Whatever life holds in store for me, I will never forget these words: "With great power comes great responsibility."
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Lord Raiden is one of the two main protagonists (alongside Liu Kang) in the Mortal Kombat: Titan Trilogy, both a reboot and spin-off of the Mortal Kombat franchise.
Raiden is the God of Thunder and Protector of Earthrealm. Raiden's defence of Earthrealm was beset by tragedy and tribulations, with him losing many dear to him. He eventually became Dark Raiden, as he was slowly corrupted by the dark Jinsei's power. Eventually, following the defeat of Kronika, Raiden, now being a mortal, appointed Liu Kang as his successor to protect Earthrealm.
Throughout the main games, he is voiced by Richard Epcar, who also voiced the older Joseph Joestar in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Jim Gordon in Batman: Unlimited, Demitri Maximoff in Darkstalkers: Cross Edge, Azan in Bezerk, and Batou in Ghost in the Shell (1995) and Stand Alone Complex, and later Travis Willingham in Mortal Kombat 1, who also voices his counterpart in Mortal Kombat: Onslaught.
Raiden resembles his original self quite closely, with his human form resembling a middle aged man wearing a straw conical hat atop a hood, a white tunic with Chinese symbols within yellow ovals on his arms, and blue robes. His eyes are always depicted as glowing blue to represent his Godly abilities. He is often depicted with an amulet, and can summon a staff.
His darker form shares the same silhouette, but his eyes have changed to orange-red, and his face looks paler. his colour scheme has changed to a red, black and gold mixture, and he wears Shinnok's amulet instead.
Due to the events of Mortal Kombat (2011), this change was rendered null. However, he seems to return to this form in the post-credits scene of Mortal Kombat X, though now he wears Shinnok's Amulet. He has two primary character designs in the MK11 story, his Dark form from the end of the previous game, and his more traditional look albeit with some alterations. After he merged himself with Liu Kang, Raiden becomes a mere mortal at the end of Story Mode. After he becomes a mortal, Raiden's natural eye colour is revealed to be brown, and wears a simple white tunic.
As a Titan, Raiden wears a more simplistic style of robes with a two shades of blue as a colour scheme, with a floral pattern on his right side. He still retains his trademark conical hat, but has dispensed with the hood, revealing his hair to be grey-brown.
Personality[]
Raiden has a stoic exterior, taking his duty as Earthrealm's protector incredibly seriously, which masks his nobility and righteousness. He can seem distant towards mortals, unlike Fujin, but in reality he cares very deeply for those he is charged to protect, and can often see the good in others when it does not seem apparent. At times he shows a certain level of sarcasm towards those who test his patience. While willing to kill if necessary, Raiden restrains himself, knowing that even against the worst of enemies, certain actions would go too far. Raiden's stoic exterior is generally only cracked when he loses someone without being able to save them, and can become consumed by grief.
He was never giving up on the Elder Gods was the main reason he stopped Shao Kahn in Mk9 and he put immense faith in Liu Kang to reshape the timeline for the better in Mk11. Despite his best efforts to keep a dutiful life of protecting Earthrealm he ended up forming actual bonds with the humans, seeing Kung Lao and Liu Kang as his sons, forming strong friendships with Nightwolf and Bo' Rai Cho and offering great wisdom and inspiration to the other Earthrealmers.
One of Raiden's most notable flaws to his rage, which is motivated by his care for Earthrealmers. He was ready to kill Shao Kahn after his murder of Kung Lao and becomes a far more anti-heroic in MKX with corruption of the Jinsei temple, turning him into Dark Raiden, a more wrathful angry side of Raiden that will eliminate all threats to Earthrealm without a second thought.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
Divine Empowerment/Godly Physiology: Raiden originates from the Heavens and the Elder Gods granted him power to become the Eternal God of Thunder and Electricity. He has a bunch of incredible abilities. He can also take on a mortal form so as to be allowed to take part in Mortal Kombat tournaments.
