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| “ | Whatever I lack in experience, I make up for it in heart. | „ |
| ~ Raiden to Kenshi Takahashi. |
Raiden is one of the main protagonists of Mortal Kombat 1, the first installment of the "New Era" in the Mortal Kombat franchise.
In Liu Kang's New Era, Raiden is reborn as a human, living a peaceful life in the village of Fengjian. He is a humble and compassionate man, content to live a quiet life working in the fields and looking after his friends and family in the village, but would be called upon to become a champion of Earthrealm by Liu Kang.
Raiden is voiced by Vincent Rodriguez III.
Appearance[]
Raiden is a young Asian man with dark hair and brown eyes, but retains his white and blue color pallette and straw conical hat. His eyes glow electric blue when using his powers.
Biography[]
Before relinquishing his role as Titan and Keeper of Time, Liu Kang reminisced about the Raiden he knew – recalling his nobility, leadership, and righteous heart, alongside the dangers of his temper and rage. To prevent the new Raiden from repeating history, Liu Kang opted to create him as a mortal rather than a god, residing in the village of Fengjian, working on a farm with his friend Kung Lao.
Mortal Kombat 1[]
Life in Fengjian involves visits to a local tea house owned by Madam Bo, where martial arts practice and friendly competitions take place. Indeed, when Kung Lao and Raiden debated who won a bet, the two engaged in a friendly duel, which Kung Lao won. When Lin Kuei ninjas led by Smoke, Scorpion and Sub-Zero, threaten the teahouse, Raiden and Kung Lao intervene, displaying their combat skills. Later, a hooded figure, revealed as Lord Liu Kang, invites them to be champions in a martial arts tournament against Outworld.
Reluctant but encouraged by Madam Bo, Raiden and Kung Lao head to the Wu Shi Academy. They train alongside other champions, including Johnny Cage and Kenshi Takahashi. Liu Kang decides the tournament's representative through fights, and Raiden defeats Cage and Takahashi. Despite concerns, Liu Kang assures them they won't be fighting in Mortal Kombat.
Raiden and Kung Lao prepare for their final match. Raiden emerges victorious, earning the right to represent Earthrealm. To match Outworld opponents, Liu Kang provides Raiden with a magic amulet granting control over lightning. The group, including twin princesses Mileena and Kitana, departs for Outworld's capital, Sun Do, for the tournament.
The tournament unfolds, with Raiden defeating opponents like Li Mei and Reiko. At the banquet, tensions rise, but Raiden attempts to build connections between realms. The next day, Raiden continues to succeed, ultimately winning the tournament by defeating General Shao. Despite Shao's arrogance, Raiden's victory brings temporary peace, but a new threat arises with the deceptive sorcerer Shang Tsung, as revealed in a conversation between Liu Kang and Geras.
In a strategic move to counteract Shang Tsung's unfolding plot, Liu Kang devises a plan, dispatching Kung Lao, Johnny Cage, and Kenshi to Outworld undercover. Unfortunately, the mission encounters complications, forcing the trio to retreat back to Earthrealm with newfound allies, Syzoth and Ashrah. This alliance provides crucial intel: Shang Tsung and Quan Chi collude to manipulate Outworld's key figures, aiming to topple Sindel and shatter the fragile peace between realms on behalf of an unidentified benefactor.
Simultaneously, a Lin Kuei attempt to capture Shang Tsung at Ying Fortress takes a dark turn. Sub-Zero, manipulated by Shang Tsung, renounces his oath, leading to a confrontation with his brethren. As the ninja retreat, the sorcerers activate their soul-stealing devices. A subsequent assault on Ying Fortress unveils a shocking revelation. Shang Tsung and Quan Chi's supposed benefactor, "Damashi," is unveiled as another version of Shang Tsung. This Titan Shang Tsung, plotting to unleash a soul-powered stone army on Liu Kang's timeline, originated from a past battle over the Hourglass, causing a rupture in time and spawning divergent timelines.
