Monster Hunter Rise brings with it almost a dozen new monsters to hunt and capture. In this installment of the franchise, the new monsters all follow a common theme; they are all based on Japanese yokai. Each of the Monsters' designs resembles ghosts and spirits from Japanese folklore.

Let's take a look at the series' newest monsters, what they're weak against, and the armor you can craft with their carcasses.

Related: Every Weapon In Monster Hunter Rise And Their Switch Skills

Aknosom

Monster Hunter Rise Aknosom

Aknosom is a Bird Wyvern that appears in the Shrine Ruins and Frost Islands. This quick bird can lob balls of fire and use its frilled collar as a defensive shield. Its design is based on the Kasa-obake, a ghost that resembles an umbrella that hops around on a single leg.

  • This monster is weak to Blast and Waterblight.
  • It takes the most damage on its wings and head.
  • If you're using a weapon that deals cutting damage, aim for these places to hunt this monster faster.
  • If you prefer a blunt weapon or Bowgun, aim for its head to quickly bring down Aknosom.
  • This monster shouldn't be too hard to hunt, but equip some armor with fire resistance if you have any trouble.

Hunting Aknosom unlocks its armor set and weapon path. The Low-Rank version of the armor set has the skills Fire Attack 3, Quick Sheath 1, and Recovery Speed 1. The High-Rank version has Fire Attack 4, Quick Sheath 3, and Peak Performance 3.

Use this armor set with fire element weapons, preferably slow-sheathing weapons to take advantage of the Quick Sheath skill.

Almudron

Monster Hunter Rise Almudron

Almudron is one of the only Leviathan-type Monsters to appear in Monster Hunter Rise, and can be found in the Shrine Ruins, Sandy Plains, and Flooded Forest. This grumpy hermit of the swamp will use the mud it lives in to summon pillars and wrecking balls, and push away attackers with waves of dirty water.

  • This monster is weak to Fireblight.
  • It takes the most damage on its head and tail tip.
  • Almudron will sometimes dive underground and emerge with a ball of mud held in its tail.
  • The ball increases the size of the tail's hitbox, but is also extremely dangerous when Almudron attacks with it.

Almudron's Low-Rank armor set has the skills Rapid Morph 2, Razor Sharp 2, Evade Window 1, and Power Prolonger 1. The High-Rank version has the skills Rapid Morph 3, Razor Sharp 3, Evade Window 3, and Power Prolonger 2.

This armor set compliments Switch Axe perfectly, granting stronger Morph Attacks and longer Amped Mode.

Bishaten

Monster Hunter Rise Bishaten

Bishaten is a Fanged Beast that appears in the Shrine Ruins and Flooded Forest. This monster uses its tail to launch itself into the air or perform devastating whirlwind attacks. It also picks up and uses special fruits that deal damage or inflict poison and paralysis. Bishaten's design is based on the Tengu yokai, who are usually depicted with both avian and human characteristics.

  • Bishaten is weak to Blast and Iceblight.
  • It takes the most damage on its head and tail.
  • Throughout the fight, Bishaten will pick up and throw fruits that deal various status effects.
  • Bring antidotes and Nullberries to recover from them.

By defeating Bishaten, you will have access to an armor set specializing in item use. The Low-Rank version has the skills Item Prolonger 2, Stun Resistance 2, Wide-Range 1, and Maximum Might 1. The High-Rank version has the skills Item Prolonger 3, Wide-Range 2, Stun Resistance 2, and Maximum Might 2.

Use this set with Sword and Shield for quick access to more powerful potions that can even heal your teammates.

Goss Harag

Monster Hunter Rise Goss Harag

Goss Harag is a Fanged Beast that appears in the Frost Islands. This slow but deadly monster will create weapons of ice on its arms, empowering its swiping attacks. Goss Harag's design is based on the Namahage, a yokai that is usually portrayed as a man wearing an oni mask and a straw cape.

  • Goss Harag is weak to Blast and Fireblight.
  • It takes the most damage on its hind legs and ice clumps.
  • When enraged, Goss Harag's arms will turn red.
  • It will sometimes create clumps of ice on them that appear as either a sword or hammer.
  • While these clumps will increase Goss Harag's damage, they also create a weak point that can be exploited for big damage, especially when using fire element weapons.

