So, on the topic of DLC characters, let's assume the Kombat Pack 1 is going to have 2 guest characters, and 4 MK alumni.
Here's who we have left as potential MK DLC:
Goro
-Probably a no go, since he's dead on his throne AND he was in MKX
Reptile
-Still possible, but I think with Erron Black literally using his acid in one of his fatalities, Reptile is pretty much a no go as well.
Kintaro
-The game needs a Shokan, and we've never had Kintaro yet. Then again, he's basically a beefed up Goro...soooo, probably not.
Smoke
-One of the more likely DLC's. Haven't seen him playable in human form since MK9. He's a revenant, and that storyline has to be wrapped up at some point.
Chameleon
-I don't think so. Could be wrong, but I feel like NRS is avoid the Chameleon/Khameleon characters like they avoid Mokap and Meat. No, probably not.
Cyrax
-Apart from Frost, the game is seemingly devoid of cyborgs. Seems like a smart DLC move to put him in.
Ermac
-Another big favorite, but then again he was in MKX. So, eh, I'd give him good odds, but not
great odds.
Motaro
-Died in MK9. Plus, probably a technical nightmare to animate and design, so probably not.
Nightwolf
-Another character we haven't been able to play as since MK9, and also still a revenant. Like Smoke, that storyline has to end at some point, and I think Nightwolf has a strong chance to be DLC.
Rain
-Despite Cetrion having a few of his powers, I don't think that automatically counts him out as DLC. I'd give him good odds.
Sheeva
-Need a Shokan, and since Kintaro is basically Goro on roids, Sheeva may offer an easier design to work with. Good shot I think.
Sindel
-I'm doubtful of Sindel being DLC. She's still a revenant, yes, so that's a plus for her. But then again, Kitana seems to have the Edenian Queen stuff on lockdown at the moment. So, most likely not.
Sektor
-See Cyrax
Stryker
-I like Stryker, and he's still part of that revenant storyline, but I think he only has a small chance, given the number of characters that already kind of fill his niche (See, the Cages, the Briggs).
Fujin
-A lot of folks seem to want him in. He hasn't been playable since MKA, but Cetrion knocks down his chances, me thinks.
Sareena
-I actually think Sareena could be a strong DLC candidate. She has ties to Bi-Han, has never really been in an MK game that wasn't MKA or MK: Mythologies. So, I'd rate her as high.
Quan Chi
-Was base roster in MKX, so that kind of puts him in the "probably no" category.
Shinnok
-See Quan Chi, and his status as beheaded. Although, this game seems to have a lot of family drama in it between the gods, so I think he has at least a decent chance.
Jarek
-Probably not.
Kai
-Probably not.
Reiko
-Probably not, but being a general for Shao Kahn, I think he has a better chance than Jarek or Kai.
Tanya
-She was DLC in MKX, and Kitana seems to have taken some of her shtick. So, most likely no.
Tremor
-Again, DLC in MKX. Probably won't be DLC again.
Blaze
-I don't see him or Onaga being DLC.
Bo' Rai Cho
-Was DLC for MKX. Most likely not DLC for MK11.
Drahmin
-I don't think NRS has any plans for Drahmin or Moloch. So, probably not.
Moloch
-See Drahmin
Hsu Hao
-He's reviled by a lot of the community and by the devs. Then again, the devs have been knocking character redesigns out of the park lately, so maybe? No...no I don't thin so on second thought.
Kenshi
-Has been in both MK9 and MKX, once as DLC and once as base. I don't see Kenshi coming back as DLC again, even if he is one of the more popular 3D era fighters.
Li Mei
-I think Li Mei could potentially become DLC for MK11, given that her last game was MKA, and she's made a few appearances in MKX. So, I'd give her a decent shot.
Mavado
-Nah. Most likely not seeing Mavado again, just like Hsu Hao.
Nitara
-I think Skarlet pretty well covers the bloodsucker shtick. So, no.
Ashrah
-Like Li Mei, I think Ashrah has a decent chance, as we haven't seen her since MKA. I still think Li Mei is more likely given her appearances in MKX.
Dairou
-Probably not.
Darrius
-Probably not.
Havik
-Popular 3D era fighter. Has some relevance to Noob. I think Havik is a good candidate for DLC.
Hotaru
-I don't want to say
no per-se, but I also really doubt his return.
Kira
-Kira is a decent possibility. She could get the Skarlet royal treatment and be a cool mercenary character.
Kobra
-See Dairou and Darrius.
Onaga
-I don't think so. Again, it feels like NRS is actively shunning parts of the 3D era, and I think Onaga is one of them. So, probably not.
Shujinko
-Since Shujinko's schtick was using the powers of other fighters (like Chameleon and Khameleon), I don't foresee Shujinko being DLC.
Daegon
-Don't think so.
Taven
-See Daegon. These two may return in a theoretical MK12 that follows Kenshi and Takeda's story endings. But not DLC for MK11.
Jerrod
-Confirmed dead by Kitana in her intro? Probably not DLC.
Ferra/Torr
-MKX newbies. Could possibly be DLC, but with Ferra as the new
Torr. Still, I don't give it good odds.
Kung Jin
-MKX newbie. Like Takeda, I think Kung Jin has a good chance of being DLC.
Takeda
-See Kung Jin
Triborg
-I think unlikely, given that he was DLC in MKX.
So, that leaves us with new list of condensed characters that have a good or decent shot of being MK 11 DLC:
- Smoke
- Cyrax
- Nightwolf
- Sheeva
- Sektor
- Sareena
- Shinnok
- Li Mei
- Ashrah
- Havik
- Kira
- Kung Jin
- Takeda
- Shang Tsung (confirmed already).
So, if we get two KP's, each with 4 MK characters, I don't think it's unreasonable to predict that most of the MK DLC will come from the above, condensed list.
And if I had to take a guess, I think the following eight will be DLC when all is said and done (and not including guests):
- Shang (obviously)
- Cyrax
- Sektor
- Ermac
- Nightwolf
- Li Mei
- Smoke
- Havik
.
