History MonsterHunter / TropesDToG

* EldritchAbomination: An entire class of them, called '''Elder Dragons'''. Sitting at the top of the food chain and often the final foes unlocked in each game, Elder Dragons are exceptionally dangerous monsters that not only pose a threat to local wildlife, but ''entire continents.'' Their size and range vary dramatically, and each has borderline supernatual abilities that elevate it above most other monsters, which are essentially overgrown lizards and mammals. Kushala Daora's can summon tornadoes to control, Alateron's have pitch black scales that seem to absorb all light and can affect the weather just by being present, and the Fatalis series of monsters are traditional European dragons with [[OhCrap supernatural powers on top of that]]. Not all Elder Dragons are explicitly evil either, but they must be respected and monitored or else they could cause untold destruction.

* EldritchAbominations: An entire class of them, called '''Elder Dragons'''. Sitting at the top of the food chain and often the final foes unlocked in each game, Elder Dragons are exceptionally dangerous monsters that not only pose a threat to local wildlife, but ''entire continents.'' Their size and range vary dramatically, and each has borderline supernatual abilities that elevate it above most other monsters, which are essentially overgrown lizards and mammals. Kushala Daora's can summon tornadoes to control, Alateron's have pitch black scales that seem to absorb all light and can affect the weather just by being present, and the Fatalis series of monsters are traditional European dragons with [[OhCrap supernatural powers on top of that]]. Not all Elder Dragons are explicitly evil either, but they must be respected and monitored or else they could cause untold destruction.

** Speaking of [[spoiler:the Master of Defense]] in ''4U'', he saved [[spoiler:the Ace Commander]] during a Rathian hunt that went bad because a Kushala Daora intruded on the quest. However, pre-''World'' games don't allow Elder Dragons to appear in hunts for non-Elder monsters and vice versa.

** One of the unlockable Poogie costumes is called the "Afro Nest", a huge afro with toy birds for [[HairDecorations decorations]].

* DownloadableContent: The games offer monthly DLC free of charge. The catch? The only immediate benefits you get are title phrases, poses, and wallpapers for your Guild Card, a set of starter items only available immediately after the release of ''4 Ultimate'', and bonus Palicoes; the rest of the DLC is Event Quests and Challenge Quests, some of which offer drops for special equipment as rewards, with the drops not being available in any other quest. In other words, the game is happy to provide you with DLC content to keep the game fresh at no monetary cost, but if you want, for example, the [[VideoGame/{{Metroid}} Varia Suit]] or the ''VideoGame/TaikoDrumMaster'' Hunting Horn, [[EarnYourFun you'll have to work for it]].

** ''Inverted'' for the Rathalos and Rathian, the sexually dimorphic Rath Wyverns that were the flagship monsters of the first game -- the male Rathalos focuses much more on flying and fireballs, even having a unique-to-him move that involves gaining lots of altitude and lobbing a series of fireballs at hunters before swooping back down to within swords' reach, while the female Rathian tends to rush around, using bites, ground-based fireballs, and tail swings, only occasionally taking flight -- mainly to use a [[EverythingsBetterWithSpinning backflip tailswipe]] -- and never staying in the air for long.

* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: The Dual Blades in ''Generations'' become almost completely centered around spinning around monsters to send them to their untimely deaths. In Aerial Style, the expanded repertoire of airborne moves means that Dual Blade wielders can spin every which way towards large monsters for massive damage and for a chance to mount the target. Then you get to the Blood Wind Hunter Art, where the Hunter charges forward with heavy hitting spinning slashes thrice in a row, ending with a finishing slash. The Aerial Slam Hunter Art also involves either jumping off a ledge or jumping up a ledge and spin attacking everything in your path, followed by a downwards slam.

* FollowTheLeader: After the series' breakout title ''Freedom Unite'', several companies have attempted to emulate Monster Hunter's mechanics or even directly compete against the game, with varying results. The more well-known examples are ''VideoGame/{{Toukiden}}'', ''VideoGame/FreedomWars'', ''VideoGame/SoulSacrifice'' and '''especially''' the VideoGame/GodEater franchise. Even mobile platforms join the fun with ''VideoGame/DragonProject''.

* FollowTheLeader: After the series' breakout title ''Freedom Unite'', several companies have attempted to emulate Monster Hunter's mechanics or even directly compete against the game, with varying results. The more well-known examples are ''VideoGame/GodEaterBurst'', ''VideoGame/{{Toukiden}}'', ''VideoGame/FreedomWars'', and ''VideoGame/SoulSacrifice''. Even mobile platforms join the fun with ''VideoGame/DragonProject''.

