I guess it all depends. Shinnok appeared to be in somewhat of a vegetative state after being dismembered and spread to the winds by Raiden. Also, I can't see Liu Kang and Kitana wanting the old guard trying to nose his way back to power(could depend on just how loyal they are to shinnok), so I don't really see shinnok being a factor. Once again, though, there are so many variables to consider.

As far as Quan Chi goes...well, we know Shinnok can't die. But what happens do a denizen of the netherrealm when they die? Do they just return to the netherrealm? If so...i gotta believe Quan Chi stumbles upon Shang Tsung and gets the ball rolling on the Dragon King saga.

Or they could go an entirely different direction...but those are my thoughts.

What I want to see is Shinnok's head being attached to Quan Chi's body. That would be hilarious since Shinnok thinks himself to be superior; placing his head onto his minion would be insulting.

The MKX story gave us pretty much solid clues that Quan Chi's demise has been much too long-overdue. He was barely even treated like a true villain; rather, he was given a role of a well-familiar object of contempt and disdain, with everyone mocking him, ridiculing him, or finishing him off with a single blow since his very first appearance. He failed to outshine his rather captivating appearance in MK9 - in which he wasn't even supposed to be a lead villain! His "despicable" status culminating in Scorpion's chapter (after Scorpion learns of Quan Chi's treachery), he was finally killed off, presumably with countless MK fans cheering at the scene. The NRS likely believed too many fans wanted Quan Chi gone at last, and they gave them what they wanted. So, while he may not be gone for actual good, we certainly won't be seeing Quan Chi in the next MK.


I'm less certain about Shinnok, but he kinda could be revived as one of Liu Kang's and Kitana's second-in-commands, and we may witness his return together with revived Shao Khan. Unlike Quan Chi, he was, even in his improved MKX version, for the most part unexplored as a character, with all too little screen time in the story and a rather simplistic plot. I wish he had his redemption through his service to Liu Kang, against whom he could possibly conspire and fight to take his throne back. In the more likely case, though, Shinnok will just be cut off, he being even more disliked and disparaged than Quan Chi (especially by fans, whose preference is, in essence, the chief condition for a character's continuous presence in MK).

That is a good question. I know in the series in the long run death doesn't mean anything with characters at will of the creators; in the short run they stay dead/not appear for a game or two. But I'm curious storywise. Onaga was supposedly powerful because of his ability to resurrect his army. Netherealm rulers like Shinnok, if their warriors die, just goes back to the Netherealm, what is there to prevent the rulers from sending them back. Especially now MK is less about the tournament but more invasion. MK9 was focused on the tournament feature in MK1-3, MKX more to stop Shinnok invading.

I think for the immediate future/games Shinnok and Quan Chi either not appear/stay dead/ noncritical role, but they'll be back full capacity later on.

Does anyone really know why both Quan Chi and Shinnok have the distinct grey skin? I think it's because they have lived for millennia and it's a side effect from magic and inhabiting the Netherrealm, for aeons. This would change any person. They could be compared to, and remind me of, a species of (humanoid) 'Alien Greys'.

If they end up using Liu and Kitana as Neatherrealm lords i can see Shinnoks head be displayes in the throne room since Raiden dropped it off at the end of X.

Quan i can see being torturned in thr lower plains by Oni.

I think Quan Chi is just normally grey/white, but Shinnok looks like he's been faded, especially his eyes.

I can't even keep track of how many times Quan Chi has "died" and returned. He's done it more than any other character...even Johnny Cage. I'd like to see him stay dead for a while. He's been dominating the whole story as the "big bad" since MK4. People always say "I'm tired of Shao Kahn" but he was the boss for 2 games before the reboot. Quan Chi has had MUCH more time sitting in the "big bad" seat than Shao Kahn. I wouldn't mind saying Shang Tsung resume his position of power, with Shao as a returning playable character.

But to get back on topic...I just hope Quan stays down for a while. Shinnok...I'd like to see him return to some capacity. I really liked playing as him in MKX.

I think Shinnok's head could play some type of small role in the story, or in a side story, like D'vorah sneaking in to the Netherealm to recover his head so he can regenerate somehow (doesn't seem like a huge stretch to think that an elder god might have this ability). So yeah, I could see him playing that type of role in the next game.

Quan Chi, on the other hand... I'd have to think that as a sorcerer, he probably has some type of enchantment or ability to cheat death that they can use to bring him back, or he could simply reappear in the netherealm without the ability to break free. Maybe his powers are significantly reduced. Maybe he's reduced to being Liu Kang's lackey or servant or even torture play thing.

Either way, I can see avenues by which both of them could appear in the next MK game, but truth be told, I think their time as villains contending for the role of "big bad" has come to an end for now. Maybe we get hints about them, like we did in Ermac's MKX ending with Shang Tsung, implying that one of them could return in MK XII, but for now, I'm assuming they're on ice until further notice.

For Shinnok, it's kinda sad given that he's been such a weaker boss in the game's he's appeared in, but for Quan Chi, I think it's time for him to sit out for a while. Let people miss him a little bit before bringing him back. There are a few other characters I'd put on that list as well, that are great characters, but have probably just been in a few too many games now and maybe need a break. Nothing wrong with that.

I don't see why what happened to either of them is treated with any sense of gravity. Where do bad people go when they die in the Mk universe? The Neatherealm. So Quan Chi is right back home. Scorpion did nothing to him.
And as for Shinnok, well he's a good and we are supposed to believe quite and intelligent character too. They also hint at that clone BS from Armageddon still being canon through the intro dialogue AND, Liu Kang and Kitana are party his creations now. He has power over them so he could probably use them as his thralls until he managed to gather enough strength to form a new body.