Variant

Not to be confused with Subspecies.

A variant is a rare individual or anomalous group of a given species of monster. They are often almost identical to a common individual, but possess one or more certain unique traits that set them apart. Variants are often more powerful and aggressive than a normal member of their species, and can sometimes be capable of augmented versions of certain attacks.

"Variant" is not an officially recognized term within the Monster Hunter universe, and, although the prefixes listed below are official, all variants are simply assigned the regular species name in-game. They do, however, feature alternate icons on quest pages to indicate their presence instead of a normal member of the species.

=List of variants by game=

Monster Hunter 2

 * Rusted Kushala Daora

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

 * Furious Rajang

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

 * Savage Deviljho

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

 * Raging Brachydios
 * Chaotic Gore Magala

Monster Hunter Online

 * Caeserber Variant
 * Basarios Variant
 * Shogun Ceanataur Variant
 * Yian Garuga Variant
 * Monoblos Variant
 * Rathian Variant

Monster Hunter Explore

 * Rathalos Variant

=Comparisons=

Elder Dragon
=Trivia=
 * Savage Deviljho is a Deviljho which has lived a very long time.
 * Chaotic Gore Magala is a Gore Magala which has failed to moult properly into a Shagaru Magala.
 * Rusted Kushala Daora is a Kushala Daora which has not shed its skin recently.
 * There were no variants in the first generation of Monster Hunter.
 * One-Horned Diablos and One-Eared Yian Garuga, which appeared in Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, do not count as legitimate variants, as they lack an official name prefix or icon.