— Smoke's Battle Cry from Mortal Kombat (2011) |
Tomas Vrbada (Czech: Tomáš Vrbada), better known as Smoke (Czech: Kouř), is a Lin Kuei assassin in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series.
Smoke made his debut in Mortal Kombat II as an unplayable secret character, appearing as a human before making his playable debut in Mortal Kombat 3 as a cyborg.
Smoke returned in Mortal Kombat (2011) as a playable character, appearing in his human form for the first time in 6 years. In Mortal Kombat X where he is a Revenant and a non-playable character, Tomas renounced the Smoke moniker in favor of calling himself Enenra. In Mortal Kombat 1, he returns to the title of Smoke.
About Smoke
Smoke debuted in Mortal Kombat II as a hidden character to fight against, along with Noob Saibot and Jade. 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 emits smoke. 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), it's revealed that he has long, flowing silver hair that covers his face, although it is shown being blown back in renders and artwork.
Mortal Kombat 1 no longer depicts Smoke as a half-Enenra. Instead, he is fully human who uses smoke-based magic spells.
Appearance
In the original trilogy of games, Smoke shared the same ninja designs as his counterparts, colored a light gray shade. His robot form however uniquely had an indigo palette. In all appearances, he constantly emits puffs of smoke from his body.
In Mortal Kombat Deception and Armageddon, he had since been trapped in his machine body. His default appearance in Deception featured a design closely resembling the classic cyber ninja look with silver armor plating, dark blue details, red eyes and a contraption on his back resembling a jetpack. His alternate outfit, changed to his default in Armageddon, depicts him with a physical body made entirely of nanomachines replicating the appearance of a smoke-like texture. Unlike the other cyber ninjas, he wore an outfit somewhat resembling a ninja outfit that left most of his upper body exposed, his "face" covered by a steel mask.
In MK 2011, he retains his human form. His original Lin Kuei outfit featured a body-armor like design and holstered shurikens. Following his defection, he wears a more simple form-fitting ninja outfit and lacks a hood, revealing his long gray hair.
In MK1, he returns with short silver hair, matching ninja suits with Bi-Han & Kuai Liang in the New Era with a mask design modeled after a gas mask. His colors are also more subdued, appearing closer to a dark gray color.
Combat Characteristics
Powers and Abilities
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 obscure his movements from the opponent. In MKII, he was depicted as moving at extremely high speeds, much faster than the other two hidden ninjas. From Mortal Kombat: Deception onward, Smoke is seen using smoke-related attacks, such as causing his opponent to cough as well as teleporting. In later appearances, due to Smoke's cybernetic "upgrades", his body appears to effectively be made out of smoke, or at least his nanomachines emulate the appearance of it. Whatever the case, due to further modifications made on his body by Noob Saibot, 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 them.
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. As shown in his Fatalities, his smoke also emits extreme levels of heat.
In Mortal Kombat 1, Smoke employs the use of a karambit knife in battle and shows particular skill in handling it. While he retains the use of his smoke powers from MK9, they are stated to be the result of learned practical magic instead of an innate ability in order to keep up with Bi-Han and Kuai Liang. He can also manipulate the smoke to levitate both himself and objects and can use it for flight.
In the second live-action film, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Smoke is armed with rockets, like Sektor, and has the ability to transform himself into smoke in order to ambush his enemies.
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. (MKII, MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK 2011)
- Smoke uses the spear in his secret fight in MK 2011.
- Teleport Punch: Smoke teleports behind his opponent, punching them in the head. This is taken from Scorpion. (MKII, UMK3, MKT)
- Leg Takedown: Smoke trips the opponent with a leg scissor takedown. This is also taken from Scorpion. (MKII)
- Smokeycut: Smoke goes underground and then teleports under the opponent, performing a vertical uppercut, hitting them on the way up. This attack was borrowed from Sektor. (MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK:D, MK:U, 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. In MK 2011, Smoke only becomes partially invisible, with his body still distorting light. (MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK 2011)
- The enhanced version is called Vanish and it turns him completely invisible.
