Monster Hunter Rise is my personal game of the year, maybe even my all-time favorite Nintendo Switch game. It was an exciting and fresh experience in the series that Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, despite all the improvements and changes it made over its 3DS counterpart, didn’t quite give to me personally. Despite how great the game is, it has a big problem, and that is, when you get to a certain point in the game, there’s really no reason to keep playing. Outside of event quests, it simply lacked content.
So when the September 23rd Nintendo Direct started off by announcing an expansion to the game that would have more quests, locations and monsters, called Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, I was ecstatic. I became even more ecstatic when it was announced a while afterwards that Shogun Ceanataur would return, not at all because I like the monster but because, on top of new monsters coming, this meant old ones would be returning too. So which monsters could make their return to the series? Here’s nine monsters that should return in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak.
Disclaimers
I’m going to get a few disclaimers and rules out of the way before we begin. First, this list isn’t in any particular order such as most to least likely, or best to worst; these are just monsters I personally think should get added to the game, so don’t take it too seriously. I will, however, order it so that Elder Dragons are last.
Second, this list will only be for large monsters, no small monsters will be included. Third, because I’m not really experienced or knowledgeable when it comes to Monster Hunter World, any monsters exclusive to that game may be exempt from this list. So if you’re a fan of any of those monsters, I apologize for not giving them recognition here.
And finally, this list only focuses on the original forms of monsters, so no variants or deviants will be mentioned specifically as monsters that should make it but that’s not to say they shouldn’t get in either. Let’s get started now.
1. Gammoth
Personally, I’m a fan of the giant mammoth monster, and I’ve always thought that she made a great fight for weapons practice. Monsters in Rise are a lot more mobile than in the past, so Gammoth would be a great contrast; she moves slow but hits pretty hard, and attacks using her trunk and feet cover a wide range that could be fun to fight around with the added movement options of the Wirebugs.
Also, imagine towering over other monsters and hunters while Wyvern Riding her. It can also have a Turf War with Tigrex to reference the opening of the game she’s from, Monster Hunter Generations. Gammoth isn’t even my favorite monster from that game (that honor, next to Mizutsune, goes to Malfestio), but if I had to choose one monster from it to make it to Sunbreak, it’d be her.
2. Malfestio
Since we already mentioned it, Malfestio would make a great monster to bring back as well. It’s ability to mix up controls on top of putting hunters to sleep was always a hassle to work around, but it was the nice kind of hassle that made you want to learn how to avoid or overcome it efficiently. Plus, the appearance of this monster and its sound design is just beautiful, and I’d love to see its attacks’ effects in Rise’s beautiful quality.
3. Gore Magala and Shagaru Magala
I’m going to group these two together since they’re basically the same thing, just the latter is an older Elder Dragon version. Gore Magala and Shagaru Magala are also monsters that need to come back.
This isn’t because I like them (even though I do), but because it just makes sense due to the presence of Apex Monsters. Apex Monsters are monsters that got their power from overcoming the Frenzy Virus. However, the monsters that spread the virus aren’t anywhere to be seen as of yet. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they have to be there, of course, but it would just… make sense. Hopefully, the DLC gives them their big break. See what it did there?
4. Seltas and Seltas Queen
Here’s another grouping that should make it into the DLC. There are currently no large Neopterans in the game, so if they plan on introducing any brand new ones, why not add the best of the two while they’re at it? Seltas and Seltas Queen are an iconic pair, being the two-in-one large monster duo that fight with combined forces. It’d be cool to see Capcom give them even better coordinated attacks to throw at hunters. Also, the Devil May Cry collaboration needs to come back. Maybe even give out Vergil or Nero-inspired armor?
5. Nerscylla
Monster Hunter games tend to always be slacking when it comes to Temnocerans. There’s already not many in the first place, with there only being four in total. But there’s also the fact that the last two were just added in Rise in the form of Rakna Kadaki and Rachnoid, and one other is just a variant of Nerscylla.
That’s why the Nerscylla should be added into the game, giving us more spider monsters to fight against than before, which was just one or two. I’d also love to see two different spiders in a Turf War against each other. This probably also mean that they’d have to bring Gypceros back as well, seeing as the Nerscylla wears its skin.
6. Kirin
The list going forward will be focused on Elder Dragons, so let’s begin with the least “dragon” of them all, Kirin. The thunder unicorn is an Elder Dragon that’s as iconic as Rathalos himself. It was weird that it wasn’t in the game already but it absolutely has to be. It’s a very fun, and sometimes very aggravating, fight and I’d love to see what new tricks they can give it, as well as how they can switch up the designs of the armor.
7. Alatreon
Next to Fatalis, Alatreon is probably the most “dragon” of all the Elder Dragons. Much like Kirin though, it can be a very aggravating fight, due to some of its attacks and how hard it is to hit with Blademaster weapons while it’s in flight.
Despite that, Alatreon’s ability to control various elements was always a trait that was thrilling to fight against for me, and I wish they did more with it in the previous games. I’m happy they gave it water attacks in Monster Hunter World though. (Even though I wish they made it use water with its tail, maybe generate tidal waves with a swing of it?)
8. Lunastra
The Empress of Flame would make a fun Elder Dragon to add as well. It also just makes sense to bring her along, considering she’s the female counterpart to a monster already in the game, Teostra. She can fight alongside him and bring back their combined supernova attack from Monster Hunter World. It would also give them an excuse to use this concept with other monster pairs, such as Rathalos and Rathian.
9. Ceadeus
This is a very strange pick, but this is less about the monster and more about what comes with it. Hunters that have fought this Elder Dragon in Monster Hunter 3 are familiar with the mechanic that made it, as well as other fights of its nature, a slog: underwater combat. It’s no secret that fighting underwater was not fun at all due to how slow and inaccurate movement and actions became all around. However, the team behind Monster Hunter Rise made movement feel really great in this game so, while it’s a very big risk for them to take, I’d like to see them try to bring underwater combat back and improve on the things that made it hated.
Back to the monster though, despite how awful underwater combat was, I still liked Ceadeus and thought it was an interesting and unique fight. While being able to use its physiology and powers to fight hunters, it was also capable of using the environment around it, by harming hunters with rubble that would fall from the walls when it rammed its head into them.
I’d like to see how they could expand on that idea and more in this new setting of the game. (Also, this is a really silly wish, but I’d also like to be able to win by just breaking its horns rather than slaying it, since most of the problems it causes for Moga Village are from being in pain because of its horns growing over its eyes.)
That’s nine monsters that should return in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak. Which monsters do you agree or disagree with (and why is it Ceadeus)? What other monsters do you think should return? What would you like to see outside of monsters, such as weapon attacks and locations? I’d love to hear your thoughts.