Sonya Blade



"I guess I'll have to do this the hard way!"

- Sonya Blade's Mortal Kombat (2011) Battle Cry

Lieutenant Sonya Blade, (USA) or Lt. Sonya Blade, (USA), is a female soldier who is a member of Earthrealm's Special Forces unit known as Outer World Investigation Agency (OIA) in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. She is one of the few original Mortal Kombat characters, debuting in the first Mortal Kombat arcade game.

About Sonya
A member of a top United States Special Forces unit, Sonya Blade is a beautiful, stern, tough-as-nails lieutenant. Her impulsiveness is catalyzed by her superior and good friend, Major Jackson "Jax" Briggs. Sonya represents a very emancipated and headstrong woman, but for all her stubbornness and pride, she deeply cares about the lives of her friends and comrades. She has a long-standing enmity with the thug, Kano, who had murdered a former partner of hers, and stands for everything Sonya despises.

Powers and abilities
Sonya has the power to fire and manipulate pink-colored energy, as well as gain temporary flight (or at the very least the ability to maneuver in air). Her abilities are vast, mostly based on agility, as well as deadly and impressive due to her Special Forces training. She is very fast in combat, using quick and effective kicks and strikes.

She is also, along with Liu Kang, Nightwolf, Johnny Cage, Sub-Zero, Smoke, Kabal and Stryker, one of Raiden's Chosen Warriors, being the only female with the honor and, thus, one of the strongest fighters not only in Earthrealm, but all the realms.

Signature moves

 * Energy Rings: Clanging her wrists together, she sends out ring-like fireballs that would hit the opponent. (MK, MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK4, MKG, MKvsDCU, MK 2011)
 * The enhanced version is called Rings Of Justice and fires two rings, one at normal height and the other at a lower level.
 * Leg Grab: Sonya does a handstand and grabs her opponent with her feet, then slams them to the ground. (MK, MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK4, MKG, MKvsDCU, MK 2011)
 * The enhanced version is called Krazy Legs. After the opponent is slammed onto the ground, they bounce over Sonya, who grabs them by the feet and slams them back down.
 * Air Leg Throw: Using her legs she tosses the opponent to the ground from the air. (MK4, MKG, MK 2011)
 * Face Planter: She takes off into the air and flies across the screen with a punch to anyone who is in the air. (MK, MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK4, MKG, MKA, MKvsDCU)
 * Inverted Bicycle Kick: Like Liu Kang, Sonya rises into the air with a series of kicks to the opponent. This can turn into Bike Assault after doing a Bicycle Kick - Sonya does another Bicycle Kick to the ground. The inverted bicycle kick slightly returns in MK 2011, but Sonya can only perform it during her X-Ray Move. (MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK4, MKG, MKvsDCU)
 * Kartwheel: Sonya performs a cartwheel at her opponent, kicking them on impact. (MK4, MKG, MKvsDCU, MK 2011)
 * The enhanced version is called Kartwheel Bash and increases damage.
 * Flying Kick: Sonya flies across the screen with a kick to the opponent's torso. (MK:DA, MK:A)
 * Kiss: Sonya blows a kiss that stuns the opponent by irritating their eyes. Note that this move won't work on Kenshi, due to the fact that he is blind. (MK:DA, MK:A, MKvsDCU, MK 2011)
 * The enhanced version is called Deadly Kiss and hits the opponent at a further distance. This can be charged as well, but doesn't change the distance.
 * Armed Forces: Sonya crouches down and releases a purplish pink projectile from her hands at the opponent. (MK:A)
 * Arc Kick: Sonya performs a kick that arcs through the air, enabling her to hit the opponent in the air or on the ground. (MK 2011)
 * The enhanced version is called Arc Wave and travels at a faster speed, as well having increased damage.
 * Air Drop: Sonya can do a kick straight down after jumping in the air. (MK 2011)
 * The enhanced version is called Air Strikes and will do multiple kicks on the way down.
 * thumb|250px|rightX-Ray Move - SF Beat Down: Sonya initiates her X-ray Move with a series of punches and kicks (four to be exact), which if any one of them lands, she then performs a leg grab on the opponent's neck, snaps it, then she uses the inverted bicycle kick and slams him/her on the ground head first, breaking their skull and neck. (MK 2011)