- Dark Assassin: Smoke summons Noob Saibot to toss shuriken at the opponent. (MK:D, MK:U)
- Death from Above: Smoke summons Noob Saibot from the air, who then appears and kicks the opponent in the face. (MK:D, MK:U)
- Dark Shadows: Smoke summons Noob Saibot, who appears and punches the opponent from behind. (MK:D, MK:U)
- We Live: Along with Noob Saibot, the two charge and punch the opponent. In Armageddon, this move is called Robo-Punch and Smoke performs it without a partner. (MK:D, MK:U, MK:A)
- Stinky Cloud: Smoke jumps backward and a cloud of smoke takes his place. Opponents who come in contact with the cloud are intoxicated, allowing Smoke to land a free hit on them. (MK:D, MK:U, MK:A)
- Stinky Fingers: Smoke summons a cloud of smoke on top of the opponent to intoxicate them, allowing for a free hit. (MK:A)
- Play Dead: Smoke falls backward on a puff of smoke and reappears behind his opponent. (MK:A)
- 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 with increased invincibility.
- Teleport: Smoke disappears, then reappears punching the opponent in the back and in front of them in quick succession. In MK1, this move is called Smoke-Port, and Smoke sweeps the opponent's legs and follows up with a rising uppercut. (MK 2011, MK1)
- In MK 2011, the enhanced version is called Smokeport. In addition to the two hits, Smoke will jump down from above to attack the opponent.
- In MK1, the enhanced version deals slightly more damage and allows Smoke to follow up with kombos.
- Smoke 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 an attack. In MK1, this is called Smoke Bomb, and Smoke tosses a smoke projectile over the opponent's head and teleports behind them, slamming them to the ground and stabbing them with his dagger. (MK 2011, MK1)
- In MK 2011, the enhanced version is called Smoke Bomb. The smoke column goes higher, can trap mid-air opponents and hit opponents when they are laying down, however they will not be teleported.
- In MK1, instead of striking the opponent, the enhanced version turns Smoke completely invisible for several seconds while teleporting him above and behind the opponent.
- 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 allows Smoke to parry projectiles in addition to basic and special attacks, with the exception of low attacks and X-Ray attacks. The enhanced version can be charged like the original.
- Vicious Vapor: Smoke transforms into a cloud of smoke and dashes towards his opponent, cutting them across the chest with his dagger and then knocking them down with a jumping downwards slash. This move has a low profile and can go under most projectiles. Smoke can also cancel the dash at the cost of one bar of Super Meter. (MK1).
- The enhanced version travels faster and deals slightly more damage.
- Shadow Blade: Smoke tosses his karambit diagonally upwards. If he catches the opponent with it, he uses the dagger to slam them to the ground and summons it back to his hand. (MK1).
- The enhanced version has Smoke twist the blade while it's in the opponent's back, dealing more damage.
X-Ray/Fatal Blow
- X-Ray - 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 their skull even more. This can be delayed and dash cancelled. (MK 2011)
- X-Ray - Ashes to the Mouth: Smoke vanishes then reappears, punching the opponent in the stomach. He then goes behind the stunned opponent and German Suplexes them into the ground face-first, shattering their lower jaw. Before the opponent can get up, Smoke takes a step back, then kicks the opponent straight in the face, shatter the front of their skull, knocking them away. (MK Mobile - Klassic Card)
- Fatal Blow - Mistborn Killer: Smoke vanishes in a cloud of smoke and reappears, delivering an overhead slash and allowing his Kameo partner to perform their attack. He then rushes forward and jumps backwards while cutting the opponent vertically, then tosses his dagger into their chest and makes a smoke bomb explode, knocking them back-first to the ground. He then leaps forward and drives the karambit into the opponent's eye, shattering their orbital bone. (MK1)
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 arena. He then does a kip-up. Almost all male ninjas share the Suplex Throw pre-MK4. (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)
- Dizzy Knee: Smoke grabs his opponent and slams their face onto his knee, causing them to fall back in pain. (MK:D, MK:U, MK:A)
- Throw: Smoke grabs his opponent, presses his hands against them and violently vibrates their body using smoke, striking them away after that. (MK 2011)
- Assassin's Judgment: Smoke grabs his opponent, drives his karambit into their jaw from below and tosses them over his shoulder. (MK1)
- Kutting-Room Four: Smoke slashes the opponent twice with his kunai, then grabs them and slashes them four more times, with the final strike cutting them across the chest and uppercutting them. (MK1)
