The Arena: Rathian quest is a difficult challenge you'll face in large sections of map while you seek out a particular target, Arena quests plop you down in a small, controlled space where there's nothing between you and your target. While these quests tend to be a lot quicker than run-of-the-mill hunts, they can also be a lot more difficult: the unique structure of the arena means there's nowhere to run for either you or the monster.

Arena quests sometimes also limit you to specific loadouts, which can make them especially frustrating if you're not used to the provided weapon's moveset. To make things even tougher, your success in Arena quests is measured in time: the more quickly you complete one, the better the rewards. In case you're struggling with this especially difficult, tightly timed Arena challenge, here are some tips and tricks that may help you beat the Rathian in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Best Loadout For Arena Rathian

Should You Choose Set A, B, Or C?

Before you jump into the Arena to fight the Rathian, you'll need to choose from three different equipment sets. Each one contains two different weapons, a mixed armor set, and a variety of different consumables. The table below details everything that's included in each of the three sets, excluding the standard 10 Potions, 10 Mega Potions, 2 Max Potions, and 10 Rations provided to you, regardless of which one you choose.

For my money, I'd always go with set B here, but that's at least partially because I have the most experience with Switch Axe and Charge Blade. What is especially nice about it, though, is that the Chthonian Flame line of Charge Blades deals Dragon elemental damage, which Rathian is weakest to. Along with Thunder, it's the only kind of elemental damage that can be inflicted on all of its parts, but there are no Thunder weapons to be chosen here and Dragon deals more damage in almost every case anyway.

Still, all three loadouts are technically viable, so choose whatever weapon type you're most comfortable with. If you're playing with a friend (which I highly recommend, since Arena quests are definitely better balanced in multiplayer), the Hammer/Sword & Shield combo is pretty great for this quest. The Sword and Shield has the potential to put the Rathian to sleep, which can buy you valuable time, while the Hammer's high damage and uncomplicated moveset can help you bonk your way to victory.

How To Defeat Arena Rathian

Rathian Weaknesses

The table below breaks down all of Rathian's weaknesses by part. As always, the more stars, the weaker the part is to that particular type of damage.

As you can see, both types of physical damage are roughly equal in of beating Rathian, although Blunt has a slight advantage (point Hammer). As far as elemental damage goes, Dragon is by far the most powerful (point Charge Blade). No matter what you choose, though, you should ideally concentrate as much damage as possible on the Rathian's head and avoid its torso, using Focus Mode and the wounds system to help you aim.

Arena Rathian Moveset & Rewards

The Arena Rathian uses the same moveset as the usual Rathian, so if you've fought one before, you probably know what to expect. However, the smaller space of the arena may cause additional complications when it comes to avoiding certain attacks. Watch its mouth closely for helpful hints as to when it's about to attack.

When it rears up, it's about to activate its three-pronged breath attack. If you see fire in its mouth, then it's preparing to shoot an exploding fireball that can inflict Fireblight when it hits you. If it's glowing orange, the Rathian is about to take to the skies to perform its somersaulting tail whip combo.

The table below includes all three ranks available for Arena Rathian completion, along with the times you'll have to beat to achieve them, and the rewards you'll receive for doing so. Note that you may be rewarded a Rathian Coin no matter what rank you achieve. Achieving a higher rank also means you get all the rewards provided by the lower ranks.

And with that, you should be equipped to beat the Arena Rathian. This quest is tough even for experienced players - five and a half minutes is not a lot of time - so don't be surprised if it takes a little practice before you can achieve an A rank. If you're really struggling, invite some friends, and you should be able to complete this Monster Hunter Wilds quest within a few attempts.