The Godzilla franchise debuted with the 1954 Japanese film Godzilla (Gojira). Since then, Japan and the rest of the world have known and become quite fascinated with Godzilla and the franchise the first film created. Future Godzilla movies would create creatures to act as foils and/or rivals to Godzilla as time passed.

The long-running Godzilla franchise's giant kaiju (Japanese for "strange beast") are terrifyingly powerful and destructive. Some of these mighty beasts are more potent than others and prove to be more formidable opponents to humanity and even the King of the Monsters himself. Others aren't nearly as strong as Godzilla, serving as weak allies to underscore Godzilla's strength or as minor foes to block his way before a real challenger approaches.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on April 18, 2024: The latest entry in the Monsterverse, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, shows Godzilla at his mightiest as he faces off against new monsters like the villainous Skar King. But how do these new kaiju measure up against the many other monsters that Godzilla has faced in previous films?

The Endoswarmers Have Little to No Attack Power on an Individual Level

Introduced in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, the Endoswarmers resemble extremely large insects. Although they're technically Titans, these monsters have very little attack power on an individual level. That said, they're certainly capable of hurting or killing humans when they appear as a swarm.

Audiences first saw their eggs in an abandoned building, which began to hatch when Miura, Randa, and Lee attempted to take a sample. It originally seems that Keiko Miura is overwhelmed and dragged to her death by the Endoswarmers, but that's not what is revealed at the end of Season 1, Episode 9. All things considered, however, the Endoswarmers pose no threat to the real Titans, standing out as one of the weakest breed in the franchise.

Jet Jaguar Can Fly Very Fast and Change His Size but Not Much Else

Jet Jaguar is a Super Sentai-inspired hero who made his debut in the film Godzilla vs. Megalon. He was created by a family of scientists and can change his size whenever the situation calls for it. At first, he attempts to take on Megalon, but Megalon and Gygas might prove too much for the robot.

Eventually, Godzilla intervenes, resulting in one of the most ridiculous finishing moves in the series. Despite his triumphant theme song, Jet Jaguar isn't really that much of a formidable fighter. He later appeared in the Netflix anime, where he was destroyed by Godzilla.

Baragon Has a Few Strengths, but He's an Ineffective Opponent Overall

Baragon is one of many monsters who have fought Godzilla and been swiftly defeated. An ancient reptilian creature, Baragon can also emit a beam of fire or heat. This fire is hot enough to assist Baragon's digging ability or use it as his weapon of choice.

The vaguely dinosaur-like Baragon can engage in physical combat when needed. He has surprised Godzilla in past battles with a jumping charge that allowed him to bite Godzilla. While admirable, this feat doesn't compare to the damage Godzilla's other opponents have inflicted.

Ebirah Doesn't Have Many Options for Close-Quarters Combat

Ebirah is one of the weakest monsters Godzilla has ever faced. A giant crustacean, Ebirah lacks many of the traits and capabilities necessary to fight the King of Monsters effectively. Armed with only two differently-sized claws, the mutant arthropod doesn't have a lot of options for close-quarters combat.

This lack of ability is apparent in Ebirah's battle against Godzilla, who ripped out his arms. It's worth noting that Ebirah is an excellent swimmer who fought Godzilla by dragging him underwater. Still, because Godzilla is semi-aquatic, Ebirah suffered a complete defeat.

Kamacuras Lack the Abilities To Pose a Real Challenge

Kamacuras describes not just one but multiple praying mantis-like creatures. Despite their numbers, they remain one of the weakest monsters for a good reason. Kamacuras are taken out quickly by Godzilla's atomic breath.

While a threat to humans and perhaps some lesser kaiju (including Godzilla's son Minilla), Kamacuras lack the traits and abilities to be dangerous to the most powerful monsters like Godzilla. There may be strength in numbers, but these creatures are ultimately no match for the King of Monsters and many others in the MonsterVerse.

Gabara Is Swiftly and Completely Vanquished By Godzilla

Ichiro Miki created Gabara in his dreams in 1969's All Monsters Attack. This diminutive kaiju serves as the boy's representation of his bully, also named Gabara. In a somewhat silly manner, the amphibious monster torments Godzilla's son, Minilla, who, like Ichiro, is too small and meek to fight back.