- Phasing Through: Smoke performs a kombo similar to Kutting-Room Four, but instead of delivering the uppercutting slash, he tosses them over his hip. (MK1)
Fatalities
- Toasty!: A Fatality taken from Scorpion. Smoke takes off his mask, revealing a flaming skull instead of a face. He then breathes fire on the opponent, making them flail their arms in agony while burning before exploding. Like Reptile in the first game, this is a result of Smoke's moveset being patterned after Scorpion's. (MKII)
- Spear Slice: Another Fatality from Scorpion. Smoke takes out his kunai and slashes the opponent's throat and then slices them through their hips, making their torso fall off. (MKII)
- Deadly Uppercut: A Fatality taken from Johnny Cage and shared with Ermac. Human Smoke delivers a bloody and savage uppercut that tears his opponent's head off. (UMK3)
- Teleport Punch: A Fatality modified from Scorpion's Teleport Punch special move, Human Smoke teleports himself to opponent's behind and smashes their head. (MKT)
- Smoke Death: Smoke disappears into thin air, after which, Smoke repeatedly hits the opponent, causing them start to stretch before exploding. In Deception, Smoke hits his enemy in the face, then tears off their arms and head before becoming visible once more. (MKT, MK:D, MK:U)
- 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 spew out of his stomach, which results in Earth's destruction at their (implied) explosion. An oversight is seen when the move is performed 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 and his Kameo Fatality in Mortal Kombat 1, 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)
- 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, gushing blood and their flesh melting off before falling dead. (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 soon afterwards from the key joints. (MK 2011)
- Hazed and Infused: Smoke teleports behind the opponent and slices off both their arms with his Karambit, making them kneel to the ground. He then teleports in front of the opponent and stabs his Karambit under their chin, lifting their head up and holding their mouth open. Smoke pulls out a smoke grenade, pulls the pin and shoves it into the opponent's mouth before pulling the Karambit out and walking away. The grenade detonates, blowing off their lower jaw and most of their neck. (MK1)
- Up in Smoke: Smoke disappears and chuckles sinisterly as smoke engulfs the area around his opponent, leaving them confused. In the blink of an eye, Smoke slices their right hand off. He dashes again, cutting off his opponent's legs from the knee down, and then slashes once more, decapitating the opponent from the eyes up. Smoke then kicks the body from behind, causing the top part of the head to fly off. (MK1)
Brutalities
- The Klassic: Smoke performs an uppercut, decapitating the opponent with a rising uppercut with their spine still attached. This Brutality is shared with every character. (MK1)
- Must not block an attack for the entirety of the final round.
- A button must be held.
- An Eye For An Eye: Smoke performs his Assassin's Judgment throw, forcing the opponent to their knees, then slits their throat with his karambit dagger and gouges their eyes out. (MK1)
- A button must be held.
- Slice and Dice: Smoke performs his Kutting-Room Four kombo and cuts off his opponent's arms before slicing them across the chest, creating a gaping hole in it. (MK1)
- Don't Blink: Smoke performs a Smoke Bomb and turns his dagger in the opponent's neck until he cuts their head off, tosses it upwards and destroys it with a smoke bomb. (MK1)
- If It Bleeds: Smoke performs a Vicious Vapors and disappears from sight. As the opponent looks around in confusion, Smoke appears behind them and impales them on his dagger, raising them upwards to bleed out and then tossing them away. (MK1)
- Break a Leg: Smoke performs his Missing the Toes kombo and cuts off his opponent's leg, causing them to bleed out. (MK1)
Other Finishers
- Friendship #1: A huge horn comes out of his chest and sounds off like a loud siren. (MK3, UMK3, MKT)
- Friendship #2: A "No Smoking" sign drops from the ceiling and Smoke's body stops emitting smoke. (MKT)
- Friendship #3: Scares the opponent with a skull in a jack-in-the-box. (MKADV)
- Animality #1 - Bull Chase: After turning into a bull, he charges and rams his opponent off screen. (MK3, UMK3, MKT)
- Animality #2 - You Got Porked: Smoke turns into a porcupine and shoots his quills at his opponent until they explode. (MKT)
- Animality #3 - Killer Kong: Smoke turns into a silverback gorilla, pushes the opponent down and drags them onto the ground before lifting them up and splitting their mouth open, along with the rest of the body.
