King Kong possesses his share of strengths and flaws in the MonsterVerse, but his biggest weakness is revealed in the opening credits of mostly positive reviews for its stunning visuals and fight sequences. The MonsterVerse has finally culminated in the ultimate showdown between everyone's favorite radiation-fueled monster and overgrown ape, but what may be holding Kong back from defeating Godzilla?
The main storyline of Godzilla vs. Kong follows Kong's travels into the mythical Hollow Earth, from which the Titans originated, and his eventual clash with Godzilla. The cybernetics company Apex sends Dr. Lind and team with Kong into the Hollow Earth, who are under the assumption they're locating a source of energy that will help save the Earth from Godzilla, who has seemingly turned against humankind. Apex is actually using the energy source to power Mechagodzilla, which is connected to one of Ghidorah's skulls.
The opening credits of Godzilla vs. Kong show some of the enemies both monsters have defeated in previous films and the stats of each Titan. One such shot details Kong's species profile – he's very intelligent and strong, but also "susceptible to flammable attacks." This is apparent in 2017's Godzilla uses atomic breath to light a forest in front of Kong on fire. The fire burns Kong, but not to the point where it makes him defenseless.
Something similar occurs in Godzilla vs. Kong. Kong is no match for Godzilla's breath, as he is seen dodging the nuclear beam several times throughout the film. Godzilla's atomic breath does nick across Kong's back during their brawl in Hong Kong, but it hardly weakens him. Combined with Godzilla slashing at his chest and Kong dislocating his arm after being thrown into a building, this does however factor into his near-death towards the end of the film. Kong may have been killed if he hadn't evaded Godzilla's blast.
What Kong lacks in counter-attack maneuvers he makes up for with intelligence. He uses a variety of weapons to defend himself and others, including an axe Kong finds in Hollow Earth. That axe can absorb Godzilla's atomic breath and prevent him from wounding Kong. Kong can also problem-solve and communicate with humans, which may give him an advantage in future encounters with Titans in the MonsterVerse. Though Kong may not be resistant to fire, his brainpower and intuition outweigh this weakness, setting up the final resolution in Godzilla vs. Kong.
