User blog comment:Kogath/Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate for the Nintendo 3DS/@comment-25259914-20141016164400/@comment-4212769-20141018142407

First of all, Black Diablos is called a subspecies but isn't one actually but a female Diablos in mating season. That means it's needed for the sake of Diablos' ecology.

Second, how would Capcom care with Green Plesioth when the pattern of more different subspecies wasn't even thought? The first subspecies WERE just color variations because Capcom hadn't come to the idea of changing them more than just the color. This pattern was introduced in MHP2ndG/MHFU with (at least) Copper Blangonga.

Now to your actual statement: Wouldn't a Dragon element, or Ice element Rajang (like many associated with Kirin Subspecies regarding Rajang's ecology with normal Kirin) be a good subspecies? In the end Rajang isn't very special if you compare it to the unique slime mechanics of Brachydios. Deviljho goes the same way as beside its hunger mechanics a strong monster as well as dragon element aren't something too special either and the hunger mechanics could be used on a subspecies as well.

But we should not forget the nomadic behavior of those two, so they appear in many different environments making it harder introducing a subspecies. Also Deviljho's niche is a problem as well, as more or less it doesn't have a stable niche in any ecosystem due to its nomadic behavior. Without a stable niche a subspecies would have a hard time to establish in an ecosystem other then sharing the same nomadic characteristic as the Deviljho. But Deviljho takes the top predator role in almost any area it appears in even though there are already top predators there. A subspecies would need to do the same to survive but Deviljho already takes this special "niche" meaning a subspecies doesn't make sense (Well done, Capcom).

Now Rajang is another subject. The introduction of Kirin Subspecies would actually cause the evolution of a Rajang Subspecies or mutation that can hunt this subspecies. It's the old "predator vs. prey" game: If the prey evolves to better outrun/fight/trick the predator will do the same to compensate this evolution. Like gazelles became faster with time to better outrun its predators, cheetahs made the same evolution to equalize this. Let's use this on the relationship of Rajang and Kirin: Kirin evolved a mutation, the Kirin Subspecies, that has the element Rajang is weak to. Rajang needs to feed on Kirins to get its electrical powers it uses to survive, but when facing a Kirin Subspecies it neither can get the electrical powers nor it's an easy prey as possessing the element to injure Rajang severely. We also have to consider that Kirin Subspecies normally only appears at the side of a normal Kirin (as I heard from MH4 players, tell me if it's wrong) what means they actually additionally take the role of a bodyguard to protect the normal Kirin from their natural predator, the Rajang. Now the only logical turn is that Rajang needs to compensate that disadvantage. There are three options to take: 1. Get a mutation that helps getting Kirin Subspecies out of its way, 2. find a way to live without its electrical abilities or 3. get extinct. So a subspecies/mutation is overdue if we want to see Rajang with all its power in future as well (logically, game-technically it doesn't need to have a role though...).

Now we come to Brachydios. Well, it's true, with its symbiosis with the fungus that lives on its body/in its horn, it is very unique. It's hard to think of a subspecies, right? False. Now comes the special trait of young Brachydios taking a role in this. Let's remember. Young Brachydios need to feed of/use the fungus its mother leaves behind to get itself this symbiosis. But what if its mother died, they got seperated or similar? One way would be to follow around another Brachydios and get the slime of this individual. But will the young Brachydios take this slime in willingly or does it ONLY want the slime of the mother? We don't know so we can only speculate. If it does take it in the same should happen as with any young Brachydios, it may get the fungus and grows up or an explosion causes it to die. The other option would be it doesn't take in other Brachydios' slime or it just can't find another Brachydios. What to do? Either it dies of this, or it finds another way to live. When it lives on it is the perfect foundation for an evolution of a Brachydios Subspecies or mutation. So let's pretend the young Brachydios still gets adult by killing its prey with force rather than using the fungus it would be a Brachydios that is inferior to other individuals of its species. What is the logical reaction? It tries to find something to compensate this disadvantage. And that's where we can go to a subspecies that Capcom could come up with. (possibly coal, oil (Slagtoth Oil for example) or other ideas could come up, maybe iced fists (evolving or stealing fluid that freezes on air (for example from Glacial Agnaktor)) etc.)

Now let's turn to Gore Magala, and that's a pretty simple case. Why not give it another virus that causes different effects? Or let's have these hairs it sends out have paralyzing toxin, or give them bleeding status or whatever. You see, Gore Magala is pretty easy to get a subspecies from. And it doesn't even need to turn into a Shagaru Magala Subspecies. The magic word is |Neoteny, which means more or less a juvenile animal (like Gore Magala) stays in its juvenile form while still developing the sexual organs and being fertile and doesn't undergo its normal metamorphosis (--> shedding to Shagaru Magala). So there's no need to fear an overshadowing subspecies that lets Shagaru and Gore Magala look bad.

Now let's look at the Flagship --> Subspecies --> Rare Species pattern. Well, how should I say this... you're right here but with exceptions. I always found many monsters could have a Rare Species as well even though not being flagships but well, the pattern goes with flagships. Now for the exceptions:

While not being declared as a Rare Species, White Fatalis would come to mind. It's the third and most powerful Fatalis, uses a different element and is also even more special than its brethren. I would call White Fatalis a Rare Species even if it's not officially one.

Now, what about Brachydios, Kushala Daora and Gore Magala? As everyone knows these three are flagships but don't have Rare Species (and Subspecies for that matter). While with Gabura Daora a "subspecies" appeared for Kushala Daora and Kushala Daora was already confirmed for having more subspecies that aren't introduced in the games (yet), it would turn out to having a variant AND a subspecies destroying that "Variants happen on only special monsters that don't have subspecies" completely, as well as maybe confirming the pattern of flagships. As pointed out above Gore Magala and Brachydios may be very special but a good subspecies would still be possible.

Now let's go back to the original statement "Monsters without Subspecies have variants." and we'll see... God, no, look at all those monsters that have neither subspecies nor variant. And Kushala Daora has subspecies AND a variant so it is the great exception of this. And for "They are too special to change." I already denied that with the text above. Conclusion: This statement does have something right in it, but it cannot be seen as a rule, so the general conclusion is false.

Sorry for this wall of text but... yeah, I'm not really sorry because otherwise I couldn't explain this really...