Bio:
- Name: Shang Tsung
- Age: 1000+
- Weight: 95 kg
- Height: 5’11
- Gender: Male
- Resides: Outworld
- Race: Human
- Eye Color: white/brown
- Status: Dead
- Alignment: Neutral Evil
Shang Tsung is a powerful and deadly sorcerer capable of shapeshifter. He needs to consume souls in order to sustain his health and life. The sorcerer is the epitome of cunning and decadence, as symbolized by his preference for lavish parties, grand palaces, and stylish clothing. Unlike the crude Shao Kahn, this bombast is a façade, disguising Tsung’s true intellectual and mental sophistication. His arch-nemesis is Liu Kang, but throughout his unnatural lifespan, he has earned the hatred of many others, including Kung Lao and Kenshi.
Shang Tsung’s allegiance to Shao Kahn granted him the status of a free roaming sorcerer. He is able to move between realms without detection by the Elder Gods or local deities, an ability which has granted him many opportunities to commit atrocities over the centuries. Only Delia, Shinnok, Shao Kahn, and Quan Chi can match Shang Tsung’s skills as a sorcerer.
Storyline
Shang Tsung’s past remains shrouded in mystery, with his exact origins never specified and unclear at best. According to some sources, he was originally a human from Earthrealm. Tsung participated in the Mortal Kombat Tournament, but he cheated in one of the battles. Breaking the sacred rules is considered treason against the represented realm and the Elder Gods. The sorcerer was sentenced to death by the tournament judges. The Dark Emperor Shao Kahn took advantage of the evil in his heart and made a deal with Shang Tsung; that he would be spared if he swore allegiance to him. Tsung agreed and was taken to Outworld and was trained by the Emperor in the Black Arts.
When Tsung committed the atrocity of taking a soul, Shang Tsung was cursed by the Elder Gods. Not only would he have to kill his enemies, but take their souls as well. Only in this way would he hold off his grim fate of aging rapidly and dying prematurely. As a side effect of him consuming the souls of others, Tsung was able to access their memories and knowledge.
Tsung entered the Mortal Kombat tournament, quickly overcoming all competition and becoming Grand Champion. How long he retained the title is unclear. It is apparent that the overconfident Tsung would eventually have it taken from him by the legendary Shaolin warrior monk, the Great Kung Lao.
Shang Tsung returned years later, now appearing far older, after the mysterious death of one of the tournament’s three Grandmasters. He brought with him his greatest student, the Shokan prince, Goro. He had been ordered by the ruler of Outworld, to finally bring about the winning streak in Mortal Kombat necessary to weaken the dimensional gates. After a valiant but doomed fight, Kung Lao was defeated by Goro and killed. Tsung consumed his soul, and the Outworld’s domination of the Mortal Kombat tournament had begun.
Over the next 500 years, as Goro remained undefeated, the tournament fell further into Tsung’s depraved hands. He became the sole Grandmaster, and the tournament came to be held on his private island, a zone in between Earth and the Outworld.
Shang Tsung made contact with another sorcerer, Quan Chi. He had become aware of Quan Chi’s quest for Shinnok’s amulet, the location of which was known only to the Shaolin Monks. As a result of consuming the Great Kung Lao’s soul, Shang Tsung had learned of it. In exchange for Quan Chi’s, and Shinnok’s aid in completing a task for the Emperor Shao Kahn, he gave the location of the Map of Elements. The sorcerer failed to mention however, that no sorcerer could enter the Temple of Elements where it was stored.
Near the end of this time period, Tsung learned of the swordsman Kenshi. Realizing that Kenshi’s pride could easily be exploited, Tsung disguised himself as an old man named Song. He praised Kenshi for his ability, telling him that he deserved a sword worthy of his skill. He then led Kenshi through an ancient underground labyrinth, and stopped before a deep well, covered by a large stone. Tsung informed Kenshi that the sword lay within. Once Kenshi removed the lid, the souls of the swordsman’s warrior king ancestors were released, blinding Kenshi. Tsung revealed his true self, proceeded to consume the souls and left Kenshi to die, not knowing the swordsman would survive to become a bitter enemy. Tsung also sparred with Shujinko to determine whether or not he would allow him to enter the tournament. The spar ended in a draw with Tsung granting Shujinko permission to enter. Shujinko did not do so, as he was on a quest.
