Monster Hunter World - Rathalos strategy, Rathalos weakness and how to get Rathalos Shell, Scale, Tail, Marrow and Webbing

How to take on fire and poison wyvern Rathalos.

Guide by Matthew Reynolds Former Guides Editor

Updated on Sept. 13, 2019

Rathalos is an encounter in Monster Hunter World, and the toughest monster you'll face in the starter Ancient Forest area in Low Rank.

Whether you're tackling it in the wild or as part of the key quests, there are a number of Rathalos strategies and weaknesses to learn about, and when you're ready, the many ways to get Rathalos Shell, Scale, Tail, Marrow and Rathalos Webbing.

Elsewhere, our Monster Hunter World tips can help you decide when to farm, what to forage and what to do between hunts, and our Monster Hunter World walkthrough and guide can help with main quest and story progress.

How to prepare for Rathalos the first time

If you've taken on Odogaron as part of the Assigned quests (Rathalos and Diablos are the encounters after that) then you should be ready in terms of armour and offence. That said, upgrading your armour - whether through using Armour Spheres for what you have, or farming a new set from one of the recent monsters - won't hurt.

Rathalos can give you poison, so be sure to have a full compliment of Antidotes. Mega Potions are also essential. We'd also recommend unlocking the Area 17 campsite, which you'll encounter on the way to completing the area's Grimalkynes quest, since Rathalos spawns and returns to Area 16 regularly.

There are also a Tailrider camp very close by (again, you'll find this part of the Grimalkynes quest) so you could start your hunt to recruit one of those, giving Rathalos another target to be distracted by.

Rathalos location

You have to hunt a Rathalos as part of the Assigned (main story) quests, after you seek the help of a First Wyverian. If you remember back to that quest, the Rathalos will spawn in exactly the same spot - in area 16 - just south of the Area 17 camp.

If you haven't already, unlock that camp (you'll do so as part of the Grimalkynes quest), allowing you to start fighting Rathalos within 30 seconds of starting the hunt.

Rathalos weakness and strategy

Rathalos weaknesses:

Fire - Null
Water - Low
Thunder - Medium
Ice - Low
Dragon - High
Poison - Low
Sleep - Medium
Paralysis - Medium
Blast - Low
Stun - Medium

You should approach Rathalos like every flying beast you've encountered so far. When it's in flight, keep moving at a distance and circling round. Unlike Anjanath where its fire attacks were deadly, when Rathalos breathes fire its well telegraphed and either directly ahead or around it, making it easy to avoid.

The problem is its swoops. It'll very suddenly dive towards you, and if you are caught by its talons, you'll be poisoned. You'll want to use an Antidote as soon as you can, so hopefully your Palico and a Tailrider will distract it long enough.

After certain swoops it'll hover momentarily, with its tail just above the ground, giving you enough to get a melee strike in if you are close enough. Otherwise, we'd play a war of attrition here. Forget all notion of attacks when its in flight, and wait until it settles on the ground.

If you're struggling here, watch its head. If it looks at you, prepare for it to swoop in, and keep your stamina up so you can keep moving at pace.

(The added benefit of this is if your Palico has the Vigorwasp ability equipped, it'll lay one down while you evade its attacks, ready for you to use just in case.)

When Rathalos lands, here's when we recommend you attack. Again, watch its head; if looks at you, it's about to turn around with a tail swipe, so roll away. The most frustrating attack is a little hover; if it strikes you with its talons, you'll get poisoned.

As with any monster, the key here is patience, and attacking at the end of its own attack, then ducking out of the way and repeating.

Rathalos has the annoying habit of flying far away from your location after a short battle. Use your various camps to your advantage (again, unlocking the area 17 camp will help here) to fast travel to its nearest location, and recruit Tailriders along the way if its easy to do so.