In Title Update 1, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak received four returning sub-species and variants of monsters in the game, one of which included the rare and fearsome sub-species of Rathian, the Gold Rathian.
Since Gold Rathian isn't a part of the main storyline of the Sunbreak expansion, players will need to hit a milestone to unlock the beast. This guide will help Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak players unlock and defeat a Gold Rathian efficiently.
How To Unlock Gold Rathian
For the quick answer, Gold Rathian can be unlocked after completing the main storyline of the Sunbreak expansion and reaching Master-Rank level 10. However, before fighting Gold Rathian, players must first complete the Urgent quest, Raining Fire, which will task them to either capture or kill a Seething Bazelgeuse. Afterward, they can speak with Doctor Tadori, who will bestow the Gold Rathian Urgent quest, A Single Beam of Moonlight.
Unfortunately, those who fought Gold Rathian in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne will surely be disappointed seeing Gold Rathian receive virtually no changes in its inclusion into Sunbreak. This also applies to Silver Rathalos, who was also included in Title Update 1. While it's upsetting to see a wasted opportunity go by, it's still important to discuss how to defeat the shining Wyvern once again.
How To Defeat Gold Rathian
Unlike normal Rathian, who are excessively weak to the Dragon element, Gold Rathians now highly resist Dragon and become vulnerable to the Thunder element. It also has a minor weakness to both Water and Ice as well. Using the elements mentioned, players should focus on three specific parts of a Gold Rathian, the legs, wings, and, most importantly, the tail. These body parts are the weakest and can be easily broken, though severing the tail could take some time. Severing the tail of a Gold Rathian will significantly reduce its attacking power when using its tail-based attacks, especially when trying to poison hunters.
Gold Rathian and Silver Rathalos have a new unique Enraged state called Incandescent mode. In this mode, their chests will begin to glow, and all their Fire-based attacks now deal twice as much damage. Watch out for Gold Rathian when it starts to shine, as it will then begin to charge its ultimate move, the Blue Flare Blast. Gold Rathian will fly up into the air and shoot a giant blue fireball that will explode and cover a large area. However, it typically shoots it near itself, so evading out of the monster's sight will grant the most advantage here.
But like other Enraged states, the Incandescent mode can be quelled by simply dealing enough damage to Gold Rathian, and it will be knocked out of it. Afterward, continue to hunt it as usual, and players will eventually defeat the beast.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is now available for the Nintendo Switch and PC.