User blog comment:BannedLagiacrus/Monster Appreciation Week: Rathalos (5th Gen)/@comment-26421638-20180513200847

The Flagship among Flagships, seems that Rathalos likes to get a major revamp after two generations of games, the first one was in MH3 (3rd Gen) and now with MHW/5th Generation. I'm going to focus exclusively on its changes rather than a full review.

Graphics aside, This Rathalos look more darker and its red skin is more intense (more similar to Dreadking Rathalos in terms of coloration), its eyes are more contrasting than before (the blue eyeball is considerably darker, making the fiery iris more visible) and he got other little tweaks here and there. The wing membrane is now lighter and the pattern became a mix between 1st Gen and 3rd Gen Rathalos. Beside the new wing pattern, I like the new Rathalos' look: is more intimidating.

When is on land, with of course new animations, it doesn't have major changes beside a flaming bite (pretty much the same as Pink/Gold/Dreadqueen Ian from previous games) and a jumping poisonous "stomp" (kinda an annoying attack huh?), but his most notable changes are, obviously, when is in mid-air. More realistic and natural animations, new attacks (a bigger fireball and new aerial claw swipes for example) makes this Rathalos pretty different from its 4th Gen counterpart. Unfortunately suffer of the same issue of Legiana and may turn quite annoying when he flies and there's a new poisonous aerial move that is terrible since is quick and unpredictable, I didn't recall a Rathalos that poisons you more often than a Pink Rathian. I don't really like his new roar but for the first time breaking its wings is worthy, sometimes may fail to fly when Los' wings are broken, a really appreciated tweak.

I cannot tell which I prefer between 5th Gen or 4th Gen Rathalos, sometimes is more fun, other times is more annoying, I can only say that 5th Gen Rathalos is more unpredictable than before.

Rathalos always offered a good gear and MHW is not an exception, both stats and design wise are always good and I feel almost forced to craft most of his weapons. LR Rathalos Armor is one of the best choices for the latest part of LR, but I preferred Odogaron.

Overall: Seregios and Astalos usurped the "King of the Sky" throne for most of the 4th Generation but now Rathalos regained that title in MHW (Legiana could be a rival but they don't live in the same area). In a first instance I didn't liked this new incarnation of Rathalos but I liked it more after a few hunts, however this Rathalos may be both great or fun to fight but also an annoying and cheap fight. MHW Los is fine for what it is, but I cannot say the same thing about its Subspecies. Tempered Rathalos look extremely Badass, seems made of ruby!