Smoke



See also: Human Smoke

"Where there is Smoke, there is fire!"

- Smoke's Battle Cry from Mortal Kombat (2011)

Smoke is a ninja assassin who was turned from a human into a cyborg in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. He made his debut in Mortal Kombat II as an unplayable secret character in human form, and first became playable in Mortal Kombat 3 in cyborg form. He appears in the franchise's reboot, now retaining his human form in canon for the first time in almost two decades.

About Smoke
Smoke debuted in Mortal Kombat II as a hidden character to fight against. He was often spotted in the Living Forest stage in which he (along with Jade) peeked out of the trees. Like Reptile when he made his first appearance, he was simply a palette-swap of Scorpion with puffs of smoke surrounding him, but would move extremely fast. He would appear randomly before matches, offering clues that would enable the player to fight him, as Reptile had in the original Mortal Kombat.

Smoke would not have his own storyline until he was featured in Mortal Kombat 3, where he was once again a hidden character, but accessible to players with the use of a code. In this appearance, he would be a tortured, human soul trapped in the body of a cyborg. His most defining feature is the fact that he constantly seems to emit a smoke or vapor. This, combined with his power to teleport and turn invisible, once made him one of the Lin Kuei's top assassins.

In Mortal Kombat (2011), its revealed that he has long, flowing, ghostly white hair, which, while blown back in renders and artwork, covers his face in game.

Combat characteristics
Of all the three cyborg ninjas, Smoke appears to specialize in stealth and speed. His powers as a human were unknown for the most part, but in both forms, his body emits a constant smoky fume, probably to confuse his opponents on the whereabouts of his location. In MKII, he was depicted as moving at extremely high speeds. From Mortal Kombat: Deception onward, Smoke is seen using smoke-related attacks, such as causing his opponent to cough as well as teleporting. Due to Smoke's 'upgrades', his body appears to be made out of smoke, or at least his nanomachines emulate the sensation of smoke. Whatever the case, due to Noob Saibot's modifications made on his body, he has become a demon nonetheless. In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, he is seen to be able to mind control other people by inserting his gaseous mist into others. In Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Smoke is armed with rockets, similar to Sektor, and has the ability to transform himself into smoke in order to ambush his enemies.

In Mortal Kombat (2011), Smoke remains in his human form and his abilities are explored deeper. It is revealed in his ending that he is in fact an enenra, a demonic creature composed entirely of smoke and vapor. As such, he is able to not only actively utilize his namesake as an extensive weapon, but he is also able to morph his entire body into a cloud of vapor, allowing him to move swiftly around his opponent as well as escape from enemies or potential captors.

Signature moves

 * Spear: In MKII, Smoke would send out a rope tipped with a Kunai at the end to impale the victim and pull them through the air towards him for a free hit and would cause minor damage, identical to Scorpion. In his cyborg form, Smoke would catapult a trident-like spear from his chest rather than his arm. Smoke uses the spear in his secret fight in MK 2011. (MKII, MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK 2011)


 * Smokeycut: Smoke would go underground and then reappear under the opponent's chin, hitting them on the way. This attack was borrowed from Sektor (MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK:D, MK:A)


 * Air Throw: While in the air, Smoke grabs the opponent and throws them back on the ground. (MKII, MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK 2011)


 * Invisibility: Smoke disappears while a puff of smoke helps him become invisible. (MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK 2011)
 * The enhanced version is called Vanish and it turns him completely invisible, and also gives him a slight attack boost.


 * Smoke Away/Smoke Towards: Smoke turns into a cloud of smoke and dashes forwards or backwards. (MK 2011)
 * The enhanced versions are Phase Away and Phase Towards and dash at a longer distance.


 * Teleport: Smoke disappears, then reappears punching the opponent in the back and in front of them. This is done similarly to Kobra's Tele-Punch. (MK 2011)
 * The enhanced version is called Smokeport. In addition to the two hits, Smoke will jump down from above and attack the opponent.


 * Screenlg7.jpgSmoke Cloud: Smoke throws a smoke projectile at his opponent. If it connects, they are teleported up into the air and closer to Smoke, where they are vulnerable to attack, similar to Noob Saibot's Black Hole. (MK 2011)
 * The enhanced version is called Smoke Bomb. The smoke column goes higher and can trap mid-air opponents.


 * Shake: Smoke stands in place and surrounds himself with smoke, if a projectile touches him, Smoke will counter attack. This can be charged. (MK 2011)
 * The enhanced version is called Vibration and counters every attack, including throws. It can also be charged.