Mortal Kombat
During the tenth Mortal Kombat tournament, the final victory that would enable Shao Kahn to conquer Earth, a Shaolin Monk defeated Goro, breaking the winning streak. Liu Kang was then challenged by Shang Tsung in combat to restore the honor of the once-sacred tournament. Liu Kang prevailed, and Shang Tsung fled to Outworld.
Mortal Kombat 2
Dragged before Shao Kahn, Shang Tsung begged for his life. He told the tyrant that if they challenged Earthrealm to Mortal Kombat in Outworld, they would have to accept or forfeit. Kahn agreed to this plan, and restored Tsung’s youth. The tournament served as a diversion, Shao Kahn could continue with his own scheme, after 10,000 years in the making. With the restoration of life to his beloved former Queen, Sindel. During the tournament, despite having his youth restored and after a long brutal fight, Tsung lost to Liu Kang, this time in front of Kahn.
Mortal Kombat 3
After Shao Kahn’s defeat at the hands of Liu Kang, Shang Tsung finished the process of Sindel’s resurrection with the aid of his cult of Shadow Priests. Thanks to the help of Quan Chi and Shinnok, her soul would indeed be resurrected, but in Earthrealm, tainted by evil. When Queen Sindel was revived in Earthrealm, Shao Kahn could reach across the realms and reclaim her, forcefully merging Earthrealm with Outworld. Shang Tsung led one of Kahn’s extermination squads to hunt down the fighters that Raiden had protected. Despite being granted more power than ever before, Tsung lost to Liu Kang again. Upon Kahn’s defeat, Shang Tsung retreated with him back to Outworld, when the merger was reversed. Tsung would then be imprisoned and tortured for his failure to help his master merge Earthrealm into Outworld. He was periodically released to do Kahn’s bidding, but was only released after regaining Kahn’s favor.
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
A few years later, Shang Tsung found Quan Chi in his palace courtyard, fighting Scorpion. When Quan Chi defeated him, he gave the fellow sorcerer an offer. If Tsung helped him revive the lost army of the Dragon King by means of his ability to transplant souls, he would open a “Soulnado” to the Heavens. This would give him an endless supply of souls to feed on. Tsung accepted, and together, they formed the Deadly Alliance. In order to carry out their scheme, they first needed to remove the two largest obstacles in their way, Shao Kahn and Liu Kang.
Shang Tsung introduced Quan Chi to Shao Kahn, vouched for his loyalty, and then they attacked and apparently killed him. After killing him and accepting Kano’s offer to serve them, they traveled through a portal only known to sorcerers and deities. They arrived in Earthrealm and headed to the Wu Shi Academy. Shang Tsung disguised himself as Kung Lao and approached Liu Kang. As Liu practiced his kata, Shang revealed his true form and attacked. Although Liu had the upper hand, Quan Chi struck from behind, giving Shang the opportunity to finally take his revenge on Liu Kang by breaking his neck and taking his soul.
Shang Tsung did not fully trust Quan Chi. Upon returning to Outworld, he allied himself with two Oni known as Drahmin and Moloch who had escaped from the Netherrealm. The treacherous sorcerer gave them an offer. If Quan Chi shows any sign of betrayal, who the two despised for abandoning them in the infernal pits after promising to free them, he would be theirs to do with as they wished.
The Deadly Alliance soon commanded Kano’s troops to force a small Outworld village to construct a new palace to house the Soulnado. When one of the citizens, Li Mei, attacked Kano, they offered to free her village if she could win a tournament they would hold. In addition, they approached Mavado, offering him a deal as well. He could earn the right to fight and kill Kano in exchange for eliminating Kenshi, who had been spying on Tsung. Mavado accomplished his mission, and the Alliance granted him his wish. Li Mei, having won the local tournament, demanded her reward. Shang Tsung instead started transferring her soul to a mummified soldier of Onaga’s army. It was at this time that the forces of Earthrealm, led by Raiden, attacked. Li Mei was rescued by Bo’ Rai Cho, who escaped with her, but the remainder of the warriors assaulted the Alliance.
