Raiden

**Raiden** (雷電) is one of the few original characters in the first *Mortal Kombat* game, and in addition, is the one of the few characters to have appeared in every generation of Mortal Kombat games as a playable character.

## About Raiden

Raiden is the eternal God of Thunder, protector of Earthrealm, and arguably one of the most powerful characters in all of Mortal Kombat. After the second defeat of Shinnok, he ascended to the status of Elder God. Being a god, he possesses many supernatural abilities, such as the ability to teleport, control lightning and fly. As a god, he is used to thinking in terms of eternity rather than normal humanlifespans, and so he has a radically different outlook on life. This is not to say he is incapable of understanding human values and psyches.

## Appearance

lthough being formless and ethereal, Raiden often takes form on mortal planes. As such, he appears as a fully-grown man wearing predominately white robes and a blue vest, his face usually shadowed by a straw hat. The effect is enhanced by his glowing blue eyes that radiate with electricity and long white hair, befitting of his god-like status. In *Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance*, one of his outfits is finished by a flowing blue cape. Lastly, his power is so great that he constantly radiates with lightning energy, electricity constantly dancing and crackling around his being. In *Deception* and *Armageddon*, his visage is warped by Onaga's malevolent aura when he sacrifices himself, reforming as a dark warrior dressed in black robes and dark armor, his eyes changed from a soothing blue to a belligerent red. His cape was changed to a subdued red and appears tattered at the end. Due to the events of *Mortal Kombat (2000) of Aethranorioum Multiverse*, this change was rendered null. However, he seems to return to this form in the *Mortal Kombat Future (Comic Book)*, though now he wears Shinnok's Amulet.

## Bios

* **Mortal Kombat** - *"Raiden is the God of Thunder and Protector of Earthrealm. Ageless and wise beyond measure, he leads Earthrealm's mortals in the endless battle against the forces of darkness. When Shao Kahn, Emperor of Outworld, threatened to merge his realm with Earthrealm, an overwhelmed Raiden implored the Elder Gods to give Earthrealm a fighting chance. Thus the Mortal Kombat tournament was created. For millennia Shao Kahn has been kept at bay, but nine consecutive losses to Goro have eroded hope that Earthrealm can be saved. Determined to prevent Armageddon, Raiden tirelessly quests to find a champion worthy of Mortal Kombat."*

## Trademarks

* His conical, straw Chinese coolie (harvester) hat is one of Raiden's most recognizable features.
* His name is sometimes spelled "Rayden" in the video game series.
* He has electricity running across his body in *MK*, *MK4 / Gold*, *MK: Deadly Alliance*, and *MK9*, while wearing his alternate outfit.
* Raiden became notorious for yelling randomly while performing his Torpedo move. Fans originally believed that he was yelling Japanese phrases. Interestingly, others thought that he was actually speaking English, and thus Raiden's phrases were miselucidated as "Get back in the car!", "Gimme ma money!", "Freddy bought a car!" or even "Your mother's from L.A.!" Midway soon revealed that Raiden was merely speaking gibberish and not actual Japanese or English words. This was featured in the VH1 program *I Love 1992*, when Edwin McCain thought Raiden said "Santa Monica!" (Raiden was voiced by Midway employee Jon Hey in the first two games.)
* A saya (katana scabbard) appears on two of Raiden's secondary costumes. However, he is never seen using the sword.
* He has glowing white, occasionally blue-tinted eyes. As Dark Raiden, however, he has red-tinted eyes.

## Kombat Characteristics

### Power and Abilities

Raiden is the god of thunder and lightning, and as such, he is immensely powerful and has complete control over electricity. He usually keeps behind the scenes in the games and rarely fights, although one notable exception was in *Deception*, where he fought both Quan Chi and Shang Tsung, and was able to hold his own for most of the fight. Using the element of lightning, Raiden can fire torrents of lightning or concentrated blasts, in addition to being able to form fully fledged thunderstorms as depicted in *Deadly Alliance*. He also has the ability to fly, which he uses to fling himself at an opponent and shove them into a wall. In *Mortal Kombat Future*, it is shown that he can also use electricity to heal others. He also has the ability to teleport to another destination by transforming his body into an ethereal state. Despite his godly status, he is not indestructible and has limits. Raiden, like any other god, will have his powers taken away should he enter a domain not native to him, with Outworld being the most prominent example of this. His powers can return to him once he returns however. It is also because of his godly status that he is forbidden to directly participate in any Mortal Kombat tournaments unless he takes on a mortal form.

