Rathalos: Bestiary

Master the Rathalos in Monster Hunter: World! Learn its weaknesses, resistances, key attacks, and effective strategies to defeat this fiery Flying Wyvern. Includes quest info and item drops.

The Rathalos is a variant of the Rathian, but with distinct fighting behaviors. It appears in several key quests throughout Monster Hunter: World, starting with the assignment A Fiery Throne Atop the Forest. High Rank hunts become available after the Elder’s Recess expedition, with quests like Rathalos Rematch and Special Arena: HR Rathalos.

General Information:

• Type: Flying Wyvern
• Quests: A Fiery Throne Atop the Forest (5*), When Desire Becomes an Obsession (5*), Redefining the “Power Couple” (5*), Rathalos Rematch (7*), The Red and Blue Crew (7*), Special Arena: HR Rathalos (7*)
• Variants: Low Rank / High Rank / Tempered (Threat Level 2)

Strengths and Weaknesses:

• Vulnerable Parts: Head (most vulnerable), Wings, Tail (moderately susceptible). Head, wings, and body are breakable; tail is severable.
• Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon (strongest), Thunder (moderate).
• Elemental Resistances: Fire (resistant).
• Ailment Effectiveness: Sleep, Paralysis, Stun (more effective); Poison, Blast (less effective).

Attacks:

Rathalos shares many attacks with the Rathian, including fireball attacks (single or triple), a pacing attack, aerial tail flips, bites, and tail sweeps. However, Rathalos favors aerial combat, performing flying charges, clawing dives, and breathing fire as both fireballs and arcs. It also uses a diagonal aerial tail swipe, less common than its vertical tail swipe. Like Rathian, Rathalos uses fire attacks and can inflict poison with its tail.

Strategy:

• Gear: Aim for a Fire Resistance of 20 or higher to become immune to immolation. Three ranks of Poison Resistance are also highly recommended.
• Items: Flash Pods are invaluable due to Rathalos's frequent aerial maneuvers.
• Combat: Focus attacks on the head, wings, and tail. Breaking parts and severing the tail can increase the chances of rare drops.

Carves and Rewards:

• Low Rank Rare Drops: Rathalos Plate (increased chance by breaking head/body or carving tail).
• High Rank Rare Drops: Rathalos Ruby (from breaking head/body or carving tail).
• Common Drops: Rathalos Scale, Shell, Webbing, Marrow, Wingtalon, Tail, Monster Bone+, Flame Sac.