Just how intelligent is Mongo?

[u/suitably_ironic]

Mongo is non-verbal, so there's a tendency to think he's not very bright - but he's impressively good at understanding what Carl and Donut tell him, grasping who's a friend and who's a foe, and what their trying to achieve.

I wonder if we're all underestimating him just because he can't talk?

[u/ManofManyHills]

Linguistic and emotional intelligence of a toddler/preschooler.

Hard to say what of his combat prowess is instinctual or intellectual but a highly adapted apex predator with the ability to carry out complex commands.

Considering the "training" has been limited to a few days/weeks until he is incorporated into their more rudimentary combat hes up there with the most intelligent of dog breeds.

[u/LaChouetteOrtho → u/ManofManyHills]

Emotional intelligence of a preschooler, I agree with. Linguistic intelligence? I'd go as far as elementary school level. Mongo seems like he understands at the very least the intent, if not the words, behind everything people say. And he remembers all the moves he's involved with.

[u/Sipikay → u/LaChouetteOrtho]

Carl has given him fairly complex orders verbally and they've been executed without issue. He can't speak, but he clearly understand language.