Do you have a minute? Alright, here we go:

from MKX

• Johhny Cage - lame love story, his daughter is in, he's old, his character is now just too much with the lame jokes. If they bring back the young for this timeline and just make him cool without the nonsense then maybe it would be cool. In MK1 & 2 he was great, but now since they've added story with him talking, they've gone completely overboard. Plus, who wants to fight with an old guy like that.
• Jax - another character ruined by not understanding the concept, less is more. The over the top look, weapons, the cybernetic arms that keep becoming bigger and dressed up, he's just no fun to me anymore. I do say they kind of nailed him with the cigar, attitude wise in MKX, but it's time to go.
• Sonya - no argument needed, old woman who only to the fake Hollywood sorry excuse for a love story line in a violent fighting game if there ever was one.
• Cassie - of all the cages, I'd say let her be kidnapped and Johnny make a return. Besides that, I want nothing to do with the selfie stick, bubble gum eating, lame jokes, gun toting earthling. Her beating Shinnok was the worst of that whole story. Just disgraceful.
• Jacqui - armguns were kind of a nice touch, but didn't really stand out. They'd have to give her a certain martial arts technique to make her interesting for me.
• Kano - they did a nice job with him for MKX, just tired of him. A son would be lame, but a successor of some sorts with a few moves and nods to Kano would be cool since he is a great character.
• Kung Lao - unless they remake him or the Great Kung Lao becomes involved somehow, sit him out. Don't have much against him, but it's time to sit one out. We have another Kung.
• Quan Chi - just tired, rest one out while Tsung returns.
• Mileena - they did a great job with her for MKX, so she can sit one out.
• Shinnok - as great as it was for him to return, his moveset was awful and didn't care much for the jester look. Story wise they treated him like shit too, so while I'd love him back, I don't want him to return as I'd know NRS would not treat him right.
• Ferra / Torr - nice concept, but didn't do it for me.
• Erron Black - aside from one of the worst names in history, a lone cowboy with nothing really going for him besides his guns? Pass. If Nightwolf returns, I wouldn't mind a cowboy vs. native american type deal.
• Kenshi - just tired of him and they did a great job with him in MKX so he can sit one out.
• Goro - unless it's some type of Onaga hybrid, no thanks. He looked the best he ever did in MKX, but he didn't play as a true big character of his magnitude should. I rather they keep him out, though he's one of my favorites of all time.
• Tanya - she had her shot, next.
• Tremor - they did a decent job, but the talking Greek god looking stone didn't do it for me and his moveset didn't impress me that much. He had his shot as well.
• Ermac - I wouldn't mind him, best look in MKX by far, but rather have Shang Tsung as the sole soul controller and his floating was just odd.

from all other games:

• Kobra, Kira, Dairou, Darrius, Blaze, Reiko, CKhameleon, Stryker, Jarek, Mokap, Meat, Drahmin & Hsu Hao - don't even have to explain,
• Taven and Deagon - please keep those two tirds where they belong, in the horrific Armageddon story Most generic looking Roman / Greek farmboys and just don't care for that storyline at all. I'd love them if they made them great warriors and changed their look completely, but that won't happen.
• Onaga - unless they make him look like a real dragon or have him in Goro's body and be kind of a hybrid, no thanks. I rather they just go straight into the One Being emerging in MK12 rather than another servant like him, Shao Kahn and Shinnok trying to merge the realms.

Though it is rather unlikely, I'd prefer if Sonya, Jax, Kung Lao, Johnny Cage, Reptile, and Kano sat this one out.

But again, I know it's highly unlikely.

Ermac, Sonya, Jax, Goro, Kano, Reptile, Kenshi. Also Liu Kang, but there's no way he's not included.

This thread actually hurts since I believe that all characters can be redeemed with the correct redesign. However, I do believe that there are characters like Jax or Kano (among others) that could stand to be on the sidelines for at least one game so others can get a chance to shine.

Kitana- Her attitude is rancid, did absolutely nothing in the story in MKX and played horrible.

Kung Lao- Has done nothing since his reveal in MKII and his appearences in the games weary me because of it.

