The Monster Hunter franchise has introduced a strikingly vast assortment of creatures for hunters to face. Over two hundred different monsters exist in this fantastical world that are defined by their distinct traits and backgrounds. There are nineteen categories that monsters can fall into, each of them boasting unique features and abilities. Of the various classes, the most powerful and impactful group are the renowned elder dragons.

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Elder dragons are not defined by their appearance but instead by the immense power and influence they hold. These ancient creatures possess incomprehensible abilities capable of enacting widespread destruction and chaos. Their legendary status within the world sets them apart from common monsters with some being revered as gods. Every one of these creatures is a formidable foe, but a select few stand above the rest.

10 Lao-Shan Lung

Lao-Shan Lung the Old Mountain Dragon is one of the largest monsters to ever exist. With a size of nearly 69 meters, this elder dragon presents an especially difficult challenge to hunters. While it is not hostile towards hunters it will attack any settlement in its path with unchecked ferocity. Utilizing its immense strength Lao-Shan Lung can clear mountains and fortresses alike with almost no effort.

As seen in Monster Hunter Freedom 2, Lao-Shan Lung is persistent in his assault against obstructive structures. This presents hunters with unique difficulties in which they must slay the elder dragon before it is too late. However, Lao-Shan Lung's disastrous attacks and seemingly endless pools of health make it an arduous feat. Lao-Shang Lung's destructive capability makes it a considerably dangerous elder dragon.

9 Nakarkos

Nakarkos the Corpse Dragon earned its name from its affinity to kill powerful monsters using mucus and adorn itself with their bones. These trophies that it attaches to its body offer protection and grants itself various elemental abilities. It is a highly territorial beast that destroys entire ecosystems leaving it as the indisputable apex of its habitat. The solitary elder dragon uses its improvised armor/weaponry to dispatch any foolish enough to enter its bone-covered lair.

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In Monster Hunter Generations, hunters will find themselves disadvantaged against Nakarkos who has the advantage. Its skeletal appearance camouflages it within its bone-ridden habitat allowing it to surprise hunters. Nakarkos' sticky mucus can attach bones to hunters drastically hindering their movement and leaving them susceptible to attack. This creates a difficult situation for hunters since they are battling a creature that holds every advantage. This beast's ability to wipe out entire wildlife populations makes it a devastating elder dragon.

8 Nergigante

Nergigante the Extinction Dragon is more than capable of bringing an end to the most powerful monsters in the series. This dreadful beast brutalizes other elder dragons to feed on and increase its already immense strength. While Nergigante prefers to hunt elder dragons, it is exceedingly hostile towards everything it encounters. Regardless of the opponent, Nergigante will expend an extraordinary amount of energy to overcome them even if it means injuring itself.

In Monster Hunter World, hunters must exercise extensive caution when facing other elder dragons as Nergigante may be near. While an elder dragon-slaying monster may sound beneficial Nergigante will pursue hunters with the same intensity. Despite bearing no elemental strengths its physical prowess combined with its aggression can defeat nearly any foe. Nergigante will enter a "second stage" if damaged enough and become increasingly more relentless in its attacks. The genocidal nature of this elder dragon makes it a cataclysmic force of nature.

7 Teostra

Teostra the Flame King Dragon is a fiery monster that will dominate any opponent that enters its domain. This hubristic creature utilizes its flames in a variety of deadly ways. Teostra can shoot fire, surround itself in flames, ignite the ground, or even set a flammable gas ablaze. Using its blazing abilities, it subjugates anything that crosses its path even venturing out of its lair to conquer it. Monsters and hunters that meet Teostra and survive are a part of the lucky few.

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Alone Teostra is a menacing foe, but when working in unison with Lunastra - the Flame Queen Dragon - he is nearly unstoppable. As seen in Monster Hunter World, when Teostra and Lunastra meet they can perform a unique action known as "Bonding". "Bonding" combines their fiery abilities into an immense power capable of one-shotting hunters. Teostra's destructive tendencies and need to dominate make it a formidable monster, especially when accompanied by Lunastra.

6 Merphistophelin

Merphistophelin the Barren Disaster Dragon is one of the eight beasts classified as a Dangerous First-Class Monster. This ranking is used to describe mysterious creatures that can possibly destroy the world if deemed appropriate. Merphistophelin is a merciless monster that will eliminate any creature that enters its territory. Those unfortunate enough to cross into its lair will meet the dual power of Merphistophelin's energized core.

In Monster Hunter Online, Merphistophelin's core holds devasting elemental potential. With the power to use both fire and dragon-based attacks, Merphistophelin can unleash cataclysmic elemental damage. It uses this ability to shoot powerful beams or charge the ground with crippling elemental energy. The binary attacks create a unique challenge for hunters to face, but even the most skilled will suffer at the mercy of Merphistophelin.