 * thumb|right|250px|Smoke's X-Ray Move.X-Ray Move - Burn Out: Smoke teleport-punches his opponent, then runs behind them and delivers a German Suplex which slams the opponent's head onto the ground, breaking their skull and neck. Then while they are trying to get up, Smoke kicks them in the face, breaking the skull even more. This can be delayed. (MK 2011)

Other moves

 * Suplex Throw: Smoke, in human form, grabs his foe, proceeds to roll backwards, brings up a leg as in a monkey flip and launches the foe halfway across the area. He then does a kip-up. Almost all male ninjas share the Suplex Throw pre-MK4. (MK, MKII, UMK3, MKT)


 * Body Slam: Smoke, in cyborg form, grabs his opponent and slams him/her to the ground as seen in his Air Throw. (MK3, UMK3, MKT)

Fatalities

 * Smoke Bomb: Smoke shoves an explosive bomb in his opponent's mouth in which detonates and explodes, ripping his opponent's body apart in the process. (MK3, UMK3, MKT)
 * Armageddon: A series of time bombs spews out of his stomach, which results in Earth's destruction at their (implied) explosion. A "glitch" would occur when used in an Outworld arena, as the Earth would blow up, even though this is in another realm. This fatality would become Cyrax's Mortal Kombat Gold Fatality, in which the exact same happens. (MK3, UMK3, MKT)
 * Killer Harpoon: In the Game Boy version, a giant spear shoots out from Smoke's chest armor, impales his opponent, and proceeds to shake them around. (MK3)
 * Smoke Death: Smoke disappears into thin air, after which he hits his enemy in the face. He then tears off their arms and head before becoming visible once more. (MK:D)
 * Smoked Out: Smoke jams his fingers into the opponent's skull and injects smoke into them. As he lets go, the extreme heat starts to sear the opponent's body from the inside. The excess heat begins to percolate from the opponent's body, they gush blood, and their flesh melts off. (MK 2011)
 * Tremor: Smoke does his Smoke Towards move, and goes through the opponent. When he reappears, the opponent begins to internally combust, then falls to pieces from the endothermic heat, starting with the top of the skull separating from the mandible, and the rest of the body from key joints. (MK 2011)

Other finishers

 * Friendship: A huge horn comes out of the chest and sounds off like a loud siren. (MK3, UMK3, MKT)
 * Animality: Bull Chase: After turning into a bull, he charges and rams his opponent off screen. (MK3, UMK3, MKT)
 * Hara Kiri: Self Destruction: In a move similar to Cyrax's Fatality in MK3, Smoke presses the self-destruct mechanism on his arm console and explodes. (MK:D)
 * Babality: He turns sideways and farts, then falls on his bottom and cries.

Movie appearance
In the movie Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Smoke appears in his cyborg form to find Liu Kang and to capture Princess Kitana, in order to keep her apart from Sindel. However, Smoke is stopped by Sub-Zero, who reveals that Smoke was originally after him before being reprogrammed by Shao Kahn. Sub-Zero does not state anything else of their past connections if they existed in the movie storyline.

Curiously, Smoke was basically a silver-colored (rather than violet blue-colored as in his MK3 appearance) version of Sektor in the film, as he was able to shoot missiles from his chest. Smoke's arsenal in the games included a three-pronged harpoon that shot from his chest, but no missiles. He did, however, exhibit one ability unique to his movie incarnation - being able to disintegrate into a moving cloud of smoke and re-form at will - which he used in a successful sneak attack on Liu Kang and Kitana. This was given to his game counterpart in MK 2011.

TV appearance

 * Smoke mkdotr.jpg the animated series, Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, Smoke appeared in one episode (titled "Old Friends Never Die"), serving Shao Kahn and seeking Sub-Zero. He is briefly seen in human form in a flashback scene before becoming automated. In the end, Smoke's human soul was able to overpower his programming and he stood to the vow of friendship between him and Sub-Zero. Many fans consider it to be the best episode in the short-lived series.


 * Smoke makes a brief appearance in his human form during the ending of one Mortal Kombat: Conquest episode, following Sub-Zero's betrayal of the Lin Kuei. Smoke is called upon by the clan as the next warrior to be sent to hunt and kill the traitor, at which point he emerges from a mist as a faint, grey figure with glowing red eyes. However, his appearance was not further elaborated on in later episodes as the series was canceled soon after. His appearance was elaborated in the fiction "Mortal Kombat Conquest Aftermaths Part 1", where he faces Sub-Zero in a battle.

