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At the 2018 Game Awards, Ed Boon revealed the teaser trailer for the much anticipated Mortal Kombat 11. The two-minute trailer featured a battle between two icons in the franchise, Scorpion and Raiden.
Fans of the series have already been speculating who could make a return for the 2019 release. At the moment, we have Raiden and Scorpion confirmed, with Shao Kahn as pre-order DLC. If the leak we saw last week is to be believed, Kotal Kahn, Liu Kang, Kitana, Shang Tsung, Fujin, and Reiko are also playable.
However, according to that leak, we'll be missing some big names like Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, Kano, Goro, Baraka, Melina, and a recent addition in Ferra & Torr. Hopefully, this isn't true, as that's an impressive list of MK icons to leave out. However, if it is, NetherRealm Studios will have to either create an all-new class of diverse characters for MK 11 or bring back some old classics that haven't been seen in a while.
Throughout the series, there have been some pretty unique characters that have fallen to the wayside. Even in games that some fans look down upon like Deadly Alliance and Deception, there are some real gems to be plucked and placed into MK 11.
#5 Havik
Speaking of Mortal Kombat: Deception, let's talk about one of its most unique personalities in Havik. Havik is a Cleric of Chaos whose entire being relies on spreading confusion and conflict wherever he may go. If Mortal Kombat 11's story really is revolving around a loose cannon Raiden taking out anyone who may attempt to invade Earthrealm, someone like Havik is a pretty good choice.
What makes him interesting as a character is his utter lack of motive in regards to good or bad. Havik isn't looking to lead an army into other worlds to control everything. That's against everything he stands for. Just the same, he would be completely opposed to Raiden's iron-fisted tactics and would hope to plant seeds of discord and antagonism...simply because he could.
Havik is someone that can oppose all sides simply because he exists. He could end up in Outworld to face off against Kotal Kahn, or attempt to end the rule of Liu Kang and Kitana in...possibly Edenia.
Not to mention the unique combat that Havik brings. In MK: Deception, since Havik's body is so mangled and out of the ordinary, being from the Chaosrealm, his fighting style was based around confusing his opponents by dislocating his own shoulder or cracking his own neck, which would somehow heal him.
He's strange, he's gory, and he's just what MK11 needs to spice up the storyline.
For the latest Mortal Kombat 11 News, stick to Sportskeeda.
#4 Skarlet
Skarlet made her first appearance in Mortal Kombat as a DLC character in Mortal Kombat 2011. However, though she was only DLC, fans have really flocked to her, and have been wanting to see more of her since.
Back during the Mortal Kombat II days, it was rumored that she was a secret character in the game. Much like Reptile and Ermac and other ninja characters who were pallet swaps of Scorpion and Sub-Zero, legend spread of a secret female character who looked like Kitana but was covered in red.
From that and that alone, NetherRealms decided to give a nod to their older fanbase by turning the fabled female assassin into a deadly vixen in the 2011 reboot of the franchise. However, they went all in with the color red, turning her into someone who only wants to be drenched in blood. Not only that, but Skarlet is comprised solely of blood, being a creation of Shao Kahn. Just like another one of his creations, Ermac, she talks with multiple unified voices.
Her fighting style is full of bladed weapons that help bleed her opponents, and she's able to control blood to create projectiles. She even turns into a puddle of blood to evade and pounce on unsuspecting victims.
Her love to be bathed in the blood of her victims stems from Countess Elizabeth Bathory, a noted serial killer from the sixteenth century who was known to bathe in the blood of those she killed.
NetherRealm almost placed Skarlet in Mortal Kombat X, and she was a planned character in the early draft of the story mode. However, she didn't make the cut and was ultimately left out of the game entirely.
She's gruesome, gory, and completely ridiculous in the right way. Skarlet would be a perfect fit for the latest installment in the Mortal Kombat franchise.
#3 Motaro
If Mortal Kombat 11 is going to focus on the rise of Kotal Kahn's army, including the old wizard Shang Tsung, why not bring back some more heavy hitters? With Goro, reportedly, not an option according to the leak, it wouldn't hurt the new leader of Outworld to bring the Centaurian race on his side.
Motaro first appeared in MK 3 as a sub-boss, where he haunted the minds of players. The massive four-legged monstrosity was completely immune to projectiles and sometimes would send them flying back at players, causing them to hurt themselves. The beast seemed to have almost impenetrable defenses, and his massive body meant it was difficult to dodge any of his devastating attacks.
