Early Game Monster Hunter Monsters are Awesome

[@LodestarLogado]

Honestly the 5th Gen hunters who passed on Sun/Rise need to see this video to appreciate what it brought to the table. Your discussion on their fights actually had me backpedaling a bit because I’m so used to the typical “Early Monster - Simple Fight” paradigm that I completely forgot about the depth and innovation it brought. My ideal endgame is one that elevates the low tier monsters into credible threats alongside the box-art favourites and while I was a bit disappointed in the Sunbreak Anomaly system gear wise I think in concept it’s pretty close to that idea.

[@cr-volcanic]

Oh yeah, that system had its failings, I talk a lot about it in my Rise video. But what that system does to promote its whole roster is excellent. Especially since a lot of those early bosses have some legitimately great fights.

[@CaptainEffort]

I think most people agree that Rise has a solid roster and uses it well. Most people who dislike it dislike it for other reasons. For me it’s just the combat, it’s not my thing.

[@samfish2550]

​@@CaptainEffort Same. I haven't gotten around to sun break because I'm wanting to get through the rise post game content first but there's just been this sorta gulf as I grind to hr 100 and I find that without the momentum of making my main build and the story I just don't have a strong compulsion to engage with it's combat and hunting.

[@justme-mc4ln]

Mr zinogre is really annoying

[@sarcirinsdaefarin3950]

Why play Rise, a game that has better monster AI and reactivity to you, the hunter, when you can just say that World is better hurr durr? World has caused some serious brainrot. Dont let these people ruin your ENJOYMENT of a genuinely good time. Rise is a million times better than World but thats not to say its perfect or peak MH. Theyve been trying Most of World was boring because the roster was bland, there wasnt a lot of creative new things going on with moves, and monsters were just not able to handle what the hunter can dish out. People say that Rise is faster, therefore easy, bish did you play World???? lmao oh my gog, I could sleep on my keyboard and win. Rise was so much fun, that I played all 14 weapons and never stopped having fun because Ramp Up skills and Rampage Weapons added a whole new layer to the base game formula of MH. Rise expanded what Monster Hunter can be in every aspect.

[@htfs493]

There are so many videos and comments about Rise and its flaws, it’s a lovely breath of fresh air to kick back and watch someone give it well deserved praise.

[@cr-volcanic]

Oh for sure, I made a giant video about Rise a little while ago. Genuinely love the game, but I do got my problems like everybody else. But when Sunbreak does well, it does REALLY well

[@GenMars]

I prefer base rise, high rank using high rank weapons is the perfect experience, meanwhile aflicted is just fights that take too long while the monsters dont do all that much damage and the affliction helps the hunters get health back, meanwhile apexes were the shit both in design and difficulty

[@devranyilmaz9806]

@@GenMarsdon’t do all that much damage? What do you mean? I’m out here with almost 1000 defence and maxed HP and barely surviving a Rathalos fire breath with 20+ fire resist. Afflicted monsters hit very hard. Addendum: Afflicted monsters only “take too long” because your damage is dogshit. You are MEANT to interact with the afflicted gimmick, otherwise you’re just wasting everyone’s time AND taking way more damage than is necessary. Hit the glowing bits and suddenly a 30-50 minute hunt is done in 15 minutes minimum (depending on the monster, of course, Basarios is still a unit unless you actually use poison on them). Also sub-level 100 afflicted monsters are easy as hell, 150 provide a decent challenge and 200+ are walking disasters.

[@sarcirinsdaefarin3950]

@@devranyilmaz9806 Remember world where you could have -20 elemental resist.... still fight a monster youre weak too..... and you would just walk through the damage. I memba! I memba! I bring +15/+20 resist to some fights and Im begging for more in Sunbreak. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@C20521]

Shoutouts to Qurupeco who can single-handedly teach you multiple things such as the value of items like paintballs, sonic bombs, flashes and dung bombs, alongside other minor stuff which includes dealing with "insta charge" like moves and which body parts to hit since most weapons will bounce on his wings due to the lack of sharpness early on

[@cr-volcanic]

Free my boy!

[@BLOODKINGbro]

The only thing I learned from that airbag was to run from deviljho.

[@unlimited971]

The important of wearing brown pants when it makes pickle sound for the first time?

[@namelessiam7792]

CAPCOM! BRING BACK QURUPECO, AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!

[@Joltments]

11:54 “Except you, Fuck you!” was funny as hell.😂

[@cr-volcanic]

Came from the heart

[@sethladim349]

The fact that he didn‘t bleep himself like he usually does really tells how much he hates Cephadrome haha

[@trombonenerd02]

@@sethladim349I mean yeah, Cephadrome completely sucks

[@BLOODKINGbro]

Green Plesi way worse then Ceph

[@Rick-in5mt]

Yeah he is​@BLOODKINGbro

[@Dinki-dd]

1:40 screamer warning ⚠️

[@prestonandtom9337]

Jumpscare!

[@Andrew-hz5zc]

I don't know who said it first, but the further you go up in the ranks of Monster Hunter monsters, the more "monster" they become and the less "animal" they become, and you summed that up really well! A bunch of my favorite monsters, including my absolute favorite, are low tiers, because they have so much personality paired with realism (and cuteness). Thinking about it more, this video made me realize why Agnaktor ranks among some of my favorite monsters. He has everything that early game monsters usually get in terms of design and personality, he's even a pack leader. But he ALSO has a stellar late-game fight. He takes everything good about the early AND lategame monsters, and combines them into a single amazing monster.

[@emblemblade9245]

Agnaktor is nooooot an earlygame monster tbh, pretty sure it came after Rathalos in Tri?

[@Andrew-hz5zc]

​@emblemblade9245 I know it's not. I'm just saying that it takes a lot of what makes early game monsters great, and applies those things to itself, while also being a late-game monster with a great fight. He has all the benefits of the great animal design and personality that low-tiers generally get, while actually being a high tier. He's the best of both worlds.

[@SyzothVeltah]

The one you describe was said by unnatural history channel, especially his video on monster design so check it out.

[@Andrew-hz5zc]

@SyzothVeltah I was thinking it was him. For some reason my mind wants to think that he credited it to someone else though. But it's definitely a true statement.

[@pauliedee1951]

@andrew-hz5zc i remember old books of mh hunter talked about this and how the idea you go for fighting animals to fighting demigod is apart of the design of monster hunter and the whole power trip.

