—Jade to Kung Lao in Mortal Kombat 11. |
Jade is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. The lifelong friend of Princess Kitana, she serves as both one of Shao Kahn's assassins and spies, and as the personal bodyguard of Kitana.
Jade made her debut in Mortal Kombat II as a secret character before making her playable debut in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. She has remained a recurring supporting character since her debut.
About Jade
Jade is a childhood friend of Princess Kitana. While her motives were unclear, she served Shao Kahn alongside Kitana and Mileena as his personal assassin for most of her life. When Kitana finally turned against Shao Kahn, Jade was ordered to capture her for the Emperor. She ultimately chose to join her friend and has since loyally assisted Kitana in her quest to free their native realm and restore its original beauty. Now residing in the freed Edenia, Jade is a General of the Edenian Army and continues to dutifully serve Kitana and her mother Sindel.
Jade's confident and sassy personality was first portrayed in her Girls Gone Wired campaign video, but later expanded upon throughout her story in Mortal Kombat (2011). Always known for her loyalty towards Kitana, she has proven herself to be a dependable, sincere and devoted friend to the princess. She is sarcastic, patronizing and cocky towards her opponents, and incredibly ruthless towards those she considers a personal enemy, at one point splashing Tarkatan essence on the Edenian traitor, Tanya, and allowing her to be torn to pieces by Baraka's militia.
As a female assassin adorned in a green skin-tight outfit, Jade was initially very similar in appearance to Kitana and Mileena, the only noticeable difference being her darker skin (although in the Sega Genesis and Saturn ports of MKII, she has the same skin as Kitana). She appeared first as a hidden, unplayable character in Mortal Kombat II whose moveset were mostly like Kitana's including the use of the fan blade weapon. To reach Jade, the player would fight a one-player game on the match just before the "?" on the map of the mountain. If the player won at least one round of the match using only the Low Kick button (no punches, High Kick, or Block button presses), they would immediately be warped to Goro's Lair (Blue Portal in the Sega Genesis port) to fight Jade. The player did not have to win the match -- only one round -- to fight Jade.
Jade would later become a regular character in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. Her main weapon of choice is a metal staff, but she also uses razor-edged boomerangs, dubbed "razorangs", as well.
In Mortal Kombat 11, it is revealed that she is in a romantic relationship with Kotal Kahn, the pair being together before Kotal Kahn was betrayed by Shao Kahn and experimented on by Shang Tsung.
Appearance
Jade is a dark skin woman of Edenian origin. She wears a primarily green skin-tight outfit.
In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, Jade looks almost completely different than the last time we saw her in Mortal Kombat Trilogy. About the only thing in common she has with her past appearance is the color scheme of green. Her hair is no longer pulled back behind her head and now falls freely upon her shoulders. She does not wear that green mouth guard anymore either. She wears a green what looks to be drape type thing that crisscrosses over her chest. Her midriff and most of her upper torso is exposed. She wears green gloves and arm bands. A long piece of cloth flows from her midsection almost touching her feet. She also wears thigh high green boots with green knee pads; her boots are golden-toed.
Alternate Costume: Costume strongly resembles her attire in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. She has her hair braided and has two separate strands hang on either side of her head. She wears her patented green mouth guard that covers her nose and the rest down. She wears a black choker around her neck with a gold pendant. She wears a green, almost bikini-like outfit that criss-crosses over her chest. Her arms are bare except for an arm guard and her green gloves. She wears thigh high green and black boots with shiny green knee cap guards. She fights on black (golden toed) boots.
In Mortal Kombat (2011), Jade has more distinct features, but it remains primarily green, with black and gold lines. Her hip-length black hair is styled to the right and tied back in a low ponytail with a clip. Her original outfit consists of a V-shaped leotard with the top held in place by interlaced black laces similar to Kitana's, but looser, revealing a generous amount of cleavage. She wears a green mask with a pair of curved, fang-like black markings and green hand guards that reach just below her elbows, and a gold bracelet on her right forearm. Gold chains on both thighs hold the green fabric in place around her waist. The fabric is wrapped around her waist and tied with a gold halo in the front, and she wears knee-high black boots with embedded emeralds.
In her alternate outfit, she removes her mask and wears her hair in several knots, not covering her right eye. She now wears a different bra, held in place by a gold chain around her neck. Her abdomen is more exposed, revealing her abs and muscles, with another chain around her waist keeping the fabric in place. Her boots are now mostly green with gold details instead of emerald.