Mileena- Her whole character is so transparent. Design and personality is one note. Dead in MKX should also stay dead for MK11.

Quan Chi- Died in MKX and should miss a game in my opinion.

Baraka- Died in MKX. Should stay dead. A fodder character.

Shinnok-Had his time in the limelight. On to another antagonist.

Good thread...

• The Kombat Kids- Cassie, Jacqui, Kung Jin and Takeda were incredibly cringe worthy. And that’s coming from a man that doesn’t care for the phrase “cringe worthy”.
• Dairou- I’d like to think that all characters are salvageable in some sense, but Dairou is just a character that landed with an absolute thud and really had no impact on me.
• Darrius- See “Dairou”
• K(C)hamelion- I just don’t see the appeal. People scream to the hills about “palette swaps” that keep getting roster spots, but want the absolute bottom of the barrel ,“let’s just smash em all together”, ultimate palette swap. I don’t get it.
• Taven and Daegon- Two flat characters that came along as a side effect to the most bloated and boring take on the lore, yet. With this game seemingly sidestepping the 3-d era storylines, I honestly hope these characters are sidestepped as well.

For me, there are two categories.

Category 1: Characters that I like, but still need to sit out a game so I can miss them enough to want to see them again:

Sonya: Give Cassie some room to breathe storywise. Plus, she’s been in a lot of games. I need a break.

Johnny Cage: Same as Sonya.

Kano: He’s just been in a lot of games and I wouldn’t mind him missing a turn.

Goro: We need other sub boss types.

Reptile: Wouldn’t mind him being in, but he always seems like such a background character and he’s in most games it seems. Let me miss him for one game.

Baraka: My favorite character, but dying in story should equal one game missed.

Jax: Same as Sonya, but with Jaqui obviously.

Mileena: Same with Baraka about the dying, plus she could use a game off.

Kung Lao: His relevence was zero in MKX, yet he’s still there, like always, it seems. Wouldn’t mind him in the story or even as DLC, but definitely not on the main roster.

Ermac: See Reptile above.

Quan Chi: The story has just been too much with his machinations for too long. Plus he died. I like him, but he needs a rest.

Shinnok: He has his chance, and while it wasn’t the best, I think being just a head means he should miss a game.

Tanya: Wouldn’t mind her returning, but wouldn’t mind if she sat out and maybe gave another 3D era character a shot.

Tremor: He was okay, but not interesting enough in any regard to really hope he returns in the very next game.

Kenshi: Dude’s been in every MK game since MKDA (excluding MKvsDC). I really wouldn’t mind him sitting this one out and maybe just being a story character.

Category 2: Characters that I’ve never really been a fan of to begin with:

Kintaro: I liked his look until they gave him kitty cat face. Now he seems even more disposable.

Chameleon: A ninja with the power of other ninjas doesn’t feel overly necessary right now.

Cyrax: Unless he came back as human. Otherwise, I’ll be honest, I have no interest in the cyborgs. Just a preference thing for MK.

Khameleon: As a full-blown female saurian, sure, I guess. But there’s nothing that really puts her above any characters I actually want to see again.

Motaro: I think Annihilation permanently ruined this character for me.

Nightwolf: Still a bit too much of a stereotype and while I like his gameplay, there’s never really been much else that interests me.

Rain: I don’t mind him, but as the 55th ninja in the series that’s not really a ninja, I just don’t quite get the love for him and never really have.

Sektor: See Cyrax above.

Sheeva: Kinda feel like they could stand to go away from the shokan again, and while I liked her in the comic, she’s never really been all that compelling in the games.

Sindel: I’ve never been big on her look, or the hair throws, or the screams. She debuted in my least favorite numbered MK game and her actions in MK9 really only solidified my dislike.

Stryker: They drastically improved him in MK9, but there’s still far more characters I’d prefer to see and for me, the less fun characters, the better.

Jarek: Never really got in to nu-metal Kano. They improved him considerably in MKA, so I do see some potential, but storywise, I’d rather see a new crack at Tasia than having them reboot this guy again.

Meat: If they want a joke character, and I hope they don’t, I’d rather see a new one.

Blaze: Go home big Blaze, it’s not your time. Go home little Blaze, you’re not all that interesting.

