Rathalos Hunting Tips

Standard Rathalos Tips Composed by Necrus
- Elemental Weakness: Ice, Dragon and Water (Order from greatest to least)
- Weakest Points: Head, Neck and Legs (Order from weakest to strongest)
- Breakable Parts: Head horns, Wing claws, Tail
Tactic: Stay to stay to his sides, don't stay infront of the Rathalos for long because it will become hard to read his attacks. Never go under the wyvern and attack his feet because it will also become difficult to dodge or read his attacks. He uses air attacks more often than the female Rathian. Flash Bombs work effectively on the wyvern is used correctly. Shock Traps and Wyvern Pitfalls are also very useful. When fighting in Area 9, try to lure him to the other side of the area without the dead animal - it's a bigger field of battle and your chances of survival there are increased.

>>> Ground Attacks <<<

1. Rush Attack/Tackle
This is where the Rathalos will run at your with full speed, attempting to tackle you down. He uses this attack frequently. You can know when the Rathalos is about to rush you when he turns towards you two times quickly, if you right in front of him or under him it is difficult to tell so try to stay to his sides. When he is rushing toward you, run around behind him and follow him, if you are close enough to can use the small window of time while he is recovering for a free attack. It will take practice to know when it's safe to engage and when it's better to leave him alone. If you are inexperienced it may be best to avoid attacking him during or after this attack.
2. Fireball
This is where the Rathalos will shot a single fireball in a straight line, causing fire damage. You can tell when the Rathalos is about to fire when he turns towards you slowly twice, it's different from the rush attack and with time and a watchful eye you can see the difference easily. When he does this, run to his sides and get a quick head hit on him then dodge away or guard.
3. Bite
The Rathalos will use a bite attack where he lifts his head up and bites down in a downward-side attack, it's usually not that powerful and you will only be hit if you are directly in front of him and close, the attack doesn't last a long time and the following attack usually comes quickly so if you are inexperienced don't use this as a window of time to attack.
4. Tail whip
This attack is where the Rathalos will circle around twice, swinging his tail. To avoid this roll under the tail, this must be done in good timing or else it will fail. With practice you can get in a few hits while avoiding the tail. This attack becomes much easier to dodge and avoid when the tail is cut off. An alteritave to dodging is rolling away from the tail range assuming you are far enough to do so. You can also roll under the wyvern, if you are directly under it, the tail should reach you - but don't stay under for too long or else the other attacks such as 'rush' will hit you.
5. Battle Taunt
The Rathalos will kick up dirt and raise his head to give a suttle and quiet call out. This is the time you should use to heal up, or get free attacks. I use this time for the tail, but beware that the dirt it kicks up will damage you without flinching so keep an eye on your health. His tail also spins around in the first few moments of the taunt so it could hit you back if you attack too soon behind him. Safe isn't place to aim for is the side of his body so you can read and dodge is next attack - experiened players should aim for the head and either guard or dodge when the taunt is done.
6. Overhead Swoop
The Rathalos will sometimes appear to do a fireball, but instead fly over your head. This does no damage and doesn't hurt you but the wind-press could get you. Just follow the Rathalos to the other side of the area and go from there. His does this attack most often in Area 10
7. Wyvern Roar
This is a annoying attack to those without the skill 'earplug.' This will stun you long enouh for the Rathalos to get a free hit on you... if you are far enough away it won't get you, you can also avoid this by doing a jump dive, you can also guard to block it or get an armor with Earplug such as Horntuar. Usually following this attack the Rathalos becomes enraged which increases his speed and attack power so watch out!

>>> Air Attacks <<<

1. Single Fireball
The Rathalos will fire one fireball downward at you, you can go under him where his shadow is to avoid the attack but once its done you should leave or else the wind-press will stun you! If you have a greatsword you can charge it up at the right time to get a free charged shot, same can apply with other weapons too.
2. Triple Fireball
The Rathalos will fire three fireballs in order, do NOT jump dive to avoid this or else the other two will hit you. Just keep running to dodge them or get under his shadow like mention with the Single Fireball
3. Talon Dive
The Rathalos will put his talons back and dive toward you, this attack is very powerful and will poison you. To you can either be under his shadow to avoid or jump dive right before he attacks.
4. Hit and Run
The Rathalos will fly around the area for a while and eventually come down to attack in a fast swoop then fly off again to return seconds later.
5. Change Areas
The Rathalos will fly off into a new area. NOTE: You can tell if the Rathalos is about to change areas if when he is in air he slowly accends farther up past your view. You will notice it when you see it

>>> Using Flash Bombs <<<
When the Rathalos is stunned with a Flash Bomb, he will randomly use Battle Taunt and Tail Whip. To be safe, wait until he uses Battle Taunt then attack.

azure rathalos is weak to dragon and silver is weak to thunder and water and azures weak spot is head while silver is wings head doesnt take as much damage with a good thunder weapon you can probably wing lock i use gun so i cant

I know that, but this guide is for Standard Rathalos - if you want to make a guide for Azure and Silver go ahead

And for Silver, I normally use raw damage, I don't believe his thunder weakness is large enough and raw damage usually does more in the damage forumla (unless the elemental weakness is great enough to out class the raw damage)

but that's just me

ok sry i wasnt sure if you want just delete my post i guess >.<

Nah it's ok, it's good information