When the Rathalos is stuned or in normal mode (very rare). It will lower its head and wip its tail around and growls at the hunter/anything else near it. It's tail is what you need to be careful of, this can do small amounts of damage and cause you to stagger/trip. The tail whips frequently in this state, so you can be tripped multiple times if not careful.

Until you are absolutely certain you won't get hurt, stay away from its rear.

Bite

The Rathalos will diagonally raise his head and then lower it and bite while doing 1 step forward. His tail is also flung upwards in a diagonal fashion and can damage the hunter as well if he/she is hit by it.

This is an attack that is rarely performed under normal circumstances, it is more common when the monster is flashed.

Guard if necessary or move out of the way. It's an attack that is highly unlikely to hit you under any circumstances though and even if it does it only deals minor damage.

A reasonably fast attack where the Rathalos will directly run at the hunter in an attempt to damage him/her, covering a large distance if the hunter is far away (although if far enough the Rathalos will fall before reaching the hunter) with a pretty wide hitbox. After the hunter is passed the charge will result in the monster falling, leaving it open to attacks for a few seconds.

The charge is always preceded by 2 quick 90 degree turns (or 1, depending on where you stand as long as it isn't in front of him) if it is going to be performed after another attack.

The charge has a variation where the Rathalos will follow the hunter during the charge, which indicates that the charge will be performed 3 times in a row before the Rathalos will finally trip.

This attack can also be performed without warning after any other attack if the hunter is directly in front of the Rathalos.

Guard against the attack if possible, if not, run towards either side to get out of the way or merely prevent getting directly in front of the Rathalos.

For the triple charge in rage mode, to dodge the attacks if you do not have the possibility to block, run sideways and dive a little bit earlier than usual to dodge the attack and get up in time to dodge the 2nd/3rd charge, if you wait till the last moment the next charge is guaranteed to hit you.

The Rathalos will stand put, raise his head and then fling it forward and spit a fireball.

While performing this attack the Rathalos is open to attacks for a few seconds, in fact, long enough to allow the player to do anything he likes.

If within the path of the fireball you should, if possible, block the attack and if that is not an option, run out of the way and dive if necessary. Players who have mastered timing their rolls can roll through a fireball instead.

In general it is best to just avoid being anywhere in front of the Rathalos if you want to prevent being hit by this attack.

The Rathalos raise his head, jumps backwards and spit a fireball diagonally towards the ground in front of him while hovering for a second before he finally lands again.

If you happen to be close and you have the possibility to block it is advised to do so although diving is also an option.

In case blocking is not an option the best thing to do is to, if unsheathed, sheathe your weapon and dive through the attack. If you're not close to the Rathalos then evasive/defensive maneuvers are usually unnecessary.

Players whose weapon do not limit mobility while sheathed can also just run away from the Rathalos in case they're close and roll (if necessary) in order to prevent being hit by this attack.

The Rathalos will merely turn approximately 90 degree, slamming anything within the radius with his tail. He can spin both clockwise and counter-clockwise. This attack can be performed multiple times in a row.

A player can use the direction the monster spins in in order to create an opening to attack as this attack is usually performed at least twice in a row so the player can anticipate where a certain attack point will be after 2 turns and adjust his position accordingly.

If possible, guard against the attack, if not, try to roll/run out of reach. It's not advised to attempt rolling through the attack unless you have perfect timing or evasion up skills. Also, make sure to shift your guard left / right, otherwise you might get hit if the Rathalos swings his tail in an opposite direction

Or if you have a weapon that has infinite combos, like a Switch Axe, get underneath its belly and keep slashing at it until Rathalos stops the attack, in rage mode he is more likely to charge, which will knock you over. But to recover faster, quickly roll to the side.

Roar

The Rathalos will, like its sub-species, raise his head and then lower it again while doing 1 step forward and loudly scream, stopping player in their tracks if they didn't block/roll/dive (if within reach) or have no Earplug skills.

The Earplugs skill is required to nullify the effect of the Rathalos' roar.

The Rathalos only roars upon spotting the Hunter and when in the transition to rage mode.

