—Conan in Mortal Kombat 1 |
Conan of Cimmeria, also known as Conan [the Barbarian] or Conan [the Destroyer], or simply as Conan, is a Cimmerian warrior known for his appearances in the Conan franchise. A warrior hero from Cimmeria, Conan originated from pulp magazines written by Robert E. Howard in the early 1930s that expanded to a long running franchise of books, films, and comic books, leading him to be a widely known character in sword and sorcery storytelling before becoming an action icon with his appearances in film in the 1980s.
Conan made his debut as a playable guest character in Mortal Kombat 1, being the second guest character available as part of the Kombat Pack 2.
About Conan
Conan has an expanded history due to the character's inception being in the early 1930s.
Appearance
Conan's appearance is taken directly from the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian, with Arnold Schwarzenegger reprising his role as the iconic character. Like with the The Terminator, voice actor Chris Cox provides the voice for the character in Arnold's place.
Biography
- Mortal Kombat 1: Born on a battlefield, Conan the Barbarian was destined to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his feet. His village destroyed and parents slain by the malevolent warlord Thulsa Doom. Conan is sold into slavery. In captivity, Conan grows into one of the most formidable warriors the world world has ever seen through relentless toil and combat. Upon being freed by his masters, Conan embarks on a quest for vengeance, his journey culminating in the defeat of Doom, liberating thousands from his sorcerous grip. Now, Conan stands ready to defend Earthrealm against the vile beings that mean to conquer it.
Lore in Mortal Kombat
TBA
Combat Characteristics
Powers and Abilities
Conan is a formidable kombatant with mastery over swords and other weapons, such as knives. His hulking frame makes him an intimidating opponent, with his inhuman strength allowing him to hack and slash his opponents to pieces of flesh and gore as well as effortlessly throw them around with little to no effort. He is also blessed by the Cimmerian God Crom.
Signature Moves
- Camel Counter: Conan stands with his arms agape at the opponent. If the opponent attacks him, with the exception of Low or Jump Attacks, Conan parries them and counterattacks with and overhead fist slam that stuns them and sets them up for a free hit. (MK1)
- Atlantean Bulwark: Conan performs a series of swings with his sword at his opponent, knocking them down with the final swing. Conan is immune to all projectiles and their properties while swinging his sword, with the exception of projectile-base Fatal Blows or if the opponent strikes Conan from behind with a projectile. Additionally, if a projectile makes contact with Conan while he is swinging his sword, depending on the type of projectile, it will either be destroyed or reflected in a random direction. (MK1)
- Enhancing the attack deals increased damage and allows Conan to reflect the projectile directly back at the opponent, if they are not destroyed by this attack. Additionally, Conan can cancel the final swing of this attack into Basic Attacks and other Special Attacks, including his Fatal Blow, as well as Kameo Attacks for an additional bar of Super Meter if it has successfully hit the opponent.
- (Air) Destroyer's Drop: While airborne, Conan drops down, stabbing his sword downward, knocking the opponent to the ground. When blocked by the opponent, the attack creates considerable pushback and Conan is safe, however the attack can be Up Blocked, leaving Conan completely vulnerable. Additionally, should the attack be Flawless Blocked, the pushback effect is completely ignored, and Conan is once again completely vulnerable. (MK1)
- Skyward Guardian: Conan leaps into the air at an airborne opponent to slash them with his sword, bouncing them off the ground for a juggle. Using an additional input can increase the distance Conan leaps. This attack can only strike airborne opponents. (MK1)
- Enhancing the attack has Conan strike the opponent three times with his sword, dealing little to no extra damage but offering an increased juggle effect.
- Cimmerian Rising: Conan uppercuts the opponent into the air with a powerful jumping slash from his sword. Holding another input allows Conan to follow-up the attack with Destroyer's Drop, dealing increased damage. Like the original (Air) Destroyer's Drop, the attack creates considerable pushback when blocked by the opponent as well as allowing Conan to be safe, however, the attack can be Up Blocked, leaving Conan completely vulnerable. Additionally, should the attack be Flawless Blocked, the pushback effect is completely ignored and Conan is once again completely vulnerable. (MK1)
- Enhancing the attack deals increased damage and grants Armor. Conan can still follow with Destroyer's Drop to deal even more damage.
- Barbarian's Blitz: Conan charges at his opponent with his sword ready to strike, where he knocks them to the ground with a powerful swing. The attack can be delayed, called Barbarian's Delay, allowing Conan to charge full-screen distance at the opponent. Conan can also cancel the attack, called Barbarian's Bluff, respectively. Both Conan and his opponent are neutral if this attack is blocked by the opponent, however, the attack can be Up Blocked, leaving Conan completely vulnerable. Additionally, should the attack be Flawless Blocked, the pushback effect is completely ignored, and Conan is once again completely vulnerable. (MK1)
- Enhancing the attack deals increased damage and grants Armor while retaining the original properties.
