You've probably seen the numbers floating around. Some say there are 40 monsters, others claim it's over 100. Honestly, both are kinda right and kinda wrong depending on whether you’re counting the base game, the massive Sunbreak expansion, or those tiny annoying Jagras that trip you up mid-combo.
If you are looking for the definitive monster hunter rise monster list, you have to look at the game as a two-stage ecosystem. There is the Kamura village era, and then there is the Elgado Master Rank era.
The Core Roster: Kamura’s Greatest Hits
When the game first launched, people were a bit worried. It felt a little thin. But by the time the final title updates rolled in for the base game, we ended up with a solid 46 large monsters. This includes the heavy hitters like Magnamalo—the poster boy who looks like a samurai tiger—and the literal gods of the wind and thunder, Ibushi and Narwa.
What makes this list special isn't just the count. It’s the variety. Unlike Monster Hunter: World, which had a bit of a "too many flying wyverns" problem, Rise brought back the weird stuff. We got the Tetranadon, which is basically a platypus-frog that eats gravel to get fat and crush you. We got Goss Harag, a terrifying yeti that breathes ice onto its own arms to create literal frozen blades. It’s metal as hell.
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The Newcomers You Need to Watch Out For
- Aknosom: A bird wyvern that fights like it’s practicing ballet. It’s elegant until it spits fire in your face.
- Bishaten: This thing uses its tail like a spring and throws explosive persimmons at you. I’m not joking.
- Somnacanth: A leviathan that swims through the air and puts you to sleep. Always pack energy drinks for this one.
- Almudron: Think of a dragon mixed with a mud-catfish. It manipulates terrain, making it one of the most frustrating fights if you don't know the telegraphs.
Sunbreak Changed Everything
If the base game was the appetizer, Sunbreak was a five-course meal that someone kept adding extra plates to. The expansion didn't just add a few monsters; it effectively doubled the complexity of the monster hunter rise monster list.
As of the final 2026 data counts, when you combine the base game with Sunbreak and all the Free Title Updates (TU1 through TU5 and the Bonus Update), you are looking at a grand total of 78 large monsters. That is a massive jump.
We saw the return of legends like Gore Magala and its "I’ve finally seen the light" evolution, Shagaru Magala. We got the Three Lords: Malzeno (the vampire dragon), Lunagaron (the werewolf dog), and Garangolm (the Frankenstein’s monster gorilla).
The "Risen" and "Apex" Confusion
This is where the list gets messy for new players. You’ll hear people talk about "Apex" monsters and "Risen" Elder Dragons.
Apex monsters were a base game thing, mostly tied to the Rampage mode. They don’t have their own armor sets (which, frankly, was a huge bummer), but they are souped-up versions of regulars like Zinogre or Diablos.
Risen Elder Dragons are the true endgame. These are monsters like Chameleos, Kushala Daora, and Teostra that have overcome the Qurio affliction. They are faster, they have new moves, and they will absolutely wreck your day if your elemental resistances aren't capped.
Tracking the Rare Endemic Life
A lot of hunters ignore the small stuff, but if you want that 100% completion, the monster hunter rise monster list extends to the "Rare Endemic Life." These aren't things you kill; they’re things you photograph.
Each map has one. The Shrine Ruins has the Snow-faced Fox. The Frost Islands has the Monksnail—a creature so big it looks like a moving mountain in the distance. You usually have to be at the right place at the right time (like dawn or night) just to see them spawn. Finding the Hellbill in the Lava Caverns is a rite of passage for any serious explorer because that bird is notoriously shy.
Elemental Weaknesses: A Quick Cheat Sheet
You can't just swing a raw damage sword and expect to win in Master Rank. You've gotta play the elemental game.
- Magnamalo: Weak to Water. Don't bring Fire; he literally thrives on it.
- Malzeno: Weak to Dragon. It's poetic, really.
- Goss Harag: Fire is your best friend here. Melt those ice blades off.
- Narwa/Ibushi: Dragon and Dragon. They are Elders; they hate the dragon element.
Most players make the mistake of sticking to one weapon for the whole game. Honestly, the beauty of this roster is that it forces you to adapt. Some monsters, like the Basarios, are walking rocks. If you aren't using a weapon with "Mind's Eye" or high sharpness, you’re just going to bounce off his chest all day.
Actionable Tips for Completing Your Hunter's Notes
If you're staring at a bunch of question marks in your log, here is how you fix that.
- Check the Event Quests: Some monsters or specific sizes (Gold Crowns) are guaranteed in Event Quests. Don't just grind random hunts.
- Anomaly Investigations: This is where the real "Sunbreak" list lives. You won't even see some of the Risen variants until you hit high Anomaly Research levels (we're talking AR 200+).
- Follow the Blue Icons: On your map, if you see a blue pawprint or an unfamiliar icon, go to it. Even if it's just a small monster like a Zamite, you need it for the full list.
- Talk to the NPCs: Sometimes a quest for a specific "hidden" monster like the Crimson Glow Valstrax won't trigger until you hit a certain HR/MR milestone and talk to the Admiral or Fugen.
The roster is huge, but it's manageable once you stop looking at it as a giant wall of names and start looking at it as a series of challenges. Go grab your gear. Those 78 monsters aren't going to hunt themselves.