The Horned Dragon

The Horned Dragon

Hunting Quest: Hunt a Diablos
Unlock: Complete “Heat Exhaustion” and the “Ancient Mask” Villager Request.

Reward: 5600z
Contract: 550z

Time: 50 min.
Area: Sandy Plains

Subquest A: Break both Diablos' horns
Reward: 100z

Subquest B: Sonic Bomb Diablos mid-dig
Reward: 500z

Diablos is one of the three boss monsters returning from the original Monster Hunter (joined by Rathian and Rathalos). This two-horned wyvern can burrow underground and re-emerge at will. Its brutal attacks pack a powerful punch, so don't expect this hunt to be a cakewalk even if you've conquered Diablos in past games.

As many of Diablos's attacks are quick and powerful, it's best to go with a weapon type that will allow you to block. In this case, either a Lance or Great Sword is a good choice. Diablos is weakest against Ice elemental damage, so the Tusk Lance (322 raw power, 310 Ice elemental damage) is the ideal Lance. You'll need to hunt Barioth a few times to gather the materials required to craft this weapon, but it will certainly get the job done. Follow the Iron Lance path to Rampart to upgrade to Tusk Lance. As there aren't any Great Swords that deal Ice elemental damage, go with a Great Sword that has a high raw power instead such as the Sieglinde (720 raw power, 320 Poison) or the Rathalos Firesword (672 raw power, 420 fire damage) if you choose to use this weapon type.

The two-horned wyvern returns in Monster Hunter Tri.

One item that is invaluable when facing Diablos is the Sonic Bomb. You can throw a Sonic Bomb at Diablos just after it burrows underground to trap it for a short period of time. In this effect, Sonic Bombs act just like Pitfall Traps, but don't seem to diminish in effectiveness the more they're used. As such, you'll want to bring a full supply of Sonic Bombs with you. The Supply Box for this quest contains two Sonic Bombs and you can hold 10 total in your inventory, so bring eight. Do note that Sonic Bombs won't have an effect while Diablos is in rage mode.

You can create a Sonic Bomb by combining Gunpowder with a Screamer. Combine a Fire Herb with a Nitroshroom to get Gunpowder. Screamers are common on the reward screen after a Qurupeco or Great Jaggi hunt.

It's worth bringing a Pitfall Trap to this fight as well. You can create 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. Additionally, you could bring two Barrel Bomb Ls and one Barrel Bomb S for use with the Pitfall Trap. You can purchase the barrel bombs at the market in Moga Village.

As well as 8 Sonic Bombs and a Pitfall Trap, bring the usual 10 Mega Potions, a decent supply of Whetstones and some extra Cool Drinks or Hot Drinks (Cool Drinks if you'll be hunting in daylight and Hot Drinks if at night). Once in the quest, remove the Map, Rations, First-aid Meds, Cool Drinks or Hot Drinks, Paintballs (if you don't have Cha-Cha equipped with his Fluffy Mask) and Sonic Bombs from the Supply Box before setting out.

If this is your first time attempting this quest, Diablos will start in Area 9. After that, Diablos will still spawn in Area 9 but will move into Area 8 shortly after the quest starts, so make your way to Area 8 if you've already seen Diablos's introductory video.

Break both of Diablos's horns to complete Subquest B.

When in the desert areas -- Areas 8, 9 and 10 -- you'll need to drink either a Cool Drink or a Hot Drink to counteract the negative effect caused by the extreme heat or extreme cold in the environment. If it's night, drink a Hot Drink to keep warm. A cold hunter's stamina bar deteriorates more rapidly than default. If it's day, drink a Cool Drink to increase your hunter's heat resistance. An overheated hunter will gradually lose health.

Focus the bulk of your attacks on Diablos's chest, stomach and the underside of the base of its tail. The safest way to attack Diablos is by positioning your hunter behind its legs and striking at its stomach and the underside of its tail. You can sever Diablos's tail if you're using a melee weapon other than a Hammer. Severing Diablos's tail will greatly reduce the effectiveness of its tail whips and will also grant you an extra carve. Just be sure to wait until Diablos moves to another area before carving the severed tail.

Break both of Diablos's horns for a high chance of receiving a Twisted Horn on the reward screen. You may also receive a Majestic Horn, but this item is much rarer. The only way to obtain either of these items is to break both of Diablos's horns during the course of the hunt, which you can accomplish by striking Diablos's face enough to break both. Breaking both of Diablos's horns is also required to complete Subquest A.

You may want to leave at least one of Diablos's horns intact until nearer to the end of the hunt, as it's possible to use this monster's horns against it. In Area 9, you can position yourself behind the column at the southeast end of the area. If Diablos uses its charge move and rams into the rock formation, there's a chance its horns will become stuck, rendering it unable to attack for several seconds. Take this opportunity to strike its head, with any luck breaking one of its horns. Diablos can also get its horns stuck in the anthills in Area 4.

A glittering spot will appear on the ground whenever Diablos gets its horns stuck; gather at this spot for a chance to obtain a Wyvern Tear, which would be automatically sold for zenni at the end of the quest.

