Who is the 6 Arm MK Character? A Look at Goro and Other Multi-Limbed Fighters

As an avid Mortal Kombat fan and content creator, one of the most common questions I see is "who is the 6 arm MK character?" At first glance, many people assume this refers to the iconic sub-boss Goro – but in fact, he only has 4 arms. In this in-depth article, we‘ll take a closer look at Goro‘s history and abilities, as well as other multi-limbed characters from the hit fighting game franchise.

Overview of Goro – The 4-Armed Shokan Prince

While not technically the 6-armed character many first think of, Goro is undoubtedly the most recognizable multi-limbed MK kombatant. Making his debut as a sub-boss in the original 1992 Mortal Kombat arcade game, Goro is a prince of the Shokan race – a species originating from the Outworld realm that takes inspiration from four-armed Hindu deities.

In the franchise‘s extensive lore, Goro served as the undefeated Mortal Kombat champion for over 500 years before his first loss to martial artist Liu Kang. He stands over 8 feet tall, with muscles bulging out of every limb – a truly intimidating and imposing physical presence.

As a member of the extra-dimensional, near-immortal Shokan race, Goro possesses incredible strength, speed, stamina and prowess – with some sources citing him as able to lift over 5 tons! His loyalty to evil emperor Shao Kahn remains nearly unflinching, carrying out despicable crimes and bloody massacres in Kahn‘s name.

In combat, Goro utilizes all four of his thick, powerful arms – unleashing bone-cracking strikes, smashes, and grapples. His most iconic special move is the Chest Pound – a gut-busting maneuver where he brutally batters his victim multiple times before sending them flying with immense force.

Though first introduced as a villainous sub-boss, Goro later became a playable fighter starting in Mortal Kombat Trilogy. Series developers claim he is one of their favorite characters to work on and innovate for due to his uniquely inhuman anatomy.

So while the four-armed Shokan combatant is undoubtedly one of the most memorable multi-limbed characters in the fighting game series, he does not actually have six arms. Let‘s look at some other options…

Kintaro – Goro‘s Fierce Four-Armed Rival

Debuting as the new sub-boss in Mortal Kombat II, the Shokan warrior Kintaro quickly became established as one of Goro‘s major rivals – seeking to avenge his prince after Goro‘s upset defeat at the hands of Liu Kang during the prior Mortal Kombat tournament.

Like others of his four-armed race, Kintaro boasts ruthless power and strength that he unleashes without mercy, caring little for tactics beyond crushing his victims‘ bones. As a Shokan general, his savage brutality struck fear into the hearts of many great warriors.

In kombat, Kintaro utilizes a different array of special abilities compared to Goro – most notably his teleport stomp and fiery breath attacks. These lethal, unpredictable attacks kept players on guard during MK2 arcade matches while facing him as the lethal sub-boss. Starting in MK9, Kintaro also finally became a playable fighter for the series.

So while just as iconic and intimidating as his fellow four-armed Shokan comrade Goro, Kintaro unfortunately also does not have six arms.

Sheeva – The First Female Shokan Warrior

Joining the ranks of Mortal Kombat‘s roster of four-armed Shokan in Mortal Kombat 3 was the series‘ first female representative of the formidable race – Sheeva.

As personal protector to her Shokan king Goro, Sheeva boasts elite fighting capabilities – said to have bested some of Outworld‘s finest combatants in hand-to-hand kombat. She employs her four muscular limbs ruthlessly while fighting, pummeling enemies with wild grabs and stomp attacks.

Unlike her Shokan counterparts Goro and Kintaro, Sheeva generally lacks their vicious bloodlust – showing more restraint and thoughtfulness in her words and actions. That said, if her king Goro commands it, she will not hesitate to tear apart anyone foolish enough to face her might.

Sheeva stands out as the tallest female kombatant in the Mortal Kombat series at over 7ft tall. Her distinct Asian visual design draws inspiration from the Hindu goddess Kali. Much like Goro first transitioning from villain to anti-hero over time, Sheeva has similarly shifted into more of a hero role within recent game installments as well.

While absolutely striking and formidable in appearance, Sheeva too only wields the typical four arms of Shokan warriors, rather than six.

No True 6-Armed Kombatant…Yet

So to answer the original question once and for all – is there truly a six-armed playable Mortal Kombat character?

At present, no…but that does not mean NetherRealm Studios could not introduce one in the future!

As we have seen, the Shokan race and other Outworld denizens draw heavy inspiration from multi-limbed deities throughout various Asian mythologies. And the MK developers have expressed a fondness for crafting increasingly outrageous character anatomy and movesets.

So a six-armed kombatant certainly remains possible down the road – perhaps a superpowered mutant Shokan warrior? Or brand new type of 2-armed giant crossed with a 4-armed Shokan? Given the series‘ history of wild innovation, anything is on the table!

For now though, 4 arms remains the limit – and famous fighters like Goro, Kintaro and Sheeva will continue grappling opponents with their mountainous muscles and otherworldly might.

Let me know what you think of this in-depth exploration and whether you have any theories on what a potential six-armed Mortal Kombat character could look like!