Goss Harag's Low-Rank armor set has the skills Agitator 2, Critical Draw 2, Punishing Draw 2, and Resentment 1. The High-Rank armor set has the skills Critical Draw 3, Agitator 4, Resentment 2, and Punishing Draw 3.

Greatsword users will love the extra damage this set provides for their draw attacks.

Great Izuchi

Monster Hunter Rise Great Izuchi

Great Izuchi is a Bird Wyvern that appears in the Shrine Ruins and Frost Islands. This is the first new monster players will encounter in Monster Hunter Rise, serving as the game's "tutorial" Bird Wyvern. Great Izuchi travel in packs, perform spinning jumps and attack with their sickled tails. Its design is based on the kamaitachi, a yokai that appears on a dust devil, slicing people with their sickle-like nails.

  • Great Izuchi is weak to Poison, Paralysis, Sleep, Exhaust, and Thunderblight.
  • It takes the most damage on its head and tail.
  • Being one of the first monsters new hunters will take on, Great Izuchi has a lot of weaknesses, which can be useful for testing new weapons.

Great Izuchi's Low-Rank armor set has the skills Critical Eye 3, Recovery Speed 2, and Constitution 1. The High-Rank version has the skills Critical Eye 5, Recovery Speed 2, and Constitution 3.

This set is useful for all weapons, giving nice all-round skills like increased critical chance and faster health recovery.

Magnamalo

Monster Hunter Rise Magnamalo

Magnamalo is a Fanged Wyvern that appears in the Shrine Ruins and Lava Caverns. It is the first final boss Hunters will have to defeat, and is the game's flagship monster; the one appearing on the game's box art. Magnamalo also has sole access to the unique Hellfire ailment, which it uses in battle to launch purple fireballs from its tail. Its design is based on the armor of a dead samurai, combined with onibi or will-o'-the-wisps, fiery spirits of the dead.

  • Magnamalo is weak to Waterblight,.
  • It takes the most damage on its head, tail, and armblade.
  • In Low Rank, this fight is probably the most difficult, especially if you come in unprepared.
  • The majority of Magnamalo's attacks will inflict Hellfireblight, which will explode dealing damage after a while.
  • You can use a Wiredash to clear this status effect, but don't wait too long to do so.
  • Bringing a strong water element weapon and tons of potions is your best bet at taking down Magnamalo.

Defeating Magnamalo grants access to the Sinister armor set. The Low-Rank armor set has the skills Resentment 3, Counterstrike 3, and Hellfire Cloak 3. The High-Rank version has the skills Resentment 3, Handicraft 3, Flinch Free 2, and Hellfire Cloak 4.

This armor set is best for players who have a more reckless playstyle, rewarding the player for ignoring their health bar and staying close to the monster.

Rakna-Kadaki

Monster Hunter Rise Rakna-Kadaki

Rakna-Kadaki is a Temnoceran that appears in the Sandy Plains and Lava Caverns. This monster only appears in High Rank. Its design is based on the yokai jorogumo, the kanji for which translates literally to woman-spider, and is often depicted controlling small fire-breathing spiders.

  • Rakna-Kadaki is weak to Iceblight.
  • It takes the most damage on its head and leg.
  • Rakna-Kadaki is usually covered in silky webs, but these can be destroyed after they've taken enough damage.
  • Rakna-Kadaki will also shoot silk out of its mouth, entangling the Hunter if they are hit.
  • Use a cleanser to break free.

Rakna-Kadaki's High-Rank armor set has the skills Spread Up 3, Reload Speed 2, Constitution 4, and Stamina Surge 3. This set pairs best with the Light Bowgun or Heavy Bowgun, boosting those weapons' reload speed and stamina use.

Somnacanth

Monster Hunter Rise Somnacanth

Somnacanth is a Leviathan that appears in the Flooded Forest and Frost Islands. Its long hair fins, glowing eyes, and attacks that put its opponent to sleep are all aspects of its design that come from both Western and Japanese depictions of a mermaid.

  • Somnacanth is weak to Blast and Thunderblight.
  • It takes the most damage on its neck and head.
  • It will frequently attack with sleeping gas moves, which will put the Hunter to sleep if they aren't knocked out of it first.
  • Try to stay near your teammates or Buddies so they can help if you start to doze off.
  • One of Somnacanth's moves will puff out a wave of sleeping gas, which can be avoided by Wiredashing upwards.

