Reiko is weird.
For years, he was basically the "poster child" for Mortal Kombat characters who felt like they were missing a soul. Or at least, their own identity. If you played the original Mortal Kombat 4 back in the late 90s, you probably remember him as the guy who looked like a Noob Saibot palette swap without the mask. He was a general in Shinnok's army, sure, but he didn't really do much until his ending.
Then came the helmet.
That ending—where he walks into a portal and sits on Shao Kahn’s throne while the iconic mask lowers onto his face—sparked a decade of arguments in playground circles and early internet forums. Was he Shao Kahn’s son? Was he Shao Kahn in disguise? Or was he just a weirdo who liked to play dress-up when the boss wasn't looking? Honestly, the truth was often more disappointing than the fan theories. But in 2026, looking back at his recent evolution in Mortal Kombat 1, it’s clear Reiko has finally escaped the shadow of the Konqueror.
The Identity Crisis: From Ninja to "Mini-Kahn"
Most people get Reiko wrong by assuming he was always meant to be a Shao Kahn clone. Originally, he was actually a replacement for Noob Saibot. The developers at Midway thought MK4 had too many ninjas, so they took Noob’s model, tweaked the face, and called it Reiko. This is why his early move set felt a bit scattered. He had shurikens and a teleport, giving off a "tactical ninja" vibe that didn't quite mesh with the brutal general persona they were trying to build.
By the time Mortal Kombat: Armageddon rolled around, the "Shao Kahn fanboy" lore became official. The game’s Konquest mode explicitly stated that Reiko would sneak into Kahn’s private chambers just to wear the helmet. It was... kinda pathetic. He went from a high-ranking general of the Brotherhood of Shadow to a guy who had a literal god-emperor obsession.
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Even his move set shifted to mimic Kahn’s. He started using a massive hammer (the Crude Hammer) and a shoulder charge. For a long time, the fan base treated him as a joke—a B-tier villain who couldn't stand on his own two feet.
The Turning Point in the Comics
If you really want to understand why Reiko matters now, you have to look at the Mortal Kombat X prequel comics. This is where he actually became terrifying. Writer Shawn Kittelsen transformed him into a power-hungry manipulator who used "Blood Magik" to nearly ascend to godhood. He wasn't just wearing the helmet anymore; he was carving a path of gore across the realms.
This version of Reiko showed that he worked best when he was a brutal, strategic threat rather than just a subservient lackey. He was still obsessed with power, but it felt earned.
Reiko in Mortal Kombat 1: The Modern Grappler
The New Era version of Reiko in Mortal Kombat 1 (and the subsequent Khaos Reigns expansion) is the best he's ever been. He isn't a ninja anymore. He isn't a Shao Kahn clone. He is a grappler.
Basically, he’s what happens if you take an MMA fighter and drop them into a world of magic and monsters. He’s all about closing the distance and slamming you into the dirt.
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Why He Feels Different Now
- The Playstyle: He relies on moves like Pale Rider (a brutal command grab where he tackles you and punches your face in) and Tactical Takedown.
- The Relationship: He’s still loyal to General Shao, but it’s portrayed more like a father-son or mentor-protégé dynamic. He’s the "loyal soldier" archetype, which gives him a clear narrative purpose in Liu Kang’s new timeline.
- The Visuals: They finally ditched the goofy "wearing the boss's hat" look for a more rugged, Roman-centurion-meets-Outworld-barbarian aesthetic.
You've probably noticed that in high-level play, Reiko is often paired with the Darrius kameo. This is because Reiko's command grab has a long animation that allows Darrius to come in for a "re-stand" or an extension, leading to massive damage that a grappler shouldn't normally be able to pull off.
Breaking Down the Moves: How to Actually Play Him
If you're picking up Reiko in 2026, you need to understand that he is a "strike-throw" character. You want your opponent to be scared of blocking because of his command grab, but also scared of pressing buttons because of his fast mid-attacks.
- Assassin Throwing Stars (B, F, 2): This is one of the best projectiles in the game. It fires three stars (or more if amplified). It’s great for "chipping" away at opponents who try to stay away from you.
- Pale Rider (B, D, F, 1): Your bread and butter. It’s a high command grab, meaning they can duck it if they see it coming. But if you amplify it, it becomes a mid. That is terrifying because you can't duck a mid.
- The Impaler Fatality (D, D, D, 2): Pure classic Mortal Kombat. He uses his spear to hoist the opponent up and... well, the name says it all.
The trick with Reiko is patience. You aren't playing a "rushdown" character like Johnny Cage. You're playing a wall. You poke with your stars, you use your long-reaching kicks, and the moment they make a mistake, you put them in the spin cycle.
What Most People Get Wrong About Reiko's Lore
There’s a persistent myth that Reiko was confirmed to be Shao Kahn in the old games. This isn't strictly true. While the Mortal Kombat Gold (the Dreamcast version of MK4) ending was very suggestive, Ed Boon himself later clarified in chats that Reiko was just a general. The confusion came from the Game Boy Color version of the game, which had a text ending saying he was Shao Kahn.
But let's be real: Game Boy endings are rarely canon.
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In the current continuity, Reiko is an orphan of war whom General Shao took under his wing. This makes his loyalty much more tragic. He isn't just a fanboy; he's a soldier who feels he owes his life to a man who is essentially a war criminal. It adds a layer of nuance that the 1997 version of the character completely lacked.
Actionable Insights for Players
If you're looking to main Reiko or just want to stop losing to him online, keep these specific strategies in mind:
- Respect the "Retaliation" (D, B, 1): This is his parry. If you’re playing a character that relies on predictable high attacks, a good Reiko player will catch you every time. Stop mindlessly mashing.
- The "Pale Rider" Mind Game: If you see Reiko with two bars of meter, he is almost certainly going to try an amplified command grab. You can't duck it, so you have to jump or backdash.
- Distance is Your Friend (and Enemy): Reiko is amazing at mid-range. If you’re playing a zoner, stay at the absolute edge of the screen. If you’re a brawler, you have to get in his face and stay there, because his "get off me" tools are slower than most.
Reiko has come a long way from being a "stupid joke" (a direct quote from developer John Vogel regarding his original ending). He’s now a legitimate threat with one of the most unique silhouettes in the franchise. Whether he eventually betrays Shao or stays the loyal dog remains to be seen, but for now, he’s finally earned his spot on the roster.
Go into practice mode and work on the 1, 2, 3 into Pale Rider tick throw. Once you nail that timing, you'll understand why people find this character so frustrating to fight against.