With 11 games and several spinoffs, the Mortal Kombat series has existed for well over 30 years now and has featured a whole host of beloved characters that have come to define pop culture. Although the stories weren’t anything to write home about, the lore surrounding the universe was fairly well-constructed and eventually rather convoluted as well, hence warranting a retcon.
After the end of the previous entry to the franchise, it was established that the new and original timelines were both to be reconstructed by a new powered-up god-like version of Liu Kang according to his whims and wishes. This left the fans speculating about the aftermath of his fight with Shang Tsung and his new role as the Protector of Earth Realm.
The Original Timeline Is Altered
Around 2011, the previous timeline was nearing its end by the time Mortal Kombat Armageddon came out and NetherRealm Studios basically sought out a new way to spark some life into the series in order to switch things up and make it feel fresh again.
Several characters met their demise during the events of Armageddon and thus in order to revive them, the dev team thought about retconning the series in a way that didn’t feel forced.
Shao Khan Defeats Blaze
As prophesied by one of the Elder Gods Argus, the realms were doomed and would eventually succumb to the destruction that came as an aftermath of the events of Armageddon. Hence, he had a pyramid constructed in Edenia that would serve as a battleground for a warrior strong enough to challenge the guardian Blaze.
Shao Kahn vanquishes all and defeats Blaze, thus gaining his powers and becoming indisputably strong.
Raiden Sends A Message To The Past
Earth Realm’s protector Raiden is the only Kombatant alive left to challenge the powered-up Shao Kahn’s authority but barely manages to scrape through for most of the fight. Just before receiving the final blow, Raiden uses his amulet to send his past self a vision of what will come to pass, and an ominous message: “He must win.”
Liu Kang’s Rise To Becoming Earth’s Mightiest
The story begins anew, with this altered timeline’s Liu Kang mostly repeating the same sequence of events that led up to his victory. He won the first Mortal Kombat tournament by defeating Goro, Ermac, and Shang Tsung.
He befriends Kitana, Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, and Kung Lao in the same way. He spares Sub-Zero, and this time defeats Quan-Chi too.
Shao Khan’s Invasion
After the events of the first Mortal Kombat, Shao Khan invades Earth Realm and justifies it by having Sindel (his Ednian wife, mother of Kitana) revived by the sorcerer Quan-Chi.
Most of the Earth Realm warriors suffer a gruesome fate as they get slain by the enemy's forces. Shang Tsung and the Tarkattan forces also abduct a substantial number of Shaolin monks from the Wu Shi Academy in order to instigate Earth Realm into participating in another Mortal Kombat tournament.
Liu Kang travels with Kung Lao at the instruction of Jade to Outworld to save Katana and the monks. After confronting Goro they confirm Kitana’s whereabouts, in order to save her with the monks and recruit her as an ally. The duo finds her enchained at the Colosseum and engages in Kombat to save her.
Kung Lao wins the second Mortal Kombat tournament, but Shao Khan interrupts his victory by breaking his neck from behind. An enraged Liu Kang delivers a fiery blow to the emperor and beats him in the process.
Meanwhile, Raiden notices a crack form in his amulet and is confused about the vision he just received from his future self. The duo returned to Earth Realm only to find the devastated populace left behind. Sindel wiped out most of the other heroes on Earth.
Master Betrays Student
Raiden seeks help from Quan Chi immediately after the invasion of Earth Realm by Outworld, in order to gain Netherrealm’s allegiance. He offers Quan-Chi the souls of the fallen warriors of his realm but Shao Kahn already did the same. This was further proof of Raiden’s incompetence and willingness to sacrifice others. Liu Kang was astounded by his proposition and left Raiden to do what he must do on his own.
Upon his return, Liu Kang suspects Raiden of losing his mind and fights him after the latter presumes his visions alluded to Shao Khan’s victory transpiring as a necessity, so that the Elder Gods may pass their judgment on him. The following interaction led up to an altercation between them which wound up frying Liu Kang’s body.
Liu Kang dies after getting his body covered in flames and electricity and leaves Raiden with some haunting words, “You have killed us all.” The Elder Gods intervene and banish Shao Kahn soon after.
Shang Tsung and Quan Chi murdered Liu Kang in the original timeline during the events of Deadly Alliance. They snapped his neck while he was meditating at the Wu Shi Academy.
An Undead Husk Of His Former Self
After dying at the hands of Raiden, Quan-Chi collects Liu Kang’s body and recruits him as his own soldier. The corrupted corpse controlled by Quan-Chi willfully does his bidding in order to exact his revenge on Raiden and usurp the Elder Gods. He escorts Quan-Chi to his lair in order for him to use Shinnok’s amulet to release the former Elder God from Netherrealm.
After a reformed Scorpion finally manages to exact his revenge on Quan-Chi, Liu Kang decides to pledge his allegiance to Shinnok with the rest of his Revenant comrades. Liu Kang eventually Invades Earth Realm with them, but ultimately his plans for revenge get foiled and he is banished back to the Netherrealm after he confronts Raiden.
