Summary
A key female representative of theMortal Kombatseries, Kitana has been a recognizable character from the world of video games since the arcade era. While she may not have been included from the very beginning, she has gone on to be one of the most series-defining members ofMortal Kombat’s roster throughout most of its mainline titles. Often portrayed as the princess of Edenia manipulated by the ruthless Shao Kahn,MK1’s recent reinterpretation of Kitana has put her past appearances into perspective more than ever.
This tier list focuses only on versions of Kitana from the mainlineMortal Kombatgames.
3S-Tier
Mortal Kombat 1
The advent of Liu Kang’s new timeline has seen drastic shifts to many of theMKcast’s backstories, and Kitana is no exception. In the latest game, her role as a princess was subverted in favor of placing Mileena in the royal seat instead. Initially misled by Shang Tsung and General Shao, she once again ends up assisting Earthrealm after all. As the most updated and practical iteration of her design to date paired with a streamlined moveset that makes her quite effective in gameplay,MK1’s Kitanacould end up being considered one of her most ideal incarnations among fans. There’s even an appearance from a Titan Kitana of an alternate timeline, giving a glimpse into what she is capable of when having ascended to Kronika’s power.
Mortal Kombat 11
Mostly redeeming herself from the mediocre narrative trappings of herMKXiteration, this iteration ofKitana inMortal Kombatwould prove to be highly memorable and a solid modern representation of the character. Despite the switch to a more realistic art style than ever before, the simplicity of her outfit’s concept was able to shine through and continue to make her instantly recognizable. Her gameplay was still decent after the loss of her previous variations, but the power of the rest of the cast can make her a challenging character. The presence of multiple timelines still allowed for her to have the best of both worlds, as her revenant form received more development while her human variant from the past was able to portray her in the vein of the classic games.
2A-Tier
Mortal Kombat (2011)
Following the reboot of the timeline at the hands of Raiden afterArmageddon, Kitana would return for this game’s retelling of the original first threeMKtitles. In a more fully realized rendition of the dramatic plot surrounding Shao Kahn andOutworld’s invasion of Earthrealm, she got more screen time than ever in what was likely her biggest chance to shine in the series so far. Her appearance would be more overtly provocative and revealing alongside Jade and Mileena, but her nature as a centuries-old Edenian being also made this aspect of her design somewhat believable.
Mortal Kombat Gold
Kitana would not make it onto the base roster once again when it came toMK4, but she would eventually end up as a prominent part of theGoldupdate that followed. The traitorTanyawould be the latest addition of a character in Kitana’s archetype, but their clear differences in playstyle would allow the Edenian princess to stand on her own. Her appearance was a near-exact representation of her 2D design in 3D, foreshadowing how closely all of her further iterations would adhere to her classic look.
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance / Unchained / Armageddon
While much of theMKcast would find themselves changed significantly with the official beginning of the series’ full 3D era inDeadly Alliance, Kitana received an update that continued to bring out the strength of her original blue ninja design. Instantly recognizable despite the changes to the realms brought about by Shang Tsung and Quan Chi, she would be motivated by revenge following the killing of Liu Kang by the sinister duo. The introduction of various fighting styles in this game would bring some needed depth to her simplistic fan-based kit of moves, but her role in the lore was also ultimately quite underwhelming given her unceremonious death.
Next appearing in the Unchained update forDeception, Kitana would essentially be ported over directly fromDeadly Alliance. Despite the lack of evolution that her gameplay saw, her role in the lore that saw her resurrected and assisting the spirit of Liu Kang still allowed her to be somewhat memorable. When it came toMK Armageddon, she would once again return with the same appearance and similar attacks for the third game in a row. Considering everyMKcharacter ever at that point was included, it makes sense that Kitana is just one of several fighters that don’t bear much significance to the game’s scenario.
1B-Tier
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
While she wasn’t present in the initial release ofMK3, Kitana would see a return in its Ultimate update alongside Jade. This iteration would be key to defining the basis for her look in all future appearances through the way it emphasized her unique traits as the princess ofEdenia inMortal Kombat. Her moveset would stay relatively consistent with her previous appearance, but the impact of Kitana’s presence following the addition of her mother Sindel in the base roster would be a vital part of her history.
Mortal Kombat 2
In her first-ever appearance, Kitana would be established alongside Mileena as a female counterpart to the original palette swap male ninjas thatMKhas become famous for. FollowingSonya Blade’s inclusion as the only woman in the originalMortal Kombat, the addition of two female characters who felt more in line with the likes of Scorpion and Sub-Zero was a refreshing change that helped sustain the franchise’s popularity. While she was somewhat of a replacement for Sonya initially, she still had her iconic fan-based attacks to set her apart back in 1993.
Mortal Kombat X
The time skip-based, new-generation approach ofMKXwas a controversial change that benefited some characters more than others, and Kitana was one who ultimately felt as though she lost out. Relegated to the role of a mere revenant under Quan Chi’s control alongsideLiu Kang, her appearance here would pale in comparison to the spotlight she received in the previous game. Her design was much more practical and versatile across her different variations, however, and that same system allowed her gameplay to shine outside the story. With the underwhelming consequences of her cliffhanger ending as one of the rulers of the Netherrealm seen in retrospect though, this version of Kitana struggles to match up to what would follow.
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to a new era of Kombat. NetherRealm Studios ushers in a new era of the iconic fighting franchise with a total reset that changes the entire world as we know it. Following the thrilling climax of Mortal Kombat 11, the all-powerful Fire God Liu Kang has created a New Era in the hope of bringing peace to Earthrealm and beyond. Through the series' most cinematic story mode yet, you’ll be reintroduced to a cast of legendary warriors as you’ve never seen them before. Expect twists on classic friendships and rivalries, as well as new backstories that will change everything you think you know about your favorite Kombatants. Discover a host of new offline and online game modes as you master a revitalized fighting system that boasts bone-crunching Fatal Blows, defensive Breakers and the most creatively vicious Fatalities yet.
