Playing with Fire

Playing with Fire

Hunting Quest: Hunt a Qurupeco

Reward: 1800z
Contract: 150z

Time: 50 min.
Area: Sandy Plains
Unstable Environment

Subquest A: Pitfall Trap Qurupeco
Reward: 600z

Subquest B: Deliver 1 Wyvern Tear
Reward: 800z

Your target is the Qurupeco, a small, green-and-purple feathered bird wyvern. The Qurupeco is the smallest of the wyverns (although he's at least twice your size), as well as the easiest to take down. This far into the game you should have, at the very least, a full set of Hunter's Armor (or, even better, a full set of Jaggi Armor), and a weapon that you've upgraded at least three times. It doesn't matter which type of weapon you bring with you, but the Sword & Shield, Great Sword, or Lance is a good choice for the beginner.

Completing Subquest A requires trapping Qurupeco in a Pitfall Trap once during the course of the fight. You can make a Pitfall Trap by combining a Spider Web with Ivy to make a Net and then combining the Net with a Trap Tool (buyable at the market) to make the trap. Spider Webs and Ivy are easy to come by in the Deserted Island area, so head out to the Moga Woods if you're in need of supplies.

Qurupeco is one of the smaller wyverns, although he's at least twice your size.

Combining a Herb with a Blue Mushroom will create a Potion. Combining a Potion with Honey will create a Mega Potion, which restores a large amount of lost health when consumed.

At the start of the quest, remove the Map, First-aid Meds, Rations, Sonic Bombs, Paintballs and Dung Bomb from the Supply Box and then start toward Area 8. If this is your first time attempting this quest, a short video will play when you enter Area 8, after which the Qurupeco will fly to Area 4. If you've attempted this quest before, the Qurupeco will be in Area 4 to start.

Qurupeco is one enemy you'll want to hit with a Paintball, as he can be hard to track when he flies into another area. If you're wearing the Hunter's Armor set, you should have the Auto-Tracker skill, so there would be no need to hit Qurupeco with a Paintball. Likewise, if you've equipped Cha-Cha with the Fluffy Mask, he'll be able to track the Qurupeco for you (press Select to bring up the Hunter menu and then press Start to give the signal).

The biggest issue when facing the Qurupeco is his ability to call nearby monsters into the area. In quests with unstable environments such as this one, there is an additional boss monster on the map. In this case, in addition to the Qurupeco is a Great Jaggi. When Qurupeco puffs up his throat sac and lets out a long howl, the Great Jaggi will come running. Having two boss monsters in the same area can be a pain, so try to stop Qurupeco from calling the monster by throwing a Sonic Bomb at him while he's imitating the monster's call. If the Great Jaggi does show up on his own accord, it's easy enough to avoid taking damage from him by positioning yourself on the opposite side of Qurupeco. You can also throw a Dung Bomb at the Great Jaggi to force him out of the area.

The wings and tail of the Qurupeco are armoured, so weapons below green sharpness will bounce off, dealing less damage and preventing you from performing combos. As such, concentrate your attacks on Qurupeco's legs, torso and head. Attack Qurupeco's legs and there's a chance you'll knock him over. When the Qurupeco does fall, take this opportunity to attack his head, as by doing so you can break his beak to gain additional loot on the reward screen.

Throw a Sonic Bomb at Qurupeco while he's mimicking the call of another monster to prevent that monster from joining the fray.

The Qurupeco has a variety attacks in his arsenal. The standard tail swing, where Qurupeco swings his tail in a clockwise direction twice in a row, can be avoided by sticking to his right side or by using your shield or sword to block the hit. Because the Qurupeco always swings his tail clockwise, always roll or step to the left when face-to-face with him to avoid being caught off guard by a quick tail swing. After dodging the first tail wing, it's best to block the second.

Avoid standing directly below the Qurupeco, as doing so leaves you open to its peck attack or a quick trample. Attack from the side or from behind.

