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The history of Bi-Han, better known as Noob Saibot, from the Mortal Kombat series.
Background[]
Bi-Han and his brother Kuai Liang at an early age were taken away from their family by the Lin Kuei and raised in the clan to become vicious assassins. Despite them being brothers Bi-Han and Kuai Liang were both very different in terms of personality; Bi-Han was merciless, killing without hesitation if it meant completing his mission, while Kuai Liang was far more compassionate only killing when it was absolutely necessary. Eventually Bi-Han would be gifted the name Sub-Zero due to his cryomancer powers.
Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub Zero[]
Bi-Han as Sub-Zero before becoming Noob Saibot.
He was hired at one point to steal a map for the demonic necromancer Quan Chi from a Shaolin Temple, where he encountered Scorpion, a ninja from the rival Shirai Ryu clan that Quan Chi had also hired, in case Sub-Zero failed. Sub-Zero, angered by this, savagely and coldly killed Scorpion by ripping out his spine and escaped the temple with the map.
Upon arriving back at the Lin Kuei temple, Quan Chi made good on his part of the bargain with the clan, he utterly destroyed the Shirai Ryu. The sorcerer also revealed he had hired Scorpion, which made Sub-Zero distrustful of him. Quan Chi then told him the significance of the Map of Elements, a forgotten scroll led the way to the fabled Temple of the Elements, which held an amulet that, according to legend, contained great magical powers.
John Turk as the elder Sub-Zero.
Sub-Zero entered the Temple of Elements and managed to best the traps and elite guards within, as well as the four elemental guardians, one of which was Fujin, a wind god who would have larger roles in later games. With the last guardian defeated, Sub-Zero broke the seal keeping Quan Chi from entering the temple and as the ice ninja prepared to claim the amulet, the sorcerer appeared and took the amulet himself. Quan Chi then revealed the truth about the talisman is the Amulet of Shinnok, it belonged to a fallen Elder God known as Lord Shinnok, who was banished to the Netherrealm many millennia ago after he attempted to take control of all of existence. When he regained the amulet, Shinnok would be ready to take control of the universe once more. Quan Chi disappeared and Sub-Zero began to leave, only for Lord Raiden to appear and express his disgust for the ignorance and greed of the ice ninja's clan. The thunder god, then commanded Sub-Zero to go to the Netherrealm and retrieve the amulet, conjuring a portal there.
Bi-Han reaching for the Amulet of Shinnok.
Upon his arrival, Sub-Zero found himself trapped in the Prison of Souls, where he unknowingly met Shinnok. He then escaped the cell, he was trapped in and fought his way through Quan Chi's guards, until he encountered Scorpion, now transformed into a specter, who blamed the ice ninja for the death of his clan and family. Even though his enemy was unable to die again, Sub-Zero beat him and Scorpion retreated. The ice ninja then took on Quan Chi's trio of minions, Kia, Jataaka, and Sareena and killed them, with the exception of Sareena, whom he spared for some strange reason. Sub-Zero then took their teleportation crystals and found his way to Quan Chi inside the Pyramid of Shinnok, the Brotherhood of Shadow's house of worship built in the name of their god Shinnok. The sorcerer then revealed that the reason Sub-Zero could exist in the Netherrealm was because he possessed an evil heart, due to his work as a ruthless assassin and lack of remorse for his crimes. He then fought against Quan Chi and received help in the form of a timely appearance by Sareena, who begged Sub Zero to take her from the Netherrealm. However, she was killed by Lord Shinnok, who now holds his Sacred Amulet in his possession, though this was later revealed to be a fake created by Quan Chi. Sub-Zero managed to snatch the amulet from the fallen god and escaped through another portal created by Raiden. Upon his escape, Sub-Zero asked what Quan Chi had said was true, which Raiden confirmed. He then told the young warrior that only he could change this fate but if he did not, he would descend into the Netherealm. He also refuses to thank him because his actions caused everything in the first place.
Original Timeline[]
Mortal Kombat[]
Bi-Han in Mortal Kombat.