Other moves

 * Free-Fall Super Move: Sonya bicycle-kicks her opponent before using a powerful Energy Ring attack to knock them to the ground. (MKvsDCU)
 * Throw: Sonya grabs her opponent by the shoulders and knees him/her in the stomach. She then spins around and elbows them in the stomach (Forward Throw) or flips them over her shoulder (Backwards Throw). (MK 2011)
 * Knockdown: Sonya rams her shoulder into her opponent knocking them to the ground. (MK 2011)
 * Tackle: Performed while in Military Stance. Sonya jumps onto her opponent, knocking them to the ground on their back. She then punches them once or twice, before jumping back up and kicking them in the crotch, sending them sliding across the ground. (MK 2011)

Fatalities

 * Flame Kiss: This fatality has been Sonya's trademark fatality ever since MK. She would blow a flaming kiss in the direction of her opponent, burning him/her alive. (MK, MK3, UMK3, MKT, MKvsDCU)
 * Crush Kiss: Another variation of this fatality was found in Mortal Kombat 3 in which she would once again blow a kiss and an amazing purple, glowing orb would be hurled towards an opponent, thus crushing the opponent and leaving behind a pile of blood and bones. (MK3, UMK3, MKT)
 * Slice Kiss: The kiss returns with a different style. She conjures an energy ball that destroys the opponent's upper torso once it makes contact. (MK4, MKG)
 * Scissor Split: Sonya performs her leg grab trademark move and grabs her opponent with her legs, holding them high momentarily before ripping the body apart by splitting her legs. (MK4, MKG, MK 2011)
 * Poison Kiss: The kiss once again returns and this time, with a sadistic new style. Sonya exhales a mystical poisonous mist at her opponent (complete with Valentine hearts), causing him/her to choke and vomit food twice and blood once. While the opponent is distracted by the vomiting, Sonya then jumps in the air and crushes her opponent's head with her feet. (MK:DA)
 * Airborne Blade: Sonya grabs the opponent by the neck, stands upside-down while doing so and snaps their neck. In Mortal Kombat 4, she uses this as her Grab attack, doing the very same thing, but it is not used as a fatal blow. (MKvsDCU)
 * Kut-Throat: Sonya gets a garrote wire, puts it at her opponent's throat and flips over their head. She then slowly slices through their neck, and their head comes off. (MK 2011)

Other finishers

 * Friendship #1: Sonya does her exercise. (MK3)
 * Friendship #2: Sonya would salute and flowers would grow all over the floor. (UMK3, MKT)
 * Animality: Hawk Rip: Sonya turns into a giant hawk and carries the opponent into the air and dices them to pieces. (MK3, UMK3, MKT)
 * Babality: Sonya does her Inverted Bicycle Kick and lands on her side. She spins around throwing a tantrum. (MK 2011)

Mortal Kombat
In the first Mortal Kombat feature film, Lieutenant Sonya Blade is portrayed by actress Bridgette Wilson. In the film, Sonya's pursuit of Kano leads her to Shang Tsung's boat, where she meets Liu Kang and Johnny Cage. The three of them are chosen by Raiden to represent Earthrealm in the Mortal Kombat tournament, and it is there that Sonya encounters Kano and defeats him, avenging the murder of her former partner by Kano's hands. Later in the film, Sonya is taken prisoner by Shang Tsung and challenged by him to Mortal Kombat. Sonya is rescued by Liu Kang, Johnny Cage and Princess Kitana. Liu Kang takes Sonya's place and defeats Shang Tsung, winning the tournament.

Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins
In the animated film Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins, Sonya Blade, voiced by Jennifer Hale, appears as one of the protagonists alongside Liu Kang and Johnny Cage.

Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
Sonya Blade appears in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm which is an animated cartoon series based on the Mortal Kombat franchise. In the series, Sonya Blade is voiced by Olivia d'Abo.

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
In the second Mortal Kombat feature film, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Sonya Blade is portrayed by actress Sandra Hess.

During the opening sequence, Sonya is quickly overpowered and taken hostage by Shao Kahn, but is saved by Johnny Cage before Kahn can execute her. Cage is subsequently killed in her place when Kahn snaps his neck.

