There Will Never Be Another Final Boss Like Ahtal-Ka

[@caseyclark5174]

I love Ahtal-Ka so much, one of my favorite things is the implication of just HOW MANY entire fleets of monster hunters it must have slain to acquire this many parts, and it kept upgrading and upgrading up the ranks until it had a full suit of armor made of monster hunters it defeated. It is literally a Monster Hunter Hunter.

[@MarshmallowHope536]

Which is an amazing detail that it shares with the first ever final boss monster Fatalis who in the lore welds hunter’s armor to its scales as a sort of trophy and as protection.

[@namethatiuse2677]

A hunter hunter if you must

[@caseyclark5174]

@@namethatiuse2677 good premise for a show tbh

[@moonlightnightkai]

​@@caseyclark5174Should totally be about 2 kids fr

[@mrbones9332]

The hunter has become the huntered

[@Mippons]

Another thing I would like to add about the 3rd and final phase other than the symbolism of the wheel itself is that while in the 2nd phase, Ahtal-Ka was trying to mimic large monsters to be stronger. But in the 3rd phase, it was trying to mimic hunters by using a weapon because it recognized them as the apex predators capable of defeating all the other monsters in the series this past generation. The switch in music to the proof of heroes is also fitting as it is the theme of the hunters. So that final phase was truly celebrating the hunters and their journey and accomplishments thus far.

[@gavo7911]

Also, the wheel was one of the first ever major inventions of mankind, so using that as its final weapon is another neat bookend

[@adamgreenspan4988]

The hunted has become the hunter.

[@WolfSoulXIV]

Even without the symbolism of the wheel, destroying Ahtal-Ka's mech only for her to be still standing in the wreckage with glowing eyes carrying a giant wheel with malicious intent is undeniably badass

[@BaalFridge]

first time i saw this i was like: oh no it ascended to godhood

[@doomfanboy9413]

I think the "symbolism" was just a stretch lmao but it was pretty bad ass

[@elizabethhicks4181]

@@doomfanboy9413 I wouldn’t say so at all. Monster Hunter incorporates a lot of religious and cultural iconography and symbolism into a lot of its design. Look at Shara Ishvalda, it’s a based off a Buddhist demon and represents enlightenment with its eyes that stay locked on the player playing the game instead of their avatar, with attacks and body parts that represent the invisible hand of the divine. The design of its armor and weapons only solidify that theming. They probably knew what they were doing with the wheel.

[@doomfanboy9413]

@@elizabethhicks4181 I don't care about the rest of the game bro to sit there and claim the bug standing there with a giant wheel(from the mech it was in) is a symbol to represent something is just plain retarded and I'm calling them out for it

[@discordlexia2429]

Making the mother of all omlettes here, hunter. Can't fret over every egg.

[@lucidlullaby894]

For the final boss of the final game in the old world format, they didn’t go with a dragon or wyvern despite being the most associated with the game, they went with a bug to end the era, and I’d like to think that it’s to highlight how much the monster species and design variety has exploded over the series’s run

[@wolfekupo5651]

and then we go to World where there are basically nothing but Dragons and Wyverns (not including Collab fights)

[@OGXenos]

We've come a long way from MH1 where literally every large monster on the roster used the same 3 wyvern skeletons

[@OGXenos]

@@wolfekupo5651 But did you know the Great Jagras was the second EVER Fanged Wyverm introduced to the entire Monster Hunter franchise? Before World, the only other one was Zinogre from Gen 3.

[@victory8928]

They literally went for a cuttlefish monster as the final boss of gen as well. It is kinda gen’s thing at this point

[@CeraCymmetry]

"Sending one guy and a cat to fight God is a bad idea" brilliant line. Great video, great commentary, nice work!

[@allykat5931]

Holy shit i read this comment right as he said that line. Creepy

[@shirokatta4051]

And you expect us nut job hunters to say no to shiny armor

[@Spike2276]

I come from the future to tell you that the Guild has learned this lesson, and now they send a guy, a cat, and a dog

[@primalfeline]

@@allykat5931I read it just after he said it lol

[@JaredsGhost]

​@@Spike2276don't forget two blue bugs.

[@Unclaimed_Username]

I think the final musical change showed something else: an unspoken solidarity between two weak creatures that use weapons and tactics to overcome. It's basically her saying "Now we fight as equals!"

[@kipps9755]

i just play the games for fun, but arent hunters like genetically fucking INSANE?? like heightened everything so that they hunt better and protect their tribes or what have you from invading monsters and let normal people be normal people?

[@soniaserval454]

@@kipps9755 well they're definitely superhuman. But they are supposed to represent ordinary people, no one special. Even your character isn't really that chiseled or anything, and you're just a regular person who is a hunter (until in World you become thee hunter and technically nobody in the game is a regular person with a job but people picked to do something important). Even then I do agree with the OP. You two are equals who have used up your best options and have nothing left other than to fight face to face.

[@glu9165]

@@soniaserval454 nah that’s wrong. not just anyone can be a hunter, even in universe hunters are considered the cream of the crop, and in every game your hunter is always one the creamiest.

[@soniaserval454]

@@glu9165 Yeah but that's because we're more skilled. If you look at our characters in every game, they're no more buff than anyone else.

[@immortal_shrooms6757]

@@soniaserval454 it would make sense they are superhuman. If these humans evolved in a world where all the threats were 6 times their size, they would have enhanced all stats than humans in real life who's biggest natural predator is probably a tiger or a wolf half their size from the animal's shoulders

[@sophiekarp1556]

I remember the story was trying to build up this giant dragon named ahtal ka that keeps disappearing and its massive and is destroying all these fortresses. So when I fought her, I was shocked, and every moment in it was overwhelming past the first phase. Truly the pinnacle, and sadly a lot of people miss the idea of her when they ask for her to be in Rise

[@superrswalkthrougn]

If she's ever in Sunbreak, it should follow the exact same mythos, lorewise. New small arena map that you're sent to investigate because there's a strange large dragon or something. You shouldn't know what you're in for

[@victory8928]

@@superrswalkthrougn similar to what Bazel’s introduction in rise should have been. A discovery made by the player and not the game’s npcs. I would also love it if they had it that the athal ka made had a different mecha in sunbreak if it comes into the game. So that the hunter has a different experience and shows that like the hunter each athal-ka has different fighting styles and gear. Maybe we fight one that has tamed/ domesticated some other weak monsters and use them like infantry or artillery depending on the critter use, maybe athal uses status like poison and blast to fight threats something like that.

