Powers and abilities of Godzilla

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Over the years Godzilla has possessed many powers and abilities to use against his foes. Godzilla is generally considered to be the most powerful kaiju.

[edit] Atomic Breath/Ray

Godzilla's signature weapon is his distinctive radioactive fire-ray. Godzilla's dorsal spines glow ominously, and then he lets loose with a concentrated blast of radiation from his mouth. This power is commonly mistaken for breathing fire. Godzilla has been shown apparently being able to adjust the intensity of his ray, varying from a blast of superheated vapor (such as in the 1950s and 1960s), to a beam with explosive and concussive properties, (in the 1970s and onward.) In most of the films, the Atomic Breath.Ray is neon-blue, although in some films, like Godzilla 2000 and Godzilla vs Megaguirus, it was reddish-orange.

In Godzilla vs. Megaguirus, Godzilla's atomic ray was shown as having incendiary properties and was strong enough to prematurely detonate a miniature black hole, while in Godzilla: Final Wars, it possessed incredible range, amazing power, and pin-point accuracy, able to hit a target in outer space and kill most kaiju with a single shot. In a memorable (and somewhat infamous) scene in Godzilla vs. Hedorah, a.k.a. Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster, Godzilla even used his atomic breath to fly by aiming it at the ground and lifting off like a rocket. The beam can also power electrodes (Godzailla vs Hedorah), melt steel and rock, and evaporate water instantly.

Another variation of the standard blue atomic ray in the Heisei series was the Spiral Fire Ray which he acquired as a result of absorbing Rodan's life energy and only used under dire situations (as Burning Godzilla the Spiral Inferno Ray completely replaced the Neon-Blue Atomic Ray, due to the incredible amounts of power his nuclear heart was giving off). This ray's appearance is that of an Orange/Gold beam with a thick Red outline and faint red beams spiralling the beam. As Burning Godzilla the Ray becomes the Spiral Inferno Ray (as this, the spirals are Pale Gold and far more prominent). It is so powerful that only a few blasts of it were sufficient to completely destroy Mechagodzilla and SpaceGodzilla, though Destoroyah was barely able to withstand several hits. When Burning Godzilla's meltdown starts, his Spiral Inferno increases in power and becomes a Hyper Spiral Inferno Ray.This version was used on Destroyah and nearly killed it with 2-3 shots. The Spiral Fire was used in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah and Godzilla: Final Wars.

In Godzilla 2000 and Godzilla vs Megaguirus, Godzilla had a reddish/orange atomic ray that seemed to be more powerful than the normal version and was more like a fire blast than an atomic ray. This is not considered to be a variation of the normal atomic ray, but instead a more powerful version of the blue atomic ray. There is also the posibility that it might be a midpoint between a normal blue atomic ray and the spiral fire ray, but that is unlikely as the Godzilla in the Heisei continuity and the Godzillas in the Millennium films are completely different monsters.

[edit] Nuclear pulse, Magnetic Aura and other powers

In addition to his deadly atomic breath, Godzilla can also emit atomic energy in all directions from every inch of his body in a short-range pulse. Godzilla utilises this "Nuclear Pulse" by swallowing his beam ^[1], and can be used to shove opponents in close combat, (such as in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah.) The pulse was first seen in his fight against Biollante. Godzilla used the nuclear pulse in the Heisei series, but in Godzilla 2000, it is said that the attack used to kill Orga was a Nuclear Pulse.

In the 1974 movie, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, Godzilla found a way to generate powerful magnetic fields from his body after being struck several times by lightning, which proved devastating against his metallic foe. This is the only time Godzilla ever used this power.

In Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Godzilla demonstrated another ability that is refferred to as the "nuclear reverse". After being struck with Mechagodzilla's Shock Anchor harpoons, Godzilla discharged a form of energy up the cables, severely damaging the robot's internal mechanisms. Godzilla used this power again in Final Wars, when Keizer Ghidorah was draining him, sending damaging energy that made Keizer Ghidorah drop him quickly.

[edit] Injury resistance and Healing Factor

Godzilla has as well displayed an uncanny ability to resist injury. Starting in the first Godzilla film, Godzilla displayed an immunity to conventional weaponry, virtually impervious to the JSDF's attacks and he is even shown to be immune to technology from the future. He has demonstrated the ability to survive complete submersion in magma for an extended period of time. He has even survived being in ground zero of asteroid impacts. His hide has been breached only occasionally (and then only by other kaiju like Gigan, Biollante, King Ghidorah, Destoroyah and MechaGodzilla), and in the manga adaptation of Godzilla 1985 it is said that his scales are tougher than diamonds.

In addition, Godzilla possesses also an extremely advanced and highly efficient regenerative ability. This power was a crucial plot point of Godzilla vs Biollante and Godzilla 2000: Millennium. In Godzilla 2000, it is explained that Godzilla's regenerative abilities may have something to do with his radioactive properties, and Organiser G1 ("Regenerator G1" in the English version) is the name given to a substance in his cells that is responsible for Godzilla's swift healing. In Godzilla vs Biollante, Japanese scientists use samples of the Godzilla cells (called G-cells throughout the Heisei series of Godzilla films) to help create the ANEB. This healing factor would be inherited by all creatures spawned from Godzillas DNA, those being Biollante, SpaceGodzilla and Orga. At the very end of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, after Godzilla has been completely obliterated, or so they all thought, his heart is seen beating on the ocean floor, suggesting Organizer G-1 could possibly completely regenerate a new Godzilla from just a heart.

