Summary
Monster Hunterhas been one of Capcom’s longest-running franchises, starting on the PlayStation 2 in 2004. It has since become one of the most popular video game series of all time, with players across the world teaming up in parties of 4 to take on terrifying beasts. However, only the very best hunters have been able to conquer some of thelargest monsters in the series.
Often classified as Elder Dragons, and battled at the end of the game, these monsters from the mainlineMonster Huntergames are some of the most difficult hunts players will endure. While there are plenty of normal-sized monsters that will give them a hard time as well, these massive monsters require a little more planning and thought before taking them on, even with a full party.
102.8 feet
Weaknesses
Dragon, Fire
For years,Amatsuonly appeared inMonster Hunter Portable 3rd, a Japanese exclusive title for the PSP. It didn’t make its debut in a westernMonster Huntergame untilMonster Hunter Generationsfor the 3DS, and returned inMonster Hunter Rise: Sunbreakon Switch and PC. While it’s far from the largest monster in the series, its battle feels uniquely epic.
As an Elder Dragon with the ability to manipulate the wind and weather, Amatsu can make the terrain in which it’s fought difficult to survive,firing blasts of water and wind galesto demolish parties of hunters. Its size might seem larger than it is, considering Amatsu never touches the ground, even when it’s put to sleep.
111.1 feet
Dragon, Ice
Shen Gaorenis one of the few non-Elder Dragons on this list, belonging to the same classification as the Daimyo Hermitaur and the Shogun Ceanataur. Shen Gaoren easily dwarfs these other monsters, quite literally, as its defining trait is its skyscraper-sized legs looming over players. The legs, however, aren’t the only reason why Shen Gaoren outsizes many other monsters.
The monster is fought similarly to Lao-Shan Lung, slowly making its way through a mountainous valley to attack a fort. In fact, the skull on its back, much like the Hermitaur and Ceanataur’s shells, comes from the Lao-Shan Lung. Given its massive size, it doesn’t need to attack hunters too often, as it’s too preoccupied with making its way to its final destination.
135.7 feet
Introduced in the second generation games, theYama Tsukamiis one of the most uniquely-designed monsters in the franchise.Though it’s an Elder Dragon, its appearance is more reminiscent of mollusks, and it shares this trait with Nakarkos fromMonster Hunter Generations. Where Yama Tsukami differs from Nakarkos is how much bigger it is.
In fact, Yama Tsukami is big enough to have actual plantlife growing on its back, though when it floats in midair, hunters are exposed to its gaping mouth and long tentacles. Thankfully, it’s not too difficult to spot this monster, as it’s usually battled at the peak of sky-high towers. Still, its size is enough to intimidate any rank of hunter.
161.4 feet
Gogmazios’design has been compared to the Gore Magala, or its evolved form, the Shagaru Magala. However, Gogmazios is much larger than those moderately-sized Elder Dragons, reaching over 150 feet in height. As the final Elder Dragon fought inMonster Hunter 4 Ultimate, Gogmazios makes fora pretty epic but terrifying challengefor even well-prepared hunters.
Gogmazios can also uniquely afflict hunters with the Tarred ailment, which causes players to be unable to move for a short period of time. Unlike Webbed, if players don’t free themselves with Cleaner, the tar will explode, as Gogmazios feeds off gunpowder and sulfur to charge its oiled-up attacks. It might not be the largest monster in4 Ultimate, but it’s certainly the most explosive.
191.5 feet
Dragon, Thunder
Monster Hunter3introduced the highly-controversial underwater hunting to the franchise, with monsters like Lagiacrus, Royal Ludroth, and Plesioth taking advantage of the new mechanic. At the end of the game, however, players face off against the nautical Elder Dragon,Ceadeus, the source of earthquakes plaguing villagers throughout the plot of the third generation games.
The Ceadeus also has a subspecies called the Goldbeard Ceadeus, which debuted inMonster Hunter 3 Ultimate, notable for its glimmering scales and fur, though it doesn’t vary much from its original form in terms of its attacks. However, Ceadeus isn’t the most threatening or massive underwater Elder Dragon in the third gen games, as that honor is held by our next monster.
206.3 feet
Making its first and so-far only appearance inMonster Hunter 3 Ultimate, theDire Miralisis one of the most formidable monsters in the entire series. This Elder Dragon resembles a volcano, though it spends most of its time underwater,forcing players to endure more underwater combatbefore it ventures to the surface for the rest of the toughest fight in the game.
Whereas the Ceadeus is quite docile before being attacked, the Dire Miralis is pure evil as it devastates the environment. Players need to come equipped with Cool Drinks, because if the Dire Miralis' size and fire attacks aren’t enough to kill them, they’ll have a difficult time when they steadily lose health just from fighting in the monster’s scalding vicinity.
228.3 feet
Dragon
There’s an odd comfort in knowing thatthe very firstMonster Huntergame ever releasedintroduced one of the largest monsters in the entire series. TheLao-Shan Lungis one of only a few Elder Dragons introduced in the original PS2 title, alongside the Fatalis and Kirin, who both pale in comparison to this dragon’s enormous size.
Though it doesn’t have any special tricks or elements to show off, its battle is one of the toughest and most epic in the franchise, as players must kill the monster before it arrives at a fort and deals massive damage. It had a long absence in the series prior to being revived forMonster Hunter Generations Ultimate, where longtime fans of the franchise welcomed it back with open arms.
336.2 feet
While hunting theJhen Mohranis one of the most epic fights players will encounter throughout the franchise, surprisingly, it’s not the most difficult fight. The Jhen Mohran is chased by hunters on a Dragonship, where players climb on its back to deal damage, and for the bravest, mine spots on its back for rare minerals, but the fight isn’t on the move for long.
By the end of the battle, players park their Dragonship and face the Jhen Mohran head-on, though it’ll be made easier with a well-timed Dragonator. However, players will really get a sense for the monster’s size when they go up close to attack its limbs, finding themselves only as large as the monster’s lower arms.
375.5 feet
While the Jhen Mohranappeared in the third generation games, for the fourth generation games, it was replaced by the similarly-foughtDah’ren Mohran. Hunters who have gotten used to taking down the Jhen Mohran time after time will find Dah’ren Mohran an easy fight, though it does outsize its predecessor by a few dozen feet.
One of Dah’ren Mohran’s biggest differences from its third generation cousin is having one large, narwhal-like horn, rather than two tusks like the Jhen Mohran. However, the fight is still pretty much the same, taking place on a Dragonship in the sea before players get a chance to fight the monster up close.
1444.9 feet
As of 2024, it’s not even a contest between theDalamadurand other monsters in the mainline franchise when it comes to size. The Elder Dragon first appeared as a late-game monster inMonster Hunter 4, though compared to the same game’s Dah’ren Mohran, the Dalamadur is almost 1100 feet bigger than it in length, thanks to its serpentine body that it keeps coiled up on a spiny rock.
For the most part, players don’t even get to see the Dalamadur in full, having to slowly make their way up the monster’s back at each stage of the fight. It’s an incredibly ambitious design for a monster,exclusive to the 3DS no less. If its massive size wasn’t enough to make it a difficult fight, the Dalamadur could also summon meteors, because why not?