[@magnabueno5360]

Im so happy someone else thinks early game monsters have as much value as the later fights.

[@cr-volcanic]

1000%

[@danielwilson217]

Early game monsters are the best. They always have the most interesting lore and involvement. The newer games keep making their game time shorter and shorter. It breaks my heart. The third gen was the best for making the low tier monsters viable. Going of free hunts made a real difference. You wanted to do it early and often with weaker monsters cause it was faster and easier. You didn't need to spend 30 mins every couple of hunts to get those foods. But instead 15 mins every couple of hunts. And as you got stronger. You would fight the still weak but stronger monsters cause now they took only 15 mins.

[@cr-volcanic]

Yeah, nowadays I honestly kinda slow down on purpose to enjoy the early game longer

[@jockpackage1770]

Yeah it's tragic because a lot of the early monsters in 4th and 5th gen are awesome.

[@G1eatShad0w]

I remember getting to Tobi in rise and expecting a clean sweep. The sweep came, but in the other direction. I do love a lot of older early game monsters like Kecha and Great Maccao( it just won’t stop smiling!) but your dam right when you say that RiseBreak did it the best. The 1-2 star cast really feels like it’s not only full of great animals but really fun fights too.

[@cr-volcanic]

I booted up Sunbreak and fought 1’s and 2’s for like three hours and had a fuckin blast

[@victorribeiro6772]

I'll always have a soft spot for Great Jaggi, he wasn't just my first boss, but also my first encounter. I remember playing Tri for the first time without ever seeing anything related to Monster Hunter before. As soon as I opened the main menu, instead of going to the main game I went for the Split Screen feature "Colosseum" and tried the game out solo, picked up my Sword and Shield and went against the Great Jaggi, then hunted it a few more times trying out other weapons before going to the main game. That arena theme was so good that till this day it's my alarm ringtone to start the day. Ever since that day I made a new tradition: If Great Jaggi armor is available in a new game I play, I'll only use that armor until I farm the Flagship of that same game, so I'm either doing well with Great J armor, or I'll get good until I make the full Flagship armor to replace it. In 4U, I managed to get to High Rank Gore Magala (And Seregios) with that armor since I didn't want to make the Low Rank one since things were going smoothly in my hunts

[@carterlazarus813]

I keep saying Great Izuchi is the best first monster because they actually gave it a complete, varied moveset instead of like 3 moves. It has good hitzones, small hitboxes and many ways to ground it; but give it the health of a lategame monster and you wouldn't really have to update the fight itself. It has tail slams, tail spins, a projectile, a claw swipe, it has a cinematic move before exclusive to later game monsters in its cliffside spin slam. It's a genuine fight and that's why I love it

[@cr-volcanic]

He’s got a fantastic move pool for sure

[@athos9293]

That also applies to Great Maccao and Kecha Wacha

[@ThatOneTinCan]

R.I.R Rest in Radobaan my little low ranks

[@ThatOneTinCan]

Except cephalos... No bones of peace for him.

[@matthewclapp3655]

​@@ThatOneTinCan instead he gets melted onto fatalis' hide

[@JanusHoW]

Yes, yes and more yes. In particular, seeing a low-level monster's weapon shine was absolutely wonderful for me. For example, you know what the meta Ice elemental Switch Axe for Sunbreak is? Not Kushala Daora's, but Lagombi's!

[@pyroraptor1676]

One fun thing I noticed is that many of World's earlygame original monsters do a good job at being an implicit tutorial of the game's mechanics and features. Great Jagras shows you that as of World, monsters now have actual routines, and you should go check them out rather than going violent on sight. Kulu teaches you about bouncing with its rock and mirrors how you can use rocks as tools with your slinger. Pukei is an intro to poison, but can also augment its attacks with scatternuts, showing you how you can use foliage as tools with the slinger and items like scatternuts. Tobi Kadachi is your first thunder monster and also loves to attack from the treetops, reflecting how you can climb up walls with wall running to do special airborne attacks. Tzi tzi's flashbang downing the countless fliers in the Coral Highland implictly tells you to use flash pods as a counter to flying monsters. It is really subtle, but genius design.

[@ThesteampunkChameleos]

During this time, poors great maccau still being forgotten even though there are the best raptor of the whole licence... Justice for Maccau

[@mrblooper1994]

G.Maccau is the goat, and his music slaps too.

[@ThesteampunkChameleos]

​@@mrblooper1994Clearly ! If he come back in the future, I hope they'll keep this theme as his own theme.

[@linfa_mh]

I love almost all the monsters of monster hunter in terms of design and originality, and the ones that I don't like are simply "mid" for Monster Hunter's standards. In terms of returning monsters for Wilds, I'm interested in the low/mid tier ones more than the flagships and Elder Dragons. I truly LOVE this franchise for it's creature design and I adore even the [redacted] at 11:55. A thing that I'm really liking is how Monster Hunter Wilds seems to be focusing on even making the SMALL monsters cool and more capable of doing something, like herbivores that tank lightnings? Raptors that ACTUALLY give trouble to a large monster? Hell yeah.

[@cr-volcanic]

I would honestly prefer it if Wilds is absolutely stuffed with early game boss monsters

[@jockpackage1770]

Also there aren't that many flagships left that need to return, after such a long break, really only 2 of them. I do agree that there are a lot monsters to be missed and want to see get a makeover, or at least fit into the new style of gameplay. My wish list for new monsters has a fair few concepts that fit all the tiers of monsters. Like, i want a pack leader flying wyvern with wing drakes that's like rathalos ish tier so we get a stronger pack leader for once, I want a pack leader snake wyvern, using like a nest of vipers motif, with confusion/something other than sleep that goes with it for some synergy, I would love another monkey like bishaten and ketcha watcha, been way too long since we got a new crab (since MH2 in 2006), I love the balahara for being a pack of large monster leviathans that seam to use the lagi skeleton, I'm looking forward to the pug bears, the idea of using the garangolm shape on a low tier frog is awesome.

[@MajinMattPlays]

As someone who started with Rise back right after it released, it's always nice to see someone acknowledge how fucking cool all of its early monsters are. If you've got problems with Magnamalo, understandable have a nice day. Got problems with Umbrella Bird? We're GOING to have a falling out. It's honestly crazy to me going back to older games and realizing just how... sad some of the early gen lightweights are both as fights and as monsters. I love Kut-Ku but I genuinely can't tell you another 1st Gen low rank monster I care for very much. I can tell you several I don't like though.

