Earthrealm

Earthrealm is a dimension that featured in the Mortal Kombat.

History

Original Timeline

Earthrealm was one of many realms that were formed after the Elder Gods shattered the One Being.

Saurians were originally native to Earthrealm, where their civilization thrived countless years ago. However, 65 million years ago, in the late Cretaceous Period, their age came to an end when a war raged amongst the Elder Gods. At the time, it was the God of Darkness Shinnok who had turned against his brethren in order to become the master of the realms and sought to possess Earthrealm. He was opposed by the Thunder God Raiden and the conflict between the two was so devastating that it ravaged Earthrealm, resulting in the K-T event which marked the end of the Mesozoic Era and the dinosaurs. The Saurians and the dinosaurs that remained managed to flee the devastation and were divided between the ones who left to another realm known as Zaterra, where they attempted to rebuild their civilization, which and for a time, it began to thrive once more; and the ones who decided to take refuge in the Hollow Earth instead and endured underground in Earthrealm without interference.

Latter on, Earthrealm came to the attention of the Outworld Emperor Shao Kahn who looked to conquer it. However, he could not outright invade it but instead warriors from both realms were to attend the Mortal Kombat Tournament. The sorcerer Shang Tsung, under Shao Kahn's orders, took control of the tournament invoked by the Shaolin in a bid to upset the Furies and invade Earth. In this time span, Shang Tsung, as a Grand Champion himself once held a 9-tournament winning streak, but was cut short in the earlier tenth tournament by the Great Kung Lao. However, Kung Lao held his position as Grand Champion for only one generation, after which his life was taken by Shang Tsung after his newest warrior, Goro, who defeated him, taken his title and held it for another nine victories.

During the final tournament, Liu Kang was sent to be Earthrealm's champion where he came to exploit the Shokan Goro's overconfidence and defeated him. This caused him to become the new Champion of the Mortal Kombat Tournament and thwarting Outworld's plans. Upon hearing of Goro's defeat, Shang Tsung challenged him in what became an epic battle between the pair. Liu Kang defeated Shang Tsung with his Flying Kick, taught to him by Bo' Rai Cho. Shang Tsung's defeat caused the island to self-destruct. Liu Kang then returned home as the new Mortal Kombat Champion. Coming home from Tsung's Island, he found many of his Shaolin brothers killed in a vicious attack by a Tarkatan horde. Enraged, Liu Kang decided to travel to Outworld, backed by fellow White Lotus member and spiritual brother Kung Lao, Raiden, the new Sub-Zero, and Smoke to seek revenge. Before he traveled to Outworld, Liu Kang went to Hollywood to seek Johnny Cage's help. Luckily, Liu Kang arrived at the right time as Cage was being attacked by a Tarkatan horde. Now joined with Johnny as well as Sonya's superior Jax Briggs, they finally traveled to Outworld. At the tournament, he and Kung Lao met Kitana, and Liu Kang began to fall in love with her. He eventually learned the true nature of the Outworld tournament, but competed anyway. While it is unclear as to what matches took place, it is known that Liu Kang fought Shao Kahn, eventually defeating the emperor.

Reboot Timeline

During the Armageddon, Shao Kahn ultimately proved to be the victor causing the destruction of all of existence. In his final moments, Raiden sent his memories back in time to his past self around the time of the Mortal Kombat Tournament. These appeared as scattered visions that the younger Raiden experienced in the hope of averting this dark future and thus causing a change in the timeline. Raiden's message, alongside a series of mental images, travels back in time to the events of the first Mortal Kombat tournament covered in the series, held on Shang Tsung's Island. The Raiden of the past not only senses these visions but also notices that his amulet is cracked. He thinks nothing of it at first, as the tournament is beginning. After Sonya defeats the Lin Kuei assassin, Raiden appears and receives yet another vision, this time of Liu Kang defeating Shang Tsung. Believing this means something, Raiden tries to prevent Sonya from attacking Shang, only to have the Special Forces lieutenant attack him instead. After ordering Sonya to stop, Raiden assists her in freeing Jax by creating a blinding flash of light. As Sonya and Jax flee, they are confronted by Kitana and Jade, but Sonya manages to defeat them both. A helicopter arrives shortly afterwards, only to be blasted out of the air by a fireball. Sonya turns to Shang Tsung, who reveals to her that Kano is challenging her to kombat. Kano mocks Sonya for not having Johnny around to protect her. Sonya, however, defeats Kano and tries to take him into custody, but Shang intervenes. Kano then leaves with the sorcerer. Raiden, Liu Kang, and Johnny Cage show up, with the Thunder God using his magic to heal an injured Jax. Raiden tells the group that he has been receiving visions from the future, about Armageddon, and believes they must work to avert this tragedy, starting by winning the tournament. Sonya, Johnny, and Jax all agree to work with Raiden.

