In previous Mortal Kombat games, Baraka was a simple Tarkatan henchman working under Shao Kahn. But now, even though I still can’t understand how he’s able to talk with all those teeth, this Tarkatan bad boy has had his story retconned much like most of the characters in Mortal Kombat 1.

Before being infected by Tarkat, Baraka worked as an Outworld merchant, so he has experience selling all kinds of goods. But Baraka’s expertise must’ve been in fashion, because despite his disfigured appearance, he still manages to dress to impress! 
 

#1: Daybreaker

Never imagined Baraka as a morning person

Daybreaker in action:

Start at 0:55

Just like the other Mortal Kombat 1 characters, Baraka has a bunch of skins to choose from, but we’ll only look at the best of those skins. Starting with the New Era skins, the first Baraka skin on this list is Daybreaker, and it has a palette of yellow and brown. To unlock Daybreaker, you have to level up your Character Mastery.

Daybreak refers to “sunrise” or “dawn”, the time when daylight is first seen in the morning. As a “daybreaker”, I would say Baraka is, in a way, the light signaling a new dawn for his fellow Tarkatans. With Baraka being the leader of the Tarkatans, he is responsible for the well-being of his people and he will do everything in his power to make sure they are all taken care of.

#2: Made to Suffer

Um, Shang Tsung, I think he’s looking at you

Made to Suffer in action: 

Start at 0:57

Is it really a surprise that Baraka has a skin called “Made to Suffer”? Anyways, Made to suffer is a New Era skin with a palette of red, yellow, and blue. There are no specific requirements needed to obtain Made to Suffer as you can get it from the Shrine or purchase it from the store. 

Now I think the title “Made to Suffer” could go two ways in Baraka’s case. For one, this phrase could allude to the fact that Baraka will absolutely destroy his enemies in the most brutal way possible. Or two, it could be referring to how Baraka himself is suffering because of Tarkat, both physically and mentally.


 

#3: Mayor of Tarkata

Baraka has my vote!

Mayor of Tarkata in action:

Start at 1:00

As a leading figure of the Tarkata community, it’s only fair that Baraka has his own special uniform! So, here we have Mayor of Tarkata, a New Era skin that contains a palette of crimson and black. To unlock Mayor of Tarkata, you have to level up your Character Mastery.

As I explained before, Baraka is the leader of the Tarkatan community living in the Wastelands. I’m not sure of the Tarkatans’ political system, but I’m sure Baraka would be the mayor of the community. After all, Baraka’s experience as a soldier before he was inflicted with Tarkat will come in handy.


 

#4: Symptomatic Fever

♯When you get that feeling, you need to do some killing♯

Symptomatic Fever in action:

Starts at 1:05

Seems Baraka has quite the fever…and the only cure is VIOLENCE. This New Era skin called Symptomatic Fever has a palette that includes colors such as red and yellow.  There are no specific requirements needed to obtain Symptomatic Fever as you can get it from the Shrine or purchase it from the store. 

I don’t know all the symptoms of Tarkat besides disfiguration and mental deterioration. But if I had to guess, a fever is one of the first signs of Tarkat. The way our body temperature rises when we have a fever is represented perfectly with the Symptomatic Fever skin as it contains mostly warm colors, which could refer to “fire” or “heat”.

#5: Concealed Toxin

Hey, don’t take Smoke’s silver!

Concealed Toxin in action:

Starts at 1:12

Concealed Toxin is the last New Era skin on the list. This skin has a palette that includes the colors silver and black. To unlock Concealed Toxin, you have to level up your Character Mastery.

At the mention of toxin, as well as seeing the silver color in Concealed Toxin, my mind immediately pictured mercury, which is known to be a neurotoxin. Mercury is a substance that can destroy nerve tissue and that causes many problems to the body, especially with the brain. The same can be said of Tarkat, which affects the body in multiple ways and brings much pain to its victims.

#6: Edenian No More

He may look like a monster, but give the guy a break!

Edenian No More in action:

Starts at 1:30

Now as we move from Baraka’s New Era skins to the Union of Light skins, we’ll start with Edenian No More! This skin’s palette contains colors such as light blue and yellow. To unlock Edenian No More, you have to level up your Character Mastery.

Baraka was indeed a normal Edenian before he was infected with Tarkat. For those afflicted with Tarkat like Baraka, they are banished to the Wastelands and everything they owned is taken away from them, as if their very existence is being erased from society. I’m glad Mileena is taking a more direct approach to help the Tarkatans in the Wastelands, because honestly they deserve better.

#7: Impatient Patient

Yeah, Baraka was always a “kill first, ask questions later” kinda guy

Impatient Patient in action:

Starts at 1:33

The second of the Union of Light skins, as well as the brightest in terms of color, on this list, is Impatient Patient. This skin has a palette that includes colors like yellow and brown. To unlock Impatient Patient, you have to level up your Character Mastery.

Yellow is often depicted as an energetic and bubbly color! But it can also be associated with danger and illness. Unfortunately, I think those last two things describe Baraka’s life in a nutshell.

#8: Banished to the Wastes

Kicked him out of the city, took away his assets, treated him like a monster…I wonder why he’s mad

Banished to the Wastes in action:

Starts at 1:40

Banished to the Wastes (man, don’t you just hate when that happens?) is another Union of Light skin for Baraka. Colors such as crimson and black are visible in the skin’s palette. To unlock Banished to the Wastes, you have to level up your Character Mastery.

The Wastes, short for the Wastelands, is the place Tarkatans are banished to and the conditions there are not ideal. However, the Wastelands is more inhabitable than previous versions of the area. At least Tarkatans won’t have to worry about something or SOMEONE being on fire 24/7.

#9: Burnt Flesh

Hey, don’t pick on Baraka’s skin condition!

Burnt Flesh in action:

Starts at 1:45

Another Union of Light skin we’ll check out is Burnt Flesh, which sounds pretty unpleasant. Burnt Flesh has a palette that includes colors such as red, yellow, and orange. There are no specific requirements needed to obtain Burnt Flesh as you can get it from the Shrine or purchase it from the store. 

The title “Burnt Flesh” I believe is describing Baraka’s scarred and disfigured form. There are certain spots on his body that indeed look like burnt flesh. That seems like a common symptom of Tarkat as the Tarkatans we have seen in Mortal Kombat 1 have a similar complexion to Baraka.

#10: Charred Flesh

Okay, it does look like he’s on fire. But I said STOP PICKING ON HIM!

Charred Skin in action:

Starts at 1:48

The last skin to be featured on this list is, and you guessed it, another Union of Light skin, but this one is called Charred Skin. Charred Skin’s palette contains colors like gray, yellow, and red. There are no specific requirements needed to obtain Charred Skin as you can get it from the Shrine or purchase it from the store. 

Charred Skin could also be referring to Baraka’s appearance since “charred” and “burnt” mean basically the same thing. But honestly, I just like this skin because of the fiery outline. I know practically all of the characters in MK1 have at least one skin with that same outline, but it doesn’t make it any less cool!

I admit, in the past I was NOT a fan of Baraka and only played with him in previous Mortal Kombat games to unlock his ending. But because of Mortal Kombat 1, I’ve grown a serious soft spot for the guy because he was written as such a lovable character in the game! So, give Baraka the respect he deserves and get cool skins for him, mainly the ones that were listed here. Don’t just sit there, go play some Mortal Kombat 1 for Elder Gods’ sake!

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