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Walkthrough

by Darksun45230

             M o n s t e r  H u n t e r  F r e e d o m  U n i t e

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O============================================================================O
           Monster Hunter Freedom Unite/Portable 2nd G FAQ/Walkthrough
                       For the Portable Sony Playstation
           By Thomas Gazay aka Darksun45230 ([email protected])
                 Version 2.55 (Most Recent Update: 3/12/10)
                       Copyright (c) 2010; Thomas Gazay
                            80 Characters Per Line
                    Font/Style/Size: Courier New/Regular/10
O=============================================================================O

                            "A Hunters Life for Me!"

 /\  /\        |_|
/  \/  \onster | |unter===================================================--x
-----------x----------|                 Introduction!                        \
                      x===================================================----x

My name is Thomas Gazay aka Darksun45230 of GameFAQs. My story is a truly
boring one. I love Monster Hunter, and I don't have money for college. Guess
who needs a hobby? Yours truly has written (or in the process of writing
depending on which version reading) a guide. This guide has two purposes. One,
to kick my previous guides ass. And second, to give people the chance to break
into Monster Hunter.

As a the guide-writer it's my responsibility to teach you. Laughs are
forbidden. I'm serious. Because as an awesome-guide-maker I am, I must educate
you lowly serfs. Weep before my god-like intellect and good looks! MUAHAHAHHA~!

...I'm also here to teach you how to Hunt. Like a parent teaching a toddler, it
has to be done with the deepest affection. It also has to be repeated. Because
the parent knows his son and/or daughter won't get it the first time.
Information should come in little spurts. So they'll learn it. They can't learn
everything in a day. And you can't learn Monster Hunter in a day. Even if you
read this guide in a day.

Or in a equally hypothetical metaphor, the parent knows his child is an idiot.
That'll never change. No matter how hard the parent tries. So he/she might as
well beat (metaphorically speaking) a few lessons into the child's head. In the
hopes that he/she doesn't obliterate themselves. Or the poor souls that happen
to be nearby. For the both the parent and the child, the struggle is going to
be painful. In fact, it may damn well tear them apart. They'll learn though.

So which one are you? The child that learns, or the child that struggles?

 /\  /\        |_|
/  \/  \onster | |unter===================================================--x
-----------x----------|                 Table of Contents!                   \
                      x===================================================----x

If you've ever read a guide then you should be familiar with CTRL + F. Simply
input a number on the list, like "[3.1]" for example (w/out quotations) to find
what you seek. Don't type something like "[3.1] Weapon Questions" or else
you'll come up with an error. It has to do with the way I formatted. *shrugs*

[0] If you e-mail me then you fail
[1] FAQ
[1.1] Beginning FAQ
[1.2] Game-Saving

[2] Pokke Village
[2.1] Home
[2.1.1] Item Box
[2.1.2] Felyne Kitchen
[2.2] Felyne Fighter
[2.2.1] Your Felyne Fighter
[2.2.2] Behavior
[2.2.3] Training
[2.2.4] Skills
[2.2.5] Loyalty
[2.3] Pokke Farm
[2.4] Weapon Seller/Forger
[2.5] Item Salesman
[2.6] Old Lady
[2.7] Training Hall
[2.7.1] Normal Training
[2.7.2] Special Training
[2.7.3] G Rank Training
[2.8] Village Elder
[2.9] Felyne Elder
[2.10] Guild Hall

[3] Basics
[3.1] Nature
[3.2] Controls
[3.3] Combat
[3.4] Accuracy
[3.5] Observance
[3.6] The Right Weapon
[3.7] Be Prepared
[3.7.1] Potions
[3.7.2] Paintballs
[3.7.3] Capturing
[3.7.4] Combining
[3.7.5] Enhancing
[3.7.6] Restoring Stamina
[3.7.7] Drinks
[3.7.8] Bombs
[3.7.9] Barrel Bombs
[3.7.10] Whetstones
[3.7.11] Ammo
[3.7.12] End-Game Inv.
[3.8] Choose your Skills
[3.9] Methods

[4] Weapons & Armor
[4.1] Weapon Questions
[4.1.1] Sword and Shield
[4.1.2] Dual Swords
[4.1.3] Greatsword
[4.1.4] Longsword
[4.1.5] Hammer
[4.1.6] Hunting Horn
[4.1.7] Lance
[4.1.8] Gunlance
[4.1.9] Light Bowgun
[4.1.10] Heavy Bowgun
[4.1.11] Bow
[4.2] Armor Questions
[4.3] Elder Armor
[4.3.1] Summary
[4.4] Felyne Elder Armor
[4.4.1] Summary
[4.5] G Rank Armor
[4.5.1] Summary

[5] Materials
[5.1] Gathering
[5.2] Pokke Farm
[5.3] Zenny

[6] End-Game Weapons
[6.1] Sword and Shield
[6.2] Dual Swords
[6.3] Greatswords
[6.4] Longswords
[6.5] Hammers
[6.6] Hunting Horn
[6.7] Lance
[6.8] Gunlance
[6.9] Light Bowgun
[6.10] Heavy Bowgun
[6.11] Bow

[7] Elder Quests
[7.1] Review
[7.1.1] Prep for Battle
[7.1.2] Wild-life
[7.1.3] Final Words
[7.2] Elder *
[7.3] Elder **
[7.3.1] Yian Kut-Ku
[7.3.2] Congalala
[7.3.3] Khezu
[7.3.4] Reviewing Elder **
[7.4] Elder ***
[7.4.1] Daimyo Hermituar
[7.4.2] Plesioth
[7.4.3] Gypceros
[7.4.4] Blangonga
[7.5] Elder ****
[7.5.1] Yian Garuga
[7.5.2] Monoblos/Diablos
[7.5.3] Shogun Ceanataur
[7.5.4] Gravios/Basarios
[7.5.5] Kushala Daora
[7.5.6] Tigrex
[7.6] Elder Quest *****
[7.6.1] Kirin
[7.6.2] Gravios

[To be continued...]

In case you need my Diagrams for reference (why is a mystery) just write
"Diagram #?" and replace the question mark with the following number. Simple
right?

Diagram #1 - Multi-Fireball
Diagram #2 - The Charge Method
Diagram #3 - Backhop Demonstration
Diagram #4 - Three Pronged Throw
Diagram #5 - Daimyo Hermituar
Diagram #6 - Hip-Check
Diagram #7 - Gypceros Tail Whip
Diagram #8 - Rock Cross
Diagram #9 - Wall-Guarding
Diagram #10 - Triple-Fireball
Diagram #11 - Tail Sweep
Diagram #12 - High Roar
Diagram #13 - Forward Sweep
Diagram #14 - Overshot Tackle
Diagram #15 - Full Moon Lightening
Diagram #16 - "Y" Lightening
Diagram #17 - Scrambled Lightening
Diagram #18 - Guarding against Lightening
Diagram #19 - Gunlance, Kirin, and you

                                 x----------x
                                 | Hosting! |
                                 o==========o

The following sites are allowed to host this guide:
GameFAQs.com
Minegarde.com
reign-of-the-rathalos.com
SuperCheats.com

The following sites are forbidden to host this guide:
Cheatcc.com

If your site was not on either list, then you must acquire permission through
my e-mail address. And even if you're site WAS on the list, you must agree to
NEVER change the contents of the guide. I'm a pretty lax guy when it comes to
web-hosting. I prefer sites that don't have pop-up ads.

E-mail: [email protected]

 /\  /\        |_|
/  \/  \onster | |unter===================================================--x
-----------x----------|                 [!] Contributors!                    \
                      x===================================================----x

First things first. Before you witness my guide, read through the names.
...Come on! I couldn't have done it without them...You're just gonna scroll by
this aren't you?
...
....sigh...I tried.

          x-------------x
          | THE HEROES! |
          x~~~~~~~~~~~~~x~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~x
          | 3plepounder                  |  Admiredfob             |
          | Akubarix                     |  akurixs                |
          | Alex (for format style)      |  amadinho               |
          | Archdraong                   |  arth1                  |
          | BC2                          |  Bisquick207            |
          | BlazerMFT                    |  Bloodred_Hunter        |
          | Boldrin                      |  chefs knife            |
          | CloudMcVehemuZ               |  cosmos89               |
          | Croda                        |  croda7                 |
          | David Cheng                  |  Deocricius             |
          | Devil Trigger                |  DivineChaos97          |
          | DMurdock                     |  Drakina                |
          | DS31x                        |  Dustin/Necrus          |
          | Eroero                       |  fenrirx61              |
          | FoNgThOnGz                   |  Freakonature00         |
          | GANandSERTY                  |  HoMeLeSsBoB            |
          | HotGamerMum                  |  Jask                   |
          | jhefsky and the akantot boyz |  jophetism              |
          | KaizerMH2                    |  Kamikazeiii            |
          | Kawakami_Hanabi              |  Kayin9988              |
          | KidImposter                  |  KingOfMH               |
          | leo2710                      |  lunapanther            |
          | Lunaredge                    |  M0rbid_An6e1           |
          | MasterZ                      |  mazereon               |
          | Mondin                       |  mukyo                  |
          | mxc5012                      |  mx_703                 |
          | naijiao                      |  Ner'zhul               |
          | NodalW                       |  noilleberreven         |
          | Ocelot19                     |  Ocu_87                 |
          | Orlan                        |  Orlean Knight          |
          | OwwMyEye                     |  Psychol0gist           |
          | RaX                          |  Renati37               |
          | Rezard                       |  ricebun                |
          | rigaT0NY                     |  Ronnomaru              |
          | Ryzer                        |  Saha                   |
          | satan_lolz666                |  Scooty_Puff            |
          | SeleniaAngel                 |  Severine               |
          | Shimmerweed                  |  shiquan                |
          | shoecream (Guide Tools)      |  SinirothX (for format) |
          | slyboots                     |  Sven                   |
          | swk3000                      |  tm10                   |
          | TTD2005                      |  VehemuZ                |
          | VGProdigy                    |  wingedcloud            |
          | XiaoSkull                    |  zaak                   |
          | Zekiryo                      |  Zelda911               |
          | Zero_1_2                     |                         |
          x~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~x

It will be updated as I complete the guide. So if you're reading this and this
isn't the Final version, chances are, your name could end up here!

Special Thanks to:
Neoseeker
Minegarde
YouTube
Reign-Of-The-Rathalos
And you for reading!

                               o---------x
                               | Quotes! |
                               x=========o

I've inserted a few quotations in order to spread knowledge, wisdom, and humor.
As
any creditor, I am required to make a list of those whose dialogs I've inserted
in
quotations. So logically, it's okay to laugh at the fact that I included
something
from SpongeBob SquarePants.

      x--------x
      | MEDIA! |
      x~~~~~~~~x~~~~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~x
      | Castlevania         |  Cave Story        |  Chrono Cross       |
      |---------------------+--------------------+---------------------|
      | Chrono Trigger      | Dragon Ball Z      | Final Fantasy       |
      |---------------------+--------------------+---------------------|
      | Final Fantasy       | Final Fantasy II   | Final Fantasy IX    |
      | Dissidia            |                    |                     |
      |---------------------+--------------------+---------------------|
      | Final Fantasy       | Final Fantasy V    | Final Fantasy VII   |
      | Tactics             |                    |                     |
      |---------------------+--------------------+---------------------|
      | Final Fantasy VII:  | Final Fantasy VIII | Final Fantasy X     |
      | Advent Children     |                    |                     |
      |---------------------+--------------------+---------------------|
      | Kingdom Hearts      | Kingdom Hearts II  | Metal Gear Solid    |
      |---------------------+--------------------+---------------------|
      | Metal Gear Solid 3  | SpongeBob          | The Legend of Zelda |
      |                     | SquarePants        |                     |
      |---------------------+--------------------+---------------------|
      | Valkyrie Profile 2: | Robin Hood:        | Galaxy Quest        |
      | Silmeria            | Men in Tights      |                     |
      x~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~x~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~x

                    x---------x
                    | PEOPLE! |
                    x~~~~~~~~~x~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~x
                    | Abraham Maslow  |  Al Pacino        |
                    |-----------------+-------------------|
                    | Albert Einstein | Bob Dylan         |
                    |-----------------+-------------------|
                    | Edgar Bergen    | Fran Lebowitz     |
                    |-----------------+-------------------|
                    | George Orwell   | George Taylor     |
                    |-----------------+-------------------|
                    | Mae West        | Wernher von Braun |
                    |-----------------+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~x
                    | Tim Allen       |
                    x~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~x

 /\  /\        |_|
/  \/  \onster | |unter===================================================--x
-----------x----------|         [0] If you e-mail me then you fail           \
                      x===================================================----x

-- Under no circumstances are you to e-mail me asking questions that have
already been answered in this FAQ.

-- Under no circumstances are you to e-mail me with non-Monster Hunter
material.

-- Under no circumstances are you to e-mail me about the forbidden list. You
know why you're site wasn't allowed. Deal with it.

If, and I mean once in a blue moon here, if I fail to cover a certain section
in my guide. Check other guides first before asking. If you fail to find the
information you're looking for, then, and only then, you can e-mail me.

E-mail: [email protected]

If you e-mail me though, you fail at life.

                            o------------------x
                            | Version History! |
                            x==================o

x-----------o----------o---------------------------------------------------x
| Date      |  Version |  Notes                                            |
|-----------+----------+---------------------------------------------------|
| 4/16/2008 |     0.50 | Beta                                              |
|-----------+----------+---------------------------------------------------|
| 4/17/2008 |     0.55 | Added Table of Contents; numbering system;        |
|           |          | strategy against Teostra/Lunastra.                |
|-----------+----------+---------------------------------------------------|
| 4/20/2008 |     1.00 | Completed overall strategies involving all        |
|           |          | monsters except for Fatalis.                      |
|-----------+----------+---------------------------------------------------|
| 09/29/08  |     1.10 | Shifted gears towards Monster Hunter Freedom      |
|           |          | Unite; Updated format; added entire sections; in  |
|           |          | other words a complete revision.                  |
|-----------+----------+---------------------------------------------------|
| 1/10/09   |     1.20 | First version submitted to GameFAQs. Will update  |
|           |          | in spurts.                                        |
|-----------+----------+---------------------------------------------------|
| 1/13/09   |     1.25 | Made minor corrections. Added Gypceros section.   |
|-----------+----------+---------------------------------------------------|
| 1/15/09   |     1.40 | Special Thanks to Mazereon; Devil Trigger; and    |
|           |          | slyboots for corrections and additions. Finished  |
|           |          | Elder ***; started Elder ****; added Garuga       |
|           |          | strategy.                                         |
|-----------+----------+---------------------------------------------------|
| 1/27/09   |     1.65 | Added Diablos and Shogun section; accepted        |
|           |          | Bloodred_Hunter's Diablos Bow Strategy.           |
|-----------+----------+---------------------------------------------------|
| 2/22/09   |     1.90 | Added the Basarios and the immense Kushala Daora  |
|           |          | section. Special thanks to RaX and Sven.          |
|-----------+----------+---------------------------------------------------|
| 3/23/09   |     2.00 | Major revision to armory section to appeal to     |
|           |          | Gunners; finish Tigrex and review; added quotes   |
|           |          | for flavor and wisdom; starting Elder *****.      |
|-----------+----------+---------------------------------------------------|
| 5/17/09   |     2.25 | Another major revision to almost all sections;    |
|           |          | added more Gunner armors to Armor section;        |
|           |          | finished Kirin section; rewrote Yian Kut-Ku;      |
|           |          | Congalala; and Khezu strategy. Revising in        |
|           |          | progress for those Wyverns below Basarios. Merged |
|           |          | Weapon and Armor section.                         |
|-----------+----------+---------------------------------------------------|
| 6/20/09   |     2.30 | Completed Daimyo Hermituar; Special Thanks to     |
|           |          | Ner'zhul for Shell Shop list.                     |
|-----------+----------+---------------------------------------------------|
| 7/10/09   |     2.35 | Completed Plesioth; Special Thanks to NodalW and  |
|           |          | HoMeLeSsBoB for Farming Methods.                  |
|-----------+----------+---------------------------------------------------|
| 1/2/09    |     2.50 | My hiatus is over; Changed over the End-game      |
|           |          | Weapon list to their Unite counterparts; finished |
|           |          | weapon recommendations for early Monsters.        |
x-----------o----------o---------------------------------------------------x

 /\  /\        |_|
/  \/  \onster | |unter===================================================--x
-----------x----------|                    [1] FAQ                           \
                      x===================================================----x

               "The important thing is not to stop questioning."
                                ~Albert Einstein

Q: Will this guide make me a better Monster Hunter?
A: No. Close this window... Yes of course read on.

Q: What is Monster Hunter?
A: Monster Hunter is an adventure game created by Capcom. You are a Hunter in a
   world full of monsters. In order to fight off these creatures you forge
   armor, through fishing, mining, combining items, creating weapons, and
   making gems to further enhance our armor. We do this because we want to
   become Monster Hunters.

Q: Who are you?
A: I am Darksun45230, and maybe, that's all you need to know.

Q: Why isn't this guide done?
A: Because...I haven't finished it yet. Unlike all my previous predecessors
   I intend to finish this guide. Why? Because I have 10+ Resistance to
   Burnout. I'm a still anxious about releasing it. It's been a long time
   since I started writing this. And I'm afraid by doing this it'll kill my
   motivation. However...people need help.

Q: Any other sites I should know about?
A: http://minegarde.com
   http://www.reign-of-the-rathalos.com

Minegarde (formally Minegarde) has the end-all weapon branch section. I consult
Reign-of-the-Rathalos daily for their weapon calculator. Both are offer a
plethora
of information, advice, and all with a smile. ^_- *wink*

Q: Are there videos out there that can help a Hunter like me?
A: http://www.youtube.com/user/naijiao
   http://www.youtube.com/user/MHNoodles
   http://www.youtube.com/user/admiredfob

MHNoodles covers the works of Monster Hunter Freedom 2, while AdmiredFob covers
post-MHF2. Their Newbie guides have helped propelled Hunters since the game's
start.

What about Naijiao? He professes in Greatsword Charge Guides. While being
something I cover, I cannot cover it to naijiao's degree.

Q: How hard is this game?
A: Hard. Very Hard. This guide will help you deal.

Q: Will what you teach me make my game easier?
A: Who knows? You can't MAKE the game easy. This guide teaches strategies to
   take on different Wyverns. Not everything is covered, but most of it and in
   great details. Just read on.

Q: Should I play this game?
A: It depends on your understanding of the Japanese language. Capcom will make
   an American port for this game, eventually. Otherwise I would stick to
   Monster Hunter in a language you'll understand.

Q: Do I need to play the Monster Hunter Freedom 2?
A: No. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is an expansion meaning you don't need to
   play MHF2 or have a copy on hand.

Q: I'm so very confused...where do I start?
A: You can start by reading this guide. The world of Monster Hunter is grand,
   this guide will help you deal.

Q: Is this a sequel to Monster Hunter Freedom 2?
A: Yes and no. This is an expanded version of the original title. This version
   includes extra content.

Q: What are the differences between Monster Hunter Freedom 2 and Monster Hunter
   Freedom Unite?
A: An additional rank is capable of being unlocked for both Solo Quests and
   Guild Quests. G Rank for Guild Quests and Felyne Elder for Solo Quests.
   There are also new monsters, weapons, and materials to match each ranks.
   Even G Rank Training Quests to prepare you for the career-ending matches.
   Along with your own Felyne Fighter, you scale new Areas from older Monster
   Hunter titles like Frontier and the original Monster Hunter Freedom. A
   Hunter's Life for Me...again.

Q: I'm a veteran of the series, and seriously, what are the differences?
A: -- The Ceanataur SUUSS combination has been nerfed.
   -- Devil Slicer has an extra requirement, Kirin Tail.
   -- Hunting Horns receive an additional song that acts like Sonic Bomb.
   -- Akantor Bow is nerfed, receives equipment upgrade but never regains
      domineering ways.
   -- Pokke Farm removed Gathering animation when materials are no longer
      present.
   -- You can send materials directly to the box or sell them (applies with
      Monsters too.)
   -- You can treasure hunt Solo.

                            ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                         ---|  --- [1.1] FAQ ---    |---
                         ---| ~~~ Beginning FAQ ~~~ |---
                            v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Q: How does the gameplay work?
A: The game itself is entirely mission based. You take Quests from the village
   Elder at first, then when you become stronger you tackler the harder quests
   available at the Guild Hall. You choose your armor from Gauntlets, Tassets,
   Mails, and Boots; each item is customizable so you can mix and match
   whatever you want. With a plethora of weapons ranging from Lances,
   Gunlances, Bows, Swords and Shields, Dual Swords, Greatswords, Longswords,
   Bowguns, Hammers, and Hunting Horns; it's a hunter's life for me.

Each weapon you have can execute a series of combos, Triangle, Triangle,
Triangle is most common. Each of the twelve weapon types you acquire has a
varying degree of effectiveness against certain monsters. Ergo, adding a level
of strategy and tactics unprecedented in any game imaginable.

Q: What are weapon types?
A: Short answer, they are the eleven weapons you start out with at the game's
   beginning.

Long answer, each weapon has it's own subtle attributes that make it versatile
and completely different from any other weapon. Each weapon offers a
challenging, and unique aspect when compared to another weapon of it's kind.
Hence, weapon types.

Q: What weapon type should I start out with?
A: SnS, otherwise known as Sword and Shield. It's the easiest weapon to use as
   it provides both balance and mobility. The perfect weapon for any beginner.

Q: What are missions?
A: Missions are the bulk of the game. They are quest that you do for fixed
   amount of Zenny (currency) and the materials that come from felling said
   monster. Why? Because it's what a Monster Hunter does.

Q: What are Maps?
A: Maps are specific locations that you arrive at when a mission begins. Some
   take place during the day, or at night. There are subtle environmental
   differences, like, at night Swamp water is poisonous.

It is important you know where you're going. If you're going to the Desert to
hunt Monoblos, shouldn't you bring Cold Drink? Forgetting to do that in later
quests can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Q: What are Armor Skills?
A: Armor skills are the basic of the basic things you should know. Each piece
   of armor in Monster Hunter comes with armor skill points. When you equip a
   set as a whole, chances are those skill points will add up.

Q: What are Decorations?
A: Gems that attach to your armor that give you skill points. When you have met
   the requirements to activate the skill it will add to your "Status" screen.

Example: You have Hermituar Armor. The helm gives you 1 point, the torso armor
gives you 2 points, the gauntlets give you 2 points, the tasset gives you 2
points, and the greaves give you 2 points (these aren't the actual stats I'm
just using this for sake of clarity.) You have a total of 9 Skill Points
applied to Guard however you need one more skill point to activate the skill.
What do you do? Each piece of armor has slots for a Gem from one slot to three.
Most armor pieces have at least one slot. If we make a Guard Gem and attach it
the Hermituar armor, that makes a total of 10 skill points and the skill Guard
activates. Got it? If not don't worry, it's simpler then it sounds.

Q: Arrg! I can't beat [Insert Wyvern Here!]
A: This is going to sound redundant, because it is, but this guide will help
   you deal. Search this guide throughly, if you need something I can't provide
   look to either the Monster Hunter Freedom 2 FAQs or the Monster Hunter
   Freedom Unite FAQs. Be aware of the differences between the two games.

If you're more of a visual person hit YouTube and search for videos. I
guarantee you'll find at least one or more Hunters out there taking your Wyvern
on with ease.

Q: What are Secret Areas?
A: They are places that allow you to collect special items. However they are
   only available during HR4+ Quests and only on the Snowy Mountain, Desert,
   Swamp, and Volcano maps. You can't find them normally; instead you must
   start there at the beginning of the mission. The chances of this happening
   are 3%. However the Felyne Explorer Whim skill can make that 100%.

Q: What are Treasure Hunts?
A: They are quests that involve collecting items in order to gain points. The
   more points you gain, the more that transfer over to Pokke Farm after. Usual
   Treasure Hunts involve teaming up with more then one person to 'farm' for
   materials and items to deposit in the supply box. You kill monsters and
   collect various items that you wouldn't normally find in regular missions.
   They all add up to points down the road, the rarer they are, the more points
   they're worth.

Q: Where do I get (Insert Coin Here?)
A: Coins can only be acquired when beating a Training quest. The school is
   located near the Guild Hall to the left. These coins unlock a special type
   of armor called "Black Belt," the Training Instructor is wearing a full set
   of this.

Q: I started a new game, why is it giving me an error?
A: Don't worry, this is normal. It's informing you that there is no save data
   yet to be created on your memory stick.

Q: What are the ranks?
A: Elder Quest -- Easiest, Low Rank.
   Felyne Elder Quests -- Easier, High Rank.
   HR1 - HR3 -- Low Rank, Group capable, Monster compensate with more HP.
   HR4 - HR6 -- High Rank, Group capable, Monster compensate with more HP.
   HR7 - HR9 -- G Rank, Group capable, new and stronger Monsters.

Many Solo the Guild Hall quests as well in order to challenge themselves. If
that isn't your thing, then see next question.

Q: What is Xlink Kai?
A: Xlink Kai is software that allows you to communicate with other players
   across the world. However you need Wifi Max (or any wireless USB unit) in
   order to do this, since the only other alternative is PS3 Ad-Hoc Parties.

Their site: http://www.teamxlink.co.uk/

                           ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                        ---|  --- [1.2] FAQ ---  |---
                        ---| ~~~ Game-Saving ~~~ |---
                           v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

An epidemic among newcomers is the desire to have money, tons of equipment and
all
the items they need without much effort. If you've played role-playing games
nowadays, they fork over these things like candy. Monster Hunter is not a world
of
instant gratification. The game is like Rome, not built in a day.

In a beginner's struggle to achieve anything, they sometimes turn to game-
saving.
To put it simply, it's like reading the last chapter of a book without any idea
on
the how it arrived at that conclusion. The process involves downloading the
saved
game of someone who submitted their own to GameFAQs or any other gaming website.
They replace their save with this other one, ergo skipping all the important
fundamentals.

Having end-game weapons and armor doesn't change the difficulty. In fact, it
only
makes things harder. Without the time invested in the game, game-savers aren't
armed with skills to survive stronger monsters. Compare that to someone who has
invested countless hours completing missions on their own. You'll find the game-
saver outclassed every time.

In my opinion, if you don't possess the time and effort that this game requires,
then don't play. Because we don't want you. There are plenty of other titles you
can be piss poor at. Monster Hunter is an experience, a journey from beginning
to
end as told by you. And there is nothing worse then superficiality in a game
that
demands 'so' much more.

 /\  /\        |_|
/  \/  \onster | |unter===================================================--x
-----------x----------|              [2] Pokke Village                       \
                      x===================================================----x

                                  "Huzzah!"
                            ~Balrog, Cave Story

Stop! Look around. Welcome to Pokke Village! In this frosty little paradise
you'll have many things open to you. For new Hunter's (like you) it can be
confusing. Let's start off with the basic, basic, of the basics.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---|  --- [2.1] Pokke Village ---  |---
                    ---|         ~~~ Home ~~~          |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

This is the place where you live. This is where you woke up. I cannot, for the
life of me, understand how one becomes confused about this. Inside your humble
abode. The first thing you should notice is your bed. You use this to sleep on
and save your game. Though, you'll be prompted to save after every mission.
Next to the bed is the bookshelf.

                             +------------------+
                             | Info Magazine    |
                             |------------------|
                             | Hunter's Fashion |
                             |------------------|
                             | Piggie's Fashion |
                             +------------------+

Info Magazines explains the world of Monster Hunter. Hunter's Fashion help you
decide what your undergarments look like. (Believe you and me, I've seen
better at Victoria's Secret! ^_- *Wink*.) Along with Hunter's Fashion is a
section where you change your hairs cut and color. Helmets do a great job of
making this feature useless. Alongside that are your Piggie's Fashions. Whoa~!
Wait up there Darksun, what is a Piggy?

Piggy your Pet. He's your only pet that comes with interchangeable costumes.

          x------------------x
          | PIGGY'S FASHION! |
          x------------------x--------------------------------------x
          | Name              |  Description                        |
          |-------------------+-------------------------------------|
          | The Naked Emperor |  Wearing a diaper with a tiny crown |
          |-------------------+-------------------------------------|
          | Memorial Stripes  |  Horizontal purple stripped suit    |
          |-------------------+-------------------------------------|
          | Charming Pink     |  A pink tee-shirt                   |
          |-------------------+-------------------------------------|
          | Black Green Clash |  Watermelon green stripped suit     |
          |-------------------+-------------------------------------|
          | Sleepy Pig White  |  Sheep Suit                         |
          |-------------------+-------------------------------------|
          | Angel Leotard     |  Exactly is described               |
          |-------------------+-------------------------------------|
          | Famitsu Suit      |  Black suit with Famitsu Logo       |
          x-------------------+-------------------------------------x

Simply approach Piggy and play his mini-game. Simply wait for the music to
stop and press the action button at the exact moment a heart appears above his
head. If you pressed it at the right time, then a large Heart would appear
over Piggy's head; he'll join you. If you got the timing wrong, a small heart
will appear over Piggy's head, he'll still join. If you mess up by either
waiting too long, or pressing the button too early, you'll have to retry. You
may not have all those costumes at first, meaning you have to download them
via Download.

                          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                       ---|  --- [2.1.1] Home ---  |---
                       ---|    ~~~ Item Box ~~~    |---
                          v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

I'm a simple kind of FAQ writer. So when I say, you'll be spending most of
your time in front of an Item Box, I mean it.

You'll be spending most of your time in front of an item box.

As you'll learn. Items are a Hunter's bread and butter, as oxygen is to
humans, so on so forth. But why is this? It's because of the massive amount of
materials we have in said Item Box. Whether it's taking stuff out, putting
something in, or maybe you want to combine something?

                             x------------------x
                             | Put In Item      |
                             |------------------|
                             | Take Out Item    |
                             |------------------|
                             | Combine In Box   |
                             |------------------|
                             | Change Equipment |
                             |------------------|
                             | Arrange Items    |
                             |------------------|
                             | Sell Items       |
                             x------------------x

#Combine in Box# was recently added along with extra space for materials. The
best part is that combining items in the box are always 100% Accurate! Cool
huh? If you didn't already notice, you can rotate the joystick to get a good
view of yourself, front and back. You can even get rid of that pesky Item Box
menu by pressing Start.

                          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                       ---|  --- [2.1.2] Home ---  |---
                       ---| ~~~ Felyne Kitchen ~~~ |---
                          v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

This won't be available at first, not until you unlock the Old Lady who sells
them by finishing 2* Elder Quests. Even then you're limited to one at first,
they can be of help during tough quests. For more information on your trusted
Felyne Chef see this link. Though they don't mention you can have your chefs
cook Raw Meat along with other Fish for surprising results!

http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/934395/501150

This part of the FAQ will focus on something else.

                          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                       ---|   --- [2.2] Home ---   |---
                       ---| ~~~ Felyne Fighter ~~~ |---
                          v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Your Felyne Fighter is unlocked around the same time as your Chef Felyne.
Felyne Fighter's serve a more fun purpose. They get to go in battle with you.
Note though, a Felyne Fighter isn't a powerhouse. Nay, in fact you'll find
your cuddly sidekick weaker then you. So why take them?

A Felyne Fighter has many uses depending on what you are willing to teach it.
Perhaps you need thieving Felyne? Something that Paralyzes? Or maybe you enjoy
seeing a Felyne walk into an enemy with a over-sized bomb on it's head.
Doesn't everyone? There are a few facts you should know first.

-- Felyne Fighter's have a maximum of twenty levels.
-- You may recruit a maximum of thirteen fighters.
-- A Felyne can learn skills by acquiring skill points and applying them.
-- Felyne Fighter's start with 100 HP and by twenty have 130 HP.
-- The sum of a Felyne Fighter's Attack and Defense by the end is five-
hundred. Meaning you could have 450 Attack/50 Defense or vice versa.
-- Your Felyne will celebrate when you have prepared Well-Done Steak, sleep
with you at camp to recover HP, and fish with you while fishing.
-- Costumes are available via Download at the Main Menu.
-- You can switch your Chefs with your Fighters, kinda a lover-fighter
relationship.

                     ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                  ---| --- [2.2.1] Felyne Fighter ---  |---
                  ---|  ~~~ Your Felyne Fighter ~~~    |---
                     v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

On your journey to leveling your Felyne Fighter up, you'll eventually want to
decide how that happens. We're going to break it down so you can understand
what you're getting into with your Felyne.

             x----------------x
             | FELYNE STATUS! |
             x----------------x---------------------------------x
             | Name         |  Description                       |
             |--------------+------------------------------------|
             | Loyalty      |  Effects Felyne's actions          |
             |--------------+------------------------------------|
             | Lineage      |  Color of Felyne                   |
             |--------------+------------------------------------|
             | Character    |  The way Felyne acts during battle |
             |--------------+------------------------------------|
             | Attack Type  |  Felyne's physical attack          |
             |--------------+------------------------------------|
             | Combat Style |  Preferred attack pattern          |
             x--------------+------------------------------------x

As we begin to cover all these sections it is important to understand your
Felyne's role in battle. The Wyvern/Monster you're facing will sometimes
target your Felyne. That's good for beginners as it takes some of the pressure
off. This sometimes yields the opportunity to restore your health. Useful
right?

For, uh, more advanced players. Who plans that a monster will turn your
direction or will aim at you, will find them annoying. The strategy section of
this guide was not written considering the actions and effects of your Felyne
Fighter. Period. That means you'll have to improvise at certain points; or not
take your Felyne Fighter at all. You may think its a small thing, but it's not.

                      ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                   ---| --- [2.2.2] Felyne Fighter --- |---
                   ---|       ~~~ Behavior ~~~         |---
                      v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Call it what you want, personality, behavior, or whatnot. The first thing you
should look at when selecting your Felyne Fighter is it's Behavior. This
determines your Fighter's weapon preference, recovery
 rate, and what it
attacks. There are many styles of behavior making it difficult to know which
one is right for you. Here is a list of these behaviors.

x------------------x
| FELYNE BEHAVIOR! |
x------------------x----------------------------------------------------------x
| Name         |  Preference     |  Heal Rate       |  Attacks                |
|--------------+-----------------+------------------+-------------------------|
| Berserker    |  Weapon         |  Will not Revive |  Large Monsters         |
|--------------+-----------------+------------------+-------------------------|
| Normal       |  Weapon & Bomb  |  Normal          |  Small & Large Monsters |
|--------------+-----------------+------------------+-------------------------|
| Careful      |  Bombs          |  Fast            |  Small Monsters         |
|--------------+-----------------+------------------+-------------------------|
| Timid        |  Bombs          |  Very Fast       |  Small Monsters         |
|--------------+-----------------+------------------+-------------------------|
| Guerrilla    |  Weapon Only    |  Normal          |  Small & Large Monsters |
|--------------+-----------------+------------------+-------------------------|
| Weapon User  |  Weapon Only    |  Normal          |  Small & Large Monsters |
|--------------+-----------------+------------------+-------------------------|
| Weapon Lover |  Weapon         |  Normal          |  Small & Large Monsters |
|--------------+-----------------+------------------+-------------------------|
| Bomb User    |  Bombs          |  Normal          |  Small & Large Monsters |
|--------------+-----------------+------------------+-------------------------|
| Bomb Lover   |  Weapon         |  Normal          |  Large Monsters Only    |
|--------------+-----------------+------------------+-------------------------|
| Large Hunter |  Weapon         |  Normal          |  Large Monsters Only    |
|--------------+-----------------+------------------+-------------------------|
| Small Hunter |  Weapon         |  Normal          |  Small Monsters Only    |
|--------------+-----------------+------------------+-------------------------|
| *Pacifist    |  Doesn't Attack |  Normal          |  Unable to Attack       |
|--------------+-----------------+------------------+-------------------------|
| Martyr       |  Bombs Only     |  Will not Revive |  Large Monsters Only    |
x--------------+-----------------+------------------+-------------------------x

*Note: Pacifists are purely skill using Felynes. You'll have to teach them,
but they can learn skills like Greater Demon Flute to increase your attack.
Pacifists are the Behavior when it comes to skills and buffs. Though I've
heard Timid works too.

It's important you know the behavior of your Felyne, so you can equip him with
skills that match said Behavior.

Pro-tip:
-- For Feylnes that cannot revive themselves normally, bring Lifepowder.
Lifepowder will not only heal you, but you're Felyne as well. Healing Buffs
via Hunting Horns works as well.

-- The difference between Impact and Slash Types is simply the effect of each.
Slash will be more or less inclined to cut off said Wyvern's tail. Impact when
combined with a Hammer, can increase the knockout rate of said monster. Note
that not all monsters can be knocked out.

                      ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                   ---| --- [2.2.3] Felyne Fighter --- |---
                   ---|         ~~~ Training ~~~       |---
                      v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Now the proud owner of a Felyne Fighter, how do you buff him up? Well, that's
where training comes in. We already know a Felyne Fighter can gain a maximum
of twenty levels, but what changes between Level 1 and Level 20? A Felyne's
stats are divided up between Attack Power, Defense, HP, Skill Points, and
Loyalty. Each are self-explanatory (we'll get to Loyalty later.)

In order to train a Felyne, simply check the Fighter Board in the Felyne
Kitchen and select #Development.# There you can train your Felyne under a
specific set of practices.

          x---------------------x
          | FELYNE DEVELOPMENT! |
          x---------------------x----------------------------------x
          | Name         |  Description                             |
          |--------------+------------------------------------------|
          | Martial Arts |  Increases Attack Power                  |
          |--------------+------------------------------------------|
          | Strength     |  Increases Maximum HP                    |
          |--------------+------------------------------------------|
          | Toughness    |  Increases Defense                       |
          |--------------+------------------------------------------|
          | Fencing      |  Increases both Attack Power and Defense |
          |--------------+------------------------------------------|
          | Meditation   |  Increase Skill Points                   |
          |--------------+------------------------------------------|
          | Rest         |  Increases Loyalty                       |
          +--------------+------------------------------------------+

Along with natural stat points, your Felyne can acquire extra attack and
defenses points via training. The difference between Fencing and Martial
Arts/Toughness is that Fencing gives a little less Attack and Defense to both
areas.

It is possible, even after leveling your Felyne to Level 20, to increase your
Felyne Fighter's Attack/Defense. Simply train him under either under Martial
Arts or Toughness. Note though, your Felyne Fighter's stats cap at five-
hundred. Meaning if you want to increase your Fighter's Defense, it will take
a stat point out of Attack and into defense.

Many state that putting points into Attack is useless in itself. For one, your
Felyne Fighter doesn't do a whole lot of damage. Rather, many use them as
fodder against enemy wyverns.

                     ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                  ---| --- [2.2.4] Felyne Fighter's --- |---
                  ---|         ~~~ Skills ~~~           |---
                     v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Like a Hunter's armor skills, a Felyne Fighter's skills are their bread and
butter. By leveling or using Meditation, you can increase your Felyne
Fighter's skill points. What do skills do? Well, that's a good question. I
just happen to have a list.

x----------------x
| FELYNE SKILLS! |
x----------------x-----------------------------------------------------------x
| Name                       |  Points |  Description                        |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Flute                      |  20pts  |  Provokes enemy with 40% less HP.   |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Demon Flute                |  60pts  |  Increases Att. of Hunter & Felyne. |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Armor Flute                |  60pts  |  Increases Def. of Hunter & Felyne. |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Antidote Flute             |  30pts  |  Cures Poison.                      |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Health Flute               |  70pts  |  Heals HP.                          |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Greater Health Flute       |  120pts |  Greatly Heals HP.                  |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Elemental Attack [Fire]    |  15pts  |  Adds Fire to attacks.              |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Elemental Attack [Water]   |  15pts  |  Adds Water to attacks.             |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Elemental Attack [Thunder] |  15pts  |  Adds Thunder to attacks.           |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Elemental Attack [Ice]     |  15pts  |  Adds Ice to attacks.               |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Elemental Attack [Dragon]  |  30pts  |  Adds Dragon to attacks.            |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Elemental Attack Up        |  50pts  |  Adds power to Elemental attacks.   |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Status Attack [Poison]     |  60pts  |  Adds Poison status to attacks.     |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Status Attack [Para]       |  60pts  |  Adds Para status to attacks.       |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Status Attack [Sleep]      |  60pts  |  Adds Sleep status to attacks.      |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Status Attack Up           |  120pts |  Increases chance of status attack. |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Windpress                  |  100pts |  Prevents Wind Effect.              |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| High Grade Earplugs        |  140pts |  Prevents Roar Effect.              |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Attack Up                  |  60pts  |  Increases Felyne Attack.           |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Defense Up                 |  60pts  |  Increases Felyne Defense.          |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Strength Up                |  120pts |  Increases Felyne HP                |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Guard Up                   |  90pts  |  Increases chance of blocking.      |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Movement Speed Up          |  100pts |  Increases movement speed.          |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Recovery Speed Increase    |  130pts |  Increases recovery rate.           |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Combat Expert              |  80pts  |  Increases Felyne Affinity          |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Thievery                   |  100pts |  Chance of stealing from Monsters.  |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Trap Master                |  160pts |  Uses Shock Trap.                   |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Bomber                     |  150pts |  Increases power of bombs.          |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Bomb Resistance            |  90pts  |  Resists Bomb Damage                |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Large Barrel Bomb Skill    |  140pts |  Fighter uses LBB.                  |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Anti-Poison                |  30pts  |  Prevents Poisoning.                |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Farsight                   |  70pts  |  Randomly enables Pyschoserum.      |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Anti-Gathering             |  90pts  |  Trades Gathering for Power.        |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Tireless                   |  80pts  |  Negates Idle pose but less HP.     |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Art of Eight Wonders       |  120pts |  Large addition in attack.          |
|----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------|
| Risk Berserker             |  150pts |  Forfeits Revive for added attack.  |
x----------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------x

Unlocking some of these abilities requires the Felyne to level or defeat a
certain monster. Lucky for you I also have a list.

      x------------------x
      | UNLOCKED SKILLS! |
      x------------------x----------------------------------------------x
      | Skill Name              |  Unlocked                             |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Elemental Attack Up     |  Defeat Rathian or Rathalos           |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Status Attack [Poison]  |  Defeat Iodrome/Ioprey/Gypceros       |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Status Attack [Para]    |  Defeat Cephadrome/Genprey/Gendrome   |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Status Attack [Sleep]   |  Defeat Plesioth/Teostra/Lunastra     |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | High Grade Earplug      |  Defeat Tigrex or Yian Garuga         |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Attack Up               |  Defeat Yian Kut Ku/Monoblos/Diablos  |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Defense Up              |  Defeat Basarios or Gravios           |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Strength Up             |  Defeat Congalala/Blangonga/Rajang    |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Guard Up                |  Daimyo Hermituar or Shogun Ceanataur |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Movement Speed Up       |  Defeat Kirin or Tigrex               |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Bomb Resistance         |  Unlocks at Level 6                   |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Farsight                |  Unlocks at Level 8                   |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Windpress               |  Unlocks at Level 9                   |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Bomber                  |  Unlocks at Level 10                  |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Anti-Gathering          |  Unlocks at Level 12                  |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Large Barrel Bomb Skill |  Unlocks at Level 13                  |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Art of Eight Wonders    |  Unlocks at Level 14                  |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Tireless                |  Unlocks at Level 15                  |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Recovery Speed Increase |  Unlocks at Level 18                  |
      |-------------------------+---------------------------------------|
      | Risk Berserker          |  Unlocks at Level 20                  |
      x-------------------------+---------------------------------------x

Pro-Tip:
-- Your Felyne Fighter can learn one Elemental Skill at a time
-- Your Felyne Fighter can learn one Abnormal status skill at a time.
-- Stun Trap is rarely used, so spending points on it is pointless. Get it?
-- Thievery does not steal rare items, so don't count on much.
-- Attack Up does not effect your Bombs power however the skill "Bomber" does.

