| Articles about Liu Kang |
Main • Legends |
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| “ | Shang Tsung! Only one fight remains. Face me... in Mortal Kombat! | „ |
| ~ Liu Kang |
| “ | I should thank you. You freed me. The Elder Gods you blindly serve? I will help Shinnok end their rule! | „ |
| ~ Liu Kang to Raiden |
| “ | The battle between mind and body has begun. | „ |
| ~ Liu Kang's spirit preparing to his face his undead self |
| “ | Each realm must choose its own destiny. Whatever those choices, we will face them together. | „ |
| ~ Liu Kang |
Summary
Shaolin monk and Champion of Earthrealm, Liu Kang was an orphan adopted and trained in the arts of combat by the Shaolin order. He honored them by defeating Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat and saving Earthrealm as "the Chosen One," a title that weighs heavy on his shoulders.
Powers and Stats
Tier: High 8-C | At least 9-A, likely High 8-C | At least 8-A, likely far higher
Key: Base | Revenant | Fire God
Name: Liu Kang, has several titles including Chosen One, Champion of Earthrealm, Professor Eyesight, Mister Liuliu, Outworld's Bane, Little Dragon, Lord of Death | Lord Liu Kang, Keeper of Time
Origin: Mortal Kombat
Gender: Male
Age: Apparently in his 20s when he died and became a revenant, becomes immortal as Fire God Liu Kang
Classification: Human, Shaolin monk, Champion of the Mortal Kombat tournament, Zombie (former), Revenant and Emperor of the Netherrealm (former) | God of Thunder and Fire (current), Keeper of Time
Powers and Abilities:
Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Martial Arts (His fighting style is based on JKD with a combination of Muay Thai and Wing Chun. Can perform a One Inch Death Strike that causes the opponent's chest to explode), Weapon Mastery (Wields a nunchaku), Stealth Mastery, (Along with Raiden and Kung Lao, they spied on Baraka, D'Vorah, and several Tarkatans who were transporting kidnapped Shaolin monks. Almost infiltrated the Tarkatan War Kamp disguised as Kotal's soldiers), Acrobatics (Hypermobility, Self-Momentum, and Surface Running. Can run up on walls before leaping off of them. Can perform long jumps halt his flight by rolling, etc.), Can interact with his past self, but will share with it irreparable damage and death (As shown throughout MK11), Fire Manipulation (Liu Kang's primary and only element is dragon fire. Most of his powers come from or possess this fire, including Teleportation, Aura, and Damage Boost), Shapeshifting (Can turn into a flaming dragon resembling the MK logo), Summoning (Can summon the aformentioned dragon), Light Manipulation (In the Yang state, Liu has access to searing orbs of light and a channeled healing ability), Darkness Manipulation (In the Yin state, Liu has access to dark orbs of fire and a channeled ability that boosts the damage of his dark orbs), Limited Resistance to Poison Manipulation (Can survive a dosage of poison gas without receiving treatment afterwards but can be killed if he's exposed to the gas long enough)
All previous abilities, plus Magic (His Revenant form has mastered Shinnok's dark sorcery), Immortality (Type 7), Self-Sustenance (Type 2), Soul Manipulation (Can consume souls, which restores his health and increases his strength. He can also use these souls to create fire skulls to use as projectiles), Can summon hellish tentacles with the Talisman of Kafallah Warlocks
Has the combined powers of his pure self and Raiden's powers, including Flight (True flight), Longevity (After regaining his power as the Keeper of Time, Liu Kang lost his immortality. However, despite this his lifespan would still stretch across eons), Acausality (Type 1. As an immortal, he exists outside the normal laws of time. In practice, this is the reason why he was unaffected by his past self's injuries and why Dark Raiden was erased when his past self was brought forth into the timeline), Self-Sustenance (Types 1 and 2), Electricity Manipulation (Now uses Raiden's lightning), Weather Manipulation (Summoned a fiery storm), Transmutation (With his fire, he turned Kronika and everything on her body into a glass statue), Resistance to Time Manipulation ("Raiden's Gift" protected him from the Hourglass' powers, which rewinded time back to the Chaotian Age). Can also use the Hourglass and its powers
