DISCLAIMER: This article was written in April. As a result, some of the entries on this list may have already been confirmed to be returning in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak.
Sunbreak is finally here after being announced late last year and it promises to be a bold new foray into the unknown. Several new monsters were revealed pre-release, along with the return of the fan-favourite Astalos and the promise of more popular monsters from previous entries making an appearance. As fans jump headlong into the expansion, they hold onto the hope that their favourite beasts will show up. I count myself amongst that group, and there are more than a few monsters I'm hoping to see as I sink my teeth into Sunbreak.
10/10-Lunastra
The female version of Teostra, this monster has appeared in only a few games since her introduction back in Monster Hunter 2. Despite sitting on the sidelines for much of the series, Lunastra is an incredibly powerful Elder Dragon, even serving as the second game's final boss despite Teostra also being introduced in this entry. What's more, Teostra was added to Monster Hunter Rise in a post game update. While this far from guarantees her return, it would be a joy to fight her again and see her alongside her mate in one of Sunbreak's locales. Monster Hunter World and Iceborne only made Lunastra more popular and fans appreciated her reappearance in the game that brought the series to the mainstream. Sunbreak's lineup is already looking pretty great. Lunastra would only elevate it to newer heights.
9/10-Yama Tsukami
This one is a little out of left field. Yama Tsukami first appeared in Monster Hunter 2 as a particularly unusual and unique Elder Dragon that was predominantly fought in the Tower region. To beat it, players had to scale a large structure and take opportunistic shots at the beast whenever it left itself vulnerable, while also watching out for its heavy-hitting attacks and dodging out of the way. With the new wirebug mechanics introduced in Rise and the general emphasis on verticality and mobility, this fight could become a lot more interesting and fast-paced. Rise and Sunbreak also appear to be introducing monsters that are more unusual and unorthodox that World and Iceborne seemingly steered clear of, so Yama Tsukami would be the perfect addition to the roster.
8/10-Deviljho
Everyone's favourite overeater returned in a post-game update for Monster Hunter World and we all rejoiced at seeing him wreak havoc across the ecosystem on modern consoles. Being an Invader-a monster that interrupts the player during hunts and generally ruins their day by causing chaos-he can pose a range of problems for hunters, but that's part of why people love him. Rise already gave us Bazelgeuse and Rajang, two other ferocious Invaders, so Deviljho would be welcomed back with open arms.
7/10-Amatsu
Here's a monster that hasn't been seen in a long time. Introduced in Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, Amatsu is a powerful and mysterious Elder Dragon that floats through the air and commands powerful storms. Sound familiar? The God Serpents that serve as Rise's final bosses clearly took inspiration from Amatsu, but that's why he would fit right in. The fight against him would likely be quite similar to those against Ibushi and Narwa, and his appearance during Sunbreak's Master Rank quests would up the difficulty factor significantly.
6/10-Dalamadur
Not many hunts in Monster Hunter pit the player against gigantic, titanic monsters like Dalamadur. This serpentine beast is the largest monster in the series, and the fight against it makes this clear. It's hard to even know where to begin. Pot shots must be taken whenever it exposes a part of its body for long enough, and the feeling of victory is euphoric after you take down the gargantuan beast. It's a real David and Goliath fight. As a final boss, Dalamadur's return is highly unlikely, but wouldn't it be something if he returned as an optional hunt during Sunbreak's post game?
5/10-Vaal Hazak
When Capcom revealed the design for the new Elder Dragon Malzeno and the aesthetic of the new locale he appears in, fans assumed Sunbreak was using themes of western folklore and legend. Malzeno would appear to have been inspired by Dracula and other stories of vampires. The wolfish Lunagaron was then assumed to resemble a werewolf, and the ape Garangolm does remind one of Frankenstein's Monster. If Capcom are indeed using western horror stories as a basis for Sunbreak's visual style, Vaal Hazak would be a perfect candidate to represent zombies or the undead in general. While not undead himself, Vaal Hazak is a macabre and decrepit creature that makes his home below numerous dead Elder Dragons and rotten corpses. His use of Effluvium and ties to the Rotten Vale of the New World might make it difficult to justify his appearance anywhere else, but his morbid physical appearance would make him a fine addition to the already impressive lineup.
