Pit

T**he Pit I** is an arena in the *Mortal Kombat* series. The arena debuted in the original *Mortal Kombat* and later returned in several sequels.

The Pit lies on Shang Tsung's Island. Kombatants fight on a bridge suspended over a sea of steel spikes, which is the source of death for anyone unlucky enough to be knocked off. Shang Tsung had apparently grown frustrated by the number of people who managed to actually survive the spike-laden floor, and thus employed his loyal bodyguard, Reptile to ensure that none walk away alive as he awaits for them at the bottom.

## Overview

The Pit reappeared in *Mortal Kombat Trilogy*, but instead of moving clouds, the sky took on different appearances in all versions. The Nintendo 64 version featured a star-filled, pitch black background, and in the CD versions, the sky was identical to that of the Pit II in *Mortal Kombat II*. The Pit also reappeared in *Mortal Kombat: Deception*. Few changes were made since its last appearance, although instead of a bridge, the players fight on a square platform. The bridge from the original game can still be seen in the background, however.

The Pit also appears in *Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks*. During the first part of the game, which is very similar to the first *Mortal Kombat*, the player can go from top of the pit to the bottom without dying, although damage is taken should the character touch the spikes. The first Stage Fatality appeared here, where the victor would uppercut (or in *Shaolin Monks*, perform a variety of different moves) their opponent off the bridge, who would land on the spikes.

In *Mortal Kombat: Deception*, you fight on a huge square shaped area which is surrounded on all sides by rows upon rows of sharp spikes. There are mountains on all sides of this fighting area as well as two bridges to the left and right of The Pit. These bridges are held up by massive pillars with spikes shooting out of them. The moon is shining brightly in the background, and paying homage to the first *Mortal Kombat*, there is the shadow of a witch flying past the moon on her broomstick. Once knocked off the platform in which you start, you fall into a bed of very sharp steel spikes.

The Pit makes a comeback once more in *Mortal Kombat (2011)*, though it appears to have been fused with the Pit II as it features lanterns on the bridge as well as a second one parallel to it that features other Kombatants fighting each other. The spikes this time force the liver out of the opponent.

In all of the games, silhouettes occasionally appear in front of the moon. In *Shaolin Monks*, the player character will even point them out, and in the original *Mortal Kombat*, it was necessary for a shadow to be over the moon in order to unlock a battle with Reptile.

The Pit I is the only Pit-type arena that did not require a specific button combo to execute a Stage Fatality. A simple uppercut is sufficient to knock the opponent into the Pit Bottom. In addition, this move technically does not count as a Fatality ("Fatality" will not be announced).

## Stage Successors

### Pit II

**The Pit II** is a stage appearing first in Mortal Kombat II, and returns for *Mortal Kombat Trilogy*, *Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks*, and *Mortal Kombat (2011)*. The stage acts as a successor to Pit I from the original*Mortal Kombat*.

#### Overview

The arena consists of one long bridge at nightfall as well as a second bridge far in the backround. On the original second bridge, two kombatants, Blaze and Hornbuckle face one another (though they only ever remain static). Like its predecessor, players can perform a Stage Fatality on Pit II. The opponent can knocked off only to fall and land on the hard, flat earth. Unlike the previous Pit incarnation, the player is required to input a unique combination depending on the character.

In *Mortal Kombat Trilogy*, the Pit II remains virtually unchanged, but lacks the Stage Fatality players could previously perform there, as it would require unique falling sprites for the non-*MKII* characters.

In *Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks*, the Pit II, under its likely original name **Frozen Peaks**, is the final location of Smoke's quests to unlock *Mortal Kombat II*. It remains visually unchanged. The stage is located in the Living Forest of Outworld in Story Mode, through a portal behind Smoke. The player is required to execute the Stage Fatality on multiple opponents by uppercutting them off the bridge. Blaze and Hornbuckle are also present once again, and are no longer static as they are actually seen fighting one another.

In *Mortal Kombat (2011)*, a new 3D design of the *Mortal Kombat II* arena appears. There is both a day and night version, in addition to a apocalyptic-like version of the stage with meteors and dark clouds in the background. Instead of the long fall depicted in *Mortal Kombat II*, there are now large spikes lining the ground beneathe the stage. Instead of static images of Blaze and Hornbuckle in the original, there are actual fights taking place on the far background bridge between random combatants that include Sareena, Daegon, Kenshi, Reiko and Frost. Considering that all arenas are exclusively inspired by *Mortal Kombat*, *II* and *3*, it is likely that the original Pit arena was simply replaced in favor of the Pit II design while keeping the classic spike impalement finish.

### Pit III

**The Pit III** is the third "brother" of the Pit I and Pit II. The Pit III only appears in *Mortal Kombat 3*, *Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3*, and *Mortal Kombat Trilogy*; it is the final arena when the player has to confront and fight Shao Kahn the Konqueror.

#### Overview

This Pit (also called **Shao Kahn's Pit**) is also Shao Kahn's other secret throne room located inside his fortress. The stage consists of a rather narrow bridge with small spike protruding from its sides. In the background are soul cages containing the captured souls of Earthrealm when Shao Kahn's invasion began, especially the souls of the highest power, such as Earthrealm's leaders as these spirits are protected inside these cages from ever being stolen. On the right end of the arena is Shao Kahn's throne, where the left end is the entrance. Like its predecessors, the Pit III possesses a Stage Fatality where the opponent is knocked off the bridge where a row of spinning blades will rip them to shreds. Just like the Pit II, the player again had to input a special button sequence, different for every character.