Rathalos Monster Guide for Monster Hunter Wilds

Rathalos is the flagship monster of the Monster Hunter franchise. He is the icon and the poster boy of all things Monster Hunter. So it's no surprise that Rathalos makes another appearance in a new Monster Hunter entry. He is regarded as the king of the skies and spends most of his time in the air breathing fire down on hunters while also spitting out fire balls. He appears in a variety of locales such as the Scarlet Forest, Oilwell Basin and Wyveria.

Crown Sizes

• Small Crown - 1533.8
• Silver Crown - 1959.85
• Large Crown - 2096.19

Rathalos is a Flying Wyvern, and the best elemental weapons to use against him are Thunder or Dragon. He is equally susceptible to Poison, Sleep, Paralysis, Blast, and Stun, meaning any status ailment will work effectively. Flash Pods, Shock Traps, and Pitfall Traps are highly effective, but Sonic Bombs are completely useless, so there is no reason to bring them.

If you find yourself underneath Rathalos while he’s airborne, he may attempt an area-of-effect tail whip to clear anything beneath him. While it may seem intimidating, this attack is actually quite easy to avoid, counter with a long sword, or block depending on the weapon you’re using. Additionally, he might try to kick you while hovering, but the range is short and fairly easy to sidestep.

Throughout the fight, your best bet is to stay beneath him and continuously attack his legs or tail. If you're using a Great Sword or Longsword, reaching his tail shouldn't be an issue. Ranged hunters with weapons like Light or Heavy Bowguns and bows won’t have to worry at all. If you're using a hammer, focus on his head instead, as the tail isn't worth the effort.

Rathalos has earned the title "King of the Skies" for a reason—he spends a significant amount of time airborne. However, the same strategy that has been effective since the original Monster Hunter game in 2004 still applies in Monster Hunter Wilds: flash bombs (or flash pods in modern titles). Always bring at least three flash pods, along with materials to craft more on the fly when you run out. Whenever Rathalos takes to the air, use a flash pod to instantly stun him and send him crashing to the ground. It doesn’t matter if he’s mid-attack or simply flying—he will always be knocked down, giving you an opportunity to unleash massive damage. Flash pods render his aerial advantage almost useless and make the fight significantly easier.

At times, he will attempt to spit fireballs at you from the air. You can tell when he’s about to do this by watching for his mouth to glow with flames. Because he flies high when using this attack, it can be difficult to track him, so just pick a direction and keep running until the fireballs stop.

Occasionally, Rathalos will hover and then charge forward for a flying rush attack. This is an easy move to dodge, so there's no need to counter or block—just move out of the way. Another aerial attack involves him rapidly diving down in an attempt to kick you. This one is harder to anticipate due to its sudden execution, so pay close attention. Because he ends up lower to the ground after this attack, countering or blocking is a good option, though offsetting may be too risky due to its unpredictable nature.

When grounded, Rathalos may spit fireballs in two different directions—first to his right, then to his left. If you panic and change directions mid-dodge, you might get hit, so choose a direction and commit to it. With experience, you'll get a better feel for avoiding this attack, but it’s not too difficult once you know what to expect.

The classic flying wyvern tail whip also returns in Monster Hunter Wilds. When grounded, Rathalos may swing his tail in a wide 180-degree arc—twice in a row. Learning the timing and animation of this move will allow you to counter for free extra damage if you’re using a long sword. Otherwise, guarding or offsetting are solid alternatives. If you're uncertain, just dodge both tail whips and keep attacking.

If you consistently deal damage while he's airborne, Rathalos will eventually be knocked down. This provides a perfect opportunity to carve away at his tail or unleash heavy damage on his head. It doesn’t matter if he’s enraged or not—he can be grounded as long as you break his damage threshold. When he’s on the ground, he may occasionally spit a single fireball straight ahead. If you’re standing in front of him, he might also attempt a two-hit bite attack, swinging his head from one side to the other.

If you're facing a tempered Rathalos, be sure to pick up his battle remains after breaking his tempered wounds. Throwing these at his face will deal a huge amount of damage for almost no effort, significantly speeding up the hunt. The heavy slicing pod is especially useful for this.

If you run out of flash pods but spot flashflies in the environment, wait for Rathalos to fly up and then trigger the flashfly to bring him down. Taking advantage of the environment will make the hunt much easier and faster.

His classic charge attack also returns, though it’s less frequent and easier to manage than in older games. He will lower his head and sprint forward to cover distance. Just step aside, counter, guard, or offset accordingly. If you mount Rathalos, remember that he only has two woundable spots: his head and his back. Surprisingly, he doesn’t have a third wound spot. Always pop his back while mounted since it’s harder to reach when on the ground.

When enraged, Rathalos becomes more aggressive and speeds up his attacks, especially his fire-based moves. Sometimes he will spit three fireballs in quick succession while in mid-air, so be cautious. Another attack exclusive to his enraged state is a powerful fire blast. You’ll know it’s coming when a large amount of flame gathers in his mouth and flows downward. After a short delay, the fire spreads out and explodes. The moment you see this happening, run away immediately.

In conclusion, Rathalos may seem intimidating due to his aerial dominance, especially for newcomers or those unfamiliar with fighting flying monsters. However, with effective use of flash pods, he becomes much more manageable. Focus on attacking his feet when he’s airborne, or his tail if you can reach it, and he will eventually be knocked down. As always, use environmental hazards like flashflies and traps to your advantage if they are available. If you’re struggling with damage output, bring utility items such as pitfall traps, shock traps, and explosive kegs to speed up the hunt. Rinse and repeat these strategies, and before long, Rathalos will go from the King of the Skies to the king of defeated wyverns.