The Qurupeco also has a couple of projectile attacks. These attacks are easy to anticipate: when the Qurupeco lifts his head and stands on one leg, he is about to spit three globs of mucus a few feet in front of him. If one of these globs hits your hunter, he or she will take damage and suffer from a temporary Fire Resistance Down status ailment. Move up close to Qurupeco to avoid getting hit by one of these projectiles. This also gives you the opportunity to get a few hits in -- just be sure to roll or step to the side to avoid being pecked once he's finished spitting. If you're using a weapon that causes your hunter to move slowly while wielding it such as a Lance or Great Sword, it's safer to block the projectile rather than attempting to sheath your weapon and move in.
 
Qurupeco can also spit these globs of mucus while hovering in the air. This airborne projectile attack is similarly easy to anticipate and avoid: just watch for a head lift and then move up close to him or block.

It is best to remain close to Qurupeco while he is hovering in the air, as you will be safe from his projectiles and can easily roll or step to the side to avoid his swoop attack. If you attack him while he is hovering in the air there is a chance you can knock him to the ground, giving you the opportunity to get some free hits in. The Lance's High Thrust attack and the Great Sword's Rising Slash work best for this.

Qurupeco can clap its wing flints together to create small explosions.

The Fire Resistance Down status ailment is particularly dangerous because it leaves you more vulnerable to Qurupeco's most powerful attacks. Qurupeco can create a small explosion by clapping together the flints on its wing. If hit by this attack, your hunter will sustain a temporary Severe Fireblight status ailment. This ailment gradually reduces your hunter's health, so watch out for this once. When Qurupeco lifts up his head and spreads his wing apart, he is just about to perform this attack.  Either block, roll or step to the side to avoid getting hit.

Another of Qurupeco's attacks consists of him creating a series of two or more small explosions in quick succession. During this attack, Qurupeco will lunge toward you several times while clapping his wing flints together, creating a small explosion each time. You'll know he is about to perform this attack when he claps his wing claws together twice, creating a small spark.  The best way to avoid this attack it to get very close to Qurupeco and circle around him, trying your best to remain behind him as he lunges forward. Do not attempt to attack while Qurupeco is using this move; just concentrate on not getting hit.

When Qurupeco enters rage mode (indicated by white smoke bellowing from his mouth), his attack speed increases and he will use more powerful attacks. While Qurupeco is in rage mode, it is best if you just work on keeping your distance. Never attack Qurupeco head on while he is enraged, as his increased speed makes evading his attacks difficult.

In addition to these attacks, Qurupeco has the ability to restore some of its health and temporarily increase its Attack or Defence by dancing. The effect of its dance will be applied to all other enemies in the area as well. You can actually steal the effect if you break the Qurupeco's throat sac while he is dancing. So, for example, if the Qurupeco is dancing to heal himself and you break his throat sac, some of your hunter's health will be restored instead.

Get Qurupeco in a Pitfall Trap to complete Subquest A.

Break Qurupeco's throat sac while he is dancing and he will leave behind a glittering spot on the ground. Gather at this spot to find an item -- potentially the Wyvern Tear needed to complete Subquest B. If you do find a Wyvern Tear, remember to deliver it before killing Qurupeco.

You can also throw a Sonic Bomb at the dancing Qurupeco to temporarily stun him, but doing so will not grant your hunter the dance's effect.

Like most other monsters, Qurupeco will limp when close to death and attempt to retreat to another area. Now is the time to hit him with a Paintball if you haven't already and don't have some other means of tracking him.

After limping, Qurupeco will most likely retreat to Area 7 to rest. If you have a Pitfall Trap with you, now is the time to complete Subquest A. Follow Qurupeco into Area 7, set the trap before he gets close to you and then position yourself so the trap is between the two of you to lure him onto it. Attack his head while he's in the trap to get the most out of it.

Continue attacking Qurupeco until he falls. Congratulations -- you've just slain your first real wyvern!

Hunting the Qurupeco