With elder dragons like Nergigante and a vast array of creatures to hunt in Monster Hunter World, players have no shortage of things to do in Capcom's long-running franchise. For many veteran players, however, the most iconic monster is the Rathalos, a flying dragon type of creature that has been a staple of the franchise since the beginning.

This iconic monster is also the poster child for Monster Hunter World as well, getting a prominent spot on the cover art and being pegged as the apex predator of the Ancient Forest zone. This king of the skies can first be encountered within the Fiery Throne Atop the Forest story quest, though it's entirely possible players may bump into this monster during an expedition or while on an investigation as well.

Rathalos is one of the most powerful creatures in the game, presenting players with a steep challenge and great rewards as well. The Rathalos armor set is one of the best gear in the game with a high defense and high fire resistance as well. It's also armor that's pretty well known, even being the default costume option for the Monster Hunter character in Marvel vs Capcom Infinite. Here's everything hunters should know before going toe to toe with this beast.

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Preparing For Combat

Before taking on this mighty wyvern, players will want to equip or craft gear with a high defense stat. Rathalos also has access to a number of fire-based attacks so equipping gear that has a higher resistance to fire also comes in handy as well. Low-rank hunters may want to utilize either bone, kestodon, hunter, leather, or anja armor sets. High-Rank hunters have a few more options to pick from like Diablos and Odogaron as well as the alpha and beta versions of the previously mentioned armor sets. Some gear also has the Fire Resistance armor skill, which not only adds that resistance type, but can increase defense stats at higher levels.

In terms of weapons, Rathalos has elemental weaknesses to dragon and lightning. It also falls victim to certain ailments like sleep, paralysis and stun. According to the field guide, the great sword and hammer are all great options when fighting against the Rathalos, so make sure to gather material to try and upgrade them utilize one of the elemental types it's weakest to.

Lastly, Rathalos also has a few poison based attacks, so make sure to bring antidote potions or anti-poison items along for the ride. It also wouldn't hurt to eat a meal at the canteen as well. Players are free to decide on the particular meal bonus but we suggest an elemental resistance or defense boost snack.

Combat Strategy

Hunters can locate Rathalos and his nest near the northern part of the Ancient Forest and considering its status as an aggressive predator, players should expect to be attacked on sight. Players can gain an early edge by using a barrel bomb to blow up a nearby dam, which deals a good amount of damage.

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As expected, Rathalos has a number of deadly fire attacks including launching a fireball directly at your location or covering the ground in flames. While these abilities are highly damaging, players should look for the obvious signs that they're coming to help avoid them. The biggest indicator is the visible fire forming in Rathalos' mouth.

The tail, head, and claws are the monster's weakest points, so players should target these areas as much as possible. Players using a bladed weapon should target the tail, which can be cut off, making the fight slightly easier. Without its tail, Rathalos loses one of its major ground-based attacks as well as the ability to poison the hunter. For ranged weapon users, explosive ammo is largely the best option as the explosive damage can stun Rathalos when hit in the head.

Utilize stun gadgets and traps to help slow the beast down to get a few extra hits in. For players that have unlocked the Palico Flashfly Cage, make sure it's equipped for the fight, as they'll be able to stun the monster after being activated.

Following these tips should give hunters a fighting chance when battling this flying menace. Best of luck, hunters!

Monster Hunter World is available now for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and is set to launch in fall 2018 for PC.