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| “ | I wear our family's name with pride! | „ |
| ~ Kung Lao, Mortal Kombat 11. |
Kung Lao (Chinese: 功老) is a member of the White Lotus Society and former Shaolin monk and one of the main protagonists from the Mortal Kombat franchise. He is Liu Kang's arch-rival and best friend.
Kung Lao was voiced by Joe Yau in Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Jin Hyong in Mortal Kombat 9, Will Yun Lee in Mortal Kombat X, and Sunil Malhotra from Mortal Kombat 11 onwards.
History[]
Original Timeline[]
Mortal Kombat II/Shaolin Monks[]
When the Shaolin Temples were attacked by Baraka and his Tarkatan soldiers, Kung Lao rejoined Liu Kang, and the two vowed to avenge their fellow Shaolin. He rescued Jax from Kintaro, and joined Raiden and his fellow Earthrealm warriors in heading to Outworld. Kung Lao aided Liu Kang and the others in the tournament, leading to Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn's defeat. Afterwards, he intended to rebuild the White Lotus Society.
Mortal Kombat 3[]
Shortly afterwards, Kung Lao was interrupted when Shao Kahn invaded Earthrealm, and he was one of Raiden's chosen warriors who were spared from having their souls stolen. Kung Lao fought the Outworld forces, and personally battled Shao Kahn himself. While in the non canon ending, he was able to defeat Shao Kahn at the cost of his life, in the main version of events, he seemingly was killed by Shao, and it was Liu Kang that defeated the Emperor.
Mortal Kombat Gold[]
While Kung Lao was presumed dead, he in fact faked his death, hoping to find some peace, and secretly aided in rebuilding the White Lotus. When the threat of Shinnok and his Army of Darkness emerged, Kung Lao discovered Goro had joined them, and joined the fight, hoping to avenge his ancestor. After the battle was won, he saw Goro making peace with Kitana, and chose only to attack with a ceremonial strike of vengeance. After clarifying his intent, Kung Lao and Goro made peace, ending his family's rivalry with the Shokan.
Deadly Alliance[]
After several years of relative peace, Kung Lao made a horrific discovery; Liu Kang had been killed at the Wu Shi. He was the first to find the body, and Raiden revealed that Deadly Alliance were responsible, and that Shang Tsung had dealt the fatal blow. Kung Lao was determined to avenge his best friend by any means, and after joining up with his fellow Earthrealm warriors and heading to Outworld, he sought out Liu Kang's old mentor, Bo' Rai Cho. Informing him of their mutual friend's death, Bo' Rai Cho taught Kung Lao the Whirlwind Kick which won the first tournament. In his ending, Kung Lao was able to defeat Shang Tsung and avenge Liu Kang. Afterwards, he bade farewell to Liu's at his memorial, lighting a stick of incense and praying for safe passage to the afterlife. Kung Lao vowed to ensure the White Lotus would be ready for any threats to Earthrealm.
Deception[]
Tragically, in the main version of events, while Kung Lao put up a great fight against Shang Tsung, he was killed by the evil sorcerer, leaving Raiden to face the Deadly Alliance on his own.
During the Konquest mode, Kung Lao at some point in the past encounters Shujinko on his quest. Briefly mistaking him for an assassin, Shujinko won the subsequent duel, and was shocked that he was trained by Bo' Rai Cho. After Shujinko clarified he was a White Lotus member, Kung Lao asked him to find Kai in Outworld. When Shujinko returned, Kung Lao was assured that he would return shortly, and he urged Shujinko to keep Raiden's staff which Kai gave to him, to use against Shao Kahn.
Kung Lao would be revived as a slave of Onaga the Dragon King, along with his allies, but would be freed by the spirit of Liu Kang and the now heroic Ermac, and aided in Onaga's defeat by giving Shujinko his powers along with the other so that he could defeat the Dragon King.
Armageddon[]
Afterwards, Kung Lao and Fujin joined forces to deal with the corrupted Raiden and Liu Kang's undead body, hoping to restore them both. If they failed, they would be forced to finish them. However, when the Battle of Armageddon began, Kung Lao joined the fight, and was seen facing Baraka. In his ending, Kung Lao defeated Blaze, and travelled back in time to take the place of his ancestor in the original Mortal Kombat tournament, which he won, creating a history where Liu Kang never became a champion.
