Raiden

Raiden is a central character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. He is based on the Japanese deity Raijin and is depicted as the god of thunder who possesses control over lightning. Raiden made his debut in the original 1992 Mortal Kombat game and has appeared as a playable character in every main installment since, with the exception of Mortal Kombat 3. Raiden is the eternal God of Thunder and the protector of Earthrealm. He commands many supernatural abilities such as the ability to teleport, control over lightning, and flight. After the second defeat of Shinnok, he ascended to the status of Elder God. Despite his divine nature, he thinks in terms of eternity rather than normal human lifespans, and his memories date back to the beginning of time itself. In the storyline of the games, Raiden is the protector of Earthrealm. He fulfills his duty by selecting and training the warriors who defend Earthrealm from various threats, while also participating directly in the realm’s defense. Raiden generally serves as a mentor figure to the franchise’s heroes, although he sometimes assumes a darker role in the story, which sees him become more ruthless in his protection of the realm. One of the franchise’s central characters, Raiden has appeared in various related media outside of the Mortal Kombat games. He has generally received a positive reception and is among the series’ most popular characters for his design and special abilities.