The "A New Frontier" trailer for Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak released June 13 during the 2022 Capcom Showcase, and it seemed like a fitting note to end on before the expansion's June 30 launch. Capcom revealed returning fan-favorite monster Gore Magala, and confirmed Sunbreak would have a demo as well as Free Title Updates post-launch. Then today's Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase led off with the Sunbreak's (presumably) final "A Kingdom's Savior" trailer.
Gore Magala's mature form, Shagaru Magala, and the subspecies Furious Rajang were both confirmed to be returning in this trailer, and Monster Hunter Rise fans got a slightly better look at Sunbreak's narrative between footage of each monster confirmed thus far. Capcom also hints at a massive threat beyond Malzeno, one of the Three Lords causing havoc near Elgado Outpost, known as "The Archdemon of the Abyss." Little is known about this Archdemon, but fans have a better idea for what to expect from the latest Rise subspecies: Scorned Magnamalo.
Magnamalo in Monster Hunter Rise
Anyone who played Monster Hunter Rise - or saw marketing leading up to the game's March 2021 release - should be familiar with Magnamalo. This Fanged Wyvern was Rise's flagship, meaning it appears on the box art and received a sizable amiibo figure that unlocks the unique "Sinister Seal" layered armor. The original demo for Monster Hunter Rise even let players fight Magnamalo to test their mettle, just as Sunbreak's recent demo offers a first crack at Malzeno.
Magnamalo is the walking embodiment of malice, known for launching purple "Hellfire" projectiles styled after will-o'-the-wisps; specifically Japanese onibi folklore. It's a hostile beast that fights with bladed forearms as well as a scorpion-like tail, and is covered in samurai-styled armor plating. It was believed to be the source of the Rampage that hit Kamura Village every few decades, though the main story of Monster Hunter Rise reveals it's actually the mating season for Narwa and Ibushi that disturbs other monsters. If anything, Magnamalo just follows the carnage to feed off felled monsters.
That said, Magnamalo is known to battle various monsters through Rise's Turf Wars, including Elder Dragons like Kushala Daora and Teostra (it's even shown freely leaping through the air during Turf Wars with flying monsters). Magnamalo also has the chance to appear during the main story's climactic fight against Narwa the Allmother, where players can mount the intruding beast and deal extra damage.
The Bigger, Badder Scorned Magnamalo Invades Sunbreak
A Magnamalo subspecies was expected based on Capcom's previous ventures. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne introduced Ruined Nergigante, a variant of the base game's flagship monster despite Valkhana occupying its expansion's key art. Those who watched the Monster Hunter Rise Nintendo Direct Mini trailer only got a brief look at Scorned Magnamalo, but according to Sunbreak's official website, this variant "achieves an even more twisted, malevolent form."
Scorned Magnamalo appears more aged than its counterpart, and bears far more battle scars. The beast's right horn is singed off and its right eye is closed thanks to a large cut, but Scorned Magnamalo's most notable feature is undoubtedly the increased wingspan of its arm blades. Capcom's official website blurb also reveals it is "shrouded in Hellfire at all times," even able to focus the energy and swing it like a blade. In the base game, the Hellfire status condition acts similar to blastblight, exploding if players don't shake it off using Deodorant, evade a few times, or use a Wiredash. Hellfire Cloak is a skill unique to Magnamalo armor sets that make players resistant to its effects, or even inflict explosive damage on their opponents in return.
Sunbreak introducing a variant of Magnamalo is just one more way it will up the ante, and Scorned Magnamalo should fit in nicely alongside Rise subspecies like Pyre Rakna-Kadaki and Blood Orange Bishaten. Luckily, fans only have to wait until Thursday to see whether or not it ties in with the mysterious Archdemon of the Abyss. Today's trailer also confirms Seething Bazelgeuse will be included in the first Title Update this August, and there's more content to come after that.
Monster Hunter Rise is available now for PC and Switch. Its Sunbreak expansion launches on June 30, 2022.