## Movelist

### Signature Moves

* **Electricity:** Raiden sends a bolt of lightning flying at his opponent. In the Thunder God variation, it can be charged for more damage, and this charge can also be dash canceled.
	+ In *MK:A*, the enhanced version is called **Bolt**. In *MKF*, Raiden fires two bolts, one behind and one in front of him. The one behind him wraps around the map hitting the opponent in the back.
	+ In *MKvsJU*, the enhanced version electrocutes the enemy, also slightly suspending them in the air while doing so, and can't be ducked. In the Thunder God variation it can no longer be charged, but can be stopped in place at any point of the arena after being fired by spending a second part of the Super Meter on it.
* **Electric Fly:** Raiden flies at his opponent and pushes them against the wall. He can perform the move in the air.
	+ In *MK:U*, the enhanced version is called **Thunder Fly**. In *MK 2000*, this increases the attack's speed and damage.
	+ In *MKII*, the enhanced version does more damage and has armor. In the Displacer variation, both **Electric Fly** and **Thunder Fly** can be enhanced after Raiden has grabbed the opponent, tossing them backwards and teleporting behind them to strike them down with a punch.
* **Electrocute:** Raiden grabs his opponent and holds them in the air while electrocuting them, then punches them to the ground.
	+ The enhanced version is called **Shocker** and does more damage, has armor and launches the opponent into the air, allowing for a juggle.
* **Rising Thunder**: Raiden rushes upwards to strike his opponent with a lightning-charged punch.
	+ The enhanced version is called **Thunder Strike** and has armor. After the initial uppercut, Raiden will slam the opponent to the ground with a hammerfist, bouncing them off the ground and allowing for a juggle.

####  Thunder God

Gains additional hits to electrical attacks and Enhanced Lighting. Lightning surges throughout his gauntlets.

* **Vicinity Blast:** Raiden performs a closer range version of his lightning, but with more knock back and a wind effect to it, which can be charged up.
	+ Both in *MK:A* and *MKF*, the enhanced version is called **Vicinity Burst**. In *MKvsSJU*, this knocks the opponent back with increased damage.
	+ In *MKII:O*, it will hit enemies around Raiden as well with a powerful electric explosion that irradiates from his body. It also has armor.
* **Projectile Cancel:** Raiden cancels out his **Lightning** or **Vicinity Blast** when charging it.
* **Reverse Electricity:** Raiden sends a bolt of lightning in the other direction hitting an opponent from behind.
* **Electric Slide:** Raiden slides across the floor and hits his opponent with his shoulder, electrocuting them in the process.

#### Displacer

Gains the use of Teleport and Sparkport. Lightning surges throughout his body.

* **Electroport:** At will, Raiden vanishes and reappears behind his opponent.
	+ In *MK:D*, the enhanced version is called **Sparkport**. It will have Raiden appear behind the opponent and quickly teleporting back in front.
	+ In *MKII:O*, Raiden will recover after the teleport faster, allowing him to punish enemies more quickly. Alternatively, he can wait some time before reappearing, completely vanishing for some moments.

#### Master of Storms

Gains the ability to place Static Traps. Glowing symbols and electricity emits from his hat, which has been altered to a different variant.

* **Static Trap**: Raiden places an orb of electricity in front of himself that will last for about ten seconds.
	+ If the forward or backward **Static Trap** is enhanced, Raiden will instantly shoot both ones, and they will connect into an horizontal currrent.

### Other Moves

* **Throw**: Raiden grabs the opponent by the neck to force them against the ground, and then fires streams of lightning to send them sliding backwards across the floor.
* **Reverse Throw:** Raiden punches his opponent several times before electrocuting them. He then blasts them he teleports behind them and knocks them to the ground with an electrical blast.

