The Predator, also known as Yautja or Hish-Qu-Ten is an extraterrestrial humanoid hunter known for its appearance in the science-fiction action horror film series of the same name. An honorable alien hunter, the Predator has been an icon in the science-fiction and action genres, helping launch its franchise as not only a cult-classic series, but one of the most recognizable series in action and sci-fi cinema.
The Predator made his debut as a playable guest character in Mortal Kombat X as the third character available through DLC as part of the Kombat Pack.
About the Predator
Predators, or as they're technically known, Yautja or Hish-Qu-Ten, hail from the Predator film franchise along with the shared Alien vs. Predator universe with the Xenomorph. The name "Predator" is never used in the film series by the characters until the fourth film, The Predator.
The Predator serves as the titular main antagonist of its origin franchise, usually consisting of a single hunter stalking and killing the films' respective characters. In the shared Alien vs. Predator franchise, the species serves as a secondary antagonist, however several hunters have aided the human characters, making them morally ambiguous and sometimes as a deuteragonist.
Multiple Predators have been featured in both its series and in the comics with different appearances based on their respective clans and rankings among other Yautja. The most well known is the Jungle Hunter Clan, which features the more recognized appearance of the Predator seen in first and third film and even Mortal Kombat X, respectively. Other known appearances are that of the Los Angeles Hunting Party and the Super Predators, appearing in Predator 2 and Predators, respectively, which differ in skin patterns, armor, weapons and size. The Predator species consists of mostly males, the Predator females are a rare occurrence and there are only a few known ones, but none are ever depicted in the movies.
Despite their more primitive ways, the Yautja do uphold a code of honor in the Hunt. This includes not killing children, people struck with illnesses, pregnant individuals and other Yautja, however those that interfere with the Hunt or attack a Yautja are known to be killed on the spot. Bad Bloods are known to not hold any code of honor, killing anything they want, including other Yautja.
The most iconic feature of the Predator is its vast arsenal of weapons, particularly its camouflage and high tech mask. The Predator's mask functions on many levels, allowing it to scan areas, view areas in different spectrums of light and heat, weapon targeting and voice manipulation. The voice mechanics in its mask allow it to understand human and even learn other languages. Its camouflage renders it nearly invisible, however water seems to cause it to malfunction and reveal the Predator's location. Another major weapon is the Plasma Caster mounted on its shoulder that can tear through flesh and bone like a knife through butter. Additionally, it carries a wide range of blades, including its Wrist Blades.
Fans have speculated that the Predator was used as inspiration for many of the ninja characters in the franchise, particularly Cyrax. This is due to the netting attacks, self-destruct and character design that are similar between the two characters. The Spine Rip fatality used by Bi-Han and later his brother was inspired by a scene in the first movie where the Predator forcibly rips out a victim's spine and skull at once which is also seen in its Victory Pose.
Appearance
The Predator's appearance takes inspiration from the original 1987 film while the weapons it uses are from other films from its origin franchise and its shared Aliens vs. Predator.
The Predator's variationless form, Warrior and Hish-Qu-Ten variations take the appearance directly from the 1987 film. His Warrior variation removes his mask, revealing his faces. Additionally, his intro alters in this variation, viewing things in his natural eyesight rather than the thermal vision when wearing his mask.
The Predator's Hunter variation changes the color of his armor to black. This could possibly take inspiration from Predator 2 or Predators, as the the main Predators in both films wore darker colored armor.
The Predator stands at an intimidating height, equaling Jason Voorhees in height at a slight crouch and standing taller than the Shokan Goro. The Predator cannot be unmasked, even during Fatalities that cause his face to fall off, the mask remains on. His face is only revealed when playing his Warrior variation. The Predator wears a mesh wire body net under his armor, which is consisted of shoulder guards, wrist guards, and a plate covering his left pectoral, as well as armor on his hips and legs, and a loin cloth visible around his waist. The Predator also wears a collection of smaller animal skull trophies around his chest. His plasma caster will be mounted on his shoulder in the Hish-Qu-Ten variation and alternates between sides when swapping stances.
