Summary
Even though he is more of a side character,Scorpionremains one of the flagship faces of theMortal Kombatfranchise.Mortal Kombat 1rebooted the franchise to create a whole new version of the lore, but something remains the same, such as the presence of Scorpion, even if he isn’t the same Scorpion from the previous eleven games.
The yellow-colored ninja remains a favorite among fans and the developers and, as a result,Mortal Kombat 1is filled with many skins to unlock for him via the story modes, Invasions, Towers Of Time, and the Shrine. Some are simple recolors, while other palettes have cemented themselves as some of the best to unlock in the game.
10Mortal Kombat - Hellfire
Hard To Complete With The Bonafide Classics
Based on the Scorpion seen in Mortal Kombat 2, theHellfireskin is the base palette for the Kameo fighter version of the character. Not only is it a nice throwback to the past for longtime fans of the franchise, but it is the only way to have the original Scorpion, Hanzo Hasashi, in the game, even if he is only a summonable ally.
It shows that despite Mortal Kombat 1being a reboot of the franchise, Netherrealm Studios has not forgotten its roots. The Hellfire skin boasts the more detailed mask and diamond pattern texture straight out of the second game, displaying a surprising amount of detail for a character barely seen on screen.
9New Era - Second Son Of The Lin Kuei
Kuai Liang Is The New Scorpion
InMortal Kombat 1, Scorpion was given a new backstorythanks to the reset of the timeline, with Kuai Liang asSecond Son Of The Lin Kuei, wearing the moniker instead of Hanzo Hasashi. He is Sub-Zero’s brother who eventually becomes his enemy and as a result, he and Sub-Zero share nearly identical designs to their costumes.
Rather than a Japanese ninja, Kuai Liang is redesigned to fit the look of Lin Kuei assassin. His uniform is more akin to a gi, but still has the Scorpion flair such as a skull-like mask and the scorpion tattoo on his arm. It’s a simpler design for a new era of Mortal Kombat, with plenty of room to improve on it in sequels.
8Union Of Light - Conflagrant Master
Fiery Costume That Makes The Grind Worth It
Kuai Liang resembles a warrior rather than an assassin with the Union Of Light skins and theConflagrant Masterfits Scorpion and his powers the most. Along with the burning pauldron, the entire skin is adorned with a fire theme, which suits Scorpion since he wields powerful pyromancy in contrast to Sub-Zero’s cryomancy.
The design of the Conflagrant Master palette brings Scorpion closerto his counterparts from earlier timelines. The loose hairstyle and complementary facemask create an image of a specter who has emerged from the Netherrealm to seek revenge on Sub-Zero.
7Union Of Light - Icefire
The Return Of The Second Sub-Zero
TheIcefirepalette is ideal for those who prefer whenKuai Liang was the second Sub-Zeroin previous timelines. It takes the concept of the Union Of Light design and bombards it with ice and frost while also filling the costume with different shades of blue and white to create a design that makes Scorpion look more like Sub-Zero than Sub-Zero.
The developers at NetherRealm Studios clearly designed Icefire as a nod to past games, featuring Kuai Liang’s signature red scar. He also has his bright, glowing blue eyes, which have always been a major distinguishing feature between Kuai Liang and Bi-Han, who both portray Sub-Zero.
6Deadly Ally - Hellspawn
Scorpion At His Most Terrifying
Part of the appeal ofMortal Kombat 1was the return of multiple characters from the 3D era games such asMortal Kombat: Deadly AllianceandMortal Kombat: Deception. Scorpion was one of several characters to get skins based on their looks in those games. However, fans were surprised that Scorpion was given his alternate costume from Deadly Alliance known asHellspawn.
The Hellspawn palette is arguably Scorpion’s most ominous skin, showing him as a burning corpse, resembling a cross between Ghost Rider and a zombie fromReturn Of The Living Dead. He talks through his teeth as his face is constantly burning, which is brought to life via commendable visuals.
5New Era - Eruptive Rage
Hanzo Hasashi Would Be Proud Of This Skin
From the same set as Conflagrant Master, theEruptive Ragepalette embraces the pyromancy aspect of Scorpion’s character to the umpteenth degree. Red and black decorate the skin from top to bottom, complemented by his signature yellow as the accents.
The tattoos going down his arms resembling flames and dragons are well-designed, with the visuals making them look as realistic as possible. However, the Scorpion tattoo that Kuai has in most of his other costumes being moved to over his eyes to replace his signature scar is a welcome attention to detail.
4MK ‘95 - Original Revenant
The Original Film Is Still Given Love By Developers
Over the last thirty years,the 1995Mortal Kombatmoviehas become a beloved part of the franchise. This is why fans were excited to see theOriginal Revenantpalette and all its variants drop for free inMortal Kombat 1, based on the Scorpion costume worn by Chris Casamassa in that original film.
The metallic mask combined with the uniform of the Original Revenant palette may not be intricate, but it quickly became a favorite skin. It showed that love for the original movie was still strong among fans and even the developers. Sub-Zero and Reptile received their own MK ‘95 palettes for fans to purchase alongside a Smoke palette meant to show what Smoke could have looked like in the film.
3UMK3 - Hell’s Hand
The Third Game’s Designs Have Never Looked Better
One of the most belovedMortal Kombatgames isUltimate Mortal Kombat3 and so, fans were happy to see the designs of the ninjas from that game make a return. TheHell’s Handpalette puts Scorpion in his cat-like cowl and a sectioned costume from that game, but with a few tweaks to help it stand out with the high fidelity ofMortal Kombat 1.
The mask included with the UMK3 palette pack received a surprising redesign. Instead of being a simple facemask, Netherrealm Studios enhanced it with a more angular and slightly armored look. This new design still aligns with the aesthetic seen in theUltimate Mortal Kombat 3sprites while updating it for the modern day.
2Wedding - Formal
Kuai Liang Is Ready For Kombat And Marriage
Thanks to the Khaos Reigns expansion tothe Mortal Kombat 1 story mode, Scorpion was given a whole new look, showing Kuai Liang marrying his beloved Harumi. The Wedding palette is a nice base look for the story, but theFormalvariant provides fans a possible hint as to what Scorpion will look like as grandmaster of his and Harumi’s new clan: the Shirai Ryu.
The Formal palette imbues the Wedding template with the yellows and blacks that Scorpion is known for having. The design of the costume helps him look more like a ninja but still retains his roots as a Lin Kuei in this version of the lore. The scar given to him by his brother is the icing on an already delicious cake.
1Order Of Darkness - Blaze Of Glory
The Titan Scorpion Embraces The Demonic Arachnid Aesthetic
The name Scorpion is taken in a more literal sense from the Order Of Darkness skins. Kuai Liang is given a jaw-dropping design with theBlaze Of Glorypalette, with his body coated in armor resembling the carapace of an actual Scorpion. It even brandishes multiple stingers across his armor to fit the design.
There is a common trend inMortal Kombatgames thatvillains get the best designs. The Order Of Darkness palettes are an example of that, balancing over-the-top theming with well-detailed textures to create a demonic version of Scorpion unlike any other version in the franchise, and thanks to Season Of The Spectre, it can be earned.
