monster hunter stories 2 best monsties

Editorial Note: Tiers and gene recommendations reflect post-launch Title Update 5 balancing, co-op high-rank expeditions, and Fatalis/PvP meta optimization.

With over 140 companions available in Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, building the ultimate team requires looking past pure nostalgia. Success in high-rank co-op dens, Special Lair runs, and competitive PvP boils down to three core factors: base stat scaling, attack tendencies (Power, Speed, Technical), and bingo board flexibility via the Rite of Channeling.

Whether you need a heavy hitter to clear the S-Rank Fatalis trial or an early-game carry, this comprehensive Monstie Tier List breaks down the absolute best companions in the current meta.

🏆 Summary Tier List Breakdown

Tier	Primary Role	Featured Monsties
S-Tier (Meta Gods)	Essential Endgame & PvP	Silver Rathalos, Gold Rathian, Nergigante, Bloodbath Diablos, Boltreaver Astalos, Soulseer Mizutsune
A-Tier (Top Performers)	High-Rank Co-op & Trial Lairs	Dreadking Rathalos, Hellblade Glavenus, Kirin, Velkhana, Teostra, Silverwind Nargacuga, Stygian Zinogre
B-Tier (Solid Role Players)	Mid-to-Late Game Carry	Tigrex, Nargacuga, Lagiacrus, Brachydios, Mizutsune, Razewing Ratha
C-Tier (Early/Niche)	Campaign Progression & Utility	Ranmar (Velocidrome), Royal Ludroth, Kulu-Ya-Ku, Pukei-Pukei

👑 S-Tier: The Definitive Endgame Meta

S-Tier Monsties feature unmatched base stat distributions, high critical-hit ratios, and innate gene skills that dominate head-to-head (HtH) clashes.

1. Silver Rathalos (Power / Fire)

Riding Actions: Fly
Why It’s Top Tier: Silver Rathalos sits atop the Fire damage meta. Boasting higher base elemental attack and defense stats than Teostra or Dreadking Rathalos, its signature Solar Flare gene delivers catastrophic single-target damage with a high burn chance.
Best Gene Synergy: Slot in Hellblade Gene (XL) for Flame Aura and Fire Boost Gene (XL) to maximize your Fire Bingo multipliers.

2. Bloodbath Diablos (Speed / Non-Elemental)

Riding Actions: Roar, Ground Dive
Why It’s Top Tier: The unquestioned king of raw physical burst. Bloodbath Diablos outpaces standard Speed monsties with incredible critical hit rates and its devastating Savage Roar skill, which hits all enemies while ignoring elemental resistances.
Best Gene Synergy: Build around Non-Elem Boost (XL), Might Gene (XL), and Critical Gene (XL) for maximum head-to-head damage multipliers.

3. Boltreaver Astalos (Technical / Thunder)

Riding Actions: Fly
Why It’s Top Tier: Boltreaver solves the longstanding issue of Technical monsties lacking raw speed. With immense critical hit scaling and paralysis application, it locks down bosses in high-rank co-op expeditions before they can enter enraged phases.
Best Gene Synergy: Pair with Thunderlord Gene (L) and Critical Eye to guarantee consistent crit-paralyze loops.

4. Soulseer Mizutsune (Speed / Water)

Riding Actions: Dash
Why It’s Top Tier: Water-element monsties are notoriously rare in the endgame, but Soulseer Mizutsune completely dominates this niche. Its high speed and dodge-buff mechanics make it nearly untouchable in high-rank PvP duels.

⚔️ A-Tier: High-Rank & Co-Op Powerhouses

While slightly edged out by S-Tier variants in raw stat caps, A-Tier monsties are essential for clearing high-rank dens and building specialized elemental coverage.

1. Nergigante (Power / Non-Elemental)

Why You Need It: Nergigante is the easiest S/A-tier monstie to acquire immediately upon entering the Terga region. Its self-healing passive (Calamity Slash) makes it the safest choice for soloing the Elder Lair.

2. Silverwind Nargacuga (Speed / Non-Elemental)

Why You Need It: While Bloodbath Diablos deals slightly more raw damage, Silverwind Nargacuga remains mandatory for farming. Its Stealth riding action allows you to bypass trash mobs in Co-Op Expeditions, saving hours when grinding Super Rare High-Rank Dens.

3. Velkhana & Kushala Daora (Technical / Ice)

Why You Need Them: Both Ice-type Elder Dragons dominate the Ice meta. Velkhana edges ahead in single-target skill damage, making it the primary counter for endgame Dragon-element boss trials.

🐣 Best Early-to-Mid Game Monsties (Campaign Carry)

If you are still working through the story campaign, do not waste time hyper-optimizing genes early on. Grab these easily accessible monsties:

Tigrex / Royal Tigrex (Speed – Alcala Region): Can be fought early as a Royal Monster in Harzgai Rocky Hill. Gives you immediate access to 5-star stats and the Ivy Climb riding action.
Nargacuga (Speed – Alcala Region): Unlocks the essential Stealth skill, making egg hunting significantly faster.
Zamtrios (Technical / Ice – Loloska Region): Excellent mid-game wall breaker that handles the sudden jump in dragon/fire enemy difficulty in the snow region.

🧬 Rite of Channeling: Core Rules for Endgame Builds

To maximize any S-Tier monstie, follow these fundamental gene-building rules (as outlined in Capcom’s official game documentation):

Prioritize Elemental Bingo Lines: Always complete bingo lines (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) matching your monstie’s primary element to hit maximum damage caps.
Keep the Primary Tendency Pure: Avoid mixing too many off-type genes onto a natural Power or Speed monstie unless building a specific PvP surprise counter. Sticking to their natural tendency preserves their highest stat growth curve.
Always Run Head-to-Head (HtH) Master: High-Rank endgames revolve around winning Head-to-Head clashes to build Kinship gauge quickly. Ensure every endgame build includes HtH Master (XL) or Self-Improvement (XL).