                     ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                  ---| --- [2.2.5] Felyne Fighter's --- |---
                  ---|         ~~~ Loyalty ~~~          |---
                     v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

The more Loyalty your Felyne has, the more capable it is. Say you've given
your Pacifist Felyne Greater Health Flute. A Felyne with lower Loyalty is less
likely to use it then one with higher Loyalty. It's that simple.

Loyalty is determined by the Hearts your Felyne has in it's status menu. The
more they have, the greater chance they'll help you in battle. To increase
your Felyne's Heart Level you need Heart Points.

One Heart: 1000 Points

Two Hearts: 2500 Points

Three Hearts: 4500 Points

Four Hearts: 6000 Points

Five Hearts: 7000 Points

Heart Points are 10% of the Guild Points you collect from quests. For example,
you get 1000 Guild Points for defeating Elder Monoblos. (Not a real estimate,
just used for the sake of example.) The Heart Points are then multiplied by
ten percent.

1000 Points x 10% = 100 Heart Points

Choosing to rest after completing a quest will earn you five Heart Points.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [2.3] Pokke Village --- |---
                     ---|     ~~~ Pokke Farm ~~~      |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

To the right, just out of your home, lies Pokke Farm. This is where you search
for materials, and resources abound. The man outside Pokke Farm will use your
Points for renovation. Seek Boldrin's Pokke Farm FAQ for more details.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/934395/50112

What that FAQ doesn't tell is that Mining Point +$ and Insect Thicket +4 are
unlocked through HR 7+ Quests.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [2.4] Pokke Village ---  |---
                    ---| ~~~ Weapon Seller/Forger ~~~ |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Wait, what's that over there! Why it's the Weapon Seller (Felyne) and the
Weapon Forger (Man!) This is the place where you forge new armor and new
weapons. It's also the place where you buy them. When starting out, you'll
often be buying from the Felyne. However, as time passes and your materials
accumulate you'll begin forging. Simply have said materials either your
inventory or item box and bring them to the forger. And they'll forge it for a
lengthy fee.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [2.5] Pokke Village ---  |---
                    ---|    ~~~ Item Salesman ~~~     |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Next to the Weapon sellers, is the Item Salesman. She'll sell you stuff from
Antidotes to Whetstones. What more is there to say? ...Fine, here's a list.

    x----------------x
    | ITEM SALESMAN! |
    x----------------x----------------------------------------------------x
    | Name                 |  Description                                 |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Herb                 |  Heals small amount of HP.                   |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Yellow Seed          |  Plant in Pokke Farm.                        |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Potion               |  Heals HP.                                   |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Antidote             |  Cures Poison.                               |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Whetstones           |  Sharpens Weapon.                            |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Armor Stone          |  Used for Upgrading Armor.                   |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Cool Drink           |  Resists Extreme Heat.                       |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Hot Drink            |  Resists Extreme Cold.                       |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Old Pickaxe          |  Used at Mining Spots; breaks easy.          |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Iron Pickaxe         |  Used at Mining Spots; sometimes breaks.     |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Mega Pickaxe         |  Used at Mining Spots; rarely breaks.        |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Old Bugnet           |  Used at Bug Spots; breaks easy.             |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Bugnet               |  Used at Bug Spots; sometimes breaks.        |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Mega Bugnet          |  Used at Bug Spots; rarely breaks.           |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Worm                 |  Cheap fishing substitute.                   |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Small Barrel         |  Used to make Small Barrel Bombs.            |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Large Barrel         |  Used to make Large Barrel Bombs.            |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Sm. Barrel Bomb      |  Detonates dealing small damage.             |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Lg. Barrel Bomb      |  Detonates dealing large damage.             |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Trap Tool            |  Used to make Shock/Pitfall Traps.           |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Tranquilizer         |  Used to make Tranq Bombs and more.          |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Boomerang            |  Helps sever Monster's Tail.                 |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Binoculars           |  Allows you to spy things from distance.     |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | BBQ Spit             |  Cooks Raw Meat in field.                    |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Huskberry            |  Combines with various things to make ammo.  |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Normal S Lv1/Lv2/Lv3 |  Ammo for Bowgun.                            |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Pierce S Lv1/Lv2/Lv3 |  Ammo dealing Piercing damage.               |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Pellet S Lv1/Lv2/Lv3 |  Ammo dealing Scatter damage.                |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Crag S Lv1/Lv2/Lv3   |  Ammo dealing Explosive damage.              |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Clust S Lv1/Lv2/Lv3  |  Ammo dealing multi-Explosive damage.        |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Flaming S Lv1        |  Ammo dealing Fire Element damage.           |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Water S Lv1          |  Ammo dealing Water Element damage.          |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Thunder S Lv1        |  Ammo dealing Thunder Element damage.        |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Freeze S Lv1         |  Ammo dealing Ice Element damage.            |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Poison S Lv1         |  Ammo with a chance of poisoning.            |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Para S Lv1           |  Ammo with chance of paralyzing.             |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Sleep S Lv1          |  Ammo with chance of sleep status.           |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Recov S Lv1/Lv2      |  Ammo that heals it's target.                |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Empty Bottle         |  Used for making Coatings.                   |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Power Coating        |  Deals extra damage with Bow.                |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Razor Coating        |  Melee attacks with bow deal extra.          |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Poison Coating       |  Chance of Poisoning with Bow.               |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Para Coating         |  Chance of Paralyzing with Bow.              |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Sleep Coating        |  Chance of Sleep status with Bow.            |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Book of Combos 1 - 5 |  Increases chance of successful combination. |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Organizer Guide      |  Increases Item Box inventory space.         |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Back Packer Guide    |  Increases Item Box inventory space further. |
    |----------------------+----------------------------------------------|
    | Monster Info         |  Gives brief description of each monster.    |
    x----------------------x----------------------------------------------x

Some of these things will be unlocked as time goes on. Through Elder Quests
mostly. For those transferring over from Monster Hunter Freedom 2, items can
be sent back to the Item Box.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [2.6] Pokke Village --- |---
                     ---|      ~~~ Old Lady ~~~       |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

This tricky Old Lady (who appears to be the Felyne Lady's evil twin) sells
items. Some of which Hunter's profess in stocking up on, especially Flashbugs.
Though she won't always have them in inventory, as it changes after every
battle. As time passes, you'll be buying from her more often. Some things to
watch out for are Bomb Material, Gunpowder and Raw Meat.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [2.7] Pokke Village --- |---
                     ---|    ~~~ Training Hall ~~~    |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

The Training Hall is located at the far left-most corner of Pokke Village. At
first it exists to give us tips and tricks about the fields of Monster Hunter.
After defeating a few Elder Monsters, we unlock them here.

Hold on a sec. What's the point of a Training Hall anyway? I mean it's not
like I get rewarded at the end of it now do I...? Wait, do I? Yes indeed.
Defeating the Training Hall monsters yields prizes. For one, coins. By
defeating a certain monster at the Training Hall, we unlock their coins. These
coins can be used to forge Black Belt Armor. Which, if you were to ask me, is
useful.

You know the skill Torso Inc? It's ability doubles the skill points allocated
to your Torso section. In short, say you're Chain Mail armor has Health +3,
Hunger +2, Map +1, and Whim +2. Now equip something with the skill Torso
Inc...See the difference? That armor set now has a total of Health +6, Hunger +
4,
Map +2, and Whim +2! Both bad skills and good ones are added.

Due to confusion regarding my explanation, I must explain what Torso Inc is not.
It doesn't multiple, rather adds, so if you have two Torso Inc armor pieces,
they
both see the Torso separately. Meaning they will both have Health +3, Hunger +2,
Map +1, and Whim +2 with Chain Mail armor.

What are the benefits of Black Belt Armor? If you're down on your luck, or
simply cannot afford to make the full set as of now, and you really want the
skills... The problem with Black Belt Armor, along with all armor with Torso
Inc, is that they lack slots. Without slots, you can't gem, and that sucks.
Yes, you will be able to gem the Torso if slots are available.

Another reward is the extra money you can pocket from completing each quest.
Sometimes you'll receive Goldfish or Steel Eggs too. Though, a considerable
prize for later quests is none other then Expand Pickaxe. By combining it with
Ores, we can create double, maybe triple, of the Ore we're looking for!

Still not convinced are we? I mean, who would want to go through all this and
why? The answer is simple, Piercing. There are two items, only unlocked via
completing all the Training quests with ALL weapons. They are Barrage Piercing
and Sword Saint Piercing.

You may run into Piercings down the road. Heck, you may even wear one a few
times. Nothing however, and I mean nothing, compares to either of these
Piercings. Sword Saint Piercing gives you an astounding +10 Fencing
automatically unlocking ESP. And if you've yet to get around to my skill
section, you'll know that it allows to to pierce the hide of any monster no
matter how sharp. Barrage Piercing allows more shots with Bowgun and unlocks
the fourth charge via Bow (or third if you have Tyrants Wrack.)

Training Hall monsters are in two sections. Group and Solo Training. Group
will not be discussed. The following monsters are unlocked via defeating them
in either Elder or Guild Hall quests.

-- You're given a set of armor and weapons to choose from. You must defeat one
monster with at least one of these sets in order to move on.

-- You're given a select set of items with each set, use them wisely.

-- You don't get to keep carves, instead they are transferred into your points
ergo giving you more Pokke Points to play around with.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [2.7.1] Training Hall --- |---
                    ---|   ~~~ Normal Training ~~~     |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Your Normal Training will take place in the Great Arena, always. There, you
will have access to five different weapon types. If you wish to unlock Barrage
Piercing (and I suggest you do) you'll need to defeat all of them with all
five. There are three corners which you can search through. They usually
contain Flash Bombs, Stun Traps, Small and Large Barrel Bombs. Exploit these,
or you will die. While at first they aren't as needed, but later on when
you're throwing down with Tigrex...it may be useful.

The following are unlocked via felling them in either Elder or Guild Hall
quests. I'm not sure on the exact method of unlocking them.

Level: * Yian Kut Ku
Level: * Congalala
Level: ** Khezu
Level: ** Daiymo Hermituar
Level: *** Blangonga
Level: *** Yian Garuga
Level: **** Tigrex
Level: **** Diablos
Level: ***** Gravios
Level: ***** Kirin

Pro-tip:
-- Don't feel discouraged after being wiped out. Put down the game, clear your
head, and approach it later. Try to remember what happened before
you...well...got KOed, and think of a way to avoid it from happening again.
Using too many Potions? Get hit less. Is your enemy just not dying? You need
hit it more, be patient though.

--Look at your armor and weapon. They're both trying to tell you something. If
you're armor has extra Health or Attack maybe they're telling you to be more
offensive. If you have Bomber, well, use Bombs! Check your inventory too.

-- You may find some enemies harder despite the rank. I know I did when facing
Tigrex, Arrg! Try skipping rank when you've unlocked other foes. Who knows,
you may be better after taking a break.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [2.7.2] Training Hall --- |---
                     ---|   ~~~ Special Training ~~~    |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

As the title suggests Special Rank is special, duh. Each battle takes place in
one of the maps you normally travel to on a quest. Be it the Snowy Mountains,
the Volcano, or the Forest and Hills. However, instead of the materials you'd
harvest, there are materials here that will aide you in your endeavor. There
is currently no list available, so it's a matter of knowing where the
gathering spots are. Don't stress out, you'll find what your looking for. You
may need Pickaxes or Bugnets in order to find them. Since you can't carry them
into the actual quest you'll have to scrounge for your own.

Here's a quick list of monsters unlocked via challenging them through Elder or
Guild quests.

Level: * Cephadrome in Desert (Day)
Level: ** Plesioth in Jungle (Night)
Level: *** Shogun Ceanataur in Swamp (Day)
Level: **** Rathalos in Forest & Hills (Day)
Level: ***** Rajang in Snowy Mountains (Day)

The challenge is as fierce as Normal, maybe more. You're thrown into new
environments with equipment not your own, with barely any items. Truly, a test
worthy of a Monster Hunter. Remember, victory with all weapons means Sword
Saint Piercing, lovely.

Pro-tip:
-- Each Map has it's own layout with items unique to Training. If you find
you're lacking a certain item, or you don't have enough to heal
yourself...then maybe you need to look got it.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [2.7.3] Training Hall --- |---
                    ---|   ~~~ G Rank Training ~~~     |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

The new training rank, G Rank Training. Monsters here are tough, nay
impossible. The maps are new and old. It seems just about everything has been
tweaked to give you the harder experience. The reward better be good right?
Unfortunately, no. Good Luck Piercing is our prize for defeating this rank
with all weapons. It provides +10 Luck, it ain't bad, but it's not good either.

So why justify all that time and effort? The real reason we're beating this
Rank is to unlock G Rank Fatalis. And guess what? You only need to defeat them
with one weapon type each in order to unlock! Now if only I could  do
it! >.<

The following are unlocked via G Rank quests.

Level: * Hypnocatrice in Old Forest/Rainforest (Day)
Level: ** Green Congalala in Kokotto Jungle
Level: ** Purple Daimyo Hermituar in Kokotto Desert
Level: *** Narugacuga in Old Forest/Rainforest (Night)
Level: *** Brown Blangona in Kokotto Desert
Level: **** Lavasioth in Volcano (Night)
Level: **** Red Shogun Ceanataur in Kokotto Swamp
Level: ***** Rajang in Kokotto Volcano

There you have it. To make your struggle a bit easier, KillTheDJ has pieced
together a list of G Rank Training Resources.

http://forums.Minegarde.com/index.php?showtopic=438

Support his guide why don't you?

Pro-tip:
-- Despite the change in scenery and foe not a lot has changed. Follow the
basic rules and you'll do...well...you'll still have a difficult time. At
least you're armed with some guidelines.

-- Remember the Pro-tips in the Normal Training section. If you are wiped out,
getting frustrated solves nothing. Exploit the abilities given by your
equipment. And always remember that victory won easy, is no victory at all.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [2.8] Pokke Village --- |---
                     ---|    ~~~ Village Elder ~~~    |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Here we are, the place you'll be going to for quests. Mainly, these quests are
here to ease you, coax you into the world of Monster Hunter. They're easy at
first, but then you run into what we call #Walls.#

A #Wall# in runner terminology is something you can't seem to get past. No
matter how hard you huff and puff. Whether it be Yian Kut Ku or the almighty
annoying Khezu, your #Wall# is out there. Later on, I will be extensively
covering each quest that helps you advance. For now though, you need to
realize the importance of not giving up.

Pro-tip...no not even pro:
-- If you're dying too many times, check out what you're doing. Are you trying
to predict your opponent's pattern? Maybe your armor is outdated. Maybe you
need another weapon type or maybe a better one would work for you. Are you
bringing the right items? Have you thought of applying a little strategy?

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---| --- [2.9] Pokke Village --- |---
                      ---|     ~~~ Felyne Elder ~~~    |---
                         v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

After you've finished the hard, hard road of Elder quests, this opens up. A
whole new batch of Hard Ranked (some G Ranked later on) quests. Unlike HR6+
Quests you'll have to do these alone. They might be easier then Guild Hall
Hard Rank quests though, as the monsters here have less overall HP.

The benefit is that if you transferred over from Monster Hunter Freedom 2, you
can skip the weapon & armor hunting if you got far enough. All monsters can be
slain with armor you got from HR6+ quests.

I will cover this part in greater detail later on.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [2.10] Pokke Village ---  |---
                    ---|       ~~~ Guild Hall ~~~      |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Upon approaching this grand hallway you have two choices. Online (via Ad-Hoc
or Xlink) or Offline (Solo.) The difference is simple, you can pause your game
Offline.

Here, you'll be assigned a great many quests. Separated into three categories
by rank, your #rank# is called Hunter Rank or for short #HR.# Each HR
corresponds with a number whether it be 1 or 9. For each set of quests you do,
you can raise your HR and unlock harder monsters. Why would we want to do
this? For their armor of course!

HR1 through HR3 are Elder Quests.
HR4 through HR6 are Hard Quests that unlock higher ranked armors.
HR7 through HR9 are G Rank Quests, they unlock some of the rarest and hardest
monsters in the game!

So is it a good idea to do Guild Hall quests? No, at least not yet. Try
getting through the Elder and Felyne Elder quests first. Build up your Felyne
Fighter, your weapon types and armor sets. The more skills you have, the more
capable you become when it comes to monsters!

 /\  /\        |_|
/  \/  \onster | |unter===================================================--x
-----------x----------|              [3] Basics                              \
                      x===================================================----x

    "Basic research is what I am doing when I don't know what I am doing."
                              ~Wernher von Braun

                            ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                         ---| --- [3.1] Basics --- |---
                         ---|    ~~~ Nature ~~~    |---
                            v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Monster Hunter is unlike any creature you've ever encountered before. To
illustrate those differences, I look to Final Fantasy. First off, I love Final
Fantasy. My ultimate pick was Warrior, Red Mage, Black Mage, and White Mage. I
fought Garland and ultimately beat the game. All the while collecting experience
points which made my party the stronger.

In Monster Hunter, I'm armed with a Bone Lance and Battle Armor. I have
Sharpening
Skill Increase and Attack Up [Low] which help. However beating the Yian Kut-Ku
takes skill, not experience points. When I say Final Fantasy's battle system is
"artificial" I mean that all that is required of you is to make the right
decisions in battle. In Monster Hunter, you have to anticipate your opponent's
next move, evade, and counter before your foe goes for the next attack. All of
which takes a distinguished amount of skill. You, the player, get the
"experience" points. Not your avatar.

You gain ability points as well, like the ability to discern your next best
course
of action. The ability to choose between the items, equipment, and weapons you
need in the upcoming battle. All of which rely on you to make progress. They
want
to stimulate that individual growth unlike any virtual game before it.

This base is broken off into base elements of combat. It is the center of much
controversy and considered a disadvantage among casual players. The first we
will
cover is obviously the basics.

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---|  --- [3.2] Basics ---  |---
                      ---|    ~~~ Controls ~~~    |---
                         v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                 ____________________________________________
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               /        |                            |        \
                       |                            |    /\   )
              |    ^    |                            |  _ ��   |
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              |    V    |                            |  �      |
              ;    _    |                            |    \/   ;
              :   :.:   |                            |    /\  :
               \   �    |____________________________|       /
                �����\   home              select start /����
                      ����������������������������������

Regrettably, I'm terrible with ASCII. A fact you will learn as this guide moves
on. Now, here are the list of controls. Also note that the controls are
unchangeable.

D-Pad: Controls the camera. Your camera doesn't have Auto-Lock (despite the
desire
by many.) The first and foremost element of Monster Hunter relies on you to keep
an eye on your target. In baseball, they tell you to keep your eye on the ball.
The concept is the same here. Left and right pan the camera around, while up and
down zoom.

Players often find it difficult to shift the camera while in motion. To
compensate, they either use the L Trigger or Fingerhooking. Fingerhooking got
it's
name from the way you curve your pointer finger. While your left thumb is
controlling the the Joystick, the left side of your pointer finger is
maneuvering
the camera.

Joystick: Controls for movement. It's pretty basic stuff, left, right, up, down
all shift you into a direction. By gently tilting the joystick we can sneak.

Generally this isn't practiced unless you want to sneak up to a Wyvern. The
practice requires a Smoke Bomb in order to avoid being seen. And not every
monster
uses their eyes to track you (aka Khezu.) I've seen situations where sneaking
has
its advantages, but you won't need to use it.

L Trigger: Shifts the camera to wherever you're facing. A quaint but possibly
less
effective method of controlling the camera.

R Trigger: When held it allows your avatar to run at the cost of the stamina. If
held to long, your stamina gauge runs out. It is also used in weapon attacks
when
weapon is unsheathed.

Start: Brings up the in-game menu. This is not a "pause" function, and when
opening it up do so at your own risk. The monsters will still go after you.

             x-------x
             | MENU! |
             x=======x-------------------------------------------x
             | Items            | Opens up current inventory.    |
             |------------------+--------------------------------|
             | Combine          | Allows for item combination.   |
             |------------------+--------------------------------|
             | Quest Info       | Gives details pertaining to    |
             |                  | quest.                         |
             |------------------+--------------------------------|
             | Gestures         | Allows you to perform          |
             |                  | gestures; grayed out while in  |
             |                  | town.                          |
             |------------------+--------------------------------|
             | Player Info      | Displays player information of |
             |                  | Hunters in Gathering Hall.     |
             |------------------+--------------------------------|
             | Guild Card       | Opens a sub-menu allowing you  |
             |                  | to examine; edit; and look at  |
             |                  | other Guild Cards.             |
             |------------------+--------------------------------|
             | Felyne Exchange  | Allows you to exchange Felyne  |
             |                  | Fighters with another Hunter   |
             |                  | in Gathering Hall.             |
             |------------------+--------------------------------|
             | Status           | Checks your overall status.    |
             |------------------+--------------------------------|
             | Equipment Detail | Displays status of equipment.  |
             |------------------+--------------------------------|
             | Reference        | Opens a sub-menu containing a  |
             |                  | list of combination items;     |
             |                  | list of Monsters; and status   |
             |                  | of your Felyne Fighter.        |
             |------------------+--------------------------------|
             | Options          | Opens the options menu; where  |
             |                  | you can set your selection     |
             |                  | method of Gathering hall;      |
             |                  | adjust the sound from          |
             |                  | Stereo/Dolby Pro Logic/Boost;  |
             |                  | Media Install option detects   |
             |                  | memory stick data.             |
             x---------------------------------------------------x

*Note: Pause is only available an Offline Quest.

Select: You ready for this? The select button kicks. I'm not kidding. You
literally throw your foot at an monster. It does minimal damage, and application
is anything but possible. It is good for breaking your friend's sleep, stun, or
roar status should the time call for it. I've also learned that it works better
with a Greatsword.

Triangle: The base for all weapon attacks. Pressing it unsheathes your weapon
and
attacks your foe. It's usage depends heavily on the weapon you're using at the
time.

Circle: The confirm button in Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, the Japanese
version
of the game. It also acts as a secondary attack to the Triangle based on what
characteristics your weapon possesses.

Square: This button allows you to use items. To scroll for them by hold the L
Trigger and press the directional pads. It also sheathes your weapon.

Cross: The evade/roll, confirm button for Unite. The combination R Trigger +
Cross
allows you to perform a dive while your weapon is unsheathed.

There you have it. These are controls you're required to know and master.

                          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                       ---| --- [3.3] Basics --- |---
                       ---|    ~~~ Combat ~~~    |---
                          v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Every now and then I scan through some low-rated reviews of our darling game.
Most
actually pertain to Monster Hunter Freedom 2, but the games are rather identical
in form. A fact that may depress many who have hate-crushes. They misunderstand
what format in which Monster Hunter is presented, ergo labeling them as "flaws."
Their frustrations often shows up in their writing, ranting on and on about how
excruciating a game it is when they themselves really don't understand it.

I notice however, that most address the same key issues. It is those I would
like
to cover in this section. I will begin naturally with combat. Now, many have
misgivings about the form. That there are elements out of alignment. To those
desperately flailing their weapons around praying to hit something, and those
who
can't keep their eye on the prize.

Combat is the exchange of blows, and you're the cheater. You attack a monster,
and
attempt to maneuver out of the incoming blow. There will be times where you can
guard against attacks, and sometimes guarding is the only way. Your task to
achieve dominance through a stoic examination of every monster you encounter.
This
guide will help you immeasurably with that. It's good to know the basics of your
world throughly...

                          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                       ---| --- [3.4] Basics --- |---
                       ---|   ~~~ Accuracy ~~~   |---
                          v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

The trouble that gamers (like moi) is that we're used to the Hack & Slash
mentality when it comes to Action RPGS. We've seen it since the dawn of Action
type games, Phantasy Star, Kingdom Hearts, and so on. If you come equipped with
such an attitude, you might as well sell your copy.

Why? The very foundation of Monster Hunter depends on your accuracy. Whether or
not you hit the enemy in the right place or at all. In this game weapons come
with
such a short range that it daunts newcomers. The series will never acquire an
auto-lock feature, and to include one would be sacrilege. You don't NEED such
things, you're better off without them.

Again, why? Well, you wouldn't have to try so hard if it were any different,
would
you? Accuracy plays a role so vast that most Hunters don't even think about it.
Adjusting the camera and connecting your weapon with that of your enemy... it's
supposed to be challenging. And when you overcome that challenge, well, things
become easier.

Practicing said skills require you to simply hit your enemy. There is more to it
though then wildly slashing at whatever moves. You must observe then attack.

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---| --- [3.5] Basics --- |---
                      ---|  ~~~ Observance ~~~  |---
                         v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Everyone has a tell. Whether it's in your speech or your mannerisms, it's there.
Wyverns are no different. Before they attack they carry out an animation however
small, always before attacking. Like the confident Poker player, you're ready to
call their bluff.

The most detailed section of the guide consists of the ins and outs of a
monster's
tells. Or I'd like to call, "Frames." They are the animation frames executed the
exact moment before an attack. They appear quick, and sometimes not at all. The
tell or lack of a tell will be your only cue. But why is it so important you
ask?

Observing an attack, memorizing it's range and tell are crucial to avoiding said
move. By understanding our enemies offense, we can channel a righteous offense.
When we are skilled enough in avoiding that move, we begin to look for openings.
We capitalize on the seconds before or after the attack. It's difficult to
describe without an example.

Say, you're facing a Congalala. Say it's throws itself into a Belly Flop and
collided with the floor. During those moments when recovery are your moments to
strike, they are not very long moments, but they are the ones you receive. If
you're too slow, he'll move on and you'll miss your chance. If you're too quick,
you may get hit by the initial attack. Timing becomes an intimate factor then.

Timing is based heavily on instinct and develops over-time like any skill does.
I
can tell you is that in order to develop it, you need to see others practice it.
Scanning the net for videos is by all means okay. Hell, it's downright logical.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---|   --- [3.6] Basics ---   |---
                    ---| ~~~ The Right Weapon ~~~ |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Any weapon type can fell any monster. If anyone tells you different, then they
are
ignorant. It may be required you take certain armor skills into consideration
like
ESP, Sharpness +1, and so on. The fact remains that all you need are developed
skills.

When starting out you receive all weapon types. Know though, that all weapons
are
not created equal. Players apt for the easier weapon, Hunters apt for the weapon
that can best deal with the situation. The distinction is clear. As every player
must have done at some point, they choose the Longsword.

I have nothing against the weapon when used correctly. It carries with it a
decent
amount of range and speed at the cost of power. That power becomes all but
obvious
over-time. By that time however, you devoted several hours into that pursuit and
may be unwilling, or unprepared, to switch over.

That is why it's recommended that you, the Hunter, invest in more then one
weapon
type. There are eleven types of weaponry you can add to your arsenal. The more
weapons you possess, the greater versatile you're going to be.

Going back to my original idea, not all weapons are created equal. Greatsword
and
Hammers are generally on top, for Gunner's it's the Heavy Bowgun. I don't
recommend solely investing in them however. You have eleven different flavored
weapons, all with their own flaws and characteristics. I guarantee, going
outside
your comfort zone can be satisfying. It has the potential to shift your
perspective on weaponry in general. Making you more skilled in general as a
Hunter.

A simple way of developing this skill to take on a different monster with a
different weapon. One you wouldn't normally use. Training Hall is a good way of
pursuing this. Take the fight outside though, you may not realize how successful
you can be.

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---| --- [3.7] Basics --- |---
                      ---|  ~~~ Be Prepared ~~~ |---
                         v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Items you get from the Supply Box don't last forever. In your long career of
Monster Hunter you will need to use everything at your disposal. The beginning
Elder Quests shows you what you should already be carrying. Some of those
things include the basics.

                    ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                 ---| --- [3.7.1] Be Prepared --- |---
                 ---|       ~~~ Potions ~~~       |---
                    v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

There are Potions ranging from First Aid to Max Potions. In many situations
you can get by with Potions and Mega Potions. Obviously, these are to restore
your health. Unless you have Fast Eating (Cooking +10) Skill don't eat these
during a fight. Or else you'll end up losing more then you gain. If you need a
Potion, retreat, then eat.

Of course there comes a time, when you can't flee to the next Area. Say, in
the Great Arena. In said situations, it may be a good idea to distract the
enemy with a Flashbomb or Shock Trap. More on those later.

I find myself using more and more Max Potions for most of the G Rank quests.
While optional, a single Max Potion can recover all lost HP and completely
fill the maximum Health limit.

                o----------o
                | COMBINE! |
                o----------o------------------------------------o
                \      Potions: Herb + Blue Mushrooms           |
                /      Mega Potions: Potions + Honey            |
                \ Max Potion: Mega Nutrients + Dragon Toadstool |
                o==========-------------------------------------o

                    ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                 ---| --- [3.7.2] Be Prepared --- |---
                 ---|      ~~~ Paintballs ~~~     |---
                    v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Paintball is the basic tracking system. Throw it onto the enemy Wyvern and
you'll be able to track it's location via map. It's a tool you'll never
discard. Knowing where to begin is key.

I discovered overtime that most monsters start a certain place. Pyschoserum
can help you discover this too. By taking it, you'll be able to discern your
target's current location with a window of a few seconds. Useful huh? Tracking
your wyvern becomes easier with these in hand. Neither are essential, most
missions will force you to rely on at least on of these.

                   o----------o
                   | COMBINE! |
                   o----------o-------------------------o
                   \ Psychoserum = Buy from Old Lady    |
                   / Paintball = Sap Plant + Paintberry |
                   o==========--------------------------o

                     ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                  ---| --- [3.7.3] Be Prepared --- |---
                  ---|      ~~~ Capturing ~~~      |---
                     v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Stun/Pitfall Trap is always a must for most Wyverns.

Wyverns have a 'tell' for when they are close to death. Most Wyverns limp,
like Yian Kut Ku, Gravios, and Rathalos. Some monsters will show signs of
weakness like Daimyo Hermituar will ooze purple bubbles from the mouth. When
that monster exhibits the 'tell' or flees to the designated area it will most
likely fall asleep.

Travel to that area (sometimes they will move from one point to another and
eventually to the designated point. For example, Rathalos moves to Area 4
before moving to Area 5 to sleep.)

Tranq Bombs are your best friend when it comes to capturing Wyverns. You need
these in order capture them, how does it work? When you make it to the
designated Area you'll see the Wyvern/Monster taking a snooze. No, don't wake
them yet. First, we clear the area of other monsters (make sure you don't wake
the monster up during your extermination.) Then set up your trap. Which will
you use? Certain traps work and others don't on different monsters. Most
however are susceptible to Stun Trap. Next, we wake the Wyvern. Kick him;
throw a stone/paintball/whatever to get its attention. Lure that monster to
your trap and let if fall. When it's trapped throw two Tranq Bombs. That's it.

Summary:
 1. Weaken Wyvern.
 2. Watch it fly to the 'sleep Area.'
 3. Follow Wyvern.
 4. Give it a few seconds to fall asleep in 'sleep Area.'
 5. Enter Area.
 6. Set up Trap near Wyvern, preferably right in front of it.
 7. Wake Wyvern.
 8. Have Wyvern rush into Trap.
 9. Throw two Tranq Bombs at Wyvern.
10. Congratulate yourself, you just captured a wyvern!

                o----------o
                | COMBINE! |
                o----------o---------------------------------o
                /     Stun Trap = Genprey Fang + Trap Tool   |
                \      Pitfall Trap = Net + Trap Tool        |
                /            Net = Spiderweb + Ivy           |
                \ Tranq Bomb = Tranquilizer + Bomb Material |
                o==========----------------------------------o

Why would anyone go to this much trouble? One, it's not as complicated as it
sounds; and two; you get better rewards for capturing then slaying.

                    o--------------o   o----------------o
                    | CAN CAPTURE! |   | CAN'T CAPTURE!  \
                    o--------------o---o-----------------o
                    | Drome Family     \ Kushala Daora   |
                    | Yian Kut Ku      / Chameleos       |
                    | Yian Garuga      \ Lunstra         |
                    | Hypnocatrice     / Teostra         |
                    | Gypceros         \ Yamatsukami     |
                    | Rathalos         / Akantor         |
                    | Rathian          \ Kirin           |
                    | Khezu            / Ucamulbas       |
                    | Basarios         \ Crimson Fatalis |
                    | Congalala        / White Fatalis   |
                    | Daimyo Hermituar \ Fatalis         |
                    | Shogun Ceanatuar / Shen Gao-Ren    |
                    | Blangonga        \ Lao Shan Lung   |
                    | Plesioth         /=================o
                    | Nargacuga        \
                    | Tigrex           /
                    | Diablos          \
                    | Monoblos         /
                    | Gravios          \
                    | Rajang           /
                    | Lavasioth         \
                    o------------------o

                    ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                 ---| --- [3.7.4] Be Prepared --- |---
                 ---|      ~~~ Combining ~~~      |---
                    v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Combo Books in particular are vital. See that little menu tab that says
"Combination" whenever you press start? This is how you turn Honey and Herbs
into Potions and Mega Potions. Genprey Fangs and Nets into Stun Traps and
Pitfall Traps. There are a total of five in the set. The more combination
books you have in your inventory at the time you combine materials, the less
likely the combining would fail.

We need these whenever a need comes up. Say you want to bring more then one
Stun Trap with you, but your inventory only allows you Stun Trap. Well, here's
a thought, why not bring the materials? This is no secret; most good hunters
bring these items with them on Quests. With Combo Books, you'll be able to
have a more successful combination. Note that for most combinations, you will
need only Combo Books 1, 2, and 3. You will use Book 4 only to make Lg Barrel
Bombs+ during the missions you want to use them.

Combo Books 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 = All available at the shops. The more quests
you beat the more books that appear.

For a list of combination items check out Boldrin's FAQ:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/934395/50796

                     ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                  ---| --- [3.7.5] Be Prepared --- |---
                  ---|      ~~~ Enhancing ~~~      |---
                     v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Attack Boosters are a fickle thing. Power Seeds, Mega Demondrugs, Power Pills,
Powercharms, and Powertalons all increase your attack power to almost demonic
levels. Defense Boosters work in the same way. Late in the game you'll find
yourself hankering for that expensive Powercharm from the Guild Hall shop. We
arrive at "Stacking." Stacking means simply stacking Attack or defense items.
Some items cannot add to your attack power as long as the effect of one other
item is still in play. These types of items increase your attack/defense
certain amounts, here is an example of stacking those items:

Felyne Attack Boost "Small" = Equivalent of Demondrug (+3x)
Felyne Attack Boost "Large" = Equivalent of Mega Demondrug (+5x)
Power Seed or Demon Flute (+10x)
Power Pill (+25x)
Powercharm (+6x)
Powertalon (+9x)

{Demondrug or Mega Demondrug} (+3x or +5x)

+

{Powerseed/Demon Flute or Power Pill} (+10x or +25x)

+

{Powercharm} (+6x}

+

{Powertalon} (+9x}

Defense works the same way; Just replace Demondrug with Armorskin, Power Pill
with Armor Pill, ect.

It's nice to carry at least a Power Seed every once and awhile. There is no
downside to stacking, so why not try it?

          o----------o
          | COMBINE! |
          o----------o----------------------------------------------o
          /  Power Seeds = Buy from Old Lady or Plant in Pokke Farm |
          \             Power Pill = Immunizer + Power Seed         |
          /              Demondrug = Catalyst + Power Seed          |
          \        Mega Demondrug = Demondrug + Pale Extract        |
          /              Immunizer = Catalyst + Dragon Toadstool    |
          \  Armor Seeds = Buy from Old Lady or Plant in Pokke Farm |
          /              Armorskin = Armor Seed + Catalyst          |
          \             Armor Pill = Armor Seed + Immunizer         |
          /        Mega Armorskin = Armor Skin + Pale Extract       |
          o==========-----------------------------------------------o

Section Credits:
Boldrin (Stacking Formula)

                   ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                ---| --- [3.7.6] Be Prepared --- |---
                ---|  ~~~ Restoring Stamina ~~~  |---
                   v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

I'm talking about food. What kind of food do Monster Hunters eat? Nothing
special, just meat. How it works is that you harvest Raw Meat from non-boss
creatures, like Mosswine, Popo, and Apceros. You can cook them using a BBQ
Spit, or take them back to your Felyne Kitchen and have your chefs take care
of it. Note though, the lower the level of the Felyne cooking your Raw Meat;
the more likely you'll end up with Rare or even Burnt Meat.

Why do we do this? Heck, it's to get your Stamina bar up. Something that is
very important, because when Guarding, or Running, or just about everything
requires stamina. If you're stamina goes to zero, it will turn red and you
will be unable to run, Wyverns will be able to break your Guard, you won't be
able to Charge for long with your Hammer, it makes it harder if not impossible
to roll. If you don't care for those things...why are you playing?

Personally, I love Mega Juice. It gives you Infinite Stamina, granted for a
short amount of time. Time nonetheless.

      o----------o
      | COMBINE! |
      o----------o--------------------------------------------------------o
      \       Raw Meat = Carve from monsters or buy from Old Lady         |
      /      Rare Meat = Cook with BBQ Spit and pull out meat early       |
      \ Well-Done Steak = Cook with BBQ Spit and pull when meat is darker |
      /   Gourmet Steak = Cook with BBQ Spit and pull when time is right  |
      \        Mega Juice = Well-Done Steak + Power Extract (Gypceros)    |
      o==========---------------------------------------------------------o

                    ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                 ---| --- [3.7.7] Be Prepared --- |---
                 ---|       ~~~ Drinks ~~~        |---
                    v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Cool/Hot Drinks are essential to the average Hunter. Rain, sleet, or shine, a
hunter's got to have them. What exactly do they do? In Areas of extreme
weather conditions they provide protection against heat or cold. Note that
some locations require both as there are different conditions depending on
which Area you are. Buy both at Shop.

             o-------o             o------o
             | COLD! |             | HOT! |
             o-------o---------o   o------o--------o
             | Snowy Mountains \   / Volcano       |
             | Desert          /   \ Pokke Volcano |
             | Pokke Desert    \   / Desert        |
             | Pokke Jungle    /   \ Pokke Desert  |
             | Swamp           \   o========-------o
             | Pokke Swamp     /
             o========---------o

                   ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                ---| --- [3.7.8] Be Prepared --- |---
                ---|        ~~~ Bombs ~~~        |---
                   v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Flash and Sonic Bombs are your tools against the worst of Monster Hunter.
What's the difference between these two? Flash Bomb sends out a large flash
that temporarily confuses the Wyvern/Monster, incredibly useful against
Tigrex, Rathalos and even Akantor. By confusing your enemy it'll use random
attacks or taunt; neither of which are aimed for you. This gives you time to
strike! Sadly, we're limited to 5; also, using Flash Bombs is considered
"cheap" and "broken." If you're a beginner who is just trying to get by anyway
you can, then don't listen to them. They developers wouldn't make Flash Bombs
so obtainable if they considered it "cheap."