[@cr-volcanic]

I'm tellin you man, Rise was so fuckin good to those early fights. I ran most of em back and had a fuckin blast

[@iiReaperv2]

Do people not like magnamalo? I love that fight, I had great fun using counters with the charge blade

[@MajinMattPlays]

@@iiReaperv2 Some people don't like Magna's design, I'm not certain I've ever heard complaints about the fight tho.

[@r.cdahuman7682]

​@@iiReaperv2 The fight is great, the design is a massive pain point for alot of people.

[@abyssalrayz9499]

I find that crazy because World has just as many glaring flaws. But world babies cant stomach that.

[@blastshooter8791]

I agree with you hole heartily that the low tier monsters are so damn charming and their the ones that usually bring the games to life.

[@thehaterman57]

1:40 bird jumpscare

[@pitshoster401]

Rise really doesn't get enough love for the sheer number of high quality fights it has.

[@cr-volcanic]

Enormously high quality in Sunbreak for sure. Very consistently high tier fights with only a few actual lows

[@pitshoster401]

@@cr-volcanic The only fight in Rise I really disliked was Almudron and even then Sunbreak fixed all my issues with the subspecies lol

[@temphy]

Almudron, somnacath, lagombi, arzuros, khezu, etc. Yea, probably bc the early game high quality fights are outnumbered by how many shit fights there are. Seriously, like Khezu is probably the most egregious example. A monster that goes on the ceiling for a solid 10 seconds and roars every 5, isn't fun in any sense of the word

[@pitshoster401]

@@temphy yes that small handful of monsters totally means that Rise doesn't have a lot of well designed fights 👍

[@gonzacabro1126]

Fr, you know they did as good as they could with the fight system when you realise that even the easiest monsters in the game can still be quite fun if you let them have their moment and don't sweep the floor with them ( And as he said in the video, we luckily can fight extremely full of HP versions of them, to extend the fight as much as we want to :) )

[@tylerwhorff7143]

Bishaten is a really great design because his primate intelligence translates into really obvious tells on what kind of fruit he's going to use and it teaches the player about ailments. When he drops all the fruit it gives the player a chance to pick them up and try giving out ailments themselves

[@97nived]

I fully agree with what you say here, I also want a Great Boggi!

[@cr-volcanic]

Facts

[@jockpackage1770]

Yes, give us the goblin king raptor. I was so sad to discover they had no status effect at all. Was hoping for them to have a silly one to suit them or at least a status that isn't sued much to set them apart. I was so hopeful after great izuchi's unique take on their AI. Also 14:10 this was hilarious, probably the funniest bit in this video.

[@sarcirinsdaefarin3950]

Ever since the first session of playing Rise, I was absolutely blown away by how amazing the early monsters are. Im still fighting the low tier monsters in the anomaly system too, but its also because I want to fight them often. Ive fought the new monsters hundreds of times each, I love fighting the SI Risens, the hazards etc... but this is the first game that makes you want to take your time and just enjoy the vibe. People were bursting through the game and I was chilling in 1/2 star quests playing all the weapons. Every new monster is a gem but we also get pack tactics with the early monsters. Rise is a breath of fresh air. Arzuros is just Arzuros, but at the same time, he feels almost brand new because of how reactive he is. In the older games, hitboxes were very iffy sometimes, now the hitboxes are so clean that it also helps improve the fun of fighting early monsters who tend to be a pain in the butt with simple moves. You still have to dodge (thanks piccolo) and position like normal, but these monsters are now a threat rather than just being a pain. Wroggi for example, his tackles force you to be more reactive, but in a game like Rise, hes not just a pain with the tackles, hes out for the kill with combos. Low tier monster, big tier brain. Risebreak is a 10/10 game even with its flaws. I dont understand why people simp so hard for Worldborne, I love World, but it was a literal snooze fest for most of its roster, especially the early monsters. Girros for example, has amazing armour, but who wants to fight him? Hes boring and I say this as that rare person who actually likes Girros. He could be a really fun fight and have really sick weapons that a plague doctor would wield. It was also the worst thing ever, to go kill monsters like Tobi, Pukei, Paolumu, and theres just trash slap on design weapons. Paolumu was done the worst too, she got 0 unique weapons. Paolumu should have had the cutest and silliest floofy weapons ever, people would have lost their minds. Most equipment in the game is forgotten about because of the random decos and the power creep problems, which was awful. I dont *need* a reward to enjoy a monster, I can fight Pukei hundreds of times and always have a good time (world and rise) even though hes not the hardest fight out there. Rise has better armour balance that created more set diversity, with one set per monster, than world did with A/B/Y sets, and Rise wasnt just number bloated raw weapon meta 24/7 either. Rise made status and elemental weapons important again, with ramp up skills that changed "the meta" weapons. Rise has better monster AI, which is one of the reasons why lower tier monsters feel so good to fight too. In Rise, you also have to fight the monster with your weapon, World was just sad, all people do is just spam rock drops, claggers, stickies, flashes, and traps. Its nice when I can just hunt the monster and be immersed instead of "playing a video game", I love world a lot, its one of the best games ever made, but the entirety of world (base game only) was not immersive even though the experience was fantastic. Pukei is one of my fav monsters, I flippin love, how Pukei fights differently in the old world, compared to the new world. Tobi being an absolute chad in Rise is amazing but his HP in the anomaly system is bruuuutal lmao I dont know what it is, but hes thicc. Anjanath is wonderful of course, but the thing that blows my mind the most, is how Rises art style makes his fire stand out so much more and the sound design really makes his it pop. I love how the devs were not afraid to give Pukei a Gunlance (with ramp up skills to make it stronger in terms of poison than chammy) and a Lance to Tobi to show us that we can get 100% unique weapons in the future. The level of care they put into monsters, is appreciated by lots of us. I love the creative monsters in Rise, like Goss and Almudron, they are chock full of great ideas that make me excited for the future of monster hunter, but the cream of the crop are the early monsters. They set the stage for a great game.

[@SylvesterAshcroft88]

I used Azuros armor for most of low rank in Rise, until i hit a wall which i think might have been around Goss Harag, so i agree that the early game monsters are pretty important. I also did the same with Odogaron armor in World, until i eventually got stuck, and had to switch to a mixed set, which i think might have been caused by Vaal. Radobaan was really good for farming tier 1 tempered monsters as well, similar to Rakna Kadaki and it's close relative in Rise, for anomaly investigations.