[@jakejohnson718]

@@victory8928 that right there is an awesome idea

[@suspiciouscheese4518]

I think it would cool to incorporate some hunter weapons into the mech. It would play more into the theme of being a reflection of the hunter by including the weapons and gear of slain hunters.

[@victory8928]

@@suspiciouscheese4518 suits of armour with their weapons that fight the hunter like a bunch of puppets.

[@joaogomes9405]

What I love most about Ahtal-Ka is that it's the final boss of the game and yet it's not an elder dragon. It's a neopteron, the same class of monster as joke monsters like seltas and vespoid and those annoying rolly pollies from 4. And here it is, overpowering the magic metal jetpack comet dragon. And it does all of that through being smart. Sure, lore sources or whatever may hint that some elder dragons are sentient and as intelligent or more intelligent than humans, but they all still just act like animals while fighting. Except for Ahtal-Ka, which actually understands how to use tools and how to turn them against hunters. It even blocks the dragonator with silk if you use it on its big mech dragon.That's badass.

[@sdaniaal]

I think I understand a bit more about the boss now thanks to this comment and a few above: Ahtal-Ka Is seen as a devestating monster that can take down towns and cities, but the reseaon its so shocking is that it uses the facade of a dragon even though it is initially unasuming. This is why Ahtal-Ka is refered to as some sort of dragon as no-one could beat it and from afar its metal shell makes it look like one. Its quiet ingenious to use such tools and intimidation to its advantage making it conceptually terrifying.

[@within_forests]

Aa

[@supersonic4863]

Its the only one that fights a the player as if it is a hunter, and the player is a monster. It switches from being a monster, to faking being a stronger monster than it is, to noticing that the hunters have taken down the massive monsters by being smart, not through power or size.

[@ChaosLightspeed]

Elder dragons are simply a classification for anything that doesn't neatly fit into the other categories. Ahtal-Ka DOES fit in one, so thus it's not an elder dragon. From the wiki: Elder Dragons are creatures that defy typical classification and reside outside of the standard ecosystem, regardless of their resemblance to a dragon.

[@joaogomes9405]

@@ChaosLightspeed Yeah? You're literally repeating what I said.

[@JanusHoW]

Ahtal is Arabic for "ruins". The Ka in Ancient Egypt was an aspect of the soul. The giant mech's name is Ahtal Neset, with Neset probably being a corruption of "Nest". So Ahtal-Ka could translate to "Soul of the Ruins" while Ahtal-Neset could be "Ruin Nest". How cool is THAT?! Edit: Also, I think it can be implied that the Lao Shan Lung you faced in the Urgent that unlocks G3 was not running from Fatalis this time - it was running from Ahtal-Ka when it formed Ahtal-Neset!

[@Br0ck3n]

That is absolutely amazing

[@peterduprey7286]

I’d like to point out that the golden silk on Ahtal-Ka’s wheel during the final phase spells out XX - The Japanese name for Generations Ultimate.

[@samuraibeluga3749]

is this stated by capcom? cause it seems a stretch considering the second "X" is almost not an X at all.

[@Eadragonixius]

@@samuraibeluga3749 well it’s called Double Cross, but XX is the western English translation for it, and it could be x+ or ++ as well I suppose

[@samuraibeluga3749]

@@Eadragonixius XX is two crosses, hence the reason why people called it double cross probably because double x doesnt sound as cool. in the japanese title you dont see ++ you see XX.

[@Oskuro_]

@@samuraibeluga3749 generations was also just called cross so it would make sense if it's double cross

[@samuraibeluga3749]

@@Oskuro_ your point being?

[@awakenedcrowl]

I never really cared about bugs either, but Ahtal-Ka pulling out her giant mech was just the most "WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK THIS IS COOL" moment I had in Monster Hunter.

[@rdowg]

Idk, a lot of the bugs in MH have some really unique gameplay, I cant remember the name for the life of me, but the queen/drone combiner fight was pretty damn cool

[@expertoflizardcorrugation3967]

@@rdowg seltas queen?

[@rdowg]

@@expertoflizardcorrugation3967 bingo!

[@Salmon_Toastie]

@@rdowg2 years later and we get a creepy new arachnid monster in wilds and I’m hyped!!

[@rdowg]

@@Salmon_Toastie the spider has got to be my favorite monster design in MH since Ahtal Ka in GU!

[@kingofflames738]

An interesting thing about Athal Ka is that she could come back as a regular mid to high tier monster. They usually build their nests with plants and rocks, so the one we're fighting in GU is, like Gogmazios, technically a variant.

[@gornrox7518]

That's rad

[@wolfekupo5651]

she is a variant, only males of her species are gold, the way a female becomes gold is by cannibalizing a large amount of males of her species

[@khalil8043]

How is it a variant?

[@Michael-bn1oi]

@@khalil8043 Re-read the comment. Normal ones build their nests out of plants and rocks, this one built a mech out of part of buildings. That is the variation.

[@khalil8043]

@@Michael-bn1oi can you tell me where it was mentioned, source please

[@Kyfow]

I'm actually hopeful we'll see ahtal ka return in sunbreak. Her mechanics fit too well into the wirebug system. Great video as always

[@The23Anonymous]

I hope, sunbreak will get much more harder. Not in the sense of pure stat boosts to the monsters, but new moves, that balance out the hunters' movesets, which got somewhat overpowered. I never had such an easy mh experience as rise, and i hope for sunbreak, to change that.

[@Syahburei]

Maybe not on sunbreak release but maybe the post free updates????

[@marcusaaronliaogo9158]

@@The23Anonymous mhw was kinda easy

[@The23Anonymous]

@@marcusaaronliaogo9158 Never played MHW. Last MH i played was GU, and it was quite hard

[@marcusaaronliaogo9158]

@@The23Anonymous oh ok

[@Zakading]

There's also something to be said regarding the whole "fighting our reflection" topic and her gearing up using exclusively human tools and things she looted from destroying humanity's cities and hunting them.