Attack Potency: Large Building level+ (Defeated all of his opponents in the first (tenth) Mortal Kombat tournament including the likes of Goro and Shang Tsung. Nearly killed Shao Kahn in the second tournament. Destined to fight against Raiden in every timeline) | At least Small Building level (Relies on a power source and is weakened without it. Fought Jax even with Shinnok sealed during that time and later managed to fight Cassie Cage), likely Large Building level+ (With Shinnok's presence, he managed to put up a fight against Raiden and also hurt him in MKX, later absorbed the powers of his alive self) | At least Multi-City Block level (At this state, Liu Kang has the combined might of his both versions and Raiden. Casually broke through the gate defending Kronika's Keep and the Netherrealm's demon army with a dive bomb which carved a crater, the latter being a feat that Fujin could only do the Krown's power. After tapping into the Jinsei, he defeated the White Revenants, Dark Cetrion, and Kronika. In his ending in Aftermath, he defeats Keeper of Time Shang Tsung before erasing him with the Hourglass' energies for good), likely far higher (While he does scale to Cetrion and others similar or above her in power, all of his feats against them were done after a "temporal Armageddon", an event that was stated by Cetrion and the Elder Gods to weaken their power and eventually erase all beings, including the Elder Gods. This means that he has fought a weaker version of Cetrion, but he later surpasses her and even her superior, implying that he may be more powerful than their versions before that event)
Speed: Massively Hypersonic+ combat and reaction speed (Can keep up with Raiden in every timeline, defeated Shao Kahn) | At least Peak Human travel speed with Hypersonic combat and reaction speed (Kept up with Cassie Cage and Jax), likely Massively Hypersonic+ combat and reaction speed (Can fight with Raiden while on Shinnok's presence, absorbed his alive self-powers to fight Raiden one more time) | Hypersonic+ travel speed (Raiden was able to fly up into the atmosphere at this speed, Liu Kang's god form should be able to replicate it as well), with Massively Hypersonic+ combat and reaction speed (Dodged Cetrion's projectiles and deflected multiple meteoroids from Kronika)
Lifting Strength: At least Class K (Should be comparable to the likes of Sub-Zero and Scorpion, who can tear out spines) | At least Class K | At least Class K, likely far higher
Striking Strength: Large Building level+ (Punched through Shao Kahn's chest) | At least Small Building level, likely Large Building level+ | At least Multi-City Block level, likely far higher
Durability: Large Building level+ (Can endure both physical and lightning attacks from Raiden) | At least Small Building level, likely Large Building level+ | At least Multi-City Block level, likely far higher (Took multiple attacks from Kronika and Cetrion. Should scale to his own striking strength)
Stamina: Superhuman | Superhuman | Superhuman (His power source comes from the Jinsei, the life force of Earthrealm)
Range: Standard Melee Range with hand-to-hand combat and nunchaku. Hundreds of Meters with projectiles | Standard Melee Range with hand-to-hand combat and nunchaku. Hundreds of Meters. Can travel through different points in time and space with the Hourglass.
Standard Equipment: Nunchaku
- Optional Equipment: Dragon Sword, Talisman of the Kafallah Warlocks (for his revenant only)
- Can Create/Summon: Flaming serpentine dragon (one that resembles the MK logo)
Intelligence: Gifted; is one of Earthrealm's greatest warrior and was able to defeat many powerful foes in combat. Orphaned as a child and was raised to learn martial arts by the White Lotus Society. His aptitude for martial arts gained the attention of the thunder god Raiden and the god took him to Bo' Rai Cho to further increase his skill.
Weaknesses: None notable
Notable Attacks/Techniques:
Martial Arts: Liu Kang is one of the Shaolin's best students and chosen warriors of the White Lotus Society. He earned these titles through lifelong training that taught and enhanced his fighting skills and many other skills.
- Jeet Kune Do: JKD is a hybrid philosophy of martial arts that teaches its practitioners to fight with the moves performed with minimal effort, maximum effect, and high speed. It also teaches in its "using no way as way" and "having no limitation as limitation" concepts that fighters can use any style they can to maximize their effect in fights. Liu Kang follows this teaching in battle, and has chosen other styles that suit him including boxing.
- Wing Chun: A Chinese kung fu that is well known for its quick and powerful attacks from relaxed stances, much like a calm bamboo stick that is stretched and released. This is one of the many fighting styles that inspired the creation of JKD.
- Muay Thai: A Thai martial art that focuses on standing strikes (much like Western boxing) and clinches as well as strikes done with the knees and shins.
- Nunchaku: Liu Kang wields a nunchaku as his primary weapon. It is a short-range weapon that can be used as a club, a whip and even a strangling weapon.
