Kitana

Kitana was born in Edenia, the daughter of Queen Sindel and King Jerrod. When the tyrant Shao Kahn conquered Edenia, he killed Jerrod and forced Sindel into marriage. The infant Kitana was adopted by Shao Kahn, who raised her as his own daughter and trained her as a deadly assassin. For centuries, Kitana served as his loyal enforcer, unaware of her true lineage. A genetic clone of Kitana, created by Shang Tsung using Tarkatan DNA, became Mileena, who was presented as her twin sister.[edit]

Kitana is regal, disciplined, and fiercely principled. Initially cold and obedient to Shao Kahn, she undergoes a profound transformation after learning the truth about her past. She becomes compassionate, driven by a deep sense of justice and a desire to free her people. Kitana is loyal to her friends and family, but struggles with trust due to her upbringing. She is also proud of her Edenian heritage and carries herself with the grace of royalty. Despite her kindness, she is ruthless in battle, especially against those who threaten her realm.[edit]

In Mortal Kombat II, Kitana is sent to assassinate Liu Kang but instead learns the truth about her parentage and defects to the side of Earthrealm. In Mortal Kombat 3, she fights to free her mother Sindel from Shao Kahn's brainwashing. She is killed by the Deadly Alliance in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, but her soul is rescued and she is resurrected in Mortal Kombat: Deception. The 2011 reboot retells her story with modern graphics, again seeing her turn against Shao Kahn and fall in love with Liu Kang. In Mortal Kombat X, set 25 years later, Kitana is queen of Edenia and later becomes Empress of Outworld after defeating Shao Kahn. In Mortal Kombat 11, she is killed by a time-displaced Shao Kahn but resurrected by Kronika. She eventually defeats Shao Kahn and becomes the new Kahn of Outworld, ruling with Liu Kang by her side.[edit]

Kitana is one of the most iconic female characters in video game history, often cited as a pioneering figure for proving that female fighters could be both strong and popular. Her blue outfit and steel fans are instantly recognizable. She consistently ranks high in fan polls and lists of top fighting game characters, and has appeared in crossover games like Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe and Injustice 2 as a DLC character.[edit]