Flying Wyverns are one of the biggest monster classes in the world of Monster Hunter, and probably the most emblematic of the series. A Flying Wyvern has four limbs, two back legs, and two winged forelimbs. Most of them are well adapted to the air, but others are flightless, using their forelimbs to walk quadruped.
This class is incredibly diverse, second only to Elder Dragons in variety. Monsters from the creepy Khezu to the graceful Legiana are Flying Wyverns. They also vary widely in strength. Among the Flying Wyvern group are some of the most memorable and powerful beasts in the franchise.
10 Barioth
Barioth is common in tundra regions of the Old and New World. They are adapted perfectly to life among the snow. Their white pelt acts as camouflage, and their spiky claws give them traction when running across the ice. A Barioth's massive fangs pierce through Lagombi and Popo hides easily.
Its most powerful attack lets it spit out a ball of frost that turns into a freezing tornado. Frostfang Barioth, a variant, has an even stronger breath attack. Its sub-zero smoke will freeze a hunter in place, wide open for a powerful tail swipe.
9 Gravios
These heavily-armored wyverns look like mountains come to life. Gravios are so hard and so large that they have next to no natural predators. They eat volcanic rocks and use the toxic minerals to create a sleeping gas. Despite being extremely strong, they prefer to spend most of their time alone. Gravios is not a danger unless provoked.
Gravios' juvenile form is a monster of its own. Basarios is much smaller and doesn't have the powerful mace-like tail of its parent. Proud as Gravios may be, it is possible to tame the monster.
8 Rathalos
The King of the Skies gets more publicity than any other monster. When it comes to strength, he's pretty high up there too. The apex predator of the Ancient Forest specializes in flight. He defends his nesting site with venomous talons and a fireball spit.
A Rathalos is especially deadly when working with his female counterpart, Rathian. The latter patrols the couple's territory from the ground, while the former keeps watch from the skies. During the breeding season, a Rathalos will mate with many Rathians. Only one female will get to nest in his territory, so the Rathians must fight for the prime real estate.
7 Nargacuga
Panther-like wyverns that are very well adapted to their forest habitats. Nargacuga are the top predators in almost every locale they live. In the New World, they compete with Rathalos for the apex position. They are most active at night, using superior agility and stealth on their hunt for prey.
Nargacuga uses its wing blades to slice up its targets. It is rare to see one in flight, but Nargacuga can fly between areas to escape hunters. The Swift Wyvern is very good at gauging the abilities of its opponents, and only takes fights it knows it can win. Barioth are close relatives of theirs.
6 Seregios
Deviljho invades because it's hungry, and Bazelgeuse invades because it's looking for a fight. Seregios, the Thousand Blade Wyvern, invades to steal territory from other monsters. No one knows where these elusive predators came from originally. A Seregios will do battle with almost anything, and will even attack and eat its own kind.
Extremely sharp Blade Scales cover Seregios. Each scale swivels individually and can detach at will. The wyvern's most famous attack involves flinging its scales at a target at high speeds. The developers designed Seregios to be a rival to Rathalos and Rathian.
5 Diablos
Huge two-horned wyverns known as tyrants of the desert. Diablos are incredibly territorial. They overwhelm opponents with bull-like charge attacks. Despite their appearance, Diablos are strict herbivores. Their favorite food is giant cacti; the high water content keeps them cool in the Wildspire Waste.
According to the official phylogenetic tree, Diablos and Gravios are closely related. Gravios can fly for a short distance, but Diablos is completely ground-bound. It uses its hard wings like shovels to burrow through the ground. A female Diablos' shell darkens during mating season, turning her into a menacing Black Diablos.
4 Tigrex
Tigrex is a living fossil among monsters. It closely resembles the prehistoric Wyvernrex, the ancestor of all modern Flying Wyverns. Tigrex can run very quickly thanks to its powerful forelegs. The monster also has incredibly powerful lungs. A Tigrex's roar doesn't just knock a hunter back, it will even do damage.
Tigrex may have a temper, but it's quite intelligent. It can adapt to a variety of habitats, like the Sandy Plains, Jurassic Frontier, and even the Hoarfrost Reach. Tigrex has even been sighted in other franchises - it makes a cameo in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker as a secret boss.
3 Ukanlos
The White God is the first Flying Wyvern on the list to be an Elder Dragon-Level Monster. Ukanlos is so powerful it was once classified as a full-blown Elder Dragon. Further research moved it to the Flying Wyvern category. And yes, it does have wings, they're just so tiny and vestigial you can't see them.
Ukanlos sightings are few and far between, as the monster spends much of its life hibernating. It wreaks havoc when it awakens, causing avalanches and attacking villages. Other apex predators like Tigrex, Stygian Zinogre, and even Deviljho run for the hills when Ukanlos is active.
2 Bazelgeuse
The Bombing Wyvern makes a huge impression wherever it goes. Like Seregios, it sheds its scales and uses them as a weapon. Bazelgeuse scales are filled with explosive fluid and combust when agitated. The monster's preferred mode of attack is a "bombing run" - flying over its hapless victim while dropping scales.
Bazelgeuse is a nomadic predator with a wide range. Originally discovered in the New World, it's also a rare sighting in the Old World. It relishes interrupting fights between hunters and other Large Monsters.
1 Akantor
Ukanlos' big brother. Akantor has many names - Supremacy Wyvern, the tyrant of fire, the Black God. They are nomadic, but they are most often found near volcanoes. There are next to no monsters that can threaten an Akantor. In fact, they are the only monsters that prey on the otherwise inedible Uragaan and Gravios.
Akantor can burrow through lava thanks to its heatproof plating. Like Tigrex, its roar is loud enough to cause physical damage to those around it, and even fracture the ground it stands on. Its most powerful attack is a sonic blast of Dragon element, strong enough to take out airships flying by.