Sub-Zero
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{{Mortal Kombat character
| name = Sub-Zero
| image = Image:Sub-ZeroMKSM.jpg
| age = 42
| height = 6' 2" (185 cm)
| weight = 210 lbs (95 kg)
| origin = Earthrealm
| appearances = Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat 3
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
Mortal Kombat Trilogy
Mortal Kombat 4
Mortal Kombat Gold
Mortal Kombat Advance
MK: Deadly Alliance
MK: Deception
MK: Shaolin Monks
| race = Cryomancer
| allies = Smoke
Frost
Raiden
Kenshi
| enemies = Noob Saibot
Quan Chi
Hotaru
Sektor
Scorpion
| weapons = Ice Scepter (MK4)
Kori Blade (MKDA, MKD)
| fighting-styles = Shotokan
Dragon
| alignment = Good
| portrayers = Daniel Pesina (MKII)
John Turk (MK3, UMK3, MKT)
Keith Cooke (second film)
}}
Sub-Zero is the name of two characters from the Mortal Kombat series. This article covers the younger version. For the older version, see Noob Saibot.
Sub-Zero is a blue-garbed ninja. He is descended from cryomancers, an Outworld race possessing the ability to generate and control the powers of ice, as was his brother.
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About Sub-Zero
In many ways, the younger Sub-Zero shows that he has been greatly influenced by his elder brother, as they share many personality traits. However, through the years, Sub-Zero has evolved from what fans labeled "carbon copy" of his brother to a man of integrity, great self-discipline and great power.The younger Sub-Zero predictably shared many traits with his older brother upon his introduction. Like the elder, the younger Sub-Zero gives the impression of being a stern, distant and cold man who goes about his business silently, without attracting unwanted attention. However, the similarities end there, since the disparities between the brothers, who were once neutral and almost indistinct from each other, have now grown so large that one could speak of the evil twin syndrome. While the younger Sub-Zero was depicted as a young ninja who was living in the shadow of his older brother, he has since changed and grown into a young man who has steadily progressed towards the more humane sides of moral issues. This change in characteristics has not only strengthened him as a man, but has also set him apart from his former Lin Kuei counterparts. This included leaving his clan in disgust and breaking the sacred codes of honor, joining the rebellion against Shao Khan and assisting Raiden and Liu Kang (along with Earthrealm's other chosen warriors). More recently, he defeated the cyborg assassin Sektor to gain the leadership of the Lin Kuei and become the Grandmaster, where he has grown even stronger and more powerful.He is a dependable ally of Earthrealm who is willing to assist when needed, especially when Raiden gives the call. While he may not be Mortal Kombat's greatest champion, nor is he considered to be the greatest warrior that ever lived, he is without question one of the very best warriors that Earthrealm has to offer.He comes off as the most polyvalent of them all. He, like much of the MK cast, also follows a character archetype, in his case the enigmatic hero that shows up to aid the main hero(es) when needed.
Storyline
It is known that the father of both brothers (the fourth man to be known as Sub-Zero in his lineage) was a secret operative for the clan in the United States. He married an American woman and together they had two sons and a daughter. Against the will of their mother, the father took the sons with him to move back to China at a certain time, and as such both brothers became warriors of the Lin Kuei. The mother and the daughter remained in the U.S.
Following the death of his older brother and failure to kill Shang Tsung, the young Lin Kuei warrior was sent to Outworld along with his close friend Smoke to complete the assignment after Shao Kahn's Mortal Kombat tournament was announced. While traveling to Outworld with Smoke, Sub-Zero discovered Scorpion's foul vendetta against his brother; Scorpion had risen from the Netherealm once more upon learning of Sub-Zero's "survival" and continued to hold a grudge against the new Sub-Zero, believing him to be the same man that killed him years ago. However, Scorpion received a rude awakening when he witnessed Sub-Zero spare the life of a defeated opponent whom he battled during the tournament, which left him confused for he did not understand why this Lin Kuei warrior showed mercy. Scorpion then came to the realization that this new Sub-Zero was the younger brother of the man who murdered him so long ago, and thus swore not to harm him. Sub-Zero never learned why the specter spared his life. Despite their efforts, neither accomplished the mission that they were tasked to do for the Lin Kuei, although they did assist Liu Kang, Raiden and their allies in Liu Kang's battle with Shao Kahn. Smoke and Sub-Zero returned home empty handed.