Fire Manipulation:
- Damage Boost: Liu Kang can enhance his attacks with flame, adding the burning heat of his flames to his already powerful melee strikes. Combined with his lightning-fast fighting style, he can destroy most opponents as he whittles them down with his fire and fists.
- Teleportation: In a burst of flames, Liu Kang disappears from sight before reappearing in a chosen location. In his fighting style, teleportation allows him to perform surprise attacks from different angles and instantly reposition himself during battle.
Arguably his most mysterious ability since little to no explanation or lore exists to describe it in detail. Still, details about this power can be made from his usage of the Dualist variation, which focuses on switching between Light and Dark forms to heal or harm. These two are also erroneously named Yin and Yang respectively.
- Light Metamorphosis: In his Light form, Liu Kang can shoot damaging orbs of searing light or channel light energy (along with an incantation) while in a stance to heal himself. A good representation of the taijitu symbol, since his Light form is positive in the form of healing but has its opposite effect within it, case in point his damaging Solar Flare attack, which is negative.
- Dark Metamorphosis: In his Dark form, Liu Kang can shoot dark fireballs or enter a stance that adds damage to these fireballs. Yet another good representation of the taijitu symbol, since his Dark form is negative in the form of damaging attacks but has its opposite effect within it, case in point his Yang stance that adds damage to these fireballs, which is positive.
After being killed by Raiden during Outworld's invasion on Earthrealm, Liu Kang's soul was claimed by the sorcerer Quan Chi and was subsequently turned into a revenant: an evil, undead version of a person whose thoughts are still their own, but they'll only serve the Brotherhood of Shadow's leaders: Shinnok and Quan Chi. They resemble their human form and still retain their powers, but their skin is pale or grey and there are cracks on it that glow with a yellow or reddish glow.
- Revenants do not appear to age. Even after 25+ years, they still resemble their younger selves on the day they were killed.
- As seen in Aftermath, their inner physiology is also affected. Just like a rotten corpse, their inner flesh is discolored and the internal organs are withered and inactive, indicating the lack of blood and its flow in their bodies.
Soul Absorption: At some point in his life as a revenant, he was able to master Shinnok's sorcery. With it he was able to absorb his past self's soul and use it to increase his strength.
Raiden's Gift: To end the vicious cycle of fate that Kronika has rooted into the destinies of Liu and Raiden, the latter did what he has never done before: transferring all of his power to Liu and making him a Fire God: a powerful being that commands the power of fire and lightning. With Raiden's power infused into his being, he inherits Raiden's unique temporal existence and his connection to the Jinsei, the life force of Earthrealm.
- Lightning: Just like Raiden, he can charge his attacks with electricity, call down a lightning bolt, shoot lightning that bounces through multiple targets, emit electricity around his body, etc.
- Fire: His flame powers are greatly enhanced in this form to the point where he can make massive fiery explosions with a single dive bomb that destroyed majority of the Netherrealm's army. His flames can now turn targets into brittle glass statues and when enhanced with energy from the Hourglass, can erase them from existence (in the form of them turning into sand).
Mortal Kombat X:
- Tiger Backfist: Liu pivots on a leg and lunges forward with a powerful back fist strike that knocks the opponent away.
Mortal Kombat 11:
- Nunchaku Strike: Liu swings his nunchaku from behind with a rising swing and switches it to his other hand for a side swing.
- Lost Soul: Following the initial attack, he sweeps the nunchaku across the opponent's legs.
- Kontei Slam: As the name implies, Liu slams the kontei or butt end of his nunchaku on the opponent's head.
- His godly form has a more powerful version. The attack is imbued in fire and the opponent will be struck by lightning.
- Rising Chaku: Liu swings his nunchaku upwards, launching the opponent.
- Chaku Sweep: Liu crouches and spins to his back, sweeping his nunchaku across the opponent's legs.
Mortal Kombat X:
- Tiger Strike: Using his leading arm, Liu throws two jabs and a hook punch.
- Snapping Dragon: The hook punch is replaced with a back fist strike.
- Dragon Seeks Path: The hook punch is replaced with an axe kick.
- Dragon Whips Tail: Liu does a 2 hit chain punch and throws an uppercut with his rear arm and does a spinning hook kick.
- Back Down: Liu throws an uppercut with his rear arm and does a back fist strike.
- Tiger Stalks Prey: Liu throws a hook from his rear, a gut punch from his leading arm, and he backflips into the air.