Superhuman Strength: Raiden possesses incredible supernatural strength. He has used this ability to catch a falling plane effortlessly and smash Motaro through a concrete bridge with ease.
Superhuman Speed: Raiden has immeasurable speed who is able to face the One Being in a timeless void and can defeat Kabal, Scorpion, and other beings with incredible speed.
Superhuman Agility: Raiden is much more agile and flexible than humans and this allows him to avoid attacks from stronger and even faster opponents like Shao Khan, Scorpion and Geras.
Superhuman Reflexes: Raiden's supernatural reflexes allow him to react much faster and more accurately than normal human beings.
Flight: As a demigod, he has the ability to defy gravity and fly at an amazing speed. He can use this ability to fly at his opponent and drive them into walls.
Superhuman Stamina: Being a god, Raiden has unlimited stamina.
Self-Sustenance: Raiden doesn't need to eat or drink to survive.
Superhuman Durability: Raiden is able to resist bullets from being fired at him. He was fine after Erron Black shot him. Raiden has also been beaten up by a victorious Shao Kahn during the end of the Battle of Armageddon.
Superhuman Endurance: As a god, Raiden is incredibly and infinitely endurable.
Superhuman Senses: Raiden is able to sense the presence of beings who are using stealth and approaching him.
Cosmic Awareness: Raiden can even sense Kronika.
Universal Awareness: Raiden can sense the presence of others in different realms.
Extrasensory Perception: Raiden is able to sense energy signatures. When the Cyber Lin Kuei were capturing Smoke Raiden was able to sense the energy blasts they were blasting at Smoke.
Regenerative Healing Factor: Raiden can heal very quickly when being injured.
Time Manipulation Resistance: Kronika's ability to stop and rewind time has no effect on Raiden.
Electrokinesis/Lightning Magic: Raiden as the god of thunder he can use lightning and electricity as his weapon. He is able to fire it as concentrated blasts or torrents. He can use his magic lightning to damage his opponents and can kill them as well. He can also use it to control his opponents movements. He can use his electric power to charge his fists and feets in fight and thanks to this his attacks becomes more powerful and deadly.
Electrical Bolts: Raiden can fire powerful electrical bolts from his hands at his enemies. These bolts can stun, hurt, blast away even kill his opponents.
Counterattack Amplification: Raiden can take the attacks of his opponents amplified attacks by using his lightning and can direct the attacks back at the opponent. As Liu Kang was about to punch him with a flaming fist, Raiden redirected it back at him and accidentally fried him alive.
Electric Construction: Raiden is able to create solid constructs of pure electrical energy.
Electric Blade Creation: Raiden can create electrical blades to cut off an Elder God's head while in their physical form and can slice through opponents, disintegrating them.
Lightning Shields: Raiden can use his lightning to create deflective shields to protect himself from attacks like Shang Tsung's sorcery.
Electro-Telekinesis: Raiden is able to use his lightning to levitate, freeze, pull closer or push away objects and his opponents.
Projections: Raiden can make projections of where people currently are.
Healing Ability: Raiden can use his lightning to heal the injure.
Necromancy: Raiden can bring people back from death as what he did to Johnny Cage.
Portal Creation: Raiden can create portals between universes and remove enemies and allies from a battle.
Cosmic Barriers: In the comics, Raiden can create cosmic barriers which contain, protect, and block entire realms.
Electricity Immunity: Raiden is completely immune against electricity he is not affected by his own powers even when he touches water.
Atmokinesis: Raiden can manipulate and create weather. He is able to make powerful storms like creating tornados and gales at a moment's notice.
Fulgurkinesis: Raiden can summon powerful lightning or lightnings from sky.
Photokinesis: Raiden is able to conjure up a blinding white light from his eyes.
Power Nullification/Absorption: Raiden can absorb the magical power of others nullifying the effects and can steal back Jinsei that was stolen. Raiden also absorbed the corrupted Jinsei and Corrupted Shinnok's dark magic, which in turn reverted him back to his base form.