If your weapon allows you to block you can do so. If not, dive through the roar or roll it if you happen to have Evasion +2 (+1 cannot roll this).

If you are close enough however, you can also move towards the Rathalos' left leg and let it push you over when he steps forward, which deals minor damage but it prevent the roar from stopping you in your tracks. This tactic works with every wyvern who perform the roar in the same fashion.

Hunters with the Earplugs skill do not have to do anything as the effect of the roar is nullified by the skill.

As the name implies, it is basically an aerial version of the regular fireball. While airborne, the Rathalos will, in this case, hover high up in the air above 1 spot without moving forward/backward/sideways, raise his head while looking down for a second or two and then shoot a fireball towards the ground. This attack has a variation where the Rathalos doesn't shoot 1 but 3 fireballs in a row. During this attack he can both hover above 1 spot but also move forward/backward while shooting the fireballs.

The best and easiest way to avoid getting his by this attack is by going under the Rathalos to the spot where his shadow is and wait the attack out from there.

You can also decide not to do this but by doing so you put yourself in the path the fireballs are headed and probably have to guard (if possible/necessary) or run sideways + rolling/diving (if necessary).

The best thing to do is to stick with the 1st strategy, it guarantees safety and immediately allows you to attack the Rathalos if you happen to use a weapon whose moves make you (temporarely) immune to his High Wind Pressure while landing.

The Rathalos will ascend into the air,fly across the whole map in a circle and then dive towards the Hunter and attempt to smash him/her with his legs, flying a little distance after this attack before he finally lands again.

This attack can lengthen a hunt considerably if the Rathalos happens to spam it.

It takes ages before the Rathalos finally dives towards you so you got all the time to pretty much do whatever you like. Block if you want (assuming you can block) or run behind a rock or roll/dive through the attack.

The Rathalos will turn towards you while hovering above 1 spot, bend backwards so that his legs are in the position to attack you while violently flapping his wings and then he will lunge towards you and smash you with his legs, sending you flying if hit and causing poison + stun.

The best and easiest way to avoid getting hit by this attack is by going under the Rathalos to the spot where his shadow is and wait the attack out from there, that is, if you were close enough to get here.

Would it occur that going under the Rathalos is not dodgeable then you should, if possible/necessary, guard against the attack or if that is not an option, roll/dive through the attack. Diving is recommended in this case, although you can roll this attack if you have either perfect timing or evasion+ skills. However, it is still very risky.

In Nekoht and G-rank in MHP2G/MHFU there is a slight modification to this attack. That being that when the Rathalos lands he will assume his attacking pose considerably faster than before, allowing him to chain attacks much more easily. You can see a minor change in the way he moves his wings when landing.

Same as above, except this time around you should be a little more alert as he will be able to attack after this attack slightly quicker than before.

The triple charge is now easier to dodge without necessarily having to dive and the turns before continuing the attack with the next charge are slightly slower, making it easier to dodge. Also new, since the 3rd generation the Rathalos does not perform instant charges anymore.

Same as in earlier installments, block if possible/necessary or run/roll/dive out of the way. Staying anywhere but in front of the Rathalos will, again, keep you safe from these attack.

Exactly the same move as described in the 1st/2nd generation section above. The only difference is that the fireball is slightly bigger and can inflict fireblight.

Same as in the 2nd Generation section above.

Since MH3, the Rathalos' regular Jumping Fireball is replaced by the Instant Jumping Fireball.&nbsp It is essentially the same move except that this time around there are no warning signs and the attack is performed much faster than before.

This attack can be curved up to 90 degrees and the Rathalos usually goes airborne by doing this attack and it can inflict fireblight if the Hunter is hit by this attack.

The best way to prevent getting hit by this attack is making sure that you never get too close to the Rathalos when attacking and stay on your toes when you attack him within the 180 degree radius in front of him as that is the total area of effect for this attack. If you do get dangerously close, as in, under him, then make sure to anticipate this attack at any time and that you are close enough to his legs to be able to roll to safety (in the same direction as the Rathalos) to avoid the fireball from hitting you. When you're using a weapon that relies heavily on guarding, such as lances and gunlances, you can basically tank through this attack. Weapons that do not rely on such tactics but are capable of blocking such as the Sword and Shield can have their instant-block used in case evading the attack isn't possible.