Frost: To me, she’s kinda like Cassie with 1/10th of the charm and far more arrogance. Didn’t like her attitude or how close her movelist must inevitably be towards Sub-Zero, so she feels a tad redundant.

Hsu Hao: Could they improve him? Yes. But he’s one of the rare characters to me that lacks in every category: Gameplay, look and story. Doesn’t seem to be much of a reason for a complete tear down and rebuild.

Mokap: See Meat above.

Ashrah: Honestly, she felt very one-note to me in MKD, almost to the point of being separate from the whole story. Not big on her look or moves either.

Dairou: See Hsu Hao above.

Darrius: I like that he’s a resistance fighter, but if I were to pick a character that’s almost as much of a tear down as Hsu Hao, it would be Kira, as her origin is way more interesting to me.

Havik: I hate putting him on here because I love his look and story potential but I absolutely despise his gameplay. I’d say they could improve it, but much like Bo Rai Cho, you know they’d keep some of the nonsense.

Kobra: I honestly don’t mind his look, even if it’s a bit plain. What I do mind is virtually everything else about him.

Shujinko: I didn’t enjoy konquest mode, and the fact that he’s designed from other people’s iconic moves makes me fail to see his usefulness, especially in the new timeline.

Daegon: Bad look, bad gameplay, and if I wanted to see them bring back a Red Dragon member with some potential, it’d be Mavado.

Taven: Also Bad look and gameplay, but also just kinda dullsville all around.

Ferra / Torr: A nice concept that was well executed, but it really didn’t resonate with me allyyat much. I wouldn’t say “never again,” but don’t see much reason anytime soon.

Triborg: See Cyrax and Sektor above, except for the part where I wouldn’t mind a human version of them. Human Triborg wouldn’t interest me.

Sorry if I bagged on anyone’s favorite characters! I’m sure a decent number of these characters will make it in and that’ll be just fine. I just have other characters I like more.

all these could stay out of it imo.

Havik

Baraka

Taven

sub zero

hsu hao

mileena

stryker

tanya

reptile

Weird how many dislike Baraka and even a fan rather see him out since he died in that sorry excuse for a story in MKX. Especially with the current tease that time will be reversed...

Scorpion and Sub-Zero. :-P

There's only one that comes to my mind: Ferra Torr. I don't like Ferra Torr.

1. Scorpion

2. Sub-Zero

3. Raiden

Of course, that won't happen. But if other classic characters "need a break," what always makes these three exempt? I'm absolutely sick of them and have been for years. I was in the minority, but I loved that other characters like Johnny and Sonya got the focus for once in MKX.

Also (but to slightly smaller extent)

4. Reptile

5. Ermac

Lastly

6. The cyber ninjas (never warmed up to them, and they always feel out of place to me)

Everyone else is welcome in my eyes (yes, even you, Hsu Hao)

Sorry excuse for a story or not, things played out the way they did and while I know death aren’t final in MK, they should still mean something. You die in the canon story, you should at least miss the next game. Happened with Liu Kang, happened with Noob, and it should happen with Baraka in spite of how much I like him.

Now to be clear, I don’t see this as a hard and fast rule that NRS made because lord knows they’re not consistent in this regard. Some characters become revenants, but not characters, one character dies and becomes a zombie, etc etc.

So yes, they can write things any way they want to in order to bring back a dead character and I’m sure that wacky time hijinks will be used to bring back someone like Mileena or Quan Chi or maybe even Baraka. I’m just saying that for me, a person that is a fan of the story, screwed up though it may be, I still need deaths to mean more than absolutely nothing. So when they do decide to make this dramatic scene of Quan Chi getting his head lopped off, I just don’t really want to see him in the next game being all “lol I sorcoried and now I’m here.”

Granted, I think they jobbed Baraka in MKX by making him story only AND killing him in that story, but whatever. Not the only time that’s happened, but unlike Liu Kang who got to have a pivotal story change in MK9 and now rules the Netherealm, old Baraka continues to be the grunt, the backup, bad guy support character #7.

So maybe that’s part of it too, in some small way. After what happened to him in MKX, maybe I just need a game to miss him to the point that I don’t mind that NRS routinely diarrheas all over one of their best monster concepts.

