Tips for Defeating Guardian Rathalos in Monster Hunter Wilds

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In the game series Monster Hunter, you’ll find yourself immersed in a world filled with countless monsters to track and defeat. These creatures come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from common prowlers to powerful Apex monsters and various subspecies. The latest installment, Monster Hunter Wilds, introduces an intriguing new category: Guardians. These monsters are unique and are found solely within the Ruins of Wyveria.

The Guardian Rathalos is one of the first Guardians you’ll encounter, and they definitely don’t take kindly to intruders in their territory. Facing off against a Guardian can be quite daunting, especially if you’re unfamiliar with their patterns. However, it’s a challenge that’s definitely surmountable. Here’s a guide on how to defeat them and what loot they drop.

Guardian Rathalos – Strengths And Weaknesses

Guardians operate differently than other monsters you might encounter. While they retain some fighting techniques from their base forms, they have significant alterations that adapt them to the ecosystem of Wyveria. This means that even experienced hunters might need to rethink their strategies against these foes.

When battling the Guardian Rathalos, it’s essential to consider your surroundings. These creatures have the ability to create massive explosions near Wylkcrystals, which can heal their wounds if you’re not careful. Staying active during the fight is key to preventing prolonged engagements.

Weak Points: Mouth and Legs
Elemental Weaknesses: Vulnerable to Dragon and Thunder (particularly in the legs). They can be affected by nearly every ailment, except Poison and Exhaust.
Elemental Strengths: Resistant to Poison, Exhaust, and Fire. Their tail is also immune to Water and Ice.
Best Weapon Types: Any weapon type is viable.

Fortunately, the Guardian Rathalos has several weaknesses to exploit. Their head and legs are both soft spots, and they are generally susceptible to various status effects. This means you can use different builds effectively against them. Don’t forget to bring along some flash bombs to bring them down from the sky.

Although Dragon damage is optimal, you may need to rely on the Wrymsbane Slinger ammo found in the area, as Dragon weapons may be scarce at this point in the game.

Best Equipment To Fight Guardian Rathalos

The Guardian Rathalos can inflict both Fire and Dragon damage, with Fire being a more prevalent aspect of their attacks. You’ll often encounter Dragon damage during Wylkcrystal explosions. As Dragon Resistance gear is quite limited, consider investing in the Nu Udra set, which offers strong Fire Resistance for your current stage in the game.

In terms of weaponry, any status build can be effective—just avoid using Poison. A Thunder weapon is your best alternative if Dragon weapons are not available.

Guardian Rathalos – Fight Breakdown And Moves

Guardian Rathalos is quick and tends to stay airborne for most of the battle, making it difficult to hit unless you use flash bombs to ground it. It’s also aggressive with its claws and can attack swiftly from the sky. Additionally, be aware of the destructive explosions the Guardian variant can create when near Wylkcrystals.

A key difference between the regular Rathalos and the Guardian version is that the Guardian lacks the poisoned claws of its predecessor.

Here’s a detailed list of every move that Guardian Rathalos can perform, along with tips on how to counter them:

Move	Description	Counter
Hovering Fireball	Rathalos hovers before launching a fierce fireball.	Stay close to Rathalos to avoid this. If it charges, maintain a safe distance from the impact area.
Hovering Tail Swipe	While airborne, Rathalos sweeps its tail to knock away hunters.	Dodge or block this attack by timing your move correctly.
Descending Stomp	Rathalos dives to the ground, possibly striking with its claws and causing Wylkcrystal explosions.	Offset attacks can be effective, but be cautious if they collide with Wylkcrystals.
Firestream	While flying, Rathalos circles and breathes fire.	Stand directly beneath Rathalos to evade this attack entirely.
Chomp	Rathalos bites at the hunter while advancing.	Since it can maintain this attack, consider dodging or blocking instead.
Swoop	Rathalos flies past, striking with its claws multiple times.	This is usually easy to avoid, but keep an eye out for quick approaches.
Grounded Fireball	While on the ground, Rathalos spits out fireballs, which can vary in strength.	This attack is common when they’re grounded, allowing you time to attack its head.

As demonstrated, most of the Guardian Rathalos’s attacks occur in the air, making flash bombs essential for reducing their threat level. Despite being a formidable foe when grounded, keep an eye out for their stronger attacks.

Guardian Rathalos – Drops And Materials

Guardian Rathalos provides a range of materials, many of which can be obtained from damaged or severed parts. However, a significant share of materials comes from breaking their wounds, so prioritize that tactic during your battles.

Here’s a comprehensive list of all the materials dropped by Guardian Rathalos in both Low and High Ranks, organized by drop rate:

Low Rank

Material	Where It Can Be Acquired
Guardian Rathalos Webbing	Broken Part (Left and Right Wings), Carving, Target Reward
Guardian Rathalos Scale	Wound Destroyed, Carving, Target Reward
Guardian Rathalos Tail	Carving (Tail), Carving, Target Reward
Guardian Rathalos Shell	Wound Destroyed, Carving, Target Reward
Flame Sac	Target Reward
Guardian Rathalos Certificate	Target Reward
Guardian Rathalos Plate	Carving (Tail), Carving, Target Reward
Guardian Scale	Wound Destroyed
Guardian Blood	Wound Destroyed

High Rank

Material	Where It Can Be Acquired
Guardian Rathalos Wing	Broken Part (Left and Right Wings), Carving, Target Reward
Guardian Rathalos Scale+	Wound Destroyed, Carving, Target Reward
Guardian Rathalos Tail	Carving (Tail), Carving, Target Reward
Guardian Rathalos Carapace	Wound Destroyed, Carving, Target Reward
Inferno Sac	Target Reward
Guardian Rathalos Certificate S	Target Reward
Guardian Rathalos Plate	Carving (Tail), Carving, Target Reward
Guardian Rathalos Ruby	Carving (Tail), Carving, Target Reward
Guardian Scale+	Wound Destroyed
Guardian Blood+	Wound Destroyed

Interestingly, you won’t have immediate access to High Rank hunts for the Guardian Rathalos. You first need to hunt one in Wyveria.

Aside from upgraded versions of certain materials, the only entirely new item that comes with High Rank Guardian Rathalos is the Ruby, which has a low drop rate similar to that of the Plate. Since the Plate isn’t upgraded, it will drop more frequently when hunting the Low Rank variant of Guardian Rathalos instead.