Biography
- Mortal Kombat X: The Predator is not here to rule us. He does not wish to destroy the realms. He and others of his alien race merely fight--and kill--for sport and honor. There is much kombat in Earthrealm. Shao Kahn and then Shinnok thought themselves konquerers. They were defeated. The Predator will not be. The humans, Outworlders and Netherrealm demons will fall to his superior weapons, tactics, and strength. Their skins will make fine trophies.
Lore in Mortal Kombat
- As with all guest characters, their lore and Arcade Endings are entirely non-canon to the series, even if specific parts use canonical events.
It is unknown how the Predator arrived in the Mortal Kombat Universe, but this did not stop the hunter from finding new game in the hunt for the kombatants of the Mortal Kombat Universe.
Combat Characteristics
Powers and Abilities
A highly evolved alien, the Predator possesses vast superhuman strength and durability well beyond that of a fully grown and well trained adult human male. In conjunction with these deadly attributes, the Predator has access to advanced weapons and technology such as his wrist blades, which it can use to skewer opponents in a single blow, plasma caster that can fire deadly bolts of energy that can tear through almost anything and sever limbs with a single shot, deadly combi-stick for close range combat, and can hide himself using a cloaking device to make himself virtually invisible save for a slight ripple in the air resembling heat waves. The Predator's mask also allows it to track his targets by their body heat and set up targeting sights for his plasma caster.
Signature Moves
- Stealth: The Predator activates a cloak ability in his wrist gauntlet, temporarily becoming invisible, although his body will still distort the light, much like Reptile's invisibility. While in Stealth, the Predator takes 50% reduced chip damage from the opponent. Unlike Reptile, the cloak will not be canceled when the Predator gets hit, but will sparkle, however sustaining too much damage will cause the cloak to end prematurely. Connecting or being struck by an X-Ray attack ends this effect prematurely. (MKX)
- The enhanced version is called Cloaking, which makes the Predator completely Immune to chip damage as long as he remains cloaked.
- Smart-Disc: The Predator launches a razored disc upward, where it will spin for a second before tracking the opponent and flying straight at them. However, the disc will be canceled if the Predator gets hit, even when the attack is blocked. It can also be performed from the air, called Air Smart-Disc, respectively. When the disc connects on an airborne opponent, it keeps them in the air for a moment, allowing the Predator to continue combos if close enough. If the Smart-Disc is the first hit of a combo, the Predator's combo damage noticeably decreases. (MKX)
- The enhanced version is called Dual Smart-Disc, in which the Predator launches two discs, dealing increased damage and doubles the juggle effect if the Predator is close enough to the opponent.
- Scimitar Stab: The Predator lunges at the opponent to stab their abdomen and lift them with his retractable Wrist Blades, and then throws them away. The attack also gave the option to throw the opponent in the opposite direction, called Away Scimitar Stab, respectively. (MKX)
- The enhanced version is called Scimitar Slam, which has Armor but no extra damage.
- Once the Predator makes contact with the opponent, the Predator can enhance the attack again, which he slams the opponent on the ground, dealing increased damage and bouncing the opponent for a juggle.
- The player can enhance either version of Scimitar Stab to perform the juggle effect as long as the move connects.
- Yautja Strike: The Predator leaps towards the opponent and takes them down by slamming his arms over their head. The attack can also be done in the air, called Air Yautja Strike, respectively. This attack can be performed up close or from afar, called Close/Far Yautja Strike, respectively. The far version of the attack can reach full-screen distance. (MKX - Warrior Variation)
- The enhanced version is called Yautja Pounce has increased damage and bounces the opponent, leaving them in the air and allowing for a juggle. The enhanced airborne version has the properties as the regular version, but will still juggle the opponent should it successfully connect.
- Dread Slam: The Predator smacks the opponent with a powerful backhand, knocking them away. (MKX - Warrior Variation)
- The enhanced version is called Dread Launch, which has Armor and increased damage. When blocked, the attack creates massive pushback and the Predator becomes safe when the attack is blocked by the opponent.