[@cr-volcanic]

Thank god for layered armor letting the cool lower level monster stick around

[@gonzacabro1126]

​@@cr-volcanicBishaten armor as layered armor has to be one of my absolute favourites in Rise fr

[@ThomasPetermann.]

I love some of the early Monsters in the games, they just have character. From the Qurupeco that summons others to Tetranadon that goes full belly to the dopey Kulu-Ya-Ku or Bishaten that throws fruit. As you state in the video rise/sunbreak has some of the best design in that regard. I hope in Wilds we see some as well, so far the only one that seems to have lots of character is Chatacabara, but we will see.

[@biko6158]

Sun/Rise has my favorite entry monsters. All so unique, with a unifying yokai theme. The fights are fun, the mons look sick. I love it. Personally, I always loved Rise even from the early days on Switch. Idk, to me it worked. It felt like a new game in the old world style, modernized. The fast paced combat scratched an itch I couldn't reach since Iceborne. And swapping skills mid combat in Sunbreak made it feel like Devil May Cry, which made it work even more for me. Not tryna be on my Rise defense rn but man, personally I was shook when people were acting like fools about it. I kinda see an alternate timeline where Rise came out as Monster Hunter 5, THEN transitioning to World cuz it feels like an in between

[@gianfrancoespinoza8828]

Finally some says it I wish the early game monsters got more love Like tetranadon was legitimately a great fight

[@Akiozumi]

True. I really like Anjanath in the Ancient Forest bcs of how well he fits in there and bcs its the first big Monster you encounter in the Game.

[@EduSolsa]

Rise was my first MH game, so all the early monsters were challenging and neat to me (Still, my vote was for Lagiacrus, cuz Tri was the first time I heard about the game)

[@nathanshepherd7027]

Got my girlfriend in to MH with rise. Shes about 30 hours in and at the 3 star point in both multiplayer and main hub. Last night i watched her fight kulu yaku for nearly 30 mins and made me appreciate early game a lot more. The first half of the game is extremely cozy. I wouldnt say easy (for new comers) but cozy.

[@thetruefirelord2248]

I always loved kut-ku throwing a tantraum when you use a scream pod or just piss it off

[@rafaelbozelli570]

Rise have the best cast of early monster of the franchise for me, even not have some of my favorites like kecha or great maccao

[@cr-volcanic]

Oh for sure, they missed out on some really good ones but the combat design for the ones they have in there is excellent

[@G1eatShad0w]

Yes. A fellow Great Maccao and Kecha fan.

[@phipao]

As anomaly stuff is a Rise/Sun gimmick. I would love to see deviants back, so the early monsters get time to shine in the endgame.

[@6Cthebest]

Regular and Blood Orange Bishaten (which I and others affectionately call bob) are such breaths of fresh air. Hope they return in the future!

[@arliss35]

My first game was Monster Hunter Freedom on PSP. I didn't get super far, because Unite came out, and I figured I should just move to that game. I did get through kutku and cephadrome in the first game. They were super cool to fight back then. They're a bit simple going back now, but I'm not going to forget the first time I got pecked to death by kutku.

[@SteelPokeNinja]

5:43 Actually, the anomaly system was successful in at least making low level weapons relevant, since everything could be upgraded to max rarity, aside from Defender/Rampage weapons. Swaxe for example, has its best Thunder and Ice axes as Khezu and Lagombi respectively.

[@redtime701]

Great jaggi goat

[@cr-volcanic]

Based

[@gonzacabro1126]

Dodogama might give him a run for his money though

[@cybertrong1219]

One thing that i think is cool is that i also have made ideas for a great wulg or something along those lines but its just nice to know that other people are unhappy about there not being a large monsters wulg but i do also agree that its sad that the early game monsters get forgoten as somebody that has great jaggi in there top ten mh monsters

[@Godzillakuj94]

That Spiribird jumpscare

[@Meep_kun]

I liked the MH Tri's system of incentivizing hunting low level monsters you could to go to the woods and during certain days a certain monster would spawn during your expedition, every monster would give one special item with a different level of rarity that could be exchanged for different kinds of goods sure you can also kill something like a lagiacrus and get a very rare and valuable item, but let's be fair it takes way more time and effort to take down a monster like that, than killing 3 great jaggis that would yield the same amount of points so you would stock on those kinds of items which would also by defect increase your resource points which means better farming and being able to eat for free and also fertilizers, basic items like raw meat, flashbugs, whetstones and more goods for free it didn't feel broken like most features in modern games, it felt rewarding, like recieving what you deserve for the effort you're putting in

[@ElOcty]

Anomalies feel pretty good as an endgame system, I had a lot of fun squeezing in skills where I could on armor. It wasn’t perfect but with a few tweaks I think it could stick around in some form. Also holy shit you complimented Somnacanth! I wish everyone appreciated the ugly monsters more.

[@cr-volcanic]

I honestly really like her. I think she’s very well designed and has a great tool kit

[@elusivefun]

It's a shame that the most carefully crafted unique monsters are usually the low tier's that are just there to prepare new hunters for the bigger boi's and are easily forgettable like tzitzi ya ku, tobi kadachi, royal ludroth and barroth just to name a few.

[@cr-volcanic]

Agreed. It’s why I like depowering and going back to fight em a bit

[@jockpackage1770]

Things like tzitzi ya ku, great girros, and dodogama, Yes yes, "line on the left, one cross each" i've been here before. These monsters were put as the bottom of their maps that were introduces a bit later than normal for the story so they should have been stronger and had more moves. Hell, the set up for the elders recess was "loads of powerful monsters have hold themselves up in here" and we got dodogama, uragaan, and the "apex monster" of the map lavasioth. The fuck?

[@damizan8331]

I fondly remember Qurupeco and Royal Ludroth.

[@jockpackage1770]

@@damizan8331 I've been hoping for qurupeco to coming back through all of 5th gen. My hype for his potential only increased when we saw heards of large monsters and when they told us each map will have at least 2 that do that. Imagine the chaos the war trumpet coud cause.

