The Monster Hunter series is known for its unique, terrifying collection of beasts that all pose great challenges in battle. Some take to the air while others use brute force to intimidate players, but the results are usually the same with each fight; study patterns, maybe die a few times and figure out a course of action to defeat the monster, rinse and repeat.

However, what makes these particular seven monsters stand out is not just in their challenge, but how incredible their respective designs are. They immediately caught my attention, and over the years, I’ve grown to love them all. While I admittedly haven’t played every single Monster Hunter game, these monsters that I have fought all left a pretty great impression. So without further ado, here are the top 7 monsters in the Monster Hunter series. Keep in mind, this is my personal opinion, but feel free to share yours below.

Honourable Mention: Kirin



Before we dive headfirst into the list, I’d like to give an honourable mention to Kirin, one of the flagship Elder Dragons of the Monster Hunter series. Not only is Kirin a superbly designed monster (I mean, it’s a unicorn that shoots lightning!), it’s also one of the toughest fights you’ll encounter in the games. Don’t be fooled by its gentle nature and seemingly calm demeanor. Once angered, the beast is capable of some extraordinary lightning damage that can give even the most well-prepared hunters a hard time.

Kirin has been confirmed to appear in Monster Hunter: World, so this might be the first time newcomers will experience this formidable yet majestic beast. Don’t get cocky and always hold your ground.

7. Zinogre



Kicking off the list with quite possibly the most eye-catching monster in the series, Zinogre is the definition of a purebred, certified bad*ss; a menacing tyrant with a variety of different patterns of attack that makes him an unpredictable nightmare to fight. The creature is an amalgamation of a dragon and a wolf, and this reflects in his stunning design. It uses the spikes on its body to not only release powerful bursts of lightning and thunder attacks but also engages the player in ferocious physical flurries of swipes and deadly lunges.

Without any real environmental hazards to nullify Zinogre (at least not in Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate), the battle mainly consists of just you, your smarts, and the creature – or if you so wish, with a party of four, because that might be the best way to approach this intense fight. It’s one of the more fast-paced battles in the series that requires you to constantly be on your toes and quick with your attacks.

6. Deviljho



Deviljho quickly became one of the most feared and popular monsters in the entire series. First appearing in Monster Hunter 3, Deviljho made a memorable first impression by being one of the few T-Rex-inspired monsters in the games but also surprised many with its vicious behaviour. The monster is a nomadic, hulking behemoth that freely travels the map engaging in fights with other monsters… for sport. It’s a massive, unhinged killing machine that’s one of the most aggressive beasts on this list, and packs one hell of a punch.

Definitely, for more experienced hunters, Deviljho is a challenging, hyper-violent brute that picks out a moving target and relentlessly attacks it. This makes the fight a matter of life or death; there’s hardly any downtime to catch your breath as you bounce around the areas in a panicked state trying to think of your next move. My best advice is just to run for your life, and hope it doesn’t sniff you out.

5. Tigrex



I have to admit, this one is purely for my selfish nostalgia, but after doing some research, it appears that the monster also resonated with many other players too. Tigrex was first introduced in Monster Hunter: Freedom 2, and appeared in many other entries after that. The poster creature for the Freedom series, Tigrex’s popularity exploded on the PSP after players realized just how incredibly entertaining the hunt was. Unlike many other creatures on this list, Tigrex doesn’t have any elemental abilities and instead relies on brute strength to get through the fight. Because of its unique appearance, taking the form of a wyvern with a velociraptor’s head, the monster instantly caught on with players.

Despite being a downright tough hunt, Tigrex is also one of the most enjoyable hunts because it genuinely feels like you’re taking on a prehistoric beast rather than an elemental monstrosity with ranged attacks. Tigrex is fast, brutish, and surprisingly clever, so engaging the battle with other hunters can either be the best or worst strategy if you aren’t prepared to collectively outsmart it.

4. Teostra



Just going by its awesome design alone, Teostra deserves a spot on this list. Teostra is an Elder Dragon that first appeared in Monster Hunter 2, and has since then made an appearance in almost every single mainline game in the series, including Monster Hunter: World. He’s an extremely powerful chimera-like dragon that uses the fire element, often relying heavily on it to get the upper hand in a fight.

It's a brilliant, almost cinematic battle that typically takes place in or near volcanic areas, and can be your worst nightmare if you don’t enter the hunt with fire-resistant gear. Like all Elder Dragons, Teostra is immune to traps, so engaging him head-on is a bit of a sluggish affair but it pays off with some of the best gear in the series. The fiery Elder Dragon has become a fan-favourite of the series, and will probably be around for a very long time to come.

3. Rathalos



Easily the most iconic monster in the Monster Hunter series, Rathalos is the closest thing to a mascot that you’ll ever get. This intimidating wyvern teaches hunters the importance of balancing ground and aerial combat as it uses both to its advantage. Not only is it an incredible hunt with friends, it also encourages teamwork, patience, and essential tracking skills. Since Rathalos is constantly on the move, hunters have to stay hot on his heels if they don’t want to miss a window of attack.

Rathalos may ultimately just be another monster, but he can be your greatest ally in tougher battles too. If you’re smart enough to lead other monsters into Rathalos’ lairs, you stand a chance of witnessing some spectacular monster-on-monster action as the wyvern quickly sets his sights on your target and does an impressive amount of damage to it. Rathalos will part ways with you if the hunt ends there, and you’re left with a sad farewell as you wave goodbye to your new best buddy. Of course, you’ll later probably kill and harvest him multiple times for new gear, but it’s the thought that counts.

2. Dalamadur



Dalamadur is insanely massive – a titanic serpent that wraps around the entire battle area with its scaly body. As one of the largest monsters in the Monster Hunter series and unfriendly neighbourhood Elder Dragon, Dalamadur is a frightening, jaw-dropping hunt. If his intimidating size doesn’t put you off, his huge health pool and area-wide elemental attacks will. For many fans, Dalamadur doesn’t usually rank high up on their lists as his attacks are extremely telegraphed and defeating him is just a matter of leaping around the area to find his weak spots.

Personally, I adore the breathtaking scale of this fight and the beast itself. Dalamadur is an amazing monster to behold, and spending almost an hour trying to defeat him is part of what makes this an intense but satisfying encounter. It’s a test of endurance above all, and really puts players’ skills to the test, especially when it comes to maneuvering the environment and memorizing the high and low grounds. It’s easily one of the hardest fights in the entire series because of the amount of work and careful planning that goes into it, but coming out victorious is a rewarding feeling unlike any other.

1. Gore Magala



Gore Magala is the coolest monster I’ve ever fought in a videogame, period. His jet-black, sleek appearance and incredibly powerful array of attacks, make for a spectacular hunt that truly tests your skills. Gore Magala gives hunters interesting visual cues for when to pull back and which phase of its attacks are the deadliest. For example, its body radiates bright colours whenever its senses are heightened. The brighter the light, the more aware it becomes of your presence and pattern of attacks. When it reaches its highest peak, the monster will unleash hairs that darken the sky and changes up the environment in a really cool way. The clever AI for Gore Magala also ensures that the creature learns from you as much as you learn from it, making the hunt feel like a true test of wit between opponents.

As a huge fan of How To Train Your Dragon and its lovable creature, Toothless, Gore Magala reminds me of his edgier cousin with anger problems. It’s lightning fast and deals out massive amounts of damage in succession when it feels threatened or overwhelmed, so keeping up with the monster is a challenge on its own. It took me several tries before I emerged victorious, but the exhilaration of the hunt itself was enough for me to make repeated trips back to Gore Magala, even if it was just for fun.