Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reignshas had very little information revealed about it so far,aside from a short trailer. While fans should expect more details through Kombat Kasts and teasers, the trailer has offered insight into some of the biggest changes that might occur in this incumbent expansion.
Khaos Reignscontinues on from the story inMK1,and therefore will shed more light on how things develop in Liu Kang’s new era. As the story approaches some of the more plot-heavy bits of the original timeline, and more characters are introduced, players should anticipate more andmore changes to key characters, factions, and story beats. With that in mind, here are some of the biggest changes players can expect from the highly anticipated expansion forMK1.
5The Kamidogu
The Mythical Macguffins May Be Back
The Kamidogu are essentially theMortal Kombatuniverse’s version of Marvel’s Infinity Stones. InMortal Kombat Deception,Shujinko’s quest revolved around collecting the Kamidogu of each realm. These were later snatched away by Onaga, who used them to attempt to reshape the realms in his image.
The Kamidogu made another appearance in theMKXcomics, but this time as daggers that invoke blood magic. These were used by Havik to seize control over other characters in the comics, and to summon Shinnok’s amulet.Khaos Reigns' trailer ends with Havik proclaiming there will be blood with six stone-esque relics embedded in his chest. It is safe to say these may be the latest iteration of the Kamidogu. While their new role isn’t known yet, they probably won’t be utilized in a similar manner as they were in the past.
4The Birth of Noob Saibot
Bi-Han’s Not-So-Tragic Downfall?
In the original timeline, Bi-Han is actually a more evil, vindictive and ruthless Lin Kuei leader. He attends the first Mortal Kombat tournament and plots to assassinate Shang Tsung, but he is burned to death by Scorpion and sent to the Netherrealm before he can try.
In the Netherrealm, Bi-Han devolves into Noob Saibot and joins the Brotherhood of Shadows, pledging loyalty to Shinnok. In Liu Kang’s new era, Bi-Han seems destined to return to the Noob mantle in a completely different way. It appears that Titan Havik experimented on Bi-Han against his will. In the little we see of Noob, he affirms his pledge to Khaos, rather than Shinnok. It seems that inKhaos Reigns,Bi-Han’s potential descent will be more tragic. Not only is he less of a typical bad guy, he has also become a fan-favorite, with tons of different memes stemming from his appearance in the story mode.
3The New Lin Kuei Dynamic
The Famed Clan May Be Due An Altered Fate
In the original timeline, Kuai Liang inherits the mantle of Sub-Zero, and is Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei after his brother’s passing. While Kuai Liang faces hostility from Cyrax, Sektor and the rest of the Cyber Initiative, he eventually seizes control of the clan and trains them as a force for good.
It remains to be seen who will lead the Lin Kuei after Bi-Han is taken by Havik. With both Smoke andScorpion leaving the clanand departing for Japan (seemingly to form the new Shirai Ryu), there will be a leadership vacuum in the iconic clan. Moreover, it may be the first time in over two decades thatKuai Liang hasn’t been involved in steeringthe direction of the Lin Kuei. It remains to be seen whether the likes of Cyrax and Sektor take control, or something else happens entirely.
2New Cyber Initiative
A More Iron-Man-Esque Approach?
What fans know about the new Cyber Initiative for a fact is that Cyrax and Sektor are not cyborgs, robots, or any sort of hybrid. Instead, they seem to be wearing armored, high-tech suits. This is a massive change, as the conversion of the two ninjas into cyborgs has been a big part of every retelling of the classic story yet. Beyond this, audiences have seen them fighting Shaolin Monks, as well as some sort of warriors clad in dark suits. With the Shaolin Monks being the ‘good guys’ of theMK1universe, we know that the Lin Kuei’s new cyber initiative is, at the very least, in a moral gray zone.
Moreover, fans have seen Kuai Liang at odds with Cyrax and that she corrupted the Lin Kuei. In conjunction with this, Cyrax and Sektor are also seen fighting each other. This might indicate one of them is at odds with the direction the initiative is heading in.
1Titan Havik
The biggest change to expect inKhaos Reignsis the entirely new trajectory the developers are taking for Havik, who isoften seen as an underutilized villain.He is finally getting his time in the spotlight as the main antagonist of the expansion. As a Titan, Havik’s lust for Khaos is going to be dangerous on a mulit-realm plane rather than his usual shenanigans.
It will also be interesting to juxtapose Titan Havik with the version in Liu Kang’s era. It’s possible that Havik’s prominent new role will lead to more focus on Orderrealm and Chaosrealm rather than the usual suspects.
