The upcoming release of Monster Hunter World has many fledgling and veteran hunters excited to take on the game's new behemoths. The latest game is easily the most anticipated in the west to date, and the recent beta only excited players further. The anticipation is almost over, and we'll soon be able to craft a deadly arsenal of weapons and armor. One thing that remains unclear is the amount of returning monsters that will be present in World, but now series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto has mentioned that Monster Hunter World will receive post-launch updates featuring new beasts, we thought it would be good time to take a look at what monsters we'd love to see make a fond return.
Qurupeco
Monster Hunter World offers more unique interactions between monsters than ever before, especially when they come face to face with one another. We've seen how devastating monster-vs-monster encounters can be and these unique interactions certainly make hunting your target easier. However, the Qurupeco could quickly turn these interactions against the hunter with devastating results. This colorful Bird Wyvern may not be the hardest monster to hunt, but its masterful vocal mimicry allows it to summon help from various monsters, as well as heal and buff their abilities. Fighting against the Qurupeco would never be dull, as there would always be a chance of an unwelcome guest making an appearance.
Deviljho
Deviljho is tailor-made for the vast open spaces of Monster Hunter World, and we'd love to see this terrifying, toothy beast return. Jho is a nomadic monster that wanders across the land in search of prey to fill its insatiable appetite. I's hyper-aggressive nature and tremendous power allows this bipedal brute to overtake the territory of any monster that stands in its path. It would be great to see Deviljho deliver bone-crunching bites to World's various monsters, especially to Anjanath, Capcom's latest theropod-like dinosaur. Meanwhile, the exclusion of loading screens between zones would make fleeing its enraged mode extremely difficult, as healing and avoiding lethal blows by leaving the area is no longer an option, making this devilish dino a true terror.
Nargacuga
Nargacuga has been a fan favorite ever since its appearance in Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for the PSP. With its glowing red eyes, lightning-fast attacks and deadly barbed tail, Nargacuga can run rings around inexperienced hunters. Nargacuga is known for its careful and cautious nature, while it excels at sneaking up on hunters and catching them off-guard. This nocturnal predator lives in dark places and rests in high areas that are often difficult to reach, so hunters are often at a disadvantage when trying to catch it by surprise. Its strong leg muscles allow it to jump long distances and effortlessly traverse harsh terrain, which would make it perfect for the verticality that is present in Monster Hunter World. We think Nargacuga would fit perfectly into the Ancient Forest and Coral Highlands, while its glowing red eyes would make for quite a spectacle in areas of low visibility.
Gogmazios
Gogmazios is by far the most exciting Elder Dragon fight we've ever had the joy of taking part in, and it would be awesome to see this tar-oozing monster make an appearance in World. The Giant Halberd Dragon is known to raid armories and warehouses to feed its explosive apatite, and will attempt to destroy anything that stands in its way. It fires laser beams of superheated oil at attackers, while its monolithic size and weight make almost every blow fatal. Gogmazios' tar-like substance can stop a hunter dead in their tracks, making his heavy-hitting attacks unavoidable for those caught in the black ooze. He even has an ancient dragonator lodged in his back, which can be broken off and used against him during the fight. Gogmazios was only present in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, and we'd love to blast this gunpowder-eating Elder Dragon to smithereens with siege weapons once again.
Gore Magala
Gore Magala locates hunters by spreading its pollen-like scales to understand its environment and surrounding prey via the heat they give off. Though Gore Magala's overall appearance resembles a quadrupedal wyvern, it actually possesses six limbs when in frenzy mode. Gore Magala enters this frenzied state when its senses increase over the course of the battle. This transition can be seen when its wings gradually get brighter and two feelers poke out from its head. When Gore Magala enters this heightened state of awareness, it releases scales into the air which darken the sky. It also becomes increasingly aggressive during frenzy mode, and attacks are more lethal, forcing the hunter to opt for a more defensive playstyle. Gore Magala isn't just one of the coolest-looking monsters in the series – it also has one of the most unique traits we've seen in Monster Hunter to date.
