Editing Rathalos

|firstgame= ''{{iw|wikipedia|Monster Hunter|video game}}'' (2004)

|lastappearance= ''{{iw|wikipedia|Monster Hunter Stories}}'' (remaster) (2024)

|gender      = Male

|homeworld    =

|artist      =

A '''Rathalos''' ({{ja|リオレウス|Rioreusu}}, ''Liolaeus'') is a type of flying wyvern from the {{uv|Monster Hunter}} series, created by [[Capcom]]. They are one of the most well-known monsters in the series, and can appear in many varied habitats.

A Rathalos is a recurring monster from the ''Monster Hunter'' series and is both the flagship monster for the original Monster Hunter and the mascot of the series as a whole. While many monsters of varying types are referred to as "Wyverns" in the ''Monster Hunter'' universe, the Rathalos closely fits the real-world classical definition of a wyvern, like an armless, winged dragon with fire breath and poisonous claws. It is sometimes known by its epithet "King of the Skies", and belongs to the Flying Wyvern family of monsters. In addition to its female counterpart Rathian, there are a number of Rathalos subspecies in existence, such as Azure Rathalos. Its description in Monster Hunter World states that "Rathalos descends upon invaders from the sky, attacking with poison claws and fiery breath", which is reflected accordingly in its attacks in Smash.

Various weapons and armor can be created from materials procured from hunting Rathalos in its home series.

 

Much like [[Charizard]], Rathalos is not explicitly referred to as a dragon in Western versions of its home series, but is treated as one in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''. This discrepancy is mostly due to the Western localization of ''Monster Hunter'', as Flying Wyverns (such as Rathalos) are referred to as {{ja|飛竜種|hiryūshu}} ("flying dragon species") in the original Japanese, while Elder Dragon boss monsters simply use a different, antiquated kanji for "dragon" ({{ja|古龍種|koryūshu}}, "old dragon species"). The Rathalos is also weak to Dragon elemental attacks, a trait possessed only by Elder Dragons and dragonlike wyverns. Spinoffs such as crossovers with ''Puzzle and Dragons'' and the {{uv|Metal Gear}} series make it clear that Rathalos and many other wyverns are considered to be dragons outside of the taxonomy used in their home universe.

[[Monster Hunter]] armor created with Rathalos materials, called the [http://monsterhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Rathalos_Armor_%28Blade%29 Rathalos Blademaster Armor], appeared as a [[downloadable content]] [[Alternate costume (SSB4)#Wave 4|costume]] for {{SSB4|Mii Swordfighter}}s. The armor's design is derived from  ''{{s|wikipedia|Monster Hunter Tri}}'' and later entries in the series, excluding ''{{s|wikipedia|Monster Hunter: World}}''.

|image = [[File:Rathalos SSBU.png|250px]]

|caption = {{symbol|other}}

|game1 = Ultimate

|location = [[Forest Hill]]

As a boss, the Rathalos fights as he did in his home series. He fights using his talons, tail swipes, fireballs, and flying into the background, and can stun his enemies with a screeching roar. During the fight, certain items will appear, those being Explosive [[Barrel]]s, [[Bob-omb]]s, [[Deku Nut]]s, and [[Pitfall]]s. The Rathalos is vulnerable to all of the mentioned items, which will open him up to free damage before he recovers. The Rathalos can also be stunned briefly by breaking the armor on either his face or back, triggered by dealing sufficient damage to that area first. Attacking his tail will cause him to drop an item, a reference to how his tail can be severed for extra items in his home series.

When his [[hit points|Stamina]] drops to 0, the Rathalos will drop the ground and flail around before lying still, as in his death animation in the ''Monster Hunter'' series.

The Fighters that are assigned to fight Rathalos in [[Classic Mode]] at the end of their round are {{SSBU|Yoshi}}, {{SSBU|Marth}}, {{SSBU|Duck Hunt}} and {{SSBU|Piranha Plant}}. {{SSBU|Bowser}}, {{SSBU|Hero}} and {{SSBU|Sephiroth}} are also assigned to fight Rathalos, but not for the final round. Bowser fights {{SSBU|Mario}} afterwards, then [[Metal Mario]] (upon Mario's defeat); Hero has two more regular rounds before fighting {{SSBU|Robin}}, then a giant {{SSBU|Charizard}} (upon Robin's defeat); Sephiroth fights Rathalos in the first round in his route. Usually, ''{{SSBUMusicLink|Other|Roar/Rathalos}}'' plays during the battle, but when Hero fights Rathalos, ''{{SSBUMusicLink|Dragon Quest|Fighting Spirits - DRAGON QUEST III}}'' plays, and ''{{SSBUMusicLink|Super Smash Bros.|Galeem / Dharkon}}'' plays during the boss rush.

