Mortal Kombat 1/Shang Tsung/Introduction

Introduction

Scheming Sorcerer

"Shang Tsung grew up in Outworld’s backwaters. Too lazy for hard labor and too shifty for honest work, he eked out a living selling quack cures and fake magic. Though his wares were useless, Shang Tsung’s easy charm always closed the deal. Shang Tsung was resigned to this hardscrabble life. But then one day a mysterious stranger came, promising to make Shang Tsung a powerful sorcerer. Though suspicious of the offer, it was one he couldn’t refuse."

Shang Tsung is a unique form-based character who can switch between his Young Form which focuses on a straightforward fireball zoning game and his Old Form which is capable of extended combos through his ground fireballs. He also retains his classic ability to transform into his opponent and, for a bar of meter, increase his damage output while transformed. Each form comes with unique pros and cons:

The zoning form

Strengths	Weaknesses
Zoning Beast: He doesn't need meter to access his multi-hitting fireball;	Weak Conversion Ability: He needs to switch to Old Form to access a good launcher;

The combo form

Strengths	Weaknesses
Take 'Em to the Movies: Ground Skull allows for long, highly damaging juggle combos.	Trickshot: Ground Skull is not as easy to fire and forget as Young Form's Straight Skulls; They require a certain amount of finesse to use as a zoning option.