The foes in Monster Hunter Rise have some of the coolest designs that the team at Capcom has come out with. With influences from several of the Yokai of Japan's mythology and beyond, it's clear how these fascinating (and often terrifying) tales inspired Monster Hunter's character designers.

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Most of this is speculation, but one can't deny the resemblances shown to the stated mythological creatures. Many of them are not as cut and dry as one would assume and display how even the most minimal of details can lead to making a really cool design. Here are some of the inspirations behind Monster Hunter Rise's beasts.

10 Bishaten - Tengu

bishaten from monster hunter based on the tengu

Bishaten are winged wyverns with large fangs found in the Shrine Ruins and Flooded Forest. They love to throw fruit at opponents, but don't mistake them for being apes.

Rather they are based on the Tengu yokai, creatures of folklore that have human and avian features such as wings and claws and long noses resembling beaks. They are said to live in mountains and have the ability to stir up deep winds.

9 Mizutsune - Leviathan

mizutsune and a sea serpent from monster hunter

Mizutsune appears to be a cross between the benevolent eastern serpent dragons and fearsome leviathan sea monsters of old stories. There are many versions throughout history of heroes slaying vicious monsters of the ocean and in fact, most cultures have some version of a sea monster. He also holds some resemblance to Manda, the sea serpent kaiju beast from Godzilla.

8 Magnamalo - Will o' wisps

magnamalo from monster hunter rise and art of will o wisp ghosts

Magnamalo himself is not based on any particular yokai, but the lore around him is. The thing with him is that he seems to get his power from eating other monsters — those things around him? Yeah, those are the dead monsters that became his lunch.

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They are based on onibi, or lights of ghostly apparitions. They are sometimes malevolent spirits, often known to cause trouble by breaking things or starting fires.

7 Great Izuchi - Kamaitachi

great izuchi from monster hunter and its yokai inspiration

There are many versions of Kamaitachi, but the most prevalent is that of a yokai that rides on the wind and cuts people with a razor or sickle. They have been known to come in groups and attack systematically as the Izuchi do.

It may also be based on the Slit Mouthed Woman, a modern contemporary yokai that is said to attack people with a scythe if they say no when she asks them if she's beautiful. It is said in life she was the mistress of a samurai who slit the corners of her mouth when she disobeyed him.

6 Khezu - Mongolian Death Worm

khezu from monster hunter rise

Interestingly, Khezu doesn't seem to have any particular connections with Japanese folklore but rather a monster that is said to haunt the Gobi desert in Mongolia. Witnesses say it is a meter long and can use electric attacks on its prey and spit an acid venom. It spends much of its time dormant underground and comes out only to feed.

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Many local tribes there have claimed to see it. In 1922, Mongolian Prime Minister Damdinbazar described it saying, "It is shaped like a sausage about two feet long, has no head nor leg and it is so poisonous that merely to touch it means instant death. It lives in the most desolate parts of the Gobi Desert."

5 Aknosom - Kasa Obake

aknosom from monster hunter and its yokai counterpart

The origins of the fire flamingo are both funny and extremely creepy. His inspiration comes from yokai that take the form of one-eyed umbrella creatures that jump around with one leg.

Interestingly, they do not appear in a lot of stories and nobody knows if they are gentle or vicious because of their ambiguity in legends. They are a popular inspiration for many character designers in other media.

4 Tetranadon - Kappa

tentranadon and his yokai counterpart the kappa

This sumo wrestling amphibian was inspired by the kappas, which yes, are based on the same one that Bowser and some of his minions most likely are. Except, neither of them will probably ever be as creepy as actual kappas, who are very dark creatures known for having a taste for human blood and organs. Funny enough, it also said they loved to snack on cucumbers.

They are usually portrayed as turtles, frogs, or anything in the amphibian family. There have been stories about them leading people to watery graves by flexing their sumo wrestling skills as bait. Kappas can die if they lose their water source, which is stored in the flap on top of their head.

3 Goss Harag - Oni

goss harag from monster hunter and his inspirational counterpart, the oni

Goss Harag is proof that just the simplest inspiration can create something very terrifying and unique. His roots lay behind the tales of general oni and ogres who despise humans and have no problem ripping them limb from limb.

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Perhaps the most famous is the story of the oni Shuten-Doji, who made an army of oni with a base on Mount Oe and was later defeated by the warrior Raiko. Legend says that even after being decapitated, Shuten's severed head attempted to attack Raiko but that the warrior was more than ready for such a reaction by wearing multiple helmets.

2 Wind Serpent Ibushi - Wind God Fujin

ibushi from monster hunter rise and the god he is based on

Ibushi is likely based on the deity of wind, the green-skinned god who wears leopard skin. He roams the land carrying a bag of wind on his back.

Demonic in origin, it is said that he fled from the underworld when the god Izanagi went there to retrieve his wife Izanami. What happened next resulted in a very furious wife chasing her husband out of the land of the dead. In the process of Izanagi attempting to block the entrance, Fujin was one of the oni able to slip out.

1 Thunder Serpent Narwa - Thunder God Raijin

narwa from monster hunter rise and his counterpart narwa

Narwa shares traits with Raijin, brother of Fujin and deity of lightning and storms. He has more of a guardian role than his demonic brother does, but is just as fearsome.

One legend says he was a causer of chaos to the point where the Emperor ordered his capture by the god catcher figure Sugaru. Once they had him, they forced him to guarantee that he would only use his powers to bring prosperity to Japan and no discord.

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