[edit] Physical abilities

Godzilla has displayed varied levels of physical strength. He has been depicted lifting and throwing monsters in excess of his own weight(such as King Ghidorah, Hedorah, Mechagodzilla and others), and in Godzilla: Final Wars was able to throw Kumonga clear over the horizon. He is shown using various martial arts techniques in a comical fashion during the Shōwa Series, and sprinting with astonishing velocity belying his size, such as in Zone Fighter. In the Millennium series, he has been able to leap high into the air. However, many of the films show Godzilla preferring to battle his opponents from a distance, particularly in the Showa series; either by using his atomic ray, or by hurling objects such as boulders, Godzilla starts becoming more comfortable fighting at close range in the Heisei series.

Godzilla's long tail is also a formidable weapon. It has been shown to be flexible and powerful, able to lash out quickly and topple over buildings and enemy monsters. In Godzilla vs. Megalon, he was able to slide on his tail to deliver a kick. As well as kick himself up with his tail temporarely to kick down King Kong, which was seen in "King Kong vs. Godzilla", it has also been used as a distraction in Godzilla Final Wars for his Neon-Blue Ray. In all his incarnations he has been shown to have powerful jaws and sharp teeth and claws, although these are more prominent in the Heisei and later incarnations than in others. Rarely, Godzilla also has the ability to use his dorsal fins as a weapon, such as in Godzilla vs. Megaguirus, when he uses their jagged tips to slice off Megaguirus' claw, and Godzilla vs Hedorah, where he used them to cut into Hedorah in mid-flight.

[edit] Amphibiousness

Godzilla is described in the original film by Doctor Yamane as a transitional form between aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates. He spends most of his life underwater, coming ashore to wreak havoc or save the day. Capable of marching on the sea floor or swimming by undulating his tail like a crocodile, Godzilla is displayed as being able to breathe underwater (occasionally remaining in the ocean depths between movies). Being submerged apparently does not impede his atomic ray. He is as adept a fighter underwater as he is on land and engages opponents in the sea on multiple occasions, fighting King Kong, King Ghidorah, Ebirah, Battra, Biollante and Mothra either beneath or on the surface of the waves.

[edit] Intelligence

The extent of Godzilla's intelligence varies throughout the character's history, but Godzilla is generally depicted as an intelligent creature. The Showa incarnation in particular is depicted as being close in intelligence to a human, capable of abstract thought, relating cause and effect,^[2] and able to communicate with other monsters^[3]. He can even be heard 'talking' to Anguirus in Godzilla vs. Gigan. Godzilla has even been depicted as having a sense of humor, as shown when the creature laughs at Rodan (and apparently uses rude language) during Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster. Other versions of Godzilla, like the one seen in Godzilla, display a simple animal cunning.

[edit] Weaknesses

Despite his incredible power, Godzilla has displayed a few weaknesses over the years. In King Kong vs. Godzilla and Mothra vs. Godzilla, he is shown to be vulnerable to electricity, shying away from even the smallest source; however, this is inconsistent with the resilience to electricity he displayed in the original Godzilla. If this weakness is wheter retconned or bested by its defensive system is unknown, however later films in the Showa series would portray Godzilla as being immune to electricity, or even drawing power from it. In The Return of Godzilla, Godzilla was shown to be vulnerable to cadmium, though Godzilla's immune system was able to overcome it. Later on, Godzilla is revealed to have a second brain in his spine, and Mechagodzilla was able to kill him by destroying it; however, he was revived by Rodan and further films seem to ignore this Achilles heel. It was also suggested in Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla that Godzilla has a soft spot under each armpit. However, the validity of this claim was highly dubious and this weak point was never exploited. Godzilla's sheer bulk has also been depicted as a disadvantage, making it difficult for him to keep up with the more agile Megaguirus, who was able to outmaneuver him. Also, while he is invulnerable to most attacks, his enemies usually counter by simply crushing and battering him out cold.

To date, the only weapons ever shown to be truly effective against Godzilla were Dr. Serizawa's Oxygen Destroyer and Dr. Shiragami's ANEB (Anti-Nuclear Energy Bacteria). The Oxygen Destroyer was a weapon of mass destruction which when discharged, disintegrated Godzilla down to the bone, and then into nothing in a matter of seconds. The technology for this weapon was lost forever when Serizawa killed himself along with the original Godzilla, in order to keep it from being used ever again. But in Godzilla vs. Destroyah, the Oxygen Destroyer was thought to be brought back and this material created Destroyah. The anti-nuclear energy bacteria was a chemical compound developed from Godzilla's cells and designed to consume radioactivity. The bacteria managed to lower the radioactivity within Godzilla's body to the point of causing him to hibernate in the sea for three years. Godzilla would recover from the bacteria upon being exposed to the radiation of a nuclear submarine, with the added effect of increasing in size.

[edit] References