Mortal Kombat: Deception
The duo defeated Earthrealm’s champions and eventually triumphed over Raiden as well. Their victory, however, would not be savored. Shang Tsung’s lust for power and Quan Chi’s suspicion finally came to light. The two fought, and Quan Chi emerged the victor. But immediately after defeating Tsung, he was confronted by a reborn Onaga, who seemed to shrug off his most powerful blasts with ease. Tsung regained consciousness, and recognizing the Dragon King to be an immediate threat, assisted Quan Chi in attacking him. Bare moments later, the thunder god did as well, but their combined efforts could not stop the former Outworld ruler. He had come to reclaim Shinnok’s amulet and his ancient army. In Raiden’s ensuing last-ditch attempt at victory through a self-sacrificial blast, Shang Tsung was caught in the blast, killing him. The thousands of souls he had consumed over the years were released, including the soul of Liu Kang.
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Tsung’s own soul was magically drawn to Outworld, where he was delivered to Shao Kahn. Tsung pledged his soul to the emperor ages before; this agreement was binding, even beyond death. Kahn provided Tsung with a host body and then allied with him in taking his kingdom from Mileena. Although Tsung is bound to serve Kahn, an opportunity to free himself arises when he discovers Quan Chi is alive. Quan Chi brings word from Shinnok of a plan to take a great power for the Forces of Darkness. Tsung realizes if he were to take the power for himself, he could sever his bond with Shao Kahn. Until his opportunity arises, Tsung continues to feign loyalty to the emperor while redirecting suspicion to other members of the alliance.
Taven spots the sorcerer forming an alliance with Onaga, Shao Kahn, and Quan Chi. The group may prevent the Forces of Light from obtaining the power that Blaze possessed. Shang Tsung fights for the Forces of Darkness in the Battle of Armageddon.
While fighting against the Forces of Light, Shang Tsung was the one to almost reach the top of Pyramid of Argus. He was confronted by Liu Kang’s corpse. Despite gaining the upper hand and throwing him off the pyramid, Liu Kang’s corpse eventually caught up with Shang Tsung. The corpse held him in place with his hooks before he could reach Blaze. Shang Tsung would revert back to his elderly form from the enchanted shackles. He dies near the top of the Pyramid.
Mortal Kombat 9
Shang Tsung hosts the first Mortal Kombat tournament in his elderly form. It is Tsung who decides who faces who for each match, and forces Johnny Cage to be the first of the Earthrealm fighters to fight first. Cage overcomes the challenges thrown at him by Tsung. After Sonya manages to free her superior from imprisonment, Shang Tsung prevents them from leaving his island by shooting their rescue helicopter down. He also attempts to have the Lin Kuei Cyrax killed for speaking with Raiden. When the final Earthrealm competitor remains, Shang Tsung attempts to stack the deck against him. Each attempt fails however, as Liu Kang defeats all of his challengers, including Goro. Shang Tsung is the final opponent for Liu Kang, and is ultimately defeated, sparing Earthrealm from being merged into Outworld.
When Shang Tsung returns to Shao Kahn, he is almost executed for his failure. Shang Tsung proposes a new idea however, for a single tournament to be held in Outworld. Shao Kahn agrees to the concept, and rejuvenates Shang Tsung. As Shang Tsung goes to the Wu Shi Academy to tell Raiden of the latest tournament, Tarkatans attack the academy when the Thunder God rejects. Raiden engages Shang Tsung in combat, with the latter managing to escape back to Outworld. During the attack, Sonya is captured by Shang Tsung, forcing Raiden to accept the latest rules and start the second tournament.
Shang is seen in the Emperor’s throne room, when Raiden, Jax, and Johnny Cage show up. Jax impulsively steps up to find out where Sonya is, and Shang announces they have a volunteer for the first fight. Shang then makes Jax fight Baraka. The major defeats Baraka and then confronts Shang Tsung, demanding to know where Sonya is. Shang just makes a snide comment about how Jax and Sonya are always having to rescue each other. He is about to make Jax fight a new opponent, when Reptile appears and whispers something to him. Shang asks the Emperor permission to pause the Tournament while he attends some important business.