[@robertomacetti7069]

this is my favorite game of all time, so i'm definitely bias BUT yes, ahtal ka is hands down the coolest final boss in the series, i completely agree, when you see the megazord pop up for the first time your jaw drops, i won't believe anyone who says otherwise also, can we appreciate more how capcom always manage to hype a fight? when proof of a hero start it's over, no matter what actually happens, you feel like a god, and that's awesome

[@fourtimingtarantula3561]

Agreed, so far there's no monster like Ahtal ka. I'm hoping they include the monster at Sunbreak since the MHTeam devs know how to show the good and hide surprise/twist monsters.

[@ImWhyMortalsCry]

I can't really join this conversation because I didn't play XX I only played X My reaction would've probably been different when I fought it and the mech popped up but only seeing this fight on YT my first reaction was just O_O for a few seconds and then I just thought that's cool What made me jawdrop was seeing Gogmazios fly when he entered his second phase in 4U I believe it's basically the same reaction Something totally unexpected but really cool happened in both fights And I totally agree with the Proof of a Hunter part Be it Dahren Mohran, Jhen Mohran, Fatalis, Athal Ka, Gogmazios or any other monster where it plays you just get hyped up so incredibly hard and feels like you're the last hope

[@robertomacetti7069]

@@ImWhyMortalsCry yeah, and you miss what a spectacle ceadeus was on mh 3 My favorite ost by far

[@ImWhyMortalsCry]

@@robertomacetti7069 I did play 3U I just didn't play XX because I didn't had a switch for a long time I got the switch not even a year ago But because the games are pretty expensive I still don't have XX I would really want to play it And yes Ceadeus's theme is so sick with all the chanting I would really want to see the swim mechanic making a return And I would love to fight Ceadeus, Miralis, Gobul and the other monsters that didn't return since the third game again in the graphics we have nowadays I'm not saying that the old graphics are bad You get what I mean

[@gojigiante]

While, I definitely don’t think Ahtal Ka is even close to my top 5 favorite end boss fights in MH, he definitely is pretty badass.

[@TheTrueKlotzkopf]

I love the fact that it even tries to kill you with the dragon spear things you used to bring down many monsters in the arena like "I can you use them to bring down a monster, too"

[@Ten_Thousand_Locusts]

I hope you never stop making videos about Monster Hunter. You've made me look at this series in an entirely different light and made me appreciate it even more.

[@Cloudchaser_K]

the talk about ingenuity and tool use is one of my favourite things to see in real life animals and reflected here in monster hunter, and it's why ahtal ka and nerscylla are some of my favourite monsters in the series Nerscylla *feels* intelligent as you fight it- it'll use its silk for traps, movement and as a projectile, and it's wearing the skin of its prey to make up for its weaknesses (just like us), but this extends to its presentation in its gameplay as well. It'll tilt its head to try and get a better look at you and size you up in its idle animations, it'll strafe around you (which is something people probably do to other monsters while they wait to spot an opening) and even back away from you giving the impression of it trying to stay out of your reach and use its range advantage. I love monsters that make me feel like i'm engaging an equal.

[@ZMike38]

the wheel of dharma blew my mind. there’s no way that’s unintentional, this series is brimming with little details and it even sits behind Ahtal’s shoulders like a Buddhist halo. What a cool capstone to classic monhun.

[@comradecameron3726]

The designers always have the cleverest bits of lore they just don’t tell you. Like with Shara Ishvalda. I think it’s name means "enlightened one“ or something close to it, but I can’t remember what language. And most monsters look at the hunter. Shara Ishvalda can’t even see you in the first phase, but when it opens its eyes in the later phases it looks directly at the camera. It knows there’s s higher power controlling the hunters.

[@Not_MissHina]

@@comradecameron3726 when i first heard it's name, shara ishvalda is really a name that sound like a buddha from india, ngl

[@jabronijackpot]

@@comradecameron3726 A number of Shara's weapons and armor have buddhist references too. The insect glaive for example is based on the khakkhara staff, which was used by monks for ceremonies and as a weapon.

[@fireworkstarter]

Its because asian games, japanese specificly are facinated by religions and like to use it as explainations to where power comes from. Its always been asian games that made paladins fighters with holy power and western ones thaf make them full defense and just boff

[@48956l]

Could be unintentional tho lol

[@BMW-pd2tt]

Also in the last phase, you mentioned the wheel of reincarnation on its back, but the wheel is also the first human invention. They really outdid themselves with the symbolism lol

[@HelmuthGerka]

The wheel is not the first human invention by far... cavemen had hammers and spears not wheels, those were invented around 3500 B.C.

[@BMW-pd2tt]

@@HelmuthGerka yo i was lied to my whole life 😭

[@Shadowfang99]

I think what people mean when they say this is the wheel is the only early invention still relevant to this day. Ahtal-Ka uses dragonators, a fricking mech suit, and in the end, the only thing it had which it could still use is good ol' wheel. Because that will always be useful.

[@Akranejames]

@@Shadowfang99 Rope is a pretty old one too, just less iconic.

[@petergao96]

to be fair, hammers are always useful too.

[@Orionuki]

I think ahtel kah’s intelligence is one of the coolest things because it makes her seem so unworldly but also awesome because no other monster is like her. Even rajang which is a monkey you’d think would be smart but is more brute force while insects like ants and other insects are creative but people don’t think of that when thinking of an intelligent animal a monkey is. So it is awesome that an insect is one of the smartest animals in monster hunter.

[@monsterhunter3ultimateplay527]

I don’t think it’s necessarily that nobody has ever though about armored vehicles yet, it’s just that it’s not really all that feasible to put heavy armor on an airship which are really their main methods of transport. Of course, they could do that kind of thing for the land based caravans, but they could also just pay a hunter to protect them. Also, while gameplay wise, there really is just you and some cat fighting god, you actually canonically have an army backing you up like 90% of the time.

[@zetamaxr]

I think its also because of the "ancient civilization". If I remember correctly, there was a civilization before the humans in monster hunter that basically dominated the world with technology. Monsters couldn't compete...that is until the great dragon war, which saw the extinction of the ancients and near extinction of elder dragons. Since then humans have tried to form a balance with nature, with the Wyverians helping keep things in check via the guild. In lore hunters are only suppose to kill what they need to. Killing for fun or sport leads to the guild knights hunting you down. The Humans and Wyverians have pretty much both agreed to not repeat the mistakes of the ancients and be one with nature.