This is a quick attack that can surprise players at all times so no matter the situation, no matter if blocking is possible or not, it is always advised to anticipate this attack at any given time and to approach the Rathalos with caution no matter what.

Tail Spin

Unlike in earlier installments, the tail spin now covers a bigger radius per time, between the 140 and 180 degrees. The spins are also abit faster which makes rolling through the attack without much evasive skill a whole lot easier. The Rathalos can, unlike the Rathian, still spin both clockwise and counter-clockwise.

If possible, guard against the attack, if not, try to roll/run out of reach. It's not advised to attempt rolling through the attack unless you have perfect timing or evasion up skills.

Roar

The Rathalos will, like its sub-species, raise his head and then lower it again while doing 1 step forward and loudly scream, stopping player in their tracks if they didn't block/roll/dive (if within reach) or have no Earplug skills.

The Rathalos always performs a non-turning instant jumping fireball (which can inflict fireblight if it hits) if the roar is the one he does when going into Rage Mode. The Earplugs skill is required to nullify the effect of the Rathalos' roar.

If your weapon allows you to block you can do so, if not, dive through the roar or roll it if you happen to have Evasion +2 (+1 cannot roll this).

Players with the Earplugs skill do not have to do anything as the effect of the roar is nullified by the skill.

If you are close enough however, you can also move towards the Rathalos' left leg and let it push you over when he steps forward, which deals minor damage but it prevent the roar from stopping you in your tracks. This tactic works with every wyvern who perform the roar in the same fashion. As for the jumping fireball that follows after a roar, it is best to either do one of the things above or to keep a small distance at all times/avoid being close in front of him in case the roar does manage to get you, which would lead to you getthing hit by the fireball if you happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong moment.

Hovering Fireball

While hovering, the Rathalos will turn towards the Hunter, flying backwards at the same time and shoot a fireball in the direction of the Hunter, sending him/her flying and causing fireblight if hit.

This attack isn't straightforward, the Rathalos can turn 180 degrees while performing this attack so he is always able to shoot the fireball directly towards you. The aim is also drastically better than that of the regular Rathalos in MHP3rd.

This attack can be performed several times in a row.

If blocking is possible/necessary you can do so, if not, running sideways and rolling or diving if necessary is the best alternative.

The simplest way to stay safe from this attack however is to always keep a medium distance while staying on the move, preferable sideways so that you are (somewhat) circling around the Rathalos.

Aerial Triple Fireball

Essentially an exact replica of the 1st/2nd generation's version of this attack, safe for that this time around the Rathalos will sometimes follow the player where he goes (turning accordingly of course) while shooting the 3 fireballs.

This time around it can also inflict fireblight.

Again, if possible, go under the Rathalos and wait the attack and if you aren't able to do so keep moving sideways while attempting to close the distance and still get under the Rathalos. Blocking is also an option if you're capable if doing although it shouldn't be necessary.

The Rathalos will dive onto the hunter and pin him/her down with his legs and then start eating to recover stamina, dealing damage at each bite. The hunter can struggle himself out of the pin attack and other hunters/comrades can free the hunter by either staggering him or throwing a flash/dung bomb.

Block the attack if possible, if not, roll/run/dive out of the way. The attack is pretty straightforward however so basically preventing yourself from being/staying in front of him is enough to prevent getting pinned down.

The execution of the attack is considerably faster and the attack has become way less frequent. That's the modification made for the 3rd generation Rathalos.

Same as in the 1st/2nd generation section above.

Aerial Bite

The Rathalos will close the distance, hover above the hunter for a moment and then bite (almost peck) at whatever is under him. This attack is rarely performed though.

Block/Roll the attack if necessary. It's highly unlikely this will hit you though unless you're not paying attention.

Aerial Roar

Same as the normal roar, except that this time around he does it in mid-air and doesn't do the stepping animation, he hovers and lowers his head while screaming instead. However, the Rathalos does not perform a fireball directly after roaring, even if is the roar he does when going into rage mode.

Same as for the grounded roar.