** The {{Palette Swap}}ped monsters (e.g. Azure Rathalos, Pink Rathian, etc.) were once merely stronger variations of their main species, but beginning in ''Portable 3rd'', the subspecies were given unique attacks and behavioral patterns to set them apart, such as Pink Rathian's spinning tail backflip and Azure Rathalos' exploding aerial bites.

** The {{Palette Swap}}ped monsters (e.g. Azure Rathalos, Pink Rathian, etc.) were once merely stronger variations of their main species, but beginning in ''Tri'', the subspecies were given unique attacks and behavioral patterns to set them apart, such as Pink Rathian's spinning tail backflip and Azure Rathalos' exploding aerial bites.

* FollowTheLeader: After the series' breakout title ''Freedom Unite'', several companies have attempted to emulate Monster Hunter's mechanics or even directly compete against the game, with varying results. The more well-known examples are ''VideoGame/GodEaterBurst'', ''VideoGame/{{Toukiden}}'', ''VideoGame/FreedomWars'',and ''VideoGame/SoulSacrifice''. Even mobile platforms join the fun with ''VideoGame/DragonProject''.

* FollowTheLeader: After the series' breakout title ''Freedom Unite'', several companies have attempted to emulate Monster Hunter's mechanics or even directly compete against the game, with varying results. The more well-known examples are ''VideoGame/GodEaterBurst'', ''VideoGame/{{Toukiden}}'', and ''VideoGame/SoulSacrifice''.

* {{Fartillery}}: Congas and the Congalala are able to release a cloud of noxious fumes from their behinds, and this is actually one of the most insidious attacks in the game, as when you are "soiled," you cannot eat or drink any healing items. Returns in ''3 Ultimate'' with Volvidon (biologically most like a skunk spray) and Steel Uragaan, as well as Congalala returning in ''4'' A notable aversion is the Seltas Queen, since in her case it's a pheromone spray, which is more like getting sprayed in acetone, and really just bad luck rather than a deliberate attempt to attack the hunter.

* {{Fartillery}}: Congas and the Congalala are able to release a cloud of noxious fumes from their behinds, and this is actually one of the most insidious attacks in the game, as when you are "soiled," you cannot eat or drink any healing items. Returns in ''3 Ultimate'' with Volvidon and Steel Uragaan, as well as ''4'''s Seltas Queen, but all of them are closer to ''gassing'' than outright farting.

** The first two and a half generations of console games (''1'', ''G'', ''Dos'', ''tri-'') require you to go online in order to access hub quests. If you couldn't go online, no High Rank for you! And now that those games' online services are terminated, no High Rank for you, [[TemporaryOnlineContent ever again]]. ''3 Ultimate'' and ''Generations Ultimate'' have console versions, but they all let you access hub quests regardless of connection status and ''World'' does away with the idea of hub-exclusive quests.

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Not a single human character in the game besides you seems to have an actual name. And even in your case, everyone usually just calls you "Hunter" anyway. A few examples of civilization-dwelling characters that ''do'' have names include the two Shakalakas, Cha-Cha and Kayamba. This is even [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in ''4U'' by [[TheBlacksmith The Man]]:
--> '''The Man:''' ''"The Caravaneer rarely addresses people by their first names. As a result, I fear I have forgotten yours...what was it again?"''

* DesertedIsland: ''tri'', ''Portable 3rd'', ''3 Ultimate'', and ''Generations'' have a map ''called'' the Deserted Island. Subverted, in that it's supposed to be devoid of human life, but still has a spot of civilization, Moga Village, thriving on it. This is because during the events of ''tri'' and ''3 Ultimate'', [[spoiler:the village received an order to evacuate the island due to a series of earthquakes threatening to level the village, but the village's inhabitants refuse to leave; instead, they send you, a seasoned hunter by the time the Guild's really nagging them to get out, to dispatch the source of the problem: Ceadeus, an Elder Dragon.]] The map remains named such in ''Generations'' despite taking place chronologically after ''3'' with several returning characters explicitly stating they're visiting from Moga, but the name was presumably kept for nostalgia purposes or because renaming it would cause issues for Guild bureaucracy.

* DesertedIsland: ''tri'', ''Portable 3rd'', ''3 Ultimate'', and ''Generations'' have a map ''called'' the Deserted Island. Subverted, in that it's supposed to be devoid of human life, but still has a spot of civilization, Moga Village, thriving on it. This is because during the events of ''tri'' and ''3 Ultimate'', [[spoiler:the village received an order to evacuate the island due to a series of earthquakes threatening to level the village, but the village's inhabitants refuse to leave; instead, they send you, a seasoned hunter by the time the Guild's really nagging them to get out, to dispatch the source of the problem: Ceadeus, an Elder Dragon.]] The map remains named such in ''Generations'' despite taking place chronologically after ''3'' with several returning characters explicitly stating they're visiting from Moga, but the name was presumably kept for nostalgia purposes.