Eventually, Minilla gains enough confidence from Ichiro to fight back against the larger and stronger Gabara. Consequently, the bully of a beast retaliates against the King of Monsters himself. This retaliation leads to a swift and resounding beatdown at the hands of Godzilla.

The Giant Condor Is Only Powerful By Human Standards

The Giant Condor is a mutated bird — grown on a kaiju scale — who had the unfortunate luck of flying into Godzilla. After a brief but fierce confrontation, Godzilla used his atomic breath to bring the winged beast down.

In some entries in the franchise, fans have witnessed particular monsters withstand such an attack. However, the Giant Condor isn't among their ranks. Consequently, the biggest of birds falls into the ocean with little fanfare. It should come as no surprise that a monster as mundane as Giant Condor would be one of the weakest in the MonsterVerse.

Kamoebas Durable Shell Offers a Decent Amount of Protection

Kamoebas is a rock turtle kaiju who first appeared in the Godzilla franchise in Space Amoeba, a 1970 Toho film. Like Godzilla or Ebirah, Kamoebas is semi-aquatic with the capability to battle both on land and in water. He has a few weapons, like razor-sharp teeth and claws. Plus, he can extend his neck like a snapping turtle to bite enemies from a distance. These abilities pale in comparison to the strongest kaiju out there.

Kamoebas' most significant strength is its rock-hard shell that serves as a defensive shield against attacks. In his debut film, Kamoebas deflects the attacks of Ganime — an Ebirah-like crab kaiju — by using his shell. In a later entry in the franchise, however, a dead Kamoebas washes ashore after being killed by Godzilla. Clearly, this shell doesn't offer total protection against his enemies.

Warbats Only Have an Advantage When They Have Huge Numbers

Warbats are large, winged kaiju. These serpent-like monsters get their name from their aggressive personalities and bat-like wings. Fans of the Godzilla universe can see Warbats in action in Godzilla vs. Kong, where they attack King Kong in the Hollow Earth.

While the Warbats are the apex predators of the Hollow Earth, they're no match for enormous monsters like Godzilla or Kong. Like the Kamacuras, Warbats have an advantage in numbers. Still, in their brief skirmish with Kong, these beasts are dispatched rather quickly, albeit with a small assist from King Kong's human companions.

Zilla Was So Weak That the Military Could Dispatch It on Their Own

When Roland Emmerich provided his own spin on the King of the Monsters, the final results weren't exactly cherished. Fans and critics alike panned the 1998 Godzilla for its cardboard-cutout characters and uninspired creature. Even long-time Godzilla detractor Roger Ebert said that the original monster had more personality.

This version of Godzilla was so weak that the military could dispatch it on their own. In subsequent films, it was retroactively regarded as an imposter named Zilla. In Godzilla: Final Wars, the true Godzilla made mincemeat out of Zilla within seconds: one of the shortest bouts in the entire series.

Scylla Barely Put Up A Fight Against Godzilla

Scylla is a Titan who appears in the Monsterverse films Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Godzilla vs. Kong, and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. She is a giant spider-like creature first seen in ancient Greece, inspiring some of the myths featuring the creature of the same name. In addition to her large size and strength, Scylla is able to manipulate the temperature around her.

Although she has done battle with Godzilla, the King of the Monsters, Scylla doesn't really pose much of a threat to the other Titans in the Monsterverse. She falls to the mightier kaiju rather easily and is ultimately a forgettable Titan. Scylla is the definition of a middle-of-the-road Titan, proving herself to be a monster worthy of making humans run for the hills without ever really standing out among the other kaiju in the franchise.

Minilla Is Nowhere Near As Powerful As His Father

Minilla, sometimes also known as Godzilla Jr., is the adopted son of Godzilla who first appears in 1967's Son of Godzilla. He is of the same species as Godzilla, though far younger, and has several additional abilities that his father does not, including the ability to shrink down to about the size of a human.

While he is still very young, Minilla is nowhere near as powerful as his father. The character has become something of a joke in the Godzilla fandom, not in the least because he allows himself to be bullied by other monsters like Gabera. While he always has the potential to grow into a mightier kaiju at some point, Minilla as he is doesn't stand much of a chance against other monsters.