Sonic Bombs act differently. Mostly, they are used to draw out enemies like
Plesioth or Cephadrome out of the water/sand. Throw them at Yian Kut Ku and
he'll freak out. They can't damage them; only enable you to damage those
enemies. Thankfully, you get a max of ten of these making Cephadrome Hunting
(which you'll need to do for Piscine Liver) too easy.

                 o----------o
                 | COMBINE! |
                 o----------o----------------------------o
                 \ Flash Bomb = Flashbug + Bomb Material |
                 / Sonic Bomb = Screamer + Gunpowder     |
                 o==========-----------------------------o

                   ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                ---| --- [3.7.9] Be Prepared --- |---
                ---|     ~~~ Barrel Bombs ~~~    |---
                   v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Barrel Bombs come in three types; Small Barrel, Large Barrel, and Bouncing
Barrel Bombs. You won't use Bouncing Barrel Bombs very often, but the first
two a lot. Small Barrel Bombs are the ignition to Large Barrel Bombs; the
method is that you plant a Large Barrel Bomb and then a Small Barrel Bomb.
Because of the fact that Large Barrel Bombs do not ignite on their own, you
need to plant a Small Barrel Bomb or ignite it some other way using your Bow
to shoot it or throw something from Paintballs to Tranq Bombs.

Why is it that many suggest using Large Barrel Bomb +? One, it does a heck of
a lot of damage on its own. Two, when combined with the proper strategy it can
be deadly. Deadly. They are a favorite against Fatalis, Rajang, and many
others. It's because they do a fixed set of damage, which is increased with
the Bomber Skill. Without a doubt bombing has become a fun alternative to
regular hack and slash.

          o----------o
          | COMBINE! |
          o----------o-----------------------------------------o
          /          Sm. Barrel Bomb = Buy from Shop           |
          \           Large Barrel = Buy from Shop             |
          /    Lg. Barrel Bomb = Large Barrel + Gunpowder      |
          \  Lg. Barrel Bomb + = Lg. Barrel Bomb + Scatterfish |
          o==========------------------------------------------o

                  ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
               ---| --- [3.7.10] Be Prepared --- |---
               ---|      ~~~ Whetstones ~~~      |---
                  v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Whetstones are eternally useful for the ever dulling weapon. The more you use
your weapon, the more wear, tear, and rust it takes. A whetstone (for some
reason) magically fixes this when used. The sharper your weapon, stronger it
is, plus you'll be able to pierce a Wyvern's hide easier for stronger the
level of your sharpness is. For Blademaster's must.

                  ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
               ---| --- [3.7.11] Be Prepared --- |---
               ---|         ~~~ Ammo ~~~         |---
                  v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

As for Gunners who use Light Bowguns or Heavy Bowguns check combination guides
for ammo you can make. Since a Gunner's inventory is so fickle (depending on
what shots you have available) I can't possibly list the combos, but I can list
the ammo and what they do.

o----------o
| Normal S |
o----------o

Your basic rounds. These shells aren't used all that often and lack the power
available later on. The only benefit is that the Level 1 shots are infinite
meaning you can spam these bullets all you want without them ever running out.
Just don't expect to kill your target.

o----------o
| Pierce S |
o----------o

Better rounds for the tougher foe. Mainly used for penetrating the skin of a
rock wyvern, such as Basarios, Gravios, and even Fatalis later on. I've felled
many foes with these rounds meaning they shouldn't fail.

o----------o
| Pellet S |
o----------o

They do what they say, they scatter. These scatter rounds are for the bigger
foe. They aren't reliable in my opinion as they require closer range then
other ammo types in order to deal effective damage.

o--------o
| Crag S |
o--------o

Explosive rounds aimed at dealing extra damage by, uh, explosion. They're
coveted for the fact that they can deal damage that ignores defense.

o---------o
| Clust S |
o---------o

A stronger, if not powerful ammo type. While Crag comes with one explosion,
Clusts have multiple dealing a considerable damage to foes with lots of
defense. Cool huh?

o-------------o
| Elemental S |
o-------------o

Elemental rounds consisting of Fire, Water, Thunder, Ice, and Dragon. If
you're Wyvern has a weakness, bring these rounds.

o------------o
| Recovery S |
o------------o

Healing shots that replenish health of it's target. Okay for Group quests, but
the occasion never really comes up to use it.

o----------o
| Status S |
o----------o

Status rounds consisting of Poison, Paralyze, and Sleep. These are useful as
they can effect most Wyverns in just a few shots.

o---------o
| Paint S |
o---------o

Ammo version of Paintball...why bother?

o---------o
| Demon S |
o---------o

Shots that increase the target's attack. It's okay for group, not amazing, but
good nonetheless.

o---------o
| Armor S |
o---------o

Shots that increase the target's defense. Once again, it's okay, but there are
better Shells available.

The following list is provided by Ner'zhul for unlocking Shells in Shop.

 x~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~x
 | Starting Shells |  After Elder * |  After Elder *** |  After Elder ***** |
 |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
 | Normal S Lv1    | Pierce S Lv2   | Normal S Lv3     | Pierce Lv3         |
 | Normal S Lv2    | Pellet S Lv2   |                  | Pellet Lv3         |
 | Pierce S Lv1    |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~x
 | Pellet S Lv1    |
 | Crag S Lv1      |
 | Clust S Lv1     |
 | Flaming S       |
 | Water S         |
 | Thunder S       |
 | Freeze S        |
 | Poison S Lv1    |
 | Para S Lv1      |
 | Sleep S Lv1     |
 x~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~x

For the best way to make your own ammunition, take a gander at Boldrin's
Combination guide.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/934395/50796


                   ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                ---| --- [3.7.12] Be Prepared --- |---
                ---|    ~~~ End-Game Inv. ~~~     |---
                   v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Summary: A normal endgame inventory looks something like this.
Combo Book 1
Combo Book 2
Combo Book 3
10 Potions
10 Mega Potions
5 Cool/Hot Drinks
Powercharm
Powertalon
Armorcharm
Armortalon
10 Well-Done/Rare/Gourmet Steak
5 Flash Bombs or 10 Sonic Bombs or both
99 Paintballs
3 Psychoserums
Stun Trap or Pitfall Trap
8 Tranq Bombs
99 Genprey Fang or 10 Net
2 Trap tools

Optional for Bow users:
Power/Stun/Poison/Sleep/Razor/Paint Coating (Depending on what your bow can
handle.)
99 Empty Bottle (for combing with the below.)
20 Nitroshroom (for Power Coating.)
10 Toadstool (for Poison Coating.)
10 Stunshrooms (for Stun Coating.)
10 Sleep Herbs (for Sleep Coating.)

I don't see the point of Melee and Paint Coatings, mainly because Paintball
accomplishes the same thing and takes equal amount of inventory space. Plus,
you'll have to spend time reloading relevant coatings such as Power or Sleep.
Long story short, it's a waste of time.

Optional for Blademasters:
20 Whetstones.

                     ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                  ---|   --- [3.8] Basics ---     |---
                  ---| ~~~ Choose your Skills ~~~ |---
                     v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

We adore skills lovingly. No; it's not just the fact that you know the exact
moment to dodge an oncoming Rathian fireball. I'm talking about armor skills.
Whether they be something as simple (yet efficient) as increased
health/stamina/attack/defense or Reckless Abandon which adds affinity. Skills
are the Hunter's bread and butter and heck; it's almost the entire meal. We
sacrifice the fact that our armor looks like it belongs in the trash to
obtained needed skills (I mean Tigrex Armor, it's fugly.)

So what the most useful skills? Lucky for you I have a table:

  x---------------------x
  | BLADEMASTER SKILLS! |
  x---------------------x---------------------------------------------------x
  |      Skill      |    Armor Skill  |              Description            |
  |-----------------+-----------------+-------------------------------------|
  | Unsheath        | Unsheathed      | 100% Critical for Unsheath attacks. |
  | Critical        | Attack Critical |                                     |
  |-----------------+-----------------+-------------------------------------|
  | Fast Charge     | Concentrate     | Allows faster charging for          |
  |                 |                 | Bow/Greatsword/Hammer; also charges |
  |                 |                 | the Longsword's spirit bar quicker. |
  |-----------------+-----------------+-------------------------------------|
  | Sharpness       | Artisan         | Adds visible weapon sharpness       |
  |-----------------+-----------------+-------------------------------------|
  | ESP             | Fencing         | Prevents weapons from bouncing off. |
  |-----------------+-----------------+-------------------------------------|
  | Sharp Sword     | Sharp Sword     | Weapon sharpness decreases less.    |
  |-----------------+-----------------+-------------------------------------|
  | Reckless        | Expert          | Adds weapon Affinity.               |
  | Abandon         |                 |                                     |
  |-----------------+-----------------+-------------------------------------|
  | Sword Sharpener | Sharpening      | Sharpen a weapon 5x faster.         |
  |                 | Skill Inc.      |                                     |
  |-----------------+-----------------+-------------------------------------|
  | Rage            | Rampage         | Adrenaline +2 plus Survival; only   |
  |                 |                 | for Crimson Fatalis Z.              |
  |-----------------+-----------------+-------------------------------------|
  | Sword Mastery   | True Strike     | Sharpness +1 plus Large Attack Up;  |
  |                 |                 | only for White Fatalis Z.           |
  |-----------------+-----------------+-------------------------------------|
  | Guard           | Guard           | Decreases the health and stamina    |
  |                 |                 | lost when hit while guarding        |
  |-----------------+-----------------+-------------------------------------|
  | Guard Up        | Guard Inc       | Able to block attacks normally not  |
  |                 |                 | so (Ex: Gravios Beam.)              |
  x-------------------------------------------------------------------------x

 o----------------o
 | GUNNER SKILLS! |
 o----------------o---------------------------------------------------------o
 |    Skill   |  Armor Skill |    For Bowgun User   |      For Bow User     |
 |------------+--------------+----------------------+-----------------------|
 | Speed Fire | Speed Fire   | No reload for new    | Increases Charge      |
 |            |              | type Ammo            |                       |
 |------------+--------------+----------------------+-----------------------|
 | Recoil     | Recoil       | Decreases the recoil | No effect             |
 |            | Reduction    | rate                 |                       |
 |------------+--------------+----------------------+-----------------------|
 | Loading    | Load Up      | Adds an additional   | Enables fourth charge |
 |            |              | bullet slot          |                       |
 o--------------------------------------------------------------------------o

x----------------x
| USEFUL SKILLS! |
x----------------x-----------------------------------------------------------x
|     Skill     |      Armor Skill     |              Description            |
|---------------+----------------------+-------------------------------------|
| Adrenaline    | Potential            | Boost ATP/Def when Health is low    |
|               |                      | (Adrenaline +1 only adds Defense.)  |
|---------------+----------------------+-------------------------------------|
| Evade         | Evade                | Longer time of invincibility when   |
|               |                      | rolling.                            |
|---------------+----------------------+-------------------------------------|
| Evade Inc     | Evade Distance Up    | Longer distance covered when        |
|               |                      | rolling. Best when paired with      |
|               |                      | Evade.                              |
|---------------+----------------------+-------------------------------------|
| Technique     | Defensive Maneuvers  | Reduce stamina usage when using     |
|               |                      | evade moves. Includes rolls; dives; |
|               |                      | and Lance/Gunlance hops.            |
|---------------+----------------------+-------------------------------------|
| Observance    | Eagle Eye            | Painted Monster turns yellow        |
|               |                      | signaling it's ready for capture.   |
|---------------+----------------------+-------------------------------------|
| Chameleos     | Fire Dragon Ward     | Immune to Fatigue; Theft; and       |
| Resistance    |                      | Poison. Empress/Kaiser X only.      |
|---------------+----------------------+-------------------------------------|
| Daora         | Chameleos Dragon's   | Dragon Wind Resistance and Snow     |
| Resistance    | Ward                 | Resist. Only for True               |
|               |                      | Mizuha/Extravagant X.               |
|---------------+----------------------+-------------------------------------|
| Fire Dragon   | Daora Ward           | Terrain Damage Resist High and      |
| Resistance    |                      | Recovery Speed High. Kushala/Kusha  |
|               |                      | X only.                             |
|---------------+----------------------+-------------------------------------|
| Wyvern Wind   | Wind Press           | Negates Wyvern Winds.               |
| Breaker       |                      |                                     |
|---------------+----------------------+-------------------------------------|
| Survival      | Survival             | All OHKO attacks all nullified as   |
|               |                      | long as the player's HP is above    |
|               |                      | 60.                                 |
|---------------+----------------------+-------------------------------------|
| High Grade    | Hearing Protection   | Prevents Wyvern Roar from working.  |
| Earplugs      |                      |                                     |
|---------------+----------------------+-------------------------------------|
| Status        | Abnormal Status      | Makes you immune to all abnormal    |
| Resistance    | Negated              | status effects. Only for Black      |
|               |                      | Fatalis armor; Dragon X.            |
|---------------+----------------------+-------------------------------------|
| Trapper       | Reward               | Increases chance of rewards you get |
|               | Celebrity/Specialist | from capturing.                     |
x----------------------------------------------------------------------------x

There you have it. But how do we sort this all out? I mean what armors have
these skills and what Gem/Armor combinations optimize these skills to their
fullest? Links? You bet!

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/genmessage.php?board=943356&topic=43471307
http://forums.Minegarde.com/index.php?showtopic=2607
http://forums.Minegarde.com/index.php?showtopic=73

                           ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                        ---| --- [3.9] Basics --- |---
                        ---|   ~~~ Methods ~~~    |---
                           v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

One final note, I will be mentioning a few things. Things that may confuse you
if you haven't absorbed the Monster Hunter jargon on the boards of GameFAQs. Key
words we've used ourselves so many times that they've become second nature. In
our
day to day lives, we forget who we're leaving behind when we say these things.
So
here's a quick list.

Vertical: Up/Down direction
Horizontal: Left/Right direction
Hit-Zone: Range of an attack
Linear: Something that goes in a line.
Hugging: To press your body up against something (not as dirty as it sounds.)
"Elite": People who are exceptionally good at the game. (See below)

Shorthand:
Sword and Shield - SnS
Dual Swords - DS
Greatsword - GS
Longsword - LS
Hunting Horn - HH
Gunlance - GL

Now let me explain the "Elite." Believing that using the tactics explained in
this guide is cheap. Who cares what they think? You're you. You are not them.
You're Hunting style may never achieve skill. That doesn't mean they're
'better' then you. Should you choose to forsake certain tactics, that's fine.
It's fun to challenge yourself. You should NEVER let anyone bring you down
because of how you kill a monster!

Turning Method: The manipulation of a foe turning around.

It's practiced with almost every monster. Turning is the method of scoring a
blow
while turning to face you. It's application is universal and applying it can
deal
the extra damage you need to boost your output. The gap of time it takes for an
enemy to reach around to face you can mean the difference between sharpening,
healing, eating without getting hit.

Cornering Method: The manipulation of a foe or player into a corner.

When I was around five or six, my older brother and I used to play Street
Fighter
2 Turbo. Being a two-dimensional grudge match between Ryu and Balrog, my brother
loved spamming the fireball Hadoken, and heavy blows. Of course I'd get hit most
of time and end up losing to him. Eventually I defeated him through anticipating
the attack, blocking, and countering. The closer I got, the more he inched to
the
corner of the ring. It was then I "cornered" him. Meaning, there was a wall
behind
him, nowhere to run. With this in mind I attacked with alternating heavy and
light
blows. And soon his HP gave out. I won the match because he walked into a
corner.
From what I can remember it was out of fear.

Your method will be out of trickery. This involves standing a few feet away from
a
wall and having your enemy run into it. If your wall is curved, it makes it
difficult for him to escape. As you enemy runs in a straight line. The plus side
is that your opponent isn't sitting next to you, ready to throw his controller
at
you should you beat him.

This technique is also practiced by your enemy believe it or not. The larger
monsters are the ones who apply this. By forcing you into a corner of a map,
it's
harder to escape their attacks. Ergo, it makes you more vulnerable. It starts as
early as Yian Kut-Ku and never lets up.

Spacing Method: The manipulation of weapon range.

Battles with Wyverns can be so intense and how far or how close you are from
your
opponent becomes crucial. In normal turn-based role-playing games you wouldn't
have to worry of such things. Monster Hunter takes their elements from the
fighting genre though, and spacing is a mighty factor in those. How does this
matter in a game like this though?

Your weapons possess a distinct and innate length. The key to striking your
enemy
is ultimately determined by the length of your weapon and the speed of your
swing.
Weapons with longer reach have a greater chance of hitting your opponent, and
especially matter with enemies like Khezu. The list below does not reflect the
weapons in power, but with the longest range. They are only a element of a
weapons
nature, not the whole nine yards. Listed from Longest to Shortest.

                      x----------x
                      | LONGEST! |
                      x==========x----------------x
                      | Heavy & Light Bowgun, Bow /
                      | Greatsword, Longsword     \
                      | Lance, Gunlance           /
                      | Hammer, Hunting Horn     /
                      | Sword and Shield        /
                      | Dual Sword             /
                      x-----------x===========x
                                  | SHORTEST! |
                                  x-----------x

Each strike possesses a different variation of range, like the Longsword and
Greatsword have a large upward reach. Allowing you to connect your blade with
enemies like Fatalis. And the Hammer's Hammer Charge (Triangle + Circle) has a
large radius. There are many ways of experimenting with spacing, and it's unique
for each foe. It's crucial that you learn the proper spacing between yourself
and
your opponent.

 /\  /\        |_|
/  \/  \onster | |unter===================================================--x
-----------x----------|                [4] Weapons & Armor                   \
                      x===================================================----x

        "There's no knowledge that has the power to change your fate."
                            ~DiZ, Kingdom Hearts II

It is my job as the guide-writer to inform you that there is an open avenue of
information concerning the Weapon Damage Formula. Written by the dreaded the
_DS31.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/943356/53339

The guide helps those trying to make it on their own in the world of Monster
Hunter. By calculating the damage formula we can break down each weapon by their
elements and prove which weapon is the stronger.

...Or if you're like me, too lazy or simply have no time to do math (who does?)
there's Reign of the Rathalo's Weapon Calculator.

http://www.reign-of-the-rathalos.com/forum/blog.php/?page_id=361

Another great source.

                      ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                   ---| --- [4.1] Weapons & Armor --- |---
                   ---|   ~~~ Weapon Questions  ~~~   |---
                      v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

I call the following lines this my "Schrute" format. Because every question
begins
with the word "Question." A little injected humor.

I will be submitting my thoughts about in Question & Answer format. Why? It's
for
my own benefit, I'm a pensive person. I also believe that this will allow me to
express my thoughts the best way I know how. Let's start with the basics.

o==========o-------------------------o
| Question  \ What are Weapon Types? |
o============o-----------------------o

Throughout Monster Hunter you will receive eleven weapons. Each weapon is unique
in several aspects, most obvious being button control, swing/firing speed, and
mobility. There are elements that split these weapons apart, like sharpness,
damage type, and more. All these have a key effect on whether a weapon is
powerful
or not, and ultimately effecting the outcome of your fight.

o==========o-------------------------o
| Question  \ What is a Blademaster? |
o============o-----------------------o

A Blademaster is someone who professes in close-range combat type weapons. Their
armor is generally stronger then Gunner's because of their necessity to be close
to their target. They often get hit a lot more then Gunners and heal more often.
They have the largest arsenal of weapons available to them a total of eight.
Each
varying in characteristic.

Weapons Available: Sword and Shield, Dual Swords, Greatsword, Longsword, Hammer,
Hunting Horn, Lance, and Gunlance.

o==========o--------------------o
| Question  \ What is a Gunner? |
o============o------------------o

A smaller weapon class compared to a Blademaster. The Gunners profess in
"longer-
range" combat. The reason why I say this is because we are generally required to
be near them in order to keep up the damage. The main difference between Gunner
and Blademaster is that Gunners can shoot from afar and avoid oncoming attacks
easier. Their armor however is weaker then that of the Blademaster's, making it
less appealing to beginners.

The Gunner has three main weapons: The Light Bowgun, the Heavy Bowgun, and the
Bow.

o==========o------------------------o
| Question  \ What is Attack Power? |
o============o----------------------o

Eh, really? Well, the weapons attack power ultimately determines it's output of
damage. Every attack power number is supposed to be judged based on the weapon
type itself, not to other weapons. In other words, don't think the Greatsword is
stronger because your Iron Lance only has 138 Attack and the Buster Sword has
288
Attack. It's because each weapon has different swing, a different method of
attacking that should not be measure solely by attack power.

o==========o---------------------o
| Question  \ What is Sharpness? |
o============o-------------------o

All Melee weapons have Sharpness, with no exception. These element is key as it
determines whether your weapon bounces or not, your extra attack power, and
overall longevity in battle. The more sharpness you have the better, but that's
not all that is needed. If you look at any weapon you'll see it's level of
sharpness by color. The more color that you have of that weapon, the longer it
will last before needing sharpening.

You must sharpen weapons after using them to an extent. This is because weapons
dull overtime and with it that extra attack and ability to pierce hide is
distinguished as well. That is what makes Whetstones so important, because they
restore weapons to their brilliance. Even if your weapon has a decent amount of
sharpness, you may not be able to pierce the hide of every single monster. If
this
happens, you may need to upgrade or acquire the skill ESP, which ignores
bouncing.
Contrary to popular belief, bouncing still does damage, just not as much and
leaves you vulnerable to the monsters attack.

Colors of Sharpness:
Red --> Orange --> Yellow --> Green --> Blue --> White --> Purple

o==========o---------------------o
| Question  \ What are Elements? |
o============o-------------------o

If you're not aware of the basis of Elements I will explain. You remember in
those
role-playing video games, lets say Pokemon, there are creatures that are weak to
a
certain type of attack? Elements are just that, they are extra damage dealers
based on the weakness and/or resistance of a monster. You receive an extra
number
for an elemental weapon (like Fire 150, or Poison 200.) Note though, that this
doesn't add to your total attack power. In order to locate the true formula for
damage search in _DS31's Damage Melee Formula guide.

o==========o--------------------o
| Question  \ What is Affinity? |
o============o------------------o

Affinity is a critical rate depending on your weapons status. In the beginning
you
only receive weapons with no affinity whatsoever, but as time passes you will
unlock them. Positive affinity allows for random critical hits while negative
enables some of your hits to do less. Negative affinity is usually found on
overpowering weapons like Tigrex equipment in order to balance things out. In
order to counter negative affinity or increase your overall affinity look to
Reckless Abandon.

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---| --- [4.1.1] Weapon Types --- |---
                      ---|   ~~~ Sword and Shield ~~~   |---
                         v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                   "What I dream of is an art of balance."
                                ~Henri Matisse

First on the chopping block is the Sword and Shield. A balanced weapon that
professes in speedy attacks, while at the same time able to defend. Cool huh?

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What are it's controls? |
o============o------------------------o

Triangle - Slash/Unsheathes Weapon
Circle - Roundhouse
R Trigger - Block
Square - Sheathes Weapon

    x-------------x
    | C-C-COMBOS! |
    x-------------x-------------------------------------------------------x
    | Unsheathed Attack/Lunge            |  Triangle + Circle             |
    |------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
    | Normal Combo                       |  Triangle x3                   |
    |------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
    | Normal Combo + Roundhouse Finisher |  Triangle x3 + Circle          |
    |------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
    | Block with sheathed weapon         |  R Trigger + Triangle + Circle |
    |------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
    | *Use Item while Guarding           |  Square                        |
    |------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
    | Attack while Guarding              |  Circle                        |
    x------------------------------------+--------------------------------x

*Note: You can't use all items while doing this. Still convenient.

o==========o-----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ What are some useful skills for this weapon? |
O============o---------------------------------------------o

Some are more useful then others. Some are just there for convenience. One you
should be be aware of is Elemental Attack. Evade and Evade Inc complement this
set well as you'll be dodging more then fighting.

   x---------x
   | SKILLS! |
   x---------x-------------------------------------------------------------x
   | Name             |  Armor Skill |  Description                        |
   |------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------|
   | Sharpness        | Artisan      | Adds visible weapon sharpness       |
   |------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------|
   | ESP              | Fencing      | Prevents weapons from bouncing off. |
   |------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------|
   | Sharp Sword      | Sharp        | Weapon sharpness decreases less.    |
   |                  | Sword        |                                     |
   |------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------|
   | Reckless Abandon | Expert       | Adds weapon Affinity.               |
   |------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------|
   | Elemental Attack | Elemental    | Increases Elemental Damage          |
   |                  | Attack Up    |                                     |
   |------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------|
   | Evade            | Evade        | Longer time of invincibility when   |
   |                  |              | rolling.                            |
   |------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------|
   | Evade Inc        | Evade        | Longer distance covered when        |
   |                  | Distance     | rolling.                            |
   |                  | Up           |                                     |
   x------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------x

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Can it block, how about Roll? |
o============o------------------------------o

Yes, and yes; however blocking is terrible on this weapon. It's good for one
blow like a Plesioth's Hip-Check, but if you're in a pickle (say cornered by a
Rathalos) expect to be flattened. With Power Juice it's possible to stay a
couple of extra blows, but even those knock you backwards. That makes recovery
difficult.

To sum it up. If you plan on blocking heavy blows, use a Lance, not an Sword and
Shield.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What it's attack speed? |
o============o------------------------o

Fast, you can execute two Triangle, Triangle attacks before having to roll or
block an oncoming assault from a monster. If you get carried away though,
you'll find it difficult evade an oncoming assault.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ How's mobility? |
o============o----------------o

Average, you're able to move around with as much freedom given by most
weapons.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What's its Damage Type? |
o============o------------------------o

By Damage Type, I assume you mean Cut, or Impact correct? Then in this case
it's Cut. Cut allows us to slice off tails off certain monsters while Impact
allows us to break certain monster's skulls.

o==========o----------------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ How is it when going Solo? What about in a Group? |
o============o--------------------------------------------------o

Rarely will you be knocked down because someone swung a Sword and Shield your
way.
This is kinda a double-edged sword though, they have terrible reach. It's always
good for crowd control though.

o==========o------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ Does it have built-in ESP or Anti-Wind? |
O============o----------------------------------------o

No ESP, but there is a little Anti-Wind Resistance while performing a standard
combo.

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ How's the Damage Overall? |
O============o--------------------------o

Not the greatest, but makes for an excellent tool when the situation calls for
speed, quick attacks, and a decent shield. It's especially coveted for it's
uncanny ability to inflict status ailments due to it's multitude of blows.

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Why would I want this weapon? |
O============o------------------------------o

-- For it's exceptional adaptability to almost any situation.
-- Because of it's great elemental damage (fast attacks means a lot of hits.)
-- Because of it's ability to inflict status ailments quicker then others.
-- You can block, and even use items while blocking.

o==========o----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ When should I reconsider using this weapon? |
O============o--------------------------------------------o

-- Worst blocking weapon. At times you may get hit even though you put up your
shield.
-- Worst reach, not a huge problem but still present. Unsheathed Attack helps
you deal with distance.
-- Overshadowed by stronger weapons like Hammer and Greatsword.

o==========o--------------o
| Question  \ Final word? |
O============o------------o

A great weapon overall. A good beginning weapon that keeps some of it's use
later on. It can match toe-for-toe against even the fastest Wyvern. So why not
stock up on some Sword and Shield?

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---| --- [4.1.2] Weapon Types --- |---
                      ---|     ~~~ Dual Swords ~~~      |---
                         v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

       "Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before."
                           ~Mae West, Klondike Annie

Sacrificing defense, Dual Swords allow a Hunter to deal stronger damage then
that of an Sword and Shield. While at the same time making you really cool while
doing it! Look everyone! I'm Roxas!

o==========o-------------------------o
| Question  \ What are it's controls?|
o============o-----------------------o

Triangle - Slash
Circle - Roundhouse
R Trigger - Demon Mode
Square - Unsheathes Weapon

Note: Demon Mode is a mode only available to the DS user. It drains stamina
while at the same time enabling an attack called Demon Dance, along with a few
others. A way to get past the stamina requirement would be ingesting Power or
Mega Juice.

  x-------------x
  | C-C-COMBOS! |
  x-------------x----------------------------------------------------------x
  | Unsheathed Attack (Forward Slash)     |  Triangle + Circle             |
  |---------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
  | Normal Combo                          |  Triangle x3                   |
  |---------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
  | Normal Combo + Roundhouse Finisher    |  Triangle x3 + Circle          |
  |---------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
  | Demon Mode with sheathed weapon       |  R Trigger + Triangle + Circle |
  |---------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
  | (Demon Mode) Double-Roundhouse        |  Circle                        |
  |---------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
  | (Demon Mode) Demon Dance              |  Triangle + Circle             |
  |---------------------------------------+--------------------------------|
  | (Demon Mode) Demon Dance + Roundhouse |  Circle x2                     |
  x---------------------------------------+--------------------------------x

o==========o-----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ What are some useful skills for this weapon? |
o============o---------------------------------------------o

Look familiar? I'll bet. The DS and the SnS aren't that different from each
other skill-wise. ESP, Sharpness, and Sharp Sword out-rank in overall
usefulness though.

   x---------x
   | SKILLS! |
   x---------x-------------------------------------------------------------x
   | Name             |  Armor Skill |  Description                        |
   |------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------|
   | Sharpness        | Artisan      | Adds visible weapon sharpness       |
   |------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------|
   | ESP              | Fencing      | Prevents weapons from bouncing off. |
   |------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------|
   | Sharp Sword      | Sharp        | Weapon sharpness decreases less.    |
   |                  | Sword        |                                     |
   |------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------|
   | Reckless Abandon | Expert       | Adds weapon Affinity.               |
   |------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------|
   | Elemental Attack | Elemental    | Increases Elemental Damage          |
   |                  | Attack Up    |                                     |
   |------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------|
   | Evade            | Evade        | Longer time of invincibility when   |
   |                  |              | rolling.                            |
   |------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------|
   | Evade Inc        | Evade        | Longer distance covered when        |
   |                  | Distance     | rolling.                            |
   |                  | Up           |                                     |
   x------------------+--------------+-------------------------------------x

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Can it block, how about Roll? |
o============o------------------------------o

Can't block, though you can Roll. As maneuverable as any weapon.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What it's attack speed? |
o============o------------------------o

Very, very fast. One of the fastest weapons in the game. You may have trouble
executing Demon Dance because of it's longevity. Instead try Double
Roundhouse, that way it will be easier to time when you roll aside.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ How's mobility? |
o============o----------------o

A weapon type that encourages mobility. Use it, abuse it.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What's its Damage Type? |
o============o------------------------o

Cutting, great enemy of monster tails.

o==========o----------------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ How is it when going Solo? What about in a Group? |
o============o--------------------------------------------------o

Has a little more range then your average Sword and Shield. Dual Swords are
useful
for the
pro who can avoid getting hit all that much. You can, however, get in someones
way while Demon Dancing, watch out for that.

o==========o------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ Does it have built-in ESP or Anti-Wind? |
O============o----------------------------------------o

Indeed. Along with minor ESP, you'll receive Anti-Wind while in Demon Mode. So
chug down that Mega Juice and let's get busy!

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ How's the Damage Overall? |
O============o--------------------------o

Better compared to Sword and Shield. However Demon Mode fades, and Mega Juice
eventually
runs out. When that happens damage is stunted.

-- Double-Roundhouse > Demon Dance when it comes to damage over time.

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Why would I want this weapon? |
O============o------------------------------o

-- Almost demonic weapon speed.
-- Remarkable inflicter of status ailments.
-- Decent Elemental usage.

o==========o----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ When should I reconsider using this weapon? |
O============o--------------------------------------------o

-- Only 70% of elemental damage is  inflicted on the enemy.
-- Vulnerable to Roars and Flashes of foe (mostly Roars.) Remember to bring
Earplug.
-- Sharpness decreases faster then most weapons (at least it appears to me.)
Remember ESP/Sharp Sword is your friend.

o==========o--------------o
| Question  \ Final word? |
O============o------------o

I wish it looked better on paper, because this an amazing weapon to see in
action. It's fun to use and sharpens your evasive skills. So why not use it?
Well... The DS is one of the weapons with potential only if you have the
'right' skills and items to do so.

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---| --- [4.1.3] Weapon Types --- |---
                      ---|      ~~~ Greatsword ~~~      |---
                         v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                         "Knights do it two-handed."
                      ~Random Drunk Guy, Final Fantasy V

Ah the Greatsword, one of my favorite weapons of all time. Surprisingly
versatile, and a challenge to master. Also, who doesn't want to like Cloud
Strife? Come on...you know you want to.

It's a weapon so good that there are two styles of attacking with it. Charge,
or Infinite Combo. Each provide different advantages to the user. Charge can
make for quick damage as long as you can keep executing them. Infinite Combo
can deal great damage overtime as long as it's executed a lot.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What are it's controls? |
o============o------------------------o

Triangle - Slash
Circle - Roundhouse
R Trigger - Block

     x-------------x
     | C-C-COMBOS! |
     x-------------x----------------------------------------------------x
     | Upswing              |  Triangle + Circle                        |
     |----------------------+-------------------------------------------|
     | Guard while sheathed | R Trigger + Triangle + Circle             |
     |----------------------+-------------------------------------------|
     | Unsheath Attack      | While sheathed and running press Triangle |
     |----------------------+-------------------------------------------|
     | Charge Attack        | Hold Triangle                             |
     |----------------------+-------------------------------------------|
     | Infinite Combo       | Circle, Circle + Triangle (Repeat)        |
     x----------------------+-------------------------------------------x

Light on combos, simply because Charge Attack is all you're ever going to
need. Also, you can't forget the combo after the Charge Attack. By pressing
Circle or Circle + Triangle you will execute a normal attack, duh. By using
the Charge attack the first executed normal attack you can successful recover
without stopping the flow of damage. It sounds complicated but it's not.

o==========o-----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ What are some useful skills for this weapon? |
o============o---------------------------------------------o

In descending order, the best skills for a Greatsword are Unsheathed Critical
and Fast Charge. Both take advantage of the Greatswords strengths and plow
past it's weaknesses. Sharpness is always a welcome partner, as is Reckless
Abandon. ESP can help you pierce the hide of any monster, though I prefer
Sharpness over ESP. You'll need to sharpen with or without ESP anyway.

  x---------x
  | SKILLS! |
  x---------x--------------------------------------------------------------x
  | Skill             |  Armor Skill      |  Description                   |
  |-------------------+-------------------+--------------------------------|
  | Unsheath Critical | Unsheathed Attack | 100% Critical for Unsheathed   |
  |                   | Critical          | attacks.                       |
  |-------------------+-------------------+--------------------------------|
  | Fast Charge       | Concentrate       | Allows faster charging for     |
  |                   |                   | Bow/Greatsword/Hammer; also    |
  |                   |                   | charges the Longsword's spirit |
  |                   |                   | bar quicker.                   |
  |-------------------+-------------------+--------------------------------|
  | Sharpness         | Artisan           | Adds visible weapon sharpness. |
  |-------------------+-------------------+--------------------------------|
  | Reckless Abandon  | Expert            | Adds weapon Affinity.          |
  |-------------------+-------------------+--------------------------------|
  | ESP               | Fencing           | Prevents weapons from bouncing |
  |                   |                   | off.                           |
  x-------------------+-------------------+--------------------------------x

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Can it block, how about Roll? |
o============o------------------------------o

Oh it can block. Like the Sword and Shield it's good for a few blows, just don't
expect to
make a career out of it. For one, you have the same recoil as Sword and Shield
blocking-
wise for heavy blows. Plus, you lose sharpness for every hit you block. It can
roll too, you'll find yourself relying on both, making it not only a powerful
weapon, but a versatile one too.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What it's attack speed? |
o============o------------------------o

Slow. Get used to it. It's one of those weapons you have to time exactly right
or else you'll end get getting hit. IE; Charge Attack. I never end up using
Infinite Combo unless the monster I'm facing is either trapped or otherwise
immobile. Simply because I want to be ready for anything. Greatsword's sword-
swings often leave me feel vulnerable and unable to move aside. Yes, Charge
Attack suffers the same problem, but with less of a chance.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ How's mobility? |
o============o----------------o

Don't ever move with this weapon unsheathed. A good hunter knows when to
sheath his weapon and when not to. Lucky for us, we can pull out our guard
lightening fast.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What's its Damage Type? |
o============o------------------------o

Cutting, one of the best of it's kind.

o==========o----------------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ How is it when going Solo? What about in a Group? |
o============o--------------------------------------------------o

It's great for Solo, especially if you're taking a break from your Felyne
Fighter. It's just you and and your monster. Meaning you can develop a pattern
and whatnot...covering that later.

As for Parties...uh...I use them. I've heard they're terrible for Parties
lately, and that's true if you plan on being an egghead. Upswing Attack is a
parties worst enemy, and Charge Attack is your best friend. Rarely will you
ever knock down your buddy with it. Of course, you can't always use Charge
Attack, that's why Unsheathed Critical works as a good substitute.

So is it good for group? Depends on your attack style. If you like to Infinite
Combo, I suggest a different weapon.

o==========o------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ Does it have built-in ESP or Anti-Wind? |
o============o----------------------------------------o

ESP is available for the third level of your Charge Attack (the release) and
all it's attacks have Anti-Wind.

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ How's the Damage Overall? |
o============o--------------------------o

Has the potential to deal high-end damage. Depending on if your Charge Attacks
hit or if you manage to land a lot of combos.

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Why would I want this weapon? |
o============o------------------------------o

-- Amazing Attack Power and longest reach.
-- Ability to block light and medium blows with little recoil.
-- You can...kick while unsheathed. Cool for breaking KO or Sleep status on
allies.
-- Depending on how well you use it, Charge Attack can make most enemies
stagger.
-- Useful in many common situations, especially if tactics are applied right.
-- Great for crowd control.
-- Great for large enemies, or enemies whose attack patterns you can predict.

o==========o----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ When should I reconsider using this weapon? |
o============o--------------------------------------------o

-- If you find you're a bigger annoyance then an asset in your Group.
-- If you believe you won't get too many Charged Attacks or Infinite Combos.
-- If you find your attacks are being disrupted by Quake, it may be time to
find armor with Quake Resistance.
-- When slow weapon speed gets you down.

o==========o--------------o
| Question  \ Final word? |
o============o------------o

An amazing weapon that needs skilled hands to be useful. One of my favorite
weapons to use, because it feels soooo good when you mastered the timing
surrounding the Charge Attack.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [4.1.4] Weapon Types --- |---
                    ---|      ~~~ Longsword ~~~       |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

             "There are so many frivolous things in this world."
                            ~Hojo, Final Fantasy VII

My least favorite weapon of all time. There's nothing wrong with the weapon,
it's just everyone uses it; and some think it's the best weapon in the world.
Instead of branching out to weapons like Hammers and Greatswords many are
content with using Longswords for the rest of the game. A crime against nature.

The longsword is gifted with a special ability called Spirit Gauge and a bar
that increases the longevity of Spirit Attacks when used. Spirit Attacks are a
combo that deals extra damage to the enemy. Combined with great technique and
skills, this weapon can match any other weapon type.

Longsword is a brilliant weapon for the beginning Hunter. Especially Devil
Slicer, however the hunter must and branch out. If not...why are you playing
again?

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What are it's controls? |
o============o------------------------o

Triangle - Downward Slash
Circle - Stab
R Trigger - Spirit Attack

Longswords have an ability called Spirit Gauge, it appears just below your
Health and Stamina bars. The more you attack enemies, the more the Gauge fills.

    x-------------x
    | C-C-COMBOS! |
    x-------------x------------------------------------------------------x
    | Backsweep                | Circle + Triangle                       |
    |--------------------------+-----------------------------------------|
    | Normal Combo             | Triangle x2, Circle, Triangle           |
    |--------------------------+-----------------------------------------|
    | Unsheathed Spirit Attack | R Trigger + Triangle + Circle           |
    |--------------------------+-----------------------------------------|
    | Normal Combo + Backsweep | Triangle x2, Circle, Triangle, Circle + |
    |                          | Triangle                                |
    |--------------------------+-----------------------------------------|
    | Upslash                  | Circle, Triangle                        |
    |--------------------------+-----------------------------------------|
    | *Normal Spirit Combo     | R Trigger (Repeat)                      |
    |--------------------------+-----------------------------------------|
    | *Extended Spirit Combo   | R Trigger, Triangle (Repeat)            |
    x--------------------------+-----------------------------------------x

*Note: It is possible to Backsweep after performing each Combo.

o==========o-----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ What are some useful skills for this weapon? |
o============o---------------------------------------------o

As you can see Unsheathed Critical and Fast Charge have moved down the tier.
Sharpness, Sharp Sword, and Reckless Abandon have priority mainly because the
Longsword NEEDS them.

 x---------x
 | SKILLS! |
 x---------x------------------------------------------------------------------x
 | Skill             |  Armor Skill      |  Description                       |
 |-------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------|
 | Sharpness         | Artisan           | Adds visible weapon sharpness      |
 |-------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------|
 | Sharp Sword       | Sharp Sword       | Weapon sharpness decreases less.   |
 |-------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------|
 | Reckless Abandon  | Expert            | Adds weapon Affinity.              |
 |-------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------|
 | Fast Charge       | Concentrate       | Allows faster charging for         |
 |                   |                   | Bow/Greatsword/Hammer; also        |
 |                   |                   | charges the Longsword's spirit bar |
 |                   |                   | quicker.                           |
 |-------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------|
 | Unsheath Critical | Unsheathed Attack | 100% Critical for Unsheath         |
 |                   | Critical          | attacks.                           |
 |-------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------|
 | ESP               | Fencing           | Prevents weapons from bouncing     |
 |                   |                   | off.                               |
 x-------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------x

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Can it block, how about Roll? |
o============o------------------------------o

Cannot block, but you can Roll.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What it's attack speed? |
o============o------------------------o

Average, faster then Greatsword but slower then Sword and Shield or Dual Swords.
It's great
for beginners learning how to dodge oncoming enemy assaults as they have easy
recovery time.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ How's mobility? |
o============o----------------o

Average, you can move with the mobility and grace of any weapon. Back-sweep is
an
excellent tool for those who can master it's timing.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What's its Damage Type? |
o============o------------------------o

Cutting. Looks cool.

o==========o----------------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ How is it when going Solo? What about in a Group? |
o============o--------------------------------------------------o

Great Solo. It's long reach in Group can be troublesome as you can accidentally
(or on purpose -_^*Wink*) knock over a buddy.

o==========o------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ Does it have built-in ESP or Anti-Wind? |
o============o----------------------------------------o

Anti-Wind to all attacks, ESP when using Spirit Gauge.

