To celebrate three decades since Mortal Kombat began, this piece spotlights Kitana, one of the series’ most recognizable heroines. The Edenian princess, believed to be Sindel’s daughter, debuted in 1993 and has since appeared in nearly every mainline game. The article traces Kitana’s modern history and highlights notable cosplay interpretations of her iconic image.
Who is Kitana?
Kitana first appeared in Mortal Kombat 2. She stood out for her striking look and distinctive weapons. In combat, the princess of Edenia wields bladed fans for close and long range assaults. The blades enable air throws that open opportunities for powerful follow-up strikes.
In most installments, Kitana is clad in blue. Her outfit ranges from a revealing suit to lighter armor. This article showcases how her costumes have evolved in the latest entries in the series.
Cosplay of Anna Shakhovskaya
In the world of Mortal Kombat, Kitana’s visual identity remains blue across eras, often reflecting a blend of elegance and lethal precision.
In a nutshell on the chronology of the Mortal Kombat series
Before exploring Kitana’s personal arc, it helps to outline the wider timeline. In 2011, the series underwent a reboot that redefined early events. The following sections place Kitana within this revived continuity, where she is treated as canon and whose story is expected to continue in Mortal Kombat 12.
Cosplay of Anastasia Vvedenskaya
Sketches of various cosplays illustrate the ongoing popularity of Kitana across generations.
What is your favorite part of the Mortal Kombat series?
Kitana in Mortal Kombat (2011). Betrayed daughter of Shao Kahn
The reboot’s story mode begins with the tournament setup. Outworld Emperor Shao Kahn seeks to overwhelm Earthrealm. Kitana enters the tournament alongside Jade. She loses to Liu Kang, but is spared by the Shaolin monk. Raiden senses her doubt and directs her to the Flesh Pits, a cursed laboratory where Shang Tsung experiments on living beings. There she encounters Milina for the first time.
Kitana learns she is not Shao Kahn’s biological daughter but his adopted one, a revelation that unsettles his expectations. Shang Tsung creates Milina, a hybrid daughter who will lead armies under the emperor. Kitana faces execution but survives with Jade’s help. Jade seeks aid from Earthrealm warriors, and during the ensuing invasion, Kitana ends up in the Sky Temple and meets her mother Sindel, who has been revived and empowered by Shang Tsung. Sindel defeats most Earthrealm defenders, including Kitana and Jade.
Neither Kitana nor Jade stay down. Quan Chi revives them as revenants, undead puppets with preserved powers but diminished autonomy.
Cosplay by Sofia Letyago
Jade instead helps Kitana escape and seek allies. The two eventually confront the revenant threat together as the Outworld invasion unfolds.
Cosplay Compilations
- Awesome cosplay on Judy Alvarez from Cyberpunk 2077 performed by artists from Russia and beyond
- Best cosplay on A2 from Nier: Automata by model-looking cosplayers
- Excellent cosplay on Elvira by a group of cosplayers
- Canonical and fan service cosplay on Ada Wong from Resident Evil
- Impressive Black Cat cosplay from talented cosplayers
- Notable Rain cosplay from the Bloodrayne series by diverse artists
- Catwoman cosplay in leather suits and lingerie
- Nier Automata’s 2B cosplay widely celebrated
- Jessica Rabbit cosplay from Who Framed Roger Rabbit in red dresses and glamour
Kitana in Mortal Kombat X. Lady of the Underworld
After Shao Kahn’s death, several warriors align with the fallen god Shinnok, ruler of the underworld. Kitana is among the revenants who join the assault on Earth’s power sources. Raiden’s allies thwart Shinnok’s schemes, ending his reign and Quan Chi’s control.
With the necromancer gone, revenants remain dangerous but less like puppets. Kitana and Liu Kang lead the underworld, while Raiden signals new threats to Earth as the story progresses.
Cosplay by Aigera Dunamis
Kitana in Mortal Kombat 11. Outworld Empress
Shinnok’s murder triggers Kronika’s plan to reset time, erasing Raiden from existence. Revenant Kitana and Liu Kang join the scheme, creating alternate timelines and introducing younger variants of familiar characters, including a younger Kitana who is not yet a revenant.
The return of Shao Kahn intensifies the power struggle, and Kitana takes a more active role, ultimately defeating her adoptive father and seizing the throne as empress.
Cosplay by Zhenya Zhuk
The timeline is further reshaped in an add-on story where Sindel returns, challenges Kitana’s legitimacy, and Shao Kahn regains power. In that arc, Kitana and Jade fall, but a final clash with Shang Tsung and Liu Kang foreshadows another potential return for the princess in Mortal Kombat 12.
Cosplay of Anastasia Zelenova
Kitana remains a central symbol of Mortal Kombat with her iconic look, memorable abilities, and a rich backstory. Her fighting style and leadership role make her a favorite in both story campaigns and online battles.
In a broader sense, readers are invited to consider which heroine resonates most and why this character endures in the franchise’s evolving mythos.