Using the Diablos's horns against it

Diablos attacks with unmatched fury and brutality and becomes even more deadly when enraged. Its most frequent attack is its charge, which is similar to Barroth's. When Diablos lowers its head and lifts its wings, it will then point its horns and charge toward your hunter. This move can be difficult to avoid when Diablos is coming at you from afar, as it will hop and slide at the end of the charge. You can avoid this attack by diving out of the way just before Diablos reaches you. A dive can only be performed while your hunter is panic running. To panic run, sprint away from the monster so your hunter's back is to it. To dive, just press the B button to evade while panic running. Your hunter is invulnerable during this dive, so use it to avoid Diablos's horns. If your hunter is not panic running, he or she will roll rather than dive, so be careful.

It becomes especially important to dive out of the way of Diablos's charge while Diablos is in rage mode. While enraged, Diablos tends to chain two or more charges and its movement speed increases, so you'll have to dive out of the way to avoid each charge. Diablos will let out an ear-shattering roar when it enters rage mode and black smoke will start billowing from its mouth, so sheathe your weapon and shift your focus to evading whenever Diablos roars.

Avoid positioning your hunter too far behind Diablos, as doing so will leave you vulnerable to its tail whip attack. If in range, Diablos can swing its tail from side to side to swat your hunter, knocking him or her back and dealing a moderate amount of damage. If you notice Diablos move its left leg forward and lift its tail up and to the left, roll between its legs to avoid being whipped when it swings its tail.

Diablos has another tail whip attack to watch out for. Here, Diablos takes one step back, rearing its head and one wing in the same direction, and then whips its wing and tail to the side. It's not over yet: Diablos will then twist around and swing its tail and other wing in the opposite direction, making this a difficult attack to dodge. Diablos's wing can clip your hunter too, so block with your weapon or shield as soon as you spot Diablos moving one of its legs back.

Throw a Sonic Bomb to trap Diablos mid-dig.

Diablos's ram attack is easy to see coming but can be difficult to evade, so it's best to block with your weapon or shield if that's an option. Block with your weapon when Diablos turns its right side toward your hunter to avoid taking damage.

Like Agnaktor, Diablos is able to burrow underground, where it can then follow up with one of several different attacks. You can use a Sonic Bomb to trap Diablos mid-dig. If successful, the thrown Sonic Bomb will act like a Pitfall Trap, incapacitating Diablos for a short period of time. Throw the Sonic Bomb at the burrowing Diablos just before its tail disappears from view. If you're using a Great Sword, you can easily sheathe your weapon when you spot Diablos beginning to burrow and then quickly throw a Sonic Bomb to trap it. Use your Sonic Bombs to trap Diablos whenever the opportunity arises.

Trapping Diablos with a Sonic Bomb is required to complete Subquest B. It's important to know that a Sonic Bomb won't have this effect while Diablos is in rage mode. Diablos lets out an ear-shattering roar when it enters rage mode and black smoke will billow from its mouth until it returns to normal, so hold on to your Sonic Bombs while Diablos is enraged and focus on evading.

Pitfall Traps are effective against Diablos as well. Use a Pitfall Trap if you've brought one, along with barrel bombs if you brought those too. Place two Barrel Bomb Ls by Diablos while it's in the trap and then place a Barrel Bomb S to detonate them.

Trapping Diablos with a Sonic Bomb

While Diablos is underground, watch the dust that appears above the ground to track its movements. When Diablos tunnels below your hunter the resulting tremor will cause him or her to stumble. At this point, Diablos is preparing to emerge and gore your hunter with its horns, but you should have enough time to dive out of the way once your hunter is able to move again. Just keep the R button held down and the Left Stick pointed to the side and press B to dive as soon as your hunter stops stumbling. Your hunter will always panic run when the R button is held while Diablos is underground, so it's quite easy to dodge the attacks it uses to emerge.

Always sheathe your weapon when Diablos burrows and do your best to track its movements so you're ready to dodge its next move. Perhaps Diablos's most deadly burrowed attack is its lunge. This attack comes out quick, deals heavy damage and can be difficult to evade up close. Before using this attack, Diablos will cause two or three tremors, so get out of the way if you spot a series of dust clouds. When Diablos emerges, it leaps toward your hunter and slides forward. Diablos will slide far when using this move, so it's best to dive out of the way. Keep panic running while Diablos is burrowed and simply dive when it leaps toward you.

Diablos changes areas by burrowing underground and tunnelling into an adjacent one. This can make Diablos difficult to track. Follow the puffs of dust Diablos creates as it moves underground or use Cha-Cha's Fluffy Mask (or a Paintball) to track your target. Diablos will keep to Areas 8, 9, 10 and occasionally move into Area 4 or 7.

Diablos doesn't seem to limp when it's low on health, but you'll know it's close to death when it moves into Area 11 to rest. The only way to get to Area 11 is to drop down from the cliff along the west end of Area 10. If you have Cha-Cha equipped with his Fluffy Mask, give him the signal to mark Diablos on the map and then wait until the monster icon turns teal before dropping in. Area 11 is full of Jaggi, so there isn't much you can do once before the slumbering Diablos. If you're using a Great Sword or a Hammer, you can try hitting Diablos with a charged attack to wake it up, otherwise just strike it once and get as many hits in as you can while it rises

Follow Diablos into Area 11 to finish the job.

Keep up the fight until Diablos falls to complete the quest.