Mortal Kombat’s extensive list of fighters includes some of the most recognizable names in the genre. Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Lui Kang, Raiden, the list goes on for quite some time and covers nearly 100 combatants over the years. While some faces are far fresher than others and many of them have earned deep, interwoven stories, there are two particularly curious ninjas which, rightly so, have always remained in the background. Chameleon and his female counterpart, Khameleon, are some of the most effective fighters in the series but for the most part, have gone on unnoticed.
Both characters got their start as secret fighters in Mortal Kombat Trilogy and would not be seen again until Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. Their return in Armageddon was prompted by the considerable fan response to the news they wouldn’t be appearing in the game, cementing these potent fighters as fan-favorites of a small yet devout group of players who see the appeal in these unique fighters.
So just who are Chameleon and Khameleon, and what makes these ninjas so special when compared to the likes of Ermac, Smoke, and the rest? Despite each one only appearing in two games, the same two games, NetherRealm Studios has given them each just enough character and mystique to keep fans interested.
Khameleon and Chameleon: MK’s Best Kept Secrets
Originally appearing in Mortal Kombat Trilogy, Chameleon was a secret fighter who would phase in and out of transparency. He was listed as one of Shao Kahn’s deadliest warriors, but the game offered little else information about him. Each time Chameleon’s color would fade it would return with that of one of the existing ninjas, granting him their moveset for as long as he remained their color. This makes Chameleon an incredibly diverse fighter for those who know all seven of the other ninja’s abilities. When he returned for Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, his design was changed to have entirely transparent skin and a turquoise outfit.
Khameleon, on the other hand, bears much the same story and character development but is different enough from her male counterpart to have earned her place as a cult favorite. She initially appeared in Mortal Kombat Trilogy in place of Chameleon on the Nintendo 64. Wearing a grey female ninja outfit, Khameleon would also phase in and out of transparency with her attacks mimicking those of the three other female ninjas; Jade, Kitana, and Mileena. What made this more difficult was that her selected moveset was only known by the color her name would change into. This meant her opponents would need to take their eyes off the fight to adjust their strategies. Khameleon’s model in Armageddon is also depicted with transparent skin and a turquoise outfit.
Both fighters have condensed movesets in Armageddon, their outfits only changing colors to match the ninja whose special attacks they perform (Chameleon the males and Khameleon the females, now including Tanya). The interesting distinction between the two is that only Khameleon has been confirmed as a Saurian. This makes her the same species as Reptile, but Chameleon, whom Reptile has acknowledged in the past, is something else entirely. This small fact makes a huge difference as Reptile was long thought to be the last Saurian. It also makes Khameleon a far more interesting character than her male counterpart who is, at this point, a generic ninja. This is evident in both the much larger fan reaction to Khameleon initially not featuring in Armageddon, and that she is referenced in multiple costumes among the female ninjas in Mortal Kombat 11 whereas Chameleon is not mentioned at all.
These two amalgamated characters have seen little exposure to mainstream Mortal Kombat players, but the upcoming reboot of reality within Mortal Kombat 12 could be a great opportunity to expand on these curious and powerful characters.
