Why Godzilla Killed Tiamat In Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire (2024)

Before taking on the villainous Skar King in Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, Godzilla killed two Titans from the surface world, and while his attack on the water dragon Tiamat may have seemed unwarranted, he had multiple valid reasons for putting an end to the highly irradiated monster. As established in previous Legendary Monsterverse movies, as the Alpha Titan, Godzilla is responsible for monitoring the other Titans on the surface to ensure they don't upset the natural order. Scylla's attack on Rome in Godzilla X Kong is a good example of him intervening when a Titan challenges his authority.

However, Godzilla sought out Tiamat in her lair, which was located at the top of the planet in the Arctic Ocean. Tiamat had not given any legitimate reason for Godzilla to act aggressively, much less to go as far as killing her. However, it was no random act of violence on the part of the King of the Monsters. Godzilla had multiple reasons for killing Tiamat, with the most significant playing out over the rest of Godzilla X Kong.

Godzilla & Tiamat Were Enemies Before Godzilla X Kong

Tiamat was labeled as a "destroyer" Titan

Their showdown in Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire was not the first time that Godzilla and Tiamat crossed paths. Monarch labeled Tiamat as a "destroyer" Titan due to her aggressive and destructive behavior, and even Godzilla's status as the Alpha didn't deter her. Tiamat was held at the outpost in Stone Mountain, Georgia until Ghidorah unleashed all the Titans in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, but she never made it to Boston to submit to Godzilla once Ghidorah was killed. In Godzilla Dominion, the graphic novel prequel to Godzilla vs. Kong, the story of their first battle is described.

In the aftermath of Godzilla's battle with Ghidorah, Godzilla seeks out a place to rest, only to be ambushed by Tiamat. Godzilla eventually overpowers her and forces her into submission, but not before she blinds him with toxic vapor and cuts him many times with her scales. Tiamat submitted to him to save her own life, but their enmity was well-established by the time Godzilla came after her in Godzilla X Kong.

Godzilla Killed Tiamat To Become More Powerful In The New Empire

It was no random act of rage

Godzilla didn't kill Tiamat for sport, vengeance, or out of anger; he needed to remove her from her lair. As described in Godzilla X Kong, Tiamat's lair's position on the globe made it one of the most expansive stores of radiation on the planet. The lair stores a massive amount of solar radiation, which is part of what gives Tiamat and eventually Godzilla the pink coloration. In order for Godzilla to access this store of energy, Godzilla needed to remove the fiercely territorial Tiamat from her lair, and given their history together, there would be no asking nicely.

By killing Tiamat, Godzilla not only gained access to Tiamat's lair, he accessed her power as well. The movie's novelization mentions that in the process of killing Tiamat and cocooning himself in her lair, Godzilla absorbed some of Tiamat's DNA, which is part of the reason that his internal atomic energy changes from blue to pink. It's actually the second time in the Monsterverse that Godzilla has done this; when Mothra sacrificed herself against Ghidorah, Godzilla absorbed her DNA to achieve his Thermonuclear state, just as he absorbed Tiamat's DNA to achieve his Evolved state.

Godzilla Had To Kill Tiamat To Save The World In Godzilla X Kong

Without Tiamat's power, Skar King may have won

As unfortunate as it is for Tiamat, Godzilla needed to absorb her DNA and the energy from her lair so that he would be powerful enough to put a stop to the threat of Skar King. Skar King's Monsterverse history is spelled out by the Hollow Earth Iwi tribe, and tells of Godzilla's past encounters with both Skar King and Shimo. It's clear that Godzilla is familiar with the threat that he will face, and knows what level of power he'll need to achieve to have a chance at stopping it.

That's why he embarks on his global quest to power up and achieve his evolved state. A Monarch screen in Godzilla X Kong notes that the dorsal fins of Godzilla's Evolved state can hold 20x the energy of his normal state, which shows just how much stronger Godzilla was able to get. Without that massive power increase, Godzilla likely wouldn't have been able to defeat Shimo, especially with her under Skar King's control. As unfortunate as Tiamat's death was in Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, it was ultimately necessary for Godzilla to save the world from Skar King's reign.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

After nearly destroying each other in 2021's Godzilla vs. Kong, the giant Titans are back to face a new dangerous threat, but this time, they are on the same side. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is the fifth film in Warner Bros.' growing Monsterverse franchise and will be directed by Adam Wingard.

Director

Adam Wingard

Release Date

March 29, 2024

Studio(s)

Legendary Pictures

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Writers

Terry Rossio , Adam Wingard , Simon Barrett , Jeremy Slater

Cast

Dan Stevens , Rebecca Hall , Brian Tyree Henry , Kaylee Hottle , Fala Chen

Runtime

115 Minutes

Franchise(s)

Godzilla , King Kong , Monsterverse

prequel(s)

Godzilla (2014) , Kong: Skull Island , Godzilla: King of the Monsters , Godzilla Vs Kong

Main Genre

Action