- Lotus Fury: Liu does 3 side kicks, turning around after each kick. He then knocks them away using his back fist.
- Fierce Tiger: Liu does a high front kick and a side kick that knocks them away. He rushes towards the opponent with a back fist.
Mortal Kombat 11:
- Dark Orders: Liu throws a horizontal chop and pushes the opponent with both palms and finishes the combo with a side kick to the head.
- Done Listening: Liu throws a cross punch followed by three powerful hook punches.
- In his godly form, the final punch is covered in fire and leaves a trail of it as well.
- A Quick End: A simple combo made of three kicks: a side kick, a spin side kick and a front kick.
- His godly form allows the front kick to be engulfed in fire.
- This Will Hurt: Liu hits the opponent's legs with a low side kick and does a roundhouse kick.
- His godly form coats the spinning kick in fire.
- Dragon's Breath: A combo consisting of kicks only. Liu throws three kicks aimed for the thighs, gut & head. He steps forth to deliver the final kick.
- The final side kick is covered in fire when performed by his god form.
- Chinese Warrior: Yet another kick combo. Liu does a double roundhouse kick, a reverse hook kick & a back kick.
- The back kick is covered in fire when performed by his god form, increasing its power.
- Fireball: Liu throws a concentrated ball of fire straight at his opponent. He may throw a more powerful fire ball with increased size and even fire up to three of them in quick succession. It can be performed while airborne.
- Dragon Fire: A draconic version of Fireball that replaces his traditional fireball with a dragon head fireball. He may delay or cancel the move, but only before he throws the projectile.
- Solar Flare: A different version of Fireball that replaces his traditional fireball with a concentrated ball of searing light.
- Soul Sphere: A darker version of Fireball. It is replaced with a dark red sphere that travels slowly and can float in place, dealing damage over time to anyone near it before exploding.
- Bicycle Kick: Liu Kang's signature attack which is recognized by many. Liu jumps at the opponent and floats forward, delivering multiple kicks to the face or chest similar to the motion of pedaling a bicycle.
- He can extend the time he spends airborne, directly increasing the amount of kicks he does.
- Alternatively, Liu can finish the attack with a front flip kick.
- Flying Dragon Kick: Another of his signature attacks, albeit with lesser popularity. Liu soars across the air with blinding speed and delivers a powerful kick.
- Double Dragon Kick: A variant of his flying kick where he kicks the opponent twice.
- Parry: Liu assumes a stance where he performs a stance reminiscent of Bruce Lee's fighting stances (this changes throughout the games Liu appears in). If he is struck during the stance, he will counter the attack with the following:
- A surprise attack where Liu teleports behind the opponent to punch them.
- A burning roundhouse kick that downs the opponent followed by him jumping on their chest.
- A simple punch to the chest which can be followed by a kick/uppercut.
- Dragon's Roar: Liu rushes forward, turning himself around to deliver a powerful back hand fist.
- Windmill Punch: Liu does an 8 hit chain punch, switching between each strike by rotating them like a windmill.
- He can deliver one less chain punch at the cost of a more powerful back fist strike.
- Yin: Liu begins to wave his arms in a circular motion while reciting an incantation, emitting light from his hands and the ground beneath him. While performing this stance, he can heal himself for as long as the stance is active.
- Yang: Liu gathers dark energy in his hand, pulsing with deadly power. While performing this stance, the total damage that his Soul Sphere deals will be increased the longer he does the stance.
- Shaolin Stance: Liu drops into a steady stance, gaining access to several moves.
- Monk Fury: Liu does an uppercut and swings an overhead and rising nunchaku strike.
- Sneaky Monk: Liu quickly executes a low kick.
- The stance can be cancelled quickly, allowing him to perform his next attack.
- Energy Parry: Liu swings his nunchaku at incoming projectiles, destroying them in the process.
- Nunchaku Stance: Liu enters a nunchaku stance, gaining access to several nunchaku moves and a projectile parry.
- Nunchaku Dance: Liu performs a 7 hit combo with a flurry of nunchaku swings.
- Nunchaku Absorb: Liu swings his nunchaku at incoming projectiles to destroy them.
- Nunchaku Flurry: Liu strikes the legs of his opponent thrice before unleashing a rising nunchaku swing.
- Shaolin Strike: Liu teleports towards the opponent, striking them with a back hand.