[@knightlyfiver9733]

just remember that the entire concept of the great dragon war is really cool, but not entirely true as its just fanon from an art book. So far, we just know that some civilization existed previously

[@natanaelrodriguez9580]

@@ricksanchez9669 all of that and more can be found in the Monster Hunter Stories games.

[@70swords]

I always thought this as well. Physically Hunters are so far beyond normal humans that their sword slashes can bring down these huge hyper durable monsters as well as walk off hits from them that would explode a normal person. Hunters land falls of hundreds of feet with no issue and dodge spines fired at them on reflex. We do see monsters get bombarded by canons and the like and it hurts them, but hunters are doing just as much work with melee weapons. They are a super warrior culture. So why build armored vehicles that could get attacked and shredded anyway by the power of a Rathalos or Tigrex when you can just hire a few super badass hunters to protect you? They also have the whole philosophy of living in harmony with nature. So it does makes sense why they operate the way they do.

[@cthulhuisgamer373]

people also forget hunters aren't human they are more like the ancients who also hunted monster with weapons like the charge blade and switch axe which are pretty high tech compared to the rest of what we have

[@dragonorbminecraft]

Let's also talk about the fact that on the second time she jumps into her mech, its a longer and more difficult fight than the 1st time. And when you finally break it down, there's a rare instance of forced camera perspective, and we are shown the dust and sand cloud slowly dispersing after the mech falls, and Aktal Ka's eyes glowing and perhaps the most impactful and powerful version of Proof of a Hero kicks in, and the fight kicks back up a notch

[@BoisegangGaming]

The idea of a bug going "f*ck you I have a mechsuit" is so Japanese that I don't even know how to describe it. It's stupid, but it's also kind of awesome and genius.

[@Slaking_]

It's kinda funny how we got two final bosses with huge Buddhist themes in a relatively short timespan. First Ahtal-Ka in GU, then Shara Ishvalda in Iceborne. And they both had a huge surprise phase shift mid fight that left everyone amazed (and slightly disgusted in Shara's case) the first time around. Maybe the Buddhist inspired bosses are just the best

[@lozm4835]

In the lore, whilst the 'Equal Dragon Weapon' specifically is thoroughly non-canon, it's implied in bits and bobs throughout that, yes, people have thought of doing this, or similar ideas. Largely, this can be inferred the frequent, usually far more technologically advanced ruins scattered all over the world that the excess humanity engaged in was a unilaterally bad idea on some level. Hoarding wealth and power in defiance of natural law somehow brought humanity to ruin in ages past. In that way, Atahl-Ka also has some additional thematic symbolism. Not only is it using humanity's cast-off weapons, but its cast-off philosophies as well. It represents both the player's power, and by virtue of the more respectful way triumphing, the overcoming of sustainability over greed.

[@TheTbf96]

not to be a smart ass, but if i remember correctly the reason humanity was brought to ruins by its technology was more indirect. White Fatalis (or perhaps nature itself, using white Fatalis) saw the destruction of nature by humanity and therefore almost erradicated them

[@enderking6904]

Honestly love this interpretation

[@hekucarrasco2870]

You are right, past humans hunted indiscriminately because their technology was based exclusively on monsters materials (like the tower being made of Kushala scales) and that made elder dragons fight back and almost erradicate humanity. Now humans and wyverians have this respect for nature, balance and hunting. Athlal Ka was doing something really similar by destroying human fortresses only to get more pieces for it's weapon, without caring about humans and that was why the guild fighted back. Is like we were in the opposite position as the past.

[@corrupted3600]

I believe you're correct the almudron charge blade and switch axe description mention they are based off of banned technology.

[@kingofflames738]

These advanced ruins aren't all over the world. They're only in the region of the tower.

[@Snoozie]

I've played a lot of MH, and all their endings are good But nothing hit me like Ahtal Ka when both me and my friend entered the ring and went ".... A bug?" And then it went into a mech and we both collectively freaked out And then when the mech fell down and we said "A wheel? It's gonna do something fucked up with that no doubt" because nothing could have prepared us for a mech. A monster having a trick up its sleeve makes it so memorable and it will always be my favourite ending to a MH game.

[@the_furry_inside_your_walls639]

The coolest thing about Ahtal'Ka is how she's considered to be on the same level as many elder dragons despite not being categorized as one. It's not because of some crazy, environment changing power, but rather her immense intellect and ingenuity. Nothing else in the "current" world of Mosnter Hunter is or was capable of building such a highly advanced mech unlike her. That's the kind of technology that the Ancient Humans and Wyverians had before their civilization was destroyed by the elder dragons. If Ahtal'Ka had been given more time to build and change that thing, there's no telling what she could have turned it into, but it could have very well been on the same level as the black dragons or similarly catastrophic elder dragons... and she was making it out of the various parts she had pillaged from hunter bases.

[@mercwiththemouthsnewphone6798]

Imagine if she had like, ascended to elder dragon level. She becomes so badass that she actually pokemon-evolves into a elder dragon. And then she eventually makes the great crossing, and when the hunters of the new world get to the rotten vale, there's just a mysterious fortress at the bottom.

[@invertbrid]

Someone said that the gears and weapons ahtalka has in GU are still incomplete. Given more time, she can make even more complete fortress / weaponry, which is terrifying to imagine. We basically strike her when she still on the way collecting parts.

[@athos9293]

​@@mercwiththemouthsnewphone6798monsters can't transition species

[@darellinares3956]

⁠@@athos9293yea, but they can evolve. Akantor is a Flying Wyvern without wings, since it had no need for them anymore in its new environment.

[@raykelly3532]

“...like the introduction to underwater combat, and some of them were refinements to the formula, like the removal of underwater combat.” The most nonchalant burn to underwater combat ever made.

[@zacheryeckard3051]

From a lore perspective, I feel like Ahtal-Ka should be terrifying. Hunters are, basically, the apex predators when they're properly equipped. Ahtal-Ka challenges that worldview. It's not just that we're fighting a reflection of ourselves, we're fighting what could be the first of a species that could challenge our dominance. For all the hunters talk about harmony and balance, it always comes from the POV of knowing that a Hunter, with time and ingenuity, could take on the threat. If I can't kill it, I know someone who can make something that can kill it. Ahtal-Ka represents a monster that has the intelligence and will to make and repair weapons even better than our own. The fight against her is one of survival. Because just a single one of them wiped out multiple cities. If she doesn't go, we will.