The last time Motaro was playable was in Armageddon, where his back two legs were removed so he would be easier and quicker to program. However, it was hinted at in that game through his Bio Kard that it could be possible to correctly program and animate the four-legged Motaro in a newer game.
With all new technology, better graphics, and a developmental team that has recreated many iconic characters and given them new life, maybe it's possible that the once unmanageable Motaro could make his way into MK 11.
#2 Kintaro/Sheeva
If the original Shokan nightmare Goro isn't going to be around, why not bring back Kintaro or Sheeva?
The Shokan class is divided, according to Mortal Kombat lore, between different variants of the race. Goro and Sheeva are members of the elite Draco clan, whereas Kintaro is a part of the low-class Tigrar clan. The titan-like Kintaro first debuted as a sub-boss in Mortal Kombat II, replacing Goro, who had been defeated by Liu Kang in the previous installment.
Kintaro was known as one of the hardest video game bosses, not just in the MK series, but in the video game world as a whole. His instant air grabs and teleporting attacks made him a nightmare to deal with. Since his appearance there, he's been a terrifying staple throughout the Mortal Kombat series but has rarely been playable. More often than not, he's only used as a boss fight during the single-player modes of MK games.
MK 11 could be Kintaro's big break, replacing the other Shokan characters as a new tough bodyguard for Kotal Kahn.
On the flip side of that coin is Sheeva, who hasn't been around since Mortal Kombat 2011. The only female Shokan we've seen, Sheeva has been a pretty devastating foe for players for a while now. Since making her first appearance in Mortal Kombat 3, and has always been playable in every game she's been featured, unlike her male counterparts.
Sheeva also made history in MK: Armageddon, as she's currently the only female character to be used as a boss in the entire series.
Both Sheeva and Kintaro are pretty good options when it comes to replacing Goro. Regardless of who they choose, someone from the Shokan race is needed.
#1 Smoke/Noob Saibot
Prior to 2011, not many people cared about Noob Saibot or Smoke. In fact, those in control of the series cared so little about them that they decided to combine them into one character in later games, only using up one character slot.
However, with the release of Mortal Kombat 2011, fans were treated to something completely different. Once throwaway characters, Smoke and Noob were now their own unique ninjas. Mortal Kombat 9 focused on the story of Noob, the original Sub-Zero, Bi-Han, who was assassinated by Scorpion, who had been led to believe that Bi-Han had murdered his entire village and family by the Netherrealm sorcerer Quan Chi.
This was all part of Quan Chi's plan, as he turned the violently murdered soul of Bi-Han into a wraith known as Noob Saibot. Now a deadly Netherrealm assassin loyal only to himself, Noob vowed to one day rule over the realm.
Smoke, who by the time he was playable in the original timeline was a cyborg, was playable as a human in the current timeline. Smoke's current incarnation was pretty unique considering he used to be a carbon copy clone of Scorpion/Sub-Zero and later on Cyrax/Sektor, given long locks of silver hair that covered his face.
Smoke's story revolved around Raiden and the rest of his warriors attempting to prevent the future from happening, including preventing Smoke from being turned into a cyborg. While they were unable to save Bi-Han, they were able to prevent Smoke from meeting his original destiny, though the new Sub-Zero Kuai Liang would take his place.
Both of these characters, now with more fleshed out backstories, were also given some updated special attacks.
Noob's playstyle focused around summoning a shadow version of himself, sending him out like a projectile. For example, he turned his old Sub-Zero techniques into more wraithlike versions of them, turning the Lin Kuei Slide into the Shadow Slide. Fighting Noob Saibot became a 2-on-1 affair, but one that felt more intriguing and deadly than when Noob and Smoke were a package deal.
Smoke's new abilities revolved around deception, smoke, and teleportation. The Lin Kuei assassin could turn into a cloud of smoke and move around the opponent, teleport behind them to get a free hit or throw a smoke cloud at his opponent's feet, which would teleport them into the air closer to Smoke, allowing him to connect with a combo.
Both of these characters were left out of Mortal Kombat X, save for a few mentions in the story and a few appearances here and there. But they weren't playable, and that was a disservice to the work that was done to make them worthwhile in Mortal Kombat 2011.
It's time to bring these two back to our consoles this year.
Who do you want to see return to the roster in Mortal Kombat 11? Let us know in the comments below!
