Monster Hunter Rise had some pretty terrifying beasts but in Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin they are not your enemies but your partners to raise. If you enjoy a Pokemon-style way of raising beasts as opposed to the traditional Monster Hunter route of slaying beasts for their valuable parts, this will definitely be the game for you.
Between a new look and the monsters (called monsties in this setting) not trying to kill you every 5 seconds, this amps up their cuteness 100 percent. Plus you get to see them as babies and really what isn’t adorable as a baby. Maybe Khezu, but even he’s got his own fans surely. Here are the most adorable monsties Stories has to offer.
10 Yian Kut-Ku
It’s pretty hard not to love Yian Kut-Ku’s face. Their lower jaw sort of hangs above the face like one big jaw overbite, giving one of the derpiest appearances to a monster. The fact he has a scrawny stick figure-like body in comparison to his huge head also adds to his silly charm.
He carries an expression with him that is neither intimidating nor edgy but rather one of dumbfoundedness that is ready to charge headfirst at the enemy.
9 Velocidrome
Everybody who ever loved dinosaurs as a youth imagined having a dinosaur friend at some point in life. Velocidrome is the ideal version of that image.
They’re dinosaur-looking enough with a long jaw, finned head, and spiky teeth, yet something about those big eyes and gentle demeanor makes them extremely cute and cuddly. Velocidrome’s have a dog-like charm to them because they give off the vibe of being loyal and loving unconditionally proud partners to their riders.
8 Lagombi
Lagombis typically tend to be early game monsters that quickly become practice dummies. Regardless of this, it’s still a big fluffy rabbit with fur that you know you want to snuggle up in on a cold winter’s day.
They’re like holiday rabbits if the said rabbit was huge and lived in the snow. It’s very easy and adorable to picture these guys carrying around a basket of eggs in their mouth though.
7 Palamute
It’s debatable whether Palamutes technically count as monsties due to their previous hunting dog-like role in Rise.
They’re so perfect looking as puppies and to be honest, this is a huge treat because in Rise your Palamute is already grown up and ready to go when you start the game. Now the people who wondered what they looked like as puppies finally get to see that come to fruition.
6 Paolumu
There’s something really charismatic adorable about the whimsical appearance of bats, particularly Paolumu and their giant mane of fluff. Bats have this very black and white view by people, some people are terrified of them because they have this silly reputation of being wicked vampiric beings.
There are others who absolutely love them for their unique, beautifully gothic charm. Paolumu is a gentle creature who can fly through the sky with its air sac and loves to munch on eggs.
5 Nargacuga
Nargacuga seems like a goth edgy beast but everyone knows it’s always those types who are the most loving. They may look like the lord of the night, but they also look like he would very much enjoy head pats and brushes. Their appearance is reminiscent of that of a cross between a cat and a wyvern dragon.
They may be as ferocious as a big predatory cat, but the thing about cats is that no matter what their size, they all have the same quirks. Therefore it’s easy to picture Nargacuga rolling around in some grass or purring when happy.
4 Mitzusune
Mitzusune’s low-slung, colorful design and adorable sharp face make it very charming. The design resembles that of a dragon crossed with a mink or ferret. They are just as sassy, too! However, this leviathan’s cutest trait has to do with the way it moves around.
Mitzsune renders bubbles from its body, giving its skin a wet and slippery texture. Therefore when you ride on its back, it slides around like a big bar of soap. This definitely makes it live up to its nickname from players, the soap dragon.
3 Barioth
Barioth is probably what your cat pictures themselves as when they hiss at another cat from the window or suspiciously eye the courier dropping off a package. Ferocious with big teeth yet fluffy, these beasts look too much like cuddly snow leopards for someone to not want to immediately pet them.
Not to mention that, since they are cold-weather creatures, it’s too easy to picture them playfully jumping around in a snowbank on a winter day.
2 Kirin
Part horse, part zebra, part unicorn, Kirin is right up the ally of hoofed animal lovers alike. Majestic and swift, players will feel like they are in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time again trekking across Hyrule Field on Epona.
The cutest feature on Kirin is the tufts of fur around their face that makes them look likely they have a silly beard. Their elegant design makes them unicorns for the cultured grown-up.
1 Lagiacrus
For some reason, monsties who live in or near the ocean are always way cuter than their land cousins. Maybe it’s the way they seem to dance in the sea when they cut through the currents.
The design of the fractalized fins also add to the charm. When it comes to Lagiacrus, it’s the fact that he has gone from being a ferocious sea monster like in previous games to basically being Flipper the Dolphin.
NEXT: Every Boss In Monster Hunter Stories 2 And How To Defeat Them
