Monster Hunter: Strongest Monsters That Aren't Elder Dragons

Elder Dragons are the most powerful monsters in the world of Monster Hunter. Any discussion about the strongest monster is inevitably dominated by Elders. The classification of Elder is marked by the ability to cause major damage to an ecosystem. However, there are a select few monsters with this level of influence that aren't actually Elder Dragons.

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It can be difficult to rank monsters by power level. Because the beasts of Monster Hunter are so diverse, it often feels like comparing apples to oranges. The specific placements on this list can easily be swapped around. Still, these monsters are about as powerful as they can get without dipping into Elder classification.

Updated April 3, 2025, by Blaise Santi: Monster Hunter fans have had their plates full in the past few months with the recent release of Monster Hunter Wilds, the newest installment in the franchise. This new title, available now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC currently has 29 Large Monsters available for players to hunt, with more surely on the way via updates and DLC. Of those 29 monsters, 11 are brand-new to the series, and surprisingly, returning monsters are few and far between as of its initial release. With that in mind, let's see how some of these new monsters stack up against the strongest non-Elder Dragons in the franchise, as well as look back on some iconic monsters we hope will appear in a future update!

20 Glavenus

The Scorching Blade

Glavenus is one of the four mascot monsters from Monster Hunter Generations, which was first released on the 3DS as Monster Hunter X. Compared to the Astalos, Mizutsune, or Gammoth, Glavenus is the most fearsome of the trio. With its Great Sword-like tail, Glavenus is especially tough to face if you let it sharpen while preparing to attack, giving it the edge over players... Literally!

Its deviant form, the Hellblade Glavenus, was even more hellish than its regular form, capable of dealing Blastblight. Additionally, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne featured another variant in the Acidic Glavenus, which is duller in color and lacks the fiery blaze of its regular form. Don't be fooled, though, as the Acidic Glavenus is a lot faster and more savage with its smaller tail.

19 Uth Duna

The Wave Dress Wyvern

Getting a close look at the Uth Duna, you might expect it to be a gnarly beast, but zoom out, and you'll see it's one of the most majestic monsters in the entire franchise. Debuting in Monster Hunter Wilds, Uth Duna is a massive threat that roams the Scarlet Forest, able to create massive, oceanic attacks that deal waterblight damage to hunters.

You might have an easier go at facing off against Uth Duna if you bring along some Thunder-element weapons, but the monster also has a built-in shield with an iridescent veil. Break that, and you'll be able to deal some more consistent damage against the Leviathan. It's also capable of hiding underwater and coming back out for a surprise attack, much like the Diablos.

18 Plesioth

The Water Wyvern

The Plesioth may not technically be stronger than any of the other monsters on this list, but it is one thing: Annoying. Since the very first generation of Monster Hunter, Plesioth has been a nuisance to hunters both new and old, though thankfully for newer fans it hasn't appeared in a mainline game since Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate.

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Among the Plesioth's many powerful moves are the infamous hip check, which can catch even the quickest hunters off-guard. It can also steal a huge portion of a player's health with its devastating and far-reaching water jets, meaning that not even Gunners are safe from this aquatic menace's wrath. As if it's not fearsome enough, the Green Plesioth is way more aggressive and can induce sleep.

17 Espinas

The Lord Of The Forest

Espinas didn't make its mainline series debut until recently in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, but it certainly became a memorable threat. This monster may seem like an easy fight due to how passive it is, largely ignoring a hunter's attacks, but when it gets mad, it will put up a brutal fight by shooting poison-inducing fireballs and ramming hunters down with its horns.

To put it plainly, the Espinas' strength is largely circumstantial, and it can lead a lot of hunters to underestimate its difficulty. Do not be one of the naive ones; the Espinas can turn a breezy hunt into an intense battle for survival, and all hunters should be prepared. The Flaming Espinas variant makes its fiery attacks all the more stronger, so get ready to stop, drop, and roll!

