RELATED: Monster Hunter Rise Needs More Elder Dragons
Elder dragons are not defined by their appearance, but instead by the immense power and influence they hold. These ancient creatures possess incomprehensible abilities capable of enacting widespread destruction and chaos. Their legendary status within the world sets them apart from common monsters with some being revered as gods. Every one of these creatures is a formidable foe, but a select few stand above the rest.
Updated September 3, 2021, By Christopher Julian Anaya: The Monster Hunter Franchise boasts a wide variety of Elder Dragons, each capable of unleashing untold devastation. With such a vast selection of powerful creatures, it is difficult to include every monster and gauge their power. As a result, changes have been made to introduce new entries and revise the list accordingly. Moreover, the order has been revised to better reflect the capabilities of Elder Dragons based on lore rather than in-game difficulty. While the lore of the Monster Hunter series is often misconstrued or glorified, there is enough information available to rank these monsters against each other.
14 Teostra
The Flame King Dragon, Teostra, is a fiery Elder Dragon with a notably short temperament. Teostra is a powerful and territorial beast with a remarkable affinity for fire. Anything that embarks upon its domain will be seen as a challenger, and will thus meet the Elder Dragon’s fury.
While Teostra’s flames and physical prowess are imposing, ts most deadly trait is its anger. Teostra’s short temper often leads it to rampage, attacking anything within its path. Because of this, Guilds often make note of Teostra’s location and attitude so they may intervene, should it endanger ecosystems or cities.
13 Nakarkos
The Corpse Dragon, Nakarkos, is a voracious Elder Dragon with a ghastly appearance. Nakarkos’ sticky mucus offers it great offensive and defensive capabilities. In its natural habitat, Nakarkos becomes a near-indisputable apex predator that will indiscriminately attack any on its turf.
Nakarkos’ adhesive mucus and gluttonous appetite make it a considerable threat. When Nakarkos settles, it annihilates every living thing within its vicinity. It then begins amassing the corpses of its kills, using them to build a nest or create makeshift armor. The negative effect Nakarkos can have on an ecosystem is catastrophic.
12 Nergigante
Nergigante, The Extinction Dragon, is unyielding and has a taste for others of its class. It’s is a brutal creature that will continue fighting even at the cost of its own bodily safety. Regardless of its own limits, Nergigante will hunt down and feed on other Elder Dragons, leaving destruction in its wake.
RELATED: Monster Hunter World: A Complete Weapon Tier List For Both Cooperative & Solo Play
While Nergigante is lacking in elemental ability, its physical strength and endurance make it an unprecedented threat. Its mindless aggression will cause it to attack anything, regardless of its intent or any danger it poses. This spells disaster for any ecosystem that Nergigante inhabits, as anything and everything within is deemed prey.
11 Lao-Shan Lung
The Old Mountain Dragon, Lao-Shan Lung, has a knack for trampling everything it comes across. Lao-Shan Lung’s gigantic size and power make it a nearly unstoppable creature. In its wake, this Elder Dragon can decimate villages, devastate cities, and ruin fortresses with remarkable ease.
Lao-Shan Lung’s immense bulk and destructive tendencies make it an imposing threat. Almost anything that crosses Lao-Shan Lung’s path will be left in a near-irreparable state. The devastation that it inflicts is comparable to that of a natural disaster.
10 Zorah Magdaros
The Scorching Mountain Dragon, Zorah Magdaros, is a colossal Elder Dragon whose motives are ambiguous to all. Zorah Magdaros is essentially a walking volcano that ruins everything in its path. While this dragon is not openly hostile, simply treading near it will result in a great deal of chaos and destruction.
Zorah Magdaros’ colossal size alone is enough to cause cataclysmic damage in its wake. Additionally, the magma within its body can rain down causing significant harm to all around it. Although Zorah Magdaros’ intentions are unknown, Guilds recognize it as a prominent threat.
9 Shagaru Magala
Known as the Heavenly Revolving Dragon this oddly beautiful yet ferocious Elder Dragon holds a sinister power. Shagaru Magala is the adult form of Gore Magala, and as such, is a more formidable threat. While Shagaru Magala is a capable fighter, its deadliest quality is the Frenzy Virus it carries.
RELATED: The Hardest Monsters To Hunt In Monster Hunter World: Iceborne (& Their Weaknesses)
Shagaru Magala can afflict this horrendous disease upon other creatures through its wings and breath. The Frenzy Virus causes monsters to become mindlessly aggressive, and nullifies a person’s natural healing capabilities. With this disease, Shagaru Magala can easily ruin an ecosystem, and inspire destruction elsewhere.
8 Safi’jiiva
The Red Dragon, Safi’jiiva possesses otherworldly capabilities. It is the adult form of Xeno’jiiva and as such holds far better control of its fire-like power. While Safi’jiiva is a powerful adversary, its ability to drain energy from the land around it is far more destructive than anything else it can do.
