Highlights
- The identity of Mortal Kombat 1's main antagonist has been deliberately kept secret by the developers, leading to speculation about their role in the game.
- The inclusion of characters like Li Mei and Tanya in Mortal Kombat 1's trailers hints at Onaga's possible arrival and suggests that aspects of the Dragon King's story may be incorporated into Liu Kang's new timeline.
- While it remains uncertain whether Onaga will actually appear in the game, fans may have to wait until Mortal Kombat 1 is released to find out for sure if the Dragon King is part of Liu Kang's new era.
Since Mortal Kombat 1 was first unveiled, developer NetherRealm hasn't been coy about who will appear in the game. That said, the first trailer for Mortal Kombat 1 noticeably left out who the main antagonist would be and the developer has remained silent about it. There have been several hints throughout the advertisement, however, that suggest that the antagonist may be Onaga, the Dragon King.
It is clear that not everything is perfect in Liu Kang's new timeline. Mortal Kombat 1's Mileena seems to have gotten the short end of the stick and there are several teases at old conflicts being renewed. Onaga not being mentioned yet might mean nothing, but this seemingly deliberate omission suggests he may have a big role in the upcoming game, which makes one wonder where he is in this timeline.
Onaga's Backstory in the Mortal Kombat Universe
The dragon king was first mentioned in an early cameo in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. Shang Tsung and Quan Chi discovered his dormant army and began the process of resurrecting it in order to conquer Outworld and the the other realms. According to the franchise's lore, Onaga was the original ruler of Outworld who used his invincible army to enforce his will. Shao Khan was a trusted adviser who poisoned Onaga before taking the throne of Outworld for himself.
The character's arrival would be teased in Reptile's Deadly Alliance ending before Onaga made a full appearance in Mortal Kombat: Deception. From beyond the grave, the character manipulated a man named Shujinko to facilitate his resurrection. The character then went after Raiden, Shang Tsung, and Quan Chi, apparently killing them both in the game's opening scene. Realizing what he had done, Shujinko set to defeat the Dragon King and succeeded, casting his soul into the Netherrealm.
Onaga would appear once again in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon having escaped the Netherrealm thanks to a deal he struck with Shinnok. He was apparently killed at some point during the battle at the Pyramid. The new timeline set in Mortal Kombat 9 was notably missing the character and has yet to make a full appearance in the franchise since Armageddon. This, however, may be about to change.
Onaga’s Possible Existence In Liu Kang's New Universe
Early on in the game's advertising hints began to drop that the game's main antagonist would be Onaga. During one of the gameplay reveals for Mortal Kombat 1, a mirror match between Liu Kang was shown. In it, both versions of Liu Kang namedrop Onaga with one from the game's timeline asking his opponent if the Dragon King is in his timeline. The other states that he rules it. While it is possible that this is the developer trolling fans, it certainly gives credence to the idea that Onaga may be coming to the game.
Furthermore, there are some additional hints in the game's trailers. The inclusion of Li Mei and Tanya in Mortal Kombat 1 hints at Onaga's impending arrival. Both characters had a connection to the Dragon King in Mortal Kombat's original timeline and it stands to reason that some of these story bits may have found their way into Liu Kang's new era.
Mortal Kombat 1's main antagonist remains one of its best-kept secrets but there are hints for those who know where to look. Onaga has been absent from the franchise for some time and the new game could be the perfect time to bring him back. It could also be that the developers have been deliberately misleading gamers and have some other reveal up their sleeves. Until the game is released or another trailer exposes him, fans will simply have to wait and see if Onaga is in Liu Kang's new timeline.
Mortal Kombat 1 will release on September 19 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