- 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, MK:U)
- Babality: He turns sideways and farts, he holds his bottom and then falls on his bottom crying due to the smell.
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 human counterpart in MK 2011.
Smoke makes a human form cameo in the 2012 Disney film Wreck-It Ralph, as a part of a weekly group therapy session with other video game villains like Kano, Dr. Eggman, Bowser, M. Bison, and the titular character Wreck-It Ralph, though he is never mentioned by name.
Smoke appears in Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, in both human form and cyborg form. He’s first seen training with Kuai Liang outside the Lin Kuei temple before the two are summoned by the Lin Kuei Grandmaster. He informs them of their mission to hunt down Scorpion and then of the Cyber Initiative, showcasing to them the fully cyberized Cyrax and Sektor. Smoke and Kuai attempt to escape, and the Grandmaster sends Cyrax and Sektor after them. The two are overwhelmed and Kuai barely escapes while Smoke is incapacitated and converted into a cyborg, pleading in the process for Kuai Liang to run away.
A fully cyberized Smoke then accompanies Cyrax and Sektor in hunting down Scorpion at a shipping dock. He helps to repel a vengeful Kuai Liang (now going by the Sub-Zero mantle), and then helps to subdue Scorpion, taking him to the Temple of Elements. The Cyborgs force him to open the door to the last Kamidogu and then prepare to execute. They’re incapacitated by Scorpion and Sub-Zero on two different occasions upon finally reaching the room where the Kamidogu is held. Scorpion and Sub-Zero are pinned down by the Cyborgs and while Sub-Zero pleads for Smoke to not take the Earthrealm Kamidogu but Smoke is unable to go against his programming and steals the Kamidogu.
The Cyborgs and the Grandmaster travel to the Netherrealm and unknowingly give the Kamidogu to Shinnok. Shinnok then betrays them and summons a horde of demons to attack them. Smoke manages to kill one demon before being attacked by another and having his left arm bitten off, though he still manages to keep fighting even with a missing limb.
While the Grandmaster, Sektor and Cyrax were killed by the demons, Smoke’s fate wasn’t shown onscreen leaving his fate ambiguous. However, when Scorpion and Sub-Zero attack the demons, Grey cyborg parts can be seen where Cyrax’s and Sektor’s mutilated carcasses lie. Whether it’s Smoke’s corpse or an animation error is unclear.
TV Appearance
- In 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.
Quotes
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
- "You will not escape!"
Mortal Kombat (2011)
- "Where there is Smoke, there is fire!" (Battle cry)
- "Stay down."
- "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!"
- "I will have words 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!" (After defeating Shang Tsung and Reptile)
- "What do you know of Sub-Zero?!"
- "What?"
- "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." (to Raiden)
- "Why are you here in Outworld?"
- "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!" (noticing that Sub-Zero has been captured)
- "But we will if we must!" (to Kitana, after Johnny Cage attempted to de-escalate the confrontation)
- "Kitana turns away from Shao Kahn 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)
- "You are certain this will work?"
- "Sub-Zero? Can he hear me?"
- "Sub-Zero?"
- "How do you feel?"
- "What is it?"
Mortal Kombat X
- "Smoke is dead. I am Enenra." (to Johnny Cage)
Mortal Kombat 1
Part 1: Mortal Kombat 1
- "Madam Bo. The Lin Kuei await your answer."
- "Madam Bo, it is a simple choice. Pay for our protection, or risk harm to this fine establishment." (threatening Madam Bo)
- "That, Madam Bo, is unfortunate." (signaling the Lin Kuei to damage her restaurant)
- "You two are brave. But against us... you are in over your head." (to Kung Lao and Raiden)
- "To keep you unharmed, Madam Bo will have to pay extra." (after Kung Lao lost to him in a round)
- "Were he here, Father would advise us to wait without protest." (to Sub-Zero)
- "We can't abandon tradition."
- "The only way in is over the walls."
- "Our clan doesn't govern. It serves."
- "That's Quan Chi. The other sorcerer Liu Kang described."
- "What happened?! Where's Bi-Han?" (to Scorpion)
- "Letting Father die... Forsaking Earthrealm? He's abandoned all reason!" (about Sub-Zero's betrayal)
- "Whatever it takes, I am with you."
