User blog comment:Kogath/Monster Hunter X Discussion/@comment-5167887-20151123101504/@comment-4911512-20151123190515

these variants(If I remember correctly) have separate materials, armor, and weapons, like subs. they seem to be replacing subs for this game, as they seem to serve a similar role, which I guess would be another version of a monster to fight. It's very doubtful that subs are gone forever.