Character Development
Jade's introduction to the Mortal Kombat series is quite similar to that of Reptile's. (In the first Mortal Kombat, Reptile made his appearance as a green-colored version of Scorpion with both Scorpion and Sub-Zero's abilities.) Making her first appearance in Mortal Kombat II, she was a hidden, unplayable character that was simply a palette-swap of Kitana but which was extremely fast and who could not be harmed by projectiles. In most ports of MKII, she had brown skin (except for Sega Genesis/Megadrive, and Sega Saturn where she had Kitana's skin color). Jade's name was not superimposed over her MKII energy meter; its inclusion was likely forgotten by the programmers during production. Jade could be seen peeking out from a tree in The Living Forest Arena in MKII, as could another secret opponent: Smoke. It was then further suggested in the comic book series that Jade and Smoke were in fact assassins working for Shao Kahn. However, the comic books were non-canon.
When Jade made her first non-secret appearance in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, she was given her own attributes and storyline. The same happened for Reptile when he made his first non-secret appearance in Mortal Kombat II.
Jade also made an appearance in the game Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks as an assassin that fought alongside Mileena and Kitana. Her appearance sparked some controversy about the validity of the game's story, compared to established Mortal Kombat canon. After battling her, she is stabbed in the eyes with Mileena's sai by the player and dies.
Combat Characteristics
Powers and Abilities
When she was first introduced in MKII, Jade was the only secret character to possess an outright special ability: an absolute immunity to projectile attacks. Any projectiles thrown at her would fly harmlessly pass her. Aside from that, her style of combat was identical to Kitana's, wielding a pair of copper fans during gameplay.
When she was made playable, she displayed slightly more aptitude than her other counterparts. Unlike Kitana and Mileena, Jade wielded two weapons: a steel, sharp-pointed staff which transforms itself into a supply of 'razorangs' (a portmanteau of 'razor' and 'boomerangs'). She displayed the most effectiveness with the staff, preferring weapon combat over hand-to-hand combat. During one of her Fatalities and her win pose, the staff left behind purple energy trails, hinting at magical properties. The staff has also been redesigned twice, first displayed as mentioned above, but in Deception, given a larger spearhead at one end, whilst in Shaolin Monks, it is a simple iron staff with no sharp ends. In MK 2011, the staff reverts back to its original steel design, but heavily features the purple aura during gameplay as well and has the ability to change length. She also displayed skill with the razorangs, able to retrieve her weapons as they returned to her without cutting herself and can alter their trajectory at will. Jade is able to emit a 'force rejection field' around her, which seems to cause projectiles in particular to fly right through her like air.
Signature Moves
- Razor-Rang: Jade throws a Razor-Rang at her opponent. In the 2D games, there were three variations of this move: one that curved up, one that curved down, and one that returned if it missed the opponent. In MK 2011, this is renamed Boomerang, and has a straight throw, an upward throw called Boomerang Up, and a throw at the shin called Boomerang Down. In MK11, the Razor-Rang makes a circle around Jade before flying towards the opponent. Additionally, Jade can perform the attack in the air or throw the Razor-Rang upward at airborne opponents if (Air) Razor-Rang or Upward Razor-Rang are equipped. (UMK3, MKT, MK:D, MK:U, MK:SM, MK:A, MK 2011, MK11)
- The enhanced version is called Reboomerang in which the razor-rang returns to strike the opponent a second time. The enhanced upward throw is called Reboomerang Up, and the enhanced lower level throw is called Reboomerang Down.
- In MK11, amplifying the attack has Jade throw a second Razor-Rang while the first one is spinning around her. The second Razor-Rang can also continue a juggle if used on an airborne or juggled opponent.
- Amplifying (Air) Razor-Rang has Jade throw a second Razor-Rang down at the opponent, dealing increased damage.
- Amplifying Upward Razor-Rang has Jade throw a second Razor-Rang upward for increased damage. The second Razor-Rang can also increase the juggle effect on an airborne opponent should it be used on an airborne opponent; otherwise, the opponent is knocked away by the second Razor-Rang.
- Blazing Nitro Kick: Jade illuminates herself with a green force and kicks her opponent. In MK 2011, this is called Shadow Kick. In MK11, this attack has armor breaking properties, ignoring the armor granted by specific abilities and Fatal Blows. When breaking the armor of a Break Away, the attack deals increased damage, however this increase is extremely small. (UMK3, MKT, MK:D, MK:U, MK:A, MK 2011, MK11)
- The enhanced version is called Eclipse Kick. This makes the kick go full screen and increases damage.
- In MK11, amplifying the move has Jade teleport behind the opponent and strike them away with her staff.
- Equipping Amplify Blazing Nitro Kick alters the amplified version, allowing Jade to remain in place when teleporting and kicking the opponent a second time.
- In MK11, if Jade connects two Blazing Nitro Kicks in a row or breaks armor with a single use, the attack turns into a Krushing Blow, where Jade crushes and damages their internal organs, dealing almost four times the original damage. The attack can still be amplified after, which in turn makes the attack deal almost five times the original damage. This Krushing Blow can only be triggered by one of these conditions once during the match.