[@regishwadum]

My first fight with Ahtal Ka was a solo brawl against me and the bug. When I heard Proof of a Hero during the final phase, I literally cried. It reminded me of all my best hunts and my most significant victories against the most powerful monsters ever since I began my hunting with Freedom Unite.

[@freshlymemed5680]

Honestly one of the most surprising fights in any MH game. I was wondering how they'd top off the likes of the fated four (I still love you Gammoth) or heck, Valstrax and Nakarkos in the game itself but then it just pulls all the stops and goes wild. Neopterons will still remain one my favorite classes of monsters because they have so much creative potential. Ahtal-ka and its silk. Seltas and how it rides the Seltas Queen and carries her so she can fly and that you almost never fight a Seltas Queen alone. Its a shame we only ever really got 2 of them.

[@ripleyandweeds1288]

"Let's be real, nobody really gives a fuck about the lives of bugs" Every entomologist ever: am i a joke to you?

[@SilverWarrior95]

I do, they are very interesting

[@broadbandislife]

Also every beekeeper ever. Plus pretty much everybody who actually understands what "pollination" is and why it's sorta kinda important.

[@TheJasonmanguy]

Also to add on to the idea of the final stage being the wheel. My first impression upon seeing it wasn't the wheel of Dharma, but what is considered the greatest invention by humanity. The Wheel. The final boss of the penultimate game of the old style of Monster Hunter tries to kill you with the representation of human innovation.

[@Asian_Bon]

2 years later and i still came back to watch this

[@KnightsDisillusion]

I will never forget beating Ahtal-Ka. I don't know what to say other then i think this video is beautiful. Thank you for making videos. Generations truly is the history lesson of Monster Hunter.

[@scottpeltier3977]

It pulling the mech from the sand was a huge “oh fuck” moment. Didn’t see it coming and I was in pure panic the whole fight. Certainly a show stopper

[@ShatteredGlass916]

Now all we need is a Bird Wyvern as the final boss. Imagine fighting a Kulu Ya Ku-sized monster as the final boss lmao

[@lozm4835]

Didn't the Yian Garuga get some kind of a treatment like that?

[@monsterhunter3ultimateplay527]

@@lozm4835 scarred yian garuga

[@ShatteredGlass916]

@@lozm4835 wait, when is that?

[@Reymax164]

Yian Garuga is a threat in gen.1 Not final boss tho.

[@mahertry3031]

ya know, back in mh2dos we got this mountain sized velocidrome haha. big af but nothing in term of power was changed.

[@cirrusdrifting]

i haven't finished watching the video yet, but when you said the part about ahtal-ka having to conclude an entire generation of games it kind of made me realize that we're probably not really ever moving back to the old style of games. world and rise are both great games in my opinion, and as the mh series continues to evolve i'm sure i'll love the new games, but there's just something so magical about the older gens and experiencing monster hunter as a younger kid that i may never get back. ahtal-ka is a monster that i love very much, and i'm happy to see a video so well put together like this. thank you

[@zantimagowo4281]

As a big MH fan, I am SO glad this channel exists. Keep up the good work!!

[@avidpaintwatcher]

All Ahtal Ka does for me is make me think "We need more monsters based on insects or other invertebrates" The body plans, the ways they live, and how they move are the most numerous on our planet. We need more invertebrate designs.

[@ImWhyMortalsCry]

I also really miss Gogmazios I just LOVED unleashing hell onto a giant dragon that's trapped between an arsenal of weapons There's the Dragonator on one side, at the exact opposite end of the area is the demolisher and on the sides are ballistae + the cannon cart that can drive through the whole area in a circle firing up to 10 cannon balls at once

[@FunSizedDragon]

Your videos are addictive. I never even played this series of games before, yet I'm watching because of how insightful and passionate you are about them.

[@darthoreo5481]

I really enjoyed this video! I started off my journey in MHW so I knew nothing of the old generation of Monster Hunters until now. Seeing how much was put into the old gens makes me sad I didn't start off with them instead because I'm not sure I'd be able to deal with the older controls. However, those games will forever hold my respect for creating such an awesome series with some of my favorite bosses and music

[@Aizen_SSRB_Delumin]

Fun fact, in the just fresh new Previews of Sunbreak, the hunter seems to have sort of like orange-yellow-ish wirebug/silk now - so there is probably some really cool stuff on the way! Also getting Astalos back is ABSOLUTELY DOPE!!!

[@TornaitSuperBird]

Those are Mutant Wirebugs. Those probably won't have anything to do with Ahtal-Ka...

[@Reymax164]

There are two new wite bug, Ruby and Gold

[@comradecameron3726]

@@TornaitSuperBird That’s relentlessly disappointing.

[@Nedenator]

Haha as someone who plans on going into entomology I can say that at least 1 person maybe 2 might care just a bit about bugs. And as an Australian I would take the room with the lion. Also that I need to complete gu cus my god do I want to do this hunt

[@jackkrell4238]

Its always revitalizing to see other people expressing their passion and interest in a particular subject. For me, i'm an ornithologist and an arizonan falconer, and enjoys monster hunter on the side when I have the time( which there is little to do when you are juggling handling five raptors who must be interacted with, fed, weighed, and hunted during the game season and any or research or scientific assessments that may occupy my time at the moment.)

[@EmperorSigismund]

Nothing is worse than walking into a room at night and seeing a wolf spider just standing out in the open, asserting dominance over the whole room.

[@EnragedPhoenix91]

For a lore counterpoint on the tank statement on 10:16, they kinda did do that long before the games take place. The society that did it dominated the world so hard that Black Flame Fatalis showed up to escalate against them. That society no longer exists and we have ruins and a giant rift in the planet as all that remains of that conflict. These days people are still shying away from war machines to avoid that happening again, even if they might not be consciously aware of that. Either way, the point of the current civilization isn't to dominate their surroundings but to strike a balance with them, albeit one sustained with some degree of violence.