The next day, the revenant Scorpion was summoned from the Netherrealm to fight in the tournament. He expresses a desire to battle Sub-Zero. Raiden, knowing that Kung Lao is in disguise as a Masked Guard standing beside him, confronts him. Lao, eager to prove that he is Liu Kang's equal, accepts the challenge against Scorpion, but loses. After humbling Lao in kombat, Scorpion once again demands a fight against Sub-Zero, only to be challenged by Nightwolf instead. The shaman tells Scorpion that his aggression is misplaced and that he should look for other ways to find peace, instead of seeking revenge. Scorpion, however, simply accuses Nightwolf of dishonoring his own kind and defeats him. After the fight, Raiden, having sensed a vision that, if Scorpion kills Sub-Zero, a more dangerous threat will emerge known as Noob Saibot with him speaking to Scorpion and pleading with him to spare Sub-Zero's life, on the condition that he will ask the Elder Gods to resurrect the Shirai Ryu if he does. Scorpion reluctantly accepts this agreement. The following day, Scorpion approaches Lin Kuei´s assassins Cyrax and Sektor, who promptly taunt him and his clan, leading to Shang Tsung declaring a kombat challenge. Scorpion soundly defeats both in a 2-on-1 fight. Not long after, Sub-Zero shows up and taunts Scorpion, who responds by dragging him to the Netherrealm where they engage in kombat. Sub-Zero is defeated, but Scorpion honors his agreement with Raiden and spares his life. Quan Chi, however, shows him images of the Lin Kuei's destruction of the Shirai Ryu, including one of Sub-Zero murdering his wife and child. Sub-Zero pleads with Scorpion for mercy and tells him the visions are fake, but Scorpion removes his mask in a fit of rage and proceeds to kill Sub-Zero.

A distraught Scorpion later returns with Sub-Zero's remained charred skull and spine and leaves soon afterward. Raiden then speaks to Sub-Zero's former friend, Cyrax, who vows to make Scorpion pay. In the discussion, Raiden asks Cyrax about the Cyber Initiative, and also questions the participation of the Lin Kuei in the tournament. Unfortunately, this conversation leads Cyrax to be ambushed later on by Sheeva and Baraka, who have been sent to kill him by Shang Tsung. However, Cyrax emerges victorious over both warriors. Cyrax confronts Shang Tsung as he is conversing with Sektor. Tsung scolds Cyrax for having jeopardized his plans by speaking with Raiden. Sektor nevertheless explains that Cyrax will continue his mission, which is to kill Johnny Cage. Immediately afterwards, Cyrax fights and defeats Cage, but decides to spare his life, leading him to rebel against his clan. Sektor confronts him over his disobedience, stating that the Cyber Initiative will remove all insubordination. Angered, Cyrax fights Sektor, defeats him in the process, and declares that he is done with the Lin Kuei.