A Solemn Threat
As soon as Cassie Cage defeats Shinnok, he flees the scene with the other Revenants and eventually assumes control over Netherrealm with Kitana at his side. Raiden corrupted further after taking out Shinnok throws his severed head at the duo and claims to defend Earth Realm at all costs.
Future And Past Collide
Kronika makes an appearance and accidentally revives the warriors from the past. After revealing herself as an ally to the Revenants, they all pledge allegiance to her and help her create a new timeline without Raiden’s existence. Revenant Liu Kang aligns with Kronika after Earth Realm’s invasion and destruction of the Bone Tower.
The Liu Kang from the past aligns himself with Raiden’s cause and during the course of his travels with Kun Lao, winds up facing the older Revenant versions of themselves. Soon after, they travel to Outworld and help rescue Kitana in order to overthrow the reign of Shao Kahn.
Usurping The Previous Kahn
They align themselves with Jade and Kotal Khan, and with Kitana they manage to rally up a force that consists of warriors from both Outworld and Earth Realm. They succeed at taking down the former emperor right before he executes Kotal Khan and Kitana beats her father and gets declared the new ruler of Outworld.
Eventually, young Liu Kang winds up facing off against Raiden himself due to the fact that the thunder god was about to execute a reformed past Scorpion.
Raiden’s Sacrifice - Birth Of A New God
Raiden realized what was happening and told Liu Kang that they were merely puppets destined to fight. After this realization, however, Kronika’s forces suddenly invade Earth Realm and wind up kidnapping the younger version of Revenant Liu Kang. Raiden abandons the use of Shinnok’s amulet since he realized it was corrupting his soul.
Liu Kang absorbs the soul of his younger self and gains a significant power-up. Eventually, he comes face to face with Raiden. After a tumultuous battle between the two, Raiden realizes that yet again Kronika intends to have him kill Liu Kang in order to keep them from joining forces and overthrowing her reign over time.
A New God Is Born
Raiden uses his powers to merge with the Revenant Liu Kang and the soul winds up entering the body of the past Liu Kang. With this new power-up, Liu Kang retains the memories of his past and Revenant self and thus realizes the extent of the danger. He escapes his imprisonment and decides to challenge Kronika for her role as Keeper of Time.
The Final Battle Against Shinnok’s Mother
Now with his new abilities, Fire God Liu Kang takes on Kronika’s forces in order to take back control of time. Kronika uses her powers to turn back time in order to wipe out all resistance, but Liu Kang’s god-like status leaves him immune to the changes she makes to the timeline.
Before he can challenge Kronika however, he fights against Shinnok’s sister Cetreon, the last Elder God left alive. Cetreon ultimately loses the battle and lets her mother absorb her essence in order to give her more strength while facing off against the new Fire God.
A Blast To The Past
Upon confronting Kronika for the last time, Liu Kang and her are both transported to the Prehistoric Age, where they fight to the death. After a grueling battle between the two, Liu Kang uses his new powers to turn Kronika into glass and shatters her body out of existence, including her crown.
Shang Tsung Enters The Stage
After the battle with Kronika, Raiden splits away from Liu Kang’s body stripped of his powers and status as a god. Liu Kang is declared the new defender of Earth Realm, and also the Keeper of Time. He recruits Raiden to help him create a new more peaceful timeline for his fellow warriors.
Shang Tsung comes out through the void he was imprisoned in by Kronika and suddenly makes a bold claim that seems to be true: without the crown, Liu Kang can’t use Kronika’s powers to construct a new timeline. Liu Kang doesn’t believe him, but Raiden, as his advisor, steps in and decides to trust the sorcerer’s words in order to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Necessary Sacrifices
Fujin, Shang Tsung, and Nightwolf then get sent to the past to stop past Liu Kang right before Kitana defeated Shao Khan and assumes control of the Outworld. Evidently, Fire God Liu Kang sacrifices his friends for the “greater good” in order to make sure he gets his hands on Kronika’s crown.
Several warriors die as an outcome of that decision but eventually, Shang Tsung succeeds and his plan is revealed. He wipes out all the forces against him whether foe or ally, and almost takes control over the power of Time with the crown now in his possession. He takes out Kronika and then absorbs her soul.
Shang Tsung Finally Eradicated
God Liu Kang wised up to Shang Tsung’s plan and let him sacrifice the others in order to attain the crown. He comes back to the past from the Dawn of Time and confronts a powered-up Shang Tsung. Liu Kang manages to defeat his former foe once and for all by erasing him from existence entirely.
Now with the crown in hand, a new timeline is constructed under the direction of the Fire God Liu Kang. He’s last seen introducing himself to the Great Kung Lao right before the beginning of a new Mortal Kombat tournament.