In the events leading up to Mortal Kombat Trilogy, the Lin Kuei obtained technology that could vastly improve the effectiveness of their warriors, and they chose four of their number to undergo the procedure that would turn them into cyborg assassins: Sub-Zero, Smoke, Cyrax, and Sektor. Sub-Zero and Smoke refused to participate, and fled the clan, who declared them anathema. While Sub-Zero successfully managed to escape, Smoke was captured and subsequently turned into a cyborg. In leaving the clan, Sub-Zero had broken the Lin Kuei codes of honor. After Smoke's automation, the Lin Kuei programmed the three cyborg ninja to hunt and terminate Sub-Zero, who by this time had received a vision from Raiden and agreed to join the rebellion against a new threat.
The armies of Shao Kahn attacked Earthrealm, and Sub-Zero was among the few mortals whose souls were spared so they could fight Kahn and his extermination squads. These events also signalled the beginning of Sub-Zero's transition to a greater moral consciousness. Unluckily for Sub-Zero, his cybernetic assassins, lacking souls, also survived. Sub-Zero eventually encountered Smoke and convinced him that he still had a soul, which then overrode Smoke's Lin Kuei programming. With his new ally, Sub-Zero battled and defeated both Sektor and Cyrax. However, instead of destroying Cyrax's CPU, he reprogrammed the cyborg to hunt and terminate Shao Khan (at which Cyrax failed - he would wander in Jade's Desert and become trapped there). Smoke was less fortunate: he was captured by Shao Kahn's troops and transported to Outworld as a curiosium. Eventually, the Earthrealm warriors were victorious and Earth was restored to its normal state.
When the banished Elder God Shinnok threatened the Earthrealm, Raiden once again summoned Sub-Zero to assist in the defense of Earth. In homage to his older brother, Sub-Zero donned his sibling's uniform, and brought to the battle information passed to him which could prove essential to Raiden in his mission to stop Shinnok. In the meantime, Quan Chi had convinced Scorpion that Sub-Zero still retained some culpability for the destruction of the Shirai Ryu, turning the spectre's hostile attentions to him once more. Sub-Zero met Scorpion in Goro's Lair and the two fought, with Scorpion gaining the upper hand. When it seemed that Scorpion was going to kill Sub-Zero, the Lin Kuei revealed that he had no role in the murder of Scorpion's clan. Quan Chi, convinced that Sub-Zero was about to die nonetheless, readily admitted to his guilt to Scorpion, who then turned on Quan Chi and transported the sorcerer into the Netherrealm, where Scorpion hunted Quan Chi unceasingly. This was to be the last time Scorpion and Sub-Zero were to actively oppose each other.
Some time afterwards, the defeated cyborg Sektor assassinated the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei and challenged Sub-Zero to a fight for the leadership of the Lin Kuei Clan. Realizing how great an opportunity this was, as well as recognizing Sektor as a threat, Sub-Zero accepted the cyborg's challenge and defeated him, gaining the position. Sub-Zero also came into possession of the Dragon Medallion, which enhanced his freezing powers to levels he had never thought possible. Great changes were made to the Lin Kuei after Sub-Zero's victory. He moved the Lin Kuei to a remote area in the Arctic where they would not be disrupted and began training them as a force for good, teaching his students not only formidable fighting skills, but the value of life as well, turning them into wisened warriors rather than mindless assassins. Image:Sub Zero.jpg
While in Outworld, the Demon known as Sareena encountered him. Since she had freed his brother from his confines of the Netherrealm so many years ago, Sub-Zero offered her asylum within the Lin Kuei.
Sub-Zero held a tournament at the Lin Kuei headquarters in order to recruit strong warriors, and a female who surprisingly harnessed the same freezing powers as Sub-Zero emerged as the winner. Impressed by her exceptional skill, Sub-Zero made Frost his apprentice, breaking Lin Kuei tradition. While she was a superb fighter, Frost did not agree with Sub-Zero's philosophies and appeared arrogant and aloof, which would generate some friction between her and Sub-Zero's allies, specifically Sonya.
After Liu Kang's murder at the hands of the newly formed Deadly Alliance, Raiden asked Sub-Zero to join him to fight for Earthrealm's survival. Surprised at the tragic news, Sub-Zero agreed, but mainly for personal reasons - he wanted to gain the respect of his fellow Lin Kuei and prove his worth once again to his clan and to most importantly, himself.
When Sub-Zero and Frost were separated from the other Earthrealm warriors on Outworld, Frost attempted to steal the Dragon Medallion. Unable to control the medallion's powerful energies, she was consumed by her own freezing abilities and died. Sub-Zero placed the blame squarely on his own shoulders for her death, feeling he had failed to dampen her pride and teach her the same philosophies of life he had.
