Shang Tsung (Mortal Kombat)

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Shang Tsung Your soul is mine! Gender: Male Type: Shapeshifting Master Manipulator Species: Sorcerer Portrayed by: Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa Status: Alive Media of origin: Mortal Kombat

Shang Tsung is one of the two secondary antagonists (alongside Quan Chi) of the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise. He is Shao Kahn's right-hand man and the archenemy of Liu Kang. He was portrayed by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Andrew Kishino.

Why He Uses Souls

1. Shang Tsung is an effective starter villain for the franchise. He was so well-liked that he eventually became a playable character in future games.
2. He is a powerful, manipulative and deadly sorcerer, virtually unmatched in his mastery of sorcery, and a shapeshifter who consumes souls in order to sustain himself.
3. He is also an ambitious traitor who prefers planning behind other's back instead of direct conflict although he still remains one of the most powerful kombatants of the franchise.
4. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa did an amazing job portraying Shang Tsung in the 1995 film, to the point that he reprised his role in Mortal Kombat 11 and Mortal Kombat Legacy. Andrew Kishino is an honorable mention.
5. He can steal souls from his opponents and can take their forms for a limited time during fights.
6. In Mortal Kombat 9, one of his fatalities is an uncensored recreation of the Joker’s fatality in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. This was referenced in an intro dialogue between him and the Joker in Mortal Kombat 11.
7. Shang Tsung had memorable lines including “Your soul is mine!” and “It has begun!”
8. In Mortal Kombat 11, he also serves as the announcer in the Krypt. He sometimes comments on the player’s progress and failures with his soothing voice.
   • He also appears as a DLC character, being the first character available in the Kombat Pack.
9. He plays a central role of the Aftermath Story Mode expansion. He manipulating both the heroes and the villains in order to obtain the Crown of Kronika, steal her power and rule all of existence. He successfully betrays and outwit everyone, including Sindel and Shao Kahn. However, Liu Kang and Fujin both anticipated his betrayal, and even the latter must be sacrificed for the plan to succeed. As a result, he gains godlike power and serves as the final boss against Fire God Liu Kang, even succeeding in one of the endings.
   • Should you choose his ending, Shang Tsung successfully defeats Kronika and Fire God Liu Kang to become the new Keeper of Time and shape reality to his liking, becoming an all-powerful dictator of the realms.
   • Should you choose Liu Kang's ending, he defeats Shang Tsung and erases him from history. After all the horrible, monstrous things that Shang Tsung has done throughout the series, seeing him reduced to trying to vainly crawl away from Liu Kang, absolutely terrified as he ceases to exist, is definitely terrifying, but very satisfying to witness.

Bad Qualities

1. Chin Han did a lackluster performance as him in the 2021 film for not having the same charm as Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa.
2. He was abruptly killed off in Mortal Kombat 9.
3. He doesn't appear as a playable character in Mortal Kombat X. However, he does appear in Johnny Cage and Erron Black's arcade ending.

Trivia

• His quote “Your soul is mine” became an internet meme.
• He serves as a preorder bonus for Mortal Kombat 1.
• Shang Tsung is the second of two original final bosses that are playable characters in MK11. The first was Shao Kahn. Coincidentally, both are DLC characters.