Gigan Has Access To a Wide Range of Cutting and Slicing Weapons

The strange-looking Gigan is one of Godzilla's most vicious opponents. In stark contrast to Godzilla's more pragmatic foes, Gigan takes a more visceral and sadistic approach when battling his enemies. In his debut film, Gigan famously made a blood sprinkler out of Anguirus with his buzzsaw chest.

Gigan reappeared in the film Godzilla vs. Megalon, where he teamed up with the aforementioned monster in a team match against the King of the Monsters and Jet Jaguar. Despite his seemingly tough exterior, Gigan can be a bit of a coward and isn't above retreating from bouts that aren't going well.

Biollante Is Essentially Immortal as She Can Transform Into Spores

The horticultural horror known as Biollante resulted from an experiment that mixed Godzilla's DNA with that of a plant. One of the few creatures to be introduced after the franchise's classic period, Biollante was one of the more interesting modern Godzilla monsters.

Like Audrey II, this beast can grab victims with her tentacle-like roots and chomp down on them with her massive jaws. According to the scientists who created her, Biollante is essentially immortal and can transform into spores when too severely wounded. Though Biollante might have fallen to the King of the Monsters, she still carries on through these spores.

Mothra Might Be Peaceloving, But She's Indubitably Overpowered

The iconic and ancient Mothra is known for being one of the good guys in Godzilla lore. She's referred to in multiple properties as a protector of humanity. As her name suggests, Mothra is a moth, albeit one that is a behemoth in size. While it may seem difficult to fathom a giant moth battling other kaiju, Mothra is a worthy opponent to even the strongest monsters like King Ghidorah.

Mothra can deflect attacks through her wing scales, causing catastrophic or even fatal results for the person/beast who launched the original assault. She is among the strongest kaiju, even if she's the most peace-loving member of the MonsterVerse.

Monster X Becomes Even More Powerful as Keizer Ghidorah

Monster X, one of the most horrific monsters in the Godzilla franchise, was introduced in Godzilla: Final Wars. Fans already know just how strong the Xiliens' monsters are, but Monster X takes it to a completely new level. This being has numerous powers at its disposal, ranging from Antigravity Beams and Telekinesis to Energy Absorption and even flight.

If that's not terrifying enough, Monster X can transform into Keizer Ghidorah, a Ghidorah-like entity with three heads and two powerful tails. Even Godzilla found it extremely difficult to battle this overpowered creature and would have likely perished without Gotengo's timely assistance.

Destoroyah Poses an Existential Threat to All Life on Earth

Destoroyah arose from the Oxygen Destroyer, a weapon that killed the original Godzilla in the 1954 film that started it all. Destoroyah poses an existential threat to all life on Earth as a creature of ultimate death and destruction. They're among the few monsters capable of killing Godzilla in a one-on-one fight.

With super strength and durability, Destoroyah possesses the ability to rival or even surpass the King of Monsters. They fought against Godzilla at the height of Godzilla's power. Destoroyah was eventually defeated, but only through Godzilla's nuclear meltdown and assistance from the Japanese military.

King Ghidorah Is a Three-Headed Dragon Capable of Apocalyptic Destruction

One of Godzilla's deadliest and strongest foes is the dreaded King Ghidorah. Arguably Godzilla's greatest enemy, this three-headed dragon from outer space seeks to destroy Earth like many planets before it. King Ghidorah's ability to control other parties, such as aliens, makes him even more dangerous.

Additionally, King Ghidorah can regenerate one of his heads if taken off in combat. Because of these tremendous powers, King Ghidorah often requires a combined effort from several parties to bring him down. Only through a union with Mothra or humans can Godzilla defeat this mighty dragon.

King Kong Is Rightfully Known as the Eighth Wonder of the World

King Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World, has repeatedly battled both alongside and against Godzilla. Plus, he's one of the few kaiju who can consistently hold their own against the King of Monsters on multiple occasions. MonsterVerse fans can see King Kong most recently squaring off against, then alongside, Godzilla in 2021's Godzilla vs. Kong and the recently released Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. However, his first appearance with Godzilla was in 1962.

