[Top 10] MK1 Liu Kang Skins (Ranked)

Updated:

15 Dec 2023

Being the former champion of Mortal Kombat, Liu Kang was a major part of the Mortal Kombat franchise from day one. With Liu Kang’s iconic design to his signature flying kick, the monk is one of the most memorable characters of MK alongside characters such as Scorpion and Sub-Zero.

Now Liu Kang has returned not as a human, but as the god of fire! And as expected of a god he also has a divine assortment of Mortal Kombat 1 skins.

#1: Timeline Guardian

You think there’s a timeline where Liu Kang and Kitana have a kid?

Timeline Guardian in action:

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Since Mortal Kombat 1 takes place in a new timeline created by Liu Kang, I think it’s only fitting that we check out Timeline Guardian first. Timeline Guardian is a New Era Liu Kang skin with a palette of light blue and gold. There are no specific requirements needed to obtain Timeline Guardian as you can get it from the Shrine or purchase it from the store.

After restarting history, Liu Kang gave up his power over time and left Geras, who was now his ally, in charge of the Hourglass. The blue and gold of Timeline Guardian immediately brought Geras to mind with his glowing, blue eyes and golden armor. Not only that, but Kronika wore such colors as well and I guess her palette passed onto her creations like with Geras and even the Hourglass.

#2: Mighty Shaolin

Everybody was KUNG FU FIGHTING!

Mighty Shaolin in action:

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Wouldn’t be a Liu Kang skin list without there being one referencing the fire god’s former life as a Shaolin Monk. Mighty Shaolin is an uncommon New Era skin with a palette of red and gray. There are no specific requirements needed to obtain Mighty Shaolin as you can get it from the Shrine or purchase it from the store.

As I said before, Liu Kang was a Shaolin Monk in the previous timeline along with Kung Lao. Now it is Kung Lao and Raiden who are monks while Liu Kang is the god who guides them. It’s really cool seeing the role reversal between Raiden and Liu Kang and also seeing how the two will always be connected no matter what timeline they’re in.

#3: Piety Ablaze

Would you like to hear about our lord and savior, fire god Liu Kang?

Piety Ablaze in action:

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Keeping the godly themes going, the next skin here is Piety Ablaze. This common skin has a palette that contains colors like orange, gray, and brown. There are no specific requirements needed to obtain Piety Ablaze as you can get it from the Shrine or purchase it from the store.

Piety is a word that refers to someone’s devotion to god or religious practices. I think the title of this skin is more of a call-back to Mortal Kombat 9 before Raiden’s final battle. The thunder god was forced to kill Liu Kang when the monk had totally lost faith in Raiden, Liu Kang’s final words ringing through Raiden’s ears before his final confrontation with Shao Kahn.

#4: Blistering Heat

Liu, please, TURN DOWN THE FLAMES!

Blistering Heat in action:

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Just a couple more days till Christmas, but I don’t think Liu Kang got the memo with this skin. Blistering Heat is a common Liu Kang skin with a palette of red, gray, and gold. There are no specific requirements needed to obtain Blistering Heat as you can get it from the Shrine or purchase it from the store.
I think the title of this skin speaks for itself. With his godly fire powers, Liu Kang is able to not only burn his opponents, but the amount of heat he produces can burn someone to complete ashes. Why aren’t Liu Kang and Scorpion best friends?

#5: Bloodflame

Liu Kang, are you practicing Blood Magik again?

Bloodflame in action:

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The last of Liu Kang’s New Era skins we’ll check out is Bloodflame. Bloodflame is a common New Era skin with a palette of red and dark gray/black. There are no specific requirements needed to obtain Bloodflame as you can get it from the Shrine or purchase it from the store.

Honestly when I first looked at this skin, the first thought in mind was Blood Magik. For those who don’t know, Blood Magik is a form of dark magic that can enhance a user’s powers through the blood of the One Being. In the Mortal Kombat X comics, Raiden was temporarily possessed by the power of Blood Magik, and I think that shows just how powerful Blood Magik is if it can easily overwhelm gods like Raiden and maybe even Liu Kang now.