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ How's the Damage Overall? |
o============o--------------------------o

The Longsword does need help. With the proper knowledge and skills, the
Longsword
can be an excellent weapon for the experienced Hunter.

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Why would I want this weapon? |
o============o------------------------------o

-- Better evasion time compared to Greatsword & Hammer.
-- Long Reach making it easier to attack Wyvern body parts.
-- Faster/Fast as Greatsword and Hammer.
-- Spirit Gauge provides a unique experience to hunters.
-- Good Crowd Control.
-- Back-sweep for extra evasion.

o==========o----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ When should I reconsider using this weapon? |
o============o--------------------------------------------o

-- Difficult weapon to master.
-- No Blocking.
-- Knocks other players down.
-- Often bounces off requiring Spirit Gauge use.

o==========o--------------o
| Question  \ Final word? |
o============o------------o

It's a great beginning weapon, and Eagle Cleaver/Devil Slicer can be great help.
It's one of those weapons you need to "branch out" of for awhile. There are
other
weapon types too you know.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [4.1.5] Weapon Types --- |---
                    ---|       ~~~ Hammer ~~~         |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                    "If the only tool you have is a hammer,
                   you tend to see every problem as a nail."
                               ~Abraham Maslow

The Hammer is my favorite weapon. With the ability to charge while moving (at
the cost of stamina) the Hammer reigns as king. Who doesn't enjoy charging up
like ole blue boy Megaman?

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What are it's controls? |
o============o------------------------o

Triangle - Downward Swing
Circle - Side Swing
R Trigger - Charge

      x-------------x
      | C-C-COMBOS! |
      x-------------x---------------------------------------------------x
      | Unsheathe Attack       |  Tilt Joystick then Triangle           |
      |------------------------+----------------------------------------|
      | Triple Pound           | Triangle 3x                            |
      |------------------------+----------------------------------------|
      | Super Pound            | Unleash Charge.                        |
      |------------------------+----------------------------------------|
      | *Hammer Spin           | Unleash Charge while moving.           |
      |------------------------+----------------------------------------|
      | Hammer Spin + Finisher | Unleash Charge while moving then press |
      |                        | Triangle after fourth spin.            |
      |------------------------+----------------------------------------|
      | Quick Swing            | Tap the R Trigger.                     |
      |------------------------+----------------------------------------|
      | Double Swing           | Hold the R Trigger for two seconds.    |
      x------------------------+----------------------------------------x

*Note: The Hammer Spin has different consequences depending on when you press
the
triangle. Too soon, and you'll execute something similar to Double Swing. Too
late
and you'll end the end throwing your hammer about. The Hammer Spin + Finisher as
listed above is the most powerful.

o==========o-----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ What are some useful skills for this weapon? |
o============o---------------------------------------------o

It doesn't take a whole lot to make a Hammer happy. Sure, Reckless Abandon and
Sharpness are good. Fast Charge and Runner make it easier to get off a Charged
Pound right on the enemies noggin.

 x---------x
 | SKILLS! |
 x---------x----------------------------------------------------------------x
 | Skill            |  Armor      |  Description                            |
 |------------------+-------------+-----------------------------------------|
 | Fast Charge      | Concentrate | Allows faster charging for              |
 |                  |             | Bow/Greatsword/Hammer; also charges the |
 |                  |             | Longsword's spirit bar quicker.         |
 |------------------+-------------+-----------------------------------------|
 | Runner           | Stamina     | Decreases stamina drain                 |
 |------------------+-------------+-----------------------------------------|
 | Reckless Abandon | Expert      | Adds weapon Affinity.                   |
 |------------------+-------------+-----------------------------------------|
 | Sharpness        | Artisan     | Adds visible weapon sharpness           |
 x------------------+-------------+-----------------------------------------x

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Can it block, how about Roll? |
o============o------------------------------o

Can't block so you'll have to resort to rolling. Rolling could be a bit of a
problem if you're charging your Hammer as it cancels your effort. There are
times where you'll need to do so in order to avoid dying.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What it's attack speed? |
o============o------------------------o

Quite quick in swing, with the exception of Triple Pound. Players gravitate
towards this weapon in particular because of the eccentric speeds that this
weapon
attacks in.

Should you desire a quick assault, merely tap the R Trigger to activate Quick
Swing. Should you catch your enemy in a KO, Triple Pound is there to deal
excessive damage.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ How's mobility? |
o============o----------------o

Depending if you're charging or not it could be limited. Most of time you
either need to be, otherwise it's the same.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What's its Damage Type? |
o============o------------------------o

Impact. Meaning it has the ability to enable a special status known as KO. KO
is a mechanism where you're able to 'knock out' the monster for several
seconds allowing you to triple pound said foe.

Check _DS31's Melee Damage FAQ for an in-depth look on how long KO lasts for
each
individual Wyvern. Like say, Khezu only stays down long enough for one Triple
Pound. While others stay down for much longer.

o==========o----------------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ How is it when going Solo? What about in a Group? |
o============o--------------------------------------------------o

It's amazing when going Solo. In Groups, you need to aware that the finisher
of Triple Pound and Unsheathed Attack can send your ally flying.

o==========o------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ Does it have built-in ESP or Anti-Wind? |
o============o----------------------------------------o

Super Charge and Spin Charge both have ESP built in. While Charging you have a
limited amount of Wind Resistance.

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ How's the Damage Overall? |
o============o--------------------------o

Damage over time is one of the best in-game. It's no wonder we're seeing so
many Hammers users on Xlink nowadays.

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Why would I want this weapon? |
o============o------------------------------o

-- Amazing Damage.
-- Ability to KO.
-- Impact Damage can crack skulls on Hermituar/Shogun
-- You can set off Charge Attack any time.
-- Items like Mega Juice prevent stamina from running out.

o==========o----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ When should I reconsider using this weapon? |
o============o--------------------------------------------o

-- When you want Elemental Damage, because there are better weapons for this.
-- When you want a weapon that can block.
-- When you want a weapon that can cut off tails.
-- When you want to use a faster weapon.
-- When you want better Crowd Control, there are better weapons for this.

o==========o--------------o
| Question  \ Final word? |
o============o------------o

A high-end weapon that never loses it's usefulness. Throughout the game
Hammers will serve you well. It takes a bit of practice to use them though.
With timing and a shred of skill, you'll be Hammering like a pro in no time!

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---| --- [4.1.6] Weapon Types --- |---
                      ---|      ~~~ Hunting Horn ~~~    |---
                         v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

"When you play my Ocarina...
      ...I hope you will think of me and come back to the forest to visit.."

                         ~Saria, Legend of Zelda

The distant cousin to the Hammer, the Hunting Horn. You may have already
guessed the Horns ability, to play notes. The Hunting Horn, or HH, can play
three different notes corresponding to different colors. Each HH comes with
it's own set of colored notes, whether it's Green for Healing, or Red for
beefing up attack and defense. The Hunting Horn is Buffing weapon.

For a list of Hunting Horn notes, go to the dreaded DS31x's Hunting Horn Notes
guide.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/934395/48357

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What are it's controls? |
o============o------------------------o

Triangle - Upwards Swing
Circle - Thrust
R Trigger - Recital Notes

         x-------------x
         | C-C-COMBOS! |
         x-------------x--------------------------------------------x
         | Super Pound                     |  Triangle + Circle     |
         |---------------------------------+------------------------|
         | Play Notes with sheathed weapon | R Trigger + Triangle + |
         |                                 | Circle                 |
         |---------------------------------+------------------------|
         | (Recital Mode) Switch Notes     | Circle or Triangle or  |
         |                                 | Triangle + Circle      |
         x---------------------------------+------------------------x

o==========o-----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ What are some useful skills for this weapon? |
o============o---------------------------------------------o

You don't need a lot to appease a Hunting Horn. Flute is a must. During Play
Mode, you can use Evade and Evade Inc to become invincible.

   x---------x
   | SKILLS! |
   x---------x-------------------------------------------------------------x
   | Skill     |  Armor Skill      |  Description                          |
   |-----------+-------------------+---------------------------------------|
   | Flute     | Horn              | Increases length of Flute Buffs.      |
   |-----------+-------------------+---------------------------------------|
   | Evade     | Evade             | Longer time of invincibility when     |
   |           |                   | rolling.                              |
   |-----------+-------------------+---------------------------------------|
   | Evade Inc | Evade Distance Up | Longer distance covered when rolling. |
   |           |                   | Best when paired with Evade.          |
   x-----------+-------------------+---------------------------------------x

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Can it block, how about Roll? |
o============o------------------------------o

It can't block. Try rolling.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What it's attack speed? |
o============o------------------------o

A little faster then the Hammer, depending on what attack you use. Using
Triangle over and over again or using Super Pound.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ How's mobility? |
o============o----------------o

                                White --> White

                                       Or

                               Purple --> Purple

                             And you're good to go.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What's its Damage Type? |
o============o------------------------o

Impact. However it has less of a chance of KOing.

o==========o----------------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ How is it when going Solo? What about in a Group? |
o============o--------------------------------------------------o

Not the best for Solo since your Buffs only last you a certain amount of time.
When they run out you can risk playing on the battlefield or do without them.
Plus, most flock to Hammer for KOing foes.

o==========o------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ Does it have built-in ESP or Anti-Wind? |
o============o----------------------------------------o

You have both abilities during Recital Mode or performing Super Pound. You can
use the Horn to play notes that give you ESP, while others may provide Wind
Protection. Sounds useful m'right?

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ How's the Damage Overall? |
o============o--------------------------o

You have the Swing and Super Pound. No other attacks except Recital Mode. This
doesn't give you a very versatile move-set. And spammable the upwards swing
isn't
the strongest.

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Why would I want this weapon? |
o============o------------------------------o

-- When you're partying with people on Xlink if no one brings one, you should
bringing one yourself.
-- Chance of KO.
-- Buffs can be useful whether in Solo or Party.
-- When you want a big weapon that can make you fast.
-- When you want the Hunting Horns quick swings.

o==========o----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ When should I reconsider using this weapon? |
o============o--------------------------------------------o

-- Using Recital Mode during a fight is risky. Ultimately ends with you being
hit at some point.
-- When you want to cut tails.
-- When you don't want to knock your teammates away with Super Pound.
-- When you want a weapon that can KO a bit faster.

o==========o--------------o
| Question  \ Final word? |
o============o------------o

A good weapon, with a lot of potential, if used with skill. With the natural
ability to increase your speed and give you ESP, the Hunting Horn may be the
weapon for you.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [4.1.7] Weapon Types --- |---
                    ---|        ~~~ Lance ~~~         |---
                       v------------------------------v

                   "The Lancer's damage depends on Brave!"
                    ~Generic Quote, Final Fantasy Tactics

Once a great weapon, still debated as such, but the transition from Monster
Hunter Freedom to this...it's overshadowed now by the Hammer, Greatsword, or
the sad denizens of the Longsword. Got a problem? Just poke, poke, poke your
problems away with the Lance. And no, this ain't no Dragoon's weapon.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What are it's controls? |
o============o------------------------o

Thrust - Triangle
Upwards Thrust - Circle
Back-step - X
Sidestep (after performing an action) - X + Left or Right tilt
Guard - R Trigger

 x-------------x
 | C-C-COMBOS! |
 x-------------x------------------------------------------------------------x
 | Triple Thrust               |  Triangle 3x                               |
 |-----------------------------+--------------------------------------------|
 | Upper Triple Thrust         |  Circle 3x                                 |
 |-----------------------------+--------------------------------------------|
 | Charge                      |  Triangle + Circle then Triangle to finish |
 |-----------------------------+--------------------------------------------|
 | Guard while weapon sheathed |  R Trigger + Triangle + Circle             |
 x-----------------------------+--------------------------------------------x

o==========o-----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ What are some useful skills for this weapon? |
o============o---------------------------------------------o

Lance's Skills are focused on offense. Evasion and Defense come second. Don't
let
the big shield confuse you like it did me. The Lance itself does pretty good
damage on it's own, plus, it isn't bad with Elements.

 x---------x
 | SKILLS! |
 x---------x-----------------------------------------------------------------x
 | Skill            |  Armor Skill      |  Description                       |
 |------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------|
 | Sharpness        | Artisan           | Adds visible weapon sharpness      |
 |------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------|
 | Reckless Abandon | Expert            | Adds weapon Affinity.              |
 |------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------|
 | Evade            | Evade             | Longer time of invincibility when  |
 |                  |                   | rolling.                           |
 |------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------|
 | Evade Inc        | Evade Distance Up | Longer distance covered when       |
 |                  |                   | rolling. Best when paired with     |
 |                  |                   | Evade.                             |
 |------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------|
 | Guard            | Guard             | Decreases the health and stamina   |
 |                  |                   | lost when hit while guarding       |
 |------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------|
 | Guard Up         | Guard Inc         | Able to block attacks normally not |
 |                  |                   | so (Ex: Gravios Beam.)             |
 |------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------|
 | ESP              | Fencing           | Prevents weapons from bouncing     |
 |                  |                   | off.                               |
 x------------------+-------------------+------------------------------------x

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Can it block, how about Roll? |
o============o------------------------------o

It's the best blocker in the game. It can't roll though, instead you're able
to Backstep, and as the name says, you can jump back up to three times. When
combined with Evade and Evade Inc this can make you godly.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What it's attack speed? |
o============o------------------------o

It can be fast depending on whether or not you're able to recover after the
third poke. Using a backstep can reset your combo and also give you a chance
to evade an oncoming blow.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ How's mobility? |
o============o----------------o

About the same level as a Greatsword, terrible. You have two options at this
point. You could put away your Lance to get closer to the enemy. Or you can
wait for the enemy to come to you. I'd do the latter. ^_- *wink*

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What's its Damage Type? |
o============o------------------------o

Both Impact and Cutting. Which means you can break shells and cut tails. It's
difficult for one to master Tail cutting with a Lance. The thicker the tail
however, the easier the cut is going to be.

o==========o----------------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ How is it when going Solo? What about in a Group? |
o============o--------------------------------------------------o

Does well in either. Lances don't get in anyone's way, though you might hit
someone if you crash into them with Charge.

o==========o------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ Does it have built-in ESP or Anti-Wind? |
o============o----------------------------------------o

It has Anti-Wind when in Charge, and ESP at green sharpness and higher.

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ How's the Damage Overall? |
o============o--------------------------o

Depending on how you use it, a Lance can be just as effective as the Hammer or
the Greatsword. You just have to be, really, really, good at it.

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Why would I want this weapon? |
o============o------------------------------o

-- Wide range.
-- Best blocking weapon in the game with minimal recoil.
-- Precise attacks, precision is next to godliness.

o==========o----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ When should I reconsider using this weapon? |
o============o--------------------------------------------o

-- When you want a faster weapon.
-- When you need mobility over defense.
-- Blocking decreases stamina.
-- Constant blocking may lead to cornering by bosses
-- Standard attacks may leave you open to assault.

o==========o--------------o
| Question  \ Final word? |
o============o------------o

A great alternative to the Greatsword, the Hammer, or the Gunlance.
Simplistic, yet effective. Like all weapons, mastering it takes time.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [4.1.8] Weapon Types --- |---
                     ---|       ~~~ Gunlance ~~~       |---
                        v------------------------------v

"In the end, you have to choose whether you're going to live as a soldier...
                       ...or just another man with a gun."
                       ~The Boss, Metal Gear Solid 3

Oh poised abomination of Lance and Gun, the Gunlance. Able to shoot Wyverns
without the nasty inconvenience of not being able to stab them as well. With a
plethora of uses and a complex relationship between Gun and Lance, the Gunlance
is
a surprising weapon of choice.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What are it's controls? |
o============o------------------------o

Thrust (Tilt Joystick for forward thrust) - Triangle
Shoot - Circle
Guard - R Trigger
Upwards Thrust - R Trigger then Triangle
Backstep - X
Sidestep (after performing an action) - X + Left or Right tilt

         x-------------x
         | C-C-COMBOS! |
         x-------------x---------------------------------------------x
         | Triple Thrust         |  Triangle 3x                      |
         |-----------------------+-----------------------------------|
         | Upward Swing          |  Triangle + Circle                |
         |-----------------------+-----------------------------------|
         | Triple Upwards Thrust |  R Trigger then Triangle 3x       |
         |-----------------------+-----------------------------------|
         | Reload Shells         |  R Trigger then Circle            |
         |-----------------------+-----------------------------------|
         | Extended Combo        |  Triangle 3x then Circle (Repeat) |
         |-----------------------+-----------------------------------|
         | Wyvern Fire           |  R Trigger then Triangle + Circle |
         x-----------------------+-----------------------------------x

o==========o-----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ What are some useful skills for this weapon? |
o============o---------------------------------------------o

These are the skills, you need to kill. Ha! That rhymed! Gunnery Master is
important to Gunlancers because some weapons are more or less designed to
withstand Shells firepower. ESP is a godsend for those easy-to-dull equipment.
Load Up adds an extra slot for longer comboing. Sword Sharpener is for the
notoriously dulling history attached to the type.

Even with just one of these skills you can get by early on.

 x---------x
 | SKILLS! |
 x---------x----------------------------------------------------------------x
 | Skill           |  Armor Skill          |  Description                   |
 |-----------------+-----------------------+--------------------------------|
 | Gunnery Master  | Gunnery               | Master (10pts) Increases the   |
 |                 |                       | amount of damage of Gunlance   |
 |                 |                       | Shells and Wyvern Fire. King   |
 |                 |                       | (15pts) Increases Wyvern Fire  |
 |                 |                       | a bit more and reduces the     |
 |                 |                       | cool-off time.                 |
 |-----------------+-----------------------+--------------------------------|
 | ESP             | Fencing               | Prevents weapons from bouncing |
 |                 |                       | off.                           |
 |-----------------+-----------------------+--------------------------------|
 | Load Up         | Loading               | Adds an Extra Shell.           |
 |-----------------+-----------------------+--------------------------------|
 | Sword Sharpener | Sharpening Skill Inc  | Whetstone usage speed          |
 |                 |                       | increased.                     |
 |-----------------+-----------------------+--------------------------------|
 | Guard           | Guard                 | Decreases the health and       |
 |                 |                       | stamina lost when hit while    |
 |                 |                       | guarding                       |
 |-----------------+-----------------------+--------------------------------|
 | Guard Up        | Guard Inc             | Able to block attacks normally |
 |                 |                       | not so (Ex: Gravios Beam.)     |
 x--------------------------------------------------------------------------x

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Can it block, how about Roll? |
o============o------------------------------o

Like the Lance it has great blocking capabilities without the ability to Roll.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What it's attack speed? |
o============o------------------------o

Same as Lance, it's a bit faster.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ How's mobility? |
o============o----------------o

Same as Lance, bad. Back-hop is useful though.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What's its Damage Type? |
o============o------------------------o

Cutting, plus, it's easier to cut tails thanks to upward swing.

o==========o----------------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ How is it when going Solo? What about in a Group? |
o============o--------------------------------------------------o

It's great either, be careful when firing Shells around your allies though.
Shells can stumble them, and Wyvern Fire makes them air-born.

o==========o------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ Does it have built-in ESP or Anti-Wind? |
o============o----------------------------------------o

Forward Thrust and Wyvern Fire have Anti-Wind, but no ESP.

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ How's the Damage Overall? |
o============o--------------------------o

It depends on what Wyvern you're facing. The overall damage of a Gunlance is
decent and excellent against the Gravios and Fatalis family. (Not included Black
Fatalis however.)

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Why would I want this weapon? |
o============o------------------------------o

-- Has Lances Wide Range, Large Shield, and Precise attacks.
-- Extended Combo means longer attacks.

o==========o----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ When should I reconsider using this weapon? |
o============o--------------------------------------------o

-- Extended Combo leaves you open.
-- Shells/Wyvern Fire decrease Sharpness (when Sharpness reaches Red you cannot
fire anymore Shells.)

o==========o--------------o
| Question  \ Final word? |
o============o------------o

A great alternative for the Lance. Sure, it's a monstrosity of machine and
medieval weapon, but isn't it cool? You may have trouble with it sometimes,
but don't give up on the Gunlance.

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---| --- [4.1.9] Weapon Types --- |---
                      ---|     ~~~ Light Bowgun ~~~     |---
                         v------------------------------v

"Well I'm going to send you a love letter, my dear. Do you know what that is?
              It's a bullet straight from my gun to your heart."
                        ~Sniper Wolf, Metal Gear Solid

In the days where the Bow was not available to the average Hunter, the Bowgun
was king. It's still here, and in fact retains the attributes of speed and
mobility. Along with the ever-so-useful Shells one can see the merit of keeping
at
least one Bowgun on hand. Ammunition is what we arm ourselves. See the next
section for that.

Most (including myself) confuse the Light Bowgun, the Heavy Bowgun, and the Bow
for long range weapons. They in fact, are not. Overall damage depends on how
many
shots collide with the enemy. Ammo like Scatter depends on you being as close as
possible for maximum effect. So when you use a 'ranged' weapon, don't think long
range. VioletKIRA can explain better then I.

Bowgun Damage Formula:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/943356/55273

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What are it's controls? |
o============o------------------------o

Triangle - Reload
Circle - Shoot
R Trigger - Aim (First Person)
L Trigger + D Pad - Aim (Third Person)

           x-------------x
           | C-C-COMBOS! |
           x-------------x-----------------------------------------x
           | Hit                   |  Triangle + Circle            |
           |-----------------------+-------------------------------|
           | Reload while sheathed | R Trigger + Triangle + Circle |
           x-------------------------------------------------------x

It should be noted that reloading while sheathed takes more time then reloading
while not.

o==========o-----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ What are some useful skills for this weapon? |
o============o---------------------------------------------o

Concerning Light Bowgun, you must pile offensive skills on in order to cover
their
lacking of it. Bundled with skills like Reckless Abandon, Elemental Attack Up,
and
Normal S, Pierce S, Pellet S are essential for a clean victory.

     x---------x
     | SKILLS! |
     x---------x---------------------------------------------------------x
     | Skill              |  Armor Skill     |  Description              |
     |--------------------+------------------+---------------------------|
     | Reckless Abandon   | Expert           | Adds weapon Affinity.     |
     |                    |                  | Chance to do a critical   |
     |                    |                  | hit; 25% extra damage.    |
     |--------------------+------------------+---------------------------|
     | Elem Atk Up        | Elemental Attack | Increases elemental       |
     |                    |                  | damage.                   |
     |--------------------+------------------+---------------------------|
     | Earplug/High Grade | Earplug          | Immunity of screams.      |
     |--------------------+------------------+---------------------------|
     | Recoil Reduction   | Recoil           | Decreases the recoil rate |
     |--------------------+------------------+---------------------------|
     | Speed Fire         | Speed Fire       | No reload for new type    |
     |                    |                  | Ammo                      |
     |--------------------+------------------+---------------------------|
     | Load Up            | Loading          | Adds one bullet per clip  |
     |                    |                  | to your gun's normal clip |
     |                    |                  | size.                     |
     x-------------------------------------------------------------------x

*Note: Speed Fire maxes recoil.

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Can it block, how about Roll? |
o============o------------------------------o

No block, just Roll.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ How's mobility? |
o============o----------------o

As even paced as any Sword and Shield, Dual Sword, ect.

o==========o----------------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ How is it when going Solo? What about in a Group? |
o============o--------------------------------------------------o

The Light Bowgun (or Heavy) is useful depending on your situation. It's up to
you,
the player, to gauge which Wyverns you feel merit it's use. And, to be honest,
the
Light Bowgun can be an all-purpose weapon.

As for Groups. It's better, as we can aid our fellow members with Status ailment
Shells and explosive Clusts. All the while, preventing the enemy from getting to
us. Whats a Wyvern most likely to go after, the guys in front, or the guy who's
not?

o==========o-------------------o
| Question  \ What are Shells? |
o============o-----------------o

Even though I've said this before, the only way you'll learn is through
repetition. Shells are the Bowguns bread and butter. We operate Shells of
different variety. For a full list of these, see section [4.2.10].

Simply load them up and you're good to go!

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ How's the Damage Overall? |
o============o--------------------------o

Low to Medium. Dependent on your armor skills, weaponry, shells, and real
skills.
The Light Bowgun can be quite a determent, or quite a friend.

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Why would I want this weapon? |
o============o------------------------------o

-- If you believe some distance will be the key to your victory.
-- If you want the option to Stun, Sleep, or Poison your enemy.
-- When you want a Bowgun with fast reload.
-- Rapid Fire is a nice bonus. However be aware that it reduces the percentages
of
your Shells power.
-- If you want Bowgun with greater mobility then a Heavy Bowgun.

o==========o----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ When should I reconsider using this weapon? |
o============o--------------------------------------------o

-- If you believe closer-range-combat will be the key to your victory.
-- If you want a weapon that can block.
-- If you want to use stronger armor as Gunner Armor has less defense.
-- If you want a weapon you don't have to buy ammunition for.
-- If you want a Bowgun with Light Recoil.
-- Rapid Fire cannot be redirected when enemy moves, nor can you move out of
the way while Rapid Fire is in action. Also Rapid Fire decreases the percentages
of your shots which potentially means less damage over time.

o==========o--------------o
| Question  \ Final word? |
o============o------------o

A long range weapon geared for evasive combat. While appearing simple, it's
nature
is quite complex. Requiring precise timing and top-notch equipment to compete
with
others of it's kind. In other words, it's a whole new ballpark.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [4.1.10] Weapon Types --- |---
                    ---|     ~~~ Heavy Bowgun ~~~      |---
                       v-------------------------------v

                       "Say hello to my little friend!"
                              ~Al Pacino, Scarface

A trade for mobility for extra power. Due to this fact, the Heavy Bowgun is
often
a favorite pick. It's poor mobility can be cloaked with skills. Many Hunter's
use
this weapon for it's astounding firepower. Along with extra attributes that
attract one gearing for long range combat.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What are it's controls? |
o============o------------------------o

Triangle - Reload
Circle - Shoot
R Trigger - Aim (First Person)
L Trigger + D Pad - Aim (Third Person)

           x-------------x
           | C-C-COMBOS! |
           x-------------x-----------------------------------------x
           | Hit                   |  Triangle + Circle            |
           |-----------------------+-------------------------------|
           | Reload while sheathed | R Trigger + Triangle + Circle |
           x-------------------------------------------------------x

It should be noted that reloading while sheathed takes more time then reloading
while not.

o==========o-----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ What are some useful skills for this weapon? |
o============o---------------------------------------------o

Reload Speed can counter the "Very Slow Reload" Bowguns. Evade and Evade Inc.
compensate the Heavy Bowgun's has sluggish mobility. Reckless Abandon, Elemental
Attack Up, and Earplug are for pumping the weapon and blocking against their
greatest annoyances. Normal S, Pierce S, and Pellet S skills still hold quite a
sway over this weapon.

    x---------x
    | SKILLS! |
    x---------x----------------------------------------------------------x
    | Skill              |  Armor Skill      |  Description              |
    |--------------------+-------------------+---------------------------|
    | Reckless Abandon   | Expert            | Adds weapon Affinity.     |
    |                    |                   | Chance to do a critical   |
    |                    |                   | hit; 25% extra damage.    |
    |--------------------+-------------------+---------------------------|
    | Elem Atk Up        | Elemental Attack  | Increases elemental       |
    |                    |                   | damage.                   |
    |--------------------+-------------------+---------------------------|
    | Earplug/High Grade | Earplug           | Immunity of screams.      |
    |--------------------+-------------------+---------------------------|
    | Evade              | Evade             | Longer time of            |
    |                    |                   | invincibility when        |
    |                    |                   | rolling.                  |
    |--------------------+-------------------+---------------------------|
    | Evade Inc          | Evade Distance Up | Longer distance covered   |
    |                    |                   | when rolling. Best when   |
    |                    |                   | paired with Evade.        |
    |--------------------+-------------------+---------------------------|
    | Recoil Reduction   | Recoil            | Decreases the recoil rate |
    |--------------------+-------------------+---------------------------|
    | *Speed Fire        | Speed Fire        | No reload for new type    |
    |                    |                   | Ammo.                     |
    |--------------------+-------------------+---------------------------|
    | Load Up            | Loading           | Adds one bullet per clip  |
    |                    |                   | to your gun's normal clip |
    |                    |                   | size.                     |
    x--------------------------------------------------------------------x

*Note: Speed Fire maxes recoil.

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Can it block, how about Roll? |
o============o------------------------------o

It can block via Shield attachment, but don't expect miracles. The shield is
for blocking Roars and Flashes. The recoil is terrible, even for minor blows.
And yes, it can Roll.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What it's attack speed? |
o============o------------------------o

Generally slow, hence the trade for attack power. To my surprise, it works in
the Bowgun's favor. Yes, there is a sacrifice in attack speed, but the power
more then makes up for the difference.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ How's mobility? |
o============o----------------o

Bad as you are as slow as a Lancer or Gunlancer with the weapon unsheathed.

o==========o----------------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ How is it when going Solo? What about in a Group? |
o============o--------------------------------------------------o

Like the Light Bowgun, it depends on the situation.

In Groups the HBG's power is always appreciated. Especially if you're teaming up
with a friend who great at controlling crowds (so you don't have to.)

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ How's the Damage Overall? |
o============o--------------------------o

A powerful ally come endgame. Towards the beginning, it can be rough, but later
on
as you gain more skills it can be a huge asset.

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Why would I want this weapon? |
o============o------------------------------o

-- If you believe that longer range will be the key to your victory.
-- If you want the option to Stun, Sleep, or Poison your enemy.
-- When you want a ranged weapon that is stronger then the Light Bowgun.
-- When you want a ranged weapon that can defend against Roar, Flash, ect.
-- Heavy Bowguns with Very Slow Reload can be fixed with Reload Speed +2.

o==========o----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ When should I reconsider using this weapon? |
o============o--------------------------------------------o

-- When you need a faster ranged weapon.
-- When you need more mobility.
-- If you want to use stronger armor as Gunner Armor has less defense.
-- If you want a weapon you don't have to buy ammunition from.
-- Using Shield Attachment means no Power Barrel which means a decrease in
overall damage.
-- Shield overall doesn't block much.

o==========o--------------o
| Question  \ Final word? |
o============o------------o

It's a good weapon with a few drawbacks. In the end it's a matter of which
monster you're facing, and what's best equip to handle it.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [4.1.11] Weapon Types --- |---
                    ---|         ~~~ Bow ~~~           |---
                       v-------------------------------v

                "If the point is sharp, and the arrow is swift,
            ...it can pierce through the dust no matter how thick."
                                   ~Bob Dylan

Ah the Bow. In my opinion, it has triumphed as the Ranged Weapon. Most Hunters
nowadays use Bows, being an effective force against Gravios and many others. I
myself favor Bows over Bowguns. Who'd a thunk it?

Our shots are infinite, meaning no Ammo required. Instead we receive Coatings,
that either increase our attack or deal status ailments. Mind you, Abnormal
Coatings aren't nearly as effective when compared with other weapons. It's nice
to
have the option anyway.

In order to operate a Bow, you must hold the Triangle and Charge it. Each
Charge has a certain level and effective similar to Ammo. In order to better
understand how the Bow works, see DS31x's Bow Damage Formula FAQ.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/934395/48311

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What are it's controls? |
o============o------------------------o

Triangle - Shoot
Circle - Melee Attack

       x-------------x
       | C-C-COMBOS! |
       x-------------x------------------------------------------------x
       | Aim                         |  R Trigger + D Pad             |
       |-----------------------------+--------------------------------|
       | Charge                      |  Triangle (Hold)               |
       |-----------------------------+--------------------------------|
       | Reload Coatings             |  Triangle + Circle             |
       |-----------------------------+--------------------------------|
       | Melee Attack from sheathed  |  R Trigger + Triangle + Circle |
       x-----------------------------+--------------------------------x

o==========o-----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ What are some useful skills for this weapon? |
o============o---------------------------------------------o

Reckless Abandon is needed to pump up the ranged weapon in general. Elemental
Attack Up is there for the same reasons we've included them for Light and Heavy
Bowgun. The NormS/PrceS/PellS skills become Rapid Bow Up, Pierce Bow Up, and
Scatter Bow Up. Runner is used for countering the stamina decrease, because your
Mega/Power Juice is likely to wear off. Fast Charge is for faster charging, and
Earplug for the obvious Roar nullifing.

      x---------x
      | SKILLS! |
      x---------x----------+------------------+-------------------------x
      | Skill              |  Armor Skill     |  Description            |
      |--------------------+------------------+-------------------------|
      | Reckless Abandon   | Expert           | Adds weapon Affinity.   |
      |                    |                  | Chance to do a critical |
      |                    |                  | hit; 25% extra damage.  |
      |--------------------+------------------+-------------------------|
      | Elem Atk Up        | Elemental Attack | Increases elemental     |
      |                    |                  | damage.                 |
      |--------------------+------------------+-------------------------|
      | Runner             | Stamina          | Stamina usage speed     |
      |                    |                  | decreases.              |
      |--------------------+------------------+-------------------------|
      | Fast Charge        | Concentrate      | Allows faster charging  |
      |                    |                  | for Bow.                |
      |--------------------+------------------+-------------------------|
      | Earplug/High Grade | Earplug          | Immunity of screams.    |
      |--------------------+------------------+-------------------------|
      | Load Up            | Loading          | Enables Fourth Charge.  |
      x--------------------+------------------+-------------------------x

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Can it block, how about Roll? |
o============o------------------------------o

No blocking, a minor flaw but not enough to deter us. It can roll too.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ How's mobility? |
o============o----------------o

Average, you can move as swift as you can with any other weapon. Giving us the
one up over the Heavy Bowgun while still achieving some of it's power.

o==========o--------------------------o
| Question  \ What's its Damage Type? |
o============o------------------------o

Technically, "Shot." Melee attack though has both Impact and Cutting damage.
Great for taking out minions in the area.

o==========o------------------------------o
| Question  \ Can I cut tails with a Bow? |
o============o----------------------------o

Even with Razor Coatings, it's tough nicking those Tails off. All damage needs
to be Cutting, which makes things all the harder. The only tails I recommend
you go after are those of Elder Dragons. Once their health is below a certain
percentage, they become vulnerable.

o==========o--------------------o
| Question  \ What are Charges? |
o============o------------------o

Are you perhaps referring to the Charges on a Bow? You'll notice that most Bows
have four level Charges, while the fourth needs to be unlocked via Load Up
hence my suggestion. Moving on. They are divided into several different
categories, Pierce, Rapid, and Scatter.

Pierce shoots arrows that, like the name, penetrates the hide of most monsters.
It's better to be used against monsters with long bodies like Plesioth. The
level
of the charge is put into factor of course. Rapid fires a flurry of
arrows in a single row, useful. Scatter fires several arrows horizontally
meaning they scatter. This is useful for specific monsters like Fatalis and
Gravios.

In battle you can charge the bow, the flashing indicates the Bow has upped a
charge level. It continues like this until the maximum charge level available
is maintained. Remember, you need Load Up to access the Bows maximum charge.

o==========o---------------------o
| Question  \ What are Coatings? |
o============o-------------------o

Coatings are extra items, in this case consider them a downgrade from Shells.
Depending on which Coatings you have whether they be Power, Para, Poison,
Sleep, or whatnot, they can be used alongside the bow. Yeah, they run out like
bullets, but you don't need them. Chances of inducing said ailment with
Coatings are quite low. You don't have much to lose when investing in them
though. As unlike Bowguns, using Coatings does not have recoil.

o==========o----------------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ How is it when going Solo? What about in a Group? |
o============o--------------------------------------------------o

Like any ranged weapon, the Bow is useful depending on your situation. It's up
to
you, the player, to gauge which Wyverns you feel merit it's use.

As for Groups. The occasional status ailment via Coatings can do wonders for a
teams moral. Overall, the bow is solid for online play.

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ How's the Damage Overall? |
o============o--------------------------o

The Bow starts quite weak and gives little in the future. It's often compared
with
the Hunting Horn in it's respect to deal damage overtime. It's outclassed by
other
weapons come endgame.

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ Why would I want this weapon? |
o============o------------------------------o

-- If you believe that distance will be the key to your victory.
-- When you want a longer ranged elemental weapon.
-- Charge while moving.
-- Infinite Ammo.
-- Melee Attack can cut off tails.

o==========o----------------------------------------------o
| Question  \ When should I reconsider using this weapon? |
o============o--------------------------------------------o

-- If you want to use stronger armor as Gunner Armor has less defense.
-- Limited Coatings which can be compensated by bringing combination materials.
-- No Blocking.
-- Melee Attack is poor substitute for cutting weapon.

o==========o--------------o
| Question  \ Final word? |
o============o------------o

There you have it. All the ranged weapons to choose from. Each tailored to a
specific purpose, but in the end all it matters is which one is more fun to use.

Section Credits:
mazereon (L & H Bowgun Section corrections, Hammer corrections,)
Devil Trigger (General Section corrections)

                          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                       ---|   --- [4.2] Armor ---   |---
                       ---| ~~~ Armor Questions ~~~ |---
                          v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                  "The best armor is to keep out of range."
                               ~Italian Proverb

The road to being number one is tough. You have to train your Pokemon
relentlessly...wrong game. The concept is the same though. If you've played
one of the many Pokemon titles, you'll know that you need to add stronger
Pokemon to your arsenal. In this case, stronger armor.

You may wonder, what armor should I get? Don't feel bad. In fact, everyone,
and I mean everyone thinks this sometimes. And if you're wondering what skills
you need. Do me a favor a scroll to section [3.8].

o==========o-----------------o
| Question  \ What is Armor? |
o============o---------------o

Armor plays a simple yet vital role to Monster Hunter. It is our defense, and
also
our method of acquiring Armor Skills. Armor is split into five separate pieces,
helmet, torso, gauntlet, waist, and leggings. In order to make a full set you
must
forge each piece separately. Each piece comes with a certain amount of defense,
and when pooled together sum up to their total.

o==========o-------------------------o
| Question  \ What are Armor Skills? |
o============o-----------------------o

They are a tool Hunters cannot do without. They are varied in effect, carrying
both positive and negative traits. Some maybe less useful then others, but that
doesn't disqualify their use. In order to activate an Armor Skill, the points on
each of your armor pieces must total ten, fifteen, or twenty. Meaning you must
Gem
your armor if you plan on acquiring certain skills.

o==========o------------------------o
| Question  \ What are Decorations? |
o============o----------------------o

These aren't your average decorations no. They are actually jewels and gems you
stud your armor with, while they are not visible on your avatar they are there.
Your armor needs slots in order to carry decorations, and while most have, there
more located on some more then others. Each armor piece can house a certain
amount
of gems, and larger gems actually take two or more slots. Hunters require
decorations a single reason, to activate a skill.

o==========o---------------------------------------o
| Question  \ How do I improve my Armor's Defense? |
o============o-------------------------------------o

Early in the game you receive an item called "Armor Stones." These stones help
you
improve your armor piece by piece. It takes chunk of money to do this, but if
you're having trouble with a Wyvern...well, you just need more practice. Still,
upping defense is an open option for players that want a stronger defense. More
defense means less healing right?

o==========o--------------------------------o
| Question  \ What is Elemental Resistance? |
o============o------------------------------o

Elemental resistance is your ability to resist the attacks of enemy Wyverns.
There
are certain elements in a Wyverns attacks, like Daimyo Hermituar's Water Gun,
that
apply to armor once struck. Your armor may resist the element, be weak against
it,
or aren't effected either way.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [4.3] Armor ---  |---
                     ---| ~~~ Elder Armor ~~~  |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

What about the beginning? How do you, the hunter, break into the world of
Armor crafting? We start with the basics. The trick is to find the most worth-
while armor at the beginning. For me it was Battle Armor. Then I continued my
ascension.

As you progress you'll have a vast armory available to you. With pros, the
rules are different. Fashion is often greater then function. In our case, you
may wish to look at this in a different angle. Function dictates my course,
fashion takes a backseat. Why? Because you're just starting. You need these
skills, any skills, to gain a decent edge against Wyverns.

