i think hes a zombie

You're right, Shang is from Outworld. His video trading card confirms this.

Yea, but are the trading cards canon?

Well, apparently he can absorb souls to retain youth to some degree, so perhaps he aged normally and just kept "eating" in order to just not turn to dust, and by MK2 went back to a more youthful appearance.

I don't think he got that power until he failed Shao Kahn. He said it was a curse or something

True, along with Shujinko's Chaos Water dip and maybe fitness (It CAN slow physical aging, right?)

he is from earth-realm and learned to steal souls and stuff from shao khan to keep him young and the fact he is a former champion


evedence


case closed.

I've read that at least 6 times. It says Species: Human/Outworlder.

Get your facts straight.

quote:he was originally a human from Earthrealm.


CASE CLOSED

God damn it n00bs, Shang is a human from Earthrealm, who learned and eventually became a master over the dark mistycal arts and Chi control. That ́s it.

He's extremely powerfull because of all the souls he's stolen and absorved.

We're not n00bs.

And what evidence do you have to support this theory?

my evedence

Eh... the theory on Tsung being from the Earth realm is quite wide-accepted and may be true but certain rather important details seem to indicate he is from Outworld: e.g. Tsung is Kahn's longtime arch-sorcerer, right? And he has been spared from certain executions not only for failing enormously important tasks such as wining 10 straight tournaments and disbalancing furies so as to free the path to the Earth realm for Shao Kahn, but for repeating his failure 4 times. As an addition to his being spared, he was even rejuvenated and given more mana (spell points, magical energy, whatever...). Finally, Shao Kahn doesn't seem to be enraged at Shang Tsung AT ALL for his attempt to assassinate him with the help from Quan Chi - moreover, he restores his corporeal form and position of the royal sorcerer.


All that should indicate Kahn has had soft spot for his sorcerer, that he was, for a tyrant who had cut countless heads and smashed countless disobedient, a bit too merciful to him. Would he act so if Tsung was from the Earth realm, the realm which Kahn disdained so much and where all his vital enemies and plan-thwarthers were from? Partially yes, maybe... but his tolerance and trust towards Tsung wouldn't be so infinite. That supports my belief Shang Tsung is more likely to be an Outworlder, plus I don't think Kahn ever liked Kano, a filthy douchebag thief from Earthrealm, more than a powerful, well-bred, and charmingly mannered Outworlder, who would actually resemble Kahn himself, even though Kano was promoted a combat teacher for Kahn's armies at one sole instance, in MK3.

An elitistic theory? Yes, but it's realistic at the same time.

^^^Shao kahn doesn't seem upset with Shang tsung for killing his clone because he remains unaware that he did. Besides he made the clone to throw off kitana's forces. i'm sure he knows his clone is dead, but he probably thinks the Forces of Edenia had something to do with it. NOT Shang tsung. Had he knwon it was shang that killed his clone he durely would have killed the sorcerer

True.

He also allied himself with Shang Tsung again during the events of MK:A. I doubt he would do that if he though Shang Tsung killed his clone.