- "Kuai Liang!" (after witnessing Scorpion getting scarred by Sub-Zero's Ice Dagger)
- "What are you doing? Once he's exposed, won't you be made Grandmaster?"
- "They must be neutralized if we are to shut down the soul stealers." (to Sindel)
- "We are deep within the mountain. From here, they couldn't tell." (to Mileena)
- "That the Lin Kuei won't aid us is unforgivable. Bi-Han has corrupted them totally."
Armageddon Smoke
- "There's no way out of this."
- "I'm taking you down."
- "The hunt ends here."
- "I will smoke you out."
- "You're out of time."
- "Thank you, Kitana." (Thanking Titan Kitana)
- "I am honored, Liu Kang. Shall I?"
- "What's wrong?!"
Part 2: Khaos Reigns
- "Yellow and Red? They have to be Cyrax and Sektor. But I can't believe they would do this."
Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms
- "You've gotten better."
- "You're too hard on yourself, Kuai Liang. You are a great fighter. Good enough for this."
- "With Outworld attacking Earthrealm and Cyrax and Sektor still missing, it is time for you to take your brother's place. The mantle of Sub-Zero is yours."
- "Cyrax, Sektor, What have you done?"
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 had speculated that Smoke is a robotic Sub-Zero (as Cyrax had been looked at as a robotic Scorpion) 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.[1]
- However, Raiden's vision of Cyber Smoke shows him with a body closer to Sektor's. It is possibly a mistake (like Raiden's vision where Taven appears without his armor fighting Raiden, in that moment, he had it).
- 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.[1]
- Of the three cyborgs, he was the first that managed to regain his soul after automation.
- Of the three cyborgs, Smoke 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 has been reduced down to zero, Cyrax and Sektor shortcircuit; this does not happen to Smoke.
- Unlike Sektor and Cyrax, who volunteered to become automated, Smoke was forced to be a cyborg.
- Of the three cyborgs, Smoke 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 has been reduced down to zero, Cyrax and Sektor shortcircuit; this does not happen to Smoke.
- 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 (Noob Saibot) in Mortal Kombat: Deception until he is saved and free of Noob's reprogramming by the younger.
- 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.
- 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 (which had most likely been a reference to Kano's Fatality in the original Mortal Kombat), 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.
- In a technical sense, Smoke is one of the few characters to be dead in both the original and current timelines.
Mortal Kombat II
- Smoke appears as a secret unplayable character. To fight him, the player must fight in the portal stage and perform a uppercut on their 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, they would be transported to a variation of the Portal stage, colored blue.
- 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.
- Has the same fighting stance as Reptile.
- 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
- Unlockable secret playable character in MK3.
- In the beta version of the game, the unlock message is shown on a black screen instead having the arenas flash by.
- While doing his Armageddon Fatality in any Outworld Arena, the screen still shows Planet Earth exploding.
- There is some inconsistency in his colors between the various versions. In the original arcade releases of MK3 and UMK3, as well as in most ports, and in MK Trilogy, Smoke's color, both in kombat and in the versus screen is light purple, with a slight bluish tint. In some ports, however, such as the Super Nintendo, as well as the PC version of MK3, his appearance during kombat is dark gray. The PC version is also inconsistent with itself, as in the versus screen, his color is a very deep purple, not like in any other port. In the instruction booklet for MK3 and UMK3 he is light gray with a slight brown tint, and in the instruction booklet for Trilogy he is light blue, almost like Sub-Zero.
- Smoke has a unique character select/ladder mugshot portrait seen exclusively in the following MKT magazine advertisement. In the game, however, his portrait is simply a recolored and horizontally flipped variation of that of Klassic Sub-Zero's.
- In MK3, if the player fought Smoke via the "Winner fights Smoke" Kombat Kode when he hasn't been unlocked yet, they'll fight him at the Hidden Portal stage. If the player did unlock him, Smoke will be fought on a random stage, which renders the Hidden Portal unusable. This was corrected in the N64 version of Mortal Kombat Trilogy.
- In UMK3, Smoke can change into his MKII form at anytime before a round of a match. This could be done by holding the joystick away as well as high punch, high kick, run and block.
- Prior to a MKT fix, back in UMK3 when Kabal used his Balloon Head Fatality on Human Smoke, his head changed into Scorpion's.
Mortal Kombat: Deception
- 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.