Sorry if I’m rambling on too much here, but man... Just once I’d like to see them give him a worthwhile story. His best, most prominent role, was with the fourth master he served (after Shang Tsung, Shao Khan and Quan Chi) and all it involved was recruiting Mileena in MKD and fighting a battle that was a diversion so Onaga could do... Stuff. Schemes.

Not to get all fanfic, but after MKX, I’d love to see something like this:

When Baraka dies at the hands of Dvorah, his soul is split in two. The Outworld half resurrects in the Netherealm as a revenant, but unlike the legions of Tarkatans that perished before him, Baraka’s unique mutation of his Netherealm half gives him something no other revanent possesses: Free will.

His heart is absent and yet his body lives. His mind was taken, yet he still thinks of revenge against his killer and the one that condemned him to death. Wearing a tattered black cloak and hood, he makes his way through the throngs of the dead and steals away to Quan Chi’s portal. Upon dispatching the oni guardians, Baraka returns to Outworld; to his people.

Wasting away in the foulest reaches of the wastelands, a small band of Tarkatans spy a hooded man approaching. They prepare for battle, only to find their leader has returned. The prophecy has finally come to pass. A warrior stronger than death would return and lead them up from the depths of darkness. They would be nomads no more, for sanctuary would be theirs, and they would serve no one but themselves, the horde, and the Returned; the bringer of salvation.

Word spreads throughout the wasteland and it’s not long before the horde reforms before their new king. His black eyes narrow at the sight of the army stretching out before him and his lips pull slender daggers in to a sneer. “To the Khan!” He yells. The horde is on the move.

—

So Yeah, make him their chosen one, give him a role that’s not bait or lackey. Maybe even have him *gasp* win something for once. I’d love to see that Baraka in MK11. But if they just bring him back, ignore his death and make him time lady’s stooge / punching bag, then yeah, he can stand to miss a game until I want him back so badly that I don’t even care that his story will likely be trash and he’ll spend most of the mode getting his clock cleaned by hero after hero.

But that’s just me. I still think he’s awesome and I still think he has massive potential, especially if they wanted to add more Netherealm / demonesque qualities to his special move arsenal and really make him something more than he was. I’d be all in favor of that.

The Kombat Kids. They suck imo, nothing special about them. Need more characters with a true mythological vibe. They're just so cheesy and feel like they're plucked from a mainstream movie. If they have to be in then kiĺl off their parents at least, too much repetition.

I see your point @baraka407, thanks for explaning. It's funny how NRS is so out of touch with their own creation. I really wonder with Boon in particular if his own fandom of certain characters, the horror fascination, but also being taken over by Warner Bros. has something to do with the lack of creativity. Boon himself admitted after MKX / MK9 he honestly did not know what to do with the story going forward. Kittelsen being involved gives me some hope as the comics were much better done and closer to MK lore than MKX.

Why I mention this is because Baraka is the type of character that represents the dark side and mystical, fantasy part that made MK2 so successful in my opinion. What separated MK from other fighting games was blood, fatalities and the type of characters you wouldn't see in any other games. Isn't is crazy how us fans can come up with great stories for some of their best characters, creations, designs and concepts while they cannot do more with them than have them appear as a lackey or side story. In that sense, I understand if Baraka is in with no real story behind it then maybe don't include him, though DLC would then be perfect.

There's so much potential, I like the idea of his soul leaving his body, but I'd go simpler since NRS will never go that deep for a character like Baraka: his soul is caught wondering by Ermac - who in MKX mentions how Shao Kahn is part of him - and absorb him. Shang Tsung - who in Ermac's ending takes his souls - could then take possession of both of them and revive them by re-creating their bodies in the Flesh Pits. For Shao Kahn it's even easier since in Quan Chi's fortress it seems he was already going that. Shang Tsung having Baraka by his side as his new main killer - since Goro is dead - and since he has to make his body anew, he can be bigger, more advanced and even have new abilities. Make use of his teeth is something they could already do.