- Dodging Shadows: Jade puts a forcefield around herself which causes projectiles to go through her. This move is taken in reference to her automatic immunity to projectiles in MKII. In MK 2011, this is called Shadow Flash. This effect ends immediately if Jade takes damage. In MK11, connecting or being struck by a Krushing Blow or Fatal Blow ends this effect prematurely. (UMK3, MKT, MK:D, MK:U, MK:A, MK 2011, MK11)
- The enhanced version is called Shadow Glow and illuminates Jade in a purple glow instead of a green glow. This will give her immunity to the knockback effects of any attack, but she still takes the damage like normal.
- Vanishing Winds: Jade spins with a cloud of green smoke surrounding her and appears behind her opponent. In MK11, this attack instead has Jade slam her Bo staff on the ground and create a burst of green energy. This ability conflicts with Edenian Spark when equipped, disabling the option to select Edenian Spark. (MK:D, MK:U, MK:A, MK11 - Equip Ability)
- In MK11, amplifying the attack has Jade teleport behind the opponent and perform a sweep with her staff, dealing increased damage.
- Staff Overhead: Jade jumps up and smashes the opponent with her staff. She uses this move in Mortal Kombat 11 to start her Fatal Blow. (MK 2011)
- The enhanced version is called Staff Smash. Jade jumps and smashes the opponent quicker than Staff Overhead.
- Staff Grab: Jade grabs the opponent by the chest with her staff and slams them behind her. This move was once her grab move in UMK3. (MK 2011)
- The enhanced version is called Staff Slam in which Jade slams the opponent an additional two times.
- Deadly Butterfly: Jade spins her staff around in front of her while moving towards the opponent. It strikes the opponent exactly seven times, with the final strike knocking the opponent away. When used in the corner of an arena, the attack offers a small window for additional attacks; otherwise, the opponent is knocked away. (MK11)
- Temptation: Jade taunts her opponent, beckoning to them to strike her. Should the opponent attack her with the exception of Low Attacks, projectiles and Fatal Blows, Jade will parry the attack and smack them across the face with her staff. (MK11)
- Amplifying the attack has Jade teleport behind the opponent after smacking them with her staff, kick their leg out, forcing the opponent to their knees where Jade snaps their neck to deal nearly three times the attack's original damage.
- If Jade has amplified the attack twice already during the match, the attack turns into a Krushing Blow on the attack's next use, with the staff strike shattering the opponent's jaw, dealing four times the original damage. The attack can still be amplified after, which in turn makes the attack deal six times the original damage but double the damage of the amplified version.
- Delia's Dance: Jade performs two low Bo staff attacks that cause the opponent to stumble. This ability replaces Deadly Butterfly when equipped. (MK11 - Equip Ability)
- Amplifying the attack has Jade add an upwards swing that knocks the opponent off their feet, dealing increased damage.
- Divine Forces: Jade spins her staff and reflects projectiles back at the opponent, with the exception of projectile-based Fatal Blows and their start-ups. This ability replaces Dodging Shadows when equipped. (MK11 - Equip Ability)
- Amplifying the attack allows Jade to extend how long she can reflect projectiles for. She can also hit the opponent if they are close to her.
- Pole Vault: Jade performs a flip-kick using her staff, knocking the opponent to the ground. Jade can perform additional attack when running towards her opponent; (MK11 - Equip Ability)
- Extend: Jade can now sprint at her opponent before performing the flip-kick. Jade can sprint full-screen distance. The duration of the sprint is determined by how long the attack is delayed when using Extend.
- Blazing Nitro Kick: Equipping Amplify Blazing Nitro Kick allows Jade, while utilizing Extend, to perform a Blazing Nitro Kick instead of the flip-kick, allowing her to travel over half the arena to kick the opponent at the expense of the Nitro Kick dealing less damage than the flip-kick. This Blazing Nitro Kick cannot trigger a Krushing Blow, nor does it count towards the original Blazing Nitro Kick Krushing Blow requirements. Requires and spends a bar of Offensive Meter to perform.
- Edenian Knight: While utilizing Extend, Jade can perform her Fatal Blow if it is available. This effect becomes disabled when using her Fatal Blow this way or if her Fatal Blow has already been used during the match.
- Cancel: Equipping Pole Vault Cancel allows Jade, while utilizing Extend, to cancel the attack before performing the flip-kick. Doing this requires and spends a bar of Defensive Meter. This ability can only be equipped if Pole Vault is also equipped. (MK11 - Equip Ability)
- Amplifying the attack has Jade leap to her opponent's shoulders and stab them in the skull with a folded Razor-Rang several times, dealing slightly increased damage.
- If Jade sprints a long distance, then connects the vault, amplifying the attack turns it into a Krushing Blow, where Jade drives her Razor-Rang deep into the opponent's skull with the final stab, causing blood to splatter, dealing increased damage and causing massive damage-over-time.