Liu Kang emerges as the only Earthrealm warrior left in the tournament. Shang Tsung introduces Ermac as Kahn's latest creation and has him fight Liu Kang, only to be defeated by him. Watching the fight, Kitana tells Tsung that she will ensure Liu Kang doesn't reach the final challenge. While training for the next fight in the courtyard, Liu Kang and Raiden discuss the Thunder God's visions more, especially the sentence of "He must win". Believing that "He" refers to Kang, Raiden further encourages him. Later, Kang is ambushed by Kitana, but manages to defeat her. When Kitana asks him to kill her, Kang spares her life. Instead, he remarks that they truly had no encounter, and expresses a desire to meet her under more favorable circumstances. Kung Lao, Raiden and Liu Kang enter the arena as Shang Tsung introduces Lao. Tsung tells the audience the Liu Kang will fight against Scorpion and Quan Chi as his next fight. He defeats them both. He is then sent to Goro's Lair to challenge the reigning champion, Goro. After a long, hard-fought battle, Kang defeats the Shokan prince. With this victory, Kang faces off against his last opponent: Shang Tsung himself. As Raiden foresaw, Kang bests the sorcerer, who concedes defeat, handing victory to Earthrealm. The Outworld warriors, along with Kano, leave through a portal, with Kitana taking a last lingering look before departing. Raiden and the other Earthrealm forces congratulate Kang on his victory, but to Raiden's surprise, his amulet cracks further.

Overview

In appearance, Earthrealm was a vast and richly diverse plane teeming with natural beauty and ecological complexity. Towering mountain ranges rose like ancient sentinels over vast lowland forests, where towering trees canopied lush, green undergrowth. Great rivers carved through valleys and fed into sprawling oceans, dotted with remote islands. Its skies, at times serene or thunderous, mirrored the emotional temperament of the world below. Deserts stretched across expansive lands in some regions, with golden dunes and sunbaked ruins hinting at civilizations long forgotten. Snow-covered tundras in the north preserved wild beasts and ancient magics, while tropical zones burst with vibrant flora and fauna. Humanity’s imprint ranged from medieval villages and ancient temples to futuristic cities pulsing with modern technology, showcasing the wide temporal and cultural variance within the realm.

The realm’s structure balanced spiritual resonance with physical life. Unlike many other realms, Earthrealm was deeply connected to the cosmic essence of balance, housing a powerful life force that made it a frequent target of invasions. Sacred sites like the Wu Shi Academy and the Sky Temple acted as both martial training grounds and mystical anchors, drawing spiritual energy through ley lines coursing across the planet. Portals between Earthrealm and other realms were hidden or heavily guarded, often located in sacred places or areas of natural energy convergence. These thresholds shimmered with eldritch energy, allowing passage to Outworld, Netherrealm, and beyond—though such gateways were closely watched by defenders of the realm.

Earthrealm had long endured incursions by rival domains, particularly Outworld and Netherrealm, but remained resilient due to the efforts of its champions. The realm’s population included not only humans but enhanced warriors, magical beings, and even deities walking among mortals. Defenders like the Shaolin monks, Lin Kuei warriors, and the Special Forces formed Earthrealm’s first and last line of defense, standing between annihilation and continued sovereignty. Their histories intertwined with Earthrealm’s topography, as hidden monasteries, ruined battlefields, and forgotten shrines told stories of sacrifice and defiance carved into the land itself.

Culturally, Earthrealm was a tapestry of beliefs, martial traditions, and mystical philosophies. Martial arts were not only disciplines but spiritual paths, with chi manipulation, ancestral spirits, and sacred weapons woven into their practice. Earthrealm's spiritual dimension overlapped subtly with the physical—monks communed with past warriors through meditation, and combat itself was considered a form of ritual. Mortal Kombat tournaments were the fulcrum of Earthrealm’s defense, binding its fate to sacred law and proving its champions' worth through trial by combat. Though a place of natural harmony and philosophical richness, Earthrealm constantly stood on the brink of conquest. Its unique blend of raw beauty, latent power, and mortal ingenuity made it a jewel fiercely coveted by its adversaries, and a sacred duty for those who swore to protect it.