Despite her sorrow over Cage's death, an emotionally guilt-ridden Sonya continues to aid her fellow Earthrealm warriors and Raiden in bringing an end to Shao Kahn's rule. She saves her parter and friend, Jax Briggs, from an extermination squad lead by Cyrax. Afterwards, she successfully fends off an assassination attempt on her life by Mileena, and is saved from one of Shao Kahn's unearthly creatures by Jax.

In the final battle between the Earthrealm warriors and Shao Kahn's kombatants, Sonya engages and defeats Ermac. The Earthrealm warriors are victorious in the battle and Earthrealm is restored to its normality.

Mortal Kombat: Rebirth
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth is a short film directed by Kevin Tancharoen. In the film. Sonya Blade is portrayed by actress Jeri Ryan. She informs assassin Hanzo Hasashi about Sub-Zero in Shang Tsung's underground tournament.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy
In this web series, Jeri Ryan reprises her role as Sonya Blade. In "Jax, Sonya and Kano" she is seen spying on a Black Dragon warehouse. Sonya attempts to transmit a report to Jax but Kano found her and delayed its transmission for two days, enough time for the Black Dragon's "Cyber Initiative" shipment to take place. When Jax, Stryker and the rest of the Special Forces ambush the warehouse, a grenade misfired from a grenade launcher during Jax and Kano's fight dislodged her chains, being below the ceiling, allowing Sonya to break free. She then flees to find Jax, taking out a henchman, but not before he launches a grenade at Jax. Jax then runs to Sonya, protecting her from the blast with his arms. Both survive but are hospitalized, and Jax's arms were blown off, though Stryker "has a plan for him", referring to the installment of Jax's cybernetic arms. Ryan won't be back as Sonya in season 2, due to her work on the ABC series Body of Proof.

Movies

 * Partner of Jax in both the first and second movies.
 * Arch nemesis of Kano in the first movie.
 * Friend and ally of Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, and Kitana.
 * Defeated and killed Kano in the first movie.
 * Taken captive by Shang Tsung.
 * Freed by Cage, Liu Kang, and Kitana before the final battle.
 * Saved from death at the hands of Shao Kahn by Cage, who in turn was killed in the second movie.
 * Recruited Jax to help in the battle against Shao Kahn in the second movie.
 * Killed Cyrax.
 * Defeated and killed Mileena.
 * Saved from an unearthly creature by Jax.
 * Defeated and killed Ermac in the final battle.

Comics

 * Hypnotized by Reptile into becoming the bride of Shao Kahn.
 * Shared a love interest with Johnny Cage.

Mortal Kombat Legacy

 * Lieutenant of the Deacon City Police Department.
 * Sneaked into the Black Dragon's warehouse to investigate the "Cyber Initiative".
 * Captured by the Black Dragon and imprisoned in a room where she was taunted by Kano, the leader of the Black Dragon, who had murdered her old partner, until the DCPD broke into the warehouse.
 * Saved by Jax from a grenade explosion, but the two were badly injured.
 * Awakened in a intensive care unit one week later, where Stryker told her that the Department of Defense has a "plan" to save Jax.

Stage Relationships

 * Arctika: After taking out Sektor's warship, Sonya hacks into the Tekunin tracking system whilst Taven has one of their tracking devices on him. Sonya attempts to get information from him, only to be defeated. (MK:A)
 * Dark Prison: The possessed Sonya is kept here until Onaga requires her for his sinister tasks. (MK:D)
 * Kahn's Arena: Sonya and Kano were both captured by Outworld forces and chained up, forced to watch as Shao Kahn attempted to destroy her friends. (MKII)
 * Subway: An Earthrealm location where the Special Forces advertise recruitment (MK3, MK:A)
 * Warrior Shrine: Sonya is one of the warriors honored here by way of a statue in her likeness. (MK)

Mortal Kombat (film)

 * "I trust one person on this planet, Jax, you're talking to her."
 * "Where's Kano? Where is he?"
 * "When I want back-up, I'll radio for it."
 * "A handful of people on a leaky boat are gonna save the world?"
 * "Black Hawk to Cardinal. Black Hawk calling Cardinal. ls anybody monitoring? Jax, this is Sonya, do you copy?"
 * "Do I look like your secretary?"
 * Yeah, well, he didn't say anything to me. Shang Tsung knows where Kano's hiding!
 * "How many times do I have to tell you? I don't need your help. I can take care of myself."
 * "I smell something... bullshit."
 * "Just the way I like em', dumb and ugly."
 * "What, you used it to knife your mother in the back?"
 * "Yeah? Study this!"
 * "We can't win now. How can we possibly beat something like that?"
 * "Oh, don't you dare do this to protect me, Johnny Cage."
 * "Oh, I can't believe this. You are the most egotistical, self-deluded person I have ever met!"
 * "I will not not fight you, Shang Tsung! I'm not playing your game."
 * "My friends will come for me."