Shang Tsung is seen in the Living Forest striking a deal to buy Black Dragon weaponry from Kano. They are interrupted by Smoke, who wants to know how the Elder Sub-Zero died. After Kano fails to defeat Smoke, Shang Tsung morphs into the elder Sub-Zero and partners with Reptile in an attempt to defeat Smoke. They ultimately fail, but Sektor then appears and attacks Smoke. Shang Tsung, along with his allies and the Black Dragon’s weaponry, to escape.
Shang Tsung is again seen in Kahn’s Arena, administrating over the matches. When the Younger Sub-Zero appears and demands to fight Scorpion, the murderer of his older brother, Shang Tsung tells him that no one makes demands of the Emperor. He then orders Reptile to attack Sub Zero.
After Kitana discovers and defeats Mileena in Shang Tsung’s Flesh Pits, the sorcerer appears. He reveals to Kitana that he is “perfecting” her by creating clones of her. The two then fight, and Kitana subdues him. When Kitana brings Shang Tsung to Shao Kahn for punishment for his experiments, she is shocked when Shao Kahn praises him instead. The emperor reveals that he knew about Shang Tsung’s activities all along. Kitana is then imprisoned while Shang Tsung is released and ordered to fetch Mileena. Later on, Shao Kahn has Shang Tsung team up with Quan Chi to face Kung Lao. Kung Lao proves victorious over both sorcerers.
After Shao Kahn’s defeat and apparent death at the hands of Liu Kang, Shang Tsung is among those deciding who should replace Kahn as emperor. When Mileena is suggested by Baraka, Shang Tsung scoffs and argues that Mileena only exists as a result of his sorcery. Shao Kahn emerges however, and thus Shang Tsung’s quest to become emperor is quickly ended. Shao Kahn is furious with Shang Tsung, as now Outworld can no longer absorb Earthrealm. Quan Chi, however, suggests that Outworld simply invades Earthrealm, convincing the Emperor that the Elder Gods are too weak to stop him.
During the invasion, Kabal, a former friend and ally of Kano, is badly burned by Kintaro. Kano brings Kabal back to Outworld, where Shang Tsung uses his magic to heal some of Kabal’s injuries. When Motaro is killed by Raiden during the Earthrealm invasion, the recently revived Sindel states that she will finish what Motaro has started. To ensure her success, Shao Kahn drains the souls from Shang Tsung’s body and transfers them into Sindel, killing Shang Tsung in the process. However, when Raiden asks Quan Chi for assistance in the Netherrealm, Shang Tsung is not among the resurrected souls. It is possible that Quan Chi did not resurrect him purposely. Shao Kahn allegedly only granted Quan Chi the souls of the fallen Earthrealm warriors for his service but not those of his own willing servants.
Powers and abilities
As mentioned above, Shang Tsung was cursed by mysterious entities identified only as his gods. The curse forcibly decreases his lifespan, unless he takes the souls of others to replenish himself. Shang Tsung’s primary objective is to find an infinite source of souls on which to thrive indefinitely. Without souls, his body will rapidly age, wither, and eventually die.
However, due to his ability to absorb souls, he has also discovered an unforeseen side effect, granting him the ability to shapeshift into the people whose souls he has taken. The change is more than skin deep as he has access to their memories and powers as well. Shang Tsung is not required to steal a person’s soul in order to morph into them, as he took on the form of Kung Lao to sneak up on Liu Kang. As a sorcerer, Shang Tsung wields incredible black magic, most of it provided by Shao Kahn though after the third and second tournaments, this is no longer the case. It would appear that he, when paired with Quan Chi, was able to defeat the Thunder God of Earth, Raiden.
Like his rival, Liu Kang, he is associated with the element of fire, able to fire flaming skull-shaped projectiles at his opponents. In addition to his projectiles, he has the ability to create a giant flaming cobra of fire that easily defeated Raiden. Shang Tsung could teleport using pools of fire. He can also use his element of fire for sorcery and black magic, such as his ability to create portals.
Additionally, Shang possesses knowledge of genetics, having created such biological abominations as Mileena and Meat in his Flesh Pits.