornets. These insects can be extremely dangerous, especially since D’Vorah has the power to poison her enemies with certain attacks. The poison she inflicts can have various detrimental effects on her foes.
6. Sindel
One of the key characters in the Mortal Kombat trilogy is Sindel, who plays a crucial role in the series’ storyline. She was originally the queen of Edenia and the mother of Kitana.
However, her kingdom was overtaken by Shao Khan, and she was compelled to marry him against her wishes. In an attempt to free herself from this unwanted union, Sindel took her own life, but this turned out to be a grave error.
By forming a forbidden alliance with Shinnok, Khan managed to revive Sindel from the depths of the underworld, but in the realm of Earth. This devious act granted him an unfair advantage in Mortal Kombat, enabling him to invade Earth and retrieve his beloved queen.
Sindel, her memories wiped away, willingly aligns herself with Khan and proceeds to mercilessly eliminate numerous warriors from Earth who participate in MK.
7. Kronika
In the world of Mortal Kombat, Kronika emerged as the primary antagonist and the first significant female villain. Unlike Shao Khan, Shinnok, Onaga, or the Deadly Alliance, Kronika managed to challenge and test the characters to a greater extent in MK11.
Being the Elder God of time and Shinnok’s mother, Kronika grew tired of Raiden’s constant interference in the mortal realm.
In the Mortal Kombat universe, Kronika, upon finding the decapitated head of Shinnok, a character resembling Satan, makes a decision to eliminate Raiden from the timeline.
This choice leads to a clash between Kronika and the female characters who are the heroes of Mortal Kombat, as well as a significant number of its female villains.
8. Tanya
Similar to D’Vorah, Tanya is a resilient character in the Mortal Kombat series. However, unlike D’Vorah’s insect-like characteristics, Tanya is often compared to a cockroach, black widow, or praying mantis.
Initially, Tanya may have been considered uninteresting when she first appeared in Mortal Kombat 4. However, over time, she has become a fan favorite due to her deceitful and scheming nature.
Tanya is a ruthless and ambitious character in Mortal Kombat who is willing to betray and kill anyone to achieve her goals. She not only seeks to survive but also desires to succeed at any expense.
Tanya’s treachery extends to her own realm, Edenia, as she betrayed it, leading to its invasion and domination by Shao Khan and later Shinnok. In her Mortal Kombat 11 ending, she even cold-heartedly murders her lover Rain once she deems him no longer useful.
9. Nitara
The presence of the vampire character Nitara in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance has been relatively limited. Nitara made her debut in the game and collaborated with Cyrax to liberate their realms from the clutches of the antagonist Shao Khan.
After that time, she has made appearances as minor characters in both the Mortal Kombat video games and movies. However, Nitara has not been featured as a main character in the game’s roster.
10. Sheeva
Although Sheeva bears a resemblance to the male character Goro, she often finds herself being deceived, betrayed, and ultimately killed by cunning characters in the storylines. Nevertheless, Sheeva is an integral part of the original Mortal Kombat trilogy and deserves recognition among the female characters in the game.
In Mortal Kombat 11, the Shokan queen with four arms played a crucial role in the fight against Kronika. It is desirable for NetherRealm Studios to further delve into the potential of this female character in upcoming games.
11. Cassie Cage
Cassie, as a recent addition to the Mortal Kombat series, quickly became a popular character. As the offspring of Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade, one might anticipate her to be arrogant but also a formidable adversary, and she certainly lives up to those expectations.
Cassie possesses the abilities to compete with the best fighters in Mortal Kombat, and she exudes such self-assurance that she introduced one of the game’s most amusing and unforgettable fatalities: capturing a selfie with her defeated rival and sharing it on social media.
Cassie stands out as a remarkable character in the Mortal Kombat franchise, both within the story and beyond. While others struggled against Shinnok’s corrupted form, Cassie remained standing till the end.
This pivotal moment symbolized a transfer of power as Cassie emerged victorious, not only defeating the threat but also assuming the role of a leader for the future of Mortal Kombat.