5 Dire Miralis

Dire Miralis the Smelting Black Dragon is a creature categorized as a Dangerous First-Class Monster. Seeing as how Dire Miralis is a 62-meter walking volcano, it is understandable why it falls into this classification. Its massive body filled with magma is used to fuel its apocalyptic attacks. Its cannon-like appendages are used to rain down balls of searing magma upon opposing creatures. Despite Dire Miralis' status as an elder dragon, it better resembles an incarnation of doomsday itself.

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In Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, hunters face the cataclysmic beast in a battle on land and underwater. Regardless of the hunter's distance or position, Dire Miralas is able to attack with catastrophic power. Using its massive size and meteor-like blasts, Dire Miralis eliminates foes with overwhelming force. Only through the use of ballistae or dragonators can hunters hope to slay the gigantic Dire Miralis. Even with these hunting installations, Dire Miralis is a nearly insurmountable threat capable of ending the world.

4 Alatreon

Alatreon the Blazing Black Dragon is a Dangerous First-Class and elementally versatile monster that holds the power of its elder dragon brethren. It is can use ice, fire, water, thunder, and dragon elements to unleash various attacks on foes. It is an extremely territorial creature that eliminates anything that stumbles on its land. Therefore any land belonging to Alatreon is desolate of everything besides itself. Despite Alatreon's various powers, its instability limits their potential.

In Monster Hunter 3, hunters face this flexible beast in the barren Sacred Lands. Regardless of the hunter's defenses, they will not be able to counter each element effectively. Using its wide variety of attacks, Altreon can inflict random blights upon hunters deterring their abilities and ensuring their demise. While Altreon's elements are not as powerful as its elder dragon counterparts, its instability has earned it the title of living natural disaster.

3 Fatalis

Fatalis the Black Dragon is a Dangerous First-Class monster and the common ancestor of all elder dragons. Black Fatalis is the most common - and weakest - variant of its family yet it is renowned as a beast capable of destroying kingdoms overnight. While its strength is impressive it pales in comparison to the sinister Crimson Fatalis and the legendary White Fatalis. Regardless of type, each Fatalis can cause widespread chaos and destruction to all it opposes.

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Every variant of Fatalis possesses nearly insurmountable power and an insatiable bloodlust. In Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, hunters can experience the unparalleled ferocity of each Fatalis variant. Both Fatalis and Crimson Fatalis boasts fierce fire and dragon elemental attacks capable of annihilating entire hunting parties. However, White Fatalis instead utilizes devastating red lightning to dispatch foes. The Fatalis family bears the most malevolent elder dragons which have been feared since their debut in the franchise.

2 Shantien

Shantien or Xiang Tien is an exceptionally powerful elder dragon that utilizes its own unique element Tenshou. This element consists of fire, water, and thunder making it a nearly uncounterable attack. Shantien boasts devastating environment-altering attacks and immense speed which it uses to slay worthy opponents. However, its effort depends on the threat which invades its territory. Unfortunately, airships fall into Shantien's list of moderate threats to his environment.

In Monster Hunter Frontier G, hunters can face Shantien aboard a large exploration ship. At first, Shantien appears to be a slow and overall unimpressive monster but this is due to its lack of effort. As the battle progresses Shantien becomes increasingly difficult until it nearly decimates the ship causing it to crash. Regrettably, hunters have proven themselves to Shantien and are now deserving of its complete might. This is when Shantien unleashes its full power devastating the landscape, moving at insane speeds, and delivering powerful Tenshou blasts. Shantien is a frightening elder dragon that can eliminate nearly any threat it faces.

1 Disufiroa

Disufiroa the Frozen Seraphim Dragon is an extraordinary elemental powerhouse and the most catastrophic Dangerous First-Class monster in existence. It utilizes its own special and devastating element known as Frozen Seraphim, a combination of ice, fire, and dragon. Using this element Disufiroa can create reflective icebergs, create ice pillars, summon dual-element tornados, and launch cataclysmic elemental balls. If Disufiroa endures enough damage it will change into its more powerful Shiten form. Its vast array of attacks and power make it a foe like no other.

In Monster Hunter Frontier G2, hunters can encounter Disufiroa in the near inhospitable area of World's End. This location is a hellish landscape consisting of meteor rain, protruding rock formations, and unnatural purple water. The land was altered by the presence of Disufiroa who can change the temperature to extremes. This conversion occurred without any effort from the elder dragon but when it intervenes it can cause earthquakes and meteor showers. The only creature capable of challenging Disufiroa is Shantien but even it is not enough. Disufiroa is by far the most catastrophic elder dragon that can bring an end to the world without any effort.

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