User blog comment:Aandrew07/Discussion of the Week: Flagship Monsters/@comment-1653324-20120721154634

A bit of something. Rathalos was the esteemed monster of the game. Defeating one solo would prove that you are at least crudely adept at the ways of the hunt. It's like the second rite of passage, with the first being my crazy head's flagship Yian Kut-Ku.

Tigrex striked fear at the hearts of fresh meat/new hunters. It was huge, fast, and hit like a truck. "The A Sinking Feeling" quest just gave even more imagery of it.

Equipment-wise, Bracchi and Nargacuga are the most abused weapons. A bulk of 3G videos I see past Bracchi would have them. And let's admit it, we've used at least one Nargacuga weapon. The others aren't too shaby as well. Except for Rathalos at later gens, they give some of the best weapons of their type.