Note: This article was written before Godzilla vs Kong (2021) was released. It is also a prediction on how the movie could have gone.

Godzilla or Kong? Who will win this battle of wits and strength? Well, the Monsterverse, or cinematic universe which contains Godzilla (2014), Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), and Kong: Skull Island (2017), has allowed this fight to play out. While the movie, Godzilla vs Kong, may not be out at the time of writing this article, we can still attempt to predict the winner of this age-old rivalry between an overgrown radioactive lizard and an oversized monkey. 

Let’s talk about the differences between the two giant Kaiju, better known as titans in the Monsterverse. First of all, King Kong’s outpost, outpost 33, is on the fictional Skull Island. Skull Island is located in the Pacific Ocean. In the 2017 movie, Kong: Skull Island, Kong stands at a height of 104 feet, or 30 meters, with a weight of around 20 to 60 tons.  

Godzilla has a height of 119 meters, which is about 4 times the size of Kong in Skull Island. Director Adam Wingard is aware of the size issue and said, “They gave us a good out in Kong when they mentioned Kong is still growing, but that’ll be a challenge we have to deal with, and we’re very aware of that issue.” Godzilla also is powerful on both land and water, which is helpful considering Godzilla’s outpost, number 54, is located at Castle Bravo, Bermuda. Outpost 54 is disguised as an oil rig that has three sectors, above sea-level, sea-level, and below sea-level. The two sectors at or above sea level focus on kaiju research, while below sea-level focuses on Godzilla research. 

Speaking of Godzilla research, what are Godzilla’s abilities? Godzilla has an array of unique abilities at his disposal. Not only does he have his massive height, but he also has atomic breath, which has a temperature of 500,000℃ or 900,032℉. Metal melts at 2000℉, and concrete metals at 2822℉. Godzilla also gained a nuclear pulse attack after being powered up by a nuke in King of the Monsters and absorbing Mothra’s power after being killed by King Ghidorah. This pulse had a temperature of over 15,000,000℃, or the same temperature as the interior of the sun. This was during his Burning Godzilla form at the end of King of the Monsters. Without using his atomic breath or nuclear pulse, he could melt buildings 15 meters away just by standing near them. His heart was like a nuclear reactor melting down, and the temperature was 500,000℃ and rising. Godzilla also can adapt to situations which is clear in the 2014 Godzilla when the male Muto, another kaiju, kept attacking Godzilla from behind. Eventually, Godzilla started using his tail to stop the attacks. He also uses his hands more than people would think, which is clear when he holds open the mouth of the Female Muto to spray his atomic breath down her throat to decapitate and end the Muto’s life. 

King Kong does not have extraordinary abilities. However, he has strength on his side. Kong also has the ability, like most primates, to make tools and use said tools effectively. He will do this in the movie with what looks like one of Godzilla’s dorsal plates, or one of another kaiju, which was leaked not only in the trailer but in the toy leaks. Along with the toy leaks, King Kong looks to have a chunk of skin and muscle ripped off. Godzilla also has a chuck of his chest torn off, probably from the axe that Kong wields.

The fight will most likely start as it does in the trailer with Monarch capturing Kong and transporting him across the ocean most likely to Outpost 56, since Rodan was killed in the last movie, it is the closest unoccupied outpost to Kong. While being transported, Godzilla will strike from the water. This will be the first of many fights. Most likely right as King Kong will die, another kaiju, who was also leaked via toy leaks, Nozuki, will attack Godzilla allowing Kong to escape. After beating Nozuki, Godzilla will most likely return to the ocean to rest. Important plot will happen in between, but Godzilla will wander onto land in search of Kong. Kong will most likely surprise Godzilla and attack him in the city where the big fight will happen. The director also confirmed that there will be a definitive winner.                                                                           

This winner will most likely be Godzilla. While many fans would want King Kong to win, he just does not compare to the strength and adaptability of Godzilla. Kong only has had to fight small enemies compared to Godzilla, who has killed a literal God, King Ghidorah. However, there may be a minute amount of hope for Kong fans. Mecha Godzilla has been leaked on multiple occasions and can be seen in the Godzilla vs Kong trailer. This could benefit Kong if they fight together. This probably will not happen though, since Monarch sees Godzilla as a creature that they can use.

Overall, Godzilla has the biggest chance of success. King Kong may have tools, but Godzilla does not need tools to defeat his enemies. Who knows? This could all be wrong, and Mecha Godzilla could defeat Godzilla and Kong. We will not know until March 31st. However, if you want to root for the winning side, I would recommend voting for the kaiju slayer himself, Godzilla.