For the most part, there are more Blademaster Armors then Gunner Armors. Why?
Gunner armor in general has terrible defense, most of the skills I recommend
that
come from Blademaster are situational. In reality, the both armor types have
narrow prospects, you just got to close your mind...wait...that didn't come out
right.

 x----------------x
 | LEATHER ARMOR! |
 x================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster/Gunner
 / Total Defense: 10
 \ Total Slots: Four
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: N/A
 / Skills:
 \ Throwing Skill Up
 / Gathering +1
 \ Backpacking Expert (Need +1 Gem)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Situational-Gathering
 x================----------------x

This set is merely for Gathering purposes. Say you want to use and abuse a
Gathering Quest which involves an egg or other heavy object. Backpacking Expert
allows you to carry these items with little difficulty. Gathering +1 is
exceptional useful for Gathering Quests as it gives you more from one spot. It's
not bad for beginner armor.

 x---------------x
 | BATTLE ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 80
 \ Total Slots: Four
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Sharpening Skl Inc
 / Attack Up [Small]
 \ Detect (Needs 2+ in Gems)
 / Guard (Needs 4+ in Gems)
 \
 / Armor Rating: Useful
 x============--------------------x

Or...

 x---------------x
 | BATTLE ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 50
 \ Total Slots: Four
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Load Up
 / Attack Up [Small]
 \ Detect (Needs 2+ in Gems)
 / NormalS Up (Needs 4+ in Gems)
 \
 / Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

This is my first 'good' armor. You can purchase it from the Felyne Armor
salesman in the village. As you can see, Attack Up is a godsend for the
starting hunter. This set is designed to give us a fighting chance against Yian
Kut Ku. Which, if you're like everyone else, is probably your wall.

 x---------------x
 | HORNET ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 55
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Water, Dragon
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Ice, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ High Grade Earplug
 / Dragon Resistance +5
 \ Gathering +1 (Need +4 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Situational
 x================----------------x

The earliest set with High Grade Earplugs, but with terrible defense and even
worse elemental resistance. Gunners are looking at a severe depletion in health
if
crossed.

 x---------------x
 | IOPREY ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 60
 \ Total Slots: Four
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Water, Ice
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: N/A
 / Skills:
 \ Pellet S Up (Need +2 Gems)
 / Pellet S Add (Upgrade for +3 Gems)
 \ Poison Negated
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Situational
 x================----------------x

Ioprey Armor is your Bowgun Pellet user armor. You benefit greatly when using
this
on certain enemies. And if Pellet isn't what you're searching for...

 x--------------x
 | CONGA ARMOR! |
 x==============x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 80
 \ Total Slots: Four
 / Elemental Strength: Water, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire
 / Skills:
 \ Speed Eater
 / Antiseptic
 \ Normal S Up (Need +2 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Situational
 x================----------------x

If you think Normal Shots are a winner, this this armor is for you!

 x---------------x
 | KUT-KU ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 120
 \ Total Slots: Five
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water, Ice
 / Skills:
 \ Health +30
 / Attack Up [Med]
 \ Fire Res +5
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fair-Useful
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x---------------x
 | KUT-KU ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 60
 \ Total Slots: Five
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water, Ice
 / Skills:
 \ Health +30
 / Attack Up [Med]
 \ Fire Res +5
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fair-Useful
 x================----------------x

It's completely up to you whether or not you wish to switch. Why switch in the
first place? As a Blademaster, I found the extra Attack useful. Since you don't
have access to a full Felyne staff, Health +30 is a godsend. Especially for
those
who get hit more then they should.

Both Battle and Yian Kut-Ku should suffice until you get to Shogun Ceanataur or
Yian Garuga. Until then, may I suggest branching out and even experimenting with
different armor sets. Like...

 x--------------x
 | KHEZU ARMOR! |
 x==============x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 160
 \ Total Slots: Five
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water
 / Skills:
 \ Damage Rec Speed +1 (Needs +2 Gems for 2+ Upgrade)
 / Flute Expert (Needs +2 Gems)
 \ Wide Area +1
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Situational-Party
 x================----------------x

Looking for that early Party armor? Got a buddy who can't fight alone? Training
your younger sibling in the arts of Monster Hunter? Look no further for your
early
Elder support armor. This armor is what hard-core Hunting Horn users use. Other
then helping out your party member, this armor lacks the combative skills we get
with other sets. Still, worth acquiring nonetheless.

 x------------------x
 | HERMITUAR ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 160
 \ Total Slots: Nine
 / Elemental Strength: Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Thunder, Fire
 / Skills:
 \ Guard (Needs 3+ Gems)
 / Defense +20
 \
 / Armor Rating: Useful-Lance/Gunlance
 x================----------------x

True, Battle Armor can supply you with Guard. It can't give you the defense
that Hermituar armor offers. Nor does it require as many gems to get Guard.
This set is strictly for Lancers and Gunlancers. My problems with it are, that
its weak to fire. Fire is the most commonly used element in this game. So if
you end up getting hit, expect a sincere decrease in HP.

 x----------------x
 | LOBSTER ARMOR! |
 x================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 170
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Water, Ice
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Dragon, Thunder (-30 Points)
 / Skills:
 \ Evade +2
 / Water Resistance (Need 2+ Gems)
 \ Fishing Expert
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Situational-Evasion
 x================----------------x

We're not really investing (if you so choose) for Fishing Expert. Rather, we're
going for Evade +2. Evade +2 can help expert Hunters out of sticky situations.
It's not outstanding for beginner's Hunters as they've yet to master the
mechanics
of evade. The Thunder weakness poses little problem so long as you avoid Kirin
and
your own Lightening Rods.

 x-----------------x
 | KUT-KU D ARMOR! |
 x=================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 110
 \ Total Slots: Seven
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water, Ice
 / Skills:
 \ Attack Up [Small] (Need 3+ Gems for Upgrade)
 / Reckless Abandon +1 (Need +3 Gems for Upgrade)
 \ Elemental Attack (Need +3 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x-----------------x
 | KUT-KU D ARMOR! |
 x=================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 50
 \ Total Slots: Seven
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water, Ice
 / Skills:
 \ Attack Up [Small] (Need 3+ Gems for Upgrade)
 / Reckless Abandon +1 (Need +3 Gems for Upgrade)
 \ Elemental Attack (Need +3 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

A great early on armor set. All you need are two Gems for either Attack or
Reckless Abandon and the skill upgrades. Otherwise, this is a great armor to
invest in. Especially since we get a taste of Elemental Attack Up.

 x---------------x
 | BLANGO ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 180
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Ice, Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire
 / Skills:
 \ Cold Resistance
 / Snow Resistance
 \ Terrain Damage Inc [Low]
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Situational
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x---------------x
 | BLANGO ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 108
 \ Total Slots: Five
 / Elemental Strength: Ice, Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire
 / Skills:
 \ Cold Resistance
 / Snow Resistance
 \ Terrain Damage Inc [Low]
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Situational
 x================----------------x

When times call for it, you'll want some armor with Quake Resistance. You'll
need
this if you ever plan on a smooth victory against Shen Gaoren. Until then, Quake
Resistance has it's benefits. Though, the only time I ever used it was then.
Otherwise, it's a decent piece of armor.

 x-----------------x
 | MONOBLOS ARMOR! |
 x=================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 180
 \ Total Slots: Seven
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Health +20
 / Adrenaline +1
 \ Attack Up [Low] (Need 2+ Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fantastic with Adrenaline +2
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x-----------------x
 | MONOBLOS ARMOR! |
 x=================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 90
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: N/A
 / Skills:
 \ Health +20
 / Adrenaline +1
 \ Attack Up [Low] (Need +2 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fantastic with Adrenaline +2
 x================----------------x

Great armor if you can get the 3+ Gems and upgrade it into Adrenaline +2 for
Blademaster. The problem here is that Adrenaline only activates when your HP is
low. For beginner's that have yet to comb through their target's moves, this
armor
may impede rather then aide. You have to narrow your opponent's moves to an
exact
science before even thinking about this set. I warn you. Don't use Adrenaline +2
until you've mastered the engrossing complexities of dodging at low health.

 x--------------------x
 | YIAN GARUGA ARMOR! |
 x=====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 180
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: N/A
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +1
 / Sharp Sword
 \ Earplug (Need 2+ Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x--------------------x
 | YIAN GARUGA ARMOR! |
 x====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 90
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: N/A
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +1
 / Pierce S Lv1 Add
 \ Earplug (Need +2 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

A set worthy of acquiring, you'll find the simplistic addition of Reckless
Abandon
sets this above most armors. Sharp Sword reduces the sharpness loss by half,
making it into an excellent set for Dual Sword users.

The less effective Gunner Armor is a clean substitute for Hornet armor which
cursed defense leads many to their end. However, you'll have to sacrifice High
Grade Earplugs because even with six Earplug gems you'll still only have
fourteen
points. Instead, try Garuga Mask. You'll need two Earplug and two Expert gems in
order to make any use of this combination.

 x------------------x
 | CEANATUAR ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 185
 \ Total Slots: Five
 / Elemental Strength: Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Thunder, Ice (low)
 / Skills:
 \ Sharpness +1 (Needs 5+ Gems)
 / Sword Sharpener
 \ Sharp Sword
 / Defense -20
 \
 / Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x------------------x
 | CEANATUAR ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 90
 \ Total Slots: Eight
 / Elemental Strength: Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: None
 / Skills:
 \ Pierce S Up/Pierce Bow Up
 / Target Range Down
 \ Pierce S Lv1 Add (Need 5+ Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fair
 x================----------------x

With a little love, this set can take you far. Ceanataur armor is a
Blademaster's
dream set. And at Elder Rank for godsakes! While not perfect, the investment for
Sharpness +1 will leave you with no regrets. Sadly, not many are willing to make
the commitment.

And commitment I mean you have to gather FIVE Monoblos Hearts in order to make
the
Gems necessary for this armor set. Is it worth it? Ask yourself. The drop rates
of
Monoblos Hearts are slim, however you can acquire what you need by smashing the
Daimyo Hermituar's Shell.

The Gunner set is fair, but not many devote the time to find Pierce S Add Gems.
If
you're a Bowgun/Bow user, this definitely comes in handy.

 x----------------x
 | DIABLOS ARMOR! |
 x================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 200
 \ Total Slots: Five
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water, Ice
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +2
 / Low Wind Press
 \ Health -10 (Fixed with a single Strength Gem.)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Diablos Armor is purely for Reckless Abandon +2. Low Wind Press, while a fair
skill, is not likely to get much usage. Still a gem to have around, and a decent
upgrade from Garuga.

 x------------------x
 | DIABLOS D ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 90
 \ Total Slots: Eight
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Ice
 / Skills:
 \ High Wind Press
 / Load Up
 \
 / Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Love Load Up. High Wind Press can prevent most Wyvern's Wind generated attacks
from working, allowing you to minimize at least one part of your enemies game.
Sadly, the lack of Earplug will always be apparent.

 x-------------------x
 | BLACK BELT ARMOR! |
 x===================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster and Gunner
 / Total Defense: 100
 \ Total Slots: Three
 / Elemental Strength: All
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: None
 / Skills:
 \ Sharpness +1
 / Load Up
 \ Map Unavailable
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

On it's own, the Black Belt armor can dominate. Sharpness +1 is all you need
with
this baby, Gunners won't find it as useful as Diablos D comes with Load Up. The
REAL gem of this armor is that most pieces have Torso Inc. This skill duplicates
the armor skills on the Torso piece. As long as you change the Black Belt
Greaves
(I go for Chrome Metal which also has Torso Inc) you can have the skills of a
full
set.

I caution you to use this set sparingly. While Gems also apply to the equation,
bad skills do as well. You should also consider the low armor defense. In the
end,
you can't really substitute Black Belt for the real thing.

 x---------------------x
 | DEATH STENCH ARMOR! |
 x=====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 200
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Ice
 / Skills:
 \ Stealth
 / ESP
 \ Health -20
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

First, an awesome looking armor. Second, this is our first encounter with ESP
armor. For those quests that call for it, ESP may be the skill you're looking
for.

How do we get it? We're limited to Death Stench Cloths delivered by Trenya the
traveling Felyne. Trips to the Desert (for 500 points) take a mission to
complete
(with the exclusion of gathering quests) so be sure to have a lot of points to
send Trenya on trips.

 x------------------x
 | MONODEVIL ARMOR! |
 x=================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 170
 \ Total Slots: Seven
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: All but Fire
 / Skills:
 \ Adrenaline +2
 / Sharpness +1 (Need 4+ Gems)
 \ Reckless Abandon +1 (Need 3+ Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x------------------x
 | MONODEVIL ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 80
 \ Total Slots: Seven
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: None
 / Skills:
 \ Adrenaline +2
 / Load Up (Need 4+ Gems)
 \ Reckless Abandon +1 (Need +3 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Each armor has just enough slots to activate said skills. The burden of each set
is gathering and forging said gems. I can tell you, this is mighty tricky as the
Blademaster set requires four Artisan Gems to activate Sharpness +1. That's four
Monoblos Hearts you have to gather. I can otherwise tell you, that this armor is
the cream of the Elder Quest crop.

Finding the Gunner armor is much easier, as Load Up doesn't require daunting
Gems.
You're still without Earplug, but it's all situational from here.

 x----------------------x
 | RATHALOS SOUL ARMOR! |
 x======================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 190
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon
 / Skills:
 \ Attack Up [Medium]
 / Earplug (Upgrade for 2+ Gems)
 \ Reckless Abandon (Need +5 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x---------------------x
 | RATALOS SOUL ARMOR! |
 x=====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 90
 \ Total Slots: Eight
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon
 / Skills:
 \ Attack Up [Medium]
 / Earplug (Upgrade for 4+ Gems)
 \ Reckless Abandon (Need +5 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Rathalos Soul is possibly the best armor for Elder Rank Quests. Earplugs are
essential to many quests, and Gunners can't do without them. I marked the Gunner
armor a little less useful as you're required to devote extra to Earplug in
order
to upgrade. Either way, Reckless Abandon is thrown out the window. Still a
decent
set.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [4.3.1] Elder Armor --- |---
                     ---|   ~~~ Summary - Zenny ~~~   |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

In this stage of the game. Your main focus should be finding armor that suits
your weapon and skills. Most of you will choose Longsword in your beginning. I
don't blame you because I used it. Early on they're good weapons. However
you'll notice as time goes by, the weapon never picks up.

Cash (or Z) becomes a rather large issue. What makes the most money isn't
exactly the right course. The formula goes...

T + V + R = P

T = Time it takes to finish quest.
V = Value of materials
R = Reward Z Received
P = Overall profit.

For those more 'plain English' oriented, I know I am, let me explain this
another way. Each quest starts with 50 minutes on the clock, with few as the
exception. Now say, you found a quest you think pulls in a lot of dough, that's
good. However is it great? Few realize that they waste time trying to do money-
making quests. Either because they take too long, or the rewards simply aren't
good enough. Thats when you apply the formula into factor.

Take the time it takes to finish the quest (T) then compare it to the value of
materials sold after (V + R). You should have the time and the total sum (P)
written down.

Example 1: You receive 10000z worth in Materials and Reward but the quest time
averaged 20 min.
Example 2: You receive 5000z worth in Materials and Reward but the quest time
averaged 10 min.

In this case, both are equal. There is the X factor - things you carved from
Wyvern or otherwise gathered from the Map. This really doesn't make much of a
difference. Unless you're facing Lao, in which-case takes 20 mins at minimum.
Let's look at another example.

Example 1: You receive 24000z worth in Materials and Reward but the quest time
averaged 23 min.
Example 2: You receive 16000z worth in Materials and Reward but the quest time
averaged 15 min.

Boy that's a doozie. When this happens, it's best to stick with the one that
takes the shortest amount of time. The time saved adds up.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---|    --- [4.4] Armor ---      |---
                     ---| ~~~ Felyne Elder Armor ~~~  |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

So... We have amassed a darn good collection of Elder Quest armors. What now?
The rules of gathering Armor from here on out is simply to acquire the same
skills on different combinations of rarer armor. Now you've gotten armors like
Monodevil and Ceanatuar, you just don't want to go back. And why should you?

Where do we begin though? Where is our 'breaking into Hard Quests' armor?
That's tough because I had the exact problem. Still don't know how to deal with
it either. My opinion, find about Armor Combinations.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/genmessage.php?board=934395&topic=44537507

TTD2005's Armor Combo sticky does justice. But you may want to check other
resources. Until then you may just want to find the Rarer version of your own
armor. Like switching out your old Rathalos Soul for Rathalos Soul U.

 x--------------------x
 | HERMITUAR S ARMOR! |
 x====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 280
 \ Total Slots: Nine
 / Elemental Strength: Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Guard +1 (Upgrade for 5+ Gems)
 / Defense +20
 \ Throwing Skill Up
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fair
 x================----------------x

A minor upgrade for Lancers/Gunlancers. You can upgrade to Guard +2 if you wish.

 x-------------------x
 | NARUGACUGA ARMOR! |
 x===================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 310
 \ Total Slots: Nine
 / Elemental Strength: Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Defensive Maneuvers +2
 / Evade Distance Up
 \ Attack Down [Small]
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x----------------------x
 | NARUGACUGA ARMOR! |
 x======================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 150
 \ Total Slots: Nine
 / Elemental Strength: Water, Ice
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Defensive Maneuvers +2
 / Evade Distance Up
 \ Attack Down [Small]
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

A unique set coming from one of the most evasive enemies in-game. Negative
attributes can be simply Gemmed away. Otherwise, it's a great set to add to
your arsenal.

 x------------------x
 | DIABLOS S ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 320
 \ Total Slots: Eight
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water, Ice
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +2 (Upgrade with +4 Gems)
 / Low Wind Resistance
 \ Health -10 (Kill with 2+ Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x-----------------x
 | DIABLOS S ARMOR! |
 x=================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 150
 \ Total Slots: Seven
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Ice
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +2
 / Low Wind Resistance
 \ Health -10
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fair
 x================----------------x

A fair trade-off from Elder Diablos, but more Health Gems must be devoted in
order
to kill-off Health -10. It had decent defense, but should avoid enemies like
Blangonga and Plesioth.

 x--------------------x
 | JOLLY ROGER ARMOR! |
 x====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 240
 \ Total Slots: None
 / Elemental Strength: None
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: None
 / Skills:
 \ Carving Celebrity
 / Luck Booster
 \ Bomber
 / Demonic Protection
 \
 / Armor Rating: Situational
 x================----------------x

Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free! You-are-a-PIRATE!
...Ahem. At least with this set you are. More or less a utility set for
gathering
treasure. Carving Celebrity allows an extra carve on anything including Tails.
This allows you an extra chance to get that rare item needed for forging. And
believe me, there are plenty of these. Luck Booster has a chance of increasing
the
normal rewards making your trip a little more profitable.

The real problem with this set is that you're stuck with Demonic Protection.
Unless you have a three-slotted weapon, all with Protection Gems. You'd run into
those kind of weapons with Sword and Shields.

 x---------------x
 | RAJANG ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 275
 \ Total Slots: Four
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Dragon
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Ice
 / Skills:
 \ Adrenaline +2
 / Flute Expert
 \ Sharpness +1
 / Taunt
 \
 / Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x---------------x
 | RAJANG ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 140
 \ Total Slots: Four
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Dragon
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Ice
 / Skills:
 \ Adrenaline +2
 / Gunnery King
 \ Stealth
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Rajang! Great armor, but difficult to obtain. Those who use Hunting Horns will
worship the ground this armor recites on. This set is for those who wish to
invest
in Adrenaline +2. These sets can serve one well, especially if you've memorized
each move and have the timing down to an exact science.

 x---------------------------x
 | BUTTERFLY/OBITUARY ARMOR! |
 x===========================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 280
 \ Total Slots: Eight
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Ice, Water
 / Skills:
 \ Evade +2
 / Abnormal Status Attack Up
 \ Cold Inc [Low]
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x---------------------------x
 | BUTTERFLY/OBITUARY ARMOR! |
 x===========================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 140
 \ Total Slots: Eight
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Ice, Water
 / Skills:
 \ Evade +2
 / Abnormal Status Attack Up
 \ Cold Inc [Low]
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Evade +2 is the perfect set for Heavy Bowgun, Lance, and Gunlance users. It does
have it's weaknesses, however with the power of Evade +2 you can scathe by.
Abnormal Status Attack Up does well with Lances. Hell, this set is built to
poke,
poke, dodge.

 x-------------------------x
 | AUROROS/BOREALIS ARMOR! |
 x=========================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 330
 \ Total Slots: Eight
 / Elemental Strength: Water, Ice
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Dragon
 / Skills:
 \ Guard +1 (Upgrade for +4 Gems)
 / Guard Inc
 \ Damage Recovery Speed +1
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

If you're a Lancer/Gunlancer that values above else the power of Guard then this
set is yours. Not only is this a decent looking set of armor, but Damage
Recovery
Speed +1 helps recover the red gauge you lost should you block more then you can
chew. This is the defined Guarding Lancer/Gunlancer set.

 x------------------------x
 | RATHALOS SOUL U ARMOR! |
 x========================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 310
 \ Total Slots: Nine
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon
 / Skills:
 \ High Grade Earplug
 / Reckless Abandon +1
 \ Health -10 (Kill with +1 Gem)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x------------------------x
 | RATHALOS SOUL U ARMOR! |
 x========================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 140
 \ Total Slots: Nine
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon
 / Skills:
 \ High Grade Earplug
 / Reckless Abandon +1
 \ Health -10 (Kill with +1 Gem)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

My all purpose armor set back in the last title. You can easily Gem Reckless
Abandon +2, no doubt. I'd recommend you invest in both Gunner and Blademaster
sets. Even though their materials are rare (Rathalos Ruby) I guarantee it's
worth
it.

 x------------------------x
 | SILVER RATHALOS ARMOR! |
 x========================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 320
 \ Total Slots: Ten
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Thunder, Water
 / Skills:
 \ Attack Up [Low] (Upgrade for +1 Gem)
 / ESP
 \
 / Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x------------------------x
 | SILVER RATHALOS ARMOR! |
 x========================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 160
 \ Total Slots: Ten
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: None
 / Skills:
 \ Pierce S Up
 / Elemental Attack Up (Need +2 Gems)
 \ Attack Up [Low]
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Very versatile set. Some use this to duel Akantor and Gem it with Guard. With
so many slots available who doesn't enjoy toying around?

 x----------------x
 | AKANTOR ARMOR! |
 x================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 350
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Ice, Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +2 (Upgrade for +4 Gems)
 / Sharpness +1
 \ Earplug (Need +3 Gems)
 / Distraction (Kill with +1 Gem)
 \
 / Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x----------------x
 | AKANTOR ARMOR! |
 x================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster/Gunner
 / Total Defense: 170
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Ice, Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +2 (Upgrade for +4 Gems)
 / Load Up
 \ Earplug (Need +3 Gems)
 / Distraction (Kill with +1 Gem)
 \
 / Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Very worth facing Akantor for. In the days of Monster Hunter Freedom 2, this
armor
was king...by king, I mean everyone WORE it. Distraction decreases the charge of
Hammers, Bows, and yes, even Greatswords. With the slot options low, you'll have
to decide between Reckless Abandon +3 and Earplug. Unless you use a weapon with
extra slots...

                    ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                 ---| --- [4.4.1] Felyne Elder Armor --- |---
                 ---|          ~~~ Summary ~~~           |---
                    v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

A wash for some, but overall there's a lot to gain during these quests. By now
you've been experimenting with Gems. And hopefully you've gone out of your way
to try armor combos. If not, no biggie.

After this, you should know which skills you're comfortable with. And now, you
should be adamant on gaining those same skills along G Rank.

                           ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                        ---| --- [4.5] Armor ---  |---
                        ---| ~~~ G Rank Armor ~~~ |---
                           v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

If you want to make the list, you gotta have talent dood! You gotta have guts
dood! You gotta have heart dood!

 x---------------------x
 | NARUGACUGA X ARMOR! |
 x=====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 450
 \ Total Slots: Eleven
 / Elemental Strength: Water, Ice
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Evade Inc.
 / Evade +1 (Upgrade for +2 Gems)
 \ Trap Master (Need +4 Gems)
 / Attack Down [Low] (Kill with +2 Gems)
 \
 / Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x------------------------x
 | NARUGACUGA X ARMOR! |
 x========================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 220
 \ Total Slots: Eleven
 / Elemental Strength: Water, Ice
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Evade +2
 / Evade Inc. (Need +1 Gem)
 \ Trap Master (Need +8 Gems)
 / Attack Down [Low] (Kill with +2 Gems)
 \
 / Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

The bold, the brave, and the Prinny sure could've used this. If you're looking
for
G Rank Evade armor, then this is it. Hands down, one of the best in-game. Attack
Down is a downer, but less troublesome then people think. Overall, an excellent
set, especially for Lancers and Heavy Bowgun users.

 x-------------------x
 | LAVASIOTH X ARMOR! |
 x===================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 460
 \ Total Slots: Eight
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water
 / Skills:
 \ Terrain Damage Reduced [Hi]
 / Survival (Need +3 Gems)
 \ Concentration
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x-------------------x
 | LAVASIOTH X ARMOR! |
 x===================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 230
 \ Total Slots: Eight
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water
 / Skills:
 \ Terrain Damage Reduced [Hi]
 / Survival (Need +2 Gems)
 \ Concentration
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Survival will help you avoid those nasty OHKO attacks. Many of which the Fatalis
family is fond of. Otherwise one of the only sets you can acquire both Survival
and Concentration.

 x--------------------x
 | HERMITAUR Z ARMOR! |
 x====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 420
 \ Total Slots: Thirteen
 / Elemental Strength: Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Ice, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Guard +1 (Upgrade with +5 Gems)
 / Survival
 \ Attack Up [Low] (Need +3 Gems)
 / Flat Footed (Kill with +3 Gems)
 \
 / Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

A great set for those investing in Guard. Survival mixed with Guard blend well,
especially in G Rank. The female version of this armor is quite stylish if I do
so
myself.

 x------------------x
 | DIABLOS Z ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 455
 \ Total Slots: Eleven
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Ice, Water
 / Skills:
 \ Earplug (Upgrade for +5 Gems)
 / Sharpness +1 (Need +1 Gems)
 \ Reckless Abandon +1
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x------------------x
 | DIABLOS Z ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 240
 \ Total Slots: Eleven
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water
 / Skills:
 \ Earplug (Upgrade for +5 Gems)
 / Load Up (Need +1 Gems)
 \ Reckless Abandon +1
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

With some mighty fine, ole rusty horns here can make a powerful set. In fact,
just 'bout everything can be upgraded. Them thar Earplugs can be High Grade
Earplugs or Reckless Abandon +1 can make +2. It's all in y'all city slickers
hands.

 x--------------------x
 | TRUE RAJANG ARMOR! |
 x====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 405
 \ Total Slots: Ten
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Dragon
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Ice
 / Skills:
 \ Sharpness +1
 / Dragon Resistance +5
 \ Concentration (Need +4 Gems)
 / Taunt
 \
 / Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Say, that's some nice armor. Concentration plus Sharpness, who wish for
anything more? Taunt can easily be Gemed away, my opinion though, it doesn't
create any problems for Solo Hunters. Want the best GS armor? True Rajang Armor
has that potential. Make this set a priority.

 x------------------x
 | KUSHALA X ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 470
 \ Total Slots: Ten
 / Elemental Strength: Ice, Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Evade +1
 / Sharp Sword
 \ Daora Ward
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x------------------x
 | KUSHALA X ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 240
 \ Total Slots: Ten
 / Elemental Strength: Ice, Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Load Up
 / Recoil Reduction +1 (Upgrade for +3 Gems)
 \ Daora Ward
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

If anything, get this for Daora Ward. With it, you'll have Resist Terrain
Damage [Hi] and an amazing recovery rate. Who couldn't use two skills for one?

 x------------------x
 | EMPRESS X ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 490
 \ Total Slots: Nine
 / Elemental Strength: None.
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Dragon
 / Skills:
 \ Fire Dragon Ward (Need Gunner Helm)
 / Wide Area +1 (Need +1 Gem)
 \ Health Recovery Items Improved
 / Item Usage Decline
 \
 / Armor Rating: Situational
 x================----------------x

Fire Dragon Ward gives Immunity to Theft, Fatigue, and Poison. Aside from it's
skill-set, the strong weakness to both fire and dragon leave much to be desired.

 x-----------------x
 | KAISER X ARMOR! |
 x=================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 500
 \ Total Slots: Nine
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon, Water
 / Skills:
 \ Fire Dragon Ward (Need Gunner Helm)
 / Reckless Abandon +2 (Upgrade for +1 Gems)
 \ Item Usage Decline
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x-----------------x
 | KAISER X ARMOR! |
 x=================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 250
 \ Total Slots: Nine
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon
 / Skills:
 \ Fire Dragon Ward
 / Reckless Abandon +2 (Upgrade for +1 Gems)
 \ Normal S Up (Need +7 Gems)
 / Speed Fire (Need +8 Gems)
 \ Item Usage Decline
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Maybe the better armor, who knows? This FAQ writer recommends you take a look
at this. Reckless Abandon +3 is merely a gem away, making Kaiser armor not only
unique, but rather grand. Who wouldn't want a set?

 x------------------x
 | UCAMULBAS ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 500
 \ Total Slots: Ten
 / Elemental Strength: Ice, Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Sharpness +1
 / ESP
 \ Quake Resistance
 / Demonic Protection
 \
 / Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x------------------x
 | UCAMULBAS ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster/Gunner
 / Total Defense: 250
 \ Total Slots: Ten
 / Elemental Strength: Water, Ice
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire
 / Skills:
 \ Load Up
 / Reloading +1
 \ Demonic Protection
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

One of the best armors with some of the best skills. Why don't we see more
people wearing this then? Because it looks uglier then Tigrex. It's quite
possibly, the most hideous thing to wear since Ebony armor in Elder Scrolls
III: Morrowind. Demonic Protection can be gemmed away. Plus, there are plenty
of slots open for experimentation.

 x--------------------x
 | GOLDEN MOON ARMOR! |
 x====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 480
 \ Total Slots: Eleven
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Reward Celebrity
 / Luck Boost
 \ Sharpness +1 (Need +8 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Situational
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x--------------------x
 | GOLDEN MOON ARMOR! |
 x====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 240
 \ Total Slots: Eleven
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: None
 / Skills:
 \ Reward Celebrity
 / Luck Boost
 \ Reloading +1 (Need +8 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Situational
 x================----------------x

This armor set is more for gathering materials in general then rarities. Reward
Celebrity and Luck Boost give extra drops rather then rare. This utility set is
mainly to sell what you get as rewards, build up some cash for those expensive
armors and weapons. If the requirements for Sharpness +1 and Reloading +1
weren't
so steep I'd reconsider the status of this armor.

 x--------------------------x
 | SILVER RATHALOS Z ARMOR! |
 x==========================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 490
 \ Total Slots: Ten
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Attack Up [Med] (Upgrade for +3 Gems)
 / ESP
 \ Defense -20 (Kill with +1 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Fair
 x================----------------x

Hunters who are in desperate need for ESP, without the eyesore of wearing
Ucamulbas. I'm a little ify on including it on the list in the first place. I
suppose it could still be used for Gemming. Especially if you plan on turtling
(more on that later.)

 x------------------x
 | FATALIS Z ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 515
 \ Total Slots: Ten
 / Elemental Strength: Thunder, Water, Ice
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon
 / Skills:
 \ Sharpness +1 (Need +1 Gems)
 / Evade +1 (Need +1 Gems)
 \ Rampage
 / Damage Recovery Speed Weaker
 \
 / Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x------------------x
 | FATALIS Z ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 265
 \ Total Slots: Ten
 / Elemental Strength: Thunder, Water, Ice
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon
 / Skills:
 \ Reloading +1 (Need +1 Gems)
 / Evade +1 (Need +1 Gems)
 \ Rampage
 / Damage Recovery Speed Weaker
 \
 / Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Fatalis is end-game armor 101. Rampage is a mix of Survival plus Adrenaline +2.
If that doesn't sell you, then take into fact that you only need a few Gems to
make this set battle ready. Forging the armor is a task suited for the best.

 x------------------------x
 | WHITE FATALIS Z ARMOR! |
 x========================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 520
 \ Total Slots: Eleven
 / Elemental Strength: Thunder, Water, Ice
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon
 / Skills:
 \ Defensive Maneuvers +1 (Upgrade for +1 Gems)
 / True Strike
 \ Damage Recovery Speed +1 (Need +8 Gems)
 / Bad Luck (Kill with +5 Gems)
 \
 / Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x------------------------x
 | WHITE FATALIS Z ARMOR! |
 x========================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 270
 \ Total Slots: Twelve
 / Elemental Strength: Thunder, Water, Ice
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Dragon
 / Skills:
 \ Defensive Maneuvers +1 (Upgrade for +1 Gems)
 / Marksman
 \ Damage Recovery Speed +1 (Need +8 Gems)
 / Bad Luck (Kill with +5 Gems)
 \
 / Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

True Strike comes with Sharpness +1 and Attack Up [Large] which is enough
reason to forge this set. Despite Bad Luck, White Fatty armor is well worth
getting.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [4.5.1] G Rank Armor --- |---
                    ---|       ~~~ Summary ~~~        |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

I couldn't possibly have anything more to tell you about G Rank Armors. So
let's review, pro-tip style!

Pro-tip:

-- Be sure to build up a good collection of Gems. Artisan, Expert, Potential
are all useful in the long run. Also find the time to make some Protection
Gems, you'd be surprised how many armors contain Demonic Protection.

-- Money's always a big problem, but skills like Reward Celebrity or Carving
Celebrity make gathering Z less of a task.

-- Rubies, Divine Plates, and Ores oh my! Sometimes the best method of keeping
yourself organized is to make a list of armor pieces you have, plus the
materials you need to make it.

Ex:
Armor Piece
-- Material
-- Material

And so on.

-- Elemental Weaknesses on an armor should never turn you away. Instead
capitalize on avoiding being hit by the enemies elemental attack.

-- Surf the Minegarde forums for tried and true armor combos. You won't
regret it!

 /\  /\        |_|
/  \/  \onster | |unter===================================================--x
-----------x----------|                    [5] Materials                     \
                      x===================================================----x

           "Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?"
                                 ~Edgar Bergen

In the wide, wide world of Monster Hunter. The one with the most items is king.
Not really. Pretty much all you're doing in the game is gathering items. Would
have done wonders to put a story quest here and there...*sigh*

Where was I? Gathering. Aside from the various materials you'll find from
Wyvern/Monster corpses there are significant spots you need to know about.
You'll discover there are many ways to get stuff.

                          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                       ---| --- [5.1] Materials --- |---
                       ---|    ~~~ Gathering ~~~    |---
                          v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

This section covers the methods of gathering items. While out there in the
world of Monster Hunter, you'll come across three resources that require
certain items. These are included as Mining Spots, Bug Spots, and Fishing
Spots.

Before you do ANY mining. You need to know that when the game begins you're
limited to Old and Iron Pickaxes. While they'll do you good, you eventually
want to unlock Mega Pickaxes. The "Mega" items come with gaining ranks, and are
more durable then their lesser counterparts. Mining Spots appear as natural
fissures on walls of rock. Sometimes an obvious cross (X marks the spot! ^_^)
or as pieces of rock that stand out (like rock protruding from a wall.) You'll
know it's a Mining Spot because the crossed out Pickax icon will disappear. So
long as you HAVE a Pickax.

As you mine, you'll notice that many will break. When that happens the game
automatically switches to the next Pickax in your inventory. You DID bring more
then one...right?

Bug Spots are fairly straightforward. They consist of a semi-visible fireflies
and all you must do is use the Bugnet. Fishing is a tricker, as those areas
will consist of lake areas, and even ponds. You don't know where exactly, but
you should try to find some fish and get in front of them. Fishing consists of
throwing bait (no Fishing Rods in this game) and waiting for a fish to pull.
Depending on your bait, you can attract several fish. If you're lucky, you can
even snag a Goldenfish which is worth it's weight in Pokke Points!

For locations, check out the "Maps and Charts" section of GameFAQs!

                          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                       ---| --- [5.2] Materials --- |---
                       ---|   ~~~ Pokke Farm ~~~    |---
                          v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Boldrin has this covered.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/934395/50112

There are a few things I like to cover before we move on. Pokke Farm will be a
major contributor when collecting materials. Also, his guide doesn't cover the
additions made in this game where you acquire Mining Point 4+ and Insect
Thicket 4+.

Fun story, it takes Pokke Points to get all those areas on Pokke Farm. At first
it seems overwhelming, but let me give you a Pro-tip.

                          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                       ---| --- [5.3] Materials --- |---
                       ---|      ~~~ Zenny ~~~      |---
                          v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

You're already aware of the Questing Method stated in "[4.3.1]" however there
are
key non-violent methods that can net beginners cash. Not all will be available
at
first, but many are.

                      x---------x
                      | METHOD! |
                      x=========x------------------x
                      | Quest Type: Slaying Quest  /
                      | Map: Snowy Mountains       \
                      | Level: Beginner Training   /
                      | Item: Carnivore Egg (700z) x----------x
                      | Mission: Weapon Training Hunting Horn |
                      x==============-------------------------x

Begin at Camp, kill the two Giaprey in Area 1 and head to Area 3. Kill the other
two Giaprey then collect the egg. BEFORE you take the egg take two Rations and
play the Notes White --> Blue to give yourself infinite Stamina. You can run
(hold
R Trigger) all the way back to camp like this.

Your obstacles include the two Giaprey atop Area 5. You should be able to edge
past them. Why not kill them like we did the four Giaprey? Because then we would
complete the quest. No, we want to milk this.

In Area 4, we come across what appears to be a large cliff. DO NOT JUMP OFF!
Instead, hug the wall adjacent from you entered. Then walk off the cliff. You
should fall onto a small cliff. Keep hugging the wall and fall onto the next
one.
Keep doing this until your on the ground. Make your way back to Area 1. From
there
take small drops until you're on the ground. Run to camp and deposit the
Carnivore
Egg.

You can repeat this infinitely, or until you run out of quest time. Just follow
the same steps. Don't worry, the Giaprey you killed do not respawn. When you're
running out of time or you think you have enough, simply kill one last Giaprey.

Section Credits:
3plepounder (for method)

                       x---------x
                       | METHOD! |
                       x=========x-----------------------x
                       | Quest Type: Pokke Farm          \
                       | Map: Poke Farm                  /
                       | Level: Elder *                  \
                       | Item: Power Seed                /
                       | Requirements: Power Seed & Dung \
                       x==============-------------------x

Note: You need to unlock this via Field +1 (1000 Pokke Points.)

An "over-time" investment. Even busy Hunters have the time to make a little
Zenny
on the side by planting and selling Power Seeds. All you need is a little Dung
(or
Worms if you can't locate) and a few Power Seeds. While it doesn't account for a
whole lot, over time you'll see your fortune amass. This can be performed in
tandem with the Method above.

                         x---------x
                         | METHOD! |
                         x=========x----------------x
                         | Quest Type: Farming      \
                         | Map: Snowy Mountains     /
                         | Level: Elder *           \
                         | Item: Tigrex Skull Shell /
                         | Requirements: Mad Skills \
                         x==============------------x

In Area 8 (not sure) of the Snowy Mountains there is a Tigrex. Normally, you're
supposed to run away from him but those with skills can fight him. If you're
able
to at least smash the skull then you can continue and complete the quest. You
may
be able to acquire Tigrex parts including the Tigrex Skull Shell.

Section Credits:
Icowa

                          x---------x
                          | METHOD! |
                          x=========x---------------x
                          | Quest Type: Farming     \
                          | Map: Jungle             /
                          | Level: Elder **         \
                          | Item: Med Monster Bone  /
                          | Requirements: None      \
                          x==============-----------x

In Area 8 of the Jungle you can find Suiko Jewels that can be traded to the
Elder
at Camp. You're limited to how much the Elder will want to trade you however
it's
the only known way to get this item without having to fight. Even faster with
Gathering +2!

Section Credits:
HoMeLeSsBoB

                          x---------x
                          | METHOD! |
                          x=========x--------------x
                          | Quest Type: Farming    \
                          | Map: Forest & Hills    /
                          | Level: Guild **        \
                          | Item: Monster Bone +   /
                          | Requirements: None     \
                          x==============----------x

In "Slay the Great Kut-Ku!" quest, you can slay Kut-Ku for Monster Bone +! With
it, you can forge stronger weapons earlier in the game. Word of warning, don't
find yourself in the mind-set that stronger weapons equals better skills.

Section Credits:
NodalW

                       x---------x
                       | METHOD! |
                       x=========x-------------------x
                       | Quest Type: Gathering Quest \
                       | Map: Volcano                /
                       | Level: Elder ****           \
                       | Item: Sootstone             /
                       | Misc: Coal                  \
                       x==============---------------x

I did well just farming Coal and bringing back Sootstones. Scattered in mining
spots through 4, 5, and 6. Bringing Gathering +2 and Backpacking Expert skills
with me, I'm able to fill up on Coal and retrieve the Sootstone. It's tough
getting the Sootstone, especially if you have Velociprey on your tail.
Nonetheless, it's rewarding to see those points stack. With this in mind,
you'll be able to maximize Pokke Farm usage.

 /\  /\        |_|
/  \/  \onster | |unter===================================================--x
-----------x----------|              [6] End-game Weapons                    \
                      x===================================================----x

On the long road of life, you will encounter monsters, hunt them, and acquire
their materials. These materials are forged with Felyne pride and the result
is nothing short but awesome. I speak of end-game weapons.

