User blog comment:BannedLagiacrus/Monster Appreciation Week: Seregios/@comment-5020152-20151218222622

Finally! At last, the time for me to tell you how much I love the Usurper of the Skies has come!

SEREGIOS (aka REGGIE)

Concept: Rathalos has been the reigning King of the Skies for many, many years now. Monster Hunter games have come and gone, and not one monster could replicate the feelings of sheer majesty and power that an airborne Rathalos evoked in hunters (although Portable 3rd’s final boss came really damn close). And then, when the blueprints for 4 Ultimate were in the making, someone decided that Rathalos was due for a little… competition. Seregios is the ultimate rival for the King of the Skies, so much so that my personal nickname for the golden pinecone is “The Usurper of the Skies”. He’s a kickass monster, and not only that, he’s a kickass monster that gives even the high-and-mighty monarch a run for his money. 10/10

Design: The Usurper of the Skies was first revealed as a shadowy figure attacking a Rathian. When he was finally revealed, my mind was blown sky high. First of all, Seregios is the most bird-like of the flying wyverns, combining aspects of a falcon, owl, parrot, and so much more. He has shining, bronze wings tipped with deadly claws, and his foot talons are as impressive as they are deadly. Then there is the blade-like horn jutting from his head, the twin spears on his tail, and the pinecone-like scales that can ruffled, rattled, and shot like golden arrows… Even the tiny hints of rusty red on his body are perfectly placed, like old bloodstains from past conquests. My God, Reggie has it all. 10/10

Sound: Reggie’s variety of high-pitched squeals, eagle-like screeches, slightly deeper hisses and chirps, and the rattling of his scales when he becomes enraged are all perfect for this devastating Usurper of the Skies. Your spine can’t help but shiver when you hear the shrieking “SCREERREEEEEEE!” that comes from above, heralding your doom. To kick it up another notch, Seregios’ music is probably the best in the entire series – it’s a fast-paced and dramatic composition that announces the long-anticipated arrival of Rathalos’ rival. It’s telling you to run. Run for your life. Seregios is coming, and he will show no mercy if you stand in the way to his claiming of the throne. 10/10

Gameplay: Seregios is MH4U’s equivalent of Nargacuga. He’s fast, brutal, precise, and all-around terrifying. You don’t want to slip up even the slightest, because if you do, you’ll be killed very quickly. Seregios attacks from the air, swooping down from out of the blue to claw at you with his deadly talons. His most dangerous attacks always involve him kicking, slashing, or ripping with those small but super-powerful natural weapons. Not only are his talons deadly, but dexterous as well – Seregios can make a swift, carving turn along the ground that allows him to snare you in his grasp. If you can’t break out of the pinning attack, Reggie will grab you, vault into the air, and throw you at one of your allies. Besides all of this, Seregios can release his golden scales as projectiles that rip through your defenses and cause Bleeding. The whole fight is a struggle for survival, and the adrenaline rush that comes with challenging the Usurper of the Skies is GLORIOUS. 10/10

New Stuff: Seregios scales are razor-sharp and remain stuck to you, causing your every movement to cause fresh wounds. This Bleeding ailment is a very interesting one that continuously drains your health the more you exert yourself. Almost all of Seregios’ attacks cause Bleeding. BLEED, PUNY MORTAL, BLEED! 10/10

Equipment: Seregios equipment is incredibly unique. His weapons feature an auto-sharpening, or auto-reloading (in the case of Gunner weapons), ability that allows you to hone the blades by evading monster attacks. Used properly, you can completely do away with Whetstones, one of the most essential items in the whole series. Reggie’s weapons have fantastic sharpness and deal a lot of raw damage, further adding to their use. The armor effectively negates Bleeding and helps keep your weapons sharp for much longer, as well as granting the ability to cut through any monster’s armor plating, making it an excellent set to forge. 10/10

Cutscene: Reggie has multiple cutscenes – one where he drives off a Rathian, another where he formally faces off against the hunter, yet another where he fights tooth and nail against Azure Rathalos, and a final scene where he falls before something even more armor-soiling than his own badass self. All of them show how mysterious and dangerous this new monster is, and he’s almost always at an advantage when he appears, further stimulating that sense of awe and fear that he churns up inside of you. Oh, and that cinematic where an entire army of Seregioses flocks across the globe is pure awesome. 10/10

Summary: Seregios is the ultimate wyvern, plain and simple. He combines the power of Rathalos with the speed of Nargacuga and the ferocity of Tigrex and rolls them into one bird-like, golden, badass package. By taking the world of Monster Hunter by storm, the Seregios not only a usurper to the throne, but a usurper of my own heart. For it isn’t just Rathalos that should fear the Seregios – my all-time favorite monster, the Plesioth, finally has some serious competition. Overall 10/10