In Monster Hunter: World and Iceborne, Azure Rathalos is weakest to Dragon, with Ice as the next-best element. Aim for its head; when that is out of reach, target the wings or tail tip. Because it spends more time flying than ordinary Rathalos, bring Flash Pods and be ready for fire and poison.
What is Azure Rathalos weak to?
Dragon is its strongest listed elemental weakness, followed by Ice. A World/Iceborne database ranks Dragon as highly effective, Ice as effective, Thunder and Water as less effective, and Fire as ineffective. That differs from the usual Rathalos matchup: Ice is more effective than Thunder against Azure Rathalos. The rankings apply to Monster Hunter: World and Iceborne, not automatically to other games in the series. GameConductor’s Azure Rathalos entry and the Gamer Guides World bestiary support this elemental order.
Hitzones and where to aim
In the table below, the hitzone values are from GameConductor’s World/Iceborne entry. Higher values indicate a more favorable hitzone in that table; an elemental value of 0 is ineffective. Weapon-type values are listed as sever, blunt, and shot.
| Part | Sever | Blunt | Shot | Fire | Water | Thunder | Ice | Dragon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head | 60 | 65 | 55 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 30 |
| Neck | 30 | 35 | 25 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 20 |
| Back/body | 22 | 22 | 20 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 20 |
| Wings | 50 | 45 | 40 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 25 |
| Legs | 35 | 35 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 15 |
| Tail | 25 | 25 | 20 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 20 |
| Tail tip | 55 | 50 | 45 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 25 |
The head is the best all-around target in these figures: it takes the highest listed physical hitzone values and the most elemental damage. Its Dragon value is 30, compared with 20 for Ice. If you cannot reach the head, the wings and tail tip are the next useful targets. The full hitzone values are reported by GameConductor.
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- Contains both Monster Hunter: World and the Iceborne expansion
- Explore sprawling locales teeming with undiscovered creatures and thriving ecosystems
- Battle fearsome monsters not only to craft new weapons & armor, but also to drive the story forward and uncover the mysteries of the New World and Hoarfrost Reach
- Extensive single-player campaign that also allows drop-in multiplayer; use the SOS Flare to summon other hunters for an assist!
- Use monster materials, as well as items found growing in the wild, to craft new items and gear
How to deal with Azure Rathalos in the air
Azure Rathalos spends more time airborne than ordinary Rathalos and frequently attacks from above with fire and claw moves. Flash Pods can interrupt its flight and create an opening to attack. The Japanese World/Iceborne guide recommends firing one in front of the flying monster and bringing several; a Game8 guide also describes Flash Pods as useful against its aerial behavior.
Do not assume it will stay airborne throughout the hunt. The Japanese guide notes that after repeating aerial actions for a while, it eventually spends more time on the ground. Use that stretch to attack the head, especially if your weapon has trouble reaching it in flight. A ground fireball can also leave the head briefly exposed; GameConductor recommends sidestepping the fireball to take advantage of that opening. GameConductor
Rank #2
- Welcome to the new world: taking on the role of a Hunter, players are tasked with going on a research expedition to a newly discovered continent known only as “new world”.
- Living and breathing ecosystem: utilize the surrounding environment and wildlife to your advantage;Subgenre:Action role-playing game (RPG)
- Online drop-in multiplayer: when the battle is too daunting to take on single-handedly, hail up to three other hunters to assist during quests by sending up a sos flare to a worldwide server.
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What hazards should you prepare for?
- Fireblight: Fire attacks can inflict fireblight. Gamer Guides recommends Fire Resistance 20 or higher to avoid it; treat that as guide advice, not a required threshold for every armor set or build. Gamer Guides
- Poison: Its claw dive can poison, so bring Antidotes or another way to recover. Gamer Guides suggests Poison Resistance rank 3 as an alternative to negate the hazard. Gamer Guides
- Roars and wind pressure: GameConductor describes its roar and wind pressure as large. Account for these interruptions when choosing when to commit to a long attack. GameConductor
Which parts can you break or sever?
Guides list the head, wings, and back or body among Azure Rathalos’s breakable parts; the tail can be severed. GameConductor’s High Rank reward table associates a tail sever with Azure Rathalos Tail materials and wing breaks with Azure Rathalos Wing materials. Prioritize the part that matches your objective, while keeping the head as the main damage target. GameConductor and Gamer Guides
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where and when can you hunt Azure Rathalos?
The World/Iceborne database lists the Ancient Forest and Elder’s Recess as locations. Gamer Guides associates the monster with 7-star High Rank quests, including Rathalos in Blue, Ruler of the Azure Skies, The Red and Blue Crew, and a Special Arena quest. Quest availability and progression depend on game state; Gamer Guides says the fight is not required to advance the story. GameConductor and Gamer Guides
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Rank #4
- Welcome to the new world: taking on the role of a Hunter, players are tasked with going on a research expedition to a newly discovered continent known only as “new world”.
- Living and breathing ecosystem: utilize the surrounding environment and wildlife to your advantage;Subgenre:Action role-playing game (RPG)
- Online drop-in multiplayer: when the battle is too daunting to take on single-handedly, hail up to three other hunters to assist during quests by sending up a sos flare to a worldwide server.
- Hunt to craft new Gear: defeat monsters and collect loot from fallen foes to craft equipment and weapons styled after the monsters that have been slain.
- SEAMLESS gameplay: players and monsters can move from One map area to another freely and without loading screens whilst gameplay also dynamically transitions between night and day.
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