Second Timeline[]
Mortal Kombat 9 (2011)[]
Kung Lao considered himself Liu Kang's equal, thus entered the tournament disguised as one of Shang Tsung's guards. He remained hidden until the introduction of Scorpion in one of the tournament matches, at that time Raiden told him off for defying orders. Determined to prove Raiden otherwise, Kung Lao discarded his disguise and challenged Scorpion. However, Kung Lao was defeated by the ninja. He was forced to watch for the remainder of the tournament and support Liu Kang. After Liu Kang's victory over Shang Tsung, who granted Earthrealm the tournament victory and freedom, Kung Lao was genuinely happy for him, and joined Sonya Blade, Jax and Johnny Cage to watch Liu Kang being awarded a medal for his victory at a ceremony held at the Wu Shi Academy.
However, the celebration would be interrupted by a revitalized Shang Tsung who led a Tarkatan horde to attack the Wu Shi Academy, forcing Earthrealm to accept a tournament in Outworld, with higher stakes. In Outworld, Kung Lao and Liu Kang met up with Raiden, Cage and Smoke. They went to the wastelands where they were informed by Jade of Kitana's pending execution and that she was being held captive in the tower of Shao Kahn's Fortress. Thus Kung Lao and Liu Kang went to the Tower to rescue Kitana, while the others take part in the tournament. After teasing Liu about the obvious romantic tension between him and the princess, Lao noted that she had most likely been relocated, and they were confronted by Sheeva and Noob Saibot, who confirmed his suspicions. Kung Lao fought and defeated Noob Saibot, noting there was something familiar about the shadowy assassin. Afterwards, he watched as Liu Kang fought Sheeva, willing to jump in if he needed help. At that moment Goro arrived, seeking revenge against Liu Kang, to which Kung Lao took his chance to challenge and defeat Goro. Afterwards he demanded Kitana's location, to which Goro answered that she was taken to the Coliseum to be executed.
The Shaolin monks went to the Coliseum, where they saw Kitana chained up. Kung Lao was chosen as the last standing champion by Raiden, who wished to change the outcome of his visions, while Liu Kang went to Kitana's aid. Kung Lao went up against the alliance of Shang Tsung and Quan Chi, defeating them, then Kintaro. Proud of his victory, Kung Lao enjoyed the moment, even teasingly bowing to the booing crowd. Just as he declared that Earthrealm was now free, Shao Kahn killed him in a surprise attack, snapping his neck. This enraged Raiden and Liu Kang, the latter of whom defeats Shao Kahn to avenge his best friend's death.
Tragically, Kung Lao would go onto be revived by Quan Chi as a Revenant along with the other fallen Earthrealm warriors.
In his non canon ending, Kung Lao destroyed Shao Kahn, and reflected along with Raiden at his ancestor's grave. He began to receive visions of his ancestor's life after touching the grave, and Raiden realised that Kung Lao was a reincarnation of the Great Kung Lao who had avenged his previous death.
Mortal Kombat X[]
In this game, Kung Lao is a Revenant who serves the Netherrealm, who wishes for revenge on Raiden. That being said, the heroic version of Kung Lao is seen in a few ways.
In a flashback to right before the second tournament, Kung Lao joins Raiden and Liu Kang in going after Baraka's Tarkatans after they killed and captured many of the monks. Kung Lao is especially angered by the raid, citing the death of master Wen, but Raiden tells him that there are boundaries not meant to be crossed, even against Tarkatans. As Raiden faces Baraka and D'Vorah, Kung Lao and Liu Kang fight off the Tarkatans. Afterwards, Raiden leaves Kung Lao and Liu Kang to deal with rescuing the monks, but tells them both to join him in the tournament later.
A human "what if" version of Kung Lao is a playable character, showing him if he lived until the modern day as an older man. In his non canon ending, Kung Lao is able to return to his humanity with the help of Kung Jin, and Lao becomes an agent of vengeance against evil.
Mortal Kombat 11[]
The human version of Kung Lao is brought forward to the modern day immediately before his death as a consequence of Kronika's timequake.