#6: Forever Vigilante

Vigilante? I think the Justice League has rubbed off on you, Liu

Forever Vigilante in action:

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Now here’s the first of the Union of Light skins to be featured on the list, and that skin is Forever Vigilante! The skin has a palette containing colors such as blue, green, and gold. There are no specific requirements needed to obtain Forever Vigilante as you can get it from the Shrine or purchase it from the store.

The Champions of Light are a band of vigilantes on their own. However, I couldn’t help but think about games like Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe and Injustice 2. In those games, Mortal Kombat characters (Raiden and Sub-Zero only in Injustice 2) only faced off against characters from the DC universe such as the Justice League, who are considered vigilantes as well.

#7: Solemn Warrior

Liu Kang, why so serious?

Solemn Warrior in action:

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This rare Union of Light skin is called Solemn Warrior. Solemn Warrior has a palette that includes colors like red, blue, and gold. There are no specific requirements needed to obtain Solemn Warrior as you can get it from the Shrine or purchase it from the store.

Liu Kang has always been a pretty serious character ever since his debut in Mortal Kombat 1. But now that he has the responsibilities of a god, Liu Kang feels that he can’t afford to have the simple pleasures of mortals anymore, like love and joy. Something that was made apparent during the final chapter of MK1 when Liu Kang reunited with his Kitana from the previous timeline.

#8: Righteous Flames

Could you point those flames the other way, please?

Righteous Flames in action:

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One common Union of Light skin here is Righteous Flames. The skin’s palette contains colors like red, orange, and gold. There are no specific requirements needed to obtain Righteous Flames as you can get it from the Shrine or purchase it from the store.

Seeing the title of this skin, it made me think about the differences between Liu Kang and Scorpion. In the past, Scorpion was given his powers by Quan Chi, who resurrected the Shirai Ryu as a creature of pure rage. While Liu Kang has fire powers of his own, it was because of people like Raiden and the Shaolin Monks that the fire god learned discipline and doesn’t allow his powers and emotions to control him.

#9: Fueled by Dignity

You sure he ain’t fueled by barrels of gasoline too?

Fueled by Dignity in action:

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Fueled by Dignity is another common Union of Light skin for Liu Kang. The palette for Fueled by Dignity includes colors such as red, black, and gold. There are no specific requirements needed to obtain Fueled by Dignity as you can get it from the Shrine or purchase it from the store.

As someone who is known as “The Chosen One”, Liu Kang has been carrying a huge weight on his shoulders even before his ascension to a god. Raiden practically filled Liu Kang’s head with how he was destined to save everyone and put a stop to Shao Kahn! And look how THAT turned out (looking at you Mortal Kombat 9).

#10: Bleeding Deity

No, Liu Kang, I thought the whole undead thing was over!

Bleeding Deity in action:

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What better way to end this list than with some awesome nightmare fuel? Here we have Bleeding Deity, a common Union of Light skin with a palette of red and black. There are no specific requirements needed to obtain Bleeding Deity as you can get it from the Shrine or purchase it from the store.

Come on, don’t lie and tell me your first thought when you saw this skin wasn’t that Zombie Liu Kang has made a comeback! Kids today will never know the awesomeness of seeing Liu Kang in his undead form appear in the intro of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. I know Zombie Liu Kang has made a few appearances throughout the series besides in Armageddon, but I just wanted to say how awesome Armageddon’s intro was and still is.

I’m really excited to see Liu Kang’s story unfold in future games! Will he succeed where Raiden failed, or will he allow darkness to take over him like in past timelines? And let’s not forget the most important question: what new skins for Liu Kang will we see in new Mortal Kombat games? It may take some time for us to get the answer to that question, but at least we have these cool Liu Kang skins in Mortal Kombat 1 to satisfy us until the next game!