Sub-Zero is the name of two fictional characters in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Warriors from the fictional Lin Kuei clan, the two possess the ability to control ice in many forms. Characters by the name are the only fighters to appear in every main installment of the series, along with the action-adventure spin-off Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (1997).
In the games, the mantle of Sub-Zero is used by brothers Bi-Han () and Kuai Liang (). Bi-Han debuted as Sub-Zero in the original Mortal Kombat game before appearing in subsequent installments as Noob Saibot. Kuai Liang took over the mantle in Mortal Kombat II (1993) and served as the franchise's main Sub-Zero up to Mortal Kombat: Onslaught (2023). In Mortal Kombat 1 (2023), Bi-Han returns as Sub-Zero, while Kuai Liang becomes Scorpion.
One of the Mortal Kombat franchise's signature characters, Sub-Zero has appeared in various related media outside of the games. He has received critical acclaim for his appearance, abilities, and Fatality finishing moves.
Character creation
Sub-Zero was first conceived by Mortal Kombat co-creator John Tobias as a mysterious character named simply "Ninja"Here is the very first sketch of MK’s ninjas... , John Tobias on Twitpic. and inspired by the book China's Ninja Connection by Li Hsing, which "posits historical evidence for the existence of the Lin Kuei and their influence on the Japanese ninja. I was aware of there being some controversy about the author’s claims. So when we split the character in two for palette swaps, I thought it would be fitting that one was of Chinese origin and the other Japanese to kind of embody the argument." According to Tobias, the original "Hunter&Hunted concept was going [to be] about a ninja escaping from his clan and hunted by another member. We used that later for SZ in MK3." Sub-Zero's early name was Tundra.
In his early appearances, Sub-Zero was primarily portrayed and voiced by non-Asian actors. Midway Games later explained Sub-Zero's rather occidental appearance for a Chinese assassin by giving him a white mother. According to this new backstory, his father had a wife, two sons, and a daughter while he lived in America to hide his personal role as an assassin for the Lin Kuei. Midway Games programmer Josh Tsui portrayed the unmasked Sub-Zero (Kuai Liang) in the character's Mortal Kombat II ending. Designs Sub-Zero's early costumes have been very simple due to technical limitations. Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon noted that Kuai Liang's counterpart from DC Comics is Batman as both are "dark, mysterious, brooding characters". Since Mortal Kombat 3, Sub-Zero has had a scar running down from his forehead and across his right eye as a mark of death. The scar was originally red, and later changed to blue in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance as a result of Sub-Zero's enhanced powers. Tobias said that Sub-Zero was unmasked in Mortal Kombat 3 in order to stir up fan speculation about the character's backstory. The new Sub-Zero made his official debut on the cover of GamePro April 1995 issue, with Turk's red outfit tinted blue (as it was for the game), but the photo used was a reversed negative, as his scar was over his left eye.Mortal Kombat 3 Cover - GamePro, April 1995.
Mortal Kombat and Deadly Alliance states that Sub-Zero is 6 feet 2 inches tall; in recent games such as Mortal Kombat X and Mortal Kombat 11, his sprite appears to be similar to most characters. In Mortal Kombat: Deception, his scar has faded to the point where it can no longer be seen. He now wore an armored uniform heavily inspired by Dynastic era Chinese battle armor, though it was often criticized by fans as being too reminiscent of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles villain, the Shredder. However, Sub-Zero's alternate uniform was very reminiscent of Chinese culture, even featuring Sub-Zero without a cowl and a Qing dynasty-era hairstyle. In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, Sub-Zero reverts to his masked costume from Deadly Alliance, retaining the scar, which is not part of his alternate costume (which is the primary one from Deception). Since Deadly Alliance, Sub-Zero is the only character who has shown considerable signs of aging. Concept art from Deadly Alliance depicted him with a graying, receding hairline, and a more pale and gaunt face, while his scar was now blue and his forearms frozen over. Although Sub-Zero originally had blue eyes, they turned white after he obtained the Dragon Medallion in the game. Sub-Zero's appearance in Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks was one of the most revised ones from the title. Character lead Mark Lappin did almost ten passes on his design; producer Shaun Himmerick noted that "we went through literally 5-6 heads and styles of head costume on him" and commented that Sub-Zero's design in Mortal Kombat was difficult to make although most people called it "simple". In the end, the staff was satisfied with his final look in the game as it reminisces them to his classic outfit. His appearance in Injustice 2 was redesigned by Jim Lee.
Gameplay When he first appeared in the first Mortal Kombat, Sub-Zero featured only two special moves: his ice blast and sliding kick. These moves have become Sub-Zero's trademark since then, being featured in every game that Sub-Zero has appeared in (Mortal Kombat II and subsequent games feature a younger Sub-Zero whose identity is Kuai Liang). Mortal Kombat II added his ground freeze move, and two new Fatalities including the now-famous one where he would freeze and shatter the victim. According to Boon, Sub-Zero's Freeze was originally omitted from the game in place of the Ice Shower, but was brought back in the next revision following fan feedback at a local arcade. Sub-Zero's Predator-inspiredReyan Ali, Ed Boon's 12 Biggest Mortal Kombat Memories , Complex.com, September 12, 2012 Fatality, the "Spine Rip," is considered by Boon to be his favorite Fatality from the first game as well as the most controversial.
