Rathalos

Master the Rathalos fight in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate! Learn its attacks, weaknesses, and strategies to bring down the King of the Skies. Get ready for the hunt!

Alright, let's talk about Rathalos, the big fiery bird that's basically the face of Monster Hunter! This guy's the king of the skies, and he knows it. He's got aerial combat down pat, plus some nasty poison talons and a breath that'll melt your face off. He's the male counterpart to Rathian, and these two can be a real handful when they team up.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Elemental: Dragon, Thunder
• Status: Blast

Areas:

• Ancestral Steppe: Starts in area 4, roams areas 2, 6, 7, 8, rests in area 5.
• Volcanic Hollow: Starts in area 8, roams areas 1, 2, 4, 6, rests in area 9.
• Heaven’s Mount: Starts in area 8, roams areas 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, rests in area 8.

Attacks:

1. Side Chomp: Rathalos jerks its head right, tail goes left. Doesn't do much damage, just trips you.
2. Charge: It'll charge straight at you. If you're in front of its hind legs, you'll get hit. Best bet is to stay behind its hind legs.
3. Fireball: Shoots a fireball, can do it from the ground or air.
4. Retreating Fireball: Hops into the air while spitting a fireball where it just was. Often happens after it roars in rage mode, but can happen randomly too.
5. Aerial Triple Fireball: Flies high, locks on, and fires three fireballs. It takes its time coming back down, which is your cue to hit it with a Flash Bomb to bring it to the ground.
6. Aerial Bite: While airborne, it snaps its head right and tries to bite you.
7. Tail Whip: Uses its long tail for two 180-degree spins. Stay between its legs or slightly in front to avoid getting sent flying.
8. Talon Strike: Swoops down from the air to maul you with its talons. This happens fast and can come out of nowhere. If it pins you, mash the joystick to break free quickly, or use a Dung Bomb for an instant escape. It's vulnerable after this, so try to Flash Bomb it.
9. Aerial Charge: Flies forward to run you over, sometimes pivoting in the air or landing hard.
10. Diving Claw: If you're on a ledge, like in Heaven's Mount or Ancestral Steppe, it might dive from above, ending in a talon strike.

Breakable Parts:

• Head: Its spiky scales break off, making the head look smoother.
• Wings: Both wings can be broken; the webbing will tear, and wing talons can snap.
• Tail: You can sever and carve its tail.
• Back: Best broken by mounting and toppling it a few times. You'll see light-colored scars when it's broken.

Strategy:

• Rathalos loves to hang out in the air, more so than Rathian. This can make fighting it tough if your weapon has short reach.
• Flash Bombs are your best friend here. Seriously, bring them. When Rathalos is airborne, a well-aimed Flash Bomb (throw it where it's facing!) will blind it and bring it crashing down, leaving it open for attacks.
• When it charges or does a tail whip, your safest bet is to be between its legs or just in front of them.
• If it pins you with a Talon Strike, mash your joystick like crazy to break free. A Dung Bomb will get you out instantly, which is super handy.
• After it does a big aerial attack, like the Triple Fireball or Talon Strike, it takes a moment to return to normal altitude. This is the prime time to use a Flash Bomb.