Shinnok is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. One of the franchise's primary villains, he debuted in the action-adventure spin-off Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (1997) and made his first appearance in the main series with Mortal Kombat 4 the same year. He appears as both a playable character and the final boss of Mortal Kombat 4 and Mortal Kombat X (2015), assuming the identity of Corrupted Shinnok during his boss battle in the latter. The series depicts Shinnok as the ruler of the Netherealm and a fallen Elder God who was banished by the thunder god Raiden for turning against his fellow deities. Aided by the power of a magical amulet, he attempts to conquer Earthrealm after escaping his banishment. He is assisted by other villainous characters in his conflict against Earthrealm, including the sorcerer Quan Chi. The reboot timeline of Mortal Kombat X also depicts fallen Earthrealm warriors being manipulated into serving Shinnok. Reception towards the character has been mixed. While lauded as a villain, Shinnok's gameplay has been scrutinized for lacking the difficulty of the franchise's other final bosses. Appearances Mortal Kombat games Shinnok is introduced in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1995), first in Noob Saibot's biography as an unnamed "evil and mysterious fallen Elder God" who is worshiped by a faction called the Brotherhood of the Shadow, then is identified by name in his ending. In Mileena's ending in Mortal Kombat Trilogy (1996), she is described as encountering Shinnok in the Netherealm after she is slain by Kitana. Shinnok made his official debut as the non-playable final boss of Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (1997), chronologically set prior to the events of the first Mortal Kombat game. His background was expanded therein as a disgraced Elder God forcibly expelled from the Heavens after committing crimes against his fellow deities. He yearned to rule Earthrealm (Earth) with immense power acquired by the creation of a magical amulet, but comes into direct conflict with Earthrealm's protector, the thunder god Raiden, who defeats Shinnok after centuries of warring that nearly destroys Earth, then strips him of the amulet and banishes him to the Netherealm. The scheming sorcerer Quan Chi assists Shinnok in defeating its ruler Lucifer in exchange for power and the opportunity to co-rule at Shinnok's side. Shinnok assembles a fanatical cult called the Brotherhood of the Shadow that is