Upon returning to the Lin Kuei temple, Sub-Zero found out he had been invited to the Mortal Kombat Tournament by Shang Tsung at his island. Because the Lin Kuei had previously been hired to kill the sorcerer, Sub-Zero accepted and fought in the tournament, so he could get the chance to kill Shang. Very little is known about Sub-Zero's battle in the tournament. After the defeat of Shang Tsung and Goro at the hands of Liu Kang and the island's subsequent eruption into chaos, Sub-Zero was challenged to a fight to the death by Scorpion. With vengeance and demonic energies from the Netherrealm fueling him, Scorpion killed Sub-Zero, causing him to descend into Netherrealm.
Mortal Kombat II[]
Bi-Han now Noob Saibot's secret battle in Mortal Kombat II.
Upon his descent into the Netherrealm, Sub-Zero was transformed into a wraith version of what he once was and named Noob Saibot. He joined Shinnok's Brotherhood of Shadow, ironically what he had refused to do while alive. Noob was then ordered to observe the events currently taking place in Earthrealm and Outworld. He remained in the shadows and watched the tournament in Outworld, then reported the events back to Shinnok.
Mortal Kombat 3[]
Noob's next assignment was to join forces with Shao Kahn during the invasion of Earthrealm, though it is unknown what his role in the conflict was. In his non canon ending, Noob killed Shao Kahn under Shinnok's orders when he let his guard down, giving Shinnok the chance to begin his return.
Mortal Kombat 4[]
Noob Saibot in his Mortal Kombat 4 appearance.
After Shao Kahn's defeat, Shinnok made his return with help from Quan Chi and Noob stood alongside him during the conflict. However Shinnok was defeated by Raiden's forces, resulting in the disbanding of the Brotherhood of Shadow. With his old master "gone" (as Noob put it) the wraith returned to the service of a weakened Shao Kahn.
Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition[]
A few years later, Noob appeared during a battle between the forces of Outworld, led by Kano, and the armies of Edenia and Shokan, led by Kitana and Goro. During this, Noob attacked Goro and delivered a mortal wound to the Shokan.
Mortal Kombat: Deception[]
Noob Saibot with his new partner, Smoke.
With both masters that he once served now gone, Noob slowly became his own master. Now free to follow his own goals and unconcerned by the events involving the newly returned Onaga, Noob plotted to create a force of assassins in his own image. While searching Shao Kahn's abandoned fortress, the wraith came across the deactivated cyborg, Smoke. After reprogramming the cyborg to serve him, he activated his nano-technology and began to make plans to use it to create a force of cyber-demon warriors. Noob and Smoke left the fortress, while being followed by Noob's brother, the second Sub-Zero, and Sareena. However the pair were perfectly aware that they were being followed and waited for their chance, then attacked Sub-Zero whilst he was unaware. Sareena managed to intervene in the battle and held off Sub-Zero's would be assassins. This caused her to revert to her demon form and after Sub-Zero awoke from the unconscious state he had been put in, he attacked her. It was during this time that Noob was revealed to be Sub-Zero's brother. Noob also faced against another demon, Ashrah who wished to purge his evil.
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon[]
Noob Saibot in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.
Noob and Smoke later worked together to stage an invasion on the Lin Kuei temple, so as to transform the clan into dark warriors loyal to Noob, as well as kill Sub-Zero. However this plot was foiled by Taven, who defeated the pair. After that Sub-Zero began working to free Noob of the darkness within him. While Smoke was freed from his influence, Noob Saibot seemingly rejected the process, and was seeming among the Forces of Darkness. During the Battle of Armageddon, Noob was seen fighting his old enemy Ashrah, and as revealed in MK9's prologue was finally killed after being stabbed by a sword.
In his ending, Noob defeated Blaze and found himself in a dark chamber, confronted by his former self, the original Sub-Zero, who had come to reclaim his part of the soul they shared. The two fought, but neither could best the other and, in the end, what emerged was neither Sub-Zero, nor Noob Saibot, but something more.
Alternate Timeline[]
Mortal Kombat (2011)[]
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Bi-Han in his Sub-Zero attire in Mortal Kombat (2011).