Kung Lao and his fellow Revenants allied with Kronika, and attacked the Wu Shi Academy alongside Liu Kang, Geras, the younger Scorpion and Jade to retrieve Jinsei energy. He and Emperor Liu Kang confronted their younger human selves in the Grotto, with Kung Lao telling his younger self the circumstances of his death to turn him against Raiden. The two Kung Lao's fought, with the revenant version mocking the human self for being saved from his death, while the human version was appalled at him, considering him a shame to their family.
He was defeated by Fire God Liu Kang. He is presumed to be erased from existence when Kronika reset the timeline back to prehistoric age prior to her final fight with Fire God Liu Kang. In this game, he loses any redeeming traits he once had as he continues aiding Kronika despite having free will.
Aftermath[]
In Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath: the Revenant Kung Lao, along with Jade and Kabal, are preparing their army to defend Kronika's Keep.
In the final chapter, Revenant Kung Lao has his neck snapped by Shang Tsung, in a similar fashion to when Shao Kahn did the same.
Titan Kung Lao[]
In his MK11 ending, Kung Lao is the one to defeat Kronika, and as a result becomes a Titan. He uses his newfound abilities to rewrite the fate of the Great Kung Lao, making sure he lives, leaving behind a greater legacy of peace between Realms. As for Kung Lao, he became Earthrealm's primary defender, defeating any threats that come it's way, such as Onaga the Dragon King.
Mortal Kombat: Onslaught[]
This is a standalone story, although Kung Lao and the others resemble their MK11 selves.
New Era[]
- Main article: Kung Lao (3rd Timeline)
Personality[]
He is a pacifist as a Buddhist monk, though a bit resentful at being in Liu Kang's shadows. Though in MK11, after learning his tragic future, he abandoned his arrogance to avoid his tragedy from a result of having himself off-guard by Shao Kahn’s neck snap on him from the back, especially calling out his future revenant-self for being ashamed of their family name for serving the likes of Kronika’s children.
Powers and Abilities[]
Kung Lao is an excellent fighter and is similar to Liu Kang in terms of strength, agility, and martial arts skills. However his preferred weapon is his razor bladed hat, which he can throw at the opponent and also uses it to deliver the finishing blows to his opponents.
Lao seems to be able to control the hat in midair, since it can move in circular patterns as opposed to straight ahead and it seems magical in nature, since it will always re-materialize back on his head after he throws it, much like a boomerang.
Kung Lao's moves include teleporting by disappearing into the ground then popping up behind his opponent, flying towards his opponent, spinning like a tornado to kick them multiple times or to knock them into air, and diving down from the air to kick his opponent. As his alternate weapon fighting style, Lao wields a dao, a Chinese broadsword.
Powers[]
- Superhuman Strength: Kung Lao has an impressive amount of strength to defeat Outworld species like Shokan.
- Superhuman Speed: Kung Lao is extremely fast in combat like his best friend, Liu Kang.
- Superhuman Agility
- Superhuman Reflexes: Kung Lao has immense reflexes unlike peak human characters. He can quickly react to deflect gunfire.
- Superhuman Stamina: Kung Lao can fight for long periods of time without showing any exhaustion.
- Superhuman Durability: Kung Lao can survive blows from super-strong foes.
- Superhuman Endurance: Kung Lao can tolerate large amounts of pain than peak human characters.
- Magic: Kung Lao does possess magical powers and magic based attacks.
- Aerokinesis: Kung Lao can create powerful winds and vortexes that can raise his opponents. He can also create winds to push them away.
- Kapelokinesis: Kung Lao is able to control his hat when using it in battle. Similar to his Hat Trick variation in MKX
- Chi Manipulation: Kung Lao can channel anyone's chi to gain more strength and power. He can also attune to it in order to discover their origins.
- Teleportation: Kung Lao does possess a degree of teleportation.
Abilities[]
- Master Martial Artist: Like Liu Kang, he is one of the best Shaolin monks at the Wu Shi Academy. He may not be able to best Liu Kang, but he managed to defeat quite a number of warriors. Kung Lao has bested Noob Saibot, Goro, the Deadly Alliance, Kintaro, Scorpion, Revenant Jade, his Revenant counterpart, and Geras in the Alternate Timeline. In the Current Timeline he had bested Smoke, Kuai Liang, and Bi-Han. Had not Bi-Han, Kuai Liang, and Smoke held back, he would have been defeated easily. He defeated Raiden the beginning but was bested by him the second time at the Wu Shi Academy.