12. Li Mei
Among the roster of Deadly Alliance, there were not many impressive characters. However, Li Mei stood out as the most outstanding new female character. Despite her unfortunate fate of having her soul imprisoned in a mummy by Shang Tsung, leaving her seemingly inactive, her backstory was both sorrowful and captivating.
Li Mei’s potential as a character in Mortal Kombat was recognized by the developers in the sequel to Deadly Alliance, called Deception. They expanded her role in the story, and her personality seemed to have changed after her time as a mummy.
Despite initially wanting to destroy Onaga, she ultimately joined forces with him and became his queen. Li Mei was well-received by fans, and they would be happy to see her return in future games, just like Bo Rai Cho from Deadly Alliance.
13. Ferra
The female Mortal Kombat character, Ferra, stood out among fans due to her exceptional and distinctive fighting style. She made history as the first child fighter in the franchise and also the first character to engage in simultaneous combat alongside another fighter.
Ferra visually captivated players by riding on Torr’s back, creating a visually appealing duo. However, their partnership was short-lived based on their backstory. In the conclusion of their story mode, Torr tragically meets his demise, leaving Ferra behind.
However, Ferra undergoes a transformation and becomes a massive, powerful creature similar to Torr. Their species has a unique symbiotic relationship, with one riding on the other until they reach adulthood, at which point the younger one takes on the role of the rider.
While it seems that Torr is permanently gone, fans anticipate that Ferra’s return will bring about significant changes in her appearance. Furthermore, it is hoped that her storyline will become more engaging, matching her distinctive look with a compelling narrative.
14. Frost
The Lin Kuei group in Mortal Kombat holds a significant role in the game’s story, and Frost is notable as their first female fighter.
Frost initially appears in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance as Sub-Zero’s student, but gradually becomes more important in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon and subsequent installments.
Frost emerges from the shadow of Sub-Zero and strives to bring honor to the Lin Kuei clan. Both Frost and Sub-Zero share a common goal and use similar fighting techniques.
Although Frost may not be as highly ranked as Sub-Zero, she is a remarkable female assassin who brings a unique element to combat with her freezing powers.
15. Jacqui Briggs
Jacqui Briggs, a female character in Mortal Kombat X, made her first appearance alongside Cassie Cage. Unlike other fighters with supernatural abilities, Jacqui should not be underestimated.
Her X-Ray attack, which brutally shatters ribcages, serves as a testament to her formidable skills. It is evident that crossing paths with this Briggs character would be unwise.
Jacqui is not only an incredibly enjoyable character to play as in Mortal Kombat, but her role in the game’s story is also truly exceptional.
With her practicality and strategic expertise, she serves as a perfect contrast to the more unstable characters. Jacqui stands out as the voice of reason within the group of Kombat Kids.
16. Skarlet
Female Mortal Kombat characters have seen significant improvement in their designs, and one such character is Skarlet. In the previous Mortal Kombat game, Skarlet’s design could be described as a bikini-clad ninja, which was often met with criticism.
However, the developers listened to the feedback and made significant changes in Mortal Kombat 11. As a result, Skarlet’s appearance in the latest game is undoubtedly much more appealing and well-executed.
Similar to Nitara, Skarlet possesses the ability to manipulate blood and utilize it as weapons, allowing her to inflict devastating damage upon her opponents. In the storyline, she is portrayed as a villainous character with a self-serving nature.
However, her loyalty primarily lies with herself, as evident in her Mortal Kombat 11 ending. Nevertheless, it appears that Skarlet may harbor some romantic feelings towards Shao Khan.
It is intriguing to imagine the potential for Skarlet to showcase her impressive skills and dominate her adversaries in future installments, as she is undeniably one of the most fascinating female characters from Outworld.
17. Cetrion
Despite her dedication to life and the natural world, Cetrion is a formidable fighter who can swiftly defeat her opponents.
Making her debut in Mortal Kombat 11, Cetrion showcases god-like abilities as she mercilessly pummels other characters into submission.
The female character Cetrion stands out due to her distinct fighting style that revolves around keeping her opponents at a distance.
Unlike other characters, she excels at maintaining distance from her foes and can be considered the first true keepaway character in the Mortal Kombat series.