[@gonzacabro1126]

Well at least Tobi is like...,One of the hardest out of the low tiers and has a pretty coold desing and sounds so he is not as forgettable, but he sadly ends up being so anyway because he is always so damn overshadowed by Zinogre, ( I mean I really like Zinogre, high up there for me, but let's be real he is so extremely popular that he ends Up being almost a little overrated )

[@yohoopzcrazy4629]

5:40 Fun fact, there is a system in play that makes even lower-tier armor still somewhat relevant with Qurious Crafting: the skill "weight" system. Basically crappier gear gets way better rolls more frequently than end-game gear. The Long Explanation: Behind the scenes, each armor piece gets a sort of "Rating" based on all of it's properties: Defense, Slots, Skills, and Resistances, though it's mostly the Slots and Skills. Each skill also gets their own weight values too, and the key difference is that it's not tied to it's Decoration slot level, but it's rarity and difficulty to get. Qurious crafting, when rolling new properties, adds more "Rating" to the armor piece, be it through more defense, resistances, slots or skills. How much it adds depends on the rating of the armor piece you're augmenting: armors with lower ratings tends to get higher value rolls, and high-tier gear gets less valuable rolls. The "controlled" rolls work by forcing certain properties getting reduced more drastically in favor of getting better stuff on the other side of the spectrum. That's why Skills+ will almost always nuke your Defense and/or resistances to oblivion. For example, a Barroth Greaves X has 2-1-0 slots, low defense and Offensive Guard +1, Guard +2, Def. Boost +1. From these, the only somewhat "heavy" skill is Offensive Guard, and even then, not that much. On the other hand, we have the Tempest Hakama (Amatsu boots): it has 4-4-0 slots, high defense and Heaven-sent +1 and Crit. Boost +2. All of this screams very high ratings, the only thing dragging it back a little is the lack of a third slot, but even then. If you try augmenting the Amatsu boots, you'll struggle to find good rolls (at best you'll cope with things like an extra Lv2 slot, or +1 Wex, etc...). On the other hand, if you augment the Barroth Greaves, you'll often find some way better stuff. Me, for example, rolled a Barroth Greaves X with 4-2-1 slots, +1 Bloodlust and +1 Guard Up. There's still better stuff out there, but once in a while, this Barroth Greaves pops up on my armor set seacher results and it always makes me giggle lol Qurious crafting is not a perfect system (mostly from a UX perspective; re-rolling is too tedious and time consuming), but it still brought a bunch of good stuff to the table. It gave crappier gear a chance of spotlight, gave us a reason to craft multiple of the same piece of gear with specialized applications, and it also gave us strategic choices of what we want to prioritize. Sure you can get a crapload of skills with Skills+ or Slots+, but good luck running around with 600 defense and -27 to thunder against a Lv. 300 Zinogre.

[@UnagioLucio]

Thank you for bringing attention to Monster Hunter's diverse cast of early-game monsters! The flagship and endgame monsters are typically designed around looking cool and appealing to as broad an audience as possible. While I love some of the flagships (such as Gore Magala and Nargacuga), I feel that the imperative to be both intimidating and majestic does limit their capacity to be memorably, creatively weird. My favorite monsters in terms of visual design will almost always be the goofy or gross freaks such as Khezu, Pukei-Pukei, Kecha Wacha, Tetranadon, Nerscylla, or Qurupeco.

[@loafofgodlybread9225]

Considering all my favourites that typically find themselves at the late end of the game, Rakna(both), Ahtal, *Lavasioth* , Ukanlos, BARROTH will forever stand alongside them. Something about being the first Brute Wyvern anyone will technically fight makes it the PERFECT introduction to the classification. It has the mud armour that changes its weakness charts, the unbreakable crown, the extremely hard hitting charge with the steam cue before you get practically carted. World set this perfectly with the extra animation where he continues to TRY shake mud off of himself when he’s completely dry, showing a creature confused by how their usual defense mechanism doesn’t work. God I could gush for hours on this guy alone, especially due to how he also sets some kinda standard of each brute wyvern having a different body part being a focused point in the hunt, going from the head of Barroth to the nose of Anjanath, bone armour of Radobaan, the chin of Uragaan, the arms of Brachy, the tail of Glav, the horns of Banbaro, each Brute wyvern tells a tale with their prompt and Barroth sells it perfectly for the rest of the classification to flourish. Barroth goes way undervalued, being an early monster pushed to the side cause he’s not hated like Gaan nor loved like Brachy/Glav, he finds himself in a forgotten middle ground. He’s not a difficulty check like Anja, a relative like Baan nor a world-wide invade like Banbaro. Hell, I haven’t even mentioned Jho since he’s iconic for the impact he leaves the first few times you’ve faced him. Barroth deserves the world for what he’s established for the rest of his class, but is treated like a one-and-done. I’ll always love this muddy boi with all my heart, and I thought I’d get this comment out here due to the appreciation all low-tier monsters deserve as much as the flagship muddle the recent mid-to-late game rosters have supplied, sometimes even more. Overall I’m glad this video exists and in terms of how Wilds is CURRENTLY looking (comment made while we have Doshaguma, Chatacabra, Balahara and Lala Barina for now), I’m already stoked for our next low-ranking roster to be faced!

[@borzoilover4156]

Tetranodon my beloved

[@Hambs23]

Early game monsters are like the first step between Small Monsters/Endemic Life torwards Elder and Black Dragons. They're the ones that feel the most like real creatures and have more natural-feeling moves and aesthetics. I genuinely love them. Kecha Wacha on Ancestral Steppe is one of my top favorite hunts in the series because everything mashes so well, from music to map design and Kecha's appearance, and he has some actual fun moves to dodge and deal with. And no one can convince me that Great Jaggi isn't the most satisfying bag to punch. Even just watching the clips on the video makes me want to boot up either MHTri or 4, hammer its head and hear that satisfying 'tshwang' many many times in a row while the poor critter struggles for air.

[@jhepadidaymaypamoa5172]

I love the nature details in World. But I fell in love with the Aknosom. I never got bored of this fight :)

[@tannerbarnes7392]

I love Anjanath so much it's crazy. I started off with World and ended up really liking it for its classic Dinosaur design. I also find its belligerent personality to be really endearing, though.

[@athos9293]

Imagine how much better the early (and late) game monsters from World could've been if Zorah Magdaros didn't exist. They are already mostly very good, some even impressive considering the context of development, but remove Zorah from the game and the concepts of Tobi Kadachi and Odogaron could've been executed without having to share a basis between the two, for example. Not that these two monsters aren't successful on accomplishing what their objectives are, but everything that was done to them after base game World is proof that they weren't 100% from the start and even now remain subject to improvement, unlike Najarala, Bishaten or other monsters from less unfortunate games. In my eyes, they are nearly fully realized even in their debut titles.