Raiden, along with others, orchestrates a plan to disrupt Titan Shang Tsung's army while Liu Kang regains his Keeper of Time powers. The battlefield is chaotic, with dark duplicates of warriors engaging in fierce combat. Raiden, Shang Tsung, and Quan Chi work together to dismantle portals transporting the stone army, with their first portal being interrupted by the Dark Ermac and Kenshi. Raiden is left the destroy the portals while the Deadly Alliance battles the dark doubles, before returning to assist him. At the next portal, Raiden managed to save the sorcerers from Dark Rain and Smoke, teasing them for their ingratitude. Upon reaching the third portal, they are confronted by Dark Shao, and Shang Tsung notices that his lifeforce is tied to the portals, with Raiden reluctantly agreeing with the sorcerers in killing Dark Shao to seal the portals. However, he is blasted aside by Dark Scorpion (joined by Dark Sub-Zero) and forced to fight Dark Shao one-on-one while the sorcerers take over to fight the ninja. Raiden is saved by the Deadly Alliance, who taunt him over his debt of gratitude he owes them.
Raiden joined the Battle of Armageddon alongside the Union of Light, along with alternate versions of himself. The conflict is intense, with Raiden facing challenges from dark duplicates and a rejuvenated Dark Shao. Titan Raiden intervenes to aid the current Raiden against Dark Shao. Raiden can be chosen as the Final Warrior, and in this scenario fights his way to the top of the Pyramid, defeating the Titan versions of Shang Tsung and Quan Chi. The Forces of Light emerge victorious, with Raiden and Liu Kang returning to their timeline. In a moment of respite, they gather at Madame Bo's teahouse with fellow champions. Johnny Cage shares plans for a movie recounting their interrealm adventures, though Raiden, prioritising the training of new initiates, declines a role. Liu Kang expresses gratitude to Raiden and the champions for safeguarding Earthrealm. Liu Kang departs to assist Kuai Liang in building the Shirai Ryu, leaving Raiden and the champions to reflect on their collective triumph against the looming threats that sought to disrupt the fabric of time and realms. They begin debating over who should pay for their meal, with Raiden assuring Kung Lao that Johnny and Kenshi are only teasing them.
As some point afterwards, as revealed in his ending, Raiden asked Liu Kang about his Thunder God self, having been burdened with questions about why he was so different. He discovered that while his other self was a noble and righteous hero, he could be consumed by darkness, something the mortal Raiden was supposed to not be capable of. Raiden understood the reasoning, but felt that to face future conflict, he may need to be able to harness anger, and sought out Scorpion to help him channel this rage. Raiden also warned Kung Lao about training Shujinko on his own, and after the wayward student went on a rampage and had to have his memory wiped, Raiden agreed to train him alongside Kung Lao.
Khaos Reigns[]
Raiden is seen at the Wu Shi preparing his speech for Kuai Liang's wedding nervously, with Johnny coming to comfort and reassure him to relax. As Raiden read his speech for Kuai Liang's wedding, the Lin Kuei attacked the Wu Shi under the command of Sub-Zero. As the Lin Kuei are defeated and Raiden informed Kuai Liang the clan were turned away, Kuai Liang asked Bi-Han and Sektor to be detained to the compound, but Raiden declined, saying that Bi-Han's crimes are not only against Kuai Liang, but to Earthrealm and Outworld as well. He, along with Kung Lao, went to the palace to forsee Bi-Han and Sektor's sentence, until Titan Havik came through the palace through a portal.
Raiden, along with Kung Lao assisted Liu Kang in driving off Havik's forces, and were later seen in the final battle in Ying Fortress to defeat Titan Havik's warriors. After Bi-Han was put in a comatose state, Raiden and Kung Lao accompanied the monks to place Bi-Han's body in the Temple of the Elements, where Bi-Han will reside until he is freed of Titan Havik's magic.
Personality[]
Raiden is shown to be immensely humble and polite, rarely showing other kombatants anything other than quiet respect. In sharp contrast to Kung Lao, Raiden is perfectly content with his life as a simple farmer and only agrees to fight in the tournament when Liu Kang and Madam Bo convince him it's for the greater good of defending Earthrealm, and he takes no pride in his victories and is often surprised by the outcome. When dealing with others Raiden is soft-spoken and polite no matter how they treat him, but behind his back even some of his allies admit to each other that they find his modesty annoying and condescending. However, while Raiden is affable and good-natured almost to a fault, he's also a very capable combatant, and his fight with Sub-Zero early in the game shows that he's not afraid to grab a weapon if the situation calls for it. He shares his classic selves more sarcastic tone, which can be seen when he teases the Deadly Alliance, and is reluctant to kill, only doing so if truly necessary.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Amulet of Lightning and Thunder Empowerment: After Raiden earn the right to represent Earthrealm in the tournament Liu Kang gives him a magic amulet in order to overpower his Outworld's opponents. This amulet gives Raiden supernatural magic powers specifically power of lightning and thunder. It is the same power that Raiden from the 2nd Timeline gave Liu Kang when he made him a God of Fire and Liu Kang transferred this lightning power into the amulet when it was made.