- Edenian Spark: Jade sends a spark of Edenian magic across the ground of the fightline that knocks the opponent off their feet. This ability conflicts with Vanishing Winds when equipped, disabling the option to select Vanishing Winds. (MK11 - Equip Ability)
X-Rays/Fatal Blow
- X-Ray - Staff Buster: Jade rushes behind her opponent, grabs her staff and slams it in the groin. She then pulls it out and smashes them in the back with it, damaging their spine and nearby bones. (MK 2011)
- Fatal Blow - Edenian Knight: Jade does an overhead strike with her staff. She then teleports behind her opponent, opening their spine with her Razor-Rang. She does a second teleport, now in front of her target, to slice their throat. The Razor-Rang then spins in midair, whereas Jade jumps to grab it and pierce the side of the enemy's skull, and lastly, she shadow kicks the enemy. (MK11)
Other Moves
- Fan Throw: Jade throws one of her fans to her opponent. This move is borrowed from Kitana in MKII. (MKII, MK 2011)
- Jade only uses the attack in MK 2011 during a secret battle when playing an arcade ladder and encountering Klassic Jade.
- Fan Lift: Jade uses her fans to make the opponent levitate helplessly in the air. This move is borrowed from Kitana in MKII. (MKII)
- Square Wave Punch: Jade jumps into the air and attacks incoming foes with a flying punch. This move is borrowed from Kitana in MKII. (MKII)
- Over and Out: Jade grabs her opponent's arms and monkey flips them to the other side. (MK:D)
- Throw: Jade grabs her opponent, punches them in the face so that they fall forward on her and extends her staff, striking them in the stomach (Forward Throw) or circles around them and swings her staff, knocking them away. (MK 2011)
- Throw (Forward): Jade grabs the opponent, slashes them twice with a Razor-Rang, bends them forward and extends her staff into their face, knocking them away. (MK11)
- If Jade performs this on an opponent who has failed a Throw Escape during a previous Throw before, the attack is turned into a Krushing Blow, where when Jade extends the staff, it shatters the opponent's orbital bone, dealing increased damage and sending the opponent up in the air for a juggle. This Krushing Blow will not trigger if a Throw (Forward) is performed after achieving a failed Throw Escape instead of using a Throw (Backward).
- Throw (Backward): Jade slashes her opponent with a Razor-Rang, drives it into their shoulder and teleports behind them, kicking them in the back as the weapon falls back into her hand. (MK11)
- Baited: Jade attacks with an open hand strike, follows up with a downwards staff poke and hops forward with a knee strike to the opponent's abdomen. (MK11)
- If the second hit is the first one to actually connect, the combo turns into a Krushing Blow, with Jade's knee damaging the opponent's internal organs, dealing over double the original damage and sending the opponent up in the air for a juggle.
- Deadly Assassin: Jade can perform four new kombos involving her staff and gains a new sweep. (MK11 - Equip Ability)
- Betrayal: Jade pokes forward with her staff four times, then swings it around and ends with a butterfly kick that hits overhead.
- Playtime is Over: Jade kicks forward and rushes towards the opponent with a series of staff strikes.
- Bending Time: Jade follows up Playtime Is Over with a low sweep.
- Too Easy: Jade kicks forward, stomps on their foot, knocking them down, and knocks them away with a staff swing.
Fatalities
- Staff Shake: Jade stabs the foe in the stomach with her staff and shakes it to the point where the body blows up. (UMK3, MKT)
- Staff Impale: Jade uppercuts the opponent into the air, and promptly holds out her staff, as the opponent is pierced by it upon falling down. (UMK3, MKT)
- Jade Cutter: Jade runs past her foe after cutting him/her, and when she looks at the foe, the foe's upper torso and the lower body split apart and fall to the ground. (MK:D, MK:U)
- Head Kabob: Jade thrusts her staff into the opponent's head, then flips over and smashes the opponent to the ground, which separates the body and the head, the latter of which is still attached to the weapon, spilling blood. (MK:D, MK:U)
- Boss Fatality: She assists Mileena in this Fatality. Jade sweeps the enemy to the ground with her Bojutsu, Mileena then throws her Sai into the opponent's palm. Jade then slams her Bojutsu in his face, eventually crushing it. (MK:SM)
- Head-A-Rang: Jade throws her Razor-Rang at the opponent, cutting off their head. The head stays on the opponent's body as if it wasn't cut. Jade then kicks the body away, letting the head fall off. As she kneels down to catch the opponent's head with one hand, she catches the returning Razor-Rang with the other. (MK 2011)
- Half Mast: Jade kicks the opponent upward into the air and plants her staff onto the ground. As the opponent is impaled on the staff upon landing, she rips off his/her head and puts it on the top of the staff. A variation of Staff Impale. (MK 2011)
- Bow Before Me: Jade grabs her staff and slices through both her opponent's arms. She continues to slice through her opponent's legs, causing her opponent to fall down. Jade quickly cuts off the head, launching it in the air, before stabbing through the head with her staff. (MK11)
- Pole Dance: Jade turns the opponent around and knees them in the back. Holding her staff behind the opponent's head, it extends through their eye socket, knocking the eye out. She teleports in front of her opponent and uses her Razor-Rang to tear through their stomach, slicing the opponent's lower half off and causing their intestines to fall out. Finally, she gives the hanging torso a whirl, causing it to spin a few circles on the staff. (MK11)
Brutalities
Mortal Kombat 11
- The Klassic: Jade performs an uppercut, decapitating the opponent with an upward swing of her Bo with their spine still attached. This Brutality is shared with every character. (MK11)
- Must not block an attack for the entirety of the final round.
