Mileena

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

In the original timeline, Mileena was created by Shang Tsung to spy on Kitana and ensure her loyalty to Shao Kahn. She combined Edenian genetics with the brutish Tarkatan race, resulting in razor-sharp teeth concealed by a mask. After being killed by Kitana in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1995), she swore fealty to Shinnok in the Netherrealm and was later resurrected with the ability to read Kitana's thoughts. In Mortal Kombat: Deception, she posed as Kitana while secretly controlling Edenia's forces and Onaga's undead army. The 2011 reboot maintained her clone status but highlighted her physical instability. A major shift occurred in Mortal Kombat 1 (2023), where Liu Kang created a new timeline making Mileena the biological elder twin of Kitana, heir to the throne, and girlfriend of Tanya. In this version, she suppresses the mutating Tarkat virus with a serum developed by Shang Tsung.

In Their Own Story

Mileena's journey began in Mortal Kombat II as Shao Kahn's secret weapon against Earth's defenders. By Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, after her death and resurrection, she served Shinnok before attempting to seize the throne herself in Mortal Kombat X following Shao Kahn's death, only to be overthrown by Kotal Kahn and eventually executed by D'Vorah. In the three-dimensional era of Deception (2004), she deceived Onaga while tutoring Shujinko in combat training mode. During Armageddon (2006), she seized Kahn's fortress but was killed by Shang Tsung to gain Blaze's powers. The 2011 reboot saw her created in a 'Flesh Pit' laboratory, used to lure victims due to her instability. In the 2023 reboot, Fire God Liu Kang reformed history; Mileena became Crown Princess of Edenia, defeated Ermac allowing Jerrod's spirit to reunite with his family, and assumed the throne after Sindel's death.

Reader's Guide

Mileena is a top-tier character from Mortal Kombat II, known for her signature sai weapons, teleport-kick, and ground-roll-attack moves. Originally a palette swap of Kitana, she received distinct redesigns starting with Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance by Steve Beran to retain recognizability while refreshing the look. Her facial deformities were relocated in MKX but reverted to the original mouth design in MK11. For MK11, designers intentionally downplayed her sexuality for a more serious tone, finalized by artists Manuel Robles and Julian Wolf. In MK1 (2023), her design features an increased amount of teeth inspired by MKX concept art. Her Fatalities famously involve consuming opponents and spitting out bones. She was omitted from Mortal Kombat 3 but returned as a hidden unlockable in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.

Did You Know?

• Co-creator Ed Boon described Mileena and Kitana as the 'female version of Scorpion and Sub-Zero'.
• Character designer John Tobias chose the name 'Mileena' because it had a pleasant sound to hide her grotesque appearance.
• Kitana originally held the sai weapons until they were transferred to Mileena after her creation.
• In Mortal Kombat 1 (2023), Mileena is dating Tanya, a member of the royal guard known as the Umgadi.
• Katalin Zamiar, who played Mileena in MKII, filed an unsuccessful lawsuit against Midway over unpaid royalties.