User blog comment:Lord Loss/Discussion of the Week: More Elder Dragons/@comment-5020152-20140629145859

Jhen Mohran: Now, I really like Jhen, the big sand whale from my first Monster Hunter game. The fight is pretty nice, if a bit predictable after you battle him a few times, and the music is really fitting - the first portion in particular definitely sounds like an epic voyage at sea (or sand). Although with my luck, Jhen always tends to spam that damn Body Slam in the second stage of the fight, ripping through that Dragonship's health like paper.

His subspecies is pretty, but I have nothing to say about it.

Ceadeus: This Elder Dragon is my favorite of the three from MH3. The music is godly, the fight itself is strangely intense (in the second portion at least), and the area is wicked cool. I mean, fighting in a crumbling underwater ruin is pretty awesome. Ceadeus' range of roars and bellows is impressive, even utilizing a whale-song during his signature downwards Hydro Cannon attack. I also like the asymmetry of his horns, and how you can actually snap one off.

Oh, and the beard, glowing organs, and Viking-like profile are all awesome too.

As for Goldbeard, I haven't yet fought him in MH3U, but he looks really badass. The part in his cutscene where it zooms in on his head never fails to send a chill up my spine, just because ol' Captain Goldbeard looks so menacing with both horns covering up his eyes.

'Alatreon: I've always considered Gobul as my nemesis, but I'm starting to wonder if I should give that title to Alatreon. I've only killed him ONCE in MH3 (fifteen tries with a full team is far too much), and I haven't yet unlocked him in MH3U - but honestly, I'm terrified of fighting him solo in said game. But as far as the design, music, and fight go, it is absolutely wicked intense. Everything adds up perfectly to a hellish battle in a hellish environment with a hellish dragon that wants nothing more than to rampage all over you and rip out your soul with draconic claw attacks, fire tornados, ice spears... the whole nine yards.

He's a cool monster for sure. I'm just really, really scared of him.

Daren Mohran: As with Lao-Shan Lung - NEXT.

Dara Amadyura: Ah, where do I begin? A giant snake-like Elder Dragon was just what Monster Hunter needed. Screw Raviente, he looks nothing like a snake. Dara Amadyura is just as big, and about ten times more epic. The muscular arms that pull her forward, the snake-like maw with its glowing red eyes and paralyzing forked tongue, the spines running down her back and the bladed tail... everything fits together to form a very menacing boss indeed. The blue flamethrower is absolutely awesome, her roar is slightly less so, and the way she literally destroys half the map into nonexistence at one point during the hunt - well, don't even get me started.

Only bad thing I have to say about Amadyura is the music. I don't like it at all.

Shagaru Magara: Pure badass-ness. There's really nothing more for me to say. This Elder Dragon might be stunningly beautiful, but its a deadly beauty indeed!

Kirin Subspecies: I've already given my thoughts on the original Kirin, and I have to say that I'm not looking forward to the subspecies.

Rukodiora: I really like this one. The magnetism is perhaps one of the more unique abilities out of any Frontier monster (and that's really saying something, especially with beasts like Zerureusu and Baruragaru running around), and I definitely like how this dragon manipulates such a fundamental force of nature. The rubble flying around him looks pretty annoying, but makes the dragon itself a little more intimidating. If any of the Frontier Elder Dragons make it into the main series, I want Rukodiora to be it.

And how could I forget the music? Absolutely lovely.

Rebidiora: Well, there are a few unique aspects to this one that separate it from Rukodiora... but the only one I can think of is the giant blue lightning ball that it forms above its head and launches at you. All in all, he looks pretty much the same as his orange cousin.

Dhisufiroa: DON'T GET ME STARTED.

'''Which is your favorite? Least favorite?'''

My favorite out of all of these dragons listed here is Ceadeus, but Rukodiora and Dara Amadyura are fighting the whale ferociously for that title. My least favorite? Well, let's just say that my attitude toward a certain flying freak show is a bit... cold.

Which do you want to see back in future games?

As mentioned, Rukodiora deserves a chance to be brought into the main series. But if underwater combat comes back, I think Ceadeus and Captain Goldebeard need to return.

How would you improve your least favorites?

Wipe Dhisufiroa permanently from the franchise. Other than that, I don't think you could improve such a ludicrous monster.