Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin - Meet the main monsters

Monster type: Brute Wyvern

Elements: Fire

Weak against: Water / Ice

Kinship Skill: Anja Assault

Battle strategy: The original 'dino' of the group, the ferocious Anjanath possesses strong fangs and the ability to shoot fireballs from its mouth - as well as being able to cover long distances with a leaping attack.

Predicting when an Anjanath is about to perform a big attack is crucial to survival. As in Monster Hunter: World, it's vital that you gain an advantage by breaking parts such as the head and tail.

Monster type: Flying Wyvern

Elements: Thunder

Weak against: Ice / Water

Kinship Skill: Astalos Pulse

Battle strategy: A green-plated beast first introduced in Monster Hunter Generations, Astalos is known for being territorial and will strike at those who threaten it. By generating electricity through its body, it can change form and charge a specific part of its body for a unique attack.

Be cautious when Astalos is charged up as its attack pattern can vary.

Monster type: Flying Wyvern

Elements: Ice

Weak against: Fire / Thunder

Kinship Skill: Ground Cyclone

Battle strategy: One of the oldies who made are return in the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne expansion, the saber-toothed Barioth has a unique scaled tail and wings that allows it to effortlessly run across the frozen wastes in which it regularly roams.

Its fierce icy breath attacks are capable of sealing skills, so you won't be going anywhere!

Monster type: Flying Wyvern

Elements: Fire

Weak against: Thunder / Dragon / Ice

Battle strategy: A flying bomber, Bazelgeuse releases scales that can self-destruct or combust when ignited, as well as piledriving into the ground to take out a large number of enemies with its body and wings.

It's worth noting that Flash Bombs will not bring it down when a is enraged. The best strategy is to ground it by breaking its parts.

Monster type: Brute Wyvern

Elements: N/A

Weak against: Ice / Water

Kinship Skill: Brachy Blow

Battle strategy: Coating its horn and front limbs in a volatile, green substance - Brachydios will then ignite the slime-like coating with an explosive outcome. When enraged, it can use its Slime Charge skill to maximum effect!

Monster type: Flying Wyvern

Elements: N/A

Weak against: Ice / Dragon / Water

Kinship Skill: Fiendish Cyclone

Battle strategy: A tyrant of the desert, Diablos bears large horns which it uses as its main mode of attack. This species is prone to burrowing underground and surfacing with a devastating charge attack - finding out how to bring it back to the surface will help players immensely!

Monster type: Brute Wyvern

Elements: Fire

Weak against: Water / Ice / Dragon

Kinship Skill: X Blaze

Battle strategy: This prehistoric looking beast doesn't necessarily look that intimidating from the front aside from its fangs, but its sharpened sword-like tail is certainly one limb to look out for. It can store up heat to use as a fire breath attack or to charge up its tail for a more devastating blow - so try to break parts of its body before it gets to that stage!

Monster type: Fanged Beast

Elements: Ice

Weak against: Fire / Thunder

Kinship Skill: Raging Avalanche

Battle strategy: A giant mammoth... oh, a Gammoth!

Its sheer weight and giant tusks mean that anyone who gets in its way during a charge will wish that they'd visited a much more peaceful wintry wonderland. When it comes to taking on a Gammoth, a simple strategy to avoid sustaining heavy damage is to break as many parts as you can.

Monster type: Bird Wyvern

Elements: N/A

Weak against: Water / Thunder / Fire / Dragon / Ice

Kinship Skill: Eggsplosion

Battle strategy: With a fondness of carrying a rock in its claws, which is actually a sound defensive and offensive strategy, Kulu-Ya-Ku is a giant squawking bird monster that many Hunters and Riders have tackled with some ease compared to other creatures in this world.

Speaking of its fondness for rocks, it will either use said object to shield itself from attacks - or launch the rock at you. Fortunately, just like the monster's parts, you can break these rocks to minimize damage.

Monster type: Elder Dragon

Elements: N/A

Weak against: Thunder / Dragon

Kinship Skill: Ancient Storm

Battle strategy: Wreaking devastation with its powerful whirlwind attacks, Kushala Daora can prove be to difficult enemy for most. Casting these attacks can leave opponents in a state of confusion, all while this metal-plated Elder Dragon finds the perfect opportunity to strike.

Monster type: Sea Wyvern (Leviathan)

Elements: Thunder

Weak against: Fire

Kinship Skill: Thunderous Blast

Battle strategy: You'd certainly need a bigger boat if you came across a Lagiacrus in the deep blue sea. Despite being a underwater predator, its main elemental focus is actually electricity, and can deliver a painful shock.

Lagiacrus will store up energy before unleashing a powerful attack, so be sure to minimize the threat early on, especially if you have low defense against thunder attacks.

Monster type: Flying Wyvern

Elements: Ice

Weak against: Thunder / Fire

Kinship Skill: Icicle Realm

Battle strategy: Using its kite-like wings to soar through the skies and emit icy blasts of wind at enemies, Legiana is certainly one cool customer. It focuses a lot of its more dangerous attacks while being airborne, so breaking parts such as its wings will help keep it a bay.