King Kong lacks the unique abilities of some other kaiju but makes up for it with agility, durability, and supreme intelligence. In Godzilla vs. Kong, the supersimian demonstrates this intellect through several surprise attacks using verticality gained via his climbing skills. Additionally, he employs several weapons to battle the world's apex predator. The New Empire sees Kong strengthen himself even further when he receives his power glove to help in the fight against the Skar King.

The Skar King Was A Worthy Match For King Kong And Godzilla

Kong and Godzilla battle the Skar King in The New Empire. The Skar King is a giant orangutan-chimpanzee who commands an army of kaiju from the Hollow Earth. He confronts Kong, one of the few monsters who could pose a threat against his plan to destroy the human world above.

As powerful as King Kong is, even he wasn't able to defeat the Skar King by himself. The powerful ape was forced not only to attain a new power glove to defeat his new enemy but also to turn to his old enemy-turned-ally, Godzilla, for help. While the Skar King's threat to the Monsterverse didn't last beyond a single film, he still posed a terrifying threat for what short time he appeared.

Mechagodzilla Is Only Defeated By Godzilla and King Kong Working Together

Mechagodzilla, since its first appearance in 1974's Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, has long been one of Godzilla's most potent enemies. In its first version, Mechagodzilla is the creation of the Black Hole Planet 3 Aliens. Most recently, in Godzilla vs. Kong, Mechagodzilla is the creation of Walter Simmons, CEO of Apex Cybernetics. This version of Mechagodzilla was designed and built as an anti-titan weapon, a tool for humanity to reclaim its top spot in the food chain.

Initially, a human piloted this version of Mechagodzilla. But a design flaw led to that pilot being overwhelmed by the machine's power source, the remains of King Ghidorah. Subsequently, Mechagodzilla begins an uncontained rampage through Hong Kong. During this frenzy, he delivers a beatdown to his organic namesake. Ultimately, it takes a combined effort of both Kong and Godzilla to take Mechagodzilla down, proving that he at least warrants a higher power level than most other kaiju to face either of the two Titans over the years.

SpaceGodzilla Is a Powerful Mutated Clone From Outer Space

SpaceGodzilla is one of Godzilla's most powerful opponents. As a mutated clone from space, SpaceGodzilla has potent abilities that rival even his "father's." SpaceGodzilla also differs from his Earthbound predecessor through his incredible intelligence and psychic powers to move objects, himself, and other creatures (including Godzilla) with his mind.

With such capabilities, it's no wonder SpaceGodzilla is among the few monsters that managed to defeat Godzilla during their first fight. In the end, it took the combined might of Godzilla and Moguera to take down this alien clone. SpaceGodzilla is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous entities in the MonsterVerse.

Shimo Was The Skar King's Ace In The Hole

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire introduces Shimo, a long-dormant kaiju whom the Skar King controls using an ancient crystal. Shimo is a massive monster from deep in the Hollow Earth who uses her frost breath to nearly plunge the world into a new ice age at the behest of her malevolent master, only to be thwarted in the end by the heroes.

Shimo is the Skar King's ace in the hole, whom he relies on as his enforcer in the final battle of The New Empire. While she isn't in control of her own actions for much of the film, Shimo makes a magnificently terrifying antagonist, even against heroes as powerful as Godzilla and King Kong. In the end, the two mighty kaiju are only barely able to save the world from Shimo's power.

Godzilla Is Arguably the Strongest Monster in the Franchise

Godzilla, the King of the Monsters, ranks as the overall strongest monster in the franchise. While Godzilla has suffered a few defeats here and there, he usually comes out as the victor in his many battles. Godzilla's vast godlike abilities (such as strength, durability, and energy projection) make him a nearly unstoppable force to be reckoned with.

Throughout his history, Godzilla has been on the side of the good, the bad, and sometimes the in-between. Whatever alignment he may hold in any particular film, Godzilla is always incredibly powerful, posing a terrifying threat to anything or anyone unfortunate enough to get in his way. Even when he is outpaced in combat, Godzilla always finds a way to come out on top, defeating virtually every monster he has ever faced. This particular kaiju is sure to keep audiences entertained for decades to come, always ready to show why he has earned the title of the King of the Monsters.