[@cattata01-_-38]

I love bosses that trick you into a feeling of disappointment,only to build up into the spectacle you hoped for

[@KalisMagnum]

Ahtal-Kha was my favourite boss because of my fascination of mantis, silk and monstrous contraptions. It really caught my eye and when I saw that mech and the wheel, I was just hooked on the monster hunter series because it has intelligence and crafts tools like the hunter does, the way it relates to the hunter and how it uses tools fascinated me and even now I look back on how fascinating Ahtal-Kha and how intricate it was

[@NaraMidnight]

MH4U will always be my favorite, but this is a real close second place. I remember after hours upon hours of grinding that this was the most triumphant the series made me feel, I was struggling so much, trying to solo the hub. carting multiple times, but then, I did it. I jumped up and started laughing, I finally overcame the hurdle that was Ahtal-Ka. I don't think I'll ever experience that feeling again with MH. This game is a Love Letter to the fans, a Kiss Goodbye. and I think that this is the Peak, The Highest Point this series will go. I miss classic MH, I wish I had friends that I could've experienced this with, but nobody I know likes MH. This series is a Gem, Sitting In Second Place of my all-time favorite Game Series. Goodbye Classic MH, I Will Miss You Dearly.

[@comradecameron3726]

Generations truly was the best game in the series. Despite being on the 3ds and later the switch it still feels better than rise. And even World a good amount of the time.

[@Y0G0FU]

@@comradecameron3726 the hunting styles, the massive roster of Monsters, the best upgrade system, the (second) best "endgame" in the Deviants... generation had it all :D I wish Hunting styles would make a comeback.

[@frenchcroc5065]

I feel the same, I think rise and world are great but they have yet to hit the same highs that gen/4u did

[@OrgBrent]

After watching this video around a week ago I picked up GU again and climbed my way through high and G rank, made some friends along the way and did Ahtal-Ka in. I already did more than half the journey myself, but to finally have finished the game off at the actual final boss felt good. Thank you for being one of the reasons to inspire me to pick it back up again :)

[@DarthWall275]

I don't even play Monster Hunter, but that is possibly one of the best bait-and-switch moments in video games.

[@Craigerry]

Just two days ago I finished GU and never had Ahtal-Ka spoiled. I thought it was an awesome fight, just as you said, when it hops into it's mech. Text from NPCs before the quest hint that it used old buildings in some way, so if you read it you'd have an idea of what to expect. I started with world and had to suffer through Zorah Magdaros, an awful fight and a step backwards for a "take down really big monster" quest. Even Lao Shen Lung was better than Zorah Magdaros.

[@flayncele]

zorah magdaros is such a weak ass quest, i love mhw to death but dahren mohran on mh4u is more fun than zorah. i farmed dahren twice, for both the high rank and later G rank armor, but even though I wanted zorah's armor i just went "nah i ain't farming that shit"

[@Vermikun]

Story wise, I would say Zorah is the weakest of the final quest, tbh. I mean, we literally are trying to kill off a dying dragon, where it went boom and created a frickin island .... Didn't help much with how boring the quest was, but it has an ok lore

[@dylanmiller9162]

Bug researcher IRL, absolutely love your framing of insects and other small arthropods as essentially needing to rely on both literal and evolutionary force multipliers in the same way we do. Spot on, absolutely gonna try to work that into how I explain bug stuff to people. Also: More. Bug. Final. Bosses!

[@ElywinCarrinithshinyhunting]

Rock on fellow bug dude, nothing will ever top this boss for me.

[@legionbeast]

Good vid, and a few notes to add: ~The reason hunters don't try to make armored vehicles and such is due to the fact that even small ones require much material to make and are limited in their ability to traverse the terrain, as well as the fact that the hide of monsters is proven to be much stronger than any metal we can forge, and it would be better spent making armor for a super soldier with al t he best mobility than a vehicle that stops moving if one thing is damaged. The closest anyone has found in-universe is a horrible weapon known as the "Equal Dragon Weapon". A combination of parts of many dragons combined around machinery in a cyborg nightmare. The creation was so abhorrent to the world, that is when Fatalis rose to prominence and why the human race was nearly exterminated. It's even theorized that Gogmazios is a re-activated equal dragon weapon, but it's friend/foe programming is damaged. ~A mainstay in all monster hunter games is that the game starts with a monster being a problem, only to find out that it's only a problem due to there being a much more dangerous monster scaring it out of it's territory. In Generations, Ahtal-Ka's first warnings is that entire sections of cities just... vanish, as if they were uprooted and walked away. You hear so much news about a massive monster, and then when you fight it, you have that moment of "this is it?" and while you're initially disappointed, part of you is trying to figure out what this bug has to do with entire sections of cities vanishing. Only when she raises the Niset does it all click that you're fighting the monster version of yourself.

[@cameronabshire1195]

Unfortunately Equal Dragon Weapon has been confirmed to not be canon at all. Which is a huge shame, it has captured the imagination of everyone who's heard of it. It's the penultimate human-monster conflict distilled into one being.

[@legionbeast]

@@cameronabshire1195 I've not seen anything dispelling it, if anything, it helps explain why the fatalis hate humans with such intensity, and again, it explains what Gogmazios is since it ate blasting powder, took one of the earliest dragonators, and stations it's self at an old elder dragon killbox to wait for a target.

[@mahertry3031]

and then boom you have to fight EX bloodbath (well that's not the actual problem, the actual problem is EX boltreaver, damn thag jedi wyvern!)

[@DragonShinobi]

Until now I've only played Monster hunter : World and Rise, and you have convinced me to go and play the entire series. not sure how I feel about the PS2 MH game but it's already a challenge with the 1 star basics quests for me! Can't wait to see what the rest of the series is like, especially everything I've heard about water combat from one of my friends who loved it!

[@ixrer]

Honestly, I feel this on a spiritual level. I cut my teeth on Freedom Unite, and I've been stuck with the series ever since. This series has been with me through my entire life, and I'm thankful for it.

[@arkspino0963]

Why did this video get me tearing up? Damn bro, this stuffs emotional

[@SonakaG]

The way you delivered that underwater combat joke was absolute gold. Legit started to tear up while laughing.