Monster type: Bubble Fox Wyvern (Leviathan)

Elements: Water

Weak against: Thunder / Dragon

Kinship Skill: Moonlight Transience

Battle strategy: With white and purple scales that give off a magical aura, Mizutsune may look cute but it's just a deadly as many other monsters included in the game. It secretes a peculiar fluid that forms bubbles, and these are used to immobilize its foe to lower attack accuracy and speed.

Mizutsune can also perform two attacks in a single move, so be prepared defensively for a tricky fight.

Monster type: Flying Wyvern

Elements: N/A

Weak against: Thunder / Fire

Kinship Skill: Dark Thrash

Battle strategy: When it is enraged, it will be able to perform two moves in one turn. Its ferocious speed makes it a tricky opponent, using its tail spikes, claws and beak as dangerous weapons.

Monster type: Elder Dragon

Elements: N/A

Weak against: Thunder / Dragon

Kinship Skill: ???

Battle strategy: When you come across an Elder Dragon, you'll no doubt here the flapping on a Nergigante's wings close by. As well as having powerful limbs that can help it launch at its foes, Nergigante also uses its sharp fangs, solid horns and projectile spikes that fire from its body.

Breaking its horns, wings and scales will help calm this brutish beast's attacking display. It's one tough cookie, so be prepared!

Monster type: Flying Wyvern

Elements: N/A

Weak against: Fire / Thunder

Kinship Skill: Jet Balloon

Battle strategy: Although it doesn't have an elemental attack, a Paolumu is able to inflate sacs around its head and neck that allows it to float and shoot compressed air at enemies. Allowing it to stay airborne for lengthy period will allow it to power up stronger attacks - so be sure to break its parts to reduce its chances of swooping down on you.

Monster type: Bird Wyvern

Elements: Poison

Weak against: Thunder / Fire / Ice

Kinship Skill: Venom Surprise

Battle strategy: Pukei-Pukei is a venomous monster that stores poison its body that can either be fired out of its mouth in a breath attack, or shot from it tail. Its attack type changes after digesting food, so be cautious.

You can break its parts, predominantly its tail, to minimize its attack range.

Monster type: Flying Wyvern

Elements: Fire

Weak against: Dragon / Thunder

Kinship Skill: Scorching Slice

Battle strategy: The 'Queen of the Land', Rathian - the female variant of Rathalos - is a deadly dragon-like beast that can inflict a couple of nasty surprises on its foes. It's powerful fire breath can burn its victims, as well as using its powerful legs and tail to inflict slice damage and poison.

Basically, avoid all limbs!

Monster type: Flying Wyvern

Elements: Fire

Weak against: Thunder / Ice

Kinship Skill: Piercing Stars

Battle strategy: An old face from Monster Hunter 4, Seregios' golden scales are not only for show. Swooping above its foe, it will unleash hundreds of scale-like projectiles that will inflict bleeding on its opponents.

Monster type: Elder Dragon

Elements: Fire

Weak against: Water / Ice

Kinship Skill: Teostrophe Zero

Battle strategy: Rocking an Ifrit (Final Fantasy VIII) look and vibe, Teostra is a powerful fire Elder Dragon that can unleash blistering breath attacks that scorch a large range of the battlefield.

We're not sure if its the barbecue or us, but something's definitely cooking!

Monster type: Flying Wyvern

Elements: N/A

Weak against: Thunder / Dragon

Kinship Skill: Rock Smash

Battle strategy: Tigrex is not only swift but also strong when it comes to rushing attacks, using the power in its front limbs, claws and jaw to inflict damage. Much like Nargacuga, Tigrex can perform two attacks in one move when enraged.

Those on the opposing side to Tigrex's powerful attacks will do well figuring out how to evade them!

Monster type: Fanged Wyvern

Elements: Thunder

Weak against: Water / Fire / Ice

Kinship Skill: Kadachi Fury

Battle strategy: Tobi-Kadachi is a nimble creature that uses its claws to climb trees, as well as using temporary wings that unfold from its front legs to perform a gliding attack while using its tail to whip you into a thunder frenzy.

The more electricity that a Tobi-Kadachi can charge through its fur, the more powerful its attacks will become - so be sure to break some parts to prevent it from reaching max power.

Monster type: Bird Wyvern

Elements: N/A

Weak against: Thunder / Ice

Kinship Skill: Velocirush

Battle strategy: It made its first appearance in the original Monster Hunter, and now the Velociraptor-bird hybrid Velocidrome has returned for a new audience to experience. A Velocidrome is an alpha of the Velociprey and will use its leap attack and claws to pin enemies down while calling on its pack to charge in to assist.

This breed tends to focus on the weak, so if you have low HP, you're the primary target!

Monster type: Amphibian

Elements: Water

Weak against: Thunder / Fire

Kinship Skill: Freezing Spouts

Battle strategy: Looking something between a frog and a shark, Zamtrios is nimble in water and can also cover itself in a special liquid which builds up a strong body armor of ice. When it's armored up, its attack pattern changes - focusing on enemies inflicted with abnormal statuses.

A sounds strategy? Stop it as soon as possible!

Monster type: Fanged Wyvern

Elements: Thunder

Weak against: Ice / Water

Kinship Skill: Voltage Crash

Battle strategy: This bulking beast with razer-sharp claws can change its attack patterns depending on the amount of electricity it has successfully stored in battle.