Tigrex
Tigrex struck fear into many a hunter's heart when he appeared in Monster Hunter Freedom 2 and he's still respected by fans to this day. Unlike many other monsters, Tigrex does not wield any elements. Instead, this Flying Wyvern delivers brute strength to force its opponents into submission. Tigrex's muscular forelegs allow it run at very fast speeds, while its serrated teeth and claws deliver swift blows and make traversing rocky terrain extremely easy. Imagine trying to flee the toothy tantrum of an enraged Tigrex, only to find that it's scaling the very cliff you were going to use to escape. Tigrex is an iconic monster that resonates strongly with veterans and newcomers alike, and hearing his deafening roar in the Wildspire Wastes would certainly get our heart's racing!
Fatalis
Hunters have been taking on this ancient dragon ever since the PS2 original graced our screens back in 2004. Fatalis and its subsequent variants are extremely powerful and can wipe out entire hunting parties with ease. This deadly Elder Dragon has always been one of the series' big endgame bosses, and overcoming him is a test of a true hunter. Its primary means of defence is its ability to breathe streams of fire and send flaming projectiles that cascade from the sky and explode on impact. It can also release a cloud of flammable dust, which it sets alight to cause lethal explosions. Fatalis doesn't just rely on its fiery nature to turn its foes to ash - it also delivers bone-crushing blows with its whip-like tail and giant jaws. All variations of Fatalis (Black, Crimson, White) are so dangerous that they make up three of the seven monsters categorized under the Dangerous First Class list. It is said by the Hunter's Guild that these godly creatures are so powerful that they can bring the world to destruction if they wanted to. Due to Fatalis' iconic nature and popularity among fans, we expect to see this dragon's toothy grin once again.
Zinogre
Zinogre has been a fan favorite since his appearance in Monster Hunter Portable 3rd and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. The electric hound of the forest delivers lightning-fast attacks and can quickly sweep hunters off their feet if they're not paying attention. Despite its size, Zinogre is very agile and is able to perform impressive aerial and land-based manoeuvres. Because of this, Zinogre is a great monster to introduce newcomers to Monster Hunter's faster beasts. It would also be cool to see some interaction between the newly introduced Scouting Flies and the Thunderbugs Zinogre summons.
Mizutsune
It's not often that you feel bad killing the various wyverns in Monster Hunter - after all, most them are threatening civilization or the ecosystem they inhabit. However, Mizutsune looks so graceful that we feel a little bad for walloping it over the head with an oversized hammer. While Mizutsune was introduced in Generations, this majestic beast looks like it was made to live in the beautiful Coral Highlands of Monster Hunter World. It is one of the few leviathans to actually have fur on its body, while its light-colored scales resemble that of a fish. The Coral Highlands consists of vast landscapes like that of the ocean floor and is surrounded by species of colourful coral, so it's all rather befitting if you ask us. Additionally, Mizutsune barrages hunters with bubble based attack, and it would be awesome to see a new take on this unique move. For example, Mizutsune could send out giant bubbles that capture the hunter and send them floating upward before popping them with lethal hit. This would also fit nicely with the wind currents that allow the hunter to traverse the Coral Highlands.
Rajang
Rajang may not be a mighty Elder Dragon, nor is he a massive monolithic creature, but the Golden Lion proves that size doesn't mean everything. Rajang is hated by many hunters due to its combination of speed, aggression, and power. When Rajang enters rage mode it becomes ultra-aggressive, hurls gigantic slabs of rock, and delivers some truly shocking attacks. Pitfall traps only work when Rajang is enraged, while shock traps incapacitate him no matter what state he's in. It would be interesting to see how World's various area-specific traps and obstacles impact Rajang, while the lack of loading screens would only serve to intensify this gruelling fight further.