Sub-Zero, along with Sektor and Cyrax (Both still human), took part in the Mortal Kombat tournament, fighting on the behalf of Shang Tsung. He fought Sonya Blade for the sorcerer after she tried to save Jax Briggs, but was defeated. Later on, Sub-Zero appeared to face off against Scorpion, who'd just announced that he would not kill the ice ninja (as part of an agreement with Raiden, who had seen a vision of B-Han's fate). He asked the specter if wouldn't kill him or simply couldn't and Scorpion said Sub-Zero would suffer as the Shirai Ryu had.
Sub-Zero being beaten by Scorpion.
The ice ninja simply said to hell with the specter's clan, prompting Scorpion to angrily bring them both to the Netherrealm. He managed to defeat Sub-Zero and Quan Chi appeared, telling him to finish the Lin Kuei off and the specter didn't want to at first. However, the sorcerer showed Scorpion fake images of Sub-Zero slaughtering his family and clan and despite the ice ninja saying that wasn't him, the specter killed him, with his skull and spine being brought beck to the tournament, before they shattered on the ground. Thus Sub-Zero was brought back as the wraith, Noob Saibot, becoming a minion of Quan Chi and aided him in his plans to weaken Outworld.
He made himself known after Kung Lao and Liu Kang entered Shao Kahn's prison tower to save Kitana and fought Kung Lao. However, Noob Saibot was defeated and Kung Lao noted there was something familiar about him, but the wraith slipped away as the monk became occupied with Goro. As part of Outworld's invasion of Earthrealm, Noob Saibot joined his master when he revived Sindel. After Kabal was healed and equipped with a respirator by Kano, he went to take on Shao Kahn to get a way back to Earthrealm. Noob Saibot and Mileena stood in his way, but were defeated.
Noob Saibot confronting his brother.
Later on, the wraith aided Quan Chi in casting a spell to create a Soulnado in Earthrealm, but his younger brother, now Cyber Sub-Zero, arrived, and Noob Saibot stood in his path, having been warned about his defection from Kano. Noob told his cyberized brother saying he was not worthy of the name Sub-Zero, to which Sub-Zero was surprised that a Netherrealm wraith would judge him for. The wraith thus revealed his true identity, stating he had worn the Sub-Zero colors before him. The horrified Kuai Liang said they were both flawed copies of their former selves, which the wraith rebuffed, considering his new self flawless. He refused to listen to Sub-Zero's pleas, no longer considering him a brother. The two fought an intense battle, and Cyber Sub-Zero emerged victorious, who noted that Noob Saibot was right, they were not brothers. After Quan Chi activated the Soulnado, the sorcerer fought Nightwolf, but was defeated.
Noob Saibot being pulled into the Soulnado.
Noob Saibot attacked the shaman, but was kicked into the Soulnado, apparently destroying him, as well as dispelling the Soulnado.
Noob Saibot joining forces with Havik.
In his ending, Noob Saibot's power was enhanced by Quan Chi so that he could betray and defeat Shao Kahn. This would be a terrible mistake on Quan Chi's part, and Noob broke free of his control and formed an alliance with a cleric of Chaosrealm, Havik. He opened a portal to the Netherrealm, allowing Havik and his fellow Chaosrealm warriors to overwhelm Shinnok and the Brotherhood of Shadow. With Netherrealm destabilized, Havik left, satisfied with his work, leaving the way open for Noob Saibot to take over.
Mortal Kombat 11[]
| “ | Quan Chi's creations do not die easily. Kronika offers me a new clan to lead. Its shadow will darken the realms. | „ |
| ~ Noob Saibot |
Noob Saibot in Mortal Kombat 11.
Noob Saibot returns as a playable character in Mortal Kombat 11. He was revealed on March 22, 2019.
Returning decades after his supposed death, he joined up with Kronika's forces under the promise that he would receive his own clan in her New Era. Allied with the Cyber Lin Kuei, he attacks Scorpion and Sub Zero in the Cyber Lin Kuei Assembly Plant. Noob taunted his old enemies with his survival, noting that the creations of Quan Chi are too powerful to die, and that his new clan would "darken the Realms". He faced either his brother or Scorpion, telling the former that he makes a poor Lin Kuei Grandmaster, and the latter that he is weak without Quan Chi. Either way he is defeated and the plant is shut down, leaving Noob to flee with Frost and a knocked out Sektor.