- Mantis Fist
- Shaolin Fist
- Kenpo
- White Lotus
- Wing Chun
- Master Acrobat: Kung Lao is one of the best acrobats in Earthrealm alongside Liu Kang. He can perform flips and is capable of leaping at distances greater than peak humans.
- Weapon Mastery: Kung Lao does have incredible skills in using weapons, but his most preferred weapon is his razor-brimmed hat.
- Throwing: Kung Lao has expert skills in throwing his hat like a frisbee and can be sent right back to him in his hand or land on top of his head.
- Swordsmanship: Kung Lao also has some skills in using swords like a Broadsword in earlier games like Deadly Alliance, Deception, and Armageddon.
- Stealth: Kung Lao does excellent skills in using stealth.
- High Intelligence: Kung Lao does have intelligent strategic thinking. He can also figure out ways to deal with opponents he never fought before.
- Indominable Will: Kung Lao maybe arrogant, immature, and very boasting, but he deeply cares for his best friend and his family. He seeks to bring honor to all of his fallen ancestors and to bring glory to his family name. With his desires, he has an unbreakable spirit which makes him a very strong willed character.
Paraphernalia[]
- Razor-Rimmed Hat
- Battle Axe
- Broadsword
Quotes[]
| “ | When next the tournament is fought it will be my ancestors who are honored. | „ |
| ~ Kung Lao in Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks after hearing that Liu Kang is the champion |
| “ | But when Kung Lao discovered the dead body of Liu Kang, he had but one objective, to avenge his death and bring the murderer to justice! | „ |
| ~ Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance |
| “ | Bow you idiot. | „ |
| ~ Kung Lao after Raiden give Johnny Cage a medal |
| “ | Should my family feel honored now? | „ |
| ~ Kung Lao after hearing about many Shaolin Monks being killed |
| “ | No I will defeat Reptile, you will watch. That is what Raiden was talking about. | „ |
| ~ Kung Lao after Liu Kang says they both can defeat Reptile |
| “ | I am not certain I want you anywhere near me. | „ |
| ~ Kung Lao to Liu Kang after Shang Tsung took the form of Liu Kang and tricked Kung Lao |
| “ | I am Liu Kang's equal! | „ |
| ~ Kung Lao |
| “ | Watch and see. | „ |
| ~ Kung Lao |
| “ | Nevermind the Lin Kuei, now you face a Shaolin. | „ |
| ~ Kung Lao before facing Scorpion |
| “ | You have had your match with Liu Kang. Now you face me! | „ |
| ~ Kung Lao |
| “ | I hope your is worth Lord Raiden's anger, Liu Kang. | „ |
| ~ Kung Lao speaking to Liu Kang about Kitana |
| “ | Be thankful that I choose not to spill your tainted blood. | „ |
| ~ Kung Lao after defeating Noob Saibot. |
| “ | You see, Raiden? Earthrealm is free-- | „ |
| ~ Kung Lao's last words before being killed by Shao Kahn. |
| “ | Our future, Liu Kang. This is insane! | „ |
| ~ The past Kung Lao speaking to Liu Kang about their new future counterpart’s inescapable fate as wraiths/revenants |
| “ | The thought of becoming you, sickens me. But I won’t blame Raiden. | „ |
| ~ The past Kung Lao to his future revenant counterpart |
| “ | You ashamed our family name. | „ |
| ~ The past Kung Lao, after defeating his future counterpart in disgust |
Trivia[]
- In the early years of the franchise, Kung Lao did not appear in non game media, apart from the Malibu comics, and his ancestor as the main protagonist of Mortal Kombat: Conquest (who wears his MK3 costume in the first episode).
- Kung Lao appears in the intro to Armageddon, fighting Baraka, before they take the fight to mid-air, where he battles against his arm blades with his broadsword. He stabbed the Tarkatan in the chest before being blasted away by his spark attack.
- In Deadly Alliance, Kung Lao had a joke about him having his own infomercial, where he sold swords for a limited time.
- In the Video Game Divekick, A female character named Kung Pao is a parody of Kung Lao and Kitana.
- Kung Lao's fatality was based off of Oddjob's hat from the James Bond film "Goldfinger".
External links[]
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