No one know's how old Quan really is. I recall Ed Boon or John Vogel saying once that Quan might be as old as the Netherealm itself

Formerly an Oni, well, I think he could have been a contemporary of the Dragon King.

Don't forget that they also mention that he's one of the characters that they created who they know very little about.

Who creates a character and knows nothing about them? Confusing, I say yes.

i do think that mystique is a good thing

Usually happens when you have a cool picture of a no-name character, give him a name, but don't give him "stuff" to know.

They either didn't want to "deal with all that stuff cuz nobody would notice or really care", or decided not to. "Let's just leave him as one of those really blank characters, and see how people like him".

Fits the character this time, but it's essentially creatively lazy on the part of the writers.

Write the story first, and let the story create the new character. Then draw up a concept>> animate>> program>> play.

Doesn't always happen in that order of course, but this looks like they neglected a process or two to get Quan Chi in there. "Nobody knows" usually means "we didn't put that sort of work into this character".

For better or worse I guess.

All we know is that Quan Chi was originally an Oni, until he learned sorcery to transform himself. Who taught him, no one knows. He did help Shinnok defeat Lucifer to become ruler of the Netherealm and this happens thousands of years ago. So all we know is that he's been around for a long time. Other than his age, I would like to know who taught him sorcery in the 1st place...

Actually a lot a characters are created first and then there back stories are filled in later. Hannibal Lector, Boba Fett, Doomsday, Venom, Sub Zero.

It is fairly common. This is not always done with success however.

Also I assume Quan Chi was originally an oni, but I don't think this has ever been confirmed has it? Never in game anyway I think.

As far as we know, Quan Chi could have been an Edenian, or from some other realm, or even an attendant of some other forgotten god. No one knows what exactly he is. If he was originally an oni it would be interesting to see how he apparently was able to become free from the netherealm, since Shinnok and Sareena and countless other demons have been unable to.

In Sub Zero mythologies he can apparently come and go at will from the netherealm. Very un-oni like. What ever the case, Quan Chi has knowledge and powers that span eons.

The only characters he appears to be second to in power and knowledge is Shao Kahn, Raiden, and Shinnok.

I will say that I don't want his back story explored very much at all. I like the mystery. Some more information yes. But only a very small amount.

It is confirmed. In Deception Konquest, other oni in the Netherealm tell you Quan Chi used to be one.

Razorsedge is correct in stating that he was an Oni, but after learning how to do sorcery, became more intelligent and human-like.As for what you're saying here, Quan Chi was explained as a free-roaming sorcerer in Mythologies, which was even defined as granting him the ability to travel through the realms undetected by Gods. I'd take this as a sign that he's really good at his craft to be able to travel the realms freely compared to other Oni. It's also been stated that while in the Netherealm, his powers grow weaker, so he must've changed to the point that he is no longer Oni, or at least his abilities are incompatible with the Netherealm, unlike other evil characters (it's been stated that Scorpion grows stronger in there).

Yeah thanks clearing that up, I haven't played mkd conquest since I got the game and beat it initially. I have no recollection of that at all.

I know that mk4 and mythologies defined him as a free roaming sorceror which is self stating that he can move through the realms as he pleases.

That doesn't explain how a mere(?) oni can learn this ability and somehow be able to free himself from the netherealm at will when an elder god like Shinnok can't or other various oni. That cries out for some exploration.

Also his ability to leave the netherealm at will appears to be affected in mkda when at the end of mk4 Scorpion takes him back to the netherealm against his will. Without an explanation that appears to be a continuity error.

Also his powers weakening didn't really seem to matter much in mythologies because his fortress was based in the netherealm. Seems like a continuity error on the mk teams part. That could be explained I guess since Tobias wrote Sub mythologies and not mkda though.

I dunno. I love Quan Chi he is one of my favorite characters ever since his debut in mythologies and mk4. I would like a little backstory explaining some of the basics of his history but not a lot. He has potentially one of the most interesting back stories of all.

I like the idea that there is a sacrifice or some type of con to his status. We do know that Quan Chi must recharge his powers from the description of his fortress in MKD. That was in Outworld. The netherealm seems to put a strain on people, which may cause him to lose his power more quickly there. Most likely Quan Chi was unable to recharge there too with Scorpion beating has ass all the time and all.

I also like to think that people react differently in different levels of the netherealm. I'm not sure where exactly Scorpion brought him at the end of MK4, but we see in Deadly Alliance that Quan Chi is not inside the (sorcerer's?) village, nor is he at the level of Shinnok's Fortress seen in MKM.

That is possible too. I had forgotten about the different levels of the netherealm. However it still kind of seems that the basic properties of the netherealm should apply no matter what level you are on. Maybe not though. Either way a little exploration of Quan Chi's back story would be interesting.

Sorcerer's who travel beyond the city gates in the Netherealm will begin to lose their powers. Ermac and Quan Chi are good examples of sorcerers who traveled beyond the city gates and we're becoming weakened by the atmosphere of the realm. Only the Soul Stone can replenish their power's located around the area.

i just thought i'd ask because hes been my fav since mk4 but i don't really know to much about him and his era of age.

Nobody knows but I think that he is as old as the Netherrealm, like John Vogel said in Deception.

I think he's just old it's like he's oler than is great great gran father