Foresight: Raiden can have visions for what's going to happen in the future.
Teleportation: Raiden can also become ethereal, allowing him to teleport. He has the ability to teleport and anyone else with him. He also uses teleportation in combat to fake opponents by teleportation behind them and can use it to teleport objects from anyone's hands. He can also teleport his essence into the bodies of others which makes them explode due to them can't hold godly essence.
Immortality: Being a god, Raiden is immortal, and has been the protector of Earthrealm since the beginning.
Jinsei Connection: Raiden can tap into Earthrealm's lifeforce, the Jinsei, to gain immense power. He also informed that Liu Kang can do the same thing when Raiden was fused with him.
Weapon Control: Raiden is able to summon his Bō Staff at will.
Fusionism: Raiden can fuse himself with a suitable candidate, relinquishing his powers upon him or her. The process also places his mind and soul into the target as well as the mind and soul of their other version, creating a combined being.
Former Powers[]
Amulet of Shinnok Empowerment: After Shinnok's defeat Raiden took hold of his amulet and was corrupted into Dark Raiden this caused his personality changes and his lightnings turning from blue to red. This amulet increase his powers and gave him new ones. But after Dark Raiden was erased from existence his younger self was able to overcome amulet's dark temptations.
Power Augmentation: The amulet was able to greatly increase Raiden's powers. Dark Raiden was also able to overcome his different realms weakness thanks to this amulet's augmentation.
Energy Blasts: The amulet is able to fire a blast of pure red colored energy which can blast away, hurt and vaporize any opponent. Dark Raiden used this ability when he was facing the undead army of Netherrealm. Then Raiden used this against Younger Scorpion because he didn't trust him in the main story and then in DLC he used this against Shang Tsung because he didn't trust him either.
Lightning Coloring: After Raiden obtained this amulet his lightning changes color from blue to red.
Sealing: The amulet is able to trap anyone within itself.
Abilities[]
Master Martial Artist: Whether a god or mortal, Raiden had a millennium of experience in martial arts which makes him one of the best martial artists in the universe. Raiden knows 750 forms of Jujutsu and three other martial arts that includes Nan Chuan, Judo and Tae Kwan Do. He is well versed in the art of Bojutsu as well.
Bo Staff Mastery: Raiden has expertise in using the Bo staff in combat when using Bojutsu.
Master Acrobat: Raiden is also a very skilled acrobat no matter if he is a god or human. He can perform flips as well.
Advanced Intelligence: Raiden is very intelligent that he has knowledge of other warriors across the realms and can advise his champions if they have never fought a certain fighter before.
Master Tactician and Strategist: Raiden is excellent at forming strategies in order to deal with serious threats. He had instructed Liu Kang and Kung Lao to help save their Shaolin Masters and has been capable of turning Kitana and Jade away from Shao Kahn to help them.
Indomitable Will: Raiden possesses immense willpower that even if he faces losses, he will not give up compassion.
Weaknesses[]
Despite being a god, he is not invincible and has his limits, though it does not seem as if he can ever be fully killed for.
Different Realms: Raiden, like all other gods, loses his powers when he enters a realm that is not native to him, but he will regain them when he leaves.
Equipment[]
Raiden's Lightning Staff: He possesses a lightning staff that he can use to fight with. This wooden staff was a a gift from the Elder Gods which it was given to Raiden long ago, and is made of a special kind of wood that can withstand electrical shocks.
Amulet of Raiden: Raiden's amulet is a golden, sapphire amulet with the Mortal Kombat dragon icon. It was originally created by the Elder Gods and was given to Raiden as a gift.
Former Equipment[]
Amulet of Shinnok: This Amulet originally belonged to a Dark God named Shinnok then it was it was briefly wielded by Raiden. The Amulet of Shinnok is among the most potent and powerful of all mystic talismans within all the realms. Anyone who wields the accursed amulet of Shinnok will increase their powers drastically. But it will turn them into their dark selves like in Raiden's case the amulet turned him into Dark Raiden.