[@LWhippertail07]

Exactly. Tobi kadachi could have been an even more beautiful monster. Tobi is still one of my favorite early-ish game monster

[@cr-volcanic]

Zorah taking a year of development and leaving World with the half baked aspects of had is a big reason why I believe Wilds has a whole extra year of development lmao

[@jockpackage1770]

Yeah, without zorah struggling to get a PS2 mechanic to work, girros may have actually been snakes, maybe even vaal. There's no way in hell that, without losing a section of the team for a year on a much harder task, they couldn't have fixed the skeleton issues in time. At a minimum they'd have been fixed for Iceborne. Zorah wasn't a bad concept but he was poorly executed and in the wrong game/engine.

[@athos9293]

@@jockpackage1770 ...

[@maldivesthegamer9774]

I won’t call rise less unfortunate since it has to deal with pandemic and they already did great job with these early game monster imagine what they could’ve done

[@VashimuXIV]

Monster Hunter has a very good track record of making your gradual leap from the lower threats to your flagship and elder dragons, that’s it’s made me just do some casual hunting instead of doing a perpetual end game grind. Said end game grinds are still quite fun of course, I got to AR 300 for my love of hunting, and I adore the rule of cool in this series, but playing through all the generations has given me a deeper love for the cuter, more quirky sides of monster hunter. Monsters like Barroth and Somnacanth I count amongst of my favorites in their respective categories of species, and I think it lends so much to the fact that Monster Hunter just absolutely kills it in its creature design and gameplay. I can’t imagine monster hunter without the silly and quirky to compliment its badass and spectacle.

[@rafaeljoseph3951]

Thank you for this video! I think it is well worth the effort to design a monster hunter game that has a longer early game and doesn't throw the weaker monsters to the curb after the Rathalos quest

[@cr-volcanic]

I’m glad that we’ve already seen three monsters for Wilds all on one map that don’t seem individually all that powerful. I’d love a nice chunky early game

[@changeling6450]

I like a lot of the small tier monsters, arzuros became one of my favorite monsters when i played rise just because the mounted fight system and literally rolling over all monsters with the gominola bear, and titzi in world being a hero in scaly disguise, blinding nargacugas or even bazels, that dude is just a cute little guy that saves you in random chances

[@Manectrix2000]

Early game monsters, especially later gen ones, are super interesting! Jagras is memorable for being my first large monster. I love Great Izuchi’s design and teamwork. Volvidon is a favorite because he’s based on an armadillo and is an amazing Wyvern Ride.

[@AnimationWarrior301]

Great jaggi in wilds would be goated. Especially since wilds as of now is focusing on packs and that makes me wonder if the mh wilds team is going to expand further on the monster pack aspect.

[@cr-volcanic]

Free my boy

[@thenerdbeast7375]

Early monsters are some of my favorites!

[@theferretman2157]

I agree with pretty much everything from this video, love going back to fight the goobers of the games. And Sunrise's roster is just, chef's kiss. From Bishaten (and especially BOB who easily summented itself as my favorite fanged beast) to Aknosomn and returners with like Ludroth and Pukei's major glow up (who went from Coral being a major improvement and my favorite bird wyvern to both being together in that spot) it has a great cast of jobbers. One thing I disagree with though is Tobi, who feels like it's just Viper but thunder now instead of a decent base monster and a really good and disticnt subspecies. Tobi definitely should've been clinging to a lot more walls and gliding between them for attacks while supplementing them with brand new things rather than just Viper moves (which was a really fun dichotomy with Viper trying to cut you by swinging the tail to hit you with the side and the base monster slamming the tail for brute force).

[@cr-volcanic]

I think Rise Tobi just has less trees to work with for the most part. Maps ain’t quite as designed for that gimmick. And he does get some Viper moves for sure but I think the early use of his shock state really helps the regular Tobi in this game

[@gonzacabro1126]

I may be a little late, but for instance, Bishaten, Paolumu, Pukei-Pukei, Daimyo Hermitaur, Tetranadon and Kulu-Ya-Ku are some of my most beloved monsters in the series and while they may be pretty easy on the long run, they are still pretty cool and unique on their own ways which further improves the before mentioned factors ( I actually never try to go all out on them so that I can enjoy their fights as much as possible ) Edit: Dodogama, Aknosom, Volvidon, Great Girros and Tzitzi-Ya-Ku, Kecha Wacha and Great Maccao are also nice and unique, and I do acknowledge that, but I do prefer the others a little bit more 😁👍🏼

[@Slipsaver]

As a kid, tetsucabra took me MONTHS to beat

[@Great_Evil_King_Stan]

BISHATEN MENTIONED!!! my favorite low-tier monster is probably Gogomoa but to Normal And Sane People I'll answer Bishaten because he's fucking awesome at all times

[@robertisaacgaw461]

So proud that there are great things about Rise/Sunbreak even to this day that it respects its early game roster. Both Rise and World are great, but it’s not fair to compare Rise based on their graphics. What matters is that the game has the Monster Hunter Spirit.

[@cr-volcanic]

@@robertisaacgaw461 yeah I ain’t about Rise bashing for the sake of it. Great game, but it do got flaws

[@robertisaacgaw461]

@@cr-volcanic yeah it does have flaws especially the first title updates of base rise such as the apexes and the rampage But are people not gonna admit that both World and Iceborne has their own flaws that me personally don’t want to get back to such as weapon designs, power creep, clutch claw, and archtempered monsters. Great video though, I will look forward to what your opinions are to anything monster Hunter

[@VashimuXIV]

Monster Hunter does a beautiful job of making your gradual amping of intensity over the course of the game that sometimes I just feel the need to go hunting purely just I like the monsters more than the need for an endgame grind. Barroth and Somnacanth are examples of earlier threats that I find charming due to their existences and how they utilize their abilities, to the point that they’re some of my favorites of their respective categories. Now that’s not to say I don’t enjoy doing endgame systems or fighting more badass monsters (I got to AR 300 I think I have a right to fuck around a bit lol), but playing games from every generation has really made me appreciate that all monsters are worth experiencing, and not just elder dragon level threats. We all have differing tastes, but I think we can agree creature design in Monster Hunter is second to none in this series.

