It’s been a great year for fighting games with the continued support of Tekken 7, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Dragon Ball FighterZ, as well as the critical and commercial hit that is Mortal Kombat 11. Set as a direct sequel to 2015’s Mortal Kombat X, Mortal Kombat 11 quickly became the best-selling game of 2019 and held that title until September, receiving praise from critics and fans for its gameplay, story, and graphics.
Mortal Kombat 11’s DLC plan is fairly extensive with two Kombat Packs planned, both containing returning characters from the series and guest fighters like Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 Terminator. One of those characters is the fan-favorite, Sindel, who returns with a new origin story and a new Empress title. Here’s everything we know about MK11’s next big DLC fighter!
Who is Sindel?
Originally debuting in Mortal Kombat 3, Sindel a.k.a. Queen Sindel has a long history in the franchise. Sindel is the mother of fellow MK11 fighter Kitana and the wife of the Outworld Emperor Shao Kahn. After losing 10 Mortal Kombat tournaments in a row, Sindel’s homeworld was enslaved by Shao Kahn and her husband murdered, leading her to commit suicide as a result. In the original storyline, Sindel was resurrected and brainwashed by Kahn to have no memory of her past life. However, after the defeat of Kahn in Earthrealm, Sindel regained her memory and right to the throne of Edenia, swearing to bring down Kahn for good.
Sindel returned to the Mortal Kombat series in NetherRealm’s 2011 reboot, Mortal Kombat 9. This time around her storyline is pretty similar to the previous games only this time the resurrection came at the hands of fellow MK11 DLC fighter, Shang Tsung. Sindel was granted powers from Tsung and used them to kill multiple Earthrealm fighters including her daughter, Kitana. In Mortal Kombat X, Sindel appeared as an enforcer working for both Quan Chi and Shinnok in The Netherrealm.
For MK11, Sindel has been given a new origin story, which reads: "The former Queen of Edenia will stop at nothing to keep her place. When threatened with the loss of her throne when Shao Kahn conquered her realm, Sindel betrayed her husband, and her people, to keep her privileged position. Now Shao Khan's wife and Queen of the Outerworld, she enjoys power and wealth beyond most people's imagination. Good luck to anyone who tries to take it from her."
Gameplay & Known Moves
Based on previous DLC characters including Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, and Terminator T-800, fans can expect a full gameplay trailer to release within roughly two weeks of Sindel’s release date - meaning very soon. Until then, Sindel's MK11 Movesets, Fatalities, Brutalities, and Kombos are currently unknown.
Having appeared in ten Mortal Kombat games prior to MK11, Sindel's previous fatalities include Deadly Scream, which rips the opponent's skin off, and Mouthful, where Sindel conjures an energy ball and shoves it down her opponent's throat until their head explodes. One of Sindel's most well-known signature moves, having appeared in MK3, UMK3, MKT, MK:D, MK:A, MK 2011, and MKX, is Banshee Scream where Sindel screams at incredibly high volume, stunning her opponent and giving her a free hit.
Release Date
Sindel is the fourth character in the MK11 Kombat Pack 1 and will be released on November 26. So far, Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, and the Terminator T-800 have all been released, with Joker and Spawn still to come throughout the first quarter of 2020. Kombat Pack 2 and its characters have yet to be officially revealed by Warner Bros. or NetherRealm.
Mortal Kombat 11’s Sindel retcon from Queen Sindel to Empress Sindel has been met with significant backlash from fans causing quite a bit of controversy in the community. Sindel’s backstory was entirely reworked, removing any form of a “good-guy” origin story and turning her into an evil character just like her husband, Shao Kahn. Considering that creator Ed Boon has called Mortal Kombat 11 the "end of the story" for the current narrative, it seems strange that Sindel would receive such a drastic change this late in the franchise.
Regardless, Sindel’s success or failure in Mortal Kombat 11 will ultimately come down to gameplay and whether or not she feels unique and rewarding. Mortal Kombat 11’s first Kombat Pack is available now for $39.99 and will give owners instant access to Sindel when she releases on November 26.
Mortal Kombat 11 is out now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One, with a Stadia version also in development.