Quotes[]
“
Determined to prevent Armageddon, Raiden tirelessly quests to find a champion worthy of Mortal Kombat.
„
~ Raiden's biography in Mortal Kombat (2011)
“
I will strip the flesh from your bones!
„
~ Raiden to Shao Khan after Kung Lao's death
“
No matter my efforts,the future remains in peril. How could I have failed Earthrealm?
„
~ Raiden
“
I offer... I offer the souls of Earthrealm's warriors who die in conflict.
„
~ Raiden trying to make a deal with Quan Chi to save Earthrealm
“
Liu Kang! I cannot let you fight Shao Kahn.
„
~ Raiden to Liu Kang
“
Through these new heroes Raiden can kombat the forces of darkness in four places at once.
„
~ Raiden possessing four young new heroes in his MK 2011 ending to help him protect Earthrealm.
“
Your evil ends now Quan Chi.
„
~ Raiden to Quan Chi
“
I forgive your impending failure.
„
~ Raiden to Kung Lao
“
Quan Chi's magics linger in you.
„
~ Raiden thinks Jax Briggs is still under Quan Chi's control
“
Impossible if Earthrealm is in danger.
„
~ Raiden after Sonya Blade tells he is going to far
“
You risk much by wielding Sento.
„
~ Raiden to Kenshi
“
Misguided one.
„
~ Raiden to Kitana
“
I am protector not you.
„
~ Raiden to Sub-Zero
“
Your rebellion can not continue.
„
~ Raiden to Mileena
“
Back to hell with you.
„
~ Raiden to Shinnok
“
I should have killed you years ago.
„
~ Raiden to Kano
“
You stole Outworld's throne.
„
~ Raiden to Kotal Kahn
“
Outworld is the plague.
„
~ Raiden to Reptile
“
You are too far gone it seems.
„
~ Raiden to Ferra & Torr
“
Their protection is my purpose.
„
~ Raiden about producing Earthrealm mortals to D'Vorah
“
When a god speaks, heed him.
„
~ Raiden after defeating Baraka
“
Your insolence will be punished.
„
~ Raiden to Tanya
“
You will receive no mercy.
„
~ Raiden to Tremor
“
To end your evil forever.
„
~ Raiden talking about figure Triborg
“
I seek allies not minions.
„
~ Raiden in Injustice 2
“
The death of Liu Kang haunts me still.
„
~ Raiden in Injustice 2
“
Though I had defeated Shinnok, his corruption of Earthrealm's Jinsei has cracked the barrier between my realm and this one. I began having visions of Brainiac's collection of this Earth. I realised that Brainiac's actions would soon destroy the barrier among all the realms. All life would be annihilated. With Brainiac dispatched, I tended the injured. His wounds too great, Kent Nelson could not be saved. But as he died, he warned me: the Armageddon I had foreseen was the design of the Lords of Order. By destroying reality, they would return the multiverse to a perfectly ordered state, obliterating Chaos. To defeat this powerful magic, the Justice League turned to this Earth's most proficient wizards and sorcerers. I gladly accepted the invitation to join them. The Lords will be contained, Order and Chaos will remain in balance. Life as we know it, will continue.
„
~ Raiden's Injustice 2 ending
“
I must consult with the Elder Gods.
„
~ Raiden's most memetic line.
“
Even gods make mistakes, Kung Lao.
„
“
I have been a fool, Liu Kang. Kronika's puppet. We only battle because she wills it.
„
~ Raiden after realising how he and Liu Kang have been manipulated across the timelines by Kronika.
“
Raiden: I have conquered the darkness within me. You must do the same. Revenant Liu Kang: You will have to kill me! Raiden: I would rather save you.
„
~ Raiden before he merges himself with Liu Kang
“
Shao Kahn: Even Kronika couldn't finish you. Raiden: A more intelligent person would cease trying.