The cream of the crop; the best weapons in the game. Provided by Minegarde
mostly, Kayin9988, Severine, KidImposter, HotGamerMum. I borrowed a lot from
their lists...

http://forums.minegarde.com/index.php?showtopic=47

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [6.1] End-Game Weapons --- |---
                    ---|    ~~~ Sword and Shield ~~~    |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

The name of the game is Element. The main elements, the ones that most
monsters are weak against, are the most important. Ergo, they will listed
first. Ice, Fire, Thunder, and Dragon are these. If you read the previous
section then you'll know that the most useful elemental weapons come from Sword
and Shield.

                 x--------------------x     o--------------o
                 | DAORA'S MAELSTROM! |     | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x----------------x---x     o==============o-----o
                 | Attack: 378       \     /  Rusted Sword       |
                 | Element: 350 Ice  /     \       -->           |
                 | Sharpness: White  \     /  Tarnished Sword    |
                 | Affinity: N/A     /     \       -->           |
                 | Slots: One        \     /  Steel Ice Dagger   |
                 x-------------------x     \       -->           |
                 o-------------------------o  Steel Ice Dagger + |
                / Daora's Razor  --> Mistral Daora               |
               o===============o----------o----------------------o


                 x-----------------x       o--------------o
                 | GOLDEN ECLIPSE! |       | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x-----------------x-x     o==============o-----o
                 | Attack: 336       \     /  Bone Kris         |
                 | Element: 520 Fire /     \       -->          |
                 | Sharpness: White  \     /  Bone Kris +       |
                 | Affinity: N/A     /     \       -->          |
                 | Slots: Two        \     /  Chief Kris        |
                 x-------------------x     \       -->          |
                 o-------------------------o                    |
                /  Red Saber --> Corona --> Golden Falchion     |
               /    Golden Falchion + --> Golden Eclipse        |
              o===============o----------o----------------------o


                 x-----------------------x   o--------------o
                 | THUNDERBLADE VAJRA +! |   | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x---------------------x-x   o==============o-----o
                 | Attack: 350          \   /  Hunter Dagger     |
                 | Element: 380 Thunder /   \       -->          |
                 | Sharpness: White     \   /  Hunter Dagger +   |
                 | Affinity: N/A        /   \       -->          |
                 | Slots: Two           \   /  Assassin's Dagger |
                 x----------------------x   \       -->          |
                 o--------------------------o                    |
                /    Velocidrome Bite --> Velocidrome Bite +     |
               /             Odyssey --> Odyssey +               |
              /      Thunderblade Vajra --> Thunderblade Vajra + |
             o===============o----------o------------------------o


                 x-----------------------x
                 | HIGH SANDMAN SPIKE G! |
                 x-----------------------x
                 | Attack: 280          \
                 | Element: 320 Sleep   /
                 | Sharpness: White     \
                 | Affinity: N/A        /
                 | Slots: Two           \
                 x----------------------x

Note: Forged through Commendation S which is obtained at G Rank ***.

                 x--------------------------x    o--------------o
                 | TRUE BLACK RUINER SWORD! |    | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x---------------------x----x    o==============o-----o
                 | Attack: 252          \       /  Black Sword        |
                 | Element: 320 Dragon  /       \       -->           |
                 | Sharpness: White     \       /  Black Ruiner Sword |
                 | Affinity: -20        /       \       -->           |
                 | Slots: N/A           \       /   True Black        |
                 x----------------------x       \  Ruiner Sword       |
                                                o===============o-----o

Note: Terrible Affinity. Awful. However this was the compromise between
terrible Raw damage (Indigo Ogre Sword) or bad sharpness and the least amount
of Dragon Element (Black Dragon Sword.) It's a toss up.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [6.2] End-Game Weapons --- |---
                    ---|      ~~~ Dual Swords ~~~       |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Same reason you get Dual Swords is the same reason you get a Sword and Shield.
The difference here is that Dual Swords have more potential for overall
damage. Though the elemental damage is dulled down.

There are two main Dual Swords you need to aim for. Ultimus Apocalypse, and
Fire and Ice. So what's the problem? They're really hard to get. You might
want to collect a few others if you're focused on building a Dual Sword
arsenal for any situation.

                 x---------------------x    o--------------o
                 | ULTIMUS APOCALYPSE! |    | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x-----------x---------x    o==============o----o
                 | Attack: 336          \  / Black Twin Daggers |
                 | Element: 300 Drg/Thn /  \       -->          |
                 | Sharpness: White     \  / Ultimus Celestials |
                 | Affinity: N/A        /  \       -->          |
                 | Slots: N/A           \  / Ultimus Apocalypse |
                 x----------------------x  o===============o----o

                 x---------------x         o--------------o
                 | FIRE AND ICE! |         | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x---------------x------x  o==============o-----o
                 | Attack: 350           \ /  Rusted Sword      |
                 | Element: 450 Ice/Fire / \       -->          |
                 | Sharpness: White      \ /  Tarnished Sword   |
                 | Affinity: N/A         / \       -->          |
                 | Slots: N/A            \ /  Steel Ice Dagger  |
                 x-----------------------x \       -->          |
                 o-------------------------o                    |
                / Twin Nails  --> Twin Nails + --> Fire and Ice |
               o===============o----------o---------------------o


                 x----------------------x   o--------------o
                 | SILHOUETTE SABERS G! |   | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x----------------------x   o==============o--o
                 | Attack: 364       \     /      NONE        |
                 | Element: 400 Ice  /    o================o--o
                 | Sharpness: White  \
                 | Affinity: N/A     /
                 | Slots: Three      \
                 x-------------------x

Note: This item is unlocked via Commendation S.

                 x--------------------x     o--------------o
                 | PUNISHMENT BLADES! |     | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x--------------------x     o==============o-----o
                 | Attack: 350       \     /    Bone Kris        |
                 | Element: 400 Fire /     \       -->           |
                 | Sharpness: White  \     /    Bone Kris +      |
                 | Affinity: N/A     /     \       -->           |
                 | Slots: One        \     /    Chief Kris       |
                 x-------------------x     \       -->           |
                 o-------------------------o                     |
                / Red Saber  -->  Twin Flames --> Hi Twin Flames |
               /  Gradios Ultimus --> Corpse Blades -->          |
              /                 Punishment Blades                |
             o===============o----------o------------------------o

                 x------------------------x    o--------------o
                 | FESTIVE RUSTLING RAIN! |    | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x------------------------x-x  o==============o---o
                 | Attack: 350              \  /    Bone Kris     |
                 | Element: 200 Thn/120 Par /  \       -->        |
                 | Sharpness: White         \  /    Bone Kris +   |
                 | Affinity: N/A            /  \       -->        |
                 | Slots: One               \  /    Chief Kris    |
                 x--------------------------x  \       -->        |
                 o-----------------------------o                  |
                / Crimson Club  -->  Monoblos Club --> Kirin Bolt |
               /          Kirin Bolt + --> Kirin Bolts -->        |
              /    Festive Fall Typhoon --> FestiveRustlingRain   |
             o===============o----------o-------------------------o

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [6.3] End-Game Weapons --- |---
                    ---|       ~~~ Greatswords ~~~      |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Note: There are two schools of thought surrounding Greatswords. Those that do
better when charged, and those that do better when they're used in the
Greatsword combo. The Greatsword combo consists of spamming Triangle then
Triangle, X over and over again.

I will only be covering a select few Greatswords. Why? Element isn't as
important as it is on other weapons. Trust me, gathering the materials and
learning to use this weapon is a challenge in itself.

                 x----------------------x  o--------------o
                 | KING ATILLART SWORD! |  | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x----------------------x  o==============o------o
                 | Attack: 1488         \  /  Bone Blade         |
                 | Element: Raw         /  \       -->           |
                 | Sharpness: White     \  /  Bone Blade +       |
                 | Affinity: -15%       /  \       -->           |
                 | Slots: N/A           \  /  Bone Slasher       |
                 x----------------------x  \       -->           |
                 o-------------------------o                     |
                / Golem Blade  --> Golem Blade + --> Executioner |
               /    Sword of the Diablos --> Diablos Destroyer   |
              /                 King Atillart Sword              |
             o===============o----------o------------------------o

Note: King Atillart Sword is incredible. However, like all good weapons, this
ones needs priming. Good skills like Concentrate, Sharpness, and Unsheathe
Critical are a requirement for any GS. The DKB is no exception.

                 x-----------------x        o--------------o
                 | GAOREN CLEAVER! |        | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x-----------------x-----x  o==============o--o
                 | Attack: 1440          \ /  Buster Sword   |
                 | Element: Raw          / \       -->       |
                 | Sharpness: White      \ /  Buster Sword + |
                 | Affinity: N/A         / \       -->       |
                 | Slots: N/A            \ /  Buster Blade   |
                 | Added Effect: 30+ Def / \       -->       |
                 x-----------------------x /  Ravager Blade  |
                 o-------------------------o                 |
                /    Ravager Blade +  --> Chrome Razor -->   |
               /       Carbalite Sword --> Bronze Coin -->   |
              /          Gaoren Coin --> Gaoren Cleaver      |
             o===============o----------o--------------------o

Note: Why two Raws? Well each work in different ways. Because of the bad
Affinity on King Atillart Sword the reluctant switch to Gaoren Cleaver. Since
Gaoren Cleaver has neutral affinity, it's easier, if not practical, to spam the
Greatsword Combo (Trangle, X.) So why not take advantage of that?

                 x----------------x       o--------------o
                 | IGNEOUS SWORD! |       | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x----------------x----x  o==============o---o
                 | Attack: 1344        \  /  Buster Sword    |
                 | Element: 220 Fire   /  \       -->        |
                 | Sharpness: White    \  /  Buster Sword +  |
                 | Affinity: 20%       /  \       -->        |
                 | Slots: One          \  /  Buster Blade    |
                 x---------------------x  \       -->        |
                 o------------------------o                  |
                /     Ravager Blade --> Ravager Blade + -->  |
               /        Chrome Razor --> Carbalite Sword --> |
              /            Decider --> Igneous Blade -->     |
             /                    Igneous Sword              |
            o===============o-----------o--------------------o

Note: With it's amazing Affinity, the Lava Splitter has the potential to
become stronger then Gaoren Token. That is if the monster your fighting is
weak against Fire. Still, not a bad Greatsword to have handy.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [6.4] End-Game Weapons ---   |---
                    ---|        ~~~ Longswords ~~~        |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

I've told you all once, I'll tell you again. I hate Longswords. Doesn't mean I'm
against YOU using them. They are the faster, more mobile equivalent of a
Greatsword.

                 x-----------------------x  o--------------o
                 | C. BLANGO DESTRUCTOR! |  | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x--------------------x--x  o==============o-----o
                 | Attack: 1536        \   /  Buster Sword       |
                 | Element: Raw        /   \       -->           |
                 | Sharpness: White    \   /  Blango Destroyer   |
                 | Affinity: -20%      /   \       -->           |
                 | Slots: One          \   /  Blango Destroyer + |
                 x---------------------x   \       -->           |
                 o-------------------------o                     |
                / Blango Decimator  -->  Blango Destructor -->   |
               /   C.Blango Decimator --> C.Blango Destructor    |
              o===============o----------o-----------------------o

Note: Terrible Affinity, but with a Raw power unlike any other weapon.
Reckless Abandon is a must for this set.

                 x------------------------x   o--------------o
                 | EDELWEISS ICE BLADE +! |   | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x---------x--------------x   o==============o------o
                 | Attack: 1344        \     /  Buster Sword        |
                 | Element: 200 Ice    /     \       -->            |
                 | Sharpness: White    \     /  Buster Sword +      |
                 | Affinity: 0%        /     \       -->            |
                 | Slots: Two          \     /  Buster Blade        |
                 x---------------------x     \       -->            |
                 o---------------------------o                      |
                /     Ravager Blade  -->  Ravager Blade + -->       |
               /       Chrome Razor --> Carbalite Sword -->         |
              / Guardian Sword --> Imperial Sword --> Aqua Guardian |
             /      Edelweiss Ice Blade --> Edelweiss Ice Blade +   |
            o===============o----------o----------------------------o

Note: Best Ice weapon of it's type.

               x---------------------------x    o--------------o
               | LEGENDARY FATALIS SCYTHE! |    | WEAPON PATH! |
               x-----------x---------x-----x    o==============o
               | Attack: 1248        \          / Black Scythe  \
               | Element: 300 Drg    /          \       -->      \
               | Sharpness: White    \          / Fatalis Sickle  \
               | Affinity: N/A       /          \       -->        o---o
               | Slots: N/A          \          / LgndaryFatalisSickle |
               x---------------------x          o===============o------o

Note: Best Dragon weapon of it's type. After Sharpness +1 is applied it has the
longest Purple Sharpness in the game.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [6.5] End-Game Weapons --- |---
                    ---|        ~~~ Hammers ~~~         |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

I love Hammers. I'm a Megaman X fan, I used to love holding the Square button
waiting for his X Cannon to charge ^_^. It's kinda like this. Except you hold
R to charge and you do it in front of your foe.

Depending on what your using, you may be inclined towards Elemental/Status
Hammers. Go for it. Just know SnS and Dual Swords are my preferred weapons
when it comes to those things.

                 x----------------x         o--------------o
                 | CHAOTIC ORDER! |         | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x----------------x------x  o==============o
                 | Attack: 1508          \ /   Bone Club   |
                 | Element: Raw          / \       -->     |
                 | Sharpness: White      \ /  Cyclo Hammer |
                 | Affinity: N/A         / \       -->     |
                 | Slots: N/A            \ /  Atlas Hammer |
                 | Added Effect: 20+ Def / \       -->     |
                 x-----------------------x /  Kut-Ku Jaw   |
                                           \       -->     |
                                           /  Kut-Ku Pick  |
                o-------------------------o                |
               /  Hard Bone Hammer --> Hard Bone Hammer +  |
              /   Diablos Hammer --> Diablos Chaos Broker  |
             /                Chaotic Order                |
            o===============o----------o-------------------o

Note: Awesome. Chaotic Order is a friend to all Hunter's. Clean
Affinity, White Sharpness, and amazing Raw attack power. It's sharpness, is a
little more then that of a Magnitude. Magnitude in general is stronger,
however if you want a weapon that will last a little bit longer in battle
before having to sharpen it, Chaotic Order is your guy!

                 x------------x             o--------------o
                 | MAGNITUDE! |             | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x------------x--------x    o==============o----o
                 | Attack: 1612        \   /  Cyclo Hammer      |
                 | Element: Raw        /   \       -->          |
                 | Sharpness: White    \   /  Conehead Hammer   |
                 | Affinity: -15%      /   \       -->          |
                 | Slots: One          \   /  Conehead Hammer + |
                 x---------------------x   \       -->          |
                 o-------------------------o                    |
                / Great Cone  -->  Desert Cone --> Magnitude    |
               o===============o----------o---------------------o

Note: Overall, Magnitude is stronger then Chaotic Order. It's negative
Affinity can covered up by Reckless Abandon. Like I said though, Magnitude has
less sharpness then CO. Also, and this is my opinion, CO looks A LOT
better then Magnitude!

So how do you decide which one to use? If you plan to charge, go with a
Magnitude as it consumes less sharpness. If you plan on using the Triangle,
Triangle, Triangle, combo for some or most parts of the battle, you want to
stick with CO. That can be your rule of thumb.

                 x-------------x            o--------------o
                 | JUGGERNAUT! |            | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x-------------x---------x  o==============o
                 | Attack: 1404          \ /   War Hammer  |
                 | Element: Raw          / \       -->     |
                 | Sharpness: White      \ /  War Hammer + |
                 | Affinity: N/A         / \       -->     |
                 | Slots: Two            \ /   War Mace    |
                 | Added Effect: 10+ Def / \       -->     |
                 x-----------------------x /  Iron Striker |
                 o-------------------------o               |
                /    Iron Striker + --> Anvil Hammer       |
               /     Onslaught Hammer --> Blacksmith       |
              /                 Juggernaut                 |
             o===============o----------o------------------o

Note: Not the greatest weapon of all time, but a close second. So why get it?
The materials that forge it are insanely easy to acquire.

                 x----------------x        o--------------o
                 | KHEZU THUNDER! |        | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x----------------x---x    o==============o-o
                 | Attack: 1456        \   /   Bone Club    |
                 | Element: 250 Thn    /   \       -->      |
                 | Sharpness: White    \   /  Cyclo Hammer  |
                 | Affinity: N/A       /   \       -->      |
                 | Slots: One          \   /  Atlas Hammer  |
                 x---------------------x   \       -->      |
                 o-------------------------o                |
                /     Khezu Horn  --> Khezu Horn + -->      |
               /  Purse Bop  Purse Bop + --> Khezu Thunder  |
              o===============o----------o------------------o

Note: One of those 'stronger-then-raw-especially-when-you're-facing-target-
weak-against-thunder' weapons. That is if you take into calculation Reckless
Abandon.

                 x-------------------x   o--------------o
                 | DRAGON BREAKER G! |   | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x-------------------x   o==============o--o
                 | Attack: 1300      \  /      NONE        |
                 | Element: 330 Drg  / o================o--o
                 | Sharpness: White  \
                 | Affinity: N/A     /
                 | Slots: N/A        \
                 x-------------------x

Note: This item is unlocked through Condemnation S.

                      ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                   ---| --- [6.6] End-Game Weapons --- |---
                   ---|      ~~~ Hunting Horn ~~~      |---
                      v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Hunting Horns have a complex nature to them. At times, they are an asset and a
credit to your Party. If you're not in a party then they're still useful.
Hunting Horns have the ability to knock out any wyvern/monster/ect simply by
abusing the Triangle button. Not only that, but Hunting Horns provide various
buffs that make us feel like Red Mages from Final Fantasy XI. Powerful, yet
still able to buff the party.

I'll be listing the potential songs (another thing you can thank DS31x for.)
I've ranked them by usefulness. You shouldn't depend on a piece of paper
during battle though. Have these songs memorized.

                 x---------------x         o--------------o
                 | GAOREN ZHONG! |         | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x---------------x------x  o==============-o
                 | Attack: 1560          \ /   War Hammer  |
                 | Element: Raw          / \       -->     |
                 | Sharpness: White      \ /   War Mace    |
                 | Affinity: N/A         / \       -->     |
                 | Slots: One            \ /  Iron Striker |
                 | Added Effect: 36+ Def / \       -->     |
                 | Notes: P;B;Y          \ /  Anvil Hammer |
                 x-----------------------x \       -->     |
                 o-------------------------o   Bronze Bell |
                /       Gaoren Bell --> Gaoren Zhong       |
               o===============o----------o----------------o

Possible Combination's:
(Wind Pressure [Perfect]) Blue --> Blue --> Yellow --> Purple (3 min)
(Infinite Stamina [Large]) Purple --> Blue --> Blue (3 min)
(Water Defense Up [Small]) Yellow --> Blue --> Purple (1 min)
(Thunder Def Up [Large]) Yellow --> Yellow --> Blue (1 min)
(Dragon Def Up [Large]) Purple --> Yellow --> Yellow (1 min)

Note: This Horn for power. Dragonwood for Notes.

       x---------------------------------x             o--------------o
       | DIVINE ANCIENT DRAGONWOOD FLUTE |             | WEAPON PATH! |
       x---------------x-----------------x   o---------o==============o
       | Attack: 1092          \            /    Dragonwood Horn      |
       | Element: 260 Para     /            \            -->          |
       | Sharpness: White      \            /  Spirit Dragonwood Horn |
       | Affinity: N/A         /            \            -->          |
       | Slots: Two            \            /    AncientDrgwdFlute    |
       | Notes: P;B;R          /            \            -->          |
       x-----------------------x            /   DivineAncDrgwdFlute   |
                                            o===============o---------o

Possible Combination's:
(Attack Power Up [Large]) Purple --> Red --> Red (2 min)
(Health +50) Red --> Blue --> Red --> Purple (3 min)
(Wind Pressure [Small]) Blue --> Blue --> Red (3 min)
(Infinite Stamina [Large]) Purple --> Blue --> Blue (3 min)

Note: Attack Power Up, Health +50, Infinite Stamina, sir...you are a god!
This, along with the Paralyzing factor and you got THE perfect Hunting Horn.

               x----------------x            o--------------o
               | TIGREX HORN +! |            | WEAPON PATH! |
               x----------------x-----x      o==============o---o
               | Attack: 1508          \    /  Striped Dragonga |
               | Element: Raw          /    \         -->       |
               | Sharpness: Purple     \    /   Tigrex Horn     |
               | Affinity: -30%        /    \         -->       |
               | Slots: N/A            \    /   Tigrex Horn +   |
               | Notes: P;Lb;R         /    o===============o---o
               x-----------------------x

Possible Combination's:
(Attack Power Up [Large]) Purple --> Red --> Red (2 min)
(Defense Up Large) Red --> Light Blue --> Light Blue --> Purple (2 min)
(Health +30) Red --> Red --> Light Blue
(Earplugs) Light Blue --> Light Blue --> Red

Note: A little Reckless Abandon and it's pretty decent. For both attacking and
support. Remember, Flute Expert can make these buffs last longer.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [6.7] End-Game Weapons --- |---
                    ---|         ~~~ Lance ~~~          |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

There's a lot of discrimination when it comes to Lances. Most tend to side
with Gunlances simply because they're easier to handle and whatnot. Lances
have more attack power, keep most of their sharpness. Gunlances lose sharpness
as the battle goes on, mainly because of their Wyvern's Fire and shots.
Gunlances are also better at chaining combos. In the end, it depends on the
user's taste.

Let's not forget to mention Lances and Gunlances are amazing status inducers
and elemental attackers. They're pretty much compatible with a lot of
Blademaster Skills. So I'll list a few Lances to shoot for.

                 x-----------------x       o--------------o
                 | RISING TEMPEST! |       | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x-----------------x-x     o==============o
                 | Attack: 736       \     /   Longhorn   |
                 | Element: Raw      /     \       -->    |
                 | Sharpness: White  \     /   Longhorn + |
                 | Affinity: -20%    /     \       -->    |
                 | Slots: One        \     /   Long Tusk  |
                 x-------------------x     \       -->    |
                 o-------------------------o              |
                /     Crimson Lance --> Diablo Horn -->   |
               /     Diablo Spear --> Black Tempest -->   |
              /                Rising Tempest             |
             o===============o----------o-----------------o

Note: Amazing Raw, needs Reckless Abandon though.

          x-------------------------------x   o--------------o
          | DRAGON RIDER SPEAR "GEIBOLG"! |   | WEAPON PATH! |
          x-----------------------x-------x   o==============o-o
          | Attack: 690           \           /  Iron Lance    |
          | Element: Raw          /           \       -->      |
          | Sharpness: White      \           /  Iron Lance +  |
          | Affinity: N/A         /           \       -->      |
          | Slots: N/A            \           /  Paladin Lance |
          | Added Effect: +12 Def /           \       -->      |
          x-----------------------x           /     Rampart    |
                 o----------------------------o                |
                /     Growling Wyvern --> Knight Lance -->     |
               /  Grayburg Javelin --> Dragon Rider Spear -->  |
              /             DrgnRdr Spr "Geibolg"              |
             o===============o----------o----------------------o

Note: Alternative Raw Spear in case your armor doesn't have room for Reckless
Abandon.

                 x--------------------x    o--------------o
                 | DEMONLANCE RAJANG! |    | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x--------------------x    o==============o
                 | Attack: 621       \     /   Longhorn    |
                 | Element: 230 Thn  /     \       -->     |
                 | Sharpness: White  \     /  Long Horn +  |
                 | Affinity: +30%    /     \       -->     |
                 | Slots: N/A        \     /  Long Tusk    |
                 x-------------------x     \       -->     |
                 o-------------------------o               |
                /      Barbaroi Tusk -->  Ogre Tusk -->    |
               /    Hard Bone Lance Hard Bone Lance + -->  |
              /      Demon Lance --> Great Demon Lance --> |
             /                Demonlance Rajang            |
            o===============o----------o-------------------o

Note: Amazing Affinity, decent, if not amazing Raw attack power. How could
anyone hate a Lance as good as this?

                 x-----------------------x   o--------------o
                 | DRAGON SEALER "NULL"! |   | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x-------------------x---x   o==============o-----o
                 | Attack: 575       \      /   Vermillion Rim    |
                 | Element: 340 Drg  /      \       -->           |
                 | Sharpness: White  \      /    Dragonic Rim     |
                 | Affinity: +25%    /      \       -->           |
                 | Slots: N/A        \      / Sealed Dragonlance  |
                 x-------------------x      \       -->           |
                 o--------------------------o                     |
                / DragonSealer "Virtue"  -->  DragonSealer "Null" |
               o===============o----------o-----------------------o

Note: Like the above, amazing against those weak against Dragon. Long live the
Lance!

                 x-----------x             o--------------o
                 | DARKNESS! |             | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x-----------x-------x     o==============o
                 | Attack: 506       \     /  Longhorn    |
                 | Element: 250 Stun /     \     -->      |
                 | Sharpness: Purple \     /  Longhorn +  |
                 | Affinity: N/A     /     \     -->      |
                 | Slots: Two        \     /  Dark Lance  |
                 x-------------------x     \     -->      |
                 o-------------------------o              |
                /    Dark Spear  -->  Dark --> Darkness   |
               o===============o----------o---------------o

Note: Perfect Stun weapon. No extra sharpness needed.

                    ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                 ---| --- [6.8] End-Game Weapons --- |---
                 ---|        ~~~ Gunlance ~~~        |---
                    v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

The strange marriage of Gun and Lance, just as Gun was to Blade in a game long
past. ^_- *Wink*

                 x--------------------x    o--------------o
                 | BLACK GORE BUSTER! |    | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x--------------------x-x  o==============o--o
                 | Attack: 690           \ / Iron Gunlance   |
                 | Element: Raw          / \       -->       |
                 | Sharpness: White      \ / Iron Gunlance + |
                 | Affinity: N/A         / \       -->       |
                 | Slots: N/A            \ / Steel Gunlance  |
                 | Added Effect: 10+ Def / \       -->       |
                 | Shell: Long Lv.4      \ / White Gunlance  |
                 x-----------------------x \       -->       |
                 o-------------------------o                 |
                /  Black Gunlance --> Black Gore Cannon -->  |
               /              Black Gore Buster              |
              o===============o----------o-------------------o

Note: Better for combos.

                 x---------------------x     o--------------o
                 | DESERT SLINGSHOTER! |     | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x---------------------x-x   o==============o-------o
                 | Attack: 736           \   /    Bone Gunlance     |
                 | Element: Raw          /   \       -->            |
                 | Sharpness: White      \   / Great Bone Gunlance  |
                 | Affinity: -20%        /   \       -->            |
                 | Slots: N/A            \   / Wyvern Bone Gunlance |
                 | Shell: Normal Lv.4    /   \       -->            |
                 x-----------------------x   \    Hellsting         |
                 o---------------------------o                      |
                /  Hellsting + --> Hellstinger --> Hell Blizzard    |
               /       Desert Slingshot --> Desert Slingshoter      |
              o===============o----------o--------------------------o

Note: Better for shooting as Wyvern Fire and Shots are not effected by
Affinity.

                 x---------------------x    o--------------o
                 | LAVASIOTH GUNLANCE! |    | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x---------------------x-x  o==============o------o
                 | Attack: 644           \  /   Iron Gunlance     |
                 | Element: 240 Fire     /  \       -->           |
                 | Sharpness: White      \  /   Snow Gunlance     |
                 | Affinity: N/A         /  \       -->           |
                 | Slots: 2 Slots        \  / Snow Gunlance MK.II |
                 | Shell: Long Lv.4      /  \       -->           |
                 x-----------------------x  /   Marine Fisher     |
                 o--------------------------o                     |
                /          Deep Fisher --> Deep Ocean -->         |
               /      Sea King Gunlance --> Volcano Gunlance      |
              /                  Lavasioth Gunlance               |
             o===============o----------o-------------------------o

Note: Amazing Raw, okay fire, but the extra slots make it versatile for armor
sets. Or maybe you need to cancel same bad status.

                 x---------------------x       o--------------o
                 | HIGH VOLT GUNLANCE! |       | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x---------------------x       o==============-o
                 | Attack: 644         \      /   Longhorn     |
                 | Element: 260 Thn    /      \       -->      |
                 | Sharpness: White    \      /   Longhorn +   |
                 | Affinity: N/A       /      \       -->      |
                 | Slots: One          \      /   Long Tusk    |
                 | Shell: Long Lv.4    /      \       -->      |
                 x---------------------x      /  Barbaroi Tusk |
                  o---------------------------o                |
                 /     Ogre Tusk --> Hard Bone Lance -->       |
                /    Hard Bone Lance + --> Full Vultage -->    |
               /   Full Generator --> High Volt Gunlance       |
              o===============o----------o---------------------o

Note: Trade one slot for extra Thunder Element. Otherwise godly stuff.

                 x-------------------x    o--------------o
                 | DEMONIC BLIZZARD! |    | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x-------------------x    o==============o-------o
                 | Attack: 575        \   /    Bone Gunlance     |
                 | Element: 340 Ice   /   \       -->            |
                 | Sharpness: White   \   / Great Bone Gunlance  |
                 | Affinity: +25%     /   \       -->            |
                 | Slots: Two         \   / Wyvern Bone Gunlance |
                 | Shell: Spread Lv.4 /   \       -->            |
                 x--------------------x   /     Hellsting        |
                 o------------------------o                      |
                /          Hellsting + --> Hellstinger           |
               /             --> Demonic Blizzard                |
              o===============o----------o-----------------------o

Note: Trade attack for Affinity. Hell Blizzard is what you get.

                 x--------------x         o--------------o
                 | WORLD'S END! |         | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x--------------x-----x   o==============o-------o
                 | Attack: 575        \   /   Iron Gunlance      |
                 | Element: 370 Drg   /   \       -->            |
                 | Sharpness: White   \   /   Iron Gunlance +    |
                 | Affinity: N/A      /   \       -->            |
                 | Slots: Two         \   /   Steel Gunlance     |
                 | Shell: Long Lv.4   /   \       -->            |
                 x--------------------x   / Special Ops Gunlance |
                 o------------------------o       -->            |
                /     Imperial Gunlance --> Silver Rook -->      |
               /         Gun Chariot --> World's End             |
              o===============o----------o-----------------------o

Note: Dragon, Dragon, Dragon. Little less attack, little more element.

                    ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                 ---| --- [6.9] End-Game Weapons --- |---
                 ---|      ~~~ Light Bowgun ~~~      |---
                    v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

If you choose a Bowgun, you should know how the table works. First, Rapid Fire
is
a double-edged sword. It can actually LOWER your damage over time. As it
separates
your shells into percentages. Plus, you can't move while you're firing. Meaning
skills like Evade and Evade Inc. are must have skills.

Also, I'll be listing Reload and Recoil. Note though, that some of the
information will be incomplete. Yes, even I lack sources.

               x----------------------x   o-------o
               | MYTHICAL THREE-HORN! |   | AMMO! |
               x---------------x------x   o=======o------------o
               | Attack: 336           \  / Load Lv:  1  2  3  |
               | Rapid Fire: Crag Lv.1 /  \ Normal S: 9  9  12 |
               | Reload: Normal        \  / Pierce S: 4  4  4  |
               | Affinity: N/A         /  \ Pellet S: -  -  -  |
               | Slots: Two            \  / Crag S  : 1  -  -  |
               | Recoil: Moderate      /  \ Clust S : 2  2  2  |
               x-----------------------x  / Recov S : 3  3  -  |
                      o-------------------o                    |
                      / Poison S: 3  1  -   Para S  : 3  1  -  |
                      \ Sleep S : 3  1  -   Flame S : 4  -  -  |
                      / Water S : 4  -  -   Thnd S  : 4  -  -  |
                      \ Freeze S: 4  -  -   Drgn S  : -  -  -  |
                      / Tranq S : 2  -  -   Paint S : 2  -  -  |
                      \ Demon S : 1  -  -   Armor S : 1  -  -  |
                      o===============o------------------------o

Note: As you can see, Clust is awesome when fighting against G Rank Crimson
Fatalis. Heck, any armored Wyvern, this Bowgun is made for Clusts.

               x-------------x             o-------o
               | PROSPERITY! |             | AMMO! |
               x-------------x----------x  o=======o-----------o
               | Attack: 336            \  / Load Lv:  1  2  3 |
               | Rapid Fire: Pellet Lv1 /  \ Normal S: 6  6  9 |
               | & Pierce Lv2           \  / Pierce S: 6  3  6 |
               | Reload: Fast           /  \ Pellet S: 2  -  - |
               | Affinity: -15%         \  / Crag S  : 2  2  - |
               | Slots: N/A             /  \ Clust S : 2  2  - |
               | Recoil: Moderate       \  / Recov S : 3  3  - |
               | Added Effect: Def +16  /  \ Poison S: 3  1  - |
               x------------------------x  / Para S  : 3  1  - |
                      o--------------------o                   |
                      \ Sleep S : 3  1  -   Flame S : 3  -  -  |
                      / Water S : 3  -  -   Thnd S  : 3  -  -  |
                      \ Freeze S: 3  -  -   Drgn S  : -  -  -  |
                      / Tranq S : 2  -  -   Paint S : 2  -  -  |
                      \ Demon S : 1  -  -   Armor S : 1  -  -  |
                      o===============o------------------------o

Note: Can carry lots of ammunition.

               x---------------x          o-------o
               | ABSOLUTE BOW! |          | AMMO! |
               x---------------x------x   o=======o------------o
               | Attack: 360           \  / Load Lv:  1  2  3  |
               | Rapid Fire: Prce Lv.1 /  \ Normal S: 9  9  12 |
               | Fire S; Wtr S; Thn S  \  / Pierce S: 4  4  3  |
               | Reload: Very Slow     /  \ Pellet S: -  -  -  |
               | Affinity: N/A         \  / Crag S  : 1  1  1  |
               | Slots: N/A            /  \ Clust S : 1  1  1  |
               | Recoil: Moderate      \  / Recov S : 3  -  -  |
               x-----------------------x  \                    |
                      o-------------------o                    |
                      / Poison S: 3  -  -   Para S  : 3  -  -  |
                      \ Sleep S : 3  -  -   Flame S : 3  -  -  |
                      / Water S : 3  -  -   Thnd S  : 3  -  -  |
                      \ Freeze S: 3  -  -   Drgn S  : -  -  -  |
                      / Tranq S : 2  -  -   Paint S : 2  -  -  |
                      \ Demon S : -  -  -   Armor S : -  -  -  |
                      o===============o------------------------o

Note: Sporting power and Rapid Fire Elements, make it perfect for gunning. No
Affinity or extra slots though.

               x---------------------------x  o-------o
               | ENGRAVED FIRE WYVERN BOW! |  | AMMO! |
               x--------------x------------x  o=======o-----------o
               | Attack: 360           \     / Load Lv:  1  2  3  |
               | Rapid Fire: Prce Lv.1 /     \ Normal S: 9  9  12 |
               | And Fire S            \     / Pierce S: 4  4  3  |
               | Reload: Very Fast     /     \ Pellet S: -  -  -  |
               | Affinity: N/A         \     / Crag S  : 1  1  -  |
               | Slots: One            /     \ Clust S : -  -  -  |
               | Recoil: Moderate      \     / Recov S : 3 3-  -  o
               x-----------------------x     \                   /
                      o----------------------o                  /
                      / Poison S: 3  1  -   Para S  : 3  1  -  o
                      \ Sleep S : -  -  -   Flame S : 3  -  -  |
                      / Water S : -  -  -   Thnd S  : -  -  -  |
                      \ Freeze S: -  -  -   Drgn S  : -  -  -  |
                      / Tranq S : 2  -  -   Paint S : 2  -  -  |
                      \ Demon S : 1  -  -   Armor S : -  -  -  |
                      o===============o------------------------o

Note: Another Bowgun, just as strong as Absolute Bow. Less fewer Rapid Fire
options for those who dislike it.

                    ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                 ---| --- [6.10] End-Game Weapons --- |---
                 ---|       ~~~ Heavy Bowgun ~~~      |---
                    v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

In this world you'll need a few Heavy Bowguns to get by. It's best to know which
ones they are, and what they do.

         x-----------------------x     o-------o
         | EVIL WIND DARKCANNON! |     | AMMO! |
         x------x----------------x     o=======o-----------o
         | Attack: 360        \       / Load Lv:  1  2  3 |
         | Reload: Very Fast  /       \ Normal S: 6  6  9 |
         | Affinity: 40%      \       / Pierce S: -  -  - |
         | Slots: N/A         /       \ Pellet S: 6  6  6 |
         | Recoil: Moderate   \       / Crag S  : 3  3  3 |
         x--------------------x       \ Clust S : 3  3  3 |
                                      / Recov S : 3  3  - |
                                      \                   |
                 o--------------------o                   |
                / Poison S: -  -  -    Para S  : 4  2  -  |
                \ Sleep S : -  -  -    Flame S : 3  -  -  |
                / Water S : -  -  -    Thnd S  : 4  -  -  |
                \ Freeze S: -  -  -    Drgn S  : -  -  -  |
                / Tranq S : 2  -  -    Paint S : 2  -  -  |
                \ Demon S : 1  -  -    Armor S : 1  -  -  |
                o===============o-------------------------o

Awesome affinity and decent availability in ammunition make this versatile
weapon.

               x---------------x          o-------o
               | DAORA'S CETI! |          | AMMO! |
               x---------------x----x     o=======o-----------o
               | Attack: 408        \     / Load Lv:  1  2  3 |
               | Reload: Very Slow  /     \ Normal S: 6  6  9 |
               | Affinity: 30%      \     / Pierce S: 3  3  3 |
               | Slots: One         /     \ Pellet S: 4  -  - |
               | Recoil: Weak       \     / Crag S  : 1  -  - |
               x--------------------x     \ Clust S : 1  -  - |
                                          / Recov S : 3  3  - |
                                          \                   |
                     o--------------------o                   |
                     / Poison S: 3  1  -    Para S  : 3  1  - |
                     \ Sleep S : -  -  -    Flame S : -  -  - |
                     / Water S : 3  -  -    Thnd S  : -  -  - |
                     \ Freeze S: 3  -  -    Drgn S  : -  -  - |
                     / Tranq S : 2  -  -    Paint S : 2  -  - |
                     \ Demon S : 1  -  -    Armor S : -  -  - |
                     o===============o------------------------o

Another excellent Bowgun, much to the likeness of Evil Wind Darkcannon.

                x-----------------x      o-------o
                | DESTINY'S ARM!  |      | AMMO! |
                x------------------x     o=======o------------o
                | Attack: 420      \     / Load Lv:  1  2  3  |
                | Reload: Fast     /     \ Normal S: 9  9  12 |
                | Affinity: -15%   \     / Pierce S: 6  6  6  |
                | Slots: Two       /     \ Pellet S: -  -  -  |
                | Recoil: Moderate \     / Crag S  : 2  2  2  |
                x------------------x     \ Clust S : 2  2  2  |
                                         / Recov S : 3  -  -  |
                                         \                    |
                    o--------------------o                    |
                    / Poison S: 3  -  -    Para S  : 3  -  -  |
                    \ Sleep S : 3  -  -    Flame S : 4  -  -  |
                    / Water S : 4  -  -    Thnd S  : 4  -  -  |
                    \ Freeze S: -  -  -    Drgn S  : -  -  -  |
                    / Tranq S : 2  -  -    Paint S : 2  -  -  |
                    \ Demon S : -  -  -    Armor S : -  -  -  |
                    o===============o-------------------------o

Wide range of ammunition along with decent capacity for shells.





         x----------------------------x     o-------o
         | ANCIENT DRAGONWOOD CANNON! |     | AMMO! |
         x----------------------------x     o=======o-----------o
                 | Attack: 444        \     / Load Lv:  1  2  3 |
                 | Reload: Slow       /     \ Normal S: 6  6  9 |
                 | Affinity: N/A      \     / Pierce S: -  -  - |
                 | Slots: Two         /     \ Pellet S: 6  6  6 |
                 | Recoil: Light      \     / Crag S  : 3  3  3 |
                 x--------------------x     \ Clust S : 3  3  3 |
                                            / Recov S : 3  3  - |
                                            \                   o
                     o----------------------o                  /
                     / Poison S: -  -  -    Para S  : 4  2  - o
                     \ Sleep S : -  -  -    Flame S : 3  -  - |
                     / Water S : -  -  -    Thnd S  : 4  -  - |
                     \ Freeze S: -  -  -    Drgn S  : -  -  - |
                     / Tranq S : 2  -  -    Paint S : 2  -  - |
                     \ Demon S : 1  -  -    Armor S : 1  -  - |
                     o===============o------------------------o

Note: One of the best Pellet guns in-game.

             x---------------------------x   o-------o
             | ULTIMATE LAO-SHAN CANNON! |   | AMMO! |
             x----------------x----------x   o=======o----------o
             | Attack: 480           \      / Load Lv:  1  2  3 |
             | Reload: Very Slow     /      \ Normal S: -  6  9 |
             | Affinity: -10%        \      / Pierce S: -  -  3 |
             | Slots: One            /      \ Pellet S: -  -  4 |
             | Recoil: Weak          \      / Crag S  : -  -  1 |
             | Added Effect: 18+ Def /      \ Clust S : -  -  1 |
             x-----------------------x      / Recov S : -  -  - |
                                           /                    |
                      o-------------------o                     |
                      / Poison S: -  1  -    Para S  : -  -  -  |
                      \ Sleep S : -  -  -    Flame S : 3  -  -  |
                      / Water S : 3  -  -    Thnd S  : 3  -  -  |
                      \ Freeze S: -  -  -    Drgn S  : -  -  -  |
                      / Tranq S : 2  -  -    Paint S : 2  -  -  |
                      \ Demon S : -  -  -    Armor S : -  -  -  |
                      o===============o-------------------------o

Note: Second in power only to Ukanlos Cannon.

               x-----------------x         o-------o
               | UKANLOS CANNON! |         | AMMO! |
               x-----------------x-----x   o=======o------------o
               | Attack: 504           \   / Load Lv:  1  2  3  |
               | Reload: Slow          /   \ Normal S: 5  5  12 |
               | Affinity: -40%        \   / Pierce S: 2  2  6  |
               | Slots: N/A            /   \ Pellet S: 2  2  6  |
               | Recoil: Moderate      \   / Crag S  : -  -  -  |
               | Added Effect: 10+ Def /   \ Clust S : -  -  -  |
               x-----------------------x   / Recov S : -  -  -  |
                                           \                    |
                      o--------------------o                    |
                      / Poison S: -  -  -    Para S  : -  -  -  |
                      \ Sleep S : 3  1  -    Flame S : -  -  -  |
                      / Water S : -  -  -    Thnd S  : -  -  -  |
                      \ Freeze S: -  -  -    Drgn S  : -  -  -  |
                      / Tranq S : 2  -  -    Paint S : 2  -  -  |
                      \ Demon S : -  -  -    Armor S : -  -  -  |
                      o===============o-------------------------o

Terrible affinity, but overwhelming power. Comes with a few more options
compared
to Ultimate Lao-Shan Cannon.