- Self-Detonate: The Predator inputs a command to his wrist gauntlet, laughing maniacally and begins to emit a blue pulse around himself. After a moment, an explosion will come from the Predator, damaging himself and launching the opponent in the air if the opponent is hit by the explosion. The opponent can block the attack to avoid damage and the juggle effect, however the attack creates massive pushback and the Predator is extremely safe if this is done. This effect ends immediately if the Predator takes damage, with the exception of damage-over-time effects. The damage caused by the explosion inflicted to the Predator is unavoidable. (MKX - Warrior Variation)
- The enhanced version is called Self-Destruct, which activates much faster, has the Predator recover from the attack much quicker and reduces the damage dealt to the Predator by half but doubles the damage inflicted to the opponent.
- Snag: The Predator throws a triangular trap on the ground that takes a second to become active. Once activated, if the opponent steps onto it, they will be caught and hung upside-down, open for the Predator to attack. The trap can be thrown at close, medium and far distances and even from mid-air, called Close/Far Snag and Air Close/Far Snag, respectively. Inputting the attack's command again detonates the trap, which if the opponent is near, will juggle them for continued combos. (MKX - Hunter Variation)
- The enhanced version is called Trap and causes the Snag to be deployed instantly. The set off can also be enhanced to become an Armored Explosion, which destroys the trap in a wide ranged explosion that launches the opponent in the air. Can be thrown at different ranges and in the air like the original.
- Medi-Kit: The Predator crouches and injects a healing substance in his leg, restoring 5% of his total health in exchange for a depletion in stamina. Requires a full bar of stamina to use. (MKX - Hunter Variation)
- The enhanced version is called Quick Healing, which restores 10% of his health. The Predator will still lose all stamina when used and still requires a full bar of stamina to use.
- Plasma Shot: The Predator uses his shoulder cannon to shoot a plasma projectile straight at the opponent. If the attack is delayed, the Predator will perform a Plasma Caster, in which it will be able to target the projectile up, down or forward with a red laser indicator before firing. This attack can also be dash-cancelled. The attack can also briefly juggle an opponent in the corner, keeping them in the air for very, very brief combo extensions; otherwise they will fall to the ground. (MKX - Hish-Qu-Ten Variation)
- The enhanced version is called Plasma Barrage and shoots three straight plasma projectiles in a quick succession, knocking the opponent down. This can hit ducking opponents but is not an overhead attack. The attack can also be used to extend combos for a brief moment when in the corner of an arena; otherwise, the opponent is knocked away.
- Up Plasma Shot: The Predator shoots an upwards plasma projectile against foes in the air. When close enough, the single shot can very briefly juggle the opponent, keeping them in the air momentarily. (MKX - Hish-Qu-Ten Variation)
- The enhanced version is called Up Plasma Barrage and shoots three upwards plasma projectiles in a quick succession. When performed in the corner of the arena on an airborne opponent, it can juggle the opponent for a very brief moment; otherwise, the opponent is knocked away.
- Ground Plasma Shot: The Predator shoots a downwards plasma projectile to hit the opponent's feet. It only hits from a medium distance. This version recovers much faster and can juggle the opponent more easily than the other versions. This attack can be performed closer or further away, called Close/Far Plasma Shot, respectfully. (MKX - Hish-Qu-Ten Variation)
- The enhanced version is called Ground Plasma Barrage and shoots three downwards plasma projectiles in a quick succession and different distances, which juggles the opponent for brief combo extensions. This juggle effect will not occur in the corner of the arena as there is not enough space for the second and third shot to connect.
