Rathalos

Rathalos are large-sized flying wyverns, with their most notable features being their crimson appearance and huge fire patterned wings. Rathalos inhabit many regions; they are most commonly found in the Forest & Hills, along with the Volcanic region and the Swamp region. In Monster Hunter 3 they can be found in the Volcano and Deserted Island.

Physical Appearance
Rathalos have a typical draconic type body. It is red with slightly tangerine overrides all over the skin. Rathalos is most notably known for it's spiky features along on the wing edges, head, 'knees', back, tail and tail tip. Rathalos has a ironic facial feature. It's mouth looks like a beak which closely 'bridgeless' through the tip of the snout to the forehead. Beside the jaws, it has a pair of 'mandibles' which closely resembles the ones own by the ants and termites. If observed closely, the scales on Rathalos's wings closely resembles the scale pattern of a butterfly's wing. Under the wings and the body until the tip of the tail, it has some black markings on it. Rathalos's wings reach from the wing tip until the first part of the tail. Rathalos's legs closely resembles of an avian's rather than a dragon's. It has 3 frontal digits while a single digit at the back. It's tail, is slightly 'bloated' at the cuttable part There are 3 pairs of spikes protrudes on each sides while a pair of notably shorter spikes at the bottom end with the longer spike with two smaller spikes protrudes from the tail part.

General
Rathalos spend most of their time in the sky. This ability to live in the strangest and harshest of climates makes the Rathalos renowned far and wide as the King of the Skies. So far Rathalos have appeared in every single Monster Hunter game in the series, even including the spin-off MH Diary: Poka Poka Felyne Village.

There are two Rathalos subspecies; an Azure variant inhabiting the same region, and a more solitary subspecies, the Silver Rathalos, that inhabits a far more secluded region, the ancient Tower, as well as the Swamp region occasionally. Rathalos are male with a female counterpart known as the Rathian who also has two subspecies: Pink Rathian and Gold Rathian.

Rathalos have a whole variety of attacks, ranging from burning hunters with a set of one to three fireballs from the air, to their incredibly deadly poison, which leaves hunters both poisoned and stunned.

Rathalos is the flagship monster of the original Monster Hunter game.

On Monster Hunter Frontier Online Rathalos can be a pet.

In MH3, there is a secret set of combo attacks for hammer hunters that can be used on Rathalos. It works with almost every hammer. If a hunter stuns a Rathalos and is right next to the head at stun timing, they can do this combo. The hunter can use 2 super-pounds in a row quickly, during the second super-pound, Rathalos should be getting back on his feet. Rathalos will do a short reel and about 90% of the time get ready to roar. If during this reel time, the hunter is charging for another super-pound, and does this super-pound while Rathalos is about to roar, it will cause Rathalos to have a big real and not roar. This combo requires 3 super-pounds in about 15-20 seconds. It works 99% of the time if executed correctly. All of these super-pounds must be delivered to the head.

Rathalos may use his "Around the World in 80 Days" attack as the very first attack during a hunt.

HC Rathalos
Appears older with larger muscle mass and more developed spikes. New behavior includes an attack where it instantly jumps into the air and does its famed poison claw attack instantly even if you are as far away as a lower part of a cliff in the Gorge it will reach you.

Monster Hunter 3 Changes
Like the other two returning monsters, Rathalos has been completely remodeled. The most notable change is its wing span, which is much larger and more in proportion with the rest of its body. Rathalos' attack pattern is also more air-based, increasing its reputation as the "King of the Skies". It also appears slightly brighter in color and more rounded, and hosts a whole new variety of attacks and abilities. These include its newfound ability to hover, and now its fireballs now cause a burning effect known as Fireblight. Rathalos in both games can have its crown and wing talons broken, and tail severed. While enraged it huffs fire. In MH3, just as with Rathian, Rathalos can pin down a hunter and restore lost Stamina, this can be stopped by running and tripping. Rathalos is now weakest to Dragon, followed by Thunder. Also, like Rathian, breaking the wing(s) does not stop its aerial attacks or travel. It can now recover Stamina by eating a medium-sized Herbivore, mainly Aptonoth.

MH3 Analysis
For the damage formula (how it's calculated), hitzone charts, Rathalos info and more click the following links: Monster Hunter 3 Damage Formula or Monster Hunter 3 Hitzone Charts. Images created by Inkoseh.



MHP3rd Analysis
Information taken from mhp3rd.net