Section Credits:
Mazereon (Indicating best Heavy Bowguns)

                   ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                ---| --- [6.11] End-Game Weapons --- |---
                ---|           ~~~ Bow ~~~           |---
                   v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

In my opinion, the easiest to use ranged weapon. Bows are cool, but lack the
power
to see them much in endgame. Who doesn't want to look like Link from the Legend
of
Zelda? I do!

We have three strong Raw bows. Each is amazing in their own way. Not sure
which one is stronger though...

                 x------------------------x  o--------------o
                 | DIABLOS KING HORN BOW! |  | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x----------------------x-x  o==============o-----o
                 | Attack: 372           \  / Diablos Horn Bow I  |
                 | Element: Raw          /  \       -->           |
                 | Coatings: Power/Paint \  / Diablos Horn Bow II |
                 | Affinity: +30%        /  \       -->           |
                 | Slots: N/A            \  /   Gale Horn Bow     |
                 | Added Effect: +30 Def /  \       -->           |
                 x-----------------------x  / DiablosKingHornBow  |
                                            o===============o-----o
                             x=========x-----x
                             | CHARGE LEVEL! |
                    x--------x---------------x
                    | Charge Lv1: Pierce Lv3 |
                    | Charge Lv2: Pierce Lv4 |
                    | Charge Lv3: Pierce Lv5 |
                    | Charge Lv4: Rapid Lv4  |
                    x------------------------x

Note: The strongest Raw Bow, ever. Great Affinity, extra defense. No slots
though.

                 x----------------------x  o--------------o
                 | EXTERMINATOR BOW II! |  | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x------------------x---x  o==============o------o
                 | Attack: 384           \ /  Black  Bow         |
                 | Element: Raw          / \       -->           |
                 | Coatings: Power/Paint \ /  Black Bow II       |
                 | Affinity: +20%        / \       -->           |
                 | Slots: One            \ / Exterminator Bow I  |
                 | Added Effect: +30 Def / \       -->           |
                 x-----------------------x / Exterminator Bow II |
                                           o===============o-----o
                             x=========x-----x
                             | CHARGE LEVEL! |
                    x--------x----------------x
                    | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv4 |
                    | Charge Lv2: Scatter Lv4 |
                    | Charge Lv3: Rapid Lv4   |
                    | Charge Lv4: Rapid Lv5   |
                    x-------------------------x

Note: From from the depths of Fatalis parts comes Annihilator Bow! Rapid just
barely redeems this bow. Be sure to have Concentrate when using this bow,
because Scatter...is just awful.

               x---------------x        o--------------o
               | MIDNIGHT BOW! |        | WEAPON PATH! |
               x---------------x-x      o==============o--o
               | Attack: 324     \      / Tigrex Arrow I  |
               | Element: Raw    /      \      -->        |
               | Coatings: All   \      / Tigrex Arrow II |
               | Affinity: +50%  /      \      -->        |
               | Slots: N/A      \      /   Hidden Bow    |
               x-----------------x      \      -->        |
                                        /  Midnight Bow   |
                                        o===============o-o
                              x=========x-----x
                              | CHARGE LEVEL! |
                    x---------x---------------x
                    | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv4 |
                    | Charge Lv2: Rapid Lv5   |
                    | Charge Lv3: Pierce Lv5  |
                    | Charge Lv4: Rapid Lv5   |
                    x-------------------------x

Note: Just...just godly Affinity. With this amazingly versatile set, you can
have all coatings, Power, Poison, Para, Sleep and the less important others.
What's the best news? You can forge this bow right off the bat. All you need
is G Rank Nagacuga parts. Cool right?

                 x-----------------x         o--------------o
                 | DEVIL BLOS BOW! |         | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x-----------------x----x    o==============o
                 | Attack: 324           \  /      N/A      |
                 | Element: 150 Fire     / o================o
                 | Coatings: Power/Paint \
                 | Affinity: +10%        /
                 | Slots: One            \
                 | Added Effect: +10 Def /
                 x-----------------------x

                             x=========x-----x
                             | CHARGE LEVEL! |
                    x--------x----------------x
                    | Charge Lv1: Pierce Lv3  |
                    | Charge Lv2: Pierce Lv4  |
                    | Charge Lv3: Pierce Lv5  |
                    | Charge Lv4: Scatter Lv5 |
                    x-------------------------x

Forged from Diablos parts and Dengeki Ticket G. In Unite it's simply reffered to
as "dummy."

                 x----------------------x      o--------------o
                 | DRAGONHEAD HARP III! |      | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x-----------x----------x--x   o==============o------o
                 | Attack: 240             \   / Dragonhead Harp I   |
                 | Element: 300 Water      /   \       -->           |
                 | Coatings: All           \   / Dragonhead Harp II  |
                 | Affinity: N/A           /   \       -->           |
                 | Slots: One              \   / Dragonhead Hard III |
                 | Added Effect: +20 Def   /   o===============o-----o
                 x-------------------------x

                             x=========x-----x
                             | CHARGE LEVEL! |
                    x--------x----------------x
                    | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv5 |
                    | Charge Lv2: Rapid Lv2   |
                    | Charge Lv3: Rapid Lv1   |
                    | Charge Lv4: Pierce Lv5  |
                    x-------------------------x

Note: With Scatter, this weapon is the perfect Black Gravios killer.

                 x------------------------x   o--------------o
                 | DRAGONWOOD BOW APOLLO! |   | WEAPON PATH! |
                 x-------------------------x  o==============o--------o
                 | Attack: 300             \  /     Dragonbow Halo    |
                 | Element: 180 Thn        /  \       -->             |
                 | Coatings: All but Razor \  /    Dragonbow Solar    |
                 | Affinity: +20%          /  \       -->             |
                 | Slots: N/A              \  / Dragonwood Bow Apollo |
                 | Added Effect: Para Up   /  o===============o-------o
                 x-------------------------x

                             x=========x-----x
                             | CHARGE LEVEL! |
                    x--------x----------------x
                    | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv3 |
                    | Charge Lv2: Scatter Lv4 |
                    | Charge Lv3: Pierce Lv5  |
                    | Charge Lv4: Rapid Lv4   |
                    x-------------------------x

Note: Interesting added effect.

               x---------------------x             o--------------o
               | DAORA'S SAGITTARII! |             | WEAPON PATH! |
               x----------x----------x--------x    o==============o------o
               | Attack: 300                  /    / Frozen Stallion     |
               | Element: 180 Ice             \    \       -->           |
               | Coatings: Pwer/Para/Pois/Pai /    / Daora's Sagittarii  |
               | Affinity: +30%               \    o===============o-----o
               | Slots: One                   /
               x------------------------------x

                             x=========x-----x
                             | CHARGE LEVEL! |
                    x--------x----------------x
                    | Charge Lv1: Rapid Lv3   |
                    | Charge Lv2: Scatter Lv4 |
                    | Charge Lv3: Pierce Lv5  |
                    | Charge Lv4: Rapid Lv5   |
                    x-------------------------x

Note: Powerful Ice Elemental Bow.

               x--------------------x         o--------------o
               | AKANTOR CHAOS BOW! |         | WEAPON PATH! |
               x--------------------x----x    o==============o----o
               | Attack: 312             /    /  Akantor Bow      |
               | Element: 200 Dragon     \    \      -->          |
               | Coatings: Power/Poison  /    / Akantor Chaos Bow |
               | Affinity: +40%          \    o===============o---o
               | Slots: One              /
               x-------------------------x

                             x=========x-----x
                             | CHARGE LEVEL! |
                    x--------x----------------x
                    | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv4 |
                    | Charge Lv2: Pierce Lv4  |
                    | Charge Lv3: Rapid Lv5   |
                    | Charge Lv4: N/A         |
                    x-------------------------x

Note: There is no Lv4 Charge. You'll need Load Up to unlock the Lv3 Charge.
Otherwise it's the best Dragon Bow.

Section Credits:
Minegarde (for helping me update the list.)
Kayin9988
Severine
KidImposter
HotGamerMum
Devil Trigger (Massive corrections.)

 /\  /\        |_|
/  \/  \onster | |unter===================================================--x
-----------x----------|                 [7] Elder Quests                     \
                      x===================================================----x

   "A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a man perfected without trials."
                                ~Chinese Proverb

Before we begin anything. There are many things you should already know. For
those who skipped those sections, I'm going to shove the info down your throat.
My reasoning? Because you NEED to know these things.

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---| --- [7.1] Elder Quest --- |---
                      ---|     ~~~ Review ~~~        |---
                         v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

I am assuming, this is your first Monster Hunter. As a Hunter, it is your
priority to DO certain things before venturing off. The first should be the
exploration of your environment. This means, exploring your home, Pokke Farm,
and once you've unlocked it, the Felyne Kitchen.

Once you've cleverly perceived the size of Pokke Village, you may want to start
Elder Quests. As you progress in these quests, you'll gain access to more Areas
and more monsters. With these monsters comes more materials. So how does the
average Hunter live day by day? How do we sort out all the complicated details
of gathering and forging and slaying? It's not easy.

The average hunter sets him or herself into a pattern. This pattern consists of
doing several things before departing. Even if it's not in the same order, you
still do it. Call it multi-tasking, or whatever, a true hunter one or more of
these things before leaving.

-- Check if new armor or weapons can be forged.
-- Visit Felyne Kitchen for a boost!
-- Check on the condition of your Felyne Fighter!
-- Visit and gather materials at Pokke Farm!
-- Buy needed items such as Potions or Antidotes.

This, should be your checklist. Before leaving, you should make it a priority
to check these things off. These way, you can establish that needed pattern
without wondering if you've forgotten something. Takes the stress off your
shoulders, and makes it easier to engage in combat.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---|  --- [7.1.1] Review ---  |---
                    ---|  ~~~ Prep for Battle ~~~ |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

So you're wondering how to break into the world of Monster Hunter? The game is
paced so beginners aren't overwhelmed. You're given one of each weapon type,
and a set of armor. As a Hunter, you should experiment with each at least once.
As for the armor, I can't say you should keep it for long. With the lack of
materials though, how do we progress?

The Felyne next to the Weapon/Armor Forger sells beginning weapons. While not
great, they're much better then the ones you start out with. As a Hunter, you
should not only profess in one weapon type, but several. Managing this can be
tough. You will get the hang of it though.

As a beginner, I recommend you start easy. Either with an SnS or a Longsword.
Both are great beginner weapon. After you get the hang of those, I suggest the
Lance or Gunlance. Both offer outstanding defense, however take skill to master.
Then onto Hammer and/or Greatsword, and if you like to experiment with range,
Bow
or Bowgun.

As you experiment with more weapons, you look for things to test these out on.
The more you kill, the more materials you get. And at last we can forge our own
armor. You're well aware of my recommendations on that section. If not, simply
scroll up a few pages.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [7.1.2] Review ---  |---
                    ---|    ~~~ Wild-life ~~~    |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Haven't covered wild-life yet. You may know them as Apceros, Popo's, or Kelbi.
Wildlife is split into two main categories, aggressive and passive. When a
monster is passive, it will not attack you. Some monsters won't attack you,
even if you attack them.

Aggressive monsters, even the small, pose a big problem. These aide your foe,
as they distract you from executing your attacks. When they interfere with your
strategy, chances are, you're toast. If you haven't already guessed, they
attack you with no provocation.

There are monsters placed by the developers in order balance the fight. Say,
you found a great spot where you can snipe Plesioth at. Anticipating a player
will abuse such a thing, the developers programmed a Vespiod to appear to
distract the player. Either way, aggressive monsters make you aggressive. It's
best to kill these buggers before they become a big problem.

Prey Family - These monsters resemble raptors from Jurassic Park. They come in
many shapes and sizes. Each species has different status ailment to dish out.
While easy to kill, these creatures often hunt in pairs and with speed.

Felyne Family - These monsters are wild Felyne. Depending on their color,
they'll attempt steal an item or attempt to blow you up. An odd cousin of the
species is known as Shakalaka. These critters pop up from oddly colored
mushrooms and can deal lots of damage. They're tough to kill because of their
size. Plus, they like putting their foes to sleep with sleep bombs. If you can,
avoid mushrooms during a fight.

Insect Family - These monsters are over-sized bugs begging for extermination.
They include Vespoid, a bee-like insect that paralyzes with it's stinger.
Hornetaurs are belly-crawling beetles, waiting to ambush unsuspecting hunters.
While not posing much a threat, Hornetaurs seldom hunt alone. Great Thunderbugs
are a rare sight, when encountered these clusters of fireflies attempt to
paralyze you.

Indigenous Family - This section is dedicated to the large and in charge
wildlife. Excluded from these are Aptonoth, Popo's, Kelbi and Anteka who are
all passive creatures. Mosswine would have been included, if not for the fact
that they attack when provoked. Also included here are Bullfango, which are
bull-like boars that charge at hunters. Not forgetting Apceros, a creature
similar to a stegosaurus. It's sluggish speed makes it an easy kill.

Monster Family - These monsters are "mini" versions of "boss" monsters.
Blango's are snow-lion type creatures who are also quick and vicious. Conga's
are baboon type creatures whose stink is unmatched. Hermituar and Ceanataur are
crab-like creatures. They emerge from the ground to ensnare hunter's. Cephalos
are subjects of sand, like a sand-shark that spits globs of the stuff. Remobra
are aerial creatures that enjoy hawking poison down on hunters. Quite possibly,
more annoying then Morrowind's Cliff Riders.

On retrospect they aren't. Cliff Riders are devil incarnate.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [7.1.3] Review ---  |---
                    ---|   ~~~ Examination ~~~   |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

I will set aside a section of the Walkthrough to discuss a boss monster, the
Wyverns. There I will list every detail about said Wyvern from weakest part of
the
body, to weapon strategies, to the actual weapons themselves. In the beginning
however, you won't have a capable range of weaponry. Listing what you can
acquire
will come later when becomes a necessity. Here is a quick rundown of what you'll
see.

o==========o-----------------o
| Question  \ What is _____? |
o============o---------------o

My "Schrute" format will ask the basic question. What is the monster I'm
fighting?
Well, along with a cheery description of said Wyvern, you'll also receive a list
of characteristics.

Most effective attacks: Explains what body part is weakest to what weapon type.

Most effective element: Explains what element does the most damage.

Susceptible Status Ailments: Status ailments come in a variety of ways and
effects
every Wyvern/Monster differently. This will merely list the odd characteristics
that status attacks have.

Susceptible Bombs: Usually only two Bombs will make this list, Sonic or Flash.
Rarely will I suggest Dung Bomb, if at all.

Susceptible Traps: Reserved for Stun Trap or Pitfall mentioning if they need to
be
in Rage Mode or not for it to work.

Breakable Parts: Obviously listing all the breakable parts of your opponent.
Breaking these parts leads to rare rewards after missions.

Near Death When: Noted behavior when Monster's health is critical.

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

This will list every single attack a Wyvern/Monster possesses. Along with their
obvious tells. This section is extremely important for all Hunters, as you must
study their moves in order to react, counter, and defeat them. That is why, you
should take a moment during battle, look at their moves and compare them to the
list. I will mention these moves in great detail in my next section.

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

This section will eat up portions of the guide. Each weapon requires a different
approach, and in-depth detail. I can, have, and will continue to write
paragraphs
chock full of info. Every node, every tip, every scrap of detail I can think of
will be wedged between these five sections.

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o

Will list details concerning the Sword and Shield, and Dual Swords.

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

Will list details concerning the Greatsword and the Longsword.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

Will list details concerning the Hammer and the Hunting Horn.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

Will list details concerning the Lance and the Gunlance.

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o

Will list details concerning the Bow, the Light Bowgun, and the Heavy Bowgun.

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ What armor should I wear? |
o============o--------------------------o

Not really a major section, so I will sometimes cut it altogether. If you're
looking for reference take to section [4.3] for Elder Rank Armor.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

My final words go here. Summarizing the Monster as a whole after breaking it
into
pieces. Ending with words of encouragement and a pat on the back.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [7.1.3] Review ---  |---
                    ---|   ~~~ Final Words ~~~   |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

My, my. I had to cover A LOT before getting to this section. You know, as much
a parent prepares a child for his first day of school, there's not a lot I can
do to prepare you for Monster Hunter. It's an experience. It's a journey.
Throughout the game you'll complete mission after mission. Enjoying the thrill
of the hunt. Whether it's capturing a Yian Kut Ku, or blowing it to
smithereens! It's the ride that never seems to end.

While you enjoy the excitement of Monster Hunter, I urge you to remember the
outside world. I know of no hunter who beat the game in a day. It's important
to rest your weary-self, and meditate on what you've learned. I ask you to
pause for five minutes, and experience life.

                      ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                   ---| --- [7.2] Elder Quest --- |---
                   ---|      ~~~ Elder * ~~~      |---
                      v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

Allow me to walk you through my format. The quests I have listed will allow you
to progress onto the next hunter rank once completed. You'll know because there
will be a "Yes" next to the Mandatory box. I cannot, and will not, engross in
much detail concerning these non-mandatory quests. Unless they include a new
Wyvern.
                   x------------------------x
                   | #3 Hunt the Carnivore! |
                   x------------------------x--------x
                   | Mandatory: Yes                  /
                   | Type: Slaying Quest             \
                   | Reward: 300z                    /
                   | Contract Fee: 0z                \
                   | Location: Snowy Mountains (Day) /
                   | Details: Slay 5 Giaprey         \
                   x---------------------------------x

As you can see from this example, "Yes" is listed next to Mandatory because
it's required to pass in order to get the "Urgent" Quest for that rank. By
completing the "Urgent" Quest, we can move on.

Type refers to the type of quest. These range from Gathering, Slaying, and
Hunting. Gathering requires you to acquire a certain item and deposit in into
the red/brownish box at your camp. Slaying demands that you kill your target
monster, meaning you cannot capture it. And of course, Hunt means you can
either kill or capture the target.

Reward and Contract Fees are the income you receive after completing a Quest.
You'll notice the Contract Fee is 0z on this one. Which means you pay nothing,
but also don't get paid back in the Contract Fee area.

Location simply refers to the location. Your destination. Why is this
important? It's good to come with Hot or Cold Drink. For a list of Hot/Cold
Areas, refer to my section "[4.2.6]" under Drinks. And of course, Details
should be obvious. Let's begin!

                   x---------------------------x
                   | #1 Mountain Herb Picking! |
                   x---------------------------x-------x
                   | Mandatory: No                     /
                   | Type: Gathering Quest             \
                   | Reward: 300z                      /
                   | Contract Fee: 0z                  \
                   | Location: Snowy Mountains (Day)   /
                   | Details: Deliver 5 Mountain Herbs \
                   x-----------------------------------x

                   x---------------------------x
                   | #2 An Anteka in the Snow! |
                   x---------------------------x------x
                   | Mandatory: No                    /
                   | Type: Gathering Quest            \
                   | Reward: 300z                     /
                   | Contract Fee: 0z                 \
                   | Location: Snowy Mountains (Day)  /
                   | Details: Gather 3 Anteka Antlers \
                   x----------------------------------x

                   x------------------------x
                   | #3 Hunt the Carnivore! |
                   x------------------------x--------x
                   | Mandatory: Yes                  /
                   | Type: Slaying Quest             \
                   | Reward: 300z                    /
                   | Contract Fee: 0z                \
                   | Location: Snowy Mountains (Day) /
                   | Details: Slay 5 Giaprey         \
                   x---------------------------------x

Giaprey are white, dinosaur-like monsters with the ability to freeze you. They
hunt along Areas 5, 6, 7, and 8.

                   x---------------------x
                   | #4 Sinking Feeling! |
                   x---------------------x-------------x
                   | Mandatory: Yes                    /
                   | Type: Gathering Quest             \
                   | Reward: 300z                      /
                   | Contract Fee: 0z                  \
                   | Location: Snowy Mountains (Night) /
                   | Details: Gather 3 Popo Tongues    \
                   x-----------------------------------x

Popo's are big, Yak-like monsters that roam in grassy areas of the Snowy
Mountains. You'll need to kill these in order to get your Popo Tongues. I would
make some comment about "lambs-to-the-slaughter" but I'm sure what you'll
encounter in that will sound ironic. Especially considering there is a Tigrex
waiting to ambush you...

                   x------------------------x
                   | #5 Slay the Blangos!   |
                   x------------------------x----------x
                   | Mandatory: Yes                    /
                   | Type: Slaying Quest               \
                   | Reward: 300z                      /
                   | Contract Fee: 0z                  \
                   | Location: Snowy Mountains (Night) /
                   | Details: Slay 3 Blangos           \
                   x-----------------------------------x

These small snow-lion type creatures can be found in the same areas we found
our Giaprey.

                   x-----------------------------x
                   | (U) The Carnivorous Leader! |
                   x-----------------------------x---x
                   | Mandatory: Urgent               /
                   | Type: Hunting Quest             \
                   | Reward: 900z                    /
                   | Contract Fee: 150z              \
                   | Location: Snowy Mountains (Day) /
                   | Details: Hunt the Giadrome      \
                   x---------------------------------x

You're Urgent quest will always have "Urgent" marked beside Mandatory. Being
this is your first, let me explain. Urgent Quests are special quests unlocked
after completing the Mandatory Quests. What are Urgent Quests? They unlock a
quest against a "Boss" monster. In this case, a "Mini-Boss."

Giadrome is a slightly larger version of it's counter-part, the Giaprey. Having
increases health and power, you'll have a tough time with him. That's the point
of Urgent Quests. To test your skills learned so far.

At this point I go into suggesting what weapons you should use. Any of them
will do, the point I'm trying to make is what works. Then I'll go on to detail
it's attacks, which are quite limited to pouncing, spitting ice, and calling
Giaprey to it's defense. At times I can be quite detailed, I'll even draw a
rough diagram. The diagrams are meant to show the player the monster's pattern,
or a method of attack.

Then of course, I disclose the miscellaneous details. Like, Giadrome will flee
the area if critically injured. This indicates he's ready for the final blow.
Be careful though, as there are other Giaprey waiting on the other side. Just
be aware, I'll be covering the other Wyverns in tremendous detail. The below is
just a format for the insanely easy Mini-bosses.

                     x-----------x
                     | GIADROME! |
                     x-----------x==============x
                     | Size: Small-Average      /
                     | Family: Prey             \
                     | Breakable Part: None     /
                     | Weakness: Fire           \
                     | Rare Item: Giadrome Head /
                     x==========================x

Allow me to explain. Size, is just that, size. I state this for one of two
reasons. The first is that you'll have a pretty good size of the monster. The
second is that you be aware the a monster's size changes with every battle.
When they are larger, chances are they have more Health. Even if they don't,
larger monsters are still tougher then their smaller forms.

Family is stating which family it belongs to. Though the game categorizes the
Prey Family as "Bird Wyverns" that title is best given to monsters like Yian
Kut Ku and Gyceros. Hence the name-change.

As your career as a Monster Hunter advances, you'll encounter many monsters.
Monster with breakable body parts. Most don't require you to do anything
special (other then actually hitting the body part.) With "Weakness" I'll list
what element the Monster is most weak against.

While being weak against Fire, you won't have the resources to exploit
Giadrome's weakness. I've never needed it to defeat him; neither should you.

If you managed to beat Giadrome, then lets move on. Or if you'd like, you can
hunt him multiple times in the next Elder Rank for materials.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [7.3] Elder Quest --- |---
                     ---|     ~~~ Elder ** ~~~      |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

We really can't do anything right now. As we're just emerging from the game's
"semi-tutorial" mode. However Elder ** unlocks some rewarding ventures. This
includes the "wall" Yian Kut Ku.

                   x---------------------------------x
                   | #1 Gathering - Snowy Mountains! |
                   x---------------------------------x
                   | Mandatory: No                   /
                   | Type: Gathering Quest           \
                   | Reward: 12z                     /
                   | Contract Fee: 0z                \
                   | Location: Snowy Mountains (Day) /
                   | Details: Gather Materials       \
                   x---------------------------------x

Ever said "I wish I could gather all those swell items without fighting any
monsters" to yourself? Fret no more. These types of Gathering Quests give
players the chance to gather some key material from the Area. For more
information on the how, refer to "[5.1]" under Materials.

In order to leave, simply check the blue box at your Camp for Paw Passes.
Deposit these into the brown/red box.

                   x-----------------------------x
                   | #2 Gathering - Jungle Zone! |
                   x-----------------------------x
                   | Mandatory: No               /
                   | Type: Gathering Quest       \
                   | Reward: 12z                 /
                   | Contract Fee: 0z            \
                   | Location: Jungle (Day)      /
                   | Details: Gather Materials   \
                   x-----------------------------x

Same as above.

                   x-----------------------------x
                   | #3 Gathering - Desert Zone! |
                   x-----------------------------x
                   | Mandatory: No               /
                   | Type: Gathering Quest       \
                   | Reward: 12z                 /
                   | Contract Fee: 0z            \
                   | Location: Desert (Day)      /
                   | Details: Gather Materials   \
                   x-----------------------------x

Same as above.

                   x----------------------------x
                   | #4 The Carnivorous Leader! |
                   x----------------------------x----x
                   | Mandatory: No                   /
                   | Type: Hunting Quest             \
                   | Reward: 900z                    /
                   | Contract Fee: 150z              \
                   | Location: Snowy Mountains (Day) /
                   | Details: Hunt the Giadrome      \
                   x---------------------------------x

The former Urgent Quest reintroduced through the next Elder Rank. Should you
want
the best available weapons and armor, you'll find yourself taking these quests
often.

   x-------------------------------x       x------------x
   | #5 Reckless Bulldrome Hunter! |       | BULLDROME! |
   x-------------------------------x-x     x------------x===============x
   | Mandatory: Yes                  /     / Size: Small-Average        |
   | Type: Hunting Quest             \     \ Family: Indigenous/Primate |
   | Reward: 300z                    /     / Breakable Parts: None      |
   | Contract Fee: 0z                \     \ Weakness: Thunder          |
   | Location: Snowy Mountains (Day) /     / Rare Item: Fango Head      |
   | Details: Slay 5 Giaprey         \     x============================x
   x---------------------------------x

If you have no idea what you're doing, then Bulldrome's annoying. As you
progress you'll learn that you never get better. He just gets less annoying.
Ole bully has but one attack, tackle. While Impact weapons are slightly less
effective on Bulldrome, I found Hammering him brings about an easy "knocked-
out" status. In this time, you'll be able to pound, pound, pound away! Like all
monsters of the Snowy Mountains, you'll encounter him around Areas 6, 7, or 8.
He'll flee to one of these areas when weak. Pursue then finish him.

                   x----------------------x
                   | #6 Slay the Giaprey! |
                   x----------------------x----------x
                   | Mandatory: No                   /
                   | Type: Slaying Quest             \
                   | Reward: 900z                    /
                   | Contract Fee: 150z              \
                   | Location: Snowy Mountains (Day) /
                   | Details: Slay 20 Giaprey        \
                   x---------------------------------x

Beware of Giadrome!

                   x-------------------------x
                   | #7 The Pack of Blangos! |
                   x-------------------------x--------x
                   | Mandatory: No                    /
                   | Type: Slaying Quest              \
                   | Reward: 900z                     /
                   | Contract Fee: 150z               \
                   | Location: Snowy Mountain (Night) /
                   | Details: Slay 5 Blangos          \
                   x----------------------------------x

Beware of Bulldrome!

                   x--------------------------x
                   | #8 The Taboo Negligence! |
                   x--------------------------x--------x
                   | Mandatory: No                     /
                   | Type: Gathering Quest             \
                   | Reward: 900z                      /
                   | Contract Fee: 150z                \
                   | Location: Snowy Mountains (Night) /
                   | Details: Gather 15 Mountain Herbs \
                   x-----------------------------------x

         x-------------------------------x     x--------------x
         | #9 Hunt Down the Velocidrome! |     | VELOCIDROME! |
         x-------------------------------x-x   x--------------x==============x
         | Mandatory: No                   /   / Size: Small-Average         |
         | Type: Hunting Quest             \   \ Family: Prey                |
         | Reward: 900z                    /   / Breakable Part: None        |
         | Contract Fee: 150z              \   \ Weakness: Ice               |
         | Location: Jungle (Day)          /   / Rare Item: Velocidrome Head |
         | Details: Hunt the Velocidrome   \   x=============================x
         x---------------------------------x

Velocidrome is a lesser version of it's species, as it lacks a status attack.
It attacks with the same method as a Giadrome would. This guy should be no
problem.

                      x--------------------x
                      | #10 Jungle Menace! |
                      x--------------------x-------x
                      | Mandatory: Yes             /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest        \
                      | Reward: 1500z              /
                      | Contract Fee: 250z         \
                      | Location: Jungle (Night)   /
                      | Details: Hunt Yian Kut Ku! \
                      x----------------------------x

See "[7.3.1]" for details.

                       x----------------------------x
                       | #11 Rarest of Rare Beasts! |
                       x----------------------------x
                       | Mandatory: Yes            /
                       | Type: Hunting Quest       \
                       | Reward: 1500z             /
                       | Contract Fee: 250z        \
                       | Location: Jungle (Night)  /
                       | Details: Hunt Congalala   \
                       x---------------------------x

See "[7.3.2]" for details.

                      x----------------------------------x
                      | #12 Hunt the Rare Forest Congas! |
                      x----------------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No                   /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest             \
                      | Reward: 900z                    /
                      | Contract Fee: 150z              \
                      | Location: Jungle (Day)          /
                      | Details: Slay 10 Congas         \
                      x---------------------------------x

Watch out for Velocidrome!

                      x-------------------------------x
                      | #13 Attack of the Giant Bugs! |
                      x-------------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No                 /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest           \
                      | Reward: 900z                  /
                      | Contract Fee: 150z            \
                      | Location: Jungle Day          /
                      | Details: Slay 20 Vespoids     \
                      x-------------------------------x

Ignore, the Hornetuars (beetle-like bugs) and go straight for the Vespoids
(bee-like bugs.)

                 x-------------------------x
                 | #14 Collect to Combine! |
                 x-------------------------x------------x
                 | Mandatory: No                        /
                 | Type: Gathering Quest                \
                 | Reward: 900z                         /
                 | Contract Fee: 150z                   \
                 | Location: Jungle (Day)               /
                 | Details: Gather 10 Special Mushrooms \
                 x--------------------------------------x

Collect Special Mushrooms by searching Area's for Mushroom Gathering Points.
Even if you don't collect the first time, try until you do.

            x------------------------x
            | #15 Hunt the Gendrome! |    x-----------x
            x------------------------x    | GENDROME! |
            | Mandatory: No          /    x-----------x===============x
            | Type: Hunting Quest    \    | Size: Small-Average       /
            | Reward: 900z           /    | Family: Prey              \
            | Contract Fee: 150z     \    | Breakable Parts: None     /
            | Location: Desert (Day) /    | Weakness: Ice             \
            | Details: Hunt Gendrome \    | Rare Item: Gendrome Skull /
            x------------------------x    x===========================x

Gendrome can paralyze, only if you're caught in it's pounce. Otherwise watch
out for the Genprey he summons. You've already tackled Giadrome and
Velocidrome. If you're still having trouble...well that's expected. Gendrome is
supposed to be annoying.

     x---------------------x
     | #16 The Land Shark! |            x-------------x
     x---------------------x----x       | CEPHADROME! |
     | Mandatory: No            /       x-------------x===========x
     | Type: Hunting Quest      \       | Size: Medium-Large      /
     | Reward: 1200z            /       | Family: Piscine         \
     | Contract Fee: 200z       \       | Breakable Parts: Fin    /
     | Location: Desert (Day)   /       | Weakness: Ice           \
     | Details: Hunt Cephadrome \       | Rare Item: Cephalos Fin /
     x--------------------------x       x=========================x

Cephadrome is tricky. While some may equate him to an actual Wyvern, the
monster is a pushover. If you have Sonic Bombs, now would be the time to pack
them. You'll find Cephadrome in the largest Areas of the desert rolling around
in a "square" pattern. When you find him you have two methods of drawing him
out, either throwing a Sonic Bomb directly at the fin or exploding a Small
Barrel Bomb. Sometimes, you can even attack him to get him to rise. That's rare
though.

He has two attacks when topside, he'll use his own version of Tail Whip or
launch a concentrated ball of sand as if it were a Fireball. His Tail Whip is
what you need to watch out for. Find which direction he swings his tail and
pick the opposite side to position yourself at. Then attack.

After a few minutes, he'll jump back into the sand. There are times where this
happens just after a few attacks. Draw him out with another Sonic Bomb and
attack until he squeals.

Personally, I found the Sword and Shield easier to handle. It's fast, plus you
need to deal fast damage before he sinks back. Of course Lance works just as
well, if not better in terms of damage dealing. A few pokes to the head can
deal a considerable amount. Just be sure to avoid it's Tail Whip.

                   x----------------------x
                   | #17 Liver of Legend! |
                   x----------------------x-----------x
                   | Mandatory: Yes                   /
                   | Type: Gathering Quest            \
                   | Reward: 1200z                    /
                   | Contract Fee: 200z               \
                   | Location: Desert (Day)           /
                   | Details: Gather 3 Piscine Livers \
                   x----------------------------------x

You remember the Cephadrome m'right? Well, Cephalos are the smaller version of
these monsters. They appear in the same areas as of a Cephalos and they have
less health. So what's the problem? You have the retrieve Piscine Livers from
these dudes. Our methods of drawing them out are the same as Cephadrome, Sonic
or Small Barrel Bombs.

After killing them, you get a carve (I'm not sure if it's one or two.) Chances
are, you're going to be getting a Piscine Liver. Deliver three of those and
you'll golden. Remember to bring Cold Drink!

                   x-------------------x
                   | #18 Gone Fishin'! |
                   x-------------------x----------x
                   | Mandatory: No                /
                   | Type: Gathering Quest        \
                   | Reward: 900z                 /
                   | Contract Fee: 150z           \
                   | Location: Desert (Day)       /
                   | Details: Gather 2 Goldenfish \
                   x------------------------------x

Get some bait and start Fishing in Area 1. Your objective is to capture 2
Goldenfish. They look like gold fish obviously, so if you don't see any, enter
and re-enter that Area until you do. Watch out for Gendrome, cause chances are
he's there.

                    x-------------------------x
                    | (U) Shadow in the Snow! |
                    x-------------------------x-------x
                    | Mandatory: Urgent               /
                    | Type: Hunting Quest             \
                    | Reward: 2100z                   /
                    | Contract Fee: 350z              \
                    | Location: Snowy Mountains (Day) /
                    | Details: Hunt Khezu             \
                    x---------------------------------x

See "[7.3.3]" for details.

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---| --- [7.3.1] Elder ** --- |---
                      ---|   ~~~ Yian Kut-Ku ~~~    |---
                         v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                "I think that guy is missing a few buttons..."
                            ~Locke about Kefka, FFVI

o==========o-------------------------o
| Question  \ What is a Yian Kut Ku? |
o============o-----------------------o

Lo and Behold gentlemen and lady gamers, "the wall." In runner terminology "the
wall" is the barrier you can't get past. As seen in Run Fatboy Run. Yian Kut Ku
is the first Wyvern you encounter and he is the wall. Ready to blitz you with
fire, claws, and tails.

Find your balance. Whether it be SnS, Lance, or Greatsword. By now, you've
learned your weapon. The time to master it is now. Evasion is key. Practice the
rituals of the "[4] Basics" and you should shine.

Most effective attacks: Impact (Head) and Cutting (Stomach)
Most effective element: Water
Susceptible Status Ailments: Poison, Sleep, Paralysis.
Susceptible Bombs: Flash and *Sonic.
Susceptible Traps: Stun Trap, Pitfall
Breakable Parts: Ears
Near Death When: Ears droop, or if he limps before fleeing area.

*Note: Sonic sends him into Rage Mode. Also, Sonic Bombs cause Yian Kut-Ku to
lift his head making it a poor choice for Impact weapons.

Reminder:
-- Cutting weapons are SnS, Dual Swords, Longsword, Greatsword, Gunlance,
**Bow,  and *Lance.
-- Impact weapons are Hammer, Hunting Horns, **Bow, and *Lance.

*Note: Being that Lance counts
 as both Impact and Cutting, whichever type does
more damage (IE Impact (Head)) the Lance will switch it's type to Impact.

**Note: Bow's Melee counts as Cutting and Impact. I wouldn't normally use it
during battle. Especially since this is your first Wyvern fight.

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

Fireball:
Yian Kut Ku will spit a fireball at you; his "tell" is that he jerks his head
upward. The good news is that it's both block-able and easy to dodge. It's hit-
zone is linear and short range. Most fireballs are like this, so it's easy to
gauge the distance between where it starts and where it ends.

Peck Attack:
Our pink and purple friend will launch (hop) forward; with his head held high
he'll start pecking in a downward motion. Like a chicken pecking at seeds. This
is linear, but if you're caught it can destroy you. Dodge, don't Guard as his
pecking attacks hits your shield multiple times.

At times, you can rear up and commit to another lengthy pecking attack. A good
way to avoid it is memorizing the split second before he commits. His "tell."
You can even count the times he pecks for an attack. That way, you can counter
the moment he's finished.

Backward Brush:
Yian Kut-Ku will brush the ground summoning Wind. He will launch himself
backwards, in preparation for another attack. His wings expand and emits and
non-damaging scream. Either Pecking or Tackling.

Tackle:
One of his deadliest attacks is a full-out tackle. Covering great distances,
he'll roar and stumble and eventually crash just short of the map's edge. This
attack has a wide hit-zone so Lunge (R + X) if you must. I must note though,
that a few moments after executing the tackle, he is vulnerable to attack. So
if you didn't get caught, you could take advantage.

Tail Whip:
A common trait among Wyverns with tails is Tail Whip. The monster will spin
their tail in a one-hundred eighty degree angles. In Yian Kut-Ku's case he'll
usually swing the left. Meaning it'd be a good idea to keep his right. That
way, you'll be able to see the Tail Whip and even get a few hits in before
dodging.

Launch:
If Yian Ku-Ku feels threatened by your barrage, he'll take the air summoning
Wind as he departs. This is often confused for him escaping, however he'll soon
land. Quite annoying. Only if you're standing directly under him does this
attack have a chance of hitting you.

Bite:
A simple short-range bite with his beak. It's sluggish and avoidable as long as
you keep away from his front.

Taunt:
At this moment, Yian Kut-Ku will initiate it's Taunt. A Taunt is just that,
it's a non-aggressive move that lasts for a moment. This tests a Hunter's
ability to take advantage, while being able to recover before his next attack.
He will scratch the ground and emit a soft cry. If you're daring enough, you
can set up a Trap, use a Bomb, even Paintball him. It's your second, take
advantage.

Closing the Distance:
Yian Kut-Ku will try many things to close the distance between you and him. If
you're a Bow or Bowgun user then listen up. His methods include a low-altitude
flight coming at you in a linear direction. This is easy to dodge, however this
whips up Wind. Another way of closing distance is by using his Peck Attack.
Which is also linear, however it involves him rushing forward, and ergo closes
distance.

Rage Mode:
What is Rage Mode? Rage Mode is a mode that every Boss enemy (be it Wyvern or
Monster) undergoes. The monster will launch into a frenzy, gaining power,
speed, and even new attacks. New speed means your sense of timing will be off.
It'll be up to you to adjust. Don't fret, it's not as hard as it sounds.

Yian Kut-Ku will show you his rage mode by leaping up and down in frustration.
He will then emit fiery smoke from his mouth, indicated his Rage. In this mode
he'll have access to a new attack.

Multi-Fireball:
We arrive at my first, but not last, diagram. These paint a rough, rough,
overhead view of an action. This prepares you a little for this new attack.
While looking a bit confusing, it's anything but. Below the diagram is a Legend
which lists what the "X's" and the "O's" are.

Yian Kut-Ku will dump fireballs left and right. It reminds me of a blind
attempt to drown you out. Don't be intimidated by this. It just means he's
getting desperate.

Diagram #1 - Multi-Fireball

================
=======X========
======/=\=======
=====/===\======
====/=====\=====
===O=======O====
================

Legend:
X = Yian Kut Ku
/\ = Path of assault
O = Where it lands

This is what my Diagrams look like. "=" is just empty space, sometimes I'll
separate lines with a space or " " which indicates terrain you can't walk on.
You shouldn't need to remember this, as I'll remind you when the time comes.

