Apex Rathalos Guide: Weakness, Armor, Drops, and Weapons | Monster Hunter Rise

This is a hunting guide for Apex Rathalos, a Large Monster in Monster Hunter Rise (MH Rise). Read on to learn Apex Rathalos's weaknesses, forgeable weapons, forgeable armor, drops, and more!

Apex Rathalos Guide

Rathalos Guide

Silver Rathalos Guide

Apex Rathalos Weakness and Notes

Apex Rathalos ヌシ・リオレウス
Type		Flying Wyvern
Threat Level	9/10	Rampage Type	Major Threat
Major Weakness	Dragon	Other Weakness	Thunder
Blight / Elemental Damage	Fire	Abnormal Status	Poison
Characteristics
A Rathalos so mighty, it was crowned an Apex. It is eternally possessed by wrath and terror, possibly due to the myriad wounds that cover its body. Its every breath releases flaming jets that singe the very air. The call of an Apex unleashes its tortured anger on nearby beasts, driving them into a frenzy.

How to Unlock Apex Rathalos

Reach Anomaly Investigation Lv 161 in Master Rank

Apex Rathalos can only be encountered as an additional target monster in Anomaly Investigations starting at Level 161. Defeating it rewards a base of 280 Anomaly Research Points. Unlike most monsters in Master Rank, Apex Rathalos doesn't gain any new moves.

Anomaly Research Level:
How to Get Max Level Fast

Update 3.0: Solo Quest Unlocked at HR 90

Quest Name	Monster/Unlock
The Fearsome Apex Rathalos	Apex Rathalos
	Unlock Conditions: Complete an Apex Rathalos Rampage Quest and Reach HR 90

Once you update to Version 3.0, reach HR 90, and have fought Apex Rathalos in a Rampage at least once, you can take on Apex Rathalos in his own slay quest!

Update 3.0 Patch Notes

Unlocked in Rampage Quests When You Reach HR 8

Apex Rathalos will start appearing in High Rank Rampages when you reach HR 8 after the 2.0 Update. Like all Rampage Quests, you can run Apex Rathalos rampage quests an unlimited number of times. Do note, however, that monsters appearing in Rampages are completely random so check the Quest Counter regularly!

Rampage Guide and Tips: How to Get S-Rank

Apex Rathalos Weakness and Resistance

35	35	22	1
6	12	6	16

Bold are the recommended Weapon Type and Elemental Damage.

Apex Rathalos Weapon Damage Breakdown

Part
Head	55	55	30
Neck	38	38	20
Abdomen	24	24	10
Back	21	21	45
Wing	30	45	10
Leg	30	30	20
Tail	45	35	20
Overall	35	35	22

Apex Rathalos Elemental Weakness Breakdown

Part
Head	0	5	10	5	20
Neck	5	10	15	10	15
Abdomen	0	5	8	5	10
Back	0	5	8	5	10
Wing	0	10	20	10	25
Leg	0	5	10	5	15
Tail	5	5	10	5	15
Overall	1	6	12	6	16

Higher numbers indicate higher potential damage to the monster.

Apex Rathalos Hunting Tips

A Rathalos so mighty, it was crowned an Apex. It is eternally possessed by wrath and terror, possibly due to the myriad wounds that cover its body. Its every breath releases flaming jets that singe the very air. The call of an Apex unleashes its tortured anger on nearby beasts, driving them into a frenzy.

Status Effect Vulnerabilities

If an ailment has more stars it means that it has better effectiveness.

Item Vulnerabilities

◯ = Vulnerable; ✕ = Fully Resistant; ▲ = Situational

Great Way to Farm Defender Ticket 8

Defender Ticket 8's are useful as Talisman Melding materials and late game weapon Ramp-Up! An Apex Rathalos Rampage Quest is a great way to farm for them!

Defender Ticket 8 Uses

Apex Rathalos Locations

Apex Rathalos Known Habitat

Map	Starting Area	Visited Areas	Rest Area
Lava Caverns	9 / 11 / 12	2 / 3 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 14	12
Infernal Springs	-	-	-
Shrine Ruins	11	3 / 4 / 7 / 9 / 11 / 12	3 / 11

Apex Rathalos Quest Appearances

How to Beat Apex Rathalos

Increase your Fire Resistance Gunners are recommended Use Flash Bombs while Apex Rathalos is hovering in the air Cut the tail! Beware of the King's Ascension ultimate attack on hunts!

Increase your Fire Resistance

Apex Rathalos survived hunter encounters because of its strong, fiery attacks. We suggest building around increasing your Fire Resistance using Fire Res jewels or eating dangos with Fire Res (Hi). Take note, reaching Fire Resistance 20+ grants you immunity against Fireblight!

Gunners are Recommended

Apex Rathalos will always fly in the air so gunners are recommended over blademasters. Gunner weapons are listed below:

Use Flash Bombs While Apex Rathalos is Hovering In the Air

Like a normal Rathalos, Apex Rathalos is very much susceptible to Flash Bombs while flying in the air. Use it to ground the King of the Skies!

