Flagship Monster is a title given by CAPCOM to select Large Monsters in the Monster Hunter series. Typically being featured on the Japanese version of Monster Hunter game's boxart, Flagship Monsters represent the game they're introduced with in official promotional and marketing material, and often have a major presence in their debut games.
Typically, Flagship Monsters have been completely-original monsters new to the Monster Hunter series. However, there was been a number of exceptions.
Azure Rathalos, a subspecies of the pre-existing monster Rathalos, is the Flagship Monster of Monster Hunter G.
Despite the debut of Scarred Yian Garuga, Rathalos appears as the Flagship Monster of Monster Hunter Freedom.
Bloodbath Diablos, a Deviant of the pre-existing monster Diablos is the secondary Flagship Monster of Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate.
Teostra, a monster introduced in Monster Hunter 2, is the Flagship Monster of Monster Hunter Frontier Season 1.0.
Zenith Espinas, a Zenith Species of the pre-existing monster Espinas, is the Flagship Monster of Monster Hunter Frontier Z.
Prior to Estrellian's creation, Rathian was the Flagship Monster of Monster Hunter Online.
Additionally, Monster Hunter games typically only have one Flagship Monster. However, there has been exceptions to this as well.
Glavenus, Mizutsune, Gammoth, and Astalos are all considered Flagship Monsters of Monster Hunter Generations. However, in marketing and promotional material, Glavenus is the primary Flagship Monster of the game.
Similar to Monster Hunter Generations,Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate had two Flagship Monsters: Valstrax and Bloodbath Diablos; with the former serving as the primary Flagship Monster of the game.
Kamu Orugaron and Nono Orugaron both served as the primary Flagship Monsters of Monster Hunter Frontier Season 6.0.
Zerureusu and Garuba Daora were the Flagship Monsters for the PS3/Wii U and PS Vita versions of Monster Hunter Frontier G respectively. When they were released, they were equivalent to PC versions G3 and G5 respectively.
Lolo Gougarf and Ray Gougarf both served as the primary Flagship Monsters of Monster Hunter Frontier G2.
As Monster Hunter Online lacked an original dedicated Flagship Monster prior to Estrellian's creation, Rathian served as the Flagship Monster for the game while it was in early Beta.
Prior to the debut of Nef-Garmat, Flame Rathalos served as the Flagship Monster of Monster Hunter Explore.
Being the flagship monster of the first Monster Hunter game, Rathalos is often-considered to be the Flagship Monster for the entire series.
Similarly, Espinas is often considered to be the Flagship Monster for Monster Hunter Frontier as a whole, due to it being Frontier's first original Flagship Monster, as well as it being featured in numerous promotional material for Frontier.