- 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 playable 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.
- On the PlayStation 3 version of the game, whenever 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. This costume is modeled after his MKII appearance, differing slightly from Sub-Zero, Scorpion and Reptile's MK-based klassic costumes.
- When using Klassic Noob Saibot's alternate colors, Noob will summon Klassic Smoke as opposed to his usual shadow clone. This appears to be a glitch however, as subsequent matches will again have Noob with his shadow clone instead. The only way to cause Smoke to appear again is to quit and re-select Noob from the character select screen. Even with the glitch active however, Smoke will not replace Noob's shadow clone for his Make-a-Wish Fatality or victory sequences.
- It is revealed in his Bio Kard 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.
- During his chapter in Story Mode, Smoke peeks out Kano and Shang Tsung from behind the trees in the Living Forest stage, alluding to his appearance in the stage's background in Mortal Kombat II.
Mortal Kombat X
- Smoke makes a cameo in the Smoke's Revenge Lin Kuei Faction Kill in addition to the Story Mode in his human form
- He is one of three Lin Kuei assassins either mentioned or seen in the game. The others are Sektor and the original Sub-Zero, who is referred to as both Bi-Han in the Story Mode and Noob Saibot by Sub-Zero in the arcade.
- Cyrax is excluded as he is not mentioned at all with the exception of Triborg.
- Cyber Smoke is one of the four forms of DLC character Triborg along with Cyrax, Sektor and Cyber Sub-Zero.
- His primary color as Cyber Smoke is black, while his secondary color is purple, referencing his original color scheme from Mortal Kombat 3 and its updates.
Injustice 2
- In the DC fighting game Injustice 2, although he is not mentioned by Sub-Zero or Raiden who are featured as playable guest characters, Smoke is possibly referenced as one of Sub-Zero's shaders, a purple shader called Secret Kombatants (Alternate), possibly a reference to him being a secret character in MKII, and the color a reference to him in MK3.
Mortal Kombat 11
- Smoke makes many physical and non-physical cameos in the game despite not being a playable character;
- Shang Tsung has a chance to morph into Smoke when selecting the sorcerer before a match. Additionally, during gameplay, Shang Tsung morphs into Smoke to perform his Shake ability identical to how Smoke performed it in Mortal Kombat (2011) and as a end round taunt after winning a round.
- Smoke also appears as one of Shang Tsung's secret post-brutality poses.
- Smoke appears as one of the many non-physical tower modifiers in the Towers of Time, throwing a Smoke Cloud from off-screen for the character he is assisting.
- Smoke appears as one of the many male ninjas to fall to his death wearing his klassic outfit in the game's Krypt.
- Smoke appears alongside Ermac and Reptile during Rain's Power Washer Fatality as an homage to Queen's second studio album Queen II, appearing in a fashion similar to the album's cover.
- Smoke and Stryker are the only Revenants from Mortal Kombat (2011) and Mortal Kombat X to be absent from the game.
- Smoke is mentioned during an interaction between Sub-Zero and Noob Saibot.
Mortal Kombat Mobile
- His Klassic Card is featured in the game as a playable card, borrowing the fighting stance of Triborg while using combos, specials and attacks from Triborg, Scorpion and Sub-Zero from Mortal Kombat X while using his X-Ray from Mortal Kombat (2011).
- In later updates, Smoke's fighting stance was changed to his MK 2011 stances, with his Special Attack 2 also receiving a slight rework in how he performs the attack.
- Smoke is also the second character since Update 2.0 to gain a playable card that is not a character or version of a character from Mortal Kombat X or Mortal Kombat 11.
- Smoke is one of the few characters with more than one exclusive Equipment Card.
- He is, however, the first card to not be affiliated with a Tower that gained a second Equipment Card.
- Smoke is one of the few characters to apply a debuff to the opponent after they remain in the fight against him for too long.
Mortal Kombat 1
- Smoke's virtue is presented as "Loyalty".
- His Tower ending where he takes in Hanzo as a pupil may be a reference to his own debut in the series as a clone of Scorpion.
- In both of his Arcade tower portraits, his eyes are erroneously colored brown.
References
- ↑ https://twitter.com/#!/K0MB4T/status/102426764302753792 John Vogel about Cyber Smoke and Cyber Sub-Zero