X-Ray
- What The Hell: The Predator stabs his opponent with his Wrist Blades, then throws them behind it. As they get up, the Predator fires a Plasma Caster shot to the face, breaking most of the skull's facial bones. The Predator then leaps and throws a Smart Disc into their opponent's neck, making them fall onto the ground as the Disc is severing their spine. While still in the air, the Predator deploys his Scimitar once again and impales the opponent's abdomen, causing their stomach to explode. (MKX)
Other Moves
- Throw: The Predator lifts the opponent, stabs their abdomen with his Wrist Blades and cuts them up to the chest with it. He then vertically rips the blade off of their body and throws them away. (MKX)
- Ugly Mother: The Predator kicks the opponent, strikes their head, grabs them and plunges his Wrist Blades into their chin before throwing them away. (MKX)
Fatalities
- Ghostin' Us: The Predator deploys his Wrist Blades and stabs his opponent, then lifts them into the air and slams a Smart Disc into their head, killing them. He then drops the dead opponent onto the ground, making the severed scalp fall off, then the disc rolls away soon after as well, revealing the cut-in-half brain. (MKX)
- Certain Death: The Predator deploys his Plasma Caster, locks onto his opponent, and shoots a hole into their abdomen, then blasts off one of their arms. As they writhe in agony, the Predator moves his targeting sights to their opponent's head, then blasts off the upper part of their head in a spray of gore. (MKX)
Brutalities
- Anytime: The Predator performs his X-Ray, only this time when he throws his Smart-Disc, it decapitates the opponent and he jumps down to perform his Brutality Victory Pose instead of stabbing them in the stomach. (MKX)
- Time To Bleed: The Predator performs his Throw, only this time, he slices the opponent in half at the waist. The Predator will examine the opponent before effortlessly throwing their upper body away. (MKX)
- Final Kountdown: The Predator performs either a Self-Detonate or Self-Destruct that kills both fighters in the process. The fighters' limbs will fall back onto the arena after a short time. (MKX - Warrior Variation)
- Skinned Alive: The Predator performs either a Snag or Trap, only this time, the Predator becomes invisible and the opponent is taken off screen and screams as flesh falls from the top of the arena, only for their skinned body to return, dangling from the top of the screen. When performed on the Xenomorph, it will simply be decapitated. (MKX - Hunter Variation)
- If It Bleeds: The Predator performs a Plasma Shot that blows a hole through the opponent's face. Depending on the distance, the Predator may deliver two additional shots, shooting off the opponent's arms as well. (MKX - Hish-Qu-Ten Variation)
- El Diablo: The Predator performs his Ugly Mother combo, ripping the opponent's head clean off when retracting his Wrist Blades. (MKX - Secret)
- Alternate Skinned Alive Brutality: The Predator performs his Skinned Alive Brutality, only this time, the Predator leaves nothing but bone. Does not occur on the Xenomorph. (MKX - Hunter Variation - Secret)
Ending
- Mortal Kombat X: This world called Earth produced many worthy opponents - which made for excellent sport. Some possessed a power previously unknown to the Predator's race: sorcery. The Predator sought to harness this new power for use in his konquests. He analyzed a trophy from a recent battle and eventually discovered its secrets. With the power of sorcery, the Predator was unstoppable and decimated whole worlds single-handedly. He had become the Apex Predator.
Trivia
General
- The Predator is the first science-fiction horror guest character, and overall the third horror movie guest character to appear in the Mortal Kombat series.
- The Predator is the first extraterrestrial guest character in the series, and the third overall extraterrestrial featured in the series after Superman and Darkseid.
- Mortal Kombat X is the first game in the series to feature guest characters that are rivals with each other in other media, this being the Predator and Xenomorph which originated in their shared Aliens vs. Predator franchise. The second game in the series to do this is Mortal Kombat 11 with the inclusion of the Terminator and RoboCop, who appeared in RoboCop Versus The Terminator, based off the comic of the same name.
- The Predator is the second guest character in the series to be alive rather than undead.
- The Predator's height is 7'8", standing taller than Goro. This is easiest to see during a Test Your Luck.
- The laugh the Predator makes when using his Self-Detonate special move is a reference to the mocking laugh it used before killing himself at the end of the original movie, the laugh mimicked from Billy Sole, portrayed by Sonny Landham.
- The Predator also performs this laugh after performing a Brutality and against characters that he does not mimic after winning a round (See Below).
- After winning a match via a Brutality, the eyes of the Predator's mask will flash yellow before it turns invisible, a reverse of the scene from the original movie, where after killing Blaine, Mac finds his body and sees the Predator's eyes flash while it is invisible and when Wolf hunts a police officer in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.
- This will not happen if the Predator is in his Warrior variation or when he is variationless.
- The Predator's appearance represents that of the Predator from the original movie, while his Hunter armor could either represent the Predator from the second movie, or Berserker from the third film Predators.
