Editing Ermac (section)

===''Mortal Kombat'' games===
Introduced in ''[[Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3]]'' (1995), Ermac was created to serve as an enforcer for [[Shao Kahn]], the tyrannical ruler of the otherworldly [[Fictional universe|dimension]] of Outworld. A hybrid entity created from the souls of deceased warriors, he possesses telekinesis and uses [[Plural#Plural forms of other parts of speech|plural pronouns]].<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3]]|date=1995|level=Ermac biography|developer=[[Midway Games]]|publisher=Midway Games}}</ref><ref name="deceptionbio">{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat: Deception]]|level=Ermac biography|date=2004|developer=[[Midway Games]]|publisher=Midway Games}}</ref> Following his creation, he takes part in Shao Kahn's invasion of Earth and the eponymous Mortal Kombat tournament.<ref name="umk3">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hist_mortalk/p10.html |title=The History of Mortal Kombat: The Beginning of the End |work=[[GameSpot]]|first=Jeff|last1=Greeson |first2=Cliff|last2=O'Neill |date=October 21, 2007 |access-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020220040632/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hist_mortalk/p10.html |archive-date=February 20, 2002}}</ref>

In ''[[Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance]]'' (2002), following Shao Kahn's apparent death at the hands of the titular alliance of evil sorcerers [[Shang Tsung]] and [[Quan Chi]], Ermac aimlessly wanders Outworld without orders until he encounters the blind swordsman [[Kenshi (Mortal Kombat)|Kenshi]], who frees Ermac from Kahn's control, and Ermac hones Kenshi's telekinetic power in return.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance]] |developer=[[Midway Games]] |date=November 22, 2002|level=Training mode sequence}} ("Kenshi sympathized with the plight of the enigmatic kombatant, Ermac. The Outworld warrior spirits that had manifested themselves in the form of a ninja had been violated by Shao Kahn in much the same way that Kenshi's ancestors had been enslaved by Shang Tsung. Kenshi was taught the Telekinetic Slam by Ermac in return for freeing him from the control of the emperor.")</ref>  In ''[[Mortal Kombat: Deception]]'' (2004), Ermac reforms to atone for his work with Kahn by aiding the spirit of the deceased [[Liu Kang]] in successfully freeing the latter's friends from their enslavement by the Dragon King [[Onaga (Mortal Kombat)|Onaga]].<ref name="ermacdenofgeek"/> He is not in the storyline of the compilation title ''[[Mortal Kombat: Armageddon]]'' (2006), but in the game's opening sequence, he joins Earth's warriors in participating in a battle to claim the elemental [[Characters of the Mortal Kombat series#Blaze|Blaze]]'s godlike power.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat: Armageddon]] |developer=[[Midway Games]]|date=October 9, 2006|level=Opening cinematic sequence}}</ref>

After Earth defender [[Raiden (Mortal Kombat)|Raiden]] alters the timeline to avert the events of ''Armageddon'' in the reboot title ''[[Mortal Kombat (2011)|Mortal Kombat]]'' (2011), Ermac returns to being Shao Kahn's enforcer,<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat X]]|date=2015|developer=[[NetherRealm Studios]]|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Games]]|level=Ermac biography}}</ref> and is defeated in the first Mortal Kombat tournament by eventual champion Liu Kang.<ref name="ermacdenofgeek"/> He obliterates [[Jax (Mortal Kombat)|Jax]]'s arms, causing Jax to receive [[Bionics|bionic]] implants.<ref name="ermacdenofgeek"/> His ending reveals that one of the souls trapped inside his being is that of King Jerrod, Kitana's father and former ruler of Edenia.<ref name="ermacdenofgeek"/> In ''[[Mortal Kombat X]]'' (2015), following Shao Kahn's death, Ermac initially serves the former's successor, [[Mileena]], before defecting to [[Kotal Kahn]] due to Mileena not being Shao Kahn's biological daughter.<ref>{{cite video game|title=''[[Mortal Kombat X]]'' |developer=[[NetherRealm Studios]] |publisher= [[Warner Bros. Games]]|date=2015 |level=Chapter 6: D'Vorah}}</ref> He joins [[Reptile (Mortal Kombat)|Reptile]], [[Erron Black]], and [[Ferra/Torr]] in serving Kotal Kahn as they conflict with [[Cassie Cage]]'s Special Forces unit in their attempt to protect their home realm of Outworld from [[Shinnok]]'s forces.<ref>{{cite video game|title=''[[Mortal Kombat X]]'' |developer=[[NetherRealm Studios]] |publisher= [[Warner Bros. Games]]|date=2015 |level=Chapter 11: Jacqui Briggs}}</ref> Ermac was omitted from ''[[Mortal Kombat 11]]'' (2019), but makes a brief appearance in the game's "Krypt" feature.<ref name="mk11krypt"/>

In the rebooted storyline of ''[[Mortal Kombat 1]]'' (2023), Ermac is again an assimilation of souls, now created by Quan Chi.<ref name="eurogamer">{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/mortal-kombat-1-shows-off-soul-powered-dlc-fighter-ermac-in-new-gameplay-trailer|title= Mortal Kombat 1 shows off soul-powered DLC fighter Ermac in new trailer|first=Matt|last=Wales|work=[[Eurogamer]]| publisher=[[Gamer Network]]|date=April 9, 2024|access-date=January 7, 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409215044/https://www.eurogamer.net/mortal-kombat-1-shows-off-soul-powered-dlc-fighter-ermac-in-new-gameplay-trailer|archive-date=April 9, 2024}}</ref> He overpowers a group of Earth defenders upon his completion but is weakened after Kenshi absorbs several of the souls into his sword to unleash its power, leading to his defeat by [[Ashrah]].<ref name="mk1chapter6">{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat 1]] |developer=[[NetherRealm Studios]] |publisher= [[Warner Bros. Games]]|date=2023 |level=Chapter 6: Upward Climb (Ashrah)}}</ref> His later defeat in combat by Mileena enables Jerrod's soul to assume control of Ermac's body, and he reunites with his former queen [[Characters of the Mortal Kombat series#Sindel|Sindel]] and family before joining the fight to protect Earth and Outworld. After Sindel is slain during battle with Shang Tsung's forces,<ref name="mk1chapter12">{{cite video game|title=Mortal Kombat 1 |developer=NetherRealm Studios|publisher= Warner Bros. Games|date=2023 |level=Chapter 12: Queen's Gambit (Mileena)}}</ref> Jerrod absorbs her soul and appoints his daughter Mileena as the new Outworld empress.<ref name="eurogamer"/>