Rathalos, Palico, and Felyne mascots lead a new creature‑focused Nendoroid wave that hints at Capcom’s wider Monster Hunter merch strategy ahead of Monster Hunter Wilds.
Good Smile Company is returning to the New World of Monster Hunter figures, but this time the hunters are sitting out. Instead of another armored protagonist, the latest batch of early‑announced Nendoroids is all about the series’ stars: the monsters and their Felyne companions.
According to Good Smile’s recent reveal, four Monster Hunter designs are in the pipeline. The headliners are chibi takes on flagship wyvern Rathalos and series veteran Yian Kut‑Ku, both shown off via stylized concept art. These two already look closer to finished products, posed mid‑roar and mid‑peck in a way that suits the exaggerated Nendoroid proportions while still reading as unmistakably Monster Hunter. No parts loadout has been detailed yet, but their silhouettes alone suggest swappable wings, mouths, and maybe effect pieces for fireballs or charged lunges once Good Smile moves past the planning phase.
The other half of the wave shifts focus to the series’ mascots. A Nendoroid of Kit T, the Hunting Guide Palico from Monster Hunter Rise, is on the way, along with a Palico outfitted in classic Rathalos armor. For these two, Good Smile is still only showing Capcom’s existing character art rather than dedicated Nendoroid designs, which makes it clear they are earlier in development. Even so, their inclusion rounds out a small but pointed snapshot of the series’ ecosystem: apex monster on one end, support companions on the other, all ready to be posed together on a shelf.
This line marks a notable pivot from how Monster Hunter has typically been treated in the Nendoroid catalog. Earlier releases leaned hard on customizable hunters wearing popular armor sets, essentially treating the figures as tiny avatar stand‑ins. They were love letters to character building and fashion hunting, with helmets, weapons, and poses that celebrated your loadout more than any single creature. By centering Rathalos, Yian Kut‑Ku, and recognizable Palico faces, Good Smile is zeroing in on the bestiary and the brand mascots rather than the player surrogate.
That shift lines up neatly with where the franchise is heading as Monster Hunter Wilds approaches. Capcom’s recent marketing has put more emphasis on the world itself and on the behavior of monsters under shifting environmental conditions. Pushing a creature‑first Nendoroid wave at the same time makes sense: it keeps the most iconic designs top of mind while also being accessible to fans who might not care about a specific armor set from a single entry. A Rathalos figure reads as Monster Hunter no matter which game you played.
There is also a broader merch angle here. As Monster Hunter has broken out of its handheld roots and into global blockbuster territory, Capcom has steadily diversified what it sells, from scale statues and builder kits to softer, more stylized goods. Cute, compact monsters and mascot Palicoes fit neatly into that strategy. They work for long‑time players who know every roar and tell, but they also function as approachable character goods you can pick up after seeing only a trailer for Wilds or watching a friend play Rise.
Because all four Nendoroids are described as being at a very early stage, Good Smile has not committed to release windows or pricing yet. That timing actually gives the company and Capcom room to sync the rollout with Wilds’ expanding marketing cycle. If the figures arrive near launch or alongside a major content update, they can act as tangible touchpoints for new monsters and returning favorites, much like how previous figures helped extend the life of Monster Hunter World well past its expansions.
The choice of subjects tells its own story. Rathalos remains the evergreen face of the brand, Yian Kut‑Ku taps into deep nostalgia for older fans, and Kit T plus the Rathalos‑armor Palico bridge the gap between modern entries and the series’ long tradition of Felyne sidekicks. Taken together, this wave looks less like a one‑off and more like a template for future creature‑driven Nendoroid pushes if Wilds lands the way Capcom expects.
For now, Monster Hunter collectors will have to settle for concept art and announcement slides while Good Smile refines sculpts, engineering, and accessory sets. But the message is clear. As the games evolve toward dynamic ecosystems and dramatic monster behavior, the merch is evolving with them, putting the creatures and companions front and center. When these Nendoroids finally arrive, they will not just be another line of cute figures, but a snapshot of Monster Hunter at a moment where its monsters matter more than ever on screen and on shelves alike.