- The trap used in the Hunter variation is not seen in the movies until Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. The trap also worked differently than how it's used in game: The trap shoots lasers from the middle of the triangle, which anything that walks through it will be shredded to pieces.
- The Predator's Smart-Disc wasn't introduced until the second movie and has had different designs since.
- In Alien vs. Predator, its sequel Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, and The Predator, the Smart-Disc expands into a multi-bladed disc. The main Predator in the first AVP movie used it against a facehugger and the Xenomorph Queen, while Wolf in the second movie used it to dispatch drones.
- Additionally, the Predator's spear also was introduced in the second movie and has changed designs since, changing into a longer, thinner staff-like spear in Alien vs. Predator.
- The Predator, alongside the Xenomorph and Ferra & Torr are the only Mortal Kombat X characters to not appear in the Mortal Kombat Mobile at all, making them PC and console exclusive characters.
- The Predator had a different appearance before its official release including a different mask, armor color and its mandibles were visible through its mask.
Mortal Kombat X
- Shinnok is the only character to address the Predator by name.
- The Predator was the first guest character to kill Shinnok in his arcade ending.
- The Predator is one of the few characters with an alternate version of a Brutality.
- Like the other guest characters, the Predator has numerous references to infamous quotes from his origin franchise in the names of his attacks, combos, and specials:
- Kombos Knock-Knock, Come On, Meat Grinder, Kill Me, Bleed Bastard, You're One, I'm Here, Ugly Mother..., and Get To The Chopper, Brutalities Skinned Alive, If it Bleeds, and X-Ray What The Hell are all named after quotes said by the character Dutch Schaefer, who was portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- Kombos Payback Time, Slack-jawed, World of Hurt, and Brutality Time To Bleed are named after quotes said by the character Blain Cooper, who was portrayed by Jesse Ventura.
- Kombo We. Hit. Nothing is named after the line said by Poncho Ramirez, portrayed by Richard Chaves, after the squad's failed attack on the Predator when they fired all their weapons at once at it, but failed to even hit it.
- Kombos I See You and CONTAAAAACT, Brutality Anytime, and Fatality Ghostin' Us are named after quotes said by the character Mac Elliot, who was portrayed by Bill Duke.
- The Predator is one of the few characters to have a Brutality that derives from his X-Ray, and not only from special moves, combos or throws.
- During a round win, the Predator's laugh will be mimicked from that of the current kombatant he's fighting against, only laughing his signature mimicked laugh from Billy when against the Xenomorph, Jason, Triborg, Leatherface, or in a Mirror Match or after performing a Brutality (except for the "Final Kountdown").
- Additionally, the Predator has a rare chance to speak a quote of the current fighter he is fighting, mimicking one of their battle taunts. This seems to happen more frequently with Scorpion, as the Predator will say "To Hell with you!" in Scorpion's voice, but is much more rare with other characters.[1]
- The Predator will even say "Get over here!" as Scorpion, making Scorpion the only character the Predator quotes more than once. This one, as stated above, is very rare to encounter.[2]
- The Predator is the only character that doesn't have his own name on the bullet from Erron Black's revolver during Black's X-Ray, and is referred to as "Ugly Mofo" instead, referencing the franchise yet again.
- During Predator's interaction with Bo' Rai Cho. Bo' Rai Cho will call Predator "One ugly motherfucker".
- The reference also makes a return in Mortal Kombat 11, during an interaction between the Terminator and Baraka.
- When the Predator wins a match without doing a Fatality or Brutality, he will walk up to the grounded opponent and rip out their spine and skull before returning to his ship and placing the recently-acquired trophy into his collection. This makes the Predator one of three characters in Mortal Kombat X who will always kill the opponent after a match without performing a finisher, the others being Corrupted Shinnok and the Xenomorph.
- The Predator is one of the few characters whose fighting style is altered by the addition or removal of a weapon.
- The Predator is one of four characters with a unique chestburster during the Xenomorph's victory screen. The others are Tremor, Mileena, and the Xenomorph in a mirror match.
- This chestburster a reference to the crossover film franchise which featured a hybrid of the two species, called the Predalien, or The Abomination in the crossover game series, respectively.
- The Predator is one of three characters with a cloak ability in the game alongside Reptile and Triborg as Smoke, however the light reflects off the Predator's body, causing him to only appear partially invisible.