Stage Relationships

 * Goro's Lair: The Earthrealm dungeon of Goro. Smoke will challenge anyone who enters through an Outworld portal. (MKII, MKT, MKA)
 * Lin Kuei Palace: Smoke and Noob Saibot invade the new Lin Kuei only to be driven off by Taven and Sub-Zero. (MKA)
 * Living Forest: Smoke would hide behind the trees, keeping an eye on his comrade Sub-Zero. He would also make this his area for Smoke Missions in Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks. (MKII, MKT, MK4, MKD, MK 2011)

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon

 * "You will not escape!"

Mortal Kombat (2011)

 * "Where there is Smoke, there is fire!" (battle cry)
 * "We should stay together, Tundra. Assuming your brother's identity will certainly draw attention. Not all of it welcome." (to Sub-Zero)
 * "Let us proceed then, Sub-Zero." (to Sub-Zero)
 * "If only they had been more forthcoming with the details of your brother's demise. We will find Shang Tsung, he will tell us all he knows. (to Sub-Zero)
 * "And deadly as the dawn." (to Sub-Zero)
 * "Wise though your emperor might be, he was foolish to send his housemaid to interfere with Lin Kuei business." (to Kitana)
 * "Sleep well, princess." (after beating Kitana)
 * "Shang Tsung!"
 * "Stay down. I would have word with your associate." (after defeating Kano)
 * "Tell me what you know of Sub-Zero's death." (to Shang Tsung)
 * "Assuming his form will not give you his skill, shapeshifter!" (after Shang Tsung assumes the Elder Sub-Zero's form)
 * "Now answer me! What do you know of Sub-Zero?!" (after defeating Shang Tsung and Reptile)
 * "Sektor?!" (after he sees Sektor as a cyborg)
 * "You actually did it... You're a cyborg!" (to the newly-robotized Sektor)
 * "I will never submit!"﻿ (after defeating Sektor)
 * "Thank you, Lord Raiden. I am called Smoke. Why are you here in Outworld?" (to Raiden)
 * "Forgive me, but if Sektor was searching for me, he is hunting Sub-Zero as well." (to Raiden)
 * "The Grand Master intends to turn every Lin Kuei into a cyborg. My friend is in danger.
 * "Then let us go. Sub-Zero's soul depends on it."
 * "Sub-Zero?! No!" (after Sub-Zero gets captured)
 * "But we will if we must!' (to Kitana)
 * "Kitana turns away from Shao Khan so you attack her rather than join her?!" (to Jade)
 * "You will come no closer!" (to Jade)
 * "He is my friend... What they did to him, it is hideous!" (about Cyber Sub-Zero)

Movies

 * Assassin of Shao Kahn in the second movie.
 * Reprogrammed and sent by Shao Kahn to kill Liu Kang and capture Kitana.
 * Frozen by the younger Sub-Zero and killed by Liu Kang.

