Monsters & combat
Choose your monster from the 12-fighter roster
For a first match, start with the default Heisei Godzilla for a balanced fighter. Want a different starting style? GameSpot's Switch 2 review begins with Godzilla 1990, Gigan, Megalon and Anguirus: try Gigan for quick pressure, Megalon for burrowing movement, or Anguirus for close-range defense.
The full Remastered roster has 12 fighters. The comparison below turns the official PlayStation fighter guide into choices by range, mobility and energy use. It is a style guide, rather than a tested competitive ranking.
A locked fighter needs permanent Lab research for normal play. For an immediate local session, the all-monster Tournament route is reported on Switch 2; it pauses progression.
On this page
Make a first pick from the starting four
Choose the lesson you want
Godzilla is the straightforward starting point for mixed attacks. Gigan suits closing distance quickly, Megalon rewards movement and surprise grabs, and Anguirus suits getting close with defensive tools. A starting pick avoids making an unlock grind the first requirement for learning combat.
Learn one attack, one grab and one special
Open the fighter's in-game move list and use the inputs shown for your platform. Test the range of each in Practice before a normal match. Use the practice routine if attacks keep missing.
Decide what feels wrong
If you cannot close distance, compare mobility. If specials leave you unable to respond, compare energy demands. If you keep trading hits and losing, try a more durable fighter or work on defense rather than assuming a tier list will fix it.
Starting availability: GameSpot's Switch 2 review. Fighter traits: official PlayStation Blog guide. Your current save can have additional researched fighters; these are not four permanently exclusive choices.
All 12 fighters: strengths and tradeoffs
| Fighter | Pick it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Heisei Godzilla / Godzilla 1990 | A durable, balanced start, approachable attack combinations and a wake-up tail option. | Slow ranged attacks and a high-energy pulse with a punishable charge; close distance against faster projectiles. |
| Godzilla 2000 | A faster balanced alternative when the default feels slow. | Less power and resilience than Heisei Godzilla; movement matters more than trading hits. |
| King Ghidorah | Resilient ranged pressure and flight; the guide notes aerial lightning avoids its usual charge. | Slow close combat and flight's energy cost. Do not let zoning turn into an empty-energy melee fight. |
| Anguirus | Aggressive close play, grabs and defensive spines that punish attackers on block. | Limited ranged options, lower power and slow turning. Plan how to reach a projectile user. |
| Megalon | Burrowing evasion and surprise grabs, with electric attacks for a mobile hit-and-run style. | Burrowing spends energy; below-average defense makes careless trading expensive. |
| Gigan | Quick pressure, edged attacks and teleporting to change the engagement distance. | An awkward Laser Eye option and vulnerability to energy attacks. Teleporting is a tool, not proof every approach is safe. |
| Destoroyah | Powerful physical hits and threatening mid-range energy attacks. | Heavy energy demand and very slow movement without energy; missed attacks can leave a difficult recovery. |
| Rodan | The roster's fastest movement, mobile aerial play, breath attacks and quick melee. | The official guide identifies very low defense. Avoid exchanging hits with heavier fighters. |
| Mecha-King Ghidorah | Long-range grabs, a shield and tools that drain an opponent's projectiles. | Slow movement, energy dependence and less raw power than King Ghidorah. |
| Mechagodzilla | Ranged weapon coverage, strong defense and a flying headbutt. | Flight and projectiles consume energy; weak grabs and sluggish close attacks become costly when empty. |
| Orga | Heavy grappling and long-reaching close-to-mid-range attacks. | Sluggish movement, quick opponents and opponents resistant to blunt attacks. Expensive paralysis goo is costly to miss. |
| Kiryu | A more balanced Mechagodzilla-style option, varied weapons and the Absolute Zero Rage attack. | Energy-hungry weapons still require restraint; balanced does not mean unlimited specials. |
Names follow the official fighter guide; the Switch 2 review calls the default Godzilla “Godzilla 1990.” Do not count those labels as two separate roster slots. Mothra appears as a reported arena power-up/airstrike, not one of these 12 selectable fighters.
Narrow the roster by the match you want
- Learn a balanced kit: begin with Heisei Godzilla; compare Godzilla 2000 after unlocking it if mobility matters more to you.
- Pressure up close: compare Gigan's approach, Megalon's burrow and Anguirus's defensive close play. Test grab reach before choosing by speed alone.
- Keep an opponent at range: compare King Ghidorah and Mechagodzilla, but practice what you will do when energy runs low.
- Play a heavy grappler: compare Orga and Mecha-King Ghidorah; their reach is useful only if you can line up the grab.
- Move rather than trade: Rodan's speed offers a distinct choice, with a major defense tradeoff.
If your chosen monster is locked or feels ineffective
- The fighter is locked in normal or online play
- Read its current Lab condition and research reward. The Rumor → current Project → eligible match flow is the permanent route; this comparison is not a full character-specific cost table.
- I only want to try it locally now
- Review Tournament's Switch 2 evidence and restrictions. Turning it on stops Research/Level progress and online play in that report.
- The attacks do not behave like the description
- Check the actual move list, distance and energy in Practice. These are November 2 source observations, not a measured matchup or a promise for every future balance patch.
You have a useful pick when…
You can name why the fighter fits your preferred distance, demonstrate a basic attack and grab, and identify its energy or defense weakness. If it is locked, decide whether you need a local trial or a lasting unlock before grinding.
Sources & version
- PlayStation Blog · official fighter guide
- GameSpot · Switch 2 review
- Kaiju United · PC review
- Atari · official publisher product page
Source-based guidance; no site gameplay test. Review observations retain their platform and November 2 build scope. Store listings were read November 3 UTC. Full source coverage.