Later, Kronika made Noob guard the Well of Souls at Shang Tsung s island, where the eldritch Crown of Kronika absorbs souls to gain more power. He confronts the younger Jax and Jacqui Briggs, restraining them with duplicates of his shadow. One of the Briggs's breaks free of their grasp, and confronts him directly, leading to his defeat, leaving him to flee.
In his ending, Noob Saibot figures that Kronika is probably lying to him and the others so betrays her and infuses the Sands of Time with his shadows. Gaining ambition to rule destiny, he takes over the realms, with mortals either perishing, or becoming controlled by him.
Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath[]
Noob makes a brief appearance in the game when Shang Tsung and Fujin are on Shang Tsung's island Kronika sends Noob and the older Jax after then to stop them from obtaining her crown. Noob directly confronts his old enemy Fujin, mocking him about his defeat at the Sky Temple, however he is defeated by Fujin, and forced to flee.
New Era[]
Mortal Kombat 1[]
- Main article: Sub-Zero (3rd Timeline)
A rewritten version of Bi-Han serves as a major antagonist in Mortal Kombat 1. Reverted back to his old mantle of Sub-Zero, he was originally the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei, protecting Earthrealm alongside his brothers Kuai Liang and Tomas Vrbada, only to be tempted to the side of evil by Shang Tsung.
Among Titan Shang Tsung's forces included a Dark Sub-Zero, who ironically accompanies a Dark Scorpion in confronting the New Era's Deadly Alliance and Raiden when they are destroying portals to prevent the invasion. While the two pairs dueled, the invaders were killed by the Deadly Alliance. During the Battle of Armageddon, there were many versions of Sub-Zero among the Forces of Darkness.
Invasions[]
An alternate version of Sub-Zero features as the main antagonist of Invasions Mode season 3: The Cryomancer. This Arctic Sub-Zero led a legion of Cryomancer Lin Kuei, and invaded the New Era to conquer it, reducing it to a frozen wasteland. Incredibly ruthless, he vowed to kill all those throughout the timelines who did not share Lin Kuei blood. Liu Kang's champions would go onto face this invasion, fighting his servants. Despite his losses, he remained resolute, and fought an intense final stand, eventually being frozen in place with water when he created an ice forcefield. In defeat Sub-Zero refused to surrender, leading to Ermac killing him, and his troops were lost without him, leading to their defeat as well.
Other Media[]
Movies[]
Mortal Kombat Movie[]
Main article: Sub-Zero (1995)
Noob Saibot's former identity of Sub-Zero appears in the first Mortal Kombat movie as one of Shang Tsung's guardians, he is played by François Petit. He first fought Liu Kang, and used his freezing abilities to create a force field in an attempt to draw Liu Kang in to his death, but was himself killed after Liu Kang threw a nearby wooden bucket of water (placed there by Raiden to aid Kang) towards the force field, creating an icicle, on which he was impaled. This makes this version very different from his other ones as he was not killed by Scorpion.
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge[]
Bi-Han in Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge.
Bi-Han in his Sub-Zero form, briefly appears in the film at the first tournament where Scorpion wanting revenge for the death of his family confronts him, believing him to have killed his family and clan. Initially, Sub-Zero ignores him but eventually Scorpion attacks and kills him.
Though it's not made clear if he made a deal with Quan Chi or not in the movie to have the Shirai Ryu wiped out, and he also didn't kill Scorpion, so this version is not considered a villain.
Mortal Kombat (2021)[]
- Main article: Sub-Zero (2021)
TV[]
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm[]
Bi-Han appears briefly in the first episode of the show, in a flashback that shows him being defeated by Liu Kang like in the first movie instead of the games. However, instead of getting impaled by an ice stalagmite-like in the movie, Sub-Zero froze himself instead.
Mortal Kombat: Conquest[]
Noob Saibot, who is played by Master Sultan Uddin, in an episode which shows Saibot was an imprisoned Outworld warrior mistakenly released by Siro and Taja; Saibot then was recruited by a sorceress to assassinate Kung Lao, a task at which he failed at.