Shao Kahn

Shao Kahn
Mortal Kombat character
Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (2005)
First game	Mortal Kombat II (1993)
Created by	Ed Boon and John Tobias
Designed by	John Tobias (early games)
Voiced by	Steve Ritchie (MKII, MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK:SM) John Vernon and Michael Des Barres (MK: DotR) Perry Brown and Patrick Seitz (MKvDCU) Bob Carter (MK2011) Frank Welker (first film)
Motion capture	Jordan Brun (MKvDCU)
Portrayed by	Brian Glynn (MKII, MK3, UMK3, MKT) Brian Thompson (second film) Jeffrey Meek (Konquest) Aleks Paunovic (Legacy)
Fictional profile
Origin	Outworld
Fighting styles	Tai Tzu (MK:D, MK:A) Lui He (MK:D)
Weapon	War Hammer (MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK:D, MK:SM, MK:A)

Shao Kahn (also written as Shao Khan) is a video game announcer and boss introduced in Mortal Kombat II, he is the main antagonist of the video game series and extended franchise. Shao Kahn is depicted as a brutal warlord who is the Emperor of the mystical realm Outworld. Feared for his godlike strength and knowledge of black magic, he seeks to conquer all of the realms of the Mortal Kombat universe and merge them with Outworld.

Shao Kahn is one of most celebrated villains. While he is noted as a difficult boss, publications and critics have praised his design, in-game abilities, and mannerisms—particularly his tactic of mocking and taunting players.

Prior to the events of the game series, Shao Kahn was Outworld's protector and an advisor to the realm's ruler, Onaga. Eventually, Shao Kahn poisoned Onaga, claiming his throne and his armies. Kahn continued to add lesser realms to Outworld, including Edenia, whose queen Sindel and princess Kitana were forced to be Kahn's wife and personal assassin, respectively. Sindel killed herself to escape Kahn, who keeps her soul in Outworld.

Kahn first appears in Mortal Kombat II as the game's final boss and main antagonist. After the crooked tournament Grandmaster Shang Tsung and his warriors lose to Earthrealm in Mortal Kombat Kahn invokes a tournament rematch clause which will allow him to take Earthrealm immediately if he wins. Though he lures Earth's warriors to Outworld to kill them, he is defeated by the Shaolin Monk Liu Kang, which halts his plans.

Mortal Kombat 3 features Shao Kahn as the final boss again. The game's story sees Shang Tsung resurrect Queen Sindel in Earthrealm, allowing Kahn to reclaim her by invading Earth, which is a violation of Mortal Kombat tournament rules. Billions of people are by Kahn stripped of their souls to empower himself and merges Earthrealm with Outworld. Kahn sends extermination squads to kill the Raiden's chosen few who were protected from this fate. Eventually, Liu Kang again trounces Kahn, and he and his Outworld armies retreat, restoring Earth and Edenia to normal.