Magala Family

I've probably mentioned it before but the Monster Hunter games do an excellent job of creating memorable and unique creatures. This is especially notable in the chosen flagship monsters for each game. The monster that's showcased as a sort of "mascot" for that installment is meant to stand out and be iconic.

Gore Magala was the flagship of Monster Hunter 4 which was only released in Japan. It was an a new unclassified type of monster with a dragonlike shape. The two large wing-arms on its back are usually folded against its body like a cape. When it goes into true rage, the folded horns on its face flip out and it changes its attack style. In 4U, this monster is a powerful early target for new hunters to fight and is integral to the single-player story.

It's learned later that Gore Magala is actually a juvenile form of its species. When it matures, it sheds its dark outer scales revealing the brilliant white/gold of Shagaru Magala. Able to see with its eyes, Shagaru Magala is classified as an Elder Dragon and is daunting foe for novice hunters. It uses more powerful versions of Gore's attacks and is highly aggressive.

I really like the designs of the Magalas. Even though Gore is an early form, it still has a great design that's fitting of a flagship monster. This design is further expanded upon in its final form which showcases all of the regal and fearsome aspects of a true dragon. I wanted to keep the designs simple here while still capturing the different details of each. The contrast on their color palettes turned out fairly well though I had a hard time deciding on the right shade for Shagaru.