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o

 x-------------------x
 | VELOCIDROME BITE! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 168
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |  Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger +
 | Assassin's Dagger --> Velocidrome Bite
 |
 | Method:
 | If you already don't have Hunter's Dagger, you can buy it from the Felyne
 | Weapon seller. You must then take it to the weapon forger and improve it
 | with 3 Iron Ore. Iron Ore can be found in mining spots across the snowy
 | mountains, or jungle. Check GameFAQs resources map for details. While three
 | is the requirement, you'll actually need another three for the next weapon
 | improvement, so you want to gather six total.
 |
 | You should keep your eye out for three Earth Crystal and the elusive
 | Machalite Ore. You'll need four total, and at this point is quite a rare
 | find. I've had luck at Area 2 of the Snowy Mountains. Start by climbing to
 | the summit of Area 2 (approaches the entrance to Area 7) then turn face the
 | cliff. Adjust your camera and look for a small bluff below. Crawl to the
 | edge of the cliff and fall onto it, there should be another, keep going
 | until you find a fissure and start mining. I've walked away with one or two
 | Machalite Ore at a time. You may be luckier then me, so start mining!
 |
 | The rest comes from Velocidrome parts. Not to be confused with Velociprey,
 | Velocidrome is the mini-boss of the pack. You'll need four Velocidrome Claws
 | and two Velocidrome Hide for forging.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

If balance is what you seek, then seek the Sword and Shield. With the power of
the
sword and shield, one can conquer all plains of battle. It's form consists of
resounding strikes...preferably before you commit a final combo so you have a
chance to evade. Normally, I aim for the head then execute a short attack via
Triangle, Triangle, then evade. This way I can deal some damage while still
having
the time to escape.

This may take some time, but you CAN execute a final attack if you feel
confident. Like when he does a taunt, or is recovering from a tackle. These
windows are few, so take advantage when you get the chance.

Most of the time, you either want to go for the head or the stomach area. Your
pattern should be "Attack-Dodge-Attack-Dodge." Beware of blocking, your SnS
isn't made for blocking heavy blows. You should be okay with fireball, but if
your caught in Peck Attack you're toast. Remember you can use items while
blocking, which comes useful if you have a moment to spare.

 x------------------x
 | GIAPREY CLAWS +! |
 x------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 140
 | Element: Ice 240
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Giaprey Claws
 |       --> Giaprey Claws +
 |
 | Method:
 | Buy or make a Hunter's Dagger. Then go after Giadrome, yes, you're going to
 | need Giaprey parts, but you get those in the reward section for facing off
 | with Giadrome anyway. Plus there are plenty of Giaprey to go after during
 | the quest. This will make collecting materials easier, if not a bit tedious,
 | in the long run.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The Giaprey Claws dull quickly, counter with Battle Armor's Sharpening Skull
Inc.
You should always choose your sharpening times with care (IE, Taunt.) Otherwise
it's a similar game in contrast with the Sword and Shield. Avoid the tail by
keeping round his side, this will help evade the infuriating pecking attack as
well.

Your attack of choice is going to the Roundhouse (Circle button.) It is an
effective tool which can deal a considerable amount, while giving some time to
evade. The avenues of execution are all open to you, but I'll list a few. After
turning, there is a window of opportunity just as the AI is moving to face you.
You can lash out just as he's using Bite, remember that positioning is key. The
range of Dual Swords requires precision when attempting to exploit this attack.
Too close means you get hit, and too far means no damage done and opportunity
wasted.

You can attacked two maybe three times during a Taunt using Roundhouse. I found
Demon Mode useful, but you lose some time when entering the mode. Plus, your
weapons will dull quicker. Speaking of Demon Mode, being in that mode makes you
immune to Wind. On an overall note, the weapon gives you many opportunity for
attack but it takes practice. Remember to never stay in one spot, and always be
wary of it's next attack.

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x----------------x
 | RAVAGER BLADE! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 576
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Added Effect: Def +1
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword +
 | Buster Blade --> Ravager Blade
 |
 | Method:
 | You will need (assuming you did not make Buster Sword from scratch) a total
 | of twenty Iron Ore, five Disc Stones, fifteen earth crystals, and six
 | Machalite Ore. As of now, you have these resources available throughout the
 | Mining spots in the Jungle and the Snowy Mountains. If you are having
 | trouble locating them refer to Scootypuff's resource maps on GameFAQs.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

If power is what you seek, then seek the Greatsword. Defeating a Yian Kut-Ku
with one is not for the faint of heart. Being slow, a beginner might take one
look at this weapon and wonder how they could ever land a blow. It takes
immaculate timing, and great accuracy. By manipulating a Wyvern's blind-spot,
you can successfully deal blows.

Our strategy can be one of "Unsheathe-Sheath-Run" and repeat. This is where you
run up to the Yian Kut-Ku and execute an Unsheathe Attack. This gets out a
quick first strike. It's effective, especially on faster enemies.

Another method is through Charging. If you've read the "[4] Weapon Types"
section, then you know what Charging is. Assuming you haven't read that
section, Charging is where you hold the Triangle button with your weapon
sheathed. You may be wondering how the hell we actually HIT the enemy. More
advance players construct a strategy involving the time they have to charge;
and the time you have before you need to charge or your enemy attacks.
Remarkably, it's not as hard as it sounds. I have a diagram to demonstrate.

Diagram #2 - The Charge Method

==============
======O=======
=====V========
==============
==============

Legend:
V = Direction Yian Kut-Ku is facing.
O = Position you should be at when you start charging your Greatsword.

This also works for Hammers. The concept surrounding this, is that you have
enough time to charge. Granted it doesn't have to be fully charged. In fact,
there are times where you're not ever going to get a full charge. It all
depends on how skilled you are with the Greatsword.

Say, for example, I go into battle with a Greatsword. After some Unsheathe
Attacks our foe will launch a fireball. If I time this right I can position
myself at the location shown on the diagram. Preferably facing his backside.
Now Yian Kut-Ku may turn around, or use Tail Whip. If I'm in the right position
I can avoid this. If not, well, gotta try again.

Moments of vulnerability:
-- His Launch Attack, in order to stave off damage, Yian Kut Ku will take to
the air. At this moment we can prepare a charge to go off when he comes back
down.
-- During his Taunt, where it is possible to let off a fully Charged attack.

Let's not forget that Greatswords get Anti-Wind, allowing you attack the enemy
when they summon Wind. Wind is just that, they're powerful gusts that knock you
back. When executing a combo with a Greatsword, we can get in a couple of
shots. As I have mentioned, combos are the normal attacks done with the
Greatsword. When performed in tandem with each other one can make an "infinite
combo" (Circle + Circle and Triangle.)

In particular, I've found using Circle and Triangle effective. When aiming for
the head, by pressing those two buttons our Greatsword swings overhead. With
the right timing we can get a hit off. Being the range of this attacks farther
then you'd expect, we can keep a small amount of distance away.

Even if you don't plan on using a Greatsword against Yian Kut-Ku, it's good to
know this for future reference. Always remember that enemies have points of
vulnerability to Charge attacks. It's up to you to find them! ...Or me to point
them out for you. ^_^;;

 x-----------------------x
 | IRON KATANA "GOSPEL"! |
 x-----------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 576
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + --> Iron Katana
 | --> Iron Katana "Grace" --> Iron Katana Gospel
 |
 | Method:
 | Start or buy a Buster Sword. In order to reach "Gospel" you will need a
 | total of thirty-four Iron Ore, ten Disc Stone, eighteen Machalite Ore, and
 | twenty-five Earth Crystal. All of which come from mining spots throughout
 | the maps, so get digging!
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

The Longsword is a like extension cord on the Sword and Shield except the latter
is removed. The range of our weapon allows us to cover higher ground,
transforming
it into the "safe" weapon of choice. Attacks like Bite allows you to attack from
further away without taking damage. Remember your positioning though and that
you
move forward a bit when using an Overhead Swing (Triangle.) If you find yourself
too deep then retreat with a Back-Sweep (Circle + Triangle.)

You won't have too many chances to attack in Rage Mode, but his frames while
entering Rage Mode (the hopping) can be taken advantage of briefly. You can
resist
his Wind generating attacks by attacking, just make sure you don't stop. And
should you avoid his Tackle, the tail is open during his recovery. Nailing it
requires good aim. The Spirit attacks can be executed in spurts. During battle I
launched swings via R Trigger, moved, swung again, and repeated this until the
gauge depleted. From there I started over again.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x---------------x
 | IRON STRIKER! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | War Hammer --> War Hammer +
 |  War Mace --> Iron Striker
 |
 | Method:
 | Assuming you started with a War Hammer, you'll need a total of twenty-seven,
 | six Disc Stones, five Machalite Ore, and three Earth Crystals. All, and must
 | be, collected from various mining spots across the Jungle and Snowy
 | Mountains. Yeah, it's a grind I know, but Iron Striker is a reliable weapon
 | with a path that leads all the way to G Rank.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

The unique attributes of Hammers is that you're allowed to charge while moving.
With that in mind, it makes it far easier to avoid our foe. As a Hammer user,
you'll want to aim for the head. However the legs work too, and depending on
his size you could scathe his wings. Why the legs? Because we can knock him
down. This leaves him open to hits.

You're strategy should consist of "Charge-Approach-Execute-Dodge" and repeat.
Whipping our Hammers, we begin the charge while avoiding Yian Kut-Ku's attacks.
As long as we keep our stamina up, we can hold it for as long as we need. When
you see a moment of vulnerability or just can't hold it in any longer,
approach. Choose a time when he's either recovering or is taunting. Then
execute. You may even get him to flinch.

Using the Triple Pound (Triangle, Triangle, Triangle) is difficult. The output
damage is larger though, so it's rewarding. You may want to use this when
you've trapped your foe or flashes him. Even in a non-Rage Mode Taunt he's
vulnerable to a Triple Pound. If you manage to KO him, bravo. You can get away
with two Triple Combo's before he recovers. This will deal a lethal amount of
damage, crippling anything he has to throw at you.

 x--------------------x
 | GIAPREY BALLOON +! |
 x--------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 520
 | Element: Ice 150
 | Sharpness: Yellow
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Notes: White, Green, Light Blue
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Giaprey Balloon --> Giaprey Balloon +
 |
 | Method:
 | Assuming you bought the Bone Club, you'll need two Giaprey Hide, two Giaprey
 | Scales, and three Ice Crystals to make the Giaprey Balloon. All of which can
 | be found off Giaprey during the Giadrome hunting mission (bring whatever
 | Pickaxes you can.)
 |
 | The next improvement comes from Giadrome Parts, five Giadrome Hide, three
 | Screamers, and one Giadrome Skull. The Giadrome Skull is perhaps the most
 | difficult of the materials to find as it's chance of dropping is rare. It
 | could go better if you captured it (See section [3.7.3] for details.) The
 | materials are provided for you in the Supply Box.
 |
 | Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Heal +20 & Antidote) -- White --> Green
 | (Heal +30 & Freshness) -- Green --> White --> Light Blue
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

With the spam-able Triangle attack, we can render KO lightening fast.
After pumping yourself up with speed boosts (White, White, White under Recital
Mode) commit to a "Attack-Dodge-Attack-Dodge" pattern aiming for the head. You
always want to start with White --> White, sheathe, then White --> White again
for
ESP. Your Hunting Horn's strength is less then norm because of the lack of green
sharpness.

We always want to go after the head, but with ESP we're allowed to tag any part
of
the body. I took advantage of this during Multi-Fireball, by targeting his
backside we can score extra hits. Your attack pattern should take advantage of
Super Pound (Triangle + Circle) and attempt to KO your enemy. Rarely do you want
to use the Triangle unless your working for a KO. Either way, plan to evade
after
executing your move. Remember to keep the damage flow. If you're having trouble
getting to the head, try pounding the legs. It helps especially if he's spamming
Tail Whip.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

 x---------------x
 | SPIKED SPEAR! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 276
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Iron Lance --> Iron Lance + -->
 |  Bone Javelin --> Spiked Spear
 |
 | Method:
 | You need three Iron Ore to improve Iron Lance into Iron Lance +. You will
 | need to gather four Small Monster Bones from Apceros. And while you are
 | farming these from your quarry, venture to find three Medium Monster Bones.
 | Finding them can be quite difficult, and only other available to get the
 | materials come from boss Monsters like Yian Kut-Ku and Congalala themselves.
 | If you're up to it, then you may want to invest in Paladin Lance.
 |
 | You will also need four Iron Ore, four Brute Bones (Blango), three Machalite
 | Ore, and two Killer Beetles. Difficult to find I know, but worth the forge.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-----------------x
 | PALADIN LANCE! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 253
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Added Effect: Defense +4
 | Path:
 | Iron Lance --> Iron Lance + -->
 | Steel Lance --> Paladin Lance
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need twenty-one Iron Ore, five Earth Crystals, four Disc Stones, and
 | four Machalite Ore. All come from mining. The Paladin Lance is a little
 | easier to acquire then the Spiked Spear, with the cost of attack being it's
 | price.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Approaching a Yian Kut-Ku with a Lance is tricky. When done right though,
you're a Hunter among Hunters. The main issue that most player's have with the
Lance is that Evade is replaced with Back-hop. In many ways, Back-hop is just as
good as Evading. You'll notice in the heat of battle, you won't have the time to
sheath and dodge. A beginner would think that Guarding compensates for this. As
you'll learn though, the Lance incapable of withstanding multiple assaults. This
is where Back-hopping comes in.

Say for a minute, you need to dodge a linear attack. Be it a fireball, a
tackle, or beam. This is where the Back-hop comes in. Wait! Doesn't the Back-
hop,
only go backwards? I mean, isn't that WHY we call it the "Back-hop?" It all
depends on which direction your facing.

Diagram #3 - Back-hop Demonstration

============
============
=====X======
=====^======
============

Legend:
X = Enemy
^ = You and the direction you're facing.

Say you're caught in this situation. It's going to happen many times. You're
caught in front of the enemy and you got no other way to go. What do you do?

============
=====X======
=====|=<<===
=====|======
=====|======
============

Legend:
X = Enemy
<< = You and the direction you're facing.

By changing direction, we can manipulate Back-hop to act like Evade. With the
Lance, we are awarded three Back-hops at the cost of stamina. It'll result in
some serious evasion while combining the prowess poking of your tool (innuendo
not intended.)

Your method should consist of avoiding the Kut-Ku's front while poking him in
the eye. With all your skills, you should be able to handle him with ease. Or
not...

 x----------------------x
 | SNOW GUNLANCE MK.II! |
 x----------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 253
 | Element: Ice 120
 | Sharpness: Green (Very Low)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Shelling Type: Normal Lv2
 | Path:
 | Iron Gunlance --> Snow Gunlance
 |    --> Snow Gunlance MK.II
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need two Giaprey Hide, three Giaprey Scales, eight Iron Ore for the
 | upgrade to Snow Gunlance. After this, you'll need eight Earth Crystals,
 | three Giadrome Hide, and one Giadrome Head. The Giadrome Head (as I
 | mentioned before) is a rare drop but your chances increase by capturing it.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Limit yourself to Upwards Swing (Triangle + Circle) then evade. Remember a
moment
has to pass before you can use another Back-Hop (unlike the Lance.) That's why
most stick to guarding over evading. It's still a no-no to block against Peck
Attack. However attacks like Tail Whip can be leave our foe vulnerable to well-
timed stabs (as to avoid getting hit.)

You can apply your attacks during a Taunt, but remember Wyvern Fire (Triangle +
Circle while guarding) is always available. And like any weapon with decent
length, we can snag the tail after evading or blocking Tackle by using Unsheathe
Attack/Forward Stab (Forward + Triangle.) Also when using Launch, you can aim
your
Gunlance shells upwards using the Upwards Swing (Triangle + Circle) then Shoot
(Circle). If you're lucky, you can make him fall.

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o

 x--------------------x
 | BLANGO FUR BOW II! |
 x--------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 120
 | Element: Ice 80
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: All but Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Rapid Lv1
 | Charge Lv2: Pierce Lv1
 | Charge Lv3: Rapid Lv3
 | Charge Lv4: Scatter Lv3
 |
 | Path:
 | Blango Fur Bow I --> Blango Fur Bow II
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need ten Ice Crystals which can be gathered around the Snowy
 | Mountains. You'll also need five Giaprey Scales and four Blango Pelts, all
 | of which come from their respective sources (Giaprey = Scales, Blango =
 | Pelts.) When finished you'll need Brute Bone (Bulldrome or more Blango) four
 | Giadrome Hide, and ten Carpenterbugs (Pokke Farm.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Using the Bow is quite simple. Load your coatings (Triangle + Circle) then hold
the Triangle button to charge your Bow. When you feel the moment is right,
unleash
it. During the battle stay close to him, but keep outside the range of his
attacks
like Tail Whip. With this in mind, it makes for an easier fight. You want to
maintain a counterclockwise movement at all times. Only taking the time to stop
to
fire at his head. It goes without saying but keep away from his front.

Watch your stamina gauge making sure you have enough to evade an oncoming
attack.
Peck Attack and Tackle are especially unforgiving when it comes to this. And
when
running out of Coatings look for right moment to reload, such as a Taunt or the
comical Bite attack. I only recommend using Sonic Bombs (found in supply box) as
a
last resort.

 x------------------x
 | SHOTGUN (WHITE)! |
 x------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 120                Normal S: 6  6  -  Flame S : -  -  -
 | Reload: Fast                      Pierce S: 3  -  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 3  -  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  -  -  Freeze S: 3  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : 1  -  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 | Rapid Fire: Pellet S Lv1          Recov S : 3  3  -  Tranq S : -  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  -  -  Paint S : -  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  -  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  -  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need four Giadrome Claws, six Giaprey Scales, one Machalite Ore and
 | four Small Monster Bones. The claws come from Giadrome obviously, the scales
 | from Giaprey, the Machalite Ore comes from mining spots (see SnS section)
 | and the Small Monster Bones are found on Apceros in the Desert Gathering
 | Quest.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

 x-------------x
 | SAND DIVER! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 192                Normal S: 6  6  -  Flame S : 4  -  -
 | Reload: Fast                      Pierce S: 3  -  -  Water S : 4  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 3  -  -  Thnd S  : 4  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  -  -  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : 1  -  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3 3-  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: -  -  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  1  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | Skipping ahead a bit, the Liver of Legend quest grants you access to
 | Cephalos. You need two Cephalos Fin and six Cephalos Scales from them. While
 | accomplishing Liver of Legend you can search for these parts. The fins rare
 | but acquirable, and once you have them search for ten Iron Ore and three
 | Machalite Ore. Once you've spent the better part of an hour gathering forge
 | the Sand Diver and get ready to fight.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

Light Bowgun Shells: Pierce Lv1, Freeze S, Normal Lv2, Normal Lv1
Heavy Bowgun Shells: Pierce Lv1, Water S, Normal Lv2, Normal Lv1

Start with Pierce aiming for the head. The trick for scoring great damage.
Didn't
care to include Pellet because it came with Rapid Fire, and that would ground us
for seconds we can't afford. You want to perform the same regiment as you would
with a Bow, never stray too far or too close to your prey.

You also want to maintain that counterclockwise motion in order to avoid his
Tail
Whip and coming attack. You should choose your reload times sparingly. With
Battle
Armor's Reloading + 1, doing so is easy. Pull out the Freeze S should you run
out
of Pierce Lv1. If you want, you can bring Huskberry and Velociprey Fangs for
combination. Remain cautious, try to eliminate the habit of spamming shots from
one spot. Spending too much time in one place can be dangerous on the field.
Amend
your skills to these standards and you'll do fine.

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ What armor should I wear? |
o============o--------------------------o

I believe I may have covered this in "[4.3]" but I'll re-post it.

 x---------------x
 | BATTLE ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 80
 \ Total Slots: Four
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Sharpening Skill Inc
 / Attack Up [Small]
 \ Detect (Needs 2+ in Gems)
 / Guard (Needs 4+ in Gems)
 \
 / Armor Rating: Useful
 x============--------------------x

Or...

 x---------------x
 | BATTLE ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 50
 \ Total Slots: Four
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Load Up
 / Attack Up [Small]
 \ Detect (Needs 2+ in Gems)
 / Normal S Up (Needs 4+ in Gems)
 \
 / Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

We get Sharpening Skill Inc and Attack Up [Small] right off. It's resistant
against Fire (which means less damage form Fireballs.) Plus, it's versatile.
While you won't have access to Guard, you will later.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

The impassible wall that's tamed through developed skill. True mastery of this
wyvern comes from failure, the more times you fail the more you'll learn. The
time
will come when you will defeat your foe and claim you rank as Monster Hunter.
Time
tempers all skills. And should you find yourself on the wrong side of a mission,
pause, take a step back, and calm down. Go back to that exact moment you which
you
failed and push past the pain. When you attempt to correct an action you have
wronged, you are a step closer to victory! To sum up, it's why I got hit, and
what
I can do to prevent it from happening again.

Win with haste, win with grace.

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---| --- [7.3.2] Elder ** --- |---
                      ---|     ~~~ Congalala ~~~    |---
                         v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

           "Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!"
                       George Taylor, Planet of the Apes.

o==========o---------------------o
| Question  \ What is Congalala? |
o============o-------------------o

The white-furry Donkey Kong of Monster Hunter. While lacking Barrels to throw
at you, Congalala borrows traits from a more primitive Nintendo character.
Wario, if you believe it. Throwing globs of it's own excrement at you, he'll
unleash a series of gross, primate fashioned attacks.

Most effective attacks: Head (Both)
Most effective element: Fire
Susceptible Status Ailments: High tolerance to status ailments.
Susceptible Bombs: Flash
Susceptible Traps: Stun Trap, Pitfall (Non-Rage Mode only)
Breakable Parts: Horn, Tail (you can make his item drop.)
Near Death When: Will limp before fleeing Area.

Congalala likes to eat. Even with it's high tolerance, you can lay down a
"Status" Meat and have him eat it. Chances are, he'll fall under it. This gives
you time to deal heavy damage. Even if he doesn't affected the next time, you
can still benefit from distracting him for extra hits!

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

Swipe:
Congalala will take a single swipe at you. It's quite fast. It's hit-zone
appears a little larger then Yian Kut-Ku's.

Back-Hop:
Our furry foe will leap backwards, usually in preparation for another attack
like Triple-Combo or Three-Pronged Throw.

Rush:
Congalala will take off in a linear direction. Often coming to an abrupt stop
in order to execute another move. It's quite the opposite of Back-Hop, as he's
strategy now is to enclose you in his next move.

Triple-Combo:
Our fat foe stands on two legs and begins an wide hit-zone swipe attack. After
three blind swipes his legs give in causing him to fall. The ground will shake
creating a "Quake" effect. Often used with larger monsters; "Quake" can
momentarily cause you to shake. While not damaging, you automatically sheathe
your weapon effectively canceling your offense. Quake can be canceled with
"Anti-Quake" armor, which comes with Congalala Armor.

After this combo however, he is vulnerable to attack. For a brief moment he
rests on the ground recovering from the strain put on his legs. Leaving you a
moment to deal some damage.

Roar:
Congalala will Roar, when a monster "Roars" you'll crouch to cover your ears.
After the monster finishes roaring, you'll be vulnerable to attack. This is
what kills Gunners later on, as their armor is weaker. To counter this, you
need to have armor with "Earplug" armor. You won't have access to this armor
right away. It's best block it with a shield.

Three-Pronged Throw:
Say, you ever go to the zoo, and someone does something to frighten the
monkeys? Can you guess what they'll do? No? Well, our foe will reach it's
behind with it's tail and pile on excrement. In one quick motion he'll launch a
festive smoldering ball of dung. In pairs of three no doubt.

Diagram #4 - Three Pronged Throw

=================
========V========
======/=|=\======
=====/==|==\=====
====/===|===\====
===/====|====\===

Legend:
V = Monster
/|\ = Line of fire

Most of the time, Congalala will jump backwards in order create distance. This
is a good indicator of intent. Look for the signs and dodge when appropriate.
Be aware the this attack has a screwy lock-on system designed to hit you. I say
"screwy" because they miss more often then they hit.

Bloat:
In nature, an animal will sometimes make itself appear larger then it actually
is to intimidate predators. Congalala's example of this is when he bloats.
Standing on both hind-legs, he'll pump out his belly turning it into a shield.
The smart hunter would go around his front and attack from the sides. Soon
after, he'll exhale and be thrown back onto the ground. If you happen to be in
front of him at the time, god help you.

Sometimes he'll add a gaseous fart to this. Especially when in Rage Mode. A
good way to avoid this is by attacking his SIDES.

Belly Flop:
Jumping into the air, our foe will commit to a crushing belly flop. Aimed
directly at you, you'll need to dodge or Guard against it right away. It's
quick and lethal. The good news? If you happen to evade it, you can take
advantage of the moment where he's recovering. Those damn joints of his!

Expel Gas:
During the fight, our furry foe stomach may act up. When this happens he'll
crouch, cover his stomach, and raise his posterior high. Fumes will begin to
pour out followed quickly by expulsion. A gas attack.

If you're caught, this will render your status...errr...Not sure what it's
called. But you stink. Deodorant can solve this problem. Until then, you won't
be able to use items such as Potions or even Whetstones.

Breath:
After taking considerable damage, our foe will attempt to eat the object wrapped
around his tail (usually a mushroom.) Even if he's holding a bone, there's
usually
a mushroom gathering point nearby. Depending on your location he'll unleash a
different breath attack. If it's swamp, it'll be poison, if it's the jungle,
it'll
be fire.

You'll run into this attack later on with Teostra. The "hit-zone" of this attack
extends far because of his ability to shift it from left to right. It takes some
time, but you can predict where the breath starts and ends. Allowing you to take
advantage.

Section Credits:
Mondin
ricebun

Rage Mode:
If Congalala feels like he's in a pinch, he'll stand on his hinds legs and
expel gas. His face and butt will also turn red. While quite humorous be aware
that his attack power increases dramatically. A careless move can wipe that
smile from clean off.

In Rage Mode, he'll use a great many moves at once. Many accompanied by farts.
In order to prevent any of his blows from landing, it would be a good idea to
attack wisely. Like for example, if he uses his Triple-Combo, attack the Tail
while he's recovering. Not the front.

Slam:
A basic body-slam I've only seen in Rage Mode. With Congalala's enhances speed,
he'll stand on both feet only to fall back down in a terrible body-slam.

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o

 x-------------------x
 | VELOCIDROME BITE! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 168
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |  Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger +
 | Assassin's Dagger --> Velocidrome Bite
 |
 | Method:
 | If you already don't have Hunter's Dagger, you can buy it from the Felyne
 | Weapon seller. You must then take it to the weapon forger and improve it
 | with 3 Iron Ore. Iron Ore can be found in mining spots across the snowy
 | mountains, or jungle. Check GameFAQs resources map for details. While three
 | is the requirement, you'll actually need another three for the next weapon
 | improvement, so you want to gather six total.
 |
 | You should keep your eye out for three Earth Crystal and the elusive
 | Machalite Ore. You'll need four total, and at this point is quite a rare
 | find. I've had luck at Area 2 of the Snowy Mountains. Start by climbing to
 | the summit of Area 2 (approaches the entrance to Area 7) then turn face the
 | cliff. Adjust your camera and look for a small bluff below. Crawl to the
 | edge of the cliff and fall onto it, there should be another, keep going
 | until you find a fissure and start mining. I've walked away with one or two
 | Machalite Ore at a time. You may be luckier then me, so start mining!
 |
 | The rest comes from Velocidrome parts. Not to be confused with Velociprey,
 | Velocidrome is the mini-boss of the pack. You'll need four Velocidrome Claws
 | and two Velocidrome Hide for forging.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-------------x
 | VIPER BITE! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 140
 | Element: 220
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Snake Bite -->
 |   Snake Bite + --> Viper Bite
 |
 | Method:
 | Start with Hunter's Dagger gather three Giaprey Hide, one Sharp Claw (Conga,
 | Blango, Hermituar) then four Small Monster Bones. After this go after
 | Giadrome until you have one Giadrome Hide, four Giadrome Claws, and four
 | Carpenterbugs (Pokke Farm, Insect Thickets.)
 |
 | The Viper Bite is a sweet alternative for those looking for a status
 | inducer. This weapon can serve us on various missions and is a neat
 | alternative for the casual Hunter.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

In particular, the Sword and Shield once again serves as balance. It has shorter
range then I would like, but is still effective nonetheless. Rely on your
convictions as a Hunter in order to endure. Our game is simple, we want to glide
around our enemy and attack from the safest point. His sides are most vulnerable
but his head weakest. It's up to you whether you wish to risk it.

Now, after Congalala performs a Belly Flop, you can Lunge (Triangle + Circle) on
the tail during his recovery. The quick overhead slashes allow us to attack the
protruding tail with ease. The tail is effectively our "safe" target. Our goal
is
to knock the held object off his tail because we want to knock that Mushroom (or
bone) away as to not activate his Breath attack. It's not so much dangerous, as
it
is dangerous *and* annoying. Beware of the sudden bowel movements while attack
his
behind. This makes quite easy for us to counter Bloat, because we simply
maneuver
around him. You can execute a full-combo while he's recovering from Triple-
Combo.
Bloat is merely the icing on the cake.

 x------------------x
 | GIAPREY CLAWS +! |
 x------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 140
 | Element: Ice 240
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Giaprey Claws
 |       --> Giaprey Claws +
 |
 | Method:
 | Buy or make a Hunter's Dagger. Then go after Giadrome, yes, you're going to
 | need Giaprey parts, but you get those in the reward section for facing off
 | with Giadrome anyway. Plus there are plenty of Giaprey to go after during
 | the quest. This will make collecting materials easier, if not a bit tedious,
 | in the long run.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

An advantage of the Dual Swords is that we can assert Demon Dance periodically.
When recovering from attacks like Triple-Combo, Bloat, and even Belly Flop we
can
dish a flurry of hits depending on our timing. The quickly dulling blades of
your
Giaprey Claws will disturb your strategy. That makes sharpening important, and
Sharpening Skill Inc a requirement.

Our weapon's operation is similar to that of the Sword and Shield. By attacking
the tail with Roundhouse (Circle) we can avoid the attacks that come from the
front. We can also gain extra time during his repositioning (to turn to you) for
quick attacks. You can methodically operate the Roundhouse until you see an
opening. These opens are, as stated, the recovery times between moves. Our furry
foe will exert far too much energy in his attacks and take time to recover. And
should failure find you, figure out why and adjust accordingly.

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x----------------x
 | RAVAGER BLADE! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 576
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Added Effect: Def +1
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword +
 | Buster Blade --> Ravager Blade
 |
 | Method:
 | You will need (assuming you did not make Buster Sword from scratch) a total
 | of twenty Iron Ore, five Disc Stones, fifteen earth crystals, and six
 | Machalite Ore. As of now, you have these resources available throughout the
 | Mining spots in the Jungle and the Snowy Mountains. If you are having
 | trouble locating them refer to Scootypuff's resource maps on GameFAQs.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

I admire your courage. Admiration in the fact that you're using the Greatsword
despite your revulsion for it's speed. And courage in the fact that you figured
out it's damn good you cheap son-of-gun. Either way round your attacks to a
simple
pattern, use Unsheathe Attack, then evade, then sheathe and wait for your next
opportunity. If you'd like you can apply this to his tail as destroy the
mushroom.
If you find yourself missing a lot you can practice till you got it right, or
just
aim for the sides.

You'll eventually want to attack the head in order to break the horn. Wait until
you've chipped away at his health before attempting (good indicator is when he
flees the area.) Now guarding is alright every once and awhile, doing so is
better
then getting hit. However it decreases your sharpness, but more then that some
attacks like Belly Flop can still hurt a bit.

Charging should be practiced only when you feel ready for it. After recovering
from one of his moves, you can begin to charge up. Often you'll only get so far
as
a Lv1 Charge, but it's better then missing because you took the time to go all
the
way to the final level. Bloat and Triple-Combo leave wonderful avenues available
for you to drive through. With Bloat, all you have to do is position yourself
behind Congalala and wait for him to recover. With Triple-Combo, all you must do
is guess where he will fall after performing the last slash in the attack. Begin
charging as he falls but stay out of the range of Quake effect. If you do this
right, you can get away with a full charge.

 x-----------------------x
 | IRON KATANA "GOSPEL"! |
 x-----------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 576
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + --> Iron Katana
 | --> Iron Katana "Grace" --> Iron Katana Gospel
 |
 | Method:
 | Start or buy a Buster Sword. In order to reach "Gospel" you will need a
 | total of thirty-four Iron Ore, ten Disc Stone, eighteen Machalite Ore, and
 | twenty-five Earth Crystal. All of which come from mining spots throughout
 | the maps, so get digging!
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

If you wish, you can perform Unsheathe Attacks similar in pattern to that of a
Greatsword. Sheathing will be unnecessary as your weapon possesses greater
mobility. It's possible to circle around your foe and lop at his tail. He's
especially vulnerable during and after his attacks. You can go after the tail
for
safety reasons, or invest in breaking his horn.

The Spirit Combo suits us well during those moments where he's prone. We want to
assert our attacks substituting them for the times we've charged with the
Greatsword like at the end of Triple Combo and during Bloat. The advantage
behind
this is that we are allowed to keep a greater distance, and are avoid more
attacks. You can otherwise adapt your tactics to finding openings as described
in
the Sword and Shield section. Looking for openings.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x---------------x
 | IRON STRIKER! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | War Hammer --> War Hammer +
 |  War Mace --> Iron Striker
 |
 | Method:
 | Assuming you started with a War Hammer, you'll need a total of twenty-seven,
 | six Disc Stones, five Machalite Ore, and three Earth Crystals. All, and must
 | be, collected from various mining spots across the Jungle and Snowy
 | Mountains. Yeah, it's a grind I know, but Iron Striker is a reliable weapon
 | with a path that leads all the way to G Rank.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-------------x
 | KUT-KU JAW! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 676
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer -->
 |  Atlas Hammer --> Kut-Ku Jaw
 |
 | Method:
 | Start with Bone Club gather three Brute Bones (Blango, Bulldrome) and three
 | Small Monster Bones (Apceros, Aptonoth.) Once you have the Atlas Hammer
 | begin gathering two Giant Bones (Bulldrome) and another ten Small Monster
 | Bones. After that you must fight Yian Kut-Ku until you acquire it's rarest
 | drop the Giant Beak. You must also gather five Sharp Claws and two Monster
 | Fluid.
 |
 | The Monster Fluid comes from two places, the first from the Old Lady seller.
 | However they cost 5000z a pop, and I can't guarantee it will always show up
 | in her inventory. You can instead go buy Bomb Material and Toadstool (if it
 | doesn't show up you can do a quest and see if it comes later.) Combine those
 | to make a Poison Smoke Bomb and keep some of the materials you used for
 | combination in stock (it doesn't hurt to carry Combination Books.) Take the
 | quest "#13 Attack the Giant Bugs" and bring those poison bombs with you. You
 | can also take a Bowgun that's capable of using Poison S if you want. Once
 | done, you're objective is to kill the Vespoids *without* shattering their
 | bodies. To accomplish this you must kill those flying suckers with a Poison
 | Smoke Bomb or Poison S Shells. They must die of poison. Once that happens,
 | you can carve their bodies with a chance of receiving Monster Fluid along
 | with Vespoid parts (which we can use later for some sweet Gunner Armor.)
 |
 | Hunting for the Kut-Ku Jaw is supremely delicate work. It can easily take
 | you hours to gather all the necessary materials. There are two reasons why I
 | recommend you do this. First and foremost the Kut-Ku Jaw's power is rivaled
 | by no other weapon and in fact is on the path to the strongest Raw Hammer
 | in-game the Chaotic Order. Second, I'm going to recommend you do this
 | anyway, so you're just getting a leg-up right now by doing this.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low
 x---------------------------------x

The impact of the Hammer can send Congalala in a fury faster then a frog dropped
in boiling water. While you can be dangerous with this weapon type, know that
your
foe can return the brunt in two-fold. Remember to never stay in one place at one
time. And always beware of the his bowel movements.

You pattern should resemble something like... charge, aim, unleash, dodge, rinse
and repeat. Remember to keep your distance before moving in for the pound.
You'll
want to time your attacks because of gap upon unleashing the Hammer and having
it
hit. It can leave you open to crazy assaults. The best times of unleashing are
during the recover of Belly Flop, Triple Combo, and Bloat (so long as you hit
his
backside.) You can unleash a Charged Attack upon the tail, then turn your
attention to the head.

 x--------------------x
 | GIAPREY BALLOON +! |
 x--------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 520
 | Element: Ice 150
 | Sharpness: Yellow
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Notes: White, Green, Light Blue
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Giaprey Balloon --> Giaprey Balloon +
 |
 | Method:
 | Assuming you bought the Bone Club, you'll need two Giaprey Hide, two Giaprey
 | Scales, and three Ice Crystals to make the Giaprey Balloon. All of which can
 | be found off Giaprey during the Giadrome hunting mission (bring whatever
 | Pickaxes you can.)
 |
 | The next improvement comes from Giadrome Parts, five Giadrome Hide, three
 | Screamers, and one Giadrome Skull. The Giadrome Skull is perhaps the most
 | difficult of the materials to find as it's chance of dropping is rare. It
 | could go better if you captured it (See section [3.7.3] for details.) The
 | materials are provided for you in the Supply Box.
 |
 | Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Heal +20 & Antidote) -- White --> Green
 | (Heal +30 & Freshness) -- Green --> White --> Light Blue
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The Hunting Horn is tougher, but simpler in a sense. Involving bashing Triangle
until you've brought Congalala into submission. Mindless violence is good every
now and then. Remember, our hits gotta connect with the head in order to
inflict KO. This poses a problem. If you remain at Congalala's front for long
he'll rush you, or do worse. It's a calculated risk, but the payoff is sweet.

The option is always available for your to attack the tail. The Overhead Swings
are slow however, so instead attack with the Super-Pound (Triangle + Circle) and
reposition if needed. It's possible to activate Recital Mode, and execute a song
during Bloat, Belly Flop, and Triple Combo so long as you remain out of range.
Limit yourself to two notes per Recital as to prevent lingering in the mode for
too long. Most of the time, you'll be using it to recharge your mobility so it
won't be much of a nuisance.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

 x---------------x
 | SPIKED SPEAR! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 276
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Iron Lance --> Iron Lance + -->
 |  Bone Javelin --> Spiked Spear
 |
 | Method:
 | You need three Iron Ore to improve Iron Lance into Iron Lance +. You will
 | need to gather four Small Monster Bones from Apceros. And while you are
 | farming these from your quarry, venture to find three Medium Monster Bones.
 | Finding them can be quite difficult, and only other available to get the
 | materials come from boss Monsters like Yian Kut-Ku and Congalala themselves.
 | If you're up to it, then you may want to invest in Paladin Lance.
 |
 | You will also need four Iron Ore, four Brute Bones (Blango), three Machalite
 | Ore, and two Killer Beetles. Difficult to find I know, but worth the forge.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-----------------x
 | PALADIN LANCE! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 253
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Added Effect: Defense +4
 | Path:
 | Iron Lance --> Iron Lance + -->
 | Steel Lance --> Paladin Lance
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need twenty-one Iron Ore, five Earth Crystals, four Disc Stones, and
 | four Machalite Ore. All come from mining. The Paladin Lance is a little
 | easier to acquire then the Spiked Spear, with the cost of attack being it's
 | price.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

With Lance, you'll be stripped of some mobility but have the triple Back-Hop
(Cross) to *back* you up (only pun in the entire guide, I swear on it.) With
either the Gunlance or the Lance you'll want to mix evasion with guarding.
You'll
also want to eat Rations to max your stamina. You can't maneuver to the tail
unless you sheathe and reposition yourself. So dusting the tail is a long shot.
You can hope that he Belly Flops over your head and score a few hits, but
truthfully you want to focus on his sides.

Attacking his head is possible with advance maneuvering. Taking advantage of
Side-
Step (D-Pad + Cross after performing an action) can help. Prioritize Back-Hop
over
guarding, it's better to avoid the drain in stamina. In situations where you're
compelled to guard, beware of Belly Flop, as it drains health as well as
stamina.
Look for opportunities for a Lance Charge (Triangle + Circle) like the recovery
times of Triple Combo and Belly Flop. During Bloat you can sheath, maneuver
around, and attack for a quick bit of damage.

 x----------------------x
 | SNOW GUNLANCE MK.II! |
 x----------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 253
 | Element: Ice 120
 | Sharpness: Green (Very Low)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Shelling Type: Normal Lv2
 | Path:
 | Iron Gunlance --> Snow Gunlance
 |    --> Snow Gunlance MK.II
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need two Giaprey Hide, three Giaprey Scales, eight Iron Ore for the
 | upgrade to Snow Gunlance. After this, you'll need eight Earth Crystals,
 | three Giadrome Hide, and one Giadrome Head. The Giadrome Head (as I
 | mentioned before) is a rare drop but your chances increase by capturing it.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-----------------x
 | STEEL GUNLANCE! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 276
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Shelling Type: Normal Lv2
 | Path:
 | Iron Gunlance --> Iron Gunlance +
 |    --> Steel Gunlance
 |
 | Method:
 | You must create Iron Gunlance from scratch. That means you'll need five
 | Machalite Ore, ten Iron Ore, five Gunpowder (Fire Herb + Nitroshroom (both
 | come from Pokke Farm or various gathering spots or can be bought from the
 | Old Lady)) and one Flame Sac (Yian Kut-Ku.) After gathering your materials
 | to make Iron Gunlance. You'll want to gather ten more Machalite Ore, eight
 | Earth Crystals, ten Disk Stone, another five Gunpowder and another three
 | Flame Sacs.
 |
 | This weapon requires you to have defeated Yian Kut-Ku already. It's
 | materials may be hard to acquire, it's path leads us to Devout End however,
 | one of the strongest Dragon type Gunlances in-game.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

You may commit to more sheathing with the Gunlance then the Lance for mobility
issues. The absence of the extra Back-Hops isn't as felt here as it is later.
There's no shame in guarding against small blows like Swipes and whatnot. It's
possible to "turtle" which is a basic attack while guarding. Executing this
requires you to take