Walk Like an Egyptian

Kicking off a list of great mummies with a zombie might be confusing, but Pharaoh Zombies could more accurately be described as Pharaoh Mummies. The undead creatures begin their assaults from the safety of sarcophagi, and their casket provides ample protection from enemy fire. At the same time, the heavy shells slows them down considerably. The sarcophagi will eventually break if they are met with enough resistance, but this only makes the Pharaoh Zombies more dangerous since their speed increases significantly after their makeshift shields are destroyed. They can move faster than standard zombies, even if they’re inflicted with status ailments. They’re ability to absorb damage makes the Paharaoh Zombies formidable allies, and this is especially apparent when they attack in large hordes.

Kan-Ra is an accursed sorcerer from ancient Babylon who was exiled from his homeland after he attempted to assassinate the king. His arrogant desire for power condemned him to walk the Earth as a decaying corpse, but the two thousand (plus) years he spent as a mummy didn’t teach him a thing about humility. They did afford him the opportunity to refine his dangerous black magic abilities, however. In battle, the majority of Kan-Ra’s moves involve sand. He creates sand traps, raises sand geysers, and causes waves of sand to crash down on his opponents. He can even sacrifice himself in an explosion of sand. He also launches tornado projectiles, exhales swarms of insects, and uses his bandages to grab his rivals from afar. Developer Iron Galaxy has repeatedly insisted that Kan-Ra isn’t a mummy, but he obviously is.

Lucky is a strange name for someone who’s wrapped head-to-toe in bandages, but he doesn’t seem overly concerned with his predicament. He’s actually known for his relaxed personality and laid-back approach to life. It’s unclear if Lucky is undead or just badly injured, but his home décor supports the first scenario. Lucky’s house is decorated to resemble an ancient Egyptian tomb. If he’s not a real mummy, he certainly acts like one. It has been suggested that Lucky’s appearance is the result of an unfortunate fishing accident, but this matter is highly debated. The fact that his birthday coincides with the date that King Tut’s tomb was discovered can’t be a coincidence, so I’m inclined to believe that he has ties to ancient Egypt. Nobody knows for sure what Lucky looks like under his bandages, but this only makes him more mysterious.

Princes Kiya was selected by the Pharaoh Ramesse to be one of his 200 wives, but the old man died before he could consummate the marriage. Sadly, she was chosen to accompany him to the afterlife and sealed in a tomb for thousands of years before a skeletal knight named Sir Daniel Fortesque stumbled upon her by happenstance. Kiya was startled to learn that she was dead, but Daniel caught her when she fell out of her coffin. Skeletons and mummies don’t have a lot of options in the dating world, so it was nice that they could find each other. Even though Kiya is technically ancient, she was only 19 at the time of her death and never had the chance to live. She’s grateful that she was rescued from her tomb, but she implores Daniel not to imprison her in another. She wants to make the most out of her new life and vows to see the world.

First seen in Pokémon Black and White, Cofagrigus can be described as sentient sarcophagi that populate tombs and ruins. They disguise themselves as elaborate coffins in order to lure in would-be grave robbers, and the unfortunate souls who fall for their traps are turned into lifeless mummies and encased within their bodies. I’m giving Cofagrigus extra credit for their efforts to increase the mummy population. When they’re not busy mummifying nearby humans, they often curse other Pokémon as well. During battle, they can pass on their trademark “Mummy” ability to their rivals and effectively replace one of their opponent’s techniques in the process. Cofagrigus stands out on a list where (almost) everyone else is adorned in bandages, but there’s nothing wrong with a little variety.

Anakaris became Pharaoh at the age of 12 and ruled Egypt for nearly two decades before he was killed in battle. Fortunately, he foresaw his death and revival and had a pyramid and sanctum created for his eventual return. It took a while for his foresight to be validated, but he was finally brought back to life when a malevolent alien invaded the Earth. The time he spent in the tomb made him slow and awkward, but it’s understandable. I can’t take a catnap without feeling groggy, so I can only imagine how Anakaris must have felt after 5,000 years of rest. His Pharaoh magic allows him to float, teleport, and separate his body into independent lower and upper halves. He can also render his opponents defenseless by placing curses on them. He might not be the most graceful fighter, but he makes up for it by being unpredictable.

Many of the fighters in ARMS compete for personal glory, but Master Mummy’s motivations are more noble. After waking up in a mausoleum, the lonely mummy set forth on a mission to locate his family. (If fighting games have taught me anything, it’s that fighting tournaments are a perfect avenue for a person to reconnect with loved ones and lost family members.) All joking aside, Master Mummy is a force to be reckoned with in the battle arena. The so-called Grim Creeper might be slow, but he packs a heavy punch and can absorb punishment like no other ARMS fighter. His bandages not only function as extendable arms, but they also have healing properties and allow Master Mummy to restore health while guarding. He barely flinches when he’s hit by a typical punch, and some attacks don’t faze him at all.

Anything can be used as a weapon in a video game – whether it’s a turtle shell, a bicycle pump, or a giant purple dildo – but the detached head of an undead mummy may very well be the most unconventional weapon of them all. Chuck D. Head was created by a mad scientist named Frank N. Stein for the purpose of battling an underworld army led by the demon Max D. Cap. Although he is fortunate enough to have had eyes affixed to his torso, the headless mummy can also collect skulls that sit on his shoulders like a real head. These skulls make him look a little more human-like, but all normalcy is eroded when he starts throwing them like projectiles. He doesn’t have to remain headless for long since the skulls return to him after being thrown, but I’m sure he’d much rather have just been given a proper head and a gun instead.

While celebrating his birthday, the young Prince Tutankhamen was forced into a bizarre ritual that turned him into an undead mummy. Fortunately, the ritual was interrupted by a brave warrior name Sphinx – who took on the task of restoring the cursed mummy to his former self. Sphinx plans to use the mummy’s curse to their advantage, and Tutankhamen exploits his immortality by venturing into a trap-riddled castle to retrieve valuable items. Obstacles that would normally result in death serve only to help Tutankhamen’s cause. Being flattened between walls will allow him to slip through barred doorways, and being sliced by blades will allow him to form into multiple copies of himself. At various points, he is set ablaze, electrified, and incinerated into a cloud of smoke, but you can’t kill someone who’s already dead.

While most mummies are driven by rage or vengeance, Amumu is defined by sorrow. Although the sad mummy has inspired myth and folklore, he has no memories of his past. The melancholy soul roams the world in search of a friend, but an ancient spell dooms him to loneliness since his touch is death. Amumu is so lonely that he breaks the fourth wall to convey his surprise when players select him in the game. It would be easy to underestimate him due to his small stature, and he does have a tendency to cry and throw tantrums. At the same time, he’s one of the most dangerous champions in League of Legends and even his tears are corrosive! His bandages can be used to tie up his enemies, but he’d much rather just give someone a hug. Solitude can be lonelier than death, and nobody understands this better than Amumu.