Locations based within the realm included:

• Arctika :
• Charred Mountains :
• Dead Woods :
• House of Pekara :
• Krimson Forest :
• Shirai Ryu Fire Garden :
• Sky Temple :
• Wu Shi Academy :
• Yin Yang Island :

Earthrealm is known for the creation of rice wine, said to "put Outworld's liquor to shame." Fishing is also a common activity within the villages, as many inhabitants can be seen carrying fish on spears. Trade is the voluntary exchange of goods and services and is a form of economics. Thus, Earthrealm provides goods and services such as meat, including fish, pork, dogs, and beef, and services such as locksmiths in exchange for koins.

Unlike many other realms, Earthrealm does not possess an absolute ruler. Instead, Earthrealmers organize their lives by residing in separate nations, which are ruled by monarchy, communist state, military dictatorship, theocracy, and democratic republic, depending on the nation. Though many nations are developed, such as the United States of America and China.

Organizations based in the realm included:

• White Lotus Society :
• Lin Kuei : a Chinese clan of assassins with a long history and heritage with them being bitter foes of the Shirai Ryu. The Grandmaster latter instituted the Cyber Initiative that began forcibly converting the clan's assassins into cyborgs.
• Shirai Ryu : a Japanese clan of assassins with a long history and heritage who were bitter foes of the Lin Kuei.
• Tekunin : a splinter of the Lin Kuei consisting of assassins being turned into cyborg warriors.
• Black Dragon :
• Red Dragon :
• Special Forces :
• Outer World Investigation Agency : established by the military after Shao Kahn's failed invasion.

Earthrealm was shown to be one of the most technologically advanced realms, if not the most advanced. Many Earthrealmers, to counterbalance for their lack of or limited experience with magic, use technology and engineering to their advantages.

In time, Earthrealm and Edenia came to be close allies with this coming to be the case after warriors from the former freed Edenia from Shao Kahn's rule. The relationship of Liu Kang, the Earthrealm's Mortal Kombat champion, and Edenia's princess Kitana has strengthened that alliance. On the opposing side, Outworld has tenuous relations with Earthrealm, acting as friend and foe with ever shifting allegiances due to changing of Khans. While the Netherrealm and it's affiliates are indefinite foes of Earthrealm, both sides of which having had their respective rulers attempt to control it at some point.

Inhabitants

• Raiden :
• Fujin :
• Shang Tsung :
• Liu Kang :
• Sonya Blade :
• Johnny Cage :
• Jax Briggs :
• Sub-Zero :
• Scorpion :
• Kano :
• Kabal :
• Erron Black :

Notes

• Earthrealm featured in the setting of the Mortal Kombat universe.

In other media

Television

• In Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins, Earth appeared in the setting of the 1995 prequel animated television mini-series to the live-action film.
• In Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, Earthrealm featured in the setting of the 1996 animated television series.
• In Mortal Kombat: Conquest, Earthrealm appeared in the setting of the 1998 live-action prequel television series. Events depicted were set centuries ago during the time of the Great Kung Lao and depicted his clashes with Outworld who sought to conquer Earthrealm.

Film

• In Mortal Kombat, Earth was depicted in the setting of the 1995 live-action film. The Mortal Kombat Tournament was being held on Shang Tsung's Island that was located within Earthrealm. Many contestants were provided transport via his ship to the island where they took part in the tournament that decided the fate of the realm. It was shown that despite Shang Tsung losing it was his master Shao Kahn who decided to invade the world.
• In Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Earth was depicted in the setting of the 1997 live-action film. It was shown that despite losing the Mortal Kombat Tournament that Shao Kahn still arranged for a full scale invasion of Earth. This was achieved through the secret support of his father who stood amongst the Elder Gods and also by using a loophole that involved his fallen bride Sindel.

Video games

• In Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Earthrealm appeared in the setting of the fighting crossover video game. It was shown that an incident involving Shao Kahn and Darkseid of DC Comics caused the two to merge into Dark Kahn whilst also causing an attempted merger between the two realities.

Appearances

• Mortal Kombat II: (1993)
• Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance:
• Mortal Kombat: Deception:
• Mortal Kombat: Armageddon:
• Mortal Kombat 9:
• Mortal Kombat X:

External Link

• Mortal Kombat Wiki Entry

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