- Shaolin Stomp: Liu teleports above the opponent and crashes down with a burning descent.
- Shaolin Trip: Liu teleports towards the opponent and sweeps across their legs to trip them.
- Kusari Slam: A command grab where Liu wraps the nunchaku around the opponent's neck before Liu pulls it back, causing it to twist their neck.
- Before he pulls the nunchaku, Liu can knee the opponent's abdomen as an additional attack.
- Shaolin Vanish: Liu disappears in a burst of fire, teleporting to a certain location he chooses.
- Liu Kang grabs the opponent and pummels their chest with a 3 hit chain punch. He punches their face twice and pushes them with a double open palm strike before sending them flying with a roundhouse kick.
- Liu Kang hits the opponent in the abdomen with his folded nunchaku before unfolding it to swing it twice to strike their face and kicks them away.
- This throw is more powerful when performed by his godly form, each strike is imbued in deadly fire.
- Liu Kang pulls the opponent behind him before tripping them with a nunchaku sweep and stomping on their back. He twists his foot to crush their back.
- Just like his other throw, it is more powerful in his godly form. A bolt of lightning will shock the opponent as he steps on them.
- Hot Head: Liu Kang jumps up and shoots a fireball straight at the opponent's head, vaporizing their head into a flaming skull.
- Dragon's Den: Liu Kang delivers a powerful spinning backhand fist that has enough force to snap their opponent in half.
- Kounter Top: Liu Kang parries the opponent with a roundhouse kick that knocks them down. He stomps on their chest thrice, with the third one making a hole in their chest and popping their head out.
- Tread Lightly: Liu Kang does his Bicycle Kick and ends it prematurely by flipping down to crush the opponent's skull with his feet.
- Hot Mess: Liu Kang throws a massive fireball or burst of light that incinerates them, reducing their entire body into a charred skeleton that is still covered in flames.
- The Klassic: Liu Kang whips his nunchaku upwards, but it decapitates them with their spine intact.
- Get Chucked: Liu Kang wraps his nunchaku around the opponent's neck then pulls it back with enough force to twist their neck.
- One Inch Death Strike: Liu Kang counters an opponent's attack and strikes their chest with a fist. The opponent grasps their chest in pain seconds before it explodes.
- Insert Koin: Liu Kang trips the opponent with a low nunchaku strike. He stomps on their back and twists his foot before stepping back as an arcade machine of Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks crushes them.
- Fly By: Liu Kang lunges at the opponent with his signature Flying Dragon Kick, destroying their upper torso and burning the stump in the process.
- The Chosen One: Liu Kang equips his nunchaku and delivers a flurry of whip strikes with it while walking towards them. The final blow destroys their skull into pieces.
- Klassic Kicks: Liu Kang hits the opponent with his folded nunchaku before unfolding it to hit their face. He performs a cartwheel kick and uppercut, punching their head off with the spine intact.
- X-Ray (Chin Up): This move is based on his first Mortal Kombat Fatality. Liu Kang performs a cartwheel kick and uppercut, which damages his opponent's jaw and skull and causes them to fly in the air. As they come back down he kicks them in the face, causing another damaging blow to the jaw and skull.
- X-Ray (For The Shaolin): Liu Kang dashes towards the opponent to punch their gut, stunning them. This leaves them open to a rear hook to the face, a shovel hook to the liver, and a palm strike that shatters their facial bones. He throws a middle kick to their left flank and a rear hook that he swings into a back fist which exposes their neck, promptly severing the cervical vertebrae. He forces them back up with a front kick and punches their back twice before delivering the final blow with a palm strike that breaks their back and the rib cage.
- Fatal Blow (ENTER THE DRAGON): Liu Kang stuns the opponent with a powerful Dragon's Roar. He whips the opponent multiple times with his nunchucks, smashing them across the face. He proceeds to summon a massive fire dragon and commands it to chomp on the opponent. The dragon dives down through the opponent and sets them on fire before Liu Kang charges a flaming fist and punches their torso.
Gallery
Notable Matchups
Victories:
Shang-Chi (Marvel Cinematic Universe) Shang-Chi's Profile (Speed was equalized. Fight took place in the stadium for the Chūnin Exams where both fighters were 10 meters away from each other. Shang-Chi had half of the Ten Rings and 9-A Revenant Liu Kang was used)
Losses:
Inconclusive:
Discussions
| Discussion threads involving Liu Kang (Second Timeline) |