- A button must be held.
- What Would Mileena Do?: Jade performs an amplified Pole Vault only this time, she stabs the opponent repeatedly in the head and face before jumping off, causing the top of the opponent's scalp to fall off when they fall dead. (MK11)
- A series of buttons must be pressed repeatedly.
- Will not trigger on Krushing Blow, if it has not been activated during the match.
- Clean Sweep: Jade performs an Edenian Spark with the wave of magic severing the opponent's feet at the ankles. The opponent jumps around on one foot before the other severs, causing them to bleed out when they fall over. (MK11)
- Dodging Shadows must be active.
- Cannot be performed on a juggled or airborne opponent.
- Flawless: Jade performs her Throw (Forward), extending and releasing her staff into one of the opponent's eyes. (MK11)
- A button must be held.
- Will not trigger on Krushing Blow, if it has not been activated during the match.
- Shaken Not Stirred: Jade performs her Throw (Backward), only this time instead of teleporting and kicking the opponent, she stabs them with her Bo, picking them up and shaking them, causing the skin on their body to disintegrate before they finally explode completely into gore. (MK11)
- A Mercy must be performed.
- A button must be held.
- Deadly Dance: Jade performs an amplified Delia's Dance, hitting the opponent in the groin so hard that their brain pops out of the top of their head. (MK11)
- Must connect a first hit.
- A button must be held.
- Cannot be performed on a juggled or airborne opponent.
- Bad Trip: Jade performs an amplified Vanishing Winds, destroying the opponent's shins. (MK11)
- A button must be held.
- Cannot be performed on a juggled or airborne opponent.
- Getting Ahead: Jade performs an amplified Temptation, snapping the opponent's neck with enough force to rip their head off. (MK11)
- Can be performed on Krushing Blow.
- Looking Good: Jade performs Blazing Nitro Kick with the impact of the kick severing the opponent's legs at the knees as they are kicked forward. The opponent crawls forwards before bleeding to death. (MK11)
- A button must be held.
- Cannot be performed on a juggled or airborne opponent.
- Will not trigger on Krushing Blow, if it has not been activated during the match.
- Slice And Dice: Jade performs her Fatal Attraction kombo, tearing off the opponent's head with the last kick. The severed head makes a full revolution in the air and falls back into its place. (MK11)
- A button must be held.
- Simple Execution: Jade performs her Throw (Backward), ripping the opponent's head off with their spine still attached with the final kick. Then she catches the head and hangs it on her belt. (MK11)
- Several buttons must be pressed repeatedly.
- Secret Divine Forces Brutality: Jade performs a Divine Forces, reflecting and mimicking the opponent's projectile Brutality. (MK11 - Secret)
Other Finishers
- Animality: Jade turns into a cat and mauls the opponent to death. (UMK3, MKT)
- Friendship #1: Jade hops on her staff like a pogo stick. (UMK3, MKT)
- Friendship #2 - I Want Kandy: Jade hits a Shao Kahn piñata with her staff and eats the candy that falls out. (MK11)
- Hara-Kiri - Razorang Harvest: Jade throws her razor boomerang in the direction in front of her. It then comes back and decapitates her. (MK:D, MK:U)
- Babality: Giggling, Jade throws a Razor-Rang, but it comes back and hits her on the head, making her cry. (MK 2011)
Appearances in Other Media
TV Appearance
Although she is absent from the animated TV series Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, aspects of Jade, as well as Tanya, are used to create the original character Ruby, similar to Baraka being replaced with Karbrac in the series.
Film
Despite her portrayal as a "good" character in the games, Jade appears in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (portrayed by Siberian supermodel Irina Pantaeva) as a character who remains loyal to Shao Kahn until her death. After failing to seduce Liu Kang and leading the other warriors to an ambush (not before testing Liu Kang and leading him to the Temple of the Elder Gods), Kahn himself has her eaten and swallowed by a living gargoyle in his palace due to her alleged failure at keeping the Earth Warriors from escaping. There is also little to no indication in the movie that Jade and Kitana know each other from the past. Instead, Kitana glares at Jade when she betrays the group during a later part of the film.