|Fireball ({{ja|火球|Kakyū}})|| || Launches a ball of fire at the opponent. This attack has three different variations; launching a single fireball, launching three fireballs, and jumping back and launching a fireball. Referred to as '''Flame Breath''' ({{ja|炎ブレス|Honō Buresu}}) in the ''Monster Hunter'' series.

|Roar ({{ja|咆哮|Hōkō}})|| || Roars loudly, stunning opponents.

|Rush Attack ({{ja|突進攻撃|Tosshin Kōgeki}})|| || Swoops toward the fighters, attacking them with his clawed feet, poisoning opponents.

|Poison Claw Attack ({{ja|毒つめ攻撃|Doku Tsume Kōgeki}})|| || Drops downwards and hits opponents with his clawed feet, poisoning opponents.

|Gliding Attack ({{ja|滑空攻撃|Kakkū Kōgeki}})|| || Dashes forward and performs a sliding tackle, opening his mouth and biting down on the slide. The dash and the slide tackle both have hitboxes.

|Aim Fireball ({{ja|ため火球|Tame Kakyū}})|| || Flies into the background, and launches two large fireballs (three at higher difficulties), which when hitting a fighter or the ground, produce an explosion that gradually gets larger, much like a [[Smart Bomb]]. The explosions leave fire on the ground where they spread, which fades after a short time. Referred to as '''High-Power Flame Breath''' ({{ja|高出力火炎ブレス|Kōshutsuryoku Kaen Buresu}}) in the ''Monster Hunter'' series.

|Assault from the Back ({{ja|奥から強襲|Oku Kara Kyōshū}})|| || Glides in the background, then races towards the fighting area, trying to hit the fighters in a similar way to Master Hand.

Rathalos is encountered in the [[Forest Hill]] sub-area found on Tortimer Island, where the player can see him as soon as they enter. The player must chase Rathalos around the Forest Hill, approaching from specific directions whenever he flies away and lands in a new spot; if the player does not approach from the correct direction, then Rathalos will return to his starting position.

If the player successfully chases Rathalos, then he will eventually retreat to the plateau in the northwest corner of the map, where the player can finally corner the boss and fight him. Defeating Rathalos is necessary to weaken the shield protecting Galeem, and rewards the player with the Rathalos spirit.

 

Rathalos is later fought again during the true final stage's second phase, where the player must fight every boss except {{SSBU|Master Hand}} and {{SSBU|Crazy Hand}}. He is the last of the Light Realm bosses to appear onscreen during this phase. If no other bosses have been defeated yet, then Rathalos will be clashing against [[Marx]]. If the Light Realm bosses outnumber the Dark Realm bosses, then Rathalos will begin firing light spheres at the player.

{{cquote|''This giant beast will appear when summoned, spreading its wings to create a powerful attack. Rathalos has fire breath and a roar that stuns opponents. Finding an opportunity to get an attack can be difficult!''|cite=[https://www.smashbros.com/en_US/blog/ Super Smash Blog]|source=[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site]]}}

[[File:SSBUWebsiteRathalos4.jpg|thumb|Rathalos attacking Link, {{SSBU|Pikachu}}, {{SSBU|Bowser}} and {{SSBU|Inkling}} with his fireballs on [[Tortimer Island]].]]

Upon being pulled from an Assist Trophy, a Rathalos is summoned by flying down from the sky and begins to attack his summoner's opponents. He uses the same attacks as the boss version, but he does not fly into the background for any attacks. Additionally, he is immune to Explosive [[Barrel]]s, [[Deku Nut]]s and [[Pitfall]]s. He can be KO'd for a point, though he is very durable, has flinch resistance, and cannot be grabbed.

 

 

Rathalos can be obtained by defeating the Forest Hill sub-dungeon in World of Light.

 

 

====Primary spirits====

{|class="wikitable"

| 1,295 || {{SpiritTableName|Rathalos}} || {{SpiritType|Support}} || ★★ || 1 || Air Attack ↑ || ''MONSTER HUNTER'' Series

*Rathalos' eye color differs from [https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/monsterhunter/images/8/87/MHW-Rathalos_Screenshot_011.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180226005229&format=original the main ''Monster Hunter'' series] and [[:File:Rathalos.jpg|''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'']].

*Rathalos is the only sub-world boss whose fight is not indicated by a dark circle with eyes on the map or is silhouetted on the menu before fighting. This is because he always appears fully.

*Rathalos is the only boss in The Light Realm that didn't originate from ''Smash''.

*Rathalos is the only boss from a universe with no characters, items, stages, or [[series symbol]].

*As of patch 10.0.0, Rathalos is the second most common boss in Classic Mode who isn't [[Master Hand]] or [[Crazy Hand]], being fought by 7 characters, with [[Galleom]] being fought the most by 8 characters.

 

[[Category:Third-party characters]]