- Elektrokinesis/Lightning Magic: The Amulet gives Raiden power over lightning magic. He can summon lightning bolt from the sky fire powerful electricity from his hands that can paralyze and even kill his enemies. He can use his electric power to perform numerous dangerous moves and attacks. He can also charge his fists and feet in fight and thanks to that his attacks become more stronger and deadly.
- Electrical Bolt: Raiden can fire powerful electrical bolts from his hands. He first used this ability in Wu Shi Academy after he win the right to represent Earthrealm in Great Martial Arts Tournament against Outworld after he was given the Amulet by Liu Kang in order to test its power. These bolts can stun, blast away, knock out and kill his enemies or destroy magical objects. He also used them to help Shang Tsung and Quan Chi destroy the Portal Gateways in the battle against the Dragon Army.
- Teleportation: Raiden can use his electric power to vanish from one place and reappear in another.
- Internal Teleportation: Raiden can teleport inside his enemies exploding them from the inside out.
- Electro-Telekinesis: Raiden can use his electricity to telekinetically manipulate objects or living beings. He use this ability to freeze or lift his opponents into the air and pull closer or push them away.
- Electrical Constructs: Thanks to his electric powers Raiden can create pure and solid constructs made from his electrical energy.
- Electric Orbs: Raiden can create electric orb in front of him and fire it with a move with his hands also he can charge this ability to create six electric orbs create a circle with them and then fire them on his opponents.
- Electric Clones: Raiden can create clones of himself with his electrical energy.
- Electrical Healing: With his electric powers Raiden is able to heal himself from minor or dangerous wounds.
- Fulgurkinesis: Raiden can also summon lightning bolt or lightning bolts from the sky and right at his opponents in order to hurt or kill them or boost the power of his attacks.
- Flight: Raiden can use the power of his amulet in order to defy gravity and fly through the air with an amazing speed.
- Elektrokinesis/Lightning Magic: The Amulet gives Raiden power over lightning magic. He can summon lightning bolt from the sky fire powerful electricity from his hands that can paralyze and even kill his enemies. He can use his electric power to perform numerous dangerous moves and attacks. He can also charge his fists and feet in fight and thanks to that his attacks become more stronger and deadly.
- Superhuman Strength: Raiden also possess supernatural strength. He is strong enough to punch his enemies very high into the air. His enhanced strength allowed him to defeat strong foes like General Shao and Reiko.
- Superhuman Durability: Raiden is more durable than normal mortal human. He was able withstand attacks from very strong opponents like General Shao and Reiko in the tournament with Outworld. Raiden was able to withstand Alternate Shao's (Dark Shao) hammer blow and kick and also he was able to withstand Alternate Scorpion's fire ball attack even though it weakened him but it did not kill him.
- Superhuman Speed: Raiden can also move much faster than a normal human. His speed also makes him able to dodge attacks faster and deal attacks quickly as well.
- Superhuman Reflexes: His reflexes are fast enough to react to the attacks of stronger opponents faster and more accurately than an ordinary human.
- Superhuman Agility: Raiden also possesses superhuman balance, poise and agility, thanks to which he can perfectly avoid attacks from opponents stronger than himself in battle without slipping or losing his balance.
- Superhuman Stamina: Raiden's stamina is also at a superhuman level, making him able to withstand long and demanding battles. Even though he was weakened from the scorpion attack, he was still able to dodge Shao's powerful attacks long enough for Shang Tsung and Quan Chi to finish him off.