[@VroooomVroooom-kk6wk]

Shogun Ceanataur is my favorite. 🗡️ 🦀 🔪. It's armor with Seregios weapons are the true edge lord build.

[@SonakaG]

Shoutouts to Kecha-Wacha from 4U. Love it's design, it's armor, and hunt itself. Also also Tetsucabra for all the same reasons. Those two are my favorite early game monsters

[@krakkenzomboid6341]

I loved Great Maccao they are by far my favorite Great/Drome. I wish they had gotten some love with a subspecies or maybe even a deviant. Such a different fight compared to all other of its type, surely it deserves some love!

[@cr-volcanic]

@@krakkenzomboid6341 great Maccao gotta come back some time

[@samfish2550]

I will say, world and iceborn, I may have almost preferred all the ideas, concepts behind the early to mid base game and dlc. Side point to this, coral puki and nightshade palumu may be my favorite variants in the game. They took the base and changed the defining gimmick to make for a interesting and distinct fight. Like nightshade moving around their lingering sleep clouds is the literally only time I fought a sleep monster and said "danm, thats badass and creative"

[@Fwufikins]

As lifelong fan of dinosaurs, the Raptor-type Bird Wyverns are some of my favorite monsters in the series. They may be small, and they're not exactly threatening on their own, but the pack dynamic tends really helps set them apart from the rest of the roster. That being said, I wouldn't mind having a High-Tier Raptor in a future entry. One idea I like is having a Bleed focused group, where the Alpha procs the effect and then the Subordinates go absolutely feral and swarm you when they smell the blood. It would make the little ones a much bigger threat, especially if you're forced to crouch because you don't have an item to stop the bleeding.

[@militarykobold]

The fellas I want to see back so much are Qurupeco, Gobul, Nibelsnarf, and GIGGINOX!! And also Zamtrios and Agnaktor, it's cruel that their babies got into Rise but not the adults

[@clayjp1548]

I will always have a special place in my heart for Arzuros because he was the first monster I ever fought

[@IPrins1998]

Speaking of some smaller monsters not having their big guy around, Was actually so sad when Zamites were in the Rise but Zamtrios was nowhere to be seen😢

[@TheTexasDice]

The Great Jaggi is probably one of my favorite "Tutorial monsters" ever made. It's an absolute joke of a fight for anyone who has even a sliver of game knowledge. But the Jaggi has a great moveset. You get taught about attack windows (with the side slam) and non-telegraphed attacks (with the spin). Yian Kut-Ku is a great candidate for best, first "proper" fight.

[@willglorian]

I love the early game monsters, except Lagombi and Volvidon, fuck them (for no particular reason). Some, like Congalala, have a goofy side that would be absolutely terrifying for a (in the monster hunter universe) young and inexperienced hunter. They have very interesting gimmicks, though some becomes a bit repetitive (Genprey/Girros, Ioprey/Wroggy, non elemental raptors), but others reinvent the same concept, like Concalala & Pukei using their diet in real time to affect their attacks. Packs with small monsters around a bigger one are, in my opinion, an absolute requirement for me now. I feel it forces you to be aware of your and the monster's immediate surrounding. I was and still am caught off guard by the small Izuchi comboing when I guard with my trusty lance. For me, two to three ealry pack leaders would be good with different styles to experience different gameplay. - Great Izuchi has a small squadron working together like fighter jets. Other Izuchi squads roam around in case the captain lose his wingmen. - Congalala or Girros for the chaotic fight. 3 to 5 small ones rush at you in a disorderly manner like a mob until the boss calls for rallying - Blangonga as the commander of a small force with a commanding feature (the whiskers or fangs in that case). You face a rather big entourage of half a dozen to ten Blangos where you have to choose. Either clearing the mob while fearing an attack from the boss and him calling other mobs, or breaking the commanding feature while enduring the assaults and ambushes of the mob. All in all, the early monsters are in most case a lot of fun, and they're welcome as long as they keep the fun (keep volvidon out, the Great Wulg will take its place)and their colorful character

[@cr-volcanic]

aw man... I like Volvidon. lmao

[@alexkogan9755]

Tetranodon was one of my personal favorite new early game monsters and I was so mad he was the only amphibian in Rise (on top of the fact I’ve yet to appreciate his turf war animation because for whatever reason Capcom made it where they hardly ever happen and might as well not be in the game because of it). Tetsucabra’s armor and weapons fit the game’s theme and both him and Zamtrios had their babies lying around. Also I love Great Girros, yeah his design is simplistic but he still looks cool to me (also I love his armor sets). And yeah, I wish he had gotten a Great Wulg, the design was too cool not to do so.

[@abeltotallynotdnsclientors5054]

My favorite gen5 fight was "AT" Great Jagras. There was just something so awe striking and horrifying when the Deviljho comes in and you expect it to give you a bit of breathing room by beating up the big J... but no... AT Jagras gets up on his hind legs and SLAMS THE JHO TO THE GROUND!

[@OrAngelicBlitz8633]

I 100% agree with Rise and Sunbreak kicking butt in early monster design. They did a great job, and Wilds looks at least just as promising.

[@BEFpraizy]

Started with Rise, went to World, and currently going through GU. I think Great Jagras is one of the best starter monsters they've ever designed not only cause of it selling being a creature, but it also has a really full package of mechanics that permeate through the game that's easy to absorb. A really clear "powered" state, a really clear weakpoint, a pin, obvious tells. I've gone through Rise three times now, and every time I get to MR Ludroth it ends up tripping me up immensely lol

[@gaius5901]

One of my favorite early game monster is Great Maccao A literal kangaroo chicken 🐔 But yes, all Rise early monster are very well executed and look great imi

[@twoshieldsandsomemilk]

Early game monsters are far more important than I think many people realize. They are what solidify the vibe and identity of an installment. Tri would not be tri without Ludroth, Qurupeco, Jaggi, and Barroth. 4U wouldnt be 4U without Seltas and Kecha Wacha.

