Board Thread:General MK Discussion/@comment-1084762-20150807025315/@comment-25163804-20150807034541

Alright, let's start overall with abilities.

Fire is simply energy superheated to the point of combustion. An explosive combustion, if you will. However, cryomancy is the ability to control cold, and cold is a lack of energy. So, scientifically speaking, we would need to know if the fire would be able to stop the cold, or if it woudl punch right through and keep going.

For example, if Scorpion and Sub Zero throw their respective element's 'fireballs' at each other, and they both collide, what would likely happen?

Since they both seem to have a 'core' that will cause impact and an explosion with different results (Scorpion's fireball does damage while Sub Zero will freeze), more than likely they will collide and explode, stopping each other. However, depending on how hot the flames are or how cold the ice ball is, it could go either way. So this point is tied.

Now, what about weapons? Ice is usually thought of as brittle, but a thick enough chunk of ice will do some serious damage. Think about any time you might have punched ice, or kicked something frozen. Ice can be very solid. So, Sub Zero's swords would probably be able to withstand at least a couple good hits, especially if they aren't blocked by anything like bone or metal. The fact that he could also summon a giant ice hammer to smash a foe would especially be handy, as the head would be incredibly heavy; Calculating how large the hammer head is (Approx. 2 feet long by approx. 1 foot high and wide) gets the cubic footage of approximately 4 cubic feet. Taking this into a density calculator for ice (http://www.aqua-calc.com/calculate/volume-to-weight, the material being solid ice), we get a measurement of just under 229.5 pounds, or approx. 105 kilograms. The kind of damage that would do would be staggering. More likely than not, one swing from that hammer would be enough to instantly kill Scorpion if it hits him in the head, or shatter his ribs.

However, Scorpion is not without his weapons. His twin swords are more than likely made of steel, making them lighter than iron, and easier to swing around. However, since he can also control fire, he could also heat up the blades by setting them on fire, thus beign able to melt Sub Zero's swords in a clash. While he does not pack a heavy weapon like a hammer, his chained spear is a weapon that requires much skill.

A real world analogue can be found in the Chinese Rope Dart, a weapon that is a dart attatched to a 3-5 meter (10-16 foot) long rope or fine chain, and was used as more than just a means to pull someone closer. It can slash, stab, and strike foes, like its cousin the Meteor Hammer or the flying claws. In this video, Tom Fazio, a Rope Dart Master, demonstrates how a rope dart would actually be used. While the 'rope dart' he uses is not a real rope dart, imagine Scorpion using his rope dart in a similar fashion, and you can imagine how deadly this weapon can be.

Next, we'll see about some of the more defensive strategies the two have. Sub Zero has his cryomancy, which would allow him to create a thin sheet of ice on his body and protect it from blows, even potentially damaging the foe's hands from the impact. He can also create ice shields that can stop projectiles and freeze foes on contact. Scorpion has less in the way of traditional defense, but the fact that he can set himself on fire allows him to harm foes by simply being near them, and would more than likely scorch Sub Zero on contact, say if he tries to throw Scorpion.

From a mobility standpoint, Sub Zero can slide as a faster means of getting around. Since he slides low, many attacks could be whiffed as he strikes the opponent's shins, or as he tries to reposition himself. On the other hand, Scorpion's teleportation allows him to almost instantly warp around the arena. He can even strike opponents from behind, which is a formidable asset.

And finally, the demon that Scorpion can summon is about the size of a man, and probably weighs approximately 170-190 pounds, given the muscular structure and size. However, the demon has one distinct advantage; horns. The horns on his head are shaped like those of bighorn sheep, whose horns can weigh in at about 40 pounds. An impact like that would, according to David Attenborough from The Life Of Mammals, 'crush a human skull like an eggshell'. If this demon were to slam its head into Sub Zero, it would, in real life, be certain death.

In conclusion, while the matches are somewhat close, Sub Zero's defensive capabilities are more 'there' than what Scorpion has available, but Scorpion's offenses could be enough to turn the tide. Unpredictable attacks coupled with an assist and the raw power of fire and incredible skill with a rope dart would be a fair fight for a 105 kg hammer, a near-unlimited supply of swords and daggers, and impressive defenses. In essence; it would be a damn near tie, but due to his ability to attack from behind, the advantage would go to Scorpion for this one.