### X-Ray Move

* **Shock Therapy:** Raiden sends a beam in close range (when and if it connects), blinding the opponent. Then he teleports behind the opponent and elbows their back damaging their spine, heart, and ribs. Raiden then teleports in front of them and delivers a chop directly at his opponent's forehead, damaging the skull. Raiden finally sends a bolt of electricity through his opponent's head, making them fall down.

## Finishing Moves

### Fatalities

* **Electrocution I:** Raiden grabs his opponent, holds them a few feet off the ground, and sends electricity into their body, which causes them to explode.
* **Staff Shock**: Raiden calls for his staff, lodges the end into his opponent's chest, lifts them up and shocks them until they're dead. This was also Raiden's first in-game use of a staff.

### Brutalities

* **Super Shocker:** Raiden grabs and **Electrocutes** his opponent until their head explodes.
* **Dark Force:** Raiden does his **Throw**, slamming the opponent and delivering electricity charges that split their legs apart.
* **Overload:** Raiden sends electricity charges at the opponent, teleports, and then does it again. The last electricity charge bisects them at the waist as both halves of their body fall on the ground. (*Thunder God Variation*)
* **Inside You:** Raiden does an enhanced **Electric Fly**, flying into his opponent, throwing them and disappearing. However, the opponent is shocked to be pulsating electricity and screams before exploding, with Raiden taking their position. (*Displacer Variation*)
* **Power Outage:** Raiden creates a **Static Trap** that zaps off the limbs of his opponent. (*Master of Storms Variation*)

## Sequences

### Battle Intro

Raiden teleports onto the stage and says, “Thunder take you!”, whilst shooting lightning blasts from both sides.

### Victory Pose

Raiden flies up into the dark clouds, crosses his arms, and says “May the Elder Gods watch over you.”

## Endings

* **Mortal Kombat** - *"Raiden knews was being over past haves a problem. He have some visions from alternate timeline of Mortal Kombat, but not it few might be search to Shao Kahn must win, but if also mistake. Elder Gods will never trust Raiden but is telling the true about alternate timeline, but they can't. By the most important plans, Forces of Light have ideas to help each universes can travel what they was about Shao Kahn, he knews the rage. They enters to the future at someone helps while Mike Runner knews it searching in Draconianverse, somepoint there is Eternal Mystery, complains the Elder Gods who brought the problems about Shinnok, at the Fallen God, many troubles for Liu Kang blew it can't listen. That's is even respect for present with past and future of the Aethranorioum. At this time, Raiden is now to be trust of all realms who decides ago for Great Kung Lao."*

## Trivia

* Raiden is one of the earliest instances of a playable god in a fighting game.
* Raiden's *MK vs DC Universe* ending implies that he has become like Ultraman, Earth-3's Superman, where his powers are inverted (e.g. Kryptonite fuels his powers, solar radiation from a yellow star weakens them).
* Raiden's name is written as 雷電 in both Traditional Chinese and Japanese and 雷电 in Simplified Chinese. It's pronounced as "raiden" (phonetically) in Japanese and "léidiàn" (Pinyin) in Mandarin Chinese. This is simply the Chinese word for "thunder and lightning" that was borrowed in Japanese together with the Chinese characters. The first character (雷) in this word means "thunder", the second one (電/电) now mostly means "electricity" (in ancient times it meant "lightning").
* In *Mortal Kombat: Armageddon*, one of Raiden's fatalities is called "**Just A Scratch**". This is a reference to *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*, in which the Black Knight fights King Arthur and is dismembered, the Black Knight says "Tis but a scratch". Raiden also severs the opponent's limbs and leaves the head like in the film. Unlike the film however, where King Arthur decides to just leave the limbless Black Knight be and go, Raiden picks up the dismembered body and smashes the head in to kill them.
	+ This is the second fatality to reference a scene from *Monty Python and the Holy Grail* as Kung Lao's "Unfriendly Rabbit" fatality from *Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks* is likely a reference to the Rabbit of Caerbannog from the film.