Abilities[]
- Master Martial Artist: Raiden was trained by Madame Bo in martial arts since he was a boy with his best friend Kung Lao although in their friendly duel over who will pay for the dinner Raiden lost to Kung Lao but later after the dinner when he and Kung Lao were fighting Lin Kuei Raiden single-handedly overpowers three other ninjas while Kung Lao was fighting Smoke but later he lost in his fight with Sub-Zero and his hands were frozen to the bar table by Lin Kuei ninja Grandmaster he was saved by Kung Lao's intervention and when Kung Lao was fighting Sub-Zero Raiden freed himself from Sub-Zero's ice and goes to check up on Madame Bo who he though she was unconscious but she wasn't. After he accepted Liu Kang's offer to become Champion of Earthrealm he comes to the Wu Shi Academy where he was trained by Monks and became better in martial arts he was able to defeat Johnny Cage, Kenshi Takahashi and his best friend Kung Lao which Kung Lao did not expect but he friendly congratulated him and thanks to that he earn the right to represent Earthrealm in Tournament. Though he does not possess millennia of experience like his Godly counterpart he is quite skillful. His skills also impressed empress Sindel and they were great enough to defeat all of his Outworld's opponents like Li Mei, Reiko, Kotal, Motaro, Sheeva, General Shao even princess Kitana who were more skilled in combat than him and by that he wins the Tournament. His fighting style is composed of Nan Chuan, Jujutsu, Judo and Tae Kwon Do.
- Master Acrobat: Raiden became, thanks to his martial arts training with Madame Bo and monks of Wu Shi Academy, a very great acrobat and gymnast. He also uses his acrobatic skills in battles. One of his attacks consists of doing a flip called a star and kicking his opponents with both feet during it. Even when he was weakened after Alternate Scorpion's fire ball attack Raiden use his acrobatic skills to avoid the Alternate Shao's Hammer attacks.
- Gifted Intelligence:
- Expert Tactician:
- Master Teacher:
- Indomitable Will: Raiden possesses a strong will so that even when faced with losses, he will not give up his compassion and honor. This was proven during the fight with the dragon army even though he was in pain while fighting Alternate Timeline Scorpion and Dark Shao (Alternate Timeline Shao) there so he didn't give up and kept fighting.
Equipment[]
- Amulet of Lightning and Thunder: After winning the right to represent Earthrealm in martial arts tournament Liu Kang gave Raiden a magical amulet in order to overpower his Outworld's opponents.
Quotes[]
| “ | I may not have faced war, but I am a warrior. | „ |
| ~ Raiden to Reiko after winning the first round. |
| “ | Your Majesty. It's an honor to be here and to meet your people. I can already see there's more that joins us than divides us. | „ |
| “ | Were it not for my godly counterpart, I would not have survived the battle against Titan Shang Tsung. Meeting him, though, raised questions. Why did I replace him in this new era? Why was I made mortal? Lord Liu Kang told me of his Raiden's nobility and righteousness. About his steadfast leadership in the defense of Earthrealm. He also told me about Raiden's dark side. How he could be consumed by rage and cast aside the rules he otherwise lived by. Making me mortal and incapable of such anger was to keep me from following in his footsteps. Though I understood the reasons why, I felt I had been done a disservice. To survive the coming battles, I may need the edge that only great rage can bring. As the Shaolin couldn't aid me, I sought someone who could. Someone to stoke the fire within me... and teach me to master it. For this, I could have no better teacher than the Shirai Ryu's Grandmaster. | „ |
| ~ Raiden in his arcade ending. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Raiden's role as Earthrealm champion is a mirror to Liu Kang's traditional roles.
- It seems that he was placed in Liu Kang's spot in the third timeline; due to Fire God Liu Kang having taken to the spot of the previous Raiden roles. This is backed up in several clash commentary where it's hinted both Raiden and Kitana have crushes on each other.
- Similarly to Liu Kang in previous timelines. Raiden's arch-enemies in the third timeline are Shang Tsung and General Shao.
- In Mortal Kombat 1, Raiden's Electric Orb move involves creating a ring of lightning bolts, as a reference to his mythological inspiration Raijin, who is often depicted as having a circle of drums in the same shape.
- Liu Kang explained that he didn't rig the timeline so Raiden would get the amulet, which held the powers of his past self; any of the four could have won the right to be Champion and be gifted the amulet.
- Raiden acts as a Kameo during Kung Lao's chapter while battling the Lin Kuei, before Raiden himself has a Lightning Elemental to act as a Kameo during the tournament in his own chapter.
- While Raiden's Light, Dark, and Khaotic counterparts are based on his thunder god self within the story mode, they feature as skins for the New Era Raiden. Indeed, in ending cutscenes, these alternate Raidens resemble their in-game skin designs.
External Links[]
- Raiden on the Mortal Kombat Wiki