[@cr-volcanic]

Well said

[@Johna-cv9gu]

Oh I absolutely love the stuff about Gendrome. Theyre pretty scary for low level monsters

[@insanerambling]

I love the early game monsters, they're easy enough to fight so it isn't annoying to do them multiple times. Except Jyuratodus, I hate that fish so much

[@SupahTrunks7]

I have a love hate relationship with jyuratodus. On one hand he is so annoying. On the other, I learned a lot about how to truly use my weapon (bow) effectively from my repeated fights with it. Like how to line up a perfect dragon piercer so it travels the whole length and stuns it

[@insanerambling]

@@SupahTrunks7 well I mostly hate it since he's so easy but he moves so much that it drags a 10 minute fight into a 20 minute one (I use GS so moving enemies are the bane of my existence)

[@robertomacetti7069]

I want to bring attention especially to my boy great maccao That dude is really fast and aggressive for a "first big monster", he makes things clear immediately, either you learn the new shenanigans in this game or you suffer Excellent new player tutorial

[@Shilobotomized]

Great Maccao is peak, cant convince me any other esrly game monster lives up to him. He is glorious. I love him. Maccao is life.

[@ClassicThermite]

1:40 Biggest jumpscare 2024 my god

[@TheUltimateRey]

Was not expecting that at all 😂

[@Ammo-km9cs]

These early game bozos are some of Monster Hunter's most unique and creative creatures, even if they can be sliced, diced, and crushed in a matter of minutes. Although the monsters found in the mid to late game of these games are outright better, these guys give their own unique charm compared to the badass flagships we all know and love. 1:40 Spiribird Jumpscare

[@stormerjc9493]

I'm in full agreement with great wulg, to me it genuinely feels like a whole in the roaster of iceborne, great wulg, gigginox and some of the ice subspecies like jade barrath and oroshi Kirin would have helped round put iceborne for me, I also just really want my proper pack hunting wolf monster capcom

[@windup13ird60]

Cool idea! Dumb question as someone who has played a lot of MH but not all the games, and never the super end game: I can vote on all the monsters I know but skip things like Special Zinogre, and that's not going to skew the polls right? And are we talking fight, appearance, or all that stuff wrapped up into one personal vibes rating?

[@doro26468]

love me some odd goobers. adore the low-fantasy that almost makes them seem like just an animal, yet to me theyre the ones who are more facinating than the wyverns that create otherworldy spell attacks. dont get me wrong the astalos and magnamalos of the monhun series are awesome as sick as all hell, i just personally prefer the more grounded half of a monster roster

[@cr-volcanic]

I love em for that reason too.

[@raditz1101]

Surprised you didnt mention a little about how Frontier spiced up those older starter monsters especially Cephadrome

[@cr-volcanic]

@@raditz1101 definitely something I could have slipped in. Tho I do have a video about hardcore and hazards planned for down the line

[@athos9293]

@@cr-volcanic Also how Frontier made it's own early game monsters later on by dividing them between HR1 (beginner) and HR100 (late game) quests. Taikun is pretty manageable in low rank, yet one of the most intense fights the game had to offer in Gou back when he was added.

[@kurosan0079]

My favorite monsters to just observe in the map and learn about are starter monsters. They have some of the most interesting ecology in the series. Most importantly, they're the monsters that make the world feel more believable.

[@ValentinGalea]

Finally someone said what I felt all along! End game monsters are flashy and have crazy moves which it’s cool and all but they don’t exhibit the same personality and integration into the actual world like these guys

[@CaptainEffort]

There’s a reason that Great Jaggi is beloved, and Yian Kut-Ku was considered the unofficial mascot for so long. People love early game monsters. But I haven’t seen as much of that in the 5th gen for sure.

[@thetruefirelord2248]

I remember in FU how i struggled with small quest and avoided the large monsters, then i had to face the drome and it was a challenge. The small monster and gather quests before the actual hunts really added danger to the world (especially the popo tongues) If you know, you know

[@nekomancer4641]

I almost always love the early game armor more. For good reasons i think

[@cr-volcanic]

There’s some great ones, Tetranadon, Jyutatodus, Bishaten, Tetsucabra etc.

[@danielz6177]

Speaking of great early game monsters, Zamtrios is amazing. He is both a cool and funny monster that I always enjoy fighting and is one of my favorite monsters in the entire series.

[@Jaquelin_Ivern]

I want Odogeron, Laguacris, Namiel, Fatalis, Alatreon, Dalamadur, Nergigante, Magala trio, Espinas, Deviljho, zinogre, vaal hazak, andthe fated Four. I really hope we see these guys again because they looked so cool same goes for there variants and I'm expecting to see Deviant Monster's again.

[@Ingutt]

Despite my problems with Rise, I do really love what they did with *most* returning monsters. Rathalos of course is a fuckin diamond among gems here but there's also stuff like letting Mizu slide along the floor while firing its straight beam, making something you never really saw all that often and wasn't very scary even when you did (if it even was in Gen/GU I don't even remember) into a genuinely terrifying attack. I remember when I was playing the demo the first thing I did was track down an Arzuros and was very pleasantly surprised to see they gave it some new sauce (specifically like one attack - the one where it charges and then does a shoulder tackle - but it's still rad regardless) Also back on the *most* part of that I actually don't like Jyura as much in Rise, they took away the big thing that made it unique (being its ability to reshape the terrain around itself as it moves) and what they gave it to make up for that just isn't worth the loss imo. Kind of a big factor in why I don't like Almudron all that much too, imo the disparity in World vs Rise can be largely summated using the comparison of Jyura and Almudron. That's a whole other can of worms though

[@Ingutt]

Damn dude I really do just run my gob huh

[@gonzacabro1126]

14:27 I seriously even forgot a little about the Wulgs, but I do acknowledge that they are indeed the coolest small monster Capcom has ever made in therms of desing And yeah, I don't get why didn't they include an alpha version of them, when the Congas did, lol

[@mrzeloswilder]

Funny thing is my only real MH game was Tri for the Wii. My absolute favorite monster to fight was the Royal Ludroth, but that is partially because in that game the Barroth is such an immense wall. The Barroth made me wipe so often it wasn't even funny so to me the Barroth was the fight that forced me to git good, though due to how tanky it is in that game, I still fail it's first quest rather frequently.

[@ClacksonHale]

Kut-Ku Sensei will always live on in my heart.

[@futongaming2035]

1:41 thanks for the jumpscare warning!!??

[@markabyss1200]

My problem with sunbreak has always been a personal preference of not enjoying its combat as much as world or the older titles. Its such a tragedy because they've done some absolute magic on these monsters! Its one of the best monster rosters in the series with fantastic movepools.