Somnacanth's Low-Rank armor set has the skills Sleep Attack 1, Item Prolonger 1, Bombardier 2, and Divine Blessing 2. The High-Rank version has the skills Sleep Attack 3, Item Prolonger 1, Bombardier 3, and Divine Blessing 3.

This set would be best paired with weapons that can quickly apply status effects, especially sleep, like Dual Blades or Bow. Combined with the Bombardier skill, bombing a monster with Barrel Bombs when they are asleep will lead to some huge damage.

Tetranadon

Monster Hunter Rise Tetranadon

Tetranadon is an Amphibian that appears in the Shrine Ruins and Frost Islands. Its design is based on the Kappa yokai, which are typically depicted as a humanoid creature with aquatic features like webbed hands and feet. Their most notable feature is the bowl on their head that retains water. According to some mythology, Kappa love to wrestle, inspiring Tetranadon's sumo moves.

  • Tetranadon is weak to Paralysis, Blast, and Thunderblight.
  • It takes the most damage on its head and foreleg.
  • Tetranadon's main method of attack is slow but powerful slams, using its inflated stomach as a weapon for crushing its opponent.
  • It will often engage in fights with Arzuros, so try to bring the two together and knock them both out at the same time.

Tetranadon's Low-Rank armor set has the skills Speed Eating 1, Normal/Rapid Up 1, Special Ammo Boost 1, Heroics 1, and Hunger Resistance 1. The High-Rank version has the skills Speed Eating 1, Normal/Rapid Up 3, Evade Extender 1, Heroics 3, Special Ammo Boost 1, and Hunger Resistance 1.

Equipping a few pieces of this armor would benefit Bowgun users, empowering their normal ammo and rapid-type arrows for Bows.

Wind Serpent Ibushi

Monster Hunter Rise Wind Serpent Ibushi

Wind Serpent Ibushi is an Elder Dragon that appears in the Red Stronghold. Ibushi only appears in High Rank, but the difficulty won't be too high compared to monsters like Magnamalo or Almudron. Thematically, Ibushi is based on the Japanese god of wind, Fujin.

  • Ibushi is weak to Blast and Fireblight.
  • It takes the most damage on its head and windsacs, which are located on its chest, wingarm, and back.
  • During this fight, you'll have access to the stronghold's turrets.
  • Use the Machine Cannon when Ibushi flies up to bring him back down, and attack with your weapon when the Counter Signal is active.

Ibushi's High-Rank armor set has the skills Wind Alignment 5, Focus 1, Evade Extender 1, Guard 1, Flinch Free 1, Constitution 1, Stamina Surge 1, Power Prolonger 1, Evade Window 1, Slugger 1, and Guard Up 1.

This set has a lot of skills, but each is only level 1. With no additional Decoration slots, this equipment will have a hard time fitting into any one particular build.

Thunder Serpent Narwa

Thunder Serpent Narwa in Monster Hunter Rise. A large snake-like dragon in front of a lightning storm, captioned "Lady of Lightning: Thunder Serpent Narwa"

Thunder Serpent Narwa is an Elder Dragon that appears in the Coral Palace. This monster only appears in High Rank, and is the final boss (for now) of the game. As the counterpart to Ibushi, Narwa's design is based on the Japanese god of thunder, Raijin.

  • Narwa is weak to Blast and Iceblight.
  • It takes the most damage on its head and wingarm (when it's charged), as well as the thundersac on its abdomen.
  • Similar to Ibushi, the arena you fight Narwa in has facilities like the Ballista and Machine Cannon, so use them to your advantage when Narwa flies out of range.

Narwa's High-Rank armor set has the skills Thunder Alignment 5, Rapid Morph 1, Offensive Guard 1, Constitution 1, Critical Draw 1, Guard 2, Partbreaker 1, Artillery 1, Evade Window 1, and Marathon Runner 1.

This armor set faces similar drawbacks to Ibushi's; too many skills and no Decoration slots for customization. Generally, it's better to have a few high-level armor skills than a bunch of low-level ones, so unless you really like the design of Ibushi or Narwa's armor, other sets would probably be better.

Next: Monster Hunter Rise Complete Guide And Walkthrough