[@NT-sx2bd]

Absolutely loved this! Thank you for making a video on my first monster hunter game

[@AegisAuras]

It was mentioned that humanity hasn’t considered building massive weapons to fight monsters yet, but there’s actually lore regarding that which most don’t know. In the MH universe, the Wyvernian race developed advanced military technology in the ages past. Dragonators, large marching armies, artillery, advanced personnel weaponry, etc, were all common place. The ruins we see throughout the series with powerful ancient weaponry are remnants of these. The relic weapons that are some of the strongest in the game despite only reaching a fraction of their former power, at least in earlier titles, are some of the ancient weapons the Wyvernians used back in the day. The Wyvernian’s industrial progress became too unsustainable and pollution, excess deforestation, etc, became a big problem for the state of nature. Eventually, previously docile monsters began attacking Wyvernian settlements out of desperation as they lost more and more habitat to the humanoids. The Wyvernian’s response to this was to assemble an extinction army and set out in mass against the monsters, genociding any of them that were willing to fight back. This raised the attention of many elder dragons who came to the defense of their kind and nature. The fight with the elders was intense, but the Wyvernians continued to push on and make ground. Wyvernian scientists decided they needed an “equal dragon weapon”, that is, a weapon with power equal to that of an elder dragon. They went about this by collecting parts of fallen elder dragons and piecing those parts together with machinery, creating a puppet like machine made of the combined bodies of many elder dragons. The puppet proved effective in combat, however, it enraged the elders, seeing their fallen comrades remains desecrated and turned against them. This final provocation by the Wyvernians was enough to rouse Fatalis, the greatest of the elder dragons (at least when this lore was established). Fatalis, who was respected by the other elders as an alpha, gathered the elders up into a single, concise, functional army and led them against the Wyvernians. The dragons overwhelmed their enemy, and took revenge by wiping out every major Wyvernian civilization they could find. Every centralized city, fortress, army, etc, was brought into ruin by the dragon army. This is where all the in game ruins with advanced, lost technology came from. The few remaining Wyvernians fled into the forests, wastes, anywhere decentralized where the dragons wouldn’t noticed them. The dragons eventually gave up their genocide as their rage cooled and they believed nature was safe from unsustainable technological progress. From this experience, the Wyvernians became a wiser, more philosophical and spiritual people, learning to respect nature and live in harmony with it yet again. They raised future generations to adhere to a balanced where both progress and nature could exist side by side. Populations and towns were kept smaller, and the massive grandeur and scale of the old cities were not seen again. The first MH games lore picks up long after these events. Humans were not a very prominent race compared to Wyvernians in previous millennia, but they have begun catching up at this point, and are now the more populated race. The humanoid races now entertain a philosophy of minimalism compared to how the Wyvernians acted in the past. The humanoids only hunt to survive and to defend themselves, keeping a balance with nature. Even so, the elders haven’t forgotten their hatred for the humanoids. When they take noticed of human settlements, sometimes they act on their old grudges and attempt to destroy them, setting up many of the iconic fights throughout the series. Ironically, now the humanoids seem to often be the ones maintaining balance rather than the elders, as many times the humanoids stepped in to prevent ecosystem destruction due to the unsustainability of monster behavior. This was lore I read years ago from some old MH design books made early on in the series.

[@brandonburns9092]

Very interesting, thanks for writing that all out. What made this "fatalis" dragon the tipping point in the war ? Was he simply able to tactically focus the elder dragons rage or did he have some unique powers ect ?

[@AegisAuras]

@@brandonburns9092 if I remember correctly, fatalis was more intelligent tactically so it was able to organize the elders together. Previously the elders were just attacking at random and were disorganized. I assume this fatalis is the same one from the end of the first game, the one you fight in the old abandoned castle. I think I remember reading it returns to that castle to remind itself of its victories over the Wyvernians. With each game they obviously add more to the running lore so I’m not even sure if fatalis is still considered the strongest elder anymore though.

[@acozygoji]

Very well spoken! Just makes me appreciate Ahtal-Ka even more. Great video dude!

[@AzureWallace]

"having Ahtal-Ka be a bug is what MAKES us underestimate it" - not once in my life since playing Jet Force Gemini have I underestimated a giant bug

[@dravendarkplays9607]

It would be pretty interesting to see a hunter as the final boss, someone just like us, a person who's faught so much that's so out of their league, and yet keeps winning. Maybe in that game would could go to certain missions to find out why a monster has gone suspiciously quiet, only to find what's left of a broken body, as it's been scavenged for parts

[@XanKreigor]

"Tonight, Gehrman joins the Hunt."

[@javierkiman8302]

The bug beast boss is just so beautiful and the movement has my respect for being itself and creative with units put together as a mobile structure.

[@MaroonCellarDoor]

I have no idea how the algorithm blessed me with this channel but I am subscribing immediately.

[@FinalDragoon]

I started my Monster Hunter adventure with Tri. I'll never forget the credits music when I had felled Ceadeus and saved Moga Village. A decade later it felt like I was closing a chapter on what Monster Hunter was up to that point when I beat Ahtal-Ka. It reminded me of why I fell in love with these games and will stick with them for years to come.

[@ExtremeTourname]

Never underestimate a bug

[@SylvesterAshcroft88]

Shara Ishvalda was basically the reverse of this boss, with the true boss being a massive surprise, once you actually break through it's armour, that's when the real fight begins, and tbh i can't think of any boss short of fatalis/ alatreon which were returning monsters, which hit like that surprise did.

[@Lakius]

You're getting my like for that underwater comment bit. Savage.

[@gab3963]

In GU, I played with my veteran friends. It was my first MH game. I remember thinking Ahtal-Ka was awesome! A MECH MONSTER! I’ll admit, I feel Rise is a bit underwhelming, but I’m hoping the DLC will fix this issue. GU is packed with content, so much so that I didn’t even experience 50% of the game despite breaking the 300 hour mark. GU started my love of the franchise, and the start of my love of monster design. The MH team is amazing, I love their designs and thoughts in the monsters abilities, though I find some slacking (Anjanath, namely) but even then, the art book shows tons of concepts. I’m glad this franchise is growing!

[@tetsuc4bra577]

This video has one of the coolest intros I've ever seen. Banger video too.

[@BMW-pd2tt]

Didnt realize all the symbols behind that fight, along with the meaning of it all. I definitely felt it tho. Amazing video man, keep it up 👍

[@supersonic4863]

In conclusion for this video: Ahtal-Ka is you. You are Ahtal-Ka.

[@MildlyOCD]

3:05 "Some of these changes were major jumps, like the introduction of underwater combat. And, some of them were refinements of the formula, like the removal of underwater combat." I actually stopped the video to laugh at that.

