User blog comment:Plexioth- xD/Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate/@comment-1758220-20130403184607/@comment-84.228.183.237-20130404163325

Unite is an amped up version of freedom 2 but, it has a different flagship monster.

Here are some traits shared by most flagship monsters:

1 Appears on the cover

2 Appears in the intro video

3 Is a new monster

4 Isn't a subspecies

note: Azure Rathalos in Freedom is a special case.