One of the most iconic foes in the Tomb Raider series is the Doppelgänger, a character that first appeared in the original Tomb Raider (1996) game. With its intriguing design, the Doppelgänger quickly captured fans' attention. Over time, the Doppelgänger evolved into a fully developed antagonist, becoming the second playable character in the series after Lara herself, with Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness’ Kurtis Trent being the first.

Lara first encounters the Atlantean Doppelgänger, affectionately nicknamed 'Bacon Lara' by fans due to her fleshy appearance, in the Atlantis level. The Doppelgänger mimics Lara’s every move, so if the Doppelgänger gets hurt, Lara does too. Lacking independent thought, the Doppelgänger can be easily manipulated, allowing Lara to trick her into falling into a lava pit.

The next appearance of the Doppelgänger is in the 2007 remake of the original game, Tomb Raider: Anniversary. In this installment, the Doppelgänger is given her own biography, which reads:

“A hideous creature with no skin, the Doppelgänger mysteriously shares the exact physical characteristics of Lara Croft. Possessing only the most basic primal instincts, the creature mimics the actions of its adversaries. Lacking conscience, reason, and any kind of soul, the Doppelgänger is at one both very dangerous and also quite vulnerable.”

The Doppelgänger further evolved into a fully fleshed-out character in Tomb Raider: Underworld. Her appearance now matched Lara’s to the tee, albeit with a different braid style and some visible inhuman features. Lara described her in her PDA journal as follows:

“My previous encounter with Natla ended on a lost island containing a myriad of ancient devices, one of which was capable of creating an automaton of sorts that duplicated both my body and abilities, though it was skinless – having no need for any – and merely parroted my actions, a tactic which I used against it to destroy it. It seems that Amanda, with Natla’s help, has created another Doppelgänger of me, this time with skin and a mind of its own. If it truly can do everything I can do and more, it will be more than my match should it ever be sent to kill me.”

The Doppelgänger possesses superhuman strength and speed, abilities showcased not only in the main game but also in the two Underworld DLC expansions: Beneath the Ashes and Lara’s Shadow.

In the second DLC, Lara’s Shadow, players control the Doppelgänger as she embarks on a mission of revenge against Natla. With her unique shadow powers, she can navigate terrain too dangerous for Lara, slow time, sprint at high speeds, and take down Thralls using both dual pistols and melee attacks. The Doppelgänger is controlled by the phrase “Okh Eshivar,” the same command used to control Thralls. However, unlike the Thralls, the toxic Eitr liquid is deadly to her.

Love Tomb Raider lore? Check out some of our recent Lore features to learn more about Lara’s past adventures!

• Tomb Raider: Underworld - Thor's Gauntlets, Belt, and Hammer

• Tomb Raider: Underworld - Thralls

• Tomb Raider: Legend - The Unknown Entity

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Video Games

Tomb Raider (1996)

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered

Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Tomb Raider: Underworld