[@monsterhunter3ultimateplay527]

**Bleeding eyes wojak**

[@Mr._Sherwood]

One thing I absolutely love about Ahtal-Ka is that it really makes you think about what you're fighting. Most monsters you just consider to be animals; powerful, dangerous and respectable, but simply acting on a base instinct and little more. Very rarely does a monster give you the feel that it's truly smart, even ones that use rudimentary plans and tactics like the raptors. But Ahtal-Ka? It's the perfect mirror of humans. It's small. It's relatively frail. It simply could not survive with its meager strength alone. But its greatest weapon is its intelligence and its ingenuity, using objects as tools and straight up building a larger, stronger, well, suit of mechanised armour in Ahtal-Neset to do the fighting and destroying and general monstery stuff that it's weaker body cannot do. Just like humans, it uses weapons and tools, lays traps to gain an advantage and creates armour to do what the creature itself could never do, using the very thing that we consider our most defining trait: the mind. It's the only large monster I know of that has ever been able to challenge the line between human and monster, and that is simply beautiful. Also, admittedly, hunter civilization in MH has figured out tanks. Sort of. Felynes have thrown together miniature wooden "tanks", really closer to an artillery gun with wooden shielding and caterpillar treads tacked on, called the Rath-of-Meow, sone palicoes get it as a Support Move. It's a far cry from a Sherman, but it is proof that the idea's at least been considered. And that's progress, baby!

[@Brillsuo]

This was an awesome video, a great take on monster hunter's most underrated final boss!

[@sirwilfrey1342]

Severely underrated channel, upset I haven't found you before. Every single vid on MH I see from you is complete genius and it helps puts a philosophical appreciation to the series that I think more people should have. Keep up the solid work dude!

[@appleseed8282]

GenUlt has my favorite final bosses in MonHun. I love Valstrax and I especially love Ahtal Ka, and that's primarily because Ahtal is the only only Grank boss that's reasonably beatable (at my skill level) solo.

[@stankbonkman]

This video made me insanely happy and extremely proud to have been there since the first release

[@Cadmean_7]

2:26 no but that frame looks sick tho

[@G0ld3nB0]

Ya gotta mention The Seltas and Seltas queen! Goes so well with what you're saying. Seltas is just a bug, but then it pairs up with the queen and the combo transform like mechs too.

[@edisdnilb2501]

I need this video to stop being recommended to me

[@shiramaro]

watch it

[@edisdnilb2501]

@@shiramaro I have like 4 times

[@pleasekillyoursef]

Report it for something Get your friends to help, it probably wont get taken down but the algorithm doesnt care so its gonna stop showing it

[@konradkinne4089]

Holy Shit! As someone who started playing Monster Hunter at World, I find it infinitely impressive that you managed to make me tear up over a game I never played, from a generation of games I wasn't even a part of. Hats of to you!

[@coopyrbrown3031]

I might be looking too into it but I like the reflection of the hunter for the metal dragon, as the hunters turn monsters into man made tools, while Ahtal-Ka makes man made tools into a monster

[@kosmatt]

I really enjoyed the video and pointing out the references to the wheel of rebirth. Since I started with World, I had no idea so it was cool to learn about. Keep up the great videos!

[@dennishaight1542]

I think underwater combat was ahead of it's time. I think if it had been introduced nowadays it may have ended up being much more popular.

[@Punlecochon]

I started playing Monster Hunter 12 ago now when i turned 12 actually so it's been there half my life. It's the serie that made me bond with my now best friend and amongst my best memories of gaming. Generations is the only one I didn't play and quite frankly, I now regret it. I'm not ashamed to say I shed a tear at the end of your video, proving how beautifully written it was. So in hope of ever crossing paths on the hunt, my friend ! I salute you and your work !

[@nicollastomaz4940]

Another meaning you can get from ahtal ka being a bug is the fact that it can be a retrospective on what the series have become. It started small like a bug and then became a massive franchise with a lot of history behind it. Uniting pieces of ideas and concepts to create a incredible thing. Just like ahtal ka does during the fight.

[@crucible1084]

god, ahtal-ka was so sick if you're gonna make the final boss NOT an elder dragon then that boss has to have done some crazy shit to have earned its spot the fact its some secret, hidden smart af bug monster in a super secluded ruins of ships and equipment and makes a fking mechagodzilla to make up for the fact its some small bug is amazing you really got the feel that this thing is on elder dragons level just for its intelligence alone

[@Zentchu]

man_explaining_whiteboard_meme.gif

[@elijahfyffe5176]

I saw one person point out how the wheel is recognized as humanities’ first invention. Which is another nice detail for the monster

[@ChompDude]

Despite alot of monsters being copy pasted into GenU, it still is one of my favorites if not favorite Monster Hunter games (we'll see if Sunbreak changes that). Alot of what IS new in the game is good. REALLY good. The atmosphere, the music, some of the coolest monster designs in the series (Ahtal, Valstrax, the entirety of the fated four and even Malfestio). It's what I want Monster Hunter to be. A colorful and somewhat goofy game about hunting monsters.

[@TotallyTooru]

I wanted to thank you bro this video inspired me to actually buy Monster Hunter (World) and play through it and it's my new favorite series in gaming so I wanted to come back to the video that started it all and say thank you 👍

[@harrybyaqussamprayuga1756]

The problem is that those like me who did not experience that 11 years of game for whatever reason won't even come close to how those who do experience them feels while watching this or playing it. It's like we are late to the party but at least we know what we are missing

[@starlightpastel279]

As someone who got into the series with world and fully plans on sticking around as long as the series does i cant wait until i see my version of this someday

[@mrroybot4237]

Such an underrated channel! My god, what a great video! You got me nostalgic about GenU, might have to revisit now before Sunbreak comes out. Keep up this quality!

[@Bassario]

Hehehehe.... I was there man. The comments around 3:10 about the underwater combat arc earned you a like instantly despite that the video had not even attempted to be funny up until that point.

[@zechsmarquis]

We all know the trope that The typical final boss is the puppet master that caused the whole mess for the heroes to clean up. Ahtal-Ka seems to take the term 'puppet master' literally. So it could be argued that Ahtal-Ka used it's larvae to control monsters into acting outside of the usual behaviours, which makes it a 'Urgent quest'

[@jetstreamsam4003]

'it has to be this way' playing as senator armstrong runs up to you and haymakers you right in the mouth