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation

 * "What's that supposed to mean?"
 * "If anybody's gonna kill Kahn, it's going to be me."
 * "Together, we couldn't even save Johnny."
 * "Forget it. If I die, that's fine, but I am not losing anybody else."
 * "Look! All you need to know is they're trying to kill me, and probably you too."
 * "Nice look, but I'd lose the wall."
 * "Nature's dying. The merger of the realms is almost done."
 * "I can't explain it! The merger is close, we've only got a few days left. Use your imagination."
 * "Nobody told me why Johnny had to die."
 * "Kitana??"
 * "Thanks, Jax. I uh, I owe you one."
 * "Wait. That tattoo, I've seen it before. On a robot and a woman. They both tried to kill me."
 * "Your dad's an elder God? Funny how you failed to mention that before."
 * "Leftover's are fine with me."
 * "Jax! Help!"
 * "I'm fine. So you finally got your confidence back, huh?"
 * "Oh, come on, Jax. Could've been worse. Could've been the last week of our lives."

Mortal Kombat: Legacy

 * "Jax, I've located the Black Dragon's warehouse at 20th and Wash. They're preparing a shipment of robotic weapons to be shipped out tomorrow under code name: Cyber Initiative. I think this is what we've been looking for. I'll confirm intel and transmit as soon as I can. And one more thing, Jax... Kano's here."
 * "Kano!"
 * "They'll find you."
 * "It was a trap!"

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon

 * "Tekunin Warship! This is Sonya Blade! You are in violation of the Earthrealm Accord! Surrender immediately or risk annihilation!
 * "I'm Sonya Blade of The Earthrealm Special Forces. You've got some explaining to do. What are the Tekunin up to?"
 * "I can follow you anywhere. Now answer me! What is Sektor planning?"
 * "I have full authority!"

Mortal Kombat (2011)

 * "I guess I'll have to do this the hard way."
 * "Good for you." (to Johnny Cage)
 * "Listen, I've got serious problems here. I'm in no mood to be hit on by some movie star." (To Johnny Cage)
 * "I don't need an escort! And I'm sure as hell not your baby!" (To Johnny Cage)
 * "Not man enough for a fair fight?" (to Kano)
 * "S.F. is on the way. You won't get far." (to Kano)
 * "Let him go! We're not part of your tournament!" (to Shang Tsung)
 * "Done! We're leaving!" (After defeating the elder Sub-Zero)
 * "Stand in my way and I'll kick your..." (To Shang Tsung)
 * "You want some too? Fine by me!" (When Raiden stops her from challenging Shang Tsung)
 * "Enough of this!" (after beating Raiden)
 * "Come on, Jax! Move it! That's an order!"
 * "I don't have time for this! Outta my way!" (When confronted by Kitana and Jade)
 * "Sure don't need anymore surprises like them." (After defeating Kitana and Jade)
 * "Damn you!" (after Shang Tsung destroys the rescue chopper)
 * "You're coming with me!" (After defeating Kano)
 * "All right then. We're with you, Raiden."
 * "That was awesome, Liu Kang!" (after Liu Kang defeats Shang Tsung)
 * "What is it with you Shokan and underground cesspools?" (While being held captive by Sheeva)
 * "You sure have a way with women." (After Jax defeats Sheeva)
 * "Motherf...That portal better be close." (When the younger Sub-Zero leaves her to tend to a wounded Jax on her own)
 * "But how do we know? Raiden could be having visions of possible futures, not the future."
 * "Raiden... Raiden, where are you?" (barely conscious after being wounded by Sindel)
 * "C'mon! It's up to us!" (To Johnny Cage, when Shao Kahn enters Earthrealm)
 * "You did what you had to do to protect Earthrealm. Losses in war are...are inevitable." (To Raiden)