Cut the Tail

If you're a Blademaster or a gunner with Sever ammo, aim for the tail. This effectively lowers Apex Rathalos' reach whenever it executes tailspins!

Beware of the King's Ascension Attack!

Apex Rathalos' King's Ascension ultimate attack also exists in the solo quest. Map Locales has significantly smaller areas so it would be especially harder to evade this once you have your back against the wall!

Apex Rathalos will fly to the sky and shoot fireballs on the ground. The fireballs will explode in a huge sphere that can one-shot any hunter inside! Use Emergency Evade to save yourself!

Apex Rathalos General Attack Patterns

Apex Rathalos has all the attacks of a normal Rathalos but is stronger and more agile as well as access to more powerful fire breath attacks. Check a list of the new moves here!

Double Chomp

Double Chomp Attack Information
Double Chomp: Apex Rathalos' response to hunters that stay on his face for too long, Double Chomp are quick bite attacks in succession that can flinch hunters!

Linear Fire Explosions

Linear Fire Explosions Attack Information
Linear Fire Explosions: Another airborne attack that shoots fireballs in a straight line. When Apex Rathalos hovers in the air, expect this attack to come through! Use Emergency Evade or roll to the side when you see Apex Rathalos inhaling for a fire breath attack!

Apex Talon Grab

Apex Talon Grab Attack Information
Apex Talon Grab: Looks like a variation of normal Rathalos' claw attack but this time Apex Rathalos grabs you with one of its claws then throws you airborne. Once you're above ground, Apex Rathalos will breathe fire in a straight line towards you! If you find yourself being grabbed and thrown up, we suggest using Wirefall before the follow-up fire breath attack connects!

King's Ascension

Considered as Apex Rathalos' ultimate attack, King's Ascension is a move that all hunters must be cautious about. This attack also has a variation when used by Apex Rathalos during Rampage quests.

King's Ascension Variations
King's Ascension: Apex Rathalos will fly high in the sky then target hunters and installations with huge fireballs. The fireballs explode in a sphere as it touches the ground, incinerating even those not in the center!
King's Ascension in Rampages: In Rampages, Apex Rathalos charge for a while then fly up the sky. Once up there, it will target installations then finally gates! It is virtually untargetable so the only way to mitigate this is to try and stagger Apex Rathalos while it is charging. Use the Splitting Wyvernshot to easily do this!

Apex Rathalos Materials and Drops

Master Rank Apex Rathalos Materials

Target

Capture

Broken Parts

Carves

Melding Pudding [30%] Rathalos Shard [21%] Melding Honey [20%] Rathalos Cortex [13%] Rathalos Fellwing [9%] Rathalos Mantle [4%] Apex Blaze Sac [3%]

You cannot capture this monster!

Rath Wingripper [70% (Wing)] Rathalos Shard [38% (Head)] Apex Blaze Sac [30% (Head)] Rathalos Fellwing [30% (Wing)] Rathalos Cortex [27% (Head), 98% (Back)] Rathalos Mantle [5% (Head), 2% (Back)]

Rathalos Lash [75% (Tail)] Rathalos Shard [38% (Body), 20% (Tail)] Rathalos Cortex [27% (Body)] Rathalos Fellwing [21% (Body)] Apex Blaze Sac [12% (Body)] Rathalos Mantle [2% (Body), 5% (Tail)]

High Rank Apex Rathalos Materials

Target

Capture

Broken Parts

Carves

Rathalos Scale+ [35%] Rathalos Carapace [27%] Rathalos Wing [15%] Rath Medulla [8%] Apex Blaze Sac [8%] Rathalos Plate [5%] Rathalos Ruby [2%]

You cannot capture this monster!

Rath Wingtalon+ [70% (Wing)] Rathalos Carapace [65% (Back), 21% (Head)] Apex Blaze Sac [35% (Head)] Rathalos Scale+ [32% (Head)] Rath Medulla [30% (Back)] Rathalos Wing [30% (Wing)] Rathalos Plate [7% (Head), 4% (Back)] Rathalos Ruby [5% (Head), 1% (Back)]

Rathalos Tail [65% (Tail)] Rathalos Scale+ [36% (Body), 18% (Tail)] Rathalos Carapace [24% (Body)] Rathalos Wing [19% (Body)] Apex Blaze Sac [12% (Body)] Rath Medulla [7% (Tail), 5% (Body)] Rathalos Plate [5% Tail, 3% (Body)] Rathalos Ruby [5% (Tail), 1% (Body)]

Apex Rathalos Dropped Materials

Master Rank

High Rank

Large Wyvern Tear [40%] Rathalos Shard [39%, 50% (Wyvern Riding)] Rathalos Cortex [30% (Wyvern Riding)] Rath Wingripper [19%, 20% (Wyvern Riding)] Rathalos Mantle [2%]

Rathalos Scale+ [50%] Large Wyvern Tear [40%] Rathalos Carapace [30%] Rath Wingtalon+ [20%] Rathalos Ruby [2%]

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