I am actually against Baraka - at least for now - to be the leader of other Tarkatans because this is what makes him less unique and would give NRS the excuse as why not to include him as playable, but the Tarkatans in as minions of some leader to be sacrificed in battle since they are in the thousands. Maybe if Shao Kahn is only revived at the end of the story, Shao Kahn can give him back his rightful place in having to look after the dead in the Netherrealm / Hell / after Outworld along with his people. Shao Kahn serving Shang Tsung would also be a nice twist, although him being DLC probably means he's not in the story.

I hope NRS redeem themselves and finally acknowledge that Baraka is actually the type of character they can make downright scary with the current graphics and new gore system. This is the perfect time to give him his due. Maybe they finally see they actually have created some great horrific characters themselves, with lots of potential, instead of looking at horror movies for inspiration. In this case literally to make him a part of - dumbest thing ever btw, then I'd be the happiest MK fan in the world. The fact that many fans shit on Baraka makes me wonder when they became fans and how much they understand of MK's origin.

Can you imagine the MK2 fatality where the opponent is sliding down his blades in this day and age? Less is more sometimes, something NRS doesn't understand. They could go tons of ways with that fatality though, first just one blade through the stomach or chest, sliding down, where the opponent is still conscious while Baraka slowly moves the other blade towards them and you see the anguish in the opponents eyes. So much potential there too!! I wish I could talk to those guys, because it really doesn't add up how they move past him so easily while putting time in boring characters like Jason Voorhees and that chainsaw blob.

Okay so I took the list of every mortal kombat kharacter (tell me if I missed anyone) and removed every character that at least one person mentioned above as someone they want excluded. I did this just for fun and to see what type of roster could be put together that theoretically no one would object to. We are left with 17 characters:

Shang Tsung

Shao Kahn

Jade

Noob saibot

Smoke

Kabal

Fujin

Sareena

Kai

Bo Rai Cho

Li Mei

Mavado

Moloch

Nitara

Hotaru

D'Vorah

Kotal Kahn

Ferra/Torr are probably my least favorite characters. I know Ed Boon really likes them, but I think the barbaric child Ferra is extremely out of place in Mortal Kombat. On top of that, their story is not great, their design looks boring and ugly (not in the sort of way that compliments the character), and Ferra's voice is obnoxious in my opinion. I think the rest of the MKX newcomers are either good or can be good with a few tweaks, but in my opinion Ferra/Torr should just be left behind.

1. Jacqui / Jax

2. Sonya / Johnny

3. Mileena / Kitana / Sindel

(No text)

I really do hope Jacqui is better developed.

So far, she is the weakest new character, to me. She has a very basic and forgettable image, a weak moveset, and her mannerisms are so far from her father's I often forget they're even related.

Personally, I'd rather she'd be a bit more sassy. She just seems too "valley girl-ish" to me.

I hope to never see or hear EVER again the following characters, in MK 11 and the next games too:

The joke characters: Meat, Mokap, etc

The ninja characters are too many keep Scorpion, Sub-zero, Reptile, Takeda, Noob and Ermac. Delete from existence Tremor, Rain, Human Smoke

The same goes for the Kunoichi, leave Kitana, Mileena, Skarlet and Sareena, throw in the trash bin Jade, Tanya, Frost.

Triborg could replace all the cyborgs for good.

Excluding Havik, Fujin, Sareena, Kenshi and Quan Chi, let's forget about all the 3D era characters:

I never want to see again Kobra Kira, Jarek, Taven, Daegon, Shujinko, Bo' Rai Cho, Hotaru, Dairou, Darrius, Reiko, Ashrah, Nitara, Mavado, Hsu Hao, Drahmin, Moloch, Sheeva, Tanya, Blaze, Li Mei.

They could be a pointless cameo or a gratuitous death in a comic book, nothing more.

I honestly don't want trilogy characters taking up most of the roster slots. I want to see some unfimilar face this time around.

Quick update: 6 characters have yet to be objected to

Shang Tsung
Shao Kahn
Kabal
Sareena
Kai
D'Vorah

Keep up the honest feedback. Important to know who people do and dont like, not just for making this list shrink

Edit: removed fujin, noob, and kotal kahn

Do not want Fujin. Not a fan.