Trivia

 * The character of Sonya was inspired by the karate champion and movie actress, Cynthia Rothrock.
 * Sonya was named after one of Boon's sisters. He confirms this in a video interview in the special edition of Deception.
 * Her known relatives are Major Herman Blade (father, deceased), Erica Blade (mother, unknown), and Daniel Blade (twin brother, deceased).
 * Sonya is one of only three blonde playable characters in the games. The others being Kurtis Stryker and Kobra.
 * She is also the only blonde female character.
 * Sonya almost didn't make it into Mortal Kombat. Originally, Kurtis Stryker, who later debuted in MK3 (although, at the time, the name was given to the character who would eventually be called Jax in MKII) used her storyline, but he was dropped and Sonya created to add a female character to an otherwise all-male cast.
 * In Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, despite Sonya's deep hatred towards Kano, she shown fighting alongside him against Deathstroke and the Joker.
 * Sonya was revealed to be one of Ed Boon's favorite characters during an interview around the time MK3 came out. Boon stated that she was not only one of the strongest, but also one of the most popular characters of the series.
 * Sonya and Kano were the first MK3 characters to be confirmed.
 * Sonya's body can be seen in the introduction of Mortal Kombat Deception, located on the stairs leading to the Shang Tsung's palace.
 * Originally, Mortal Kombat: Special Forces was to have both Jax and Sonya as playable characters; however, Sonya's part was dropped due to deadline issues. In early shots of Special Forces at the time when Sonya was still in the game, it listed her code name as "Panther".
 * Sonya was originally going to fight Jade during the first movie in a secret arena, but the scene was cut from the shooting script and never filmed.
 * In Malibu Comics' non-canon Mortal Kombat comic book series, Sonya was kidnapped, and hypnotized by Reptile into marrying Shao Kahn. Their marriage would have opened the barriers of the two worlds (Outworld and Earth) and Kahn would had been able to take Earth as his own (as well as Sonya becoming his Queen). The wedding was stopped during a battle involving the entire cast of the first two games. The comics also suggested a love interest between Sonya and Johnny Cage.
 * Sonya appears on Johnny Cage's movie poster as his romantic interest during his ending in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance.
 * A false rumour that spread among many players in the first Mortal Kombat was the existence of a code that would make Sonya appear naked in the game (referred to as the "Nudeality" or "Nudality"). Various reports told of its existence only appearing in the Sega version, only in the arcade version, and so on.
 * Sonya's partner who was killed by Kano was named Cliff LoDolce in Jeff Rovin's MK novel, Bill van Hoven in the MK movie novelization, and Wexler in the cartoon show, Defenders of the Realm.
 * Sonya is the first character used in the Challenge Tower in MK 2011.
 * One of the only two survivors of the Earthrealm fighters in the MK 2011 story mode, the other being Johnny Cage.
 * Sonya has the longest X-Ray Move, with up to 11 hits. It also easily earns the player an achievement/trophy "Block This!".
 * Sonya is the second character to swear in the entire series, the first being Scorpion.
 * Sonya, Frost and Kira are the only female characters from Earthrealm.
 * Along with Nightwolf, Quan Chi and Kabal, Sonya never appears in Mortal Kombat (2011)´s Story Mode in her alternate costume.
 * Sonya, along with Mileena, is the only female to have a hairline that turns completely invisible while being attacked by a X-Ray move.
 * Sonya one of the only four characters to have a surname, the other three being Jax, Stryker and Noob.
 * However, Sonya is the only female to possess a surname.
 * She is pushed off of the Pyramid of Argus in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon by Cage himself during the game's cinematic intro.
 * Her alternate costume in Mortal Kombat (2011) is the same as the outfit she wore in the movie Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, with gloves, a hat, and sunglasses.
 * Sonya along with Sindel, Kung Lao and Kabal are the only four characters whose the special moves are affected by Headless Kombat. She loses her Kiss Of Death move.
 * In Mortal Kombat (2011), if the player picks Sonya, it says "Sonya Blade", but the announcer just says "Sonya".
 * Sonya Blade's official theme is titled, "Go Go Go."thumb|right|300px|Sonya Blade's theme