Some home versions of the first game replaced the "Spine Rip" with another finishing move due to its violent content, for instance the SNES port had a freeze and shatter finishing move due to Nintendo's "family friendly" policies (this tame fatality received a positive reception so it was added to Sub-Zero's arsenal in the sequels). Unlike other returning characters whose moves remained intact, the spine rip Fatality was not carried over to Mortal Kombat II and Mortal Kombat 3, (an explanation is because Kuai Liang was heroic compared to his villainous brother Bi-Han). The Nintendo 64 port of Mortal Kombat Trilogy gives Sub-Zero's special techniques and finishing moves to the classic masked version, due to the fact the N64's cartridge format had memory restrictions that did not allow the use of both masked and unmasked characters. The developers had to remove the "Spine Rip" from Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe as that game was aimed at a younger audience. Sub-Zero also gained a teleporting move in the game in which he freezes himself and falls back to the ground, appearing behind the foe.
Appearances Main Mortal Kombat games Bi-Han / Sub-Zero first appears as a playable character in Mortal Kombat (1992). A cryomancer and warrior of the Chinese Lin Kuei clan, he is sent to kill Shang Tsung, host of the eponymous Mortal Kombat tournament. However, Bi-Han is revealed to have been killed by the specter Scorpion following the events of the game. From there, Kuai Liang takes the mantle of Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat II (1993) and tries to complete Bi-Han's mission. Kuai Liang would prove himself to be markedly more compassive and even heroic than his brother, which would lead Scorpion to keep him under a watchful eye rather than blindly continue his vendetta. In Mortal Kombat 3 (1995), Kuai Liang leaves the Lin Kuei after the clan begins converting their warriors into cyborgs and is recruited by Earthrealm's protector Raiden to defeat the tyrant Shao Kahn. Additionally, an alternate playable character called "Classic Sub-Zero" appears in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1995) and Mortal Kombat Trilogy (1996). Initially believed to be Bi-Han, he is an unidentified warrior who emerges to assassinate Shang Tsung.
In Mortal Kombat 4 (1997), Raiden summons Kuai Liang to help him defend Earthrealm against the fallen Elder God Shinnok, during which he re-encounters Scorpion after the latter freed himself from the sorcerer Quan Chi's control. In Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (2002), Kuai Liang becomes the new leader of the Lin Kuei and takes on an apprentice named Frost, who tries to betray him. In Mortal Kombat: Deception (2004), Kuai Liang joins forces with the warrior Shujinko, among others, to combat the Dragon King Onaga and finds Bi-Han, who had been converted into the undead wraith Noob Saibot. In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (2006), Sub-Zero faces the warrior Taven, who aids him in defeating Noob Saibot so the former can heal him. Kuai Liang appears as a playable character in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (2008).
Both Bi-Han and Kuai Liang appear in Mortal Kombat (2011). Despite Raiden's alterations to the timeline, Bi-Han is still killed by Scorpion through Quan Chi's manipulation and converted into Noob Saibot, leading to Kuai Liang / Tundra becoming Sub-Zero. While attempting to avenge Bi-Han, Kuai Liang is converted into a cyborg, but joins Raiden's side upon regaining his mind. Kuai Liang is later killed by Shao Kahn's queen Sindel and kept by Quan Chi as an undead revenant. In Mortal Kombat X (2015), Kuai Lang is restored to life by Raiden and becomes the Lin Kuei's new grandmaster. In Mortal Kombat 11 (2019), Kuai Liang assists Earthrealm's warriors in fighting the keeper of time Kronika.
In Mortal Kombat 1 (2023), Fire God Liu Kang creates a new timeline, where Bi-Han becomes Sub-Zero once more while Kuai Liang became Scorpion. Both appear as playable characters while an unidentified Sub-Zero appears as an assist character, or "Kameo Fighter". Liu Kang sends Bi-Han, Kuai Liang, and their adopted brother Smoke to investigate Shang Tsung. However, Shang Tsung sways Bi-Han to his side. Kuai Liang and Smoke escape to help Liu Kang stop Shang Tsung before heading to Japan to found the Shirai Ryu clan and replace the Lin Kuei as Earthrealm's protectors. In the Khaos Reigns DLC, Bi-Han leads the Lin Kuei in an attack on the Shirai Ryu to test Sektor's powered suits, only to be captured by Titan Havik and converted into Noob Saibot. After being rescued, Bi-Han reluctantly joins forces with Liu Kang to stop him.
Spin-offs Mortal Kombat games In Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, Bi-Han embarks on a quest to aid Quan Chi in exchange for his help in destroying the Shirai Ryu, but later steals Shinnok's amulet under Raiden's guidance before participating in the first Mortal Kombat tournament.
In an alternate take on Mortal Kombat IIs events depicted in Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (2005), in which Kuai Liang appears as a boss and unlockable player character, he briefly allies himself with Liu Kang and Kung Lao while searching for Bi-Han, who had been transformed into the undead Noob Saibot.
Kuai Liang appears as a playable character in Mortal Kombat: Onslaught (2023).
Other guest appearances Furthermore, he appears as a guest character in NBA Jam Tournament Edition (1995, although he was removed from later versions of the game), The Grid (2000),Chris Antista, The Top 7… Most absurd Mortal Kombat offshoots , GamesRadar, April 12, 2011 and MLB Slugfest: Loaded (2004) as well as a downloadable playable character in Injustice 2 (2017). An unlockable outfit based on Sub-Zero was added to Fortnite Battle Royale (2017).
An unidentified Sub-Zero makes a cameo appearance in Injustice: Gods Among Us (2013) while a character inspired by Sub-Zero called Sub-273 appears as the final boss of Punch Club (2016).
Other media