- Barbarian's Blade: Conan slashes his opponent with an overhead swing, knocking them down. The attack can be delayed, called Barbarian's Delay, allowing Conan to delay the sword strike. Conan can also cancel the attack, called Barbarian's Bluff and can continue combos in some instances when timed correctly. Both Conan and his opponent are neutral if this attack is blocked by the opponent, however, the attack can be Up Blocked, leaving Conan completely vulnerable. Additionally, should the attack be Flawless Blocked, the pushback effect is completely ignored and Conan is once again completely vulnerable. (MK1)
- Enhancing the attack deals increased damage and grants Armor while retaining the original properties.
- Berserker's March: Conan swings his sword around in a circle three times with the final slash knocking the opponent away. This attack can miss ducking opponents. (MK1)
- Enhancing the attack deals increased damage and grants Armor.
- Crom's Curse: Conan yells and a pool of blood falls from the sky, coating his body. While coated in blood, Conan will resurrect when struck by an attack that would reduce his health to 0. This effect does not work against Fatal Blows or damage-over-time effects. This attack can only be performed at 30% or lower health and can only be performed once per match. When resurrecting, Conan will always return with 5% health. (MK1)
- Thief's Catapult: Conan grabs his Kameo Fighter from off-screen and throws them at the opponent to deal damage. Even if Conan's Kameo Fighter was stuck by an attack, he can still throw them despite them being disabled for some time. Conan is unable to throw Motaro, as well as Shujinko if Shujinko performs Mimic: Form Steal to morph into Shang Tsung's Kameo while fighting against Shang Tsung. Conan's Kameo is not considered a projectile when thrown and will take damage from certain attacks they make contact with while being thrown, thus causing Conan to also lose health and take damage and disable his Kameo for some time. (MK1)
Fatal Blow
- This You Can Trust: Conan swings his sword, sending a fiery wave of energy at the opponent, stunning them. Conan stabs the victim's foot, pinning them, then smashes their teeth onto the sword's handle. This Fatal Blow's start-up ignores and destroys any projectile that comes near Conan. (MK1)
Other Moves
- Trust In Steel (Backward Throw): Conan stabs the opponent in the stomach with his sword, hoist them into the air to dig the blade deeper into their stomach, causing blood to splatter before dropping them face-first onto the ground and kicking them off his blade. This Basic Throw is unique as it causes an extremely brief damage-over-time effect that causes the opponent to lose an additional 1.5% health. (MK1)
- Mighty Uppercut: Conan performs an upward slash with his sword, knocking the opponent into the air for a brief juggle. When used in the corner of the arena, this juggle effect is greatly increased. Conan can charge the attack, turning it into a new attack; (MK1)
- Crom's Uppercut: When fully charged, Conan performs a powerful swing with his sword that launches the opponent high into the air for massive combo extensions. Additionally, when fully charged, the attack creates massive pushback and Conan is incredibly safe compared to his opponent if the opponent blocks the attack. This juggle effect is fixed and allows Conan to attack the opponent immediately after launching them, regardless of the current state of gravity with the combo. Conan can also cancel the attack into his Basic Throws or his Fatal Blow.
- Primal Knee: Conan hits the opponent with a quick knee strike. Conan can charge the attack, turning it into a new attack; (MK1)
- Destroyer's Boot: When fully charged, Conan performs a kick that knocks the opponent away full-screen distance. Additionally, when fully charged, the attack creates massive pushback and Conan is incredibly safe compared to his opponent if the opponent blocks the attack. The attack can be dash canceled, called Destroyer's Retreat/Advance, respectively, or canceled into his Basic Throws or his Fatal Blow.
- Gut Thrust: Conan slashes the opponent then stabs them in the stomach with his sword. This combo re-stands the opponent. This combo also has a follow-up attack; (MK1)
- Cimmerian Skewer: Conan grabs his opponent, stabs them in the stomach then tosses them forward. This combo acts as a High Command Grab and is unblockable, but can miss jumping or ducking opponents. This final hit deals increased damage if the opponent is Up Blocking.
- Flesh Is Stronger: Conan slashes, then elbows the opponent in the stomach. He grabs them, planting his sword in the ground then picks the opponent up and throws them across the screen, full-screen distance. This combo acts as a High Command Grab and is unblockable, but can miss jumping or ducking opponents. This final hit deals increased damage if the opponent is Up Blocking. (MK1)
- Spellbreaker: Conan slashes the opponent twice, then drives his sword into the opponent's shoulder, forcing it deeper with his hand before violently yanking it out. The combo creates massive pushback, and Conan is very safe when blocked by the opponent. The combo is capable of being Flawless Blocked, which can leave Conan vulnerable. Additionally, the final hit of this combo is capable of being Up Blocked, leaving Conan completely vulnerable. This combo connects on the opponent similar to a Command Grab Combo, however, it is not considered one. (MK1)
Fatalities
- Secret Ingredient: Conan kicks his victim toward a witch's cauldron, then slices off their arm. He rams his sword through their mouth, then shoves them into the bubbling green liquid. The victim convulses as their flesh melts. Conan lifts the sword with the victim's skull skewered on it. (MK1)
- Cleave Of Doom: Conan chops his sword into the victim's collarbone. He drives them to their knees and cleaves down the other side. Conan grabs their hair and holds the victim's head and neck aloft as their body spurts blood and drops to the ground. (MK1)
Brutalities
- The Klassic: Conan performs his uppercut, decapitating the opponent with the hilt of his sword.
