Mortal Kombat's Mileena: The Tragic Victim of Liu Kang's Win

Mortal Kombat 1's first trailer was recently revealed by NetherRealm, marking the franchise's second reboot and four years since its last installment. While classic characters have seemingly found peace, a new threat to Liu Kang's universe emerges, leaving one iconic character with the short end of the stick. The trailer hinted at potential conflicts from previous games, including a possible showdown between Mileena and Kitana, with the former still bearing her facial deformities despite the Fire God's ability to fix them.

How Mileena Got The Short End Of The Stick In Mortal Kombat 1

Mileena's story in Mortal Kombat may seem convoluted, much like many other characters in the franchise. She was originally introduced as a mere color palette swap of her "sister," Kitana, in the second game. The two were even compared to the iconic Scorpion and Sub-Zero duo by series co-creator Ed Boon. However, Mileena has garnered a massive fan following and has a significant role in the Mortal Kombat universe.

In the game's lore, the ruthless Shao Kahn conquered Edenia and wed Kitana's mother to secure his reign. He raised Kitana as his own but feared that she might betray him one day. To counter this, he tasked Shang Tsung with creating a clone of Kitana, using the essence of a Tarkatan warrior. Mileena was the result, but the process was incomplete, leaving her with a mouth that resembled those of the monstrous Tarkatans. Despite her appearance, Shao Kahn valued Mileena's loyalty and considered her more of a daughter than Kitana. She remains one of his most devoted followers throughout the series.

The upcoming Mortal Kombat 1 appears to be a reboot of the franchise, with a new timeline established by Liu Kang's victory over Shang Tsung. The trailer shows Kitana and Mileena together, but there is tension between them due to Mileena's Tarkatan features and apparent hatred towards Kitana. This leaves players questioning why Liu Kang would favor Kitana and potentially leave Mileena as a villain. It is possible that Mileena's deformities may lead to a redemption arc, but for now, players will have to wait until the first gameplay reveal in June for more answers.

Mortal Kombat 1 releases September 19 on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.