Novel
Jade appears in the novelization of both feature films. Her role in the first novel is very small, appearing only on one page before being tricked by Sonya and defeated with a single blow. Instead of fighting with any of the three weapons she uses in the games (fans, staff or razorangs), Jade displays great proficiency with a pair of half-moon daggers, capable of moving them so fast around herself that she can shield herself from attack.
Jade's role in the novelization of Mortal Kombat: Annihilation is expanded, and a history between her and Kitana is hinted at, but Kitana is disgusted by her arrival rather than friendly with her (which would explain Kitana glaring at Jade in the movie). She fakes subduing Sindel and lures the Earth Warriors into a trap, distracting them long enough for the Extermination Squads to get close, before escaping. Like in the film, despite Sindel's testimony to Jade's loyalty, Shao Kahn has her devoured by a living stain-glass window for allowing the Earth Warriors to survive.
Jade doesn't appear in Jeff Rovin's non-canon Mortal Kombat novel.
Comic Books
Jade has a minor role in Malibu Comics second series Battlewave. Since her participation in Mortal Kombat II wasn't revealed during production of the comic, Jade's portrayal and personality is highly different from her in-game canon story and traits. In the comics, Jade is an evil assassin under Shao Kahn's command, and shows no relation or ties with Kitana besides their shared looks. She is always paired with Smoke, possibly due to both of them appearing on the background of the Living Forest stage in Mortal Kombat II.
Jade and Smoke attempt twice to kill Jax (and later Johnny Cage) before they arrive in Outworld, but both times, they fail to do so. Later, they try to redeem themselves by killing Raiden during his fight with Kano (the third issue of the mini-series Rayden and Kano), only to be stopped by Kano himself. She is also present as one of the wedding guests for Shao Kahn and Sonya's wedding in issue #6 of the Battlewave series.
Quotes
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
- "I am Jade."
- "I have searched the vessel of you, Liu Kang."
Mortal Kombat (2011)
- "This will be easy." (Battle Cry)
- "Too easy." (after performing her X-ray)
- "The Armory is restricted. You will leave now." (to Jax)
- "You need to be careful. I have never seen your father this angry with you." (to Kitana)
- "You are a princess. He expects more from you than this."
- "We will talk later. When you are in more of a mind to listen."
- "I do not question the emperor's commands. Kitana, please. Turn back."
- "I failed you, Kitana. Now I will make amends." (witnessing Kitana's arrest)
- "You are an excellent guard dog, Baraka. But you must learn to heel." (Before confronting Baraka)
- "Good boy." (after defeating Baraka)
- "Blind loyalty is not a good thing, as I have learned. You must keep your eyes open - to anticipate the finishing blow." (when Baraka claims Edenians have no loyalty)
- "You make it too easy." (After knocking Baraka out)
- "We have different concepts of honor, Shokan." (to Sheeva)
- "Not much of a jailor, are you?" (after defeating Sheeva)
- "By the gods... You are Mileena!"
- "I am more of a sister to Kitana than you." (after defeating Mileena)
- "I did not wish to do that." (after defeating Smoke)
Mortal Kombat X Mobile (Feats of Strength)
- "This is your best?"
- "Show some fight!"
- "Pitiful effort."
- "Embarrassed yet?"
Mortal Kombat 11
Story Mode
Jade (Past)
Part 1: Mortal Kombat 11
- "I am here, Kotal." (To Kotal Kahn)
- "It's true. I know him well."
- "Kotal!"
- "I thought you were dead! What happened to you?" (Upon reuniting with Kotal Kahn)
- "Seeing you again makes it worth living this nightmare."
- "Kotal's scouts tracked a Tarkatan war party to the Kytinn's lost hive, D'Vorah's ancestral home. Her hand in Shao Kahn's escape makes that our starting point."
- "Sheeva's always respected your opinion more than anyone's. When she hears you support Kotal, she'll join us."
- "It was my idea, Kitana. It's in your best interest. Succeed with Sheeva and Kotal will pledge his loyalty to you. There's no bond more sacred to an Osh-Tekk like him." (To Kitana)
- "I remember when we could ride like this alone."
- "You’re still the same noble warrior I met in Shao Kahn’s court. And now you’re Kahn. I’m surprised no woman has claimed your bed and become your queen."
- "Yet they failed. Why?"
- "There are fresh tracks leading to the hive. If Shao Kahn's in there, he'll be difficult to find. The tunnels are endless."
- "Kotal, we don't know who else is in there."
- "By the Gods, it’s true? This is what I become?!" (facing her Revenant self)
- "Then so be it. I would not trade Kitana’s friendship for anything."
- "She and I fight side-by side against Shao Kahn. His oppression cannot stand!"
- "When called for a higher purpose, we must serve." (After defeating her Revenant self)
- "You'd best flee, D'Vorah." (To D'Vorah)
- "Kotal is mine."