4/10-Thunder Serpent Narwa
After the conclusion of Monster Hunter Rise, Narwa's story is over and done with, so it seems like Capcom have no reason to bring her back. The trend with final bosses, also, is that they rarely return in future games or expansions, save for a select few(and not including Monster Hunter Generations and Generations Ultimate, which deliberately brought back previous locations and monsters as a celebration of the series overall). However, the battle with Narwa was so unique and she is such a powerful beast that it would almost be a waste to leave her behind. I would love to see her return for a Master Rank quest, a true challenge and test of our skills. Magnamalo has been confirmed to be returning, which makes sense, but I'm hoping he is not alone and that the godlike Narwa will return with him.
3/10-Nergigante
I could wax lyrical about how great a monster Nergigante is, but the fact of the matter is that he started the Fifth Generation with a bang and it seems only right that he finishes it, as well. The Eater of Elders was a great flagship monster and an even greater foe during Monster Hunter World. There are sure to be a whole new selection of vicious Elder Dragons for him to feast upon during Sunbreak. Having been well-received by fans, too, it would be a very nice surprise if he was to make a sudden appearance during the story to show Malzeno how it's done.
2/10-Gore Magala/Shagaru Magala
Fans have been asking for the return of Gore Magala ever since Monster Hunter 4, the entry largely considered to have the best story in the series. Gore Magala is a mysterious monster that crops up during the plot and is discovered to be infecting monsters with the Frenzy Virus, something which drives them mad and often kills them. Those who overcome the Virus, though, end up becoming much stronger and more dangerous. They are dubbed Apex Monsters. It is worth noting that the term Apex has been used to describe monsters in Rise, as well, though they are not the same thing. This has been chalked down to a localisation error, as the team that translated Rise were presumably unaware the term had been used in the series before. Functionally, Rise's Apex Monsters are the same as their predecessors; more powerful, more dangerous versions. Narratively, though, they are quite different. This may complicate matters, but that hasn't stopped people clamouring for the return of Gore Magala. It is classified as an 'Unknown' monster, one that cannot be classified into any known group but that does not qualify as an Elder Dragon, either. The adult form, Shagaru, actually is an Elder Dragon, and proves to be a lot tougher than its younger self. The two don't necessarily go hand in hand, but Gore's gothic and cryptic design would fit in well alongside Malzeno and Lunagaron, and a possible rework of the Frenzy Virus could add a new obstacle for players to overcome.
1/10-White Fatalis
We all know about Fatalis, the godlike black dragon that wiped out an entire kingdom overnight. It is the ultimate challenge for any hunter brave or foolish enough to take one on, and few have gone toe-to-toe with one and lived to tell the tale. On the design of the new White Fatalis introduced in Monster Hunter 2, the developers stated that they imagined something that existed long before what we know now and could possibly be the ancestor of modern Elder Dragons. It was immensely old and needed to look as such. It has cropped up in other entries since, however, and it seems only a matter of time until it rears its head once more. Fans are unanimous in their agreement that White Fatalis is the most powerful of all monsters, as well, with this theory supported by the implication about this particular Fatalis possibly being responsible for the destruction of the kingdom of Schrade, and the statement by the developers that it is something of an ancestor to all Elder Dragons. Iceborne brought back the original Fatalis as a secret final boss and the last real challenge to end the expansion on a high note. I'm hoping that Sunbreak does the same thing, that a series of post game quests after the story has wrapped up will lead to a secret final boss, that boss being the fabled White Fatalis. It would be the perfect way to close out the Fifth Generation and serve as an homage and a celebration of the games and generations that came before. Give us the toughest fight of our lives, Capcom. We've been waiting to have our asses kicked.
King And Queen
Can we take a second to appreciate how far this series has come since its beginning? Monster Hunter spent years as something of a niche series that not many people knew about, and this was only exacerbated when it stopped releasing in the west altogether for several years. Monster Hunter World might still be a lot of fans' least favourite entry in the series, but it did for Monster Hunter what Elden Ring has done for the SoulsBorne and FromSoftware series of games, bringing it into the limelight and the mainstream. I've been having a blast with the Fifth Generation and I can't wait to see how Sunbreak caps it off for the future. The monsters have always been what really makes this series great, and Capcom have been knocking it out of the park every step of the way. Just look above at two of the Fifth Generation's best Elder Dragons(so far), the King and Queen of all that we have seen from World up to now. They will take some beating, but it's entirely possible they will be dethroned. For now, I'm going to go and dive into the expansion headfirst. I hope Monster Hunter is always this damn fun.
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