Trivia
In General
 * Smoke was the first character in the series to become unlockable to the player in contrast to the other hidden kombatants who could only be fought against.
 * As a cyborg, Smoke's color scheme in Mortal Kombat 3 involves a violet shade of blue (preferably periwinkle and/or indigo) rather than gray. Fans speculated that Smoke is a robotic Sub-Zero because of their similar color schemes.
 * John Vogel confirmed it is possible the cyborg body used by Smoke during the original timeline is the same one that Cyber Sub-Zero uses in MK 2011.
 * However, Raiden's vision of Cyber Smoke shows him with a body closer to Sektor's. Possibly is a mistake (like Raiden's vision where Taven appears without his armor fighting Raiden, in that moment, he had it).
 * In Mortal Kombat II, Smoke is excessively fast compared to the other characters. This opened him up for sudden attacks if the player was fast enough to stop him.
 * Of the three cyborgs, he was the first that managed to regain his soul after his automation.
 * Of the three cyborgs, he is also the only one that does not leave shockwaves after being killed on the place where he's being finished. Also when their life is to zero, Cyrax and Sektor are unconsciously in short circuit having shockwaves on their body that can be heard. Smoke hasn't though.
 * Although Sektor and Cyrax volunteered to become cyborgs, Smoke was forced to be a cyborg.
 * Smoke's destiny appears permanently tied to the two Sub-Zero brothers. He accompanies the younger to the Outworld in MKII, hunts for him in MK3, and is restored to life but bound to servitude by the elder Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat: Deception.
 * In Mortal Kombat: Deception, his alternate costume shows his body as being fully composed of smoke (in effect, living up to his name). It sparked debate as to whether this outfit was actually Smoke in his human form, or a cybernetic demon form. Information provided on production art from Deception seems to suggest that it is human; both of Noob-Smoke's appearances are depicted, with the comment that both Ninja Smoke and Robot Smoke have a lot of fans. From a storyline perspective however, it is more likely that this is Smoke's form as a cyber-demon; as Noob-Smoke's alternate bio described Smoke's body being 'reshaped' by his nano-technology.
 * Strangely, Noob-Smoke's primary costume in Deception was actually their alternate costume. This was fixed in Armageddon.
 * In Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Smoke (still in his human form, the game having been intended to take place during the first two tournaments) challenges the player to complete 5 missions. Doing so will unlock Mortal Kombat II. (Ironically, much to the great ire of fans, this version of the game was the same as the one present in Midway Arcade Treasures 2, where due to a control mapping issue it was impossible to fight Smoke, as hitting Start would only pause the game.)
 * His appearance in Malibu Comics' non-canon Mortal Kombat series was something a source of amusement for fans, as he would randomly shout "Toasty!" while speaking, a reference to Mortal Kombat II's means to fight him.
 * Smoke has made two appearances in the cartoon, Robot Chicken, both in human form: once, as a sparring partner to Joey Fatone, and another fighting Sub-Zero. Erroneously, Smoke was shown using fire as his main technique. His fatality against Sub-Zero was to tear his heart out, kick his body away, set the organ on the ground, pull out a hockey stick, and smack the heart off screen, parodying Mortal Kombat's needlessly long and gory fatalities, specifically the ones that relate nothing to the character performing them.
 * In a Top 10 list hosted by Screwattack.com, Smoke was placed at #5 of the Mortal Kombat Characters in the Mortal Kombat Series.

Mortal Kombat II
 * A secret unplayable character of the game. To fight him, you must fight in the portal stage and perform a uppercut on your opponent until Dan Forden pops up at the bottom right corner and says Toasty. By pressing down & Start, the player would receive a message, and then be transported to Goro's Lair to fight with Smoke. In the Sega Genesis version of the game, you would be transported to a variation of the Portal stage, only it is blue.
 * Has the same special moves as Scorpion.
 * Appears to have the same fighting stance as Reptile as shown on top.
 * He occasionally peeks out from behind the trees in the Living Forest stage along with Jade.

Mortal Kombat 3/Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3/Mortal Kombat Trilogy
 * A secret playable character of MK3.
 * While doing his Armageddon Fatality in any Outworld Arena, the screen still shows Planet Earth exploding.

Mortal Kombat: Deception
 * A sub-boss of the game.
 * The first game that Smoke has his own Special moves.
 * His render from the Bio Kard is different from his final costume in the game.
 * Some elements from this early render were used in Chameleon's MKA character design.

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
 * When Sektor is knocked out, he gets back up the same way as Smoke. Although Smoke does not do that for this game but only does that in Deception.
 * He uses the Judo fighting style, the same fighting that Jax had in Deadly Alliance and Kenshi had in Deception.
 * Whenever it is time for Smoke to finish his opponent, if his Stinky Fingers special move is used, the opponent will not fall down.
 * Smoke, along with Onaga, Moloch, Motaro, Mokap, and Blaze, is the only character without a weapon style.
 * In the opening of Mortal Kombat Armageddon Smoke is seen fighting Nitara.

Mortal Kombat (2011)
 * This game marks Smoke's first appearance in his human form for nearly two decades.
 * When Cyber Sub-Zero looks at Smoke, his reading says that Smoke's special ability is teleportation.
 * When Smoke does his Smoked Out Fatality, he hits the brain instead of the eyes.
 * When Smoke performs his Smoked Out Fatality on Kratos, his Blades of Exile fade away with him.
 * Also, when Smoke performs his Tremor Fatality on Kratos, his mouth will stay closed, but smoke will still come out of his mouth.
 * Along with Noob Saibot, Smoke received a Klassic Costume in July through DLC.
 * When using Klassic Noob Saibot's alternate colors, Noob will summon Klassic Smoke as opposed to his usual shadow clone.
 * It is revealed in his bio-card that his real name is Tomas Vrbada, and he is from Prague. Though Smoke is Czech, he speaks English in his voiceover without any accent.
 * Smoke, along with Sub-Zero, are the only characters whose X-Ray Move can be delayed.
 * Smoke's Enenra form shown in his ending is very similar in appearance to the Alien Queen from the Alien movies.