Image:Sub-Zero Armageddon (Roster Render).PNG As he searched for a place to bury Frost, he encountered the ruins of an Outworld civilization capable of manipulating cold. After careful study and examination of this race, the cryomancers, he came to the realization that he and Frost were descendants of this race. Burying her and forgiving her for her rashness, Sub-Zero donned an ancient suit of armor found in the ruins and headed for the Earthrealm portal, to rendezvous with Raiden and the Earthrealm forces, a band of Tarkatan warriors attacked him. Believing he would die, Sub-Zero gave the fight everything he had. Strangely, he heard his armor speak to him, and it helped him win the battle against the seemingly endless horde. He was then assaulted by the zealot Hotaru, but emerged victorious. Discovering Kenshi, who was severly injured after an attack by Mavado, he brought the wounded samurai back to health, and together they set out for the Portal, becoming friends and travelling companions, They were being pursued, however, by Hotaru once more.
Possible Future
It is unknown what exactly happened to Sub-Zero after the discovery of Kenshi, and ultimately during the events of Mortal Kombat: Deception. His own ending seems to be a part of his actual storyline. Kenshi's, on the other hand, depicts the duo as being attacked by Hotaru once more, who is slain by the swordsman. Other in-game endings depict him as being killed, at the hands of Hotaru, or the team of Noob Saibot and Smoke. It is assumed, however, that his status as one of the series' most popular characters will in all likelihood ensure his safety. He will return in the upcoming Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.
Moves
- Freeze: Just like his older brother, Sub-Zero can send a blast of ice towards the opponent to freeze them in place for a free hit. (MKII, MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK4, MK Gold, MKDA, MKD)
- Power Slide: Yet another move borrowed from his older brother where he slides across the floor knocking the opponent off their feet. (MKII, MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK4, MK Gold)
- Floor Ice: Being the first to use this move within a video game, he freezes the floor and whomever steps on the ice will slip all over the place. (MKII, MKT)
- Ice Clone: Sub-Zero can create a clone of himself anywhere he wants to, and anyone who touches it will freeze. (MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK4, MK Gold, MKD)
- Ice Showers: Sub-Zero would throw his ice into the air at various points around the arena. He could throw it close, mid way, or far and it would freeze the opponent. (MK3, UMK3, MKT)
- Ice Shudder: After capturing the Dragon Medallion, his powers increased, and Sub-Zero would shake and anyone who touches him would freeze. (MKDA)
- Cold Shoulder: Sub-Zero would rush the opponent with his shoulder. (MKDA, MKD)
Fatalities
- Ice Shatter: A popular two-part fatality in Mortal Kombat II where Sub-Zero deep-freezes his opponent, then uppercuts their upper body, shattering it in the process. There are two different input sequences of the fatality that had to be performed sequentially in order to achieve it; failing the second sequence would result in a frozen opponent, but no fatality. A number of glitches were found involving deep-freezing an opponent, but substituting the fatality with something else (MKII, MK4 as a single-sequence fatality). This was also incorporated as a standard special attack in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero.
- Ice Grenade: Sub-Zero forms an ice grenade and throws it to the upper body of his opponent, exploding his enemy from within (MKII).
- Freeze and Break: Sub-Zero grabs his opponent and holds them overhead, deep-freezes them, then breaks apart (MK3,UMK3,MKT).
- Breathe and Freeze: Sub-Zero blows out a mist of cold air which freezes his opponent, who topples over and breaks into many pieces on the ground (MK3).
- Head Rip: Sub-Zero rips his opponent's head and spine from their shoulders in a similar manner to the original Sub-Zero's MK1 fatality. (MK4)
- Skeleton Rip: Sub-Zero grabs his opponent's spine from his/her back and rips out his/her skeleton (MKDA).
- Head Shatter: A combination of the head rip and ice shatter fatality, Sub-Zero would deep freeze his opponent, walk up to him/her and pull his/her head off. Then with his opponent's head, he would throw it at their frozen body which would smash into a million pieces. (MK:D)
- Cold-blooded Killer: Sub-Zero deep-freezes the opponent's legs and shatters them with a sweep. As his opponent crawls away, he axe kicks his opponent's head off their shoulders. (MK:D)
- Spine Freeze: Sub-Zero sticks his hand in his opponent and freezes them, then he rips out their spine and throws it. (MK:SM)
- Freeze Shatter: Sub-Zero freezes his opponent, then throws an iceball and they explode. (MK:SM)
- Frozen Uppercut: Sub-Zero freezes his opponent, slides and uppercuts their torso off. (MK:SM)
Other finishers
- Sub-Zero Doll (Friendship): Sub-Zero flourishes a doll replica of himself. (MKII)
- Meet Frosty (Friendship): Sub-Zero makes a snowman. (MK3, UMK3, MKT)
- Polar Bear (Animality): Sub-Zero turns into a polar bear and mauls his opponent. (MK3, UMK3, MKT)
- Ice Stomp (Multality): Sub-Zero jumps up then slams a frosty fist to the ground killing surrounding enemies. (MK:SM)
- Frostbite Rage: (Brutality): Sub-Zero bashes his enemies to death while channeling his icey powers. (MK:SM)
Movie appearance
Image:MKASUB-ZERO.jpg The younger Sub-Zero appears in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation and has a brief, inconclusive fight with Scorpion after rescuing Liu Kang and Kitana from Smoke. His physical appearance is almost identical to his Mortal Kombat 3 counterpart.