- "Wish to survive?" (After defeating D'Vorah)
- "Tell us where to find Shao Kahn."
- "Give me a few of your best soldiers. We'll infiltrate the camp and search for Shao Kahn unseen."
- "Of course it is."
- "No. it's all right, we won't harm you. We're looking for Shao Kahn. Please... We only need to..." (To a nervous female Tarkatan)
- "Run!"
- "All these years and you still exploit others to rise above your station." (To Kollector)
- "Fear and respect are not equals." (After defeating Kollector)
- "Kotal, this is cruel! Many didn't fight us, they are children." (Stopping Kotal for executing the innocent Tarkatans)
- "These aren't the same Tarkatans, Kotal. A better Kahn would offer them a warm hand, not cold steel."
- "Your heart has hardened, Kotal." (After defeating Kotal Kahn)
- "Baraka won't join us. Kotal's hate for the Tarkatans runs too deep. If I hadn't stopped him, Kotal would've executed them all." (To Kitana about the situation of the Tarkatans' alliance)
- "Kotal!"
- "Do you feel anything?"
- "Not while I am by your side."
- "I know your heart. It can change."
Part 2: Aftermath
- "What in Argus' name is happening out here?"
- "Shang Tsung! I thought I saw you slither away from the Koliseum."
- "You have yet to convince me. Even if you do, the Soul Chamber is occupied."
- "Kotal uses it to mend his broken spine. Disrupting him now could leave his injuries permanent."
- "Your promises are empty, sorcerer!"
Jade (Revenant)
Part 1: Mortal Kombat 11
- "Emperor, Empress. Earthrealmers has captured the bone temple!"
- "Should Raiden get this far, eliminate him."
- "Our plans require that you live."
- "An untimely death. Like yours, due to Raiden's incompetence."
- "You have been deceived, Liu Kang."
- "The truth is, Raiden murdered you."
- "Is it not murder to send an ill-prepared warrior to his death?"
- "Raiden's mistake cost your life, Kung Lao."
- "Raiden killed you because you stood in his way." (To Liu Kang)
- "Blame your loyalty to Kitana. It led directly to our death." (facing her past self)
- "It is pitiful you choose servitude.”
- "Rise in Shinnok's name!"
- "You'll not disturb Kronika's work."
- "You're not as strong as you think, Jax. As I recall, Sindel made quick work of you."
- "I joined Raiden against Shao Kahn. He led me to my doom. Now Raiden leads you there, too." (To Jax)
- "Spare me your pity, Earthrealmer." (To Jacqui Briggs)
Part 2: Aftermath
- "You will return to the Void. Not even she could help you."
Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms
- "Kitana, he is obviously mentally unwell. Let me kill him and be done with it."
Trivia
General
- Jade was a representative of Mortal Kombat in Video Game Vixens - a special four-part TV show on G4 that features what they consider to be "the sexiest female video game characters of the year." Jade reveals that her horoscope is Scorpio and her measurements are B36 - W24 - H36.[1]
- In the 1995 movie Mortal Kombat, Jade was scheduled to face off against Sonya in a secret area of the island that was slated to be a hidden Easter egg in the DVD version of the movie; but the scene was scrapped due to time constraints.
- Jade is the first hidden female character in the series, the first male being Reptile.
- In early versions of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, Long Fist was supposed to be her unarmed fighting style.
- In MK:D's Konquest Mode, Jade asks Shujinko to bring Rain to the Edenian Freedom Fighters, and in completing this, she defeats him.
- According to MK11 writer Shawn Kittelsen the woman in Jade's MK (2011) ending is her mother.[1]
- In Mortal Kombat: Deception and Mortal Kombat: Armaggedon, Jade's staff doesn't emit a purple glow like in the other games she appeared in.
- In MK11, the staff is green.
Mortal Kombat II
- In Mortal Kombat II, Jade occasionally drops down during a match and gives clues on how to reach her just as Reptile did in Mortal Kombat. One of her clues is a reference to the Ermac rumors from Mortal Kombat.
- One of the clues Jade leaves is her saying "Chun who?" which is a reference to Street Fighter's Chun-Li, a fighter known for her incredible strength in her kicks. This was a clever hint at how to fight Jade in which the player would have to defeat the opponent using only low kicks.
- In the PlayStation, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn and Amiga versions of Mortal Kombat II, Jade's skin is white.
- In the Arcade and SNES versions of Mortal Kombat II, Jade's hair is brown, but all other versions have black hair.
- In the Arcade and SNES versions of Mortal Kombat II, Jade's Steel Fans are bronze/silver, but all other versions are silver.
Mortal Kombat 3/Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3/Mortal Kombat Trilogy
- In the Sega Genesis version of UMK3, Jade's fighting stance is a version of Mileena.