„
“
Kronika had manipulated me. In timeline after timeline, she stoked my anger and fed my arrogance, turning me against Liu Kang. My nose rubbed in my own fallibility, I was humbled. How could I be worthy to accept the mantle as Keeper of Time? I thought that to control time and destiny fairly, I must purge myself of all human emotion. Summoning the strongest magic, I burned away my fear and anger. All that remained was pure logic. But I learned quickly that the logical choice is often not the just choice. Unless tempered by compassion and heart, logic leads to decisions no better than those based on anger or fear. Now I am once more at time's beginning. But on this journey through history, I will infuse logic with love. In this timeline, I will finally achieve peace for the citizens of all realms.
„
~ Raiden's MK11 ending
“
I had hoped my victory over Kronika would end the endless cycle of kombat. Sadly it begins anew.
„
~ Titan Raiden.
Gallery[]
Images[]
Raiden in Mortal Kombat (2011)
Raiden utilizing lightning
Raiden in Mortal Kombat X
Raiden after absorbing the corrupted Jinsei, effectively becoming Dark Raiden.
Nightwolf refers to Raiden as Haokah, the Lakota Indian thunder god.
If Raiden is using his "Dark Raiden" costume, his teleport will be red instead of white.
If certain X-Ray Moves are performed on Raiden, his hat will fall off. However, it will not fall off during Fatalities, similar to Kung Lao's Razor-Rimmed Hat.
He is the last playable fighter in Mortal Kombat (2011)'s story mode.
In Mortal Kombat (2011), one of Raiden's Fatalities is called "Just A Scratch". This is a reference to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, in which the Black Knight fights King Arthur and is dismembered, the Black Knight says "Tis but a scratch". Raiden also severs the opponent's limbs and leaves the head like in the film. Unlike the film however, where King Arthur decides to just leave the limbless Black Knight be and go, Raiden picks up the dismembered body and smashes the head in to kill them.
This is the second Fatality to reference a scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail as Kung Lao's "Unfriendly Rabbit" Fatality from Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is likely a reference to the Rabbit of Caerbannog from the film.
In the MK (2011) Arcade Ladder, Raiden appears in eight endings, including his own. This is more than any other character in the game.
If Reptile's Yummy! Fatality is performed on Raiden, Reptile will swallow his head, while his hat is still on.
Mortal Kombat X[]
Raiden had a different X-Ray Move for Mortal Kombat X during development, compared to the one found in the final version. This version has the same start as the final version, with Raiden shooting electricity at the opponent, but it doesn't send them flying. Instead, Raiden comes in close and attacks them with a high kick, similar to the one performed by Johnny Cage during his X-Ray Move. Raiden then grabs the victim's spine and releasing a powerful electrical current through the opponent, before teleporting in front of them, and punching them in the liver, sending them flying backwards.
He and Shinnok are the only characters to address guest character Leatherface as "Leatherface".
Shinnok will, however, address Leatherface by last name in addition to calling him "Leatherface".
Although Raiden does not say Jason Voorhees' name at all, he is aware of who he is, saying "Back to Hell with you!", referencing Jason's undead nature.
Raiden along with Sub-Zero and Reptile have the weakest X-Ray attacks, dealing only 31% damage.
Raiden's Brutality Inside You pays homage to the climactic fight scene in the end of the 1999 film The Matrix in which Neo does the same into Agent Smith and explodes from the inside.
Mortal Kombat Mobile[]
Raiden's Thunder God Card was the first card to drain health on tag in. The second was his Klassic Card which has a similar Passive.
Raiden's Dark Card was the first card to be immune to Power Drain effects.
Dark Raiden was also the first card that was immune to damage-over-time effects.
Raiden's Klassic Card was the first card to drain Power on tag in.
Raiden's Klassic card is one the few cards with the Grapple bonus on all his specials.