Trivia
- Although Scorpion was intended to become the protector of the younger Sub-Zero in atonement for mudering his older brother at the end of MKII, and the plot is mentioned in UMK3, this was retconned by Deadly Alliance, whose Konquest mode specifies that Scorpion vowed only not to harm the Lin Kuei warrior.
- Since Mortal Kombat 3, Sub-Zero has had a scar running from his forehead across his right eye, but in the early arcade version of Mortal Kombat 4 and Deadly Alliance, this was forgotten, each time leading to speculations that his older brother had returned. The scar was first featured to be red, only to later change blue as a result of Sub-Zero's enchanced powers. In Mortal Kombat Deception, his scar seems to have faded greatly with age.
- Fans once believed that Sub-Zero's scar was caused by Scorpion. The idea that it was received during his and Smoke's escape from the Lin Kuei was treated as canon for a long time as well. However, in Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, it's shown that Kung Lao gave him the infamous scar.
- Sub-Zero had a distinctly more Asian look in his Mortal Kombat II ending than he did in later installments, (in which he was portrayed by John Turk). His oddly Western look for a Chinese ninja was later retconned by giving him an American mother. According to this new story, his father had a wife, two sons and a daughter while he lived in America to hide his personal role as an assassin for the Lin Kuei, which explains Sub Zero's rather American/Caucasian appearance. But some fans assume that he is simply of mixed heritage since his bloodline and nationality may have been blended throughout generations that traced back to his ancestors from Outworld.
- It is believed that Sub-Zero was unmasked in Mortal Kombat 3 to give him an identity of his own. Because Sub-Zero had a nearly identical appearance to his elder brother from the first Mortal Kombat, fans didn't necessarily buy that this new Sub-Zero was the younger brother of the first, and because the younger Sub-Zero had a storyline that depended on the elder Sub-Zero's, the fans felt that this was the same Sub-Zero all along and begun to believe that there was only one Sub-Zero in the series. Midway gave Sub-Zero a new appearance and unmasked him to simply give him a new identity and clear the beliefs that were two Sub-Zeros and that the current Sub-Zero that exists today is the younger brother of the elder Sub-Zero.
- Sub-Zero, in one incarnation or another, is the only character to have been playable in all Mortal Kombat games, with the exception of Mortal Kombat: Special Forces. He was also the first Mortal Kombat character to have his own game.
- Although Sub-Zero originally had brown eyes, they turned white after obtaining the Dragon Medallion. Renders from Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks also give him white eyes.
- Although Sub-Zero's animality, turning into a polar bear did not exist until Mortal Kombat 3, it was claimed by some fans that they had seen Sub-Zero morph into a polar bear in Mortal Kombat II. This was merely a rumor as the Animalities did not exist until Mortal Kombat 3.
- Since the Outworld origin of Sub-Zero was revealed, some fans speculated that long ago when Outworld was in a time of chaos and war, many of the cryomancers may have been wiped out by the armies of Shao Kahn, who may have feared that they would dominate Outworld through their feared and legendary abilities to manipulate cold. It's also assumed that a very few may have survived and fled the genocide of their race to Earthrealm and made a new life there, thus creating a new line of cryomancers leading to the time of Sub-Zero that all MK fans know today. It could be assumed that one particular family of cryomancers had found asylum in the confines of the Lin Kuei, since it was mentioned that both Sub-Zeroes and their ancestors before them had resided there while working as assassins for centuries.
- In MK4, when Sub-Zero does his Ice Clone attack, he apparently yells the spanish phrase 'toque el hielo', which means 'touch the ice'.
- In the N64 version of Mortal Kombat Trilogy, the unmasked Sub-Zero was nowhere to be found possibly due to the N64 lack of rom space of the cartridge, though the ninja Sub-Zero is still found. What is interesting is that the ninja Sub-Zero in that version can perform all of both the MKII and MK3 version of Sub-Zero's special moves such as the Ice Puddle and the Ice Clone as well as the Ice Shower. In the PlayStation version of MK Trilogy, this isn't possible since that game had two different forms of Sub-Zero.