- In the SNES version of UMK3, Jade's fighting stance is a version of Kitana.
- In the Sega Genesis and SNES versions of UMK3, Jade's skin is light-skinned.
- In the PC, PlayStation and Sega Saturn versions of MKT, Jade's skin is light-skinned.
- In UMK3, Jade's boomerangs have only two blades, but from Mortal Kombat: Deception to Mortal Kombat (2011), the boomerangs have three blades.
- Also, in Mortal Kombat: Deception, when Jade throws her boomerangs, they glow green. But in Mortal Kombat (2011), when she throws the boomerangs, they will glow purple.
Mortal Kombat (2011)
- When Jade performs her Head-a-Rang Fatality, her Razorang seems to be created directly from her shrunken staff.
- This is also the only Fatality in which Jade does not use her staff to kill her opponent.
- Jade, along with Mileena, Sub-Zero, and Kitana, has the most costumes with a total of 4 while everyone else has either 2 or 3.
- Jade's primary costume is similar to her alternate costume in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, while her alternate costume is similar to her Mortal Kombat: Armageddon primary costume, both only switching the hairstyle.
- Jade holds her folded staff in her hand during her normal fighting stance, the first character in the series to do so outside an explicit weapon stance.
- In the Story Mode of MK 2011, when Sindel enters the Cathedral, Jade is seen in her alternate costume, holding her MK:D staff. However, when her alternate costume is chosen, the staff is not seen.
- Jade's skin tone is inconsistent in gameplay, character selector, and cinematics, as it is tanned in the former and darker in the latter.
Mortal Kombat X
- Although she does not appear physically in the game, Kitana uses Jade's staff and Razor-Rang for her Mournful Variation and even uses some of Jade's moves.
- Jade cameos in Kitana's Arcade ending.
Mortal Kombat Mobile
- Jade is one of the many characters to receive an exclusive reskin for Mortal Kombat Mobile not featured in the game's she's playable in.
- Jade's Assassin Card alongside Jason Voorhees' Nightmare Card were originally the only character in the game to dodge special attacks.
- With Update 2.0, Jade's Passive of dodging attacks now benefits the Assassin Card Subclass. Assassin cards can only dodge attacks if Assassin Jade is on their team.
- Jason's Nightmare Card is the only non-Assassin Card with the ability to dodge specials.
- With Update 2.0, Jade's Passive of dodging attacks now benefits the Assassin Card Subclass. Assassin cards can only dodge attacks if Assassin Jade is on their team.
- Jade received a revamped X-Ray from MK 2011. Jade now spins to strike the opponent, causing them to turn around, while the groin strike now causes male fighter's testicles to explode, unlike the original that merely strained the area upon being struck.
- Jade is one of the many characters with more than one exclusive Equipment Card.
- Jade is one of the few characters that can kill the opponent with a Brutality.
- Jade's Lizard Card does not produce any Blind debuffs to the opponent unlike her other Character Cards, thus she is unable to gain the passive bonus of her Bojustu Staff without assistance from her teammates or unless the opponent misses attacks due to being out of range.
Mortal Kombat 11
- Jade returns as a playable character since her appearance in Mortal Kombat (2011), if her appearance in Mortal Kombat Mobile is not counted.
- Jade serves as both a supporting character and antagonist in the game's Story Mode due to having two timeline counterparts.
- It is revealed that Jade and Kotal Kahn had a romantic relationship between the times of the tournament and Kotal's imprisonment by Shao Kahn.
- An interaction with Geras reveals he knows of her parents and them giving her away for her freedom, however Geras does not disclose their identity or whereabouts to her.
- Through PC modding, Jade's Bow Before Me fatality is the only fatality that can dismember Cyrax, Sektor, and Kronika properly.
Mortal Kombat 1
- Although Jade does not make any form of appearance in the game, she is mentioned in the Arcade during interactions, revealing she is a high noble in Outworld, referred to as Countess Jade.
Errors
- In MK Mobile, Jade can still be affected by the Frostbite and the Weaken debuff even if she evades the attack with her Assassin Card. The same happens with Jason Voorhees' Nightmare Card.
- However, the only known time she is affected by the Weaken debuff is from Circle of Shadow Quan Chi's Special 1.
- In MK Mobile, Jade's Bojutsu Staff can grant the exclusive bonus to Jade without her evading an attack.
- This can happen in two known ways:
- Jade simply enters the match from being tagged out and already has the buff present.
- Jade blocks the entirety of a special attack without dodging, but gains the buff after the special ends.
- This also seems to happen with Grapple Attacks.
- This can also happen when the attack's damage is reflected back to the attacker or when Jade's damage is reflected back at her.
- This can happen in two known ways:
- Opposite of the above statements, in MK Mobile, Jade can also evade an attack but not gain her Bojustu Staff's bonus despite it being equipped and dodging the attack.