- The Predator is one of three characters with a non-traditional run-cancel ability. The first was Ferra & Torr and the third was Tremor.
- The Predator's Skinned Alive Brutality and its alternate version will never result in a skinned or skeleton Xenomorph.
Mortal Kombat 11
- In Mortal Kombat 11, many of the interactions guest character Terminator reference his actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's movies, some including the Predator's first movie.
- Johnny Cage also taught the Terminator to call Baraka an "ugly motherfucker" as stated above.
Mortal Kombat 1
- Johnny Cage references the Predator when Reptile turns invisible in front of the Earthrealm Champions for the first time in the game's Story Mode.
- Arcade interactions reveal Johnny showed the movie to Reptile later on, horrifying the Zaterran.
Errors
- As with many characters in the series, the Predator features an accessory that incorrectly changes positions on his body when swapping stances, this being his Wrist Blades.
- The Predator's Wrist Blades erroneously curve when stabbing the opponent during his Ghostin' Us Fatality.
- When playing Variationless, the Predator's eyes do not glow during his Brutality Victory Pose despite wearing his mask.
- The Predator's head will clip through the ground when falling over from Fatalities and Brutalities.
- The Predator's Smart-Disc and Spear appear out of thin air when using combos or special attacks involving the weapons, with the exception of Dual Smart-Disc.
- Certain arenas cause the Predator's Brutality Victory Pose to defy logic, as it walks off and floats in mid air before disappearing.
- The Predator's hair always clips into each other.
- The Predator's hair will clip through his Plasma Caster during gameplay.
- His lower mandibles clip through his hair when previewing his taunt.
- Performing an X-Ray on the Predator while he wears his mask causes his mandibles to phase through his mask.
- The Predator's Anytime Brutality has a chance to not trigger even if the requirements are met.
- The Predator will be incorrectly shorter than Jason Voorhees when the latter performs his Kill For Mother Fatality. This error is present with all characters taller than Jason.
- The Predator's hair clips through the back of his corpse during Goro's Peek-A-Boo Fatality.
- Mileena and Erron Black will comment on the Predator's face in interactions he has his mask on despite not seeing it.
- The Predator's face becomes briefly visible when disappearing during his Skinned Alive Brutality.
- Crouching causes the cloth around the Predator's waist to clip through his thighs, waist and legs.
- On an extremely rare occasion, performing the Ugly Mother... combo the moment the Predator should explode will cause no damage or reaction from the special attack towards the Predator or his opponent.
With the release of Mortal Kombat XL, numerous bugs, errors and glitches have arisen that involve the Predator.
These errors include are listed below:
- Performing his Certain Death Fatality during a Mirror Match causes the other Predator to not be decapitated, rather the hair on his head no longer renders. His mask will also stay on if playing in any variation besides Warrior.
- Performing his Ghostin' Us Fatality during a Mirror Match causes his hair to remain rendered on the lower parts of his hair.
- When performing Fatalities or Brutalities on a Predator in the Hish-Qu-Ten, the Plasma Caster stays on his back unlike other characters that lose additional Variation accessories. This error is not present in Fatality Practice.
- Performing the Predator's If It Bleeds Brutality full-screen distance causes the match time and health bars to remain on screen. This will also occur if the Predator is attacked anywhere in the arena when performing the Brutality.
- Performing the Predator's Anytime Brutality causes the animation to play in its entirety despite being canceled by the finisher, resulting in the Predator's Wrist Blades popping out and moving on his arm.
- Performing the Predator's Anytime Brutality in the Hish-Qu-Ten Variation causes his Plasma Caster to vanish before reappearing as he jumps down.
- Performing the Predator's Final Kountdown Brutality has a chance to cause the Predator's severed limbs to float in the air in suspended animation. This occurs more often if the Predator is airborne.
References
External Links
- The Predator's Page about the species on the Alien vs Predator Wiki
- The original Predator, which the Mortal Kombat Predator is based on, on the Alien vs Predator Wiki
- The Predator's Mortal Kombat X Page on the Alien vs Predator Wiki
- The Predator's Page on Wikipedia