Safi’jiiva absorbs energy from its environment to heal itself and bolster its power. This not only kills surrounding wildlife, but empowers Safi’jiiva as well. The power that this dragon attains fuels energy attacks capable of leveling forests.
7 Dalamadur
The Serpent King Dragon, Dalamadur, is a serpentine Elder Dragon and the largest of its class. Dalamadur’s phenomenal size and hook-like spines allow it to easily burrow through the earth. According to legend, it can level mountains simply by twitching. While this is likely a glorified tale, it is true that Dalamadur can easily burrow underground and forever change the landscape above.
Dalamadur’s digging can cause a great deal of damage to the area under which it traverses. This tunneling is believed to cause the ground to shift and mountains to shake. While this alone is damaging enough, Dalamudar also utilizes a blazing blue fire against anything it may encounter.
6 Merphistophelin
The sinister-looking Barren Disaster Dragon, Merphistophelin, classifies as a Dangerous First-Class Monster. Merphistophelin possesses mastery over the elements of Fire and Dragon, but it is known to utilize others as well. Should Merphistophelin succumb to its anger, it will decimate everything in its path.
RELATED: Monster Hunter Rise: Most Difficult Monsters, Ranked
Merphistophelin’s control over various elements makes it a difficult creature to fight against. No matter what precautions a Guild may take, nearly nothing can hinder Mephistophelin’s assault. This elemental versatility is Merphistophelin’s greatest weapon, and makes it capable of inflicting widespread devastation.
5 Dire Miralis
The Smelting Black Dragon, Dire Miralis, is more akin to a volcano than an Elder Dragon, which is likely why it classifies as a Dangerous First-Class Monster. Dire Miralis can launch the magma within its body to cause widespread devastation, similar to that of an erupting volcano.
Dire Miralis’ massive size and destructive use of magma make it a walking disaster. Moreover, its short temper and tendency to overheat only further this Elder Dragon’s cataclysmic capabilities.
4 Alatreon
The Blazing Black Dragon, Alatreon, is an elementally versatile yet immensely unstable Elder Dragon that classifies as a Dangerous First-Class Monster. Alatreon boasts the ability to use every element; however, its instability prevents complete mastery. As a result, Alatreon can unknowingly cause drastic changes in weather and consequently inspire natural disasters.
Alatreon is very territorial, which may explain the lack of creatures wherever it resides. Any that enter this dragon’s habitat will be exposed to a flurry of elemental attacks that will cause destruction of cataclysmic proportions.
3 Fatalis
The Black Dragon Fatalis comes in many forms, each of which are considered to be Dangerous First-Class Monsters. Fatalis holds incredible control over its respective elements and boasts unprecedented strength. According to legend, this dragon has destroyed entire civilizations, and is widely believed to bring the world to its end. While these are merely stories, Fatalis’ power is very much apparent and truly frightening.
RELATED: Monster Hunter: The Most Fearsome Monsters In The Entire Series, Ranked
Fatalis is highly aggressive towards all living things, especially humans, whom it seems to have a vendetta against. Many creatures, including other Elder Dragons, fear Fatalis for its violent tendencies as may very well bring about an apocalypse. While much of Fatalis’ capabilities are unknown, it can without a doubt annihilate ecosystems and, if fables hold true, kingdoms as well.
2 Shantien
Shantien, or Xiang Tien, looks upon all others with a haughty disdain. This arrogance is not without reason, as Shantien can dispatch airships and alter the world with relative ease. Using its unique element Tenshou, Shantien can make short work of any that dare to oppose it. Its astounding abilities are only matched by the most powerful Elder Dragon in existence.
Shantien’s use of Tenshou can cause widespread destruction to the environment around it. This, in conjunction with Shantien’s remarkable speed and strength, makes it a near-insurmountable threat. Fights with Shantien often involve a great deal of destruction similar to natural disasters such as hurricanes. Thankfully, while Shantien is capable of widespread devastation, it often remains in the skies far away from anything it can destroy.
1 Disufiroa
The Frozen Seraphim Dragon, Disufiroa, is the most dangerous Elder Dragon in existence and the apex of Dangerous First-Class Monsters. This legendary beast can bring the world around into disarray simply with its presence, as it holds extraordinary control over its specialized element known as Frozen Seraphim. Disufiroa’s power is unmatched, and the only one capable of testing its strength is Shantien.
Frozen Seraphim can cause devastation well beyond a natural disaster. Disufiroa utilizes this powerful element for a variety of devastating attacks that forever alter the surrounding land. This disastrous beast is believed to be the sole cause of the World’s End, inhospitable land where only it resides. If this is true, then Disufiroa is more than capable of ending the world should it so desire.
MORE: Monster Hunter: The Strongest Flying Wyverns