16 Diablos

Tyrant Of The Desert

The Diablos is one of the original monsters in the Monster Hunter franchise, and even generations later it remains a fierce foe. Although it possesses no status ailments to inflict on hunters, its massive size, brute strength, and preference for arid environments make it a challenging hunt, especially as players accrue higher Hunter Ranks.

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While this Flying Wyvern doesn't actually do that much flying in combat, its charging attacks can be surprisingly speedy. They also tend to burrow underground, only to re-emerge and surprise unsuspecting hunters. That is dangerous enough as it is, if only the Diablos weren't also massive and powerful. Make sure to stock up on potions before heading into any fight with a Diablos or its variants.

15 Yian Garuga

The Black Wolf Bird

The Yian Garuga looks like an Elder Dragon in appearance, but it's actually classified as a Bird Wyvern in-game. It was introduced in Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite for the PlayStation Portable, and it's been brought back for almost every Monster Hunter title since except for Monster Hunter: Rise (though it's still possible).

The Yian Garuga is an insanely hard fight for even the most experienced, twitch-responsive players. It's got an absolutely immense health pool, and if its constant attacks that barely give the Hunter a chance to respond aren't enough to intimidate a new player, its poisonous tail and stunning roars will be. And if this monster is too easy for you, try having an easy go against the larger Scarred Yian Garuga.

14 Tigrex

The Roaring Wyvern

Some hunters may consider the Tigrex an easy fight given how long it's been a part of the series, but even those hunters will start to sweat once this monster gets angry. The Tigrex is notable for its fierce attacks, especially in rage mode, becoming faster and more relentless the longer a hunt goes on. The Brute Tigrex variant is, if you can believe it, even more aggressive than its regular form.

A different take on Tigrex that debuted in Monster Hunter 4, known as the Molten Tigrex, is much larger and possesses Blastblight abilities, making it a much more explosive fight. While it hasn't been seen since in a mainline Monster Hunter game, you can also find it in Monster Hunter Stories and its sequel, Wings of Ruin, as well as the limited-release app Monster Hunter Riders.

13 Rathian & Rathalos

Queen Of The Land And King Of The Skies

These two were among the first batch of monsters introduced, and they're still among the strongest. The Rathian's acrobatic tail swipes hit fast and cover a wide radius, while the Rathalos breathes fireballs that leave burning trails behind them. Both of them gain extra attacks when they're hurt, and they have even stronger variants in the Gold Rathian and Silver Rathalos.

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Of course, since the two are a couple, attacking one will frequently cause the other to come rushing over. One of the hardest quests in Iceborne pits the hunter against both at the same time, but with a skilled enough team, it'll be quite a satisfying mission to complete. Make sure you stock up on Antidotes, as their poisonous attacks can completely change the tide of a hunt.

12 Zinogre

The Lord Of Lightning

The Zinogre is fearsome in either its regular form, which first debuted in Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, as well as its variants, either the draconic Stygian Zinogre or the Thunderlord Zinogre. In any of its forms, the Zinogre holds so much electricity in its body that it can use it to power up like a Super Saiyan, but in the case of the Thunderlord Zinogre, it spends the entire hunt charged up.

Among the Zinogre's strongest attacks include some impressive acrobatics, as well as the ability to summon Thunderbugs to swarm the nearby vicinity. As far as electrified monsters go, the Zinogre is no joke, but at the very least it makes for quite a fun fight in any game it appears in!

11 Brachydios

The Crushing Wyvern

The regular Brachydios is already a lot to handle with its quick movements and exploding fists. Its variant, the Raging Brachydios, has a special organ located in its head that makes its explosive slime even more active. The Raging Brachydios are also incredibly cunning, too. When it takes enough damage, it retreats to its cave, where it sets off explosives that trap the two of them inside.

Not only are these monsters incredibly fearsome with the explosive slime it leaves in its wake, but they're also incredibly territorial and aggressive. That being said, players can make this fight easier on themselves by damaging the Brachydios' slime-covered horn or arms, making it tougher for the monster to create its explosive attacks anymore.