Cetrion possesses the ability to create barriers and utilizes her divine powers to launch various projectiles towards her enemies.
18. Sareena
Sareena first appeared in the criticized game Mortal Kombat: Mythologies, where she started off as a character that couldn’t be controlled by players and was instead a boss.
In the Mortal Kombat series, boss characters often gain popularity among fans. However, Sareena has only been included as a playable character in two instances, and one of those times was in a Game Boy Advance version of Deception.
19. Kira
Kira’s presence in the Mortal Kombat series was brief, as she only made appearances in Deception and Armageddon. Unfortunately, she tends to be overlooked and forgotten by many.
As a member of Kano’s Black Dragon Clan and a fighting partner to Kobra, Kira had a diverse set of moves that drew inspiration from Sonya Blade, Kano, and occasionally Frost. With such a combination, she had the potential to become one of the standout characters in the series.
While Kira may not be widely recognized as one of the best characters in Mortal Kombat, she does have a dedicated fan base that eagerly anticipates her comeback in future installments of the series.
In the meantime, players can enjoy utilizing her skills to dominate the Towers mode in any game she appears in.
20. Ashrah
Ashrah is often referred to as the female equivalent of Raiden in Mortal Kombat. While this comparison has its advantages and disadvantages, it is worth noting that she shares some similarities with Raiden.
Like him, she possesses immense power, wields ancient artifacts that enhance her abilities, and symbolizes the forces of light and good within the Realms, despite being a demon herself. However, controlling Ashrah can be challenging and she may feel sluggish and unresponsive, particularly for players who are new to Mortal Kombat or have just started playing as her.
She made her debut in Mortal Kombat Deception, which is fittingly appropriate. Over time, devoted fans of the franchise have developed a fondness for her multifaceted nature and intricate persona, both spiritually and in terms of gameplay.
21. Khameleon
Female Mortal Kombat characters are highly cherished by devoted fans, and Khameleon is no exception. Despite only making a brief return and not being a permanent fixture in the game, she holds a special significance.
Khameleon made her debut in Mortal Kombat Trilogy and initially wasn’t intended to be a standout character. In fact, the developers have revealed that she was essentially a variation of Kitana with different colors.
Fans of Mortal Kombat were eager for the return of the character Khameleon in Mortal Kombat Armageddon, despite the lack of interest from the creators and developers. In this game, Khameleon received an enhanced design with translucent skin and a dynamic outfit that could change colors.
22. Jataaka
Jataaka, one of the three demon sisters under the command of Quan Chi, proved to be a loyal servant. Unlike her sister Kia, Jataaka was a formidable adversary and utilized a lightsaber reminiscent of Darth Maul’s to hinder the elder Sub-Zero’s attempt to retrieve the orb in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero.
Similar to her two demon partners, Jataaka has made only a few appearances in the Mortal Kombat franchise since her debut. The most recent appearance of Jataaka was in a story mode scene in the game Armageddon, released in 2006.
However, it would be a shame to let such a cool character, with a unique appearance and fighting style, fade into obscurity. Hopefully, game developers will explore the rich lore of Mortal Kombat and introduce new characters like Jataaka in future games.
23. Kia
After the initial triumph of the initial three Mortal Kombat games, Midway made the decision to explore a different path for the franchise while also diving into the past of a beloved character.
Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero focuses on the backstory of the original Sub-Zero, Bi-Han, as he embarks on a mission to recover a powerful amulet for the sorcerer Quan Chi.
This particular game stood out because it was a side-scrolling game instead of a traditional fighting game. As a result, it featured various level bosses, including Kia.
Kia was one of the demon sisters from the Netherrealm and her boomerang blade attack was considered the least powerful among the trio.
Despite this, she could still be a potential character for upcoming games and films if game designers and filmmakers decide to include her in their projects.
24. Tasia
Tasia is an expert swordswoman and ninja master member of the Black Dragon who first appeared in Mortal Kombat: Special Forces.
25. Kathy Long
Kathy Long was meant to appear in Mortal Kombat II but in the end, she was dropped due to time constraints. This female fighter was based on a real life kickboxer called Kathy Long, whom John Tobias admired and thought to be a noble person.
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