- Slaughtered Serpent: Conan performs his Backward Throw and tosses his sword into the air, pulling out a knife and violently driving it into the opponent's chin before catching his sword and cleaving them in two at the waist.
- Devil In Iron: Conan performs his Cimmerian Skewer combo and violently yanks the sword out of the opponent's gut before chopping their head off while they double over in pain.
- Hall Of The Dead: Conan performs a Camel Counter and crushes the opponent's head with the fist slam.
- Wound Of Doom: Conan performs his Spellbreaker combo and forces the opponent to their knees, chopping at their neck twice and pulling their head off before dropping it.
- Mountain Of Power: Conan performs a Berserker's March and chops the opponent's head off with the final sword swing.
- Phoenix On The Sword: Conan performs his Flesh Is Stronger combo and impales the opponent on the hilt of his sword.
- Black Tears: Conan performs a Destroyer's Boot and tears the enemy's body in two at the waist with a thrust kick.
Other Finishers
- No Bull: Conan throws his sword, then transforms into an ancient bull. He charges and spears the victim's head with a horn, then bucks while slamming their body around. He spins to slice them along the blade of his sword where it is merched in the ground. (MK1)
Quotes
Mortal Kombat 1 Gameplay
- "The riddle... of steel." (Brutality quote)
- "You can not escape!" (Brutality quote)
- "Crush your enemies." (Brutality quote)
- "I'll go as far as any man." (Brutality quote)
- "Rest is for vultures." (Brutality quote)
Ending
- Mortal Kombat 1 (narrated by Akiro the Wizard): "From the time he encountered the mysterious Yog-Kosha, my master has known other worlds and other planes exist. Long has he dreamed of visiting them and availing himself of their pleasures. So when he learned that one of these worlds faced an unimaginable evil, he did not hesitate to heed its call for aid. But even his wildest imaginings could not prepare him these gigantic, hideous beasts. If not annihilated, they would consume this world. And after that, fill their bellies with ours. Pleased with his new allies, and eager for the adventure this new world afforded, Conan chose to stay here once this battle was won. Many wars did he fight. Honor and fear were heaped upon his name. In time, it became legend."
Trivia
General
- Conan was first introduced in 1932, making him the oldest existing guest character in the entire franchise.
- Before Conan's inclusion in the series, Kotal Kahn received a Conan-themed skin in Mortal Kombat 11.
- Also an intro between Shao Kahn and The Terminator in 11 would reference one of the most famous quotes in the 1982 movie "To crush your enemies and see them driven before you".
- Conan is the third guest character that comes from a franchise that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and the second guest to be played by the actor himself.
- Overall, he, alongside The Predator, The Terminator and The T-1000 all come from franchises that star Schwarzenegger.
- One of Conan's quotes has him saying the words "raw deal", which is the name of a 1986 film of the same name starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- Another one of Conan's quotes has him saying one of Arnold's most famous lines: "I'll be back."
- Like The Terminator before him, Conan is not voiced by Arnold himself, but rather Chris Cox.
- Conan is the fifth character overall and the third guest character in Mortal Kombat history with the ability resurrect after losing a round. Other characters include Jason Voorhees, Geras, D'Vorah and The Terminator.
- Conan's is unique, as it does not consume his Super Meter or place him in a new form, rather simply saving him from the final hit.
- Conan is the fourth guest character to get an announcer voice, after RoboCop, Omni-Man, and Ghostface. [2]
- Like The T-1000, Conan served as the inspiration for other fighters. Tusk, from Killer Instinct.
Mortal Kombat 1
- When selecting Conan in the menu, he is significantly taller than many characters on the roster, including the likes of General Shao, Geras and Havik, however during an actual match, he is slightly shorter than them.
- This is similar to fellow guest Leatherface, who appears shorter in the menu selection, however he is one of the tallest character on the roster for Mortal Kombat X.
- Conan shares many traits with The Terminator from the previous game:
- Both are portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger through likeness only while Chris Cox provides their voice.
- Both have an ability that allows them to resurrect.
- Both of their Arcade Endings are narrated by another character rather than by themselves, namely Cassie Cage narrating The Terminator's ending and Akiro the Wizard narrating Conan's.
- Conan's resurrection ability Crom's Curse works as a combination of past resurrection abilities while having its own unique traits;
- It creates pushback effect just like when Jason Voorhees and Geras resurrects.
- It triggers at 0 health like Jason and Geras' resurrection abilities.
- It triggers just like the Terminator's Endoskeleton and D'Vorah's Mother Bug in which Conan stays at a certain health level after resurrecting.
- Due to this, Conan does not lose his Super Meter like Jason and Geras.
- It has its own special animation where Crom revives Conan, unlike other characters that do it themselves or change forms.
- It has similar properties to Geras' Reawakened;
- Both can require input activations to use, unlike other resurrections in the series that have all been passive effects
- Both can only be used at 30% or less health and on what would be the final round of the match if the user is losing.
- A difference with the two is that once Geras activates his, it remains active for the rest of the round, while Conan's is on a time limit and would require reactivation.