Injustice 2 Raiden is one of two cards with Grapple attacks that are completely unavoidable. This is because all the attacks break the opponent's block at the start of every special rather than in the middle. The first was Revenant Jax.
Scorpion and Raiden are the only characters with their Injustice skins as playable cards.
Raiden's Injustice 2 card uses his Throw (Forward) from his appearance in Injustice 2.
Raiden's Injustice 2 card was falsely advertised during its announcement, with the announcement mentioning that he would be able to use his Super Move and other attacks from Injustice 2, however this is entirely false, as only his Special 2 attack is from Injustice 2 and while all his attacks, Combo-Enders, and his X-Ray from MKX is used instead of his Super Move.
His MK11 Card is the first card that disables Combo-Enders.
Injustice 2[]
Raiden appears as a playable guest character alongside Sub-Zero with Richard Epcar reprising his roles from Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Mortal Kombat (2011) and Mortal Kombat X, making him the overall third Mortal Kombat character featured in the Injustice series and the second featured in Injustice 2.
As with Scorpion and Sub-Zero before him, Raiden was given a redesign by legendary DC Comics artist Jim Lee for his debut in Injustice 2.
As with Sub-Zero, his special moves are also imported from Mortal Kombat X and his ending takes place directly after the events of the Story Mode of said game, where he traveled to the Injustice Universe due to the dimensional barrier breaking and after cleansing the Jinsei from Shinnok's corruption.
Many of his interactions reference characters in the Mortal Kombat series and the events of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, even mentioning Dark Kahn when clashing with Darkseid.
Additionally, Darkseid seems to be aware of who Shinnok is, with Darkseid mocking him during a Clash by calling him a "False God".
An interaction with Bane reveals that Bane was recruited by Kano into the Black Dragon.
Raiden is also convinced that the Joker and Scarecrow are agents of Shinnok.
During a Clash in Injustice 2, the Joker and Black Adam will make a reference to Raiden; with Black Adam referring to Raiden as "The guy with the bamboo hat" while the Joker refers to him as that "other lightning guy".
This reference could have been a foreshadow for Raiden's appearance in Injustice 2 as a playable guest character via the Fighter Pack 2.
Raiden sometimes says, "Thunder take you!" during a clash. This could be a reference to his MK 2011 Battle Cry before a fight.
Raiden is the only DLC character with a Premier Skin, this skin being Black Lightning.
Raiden is the second guest character to appear in Injustice 2, and is the third out of five guest characters overall in the Injustice series. The first was Scorpion in Injustice: Gods Among Us. The second was Sub-Zero, with the fourth being Hellboy and the fifth being the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Mortal Kombat 11[]
Raiden is one of the few characters whose voice actor from Mortal Kombat X reprises their role in MK11.
Some of his Brutalities from MK11 are references to his klassic fatalities. For instance, the Brutality Electric is a reference to MK's Electric Decapitation, whereas Power Of A God is reference to MKII Fatality Electrocution I.
An interaction with Sub-Zero in MK11 has Raiden discuss about a dream he had, which Sub-Zero will reply with "of a Dark Knight and a Caped Wonder". This is a reference to both the DC fighting game series Injustice, developed by NetherRealm Studios, and Sub-Zero and Raiden's inclusion in the second game as playable guest characters.
Raiden is one of the two earliest characters alongside Sonya whose present-selves died before Kronika's Time Merger was complete, whereas present-Raiden erased from existence by the presence of his past self when the Time Merger is complete. According to the Past-Raiden, the eraser of his present-day self was due to his immortal status causing him to react differently to the laws of time and Kronika's manipulations.
Raiden is the only playable character in Story Mode chapter where he faced his opponent twice, most notably Liu Kang (both past and revenant).
Raiden is one of six announcers for Mortal Kombat 11 and one of five unlockable announcers. The other four unlockable announcers are Kronika, Shao Kahn, Johnny Cage and RoboCop. To unlock him, the player must subscribe to the MK11 newsletter.
The name of his Friendship is a reference to the TV show Got Talent.
