Shang Tsung

Shang Tsung (Chinese: 尚宗) is a fictional character and one of the main antagonists of the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. He debuted as the antagonist of Mortal Kombat (1992) and has remained one of the franchise's primary characters. Shang is a sorcerer; he is principally defined by his abilities to shapeshift into other characters and to absorb the souls of his defeated opponents. In the series, he is usually confronted by the series' protagonist Liu Kang. Shang has appeared in various media outside of the games, including the 1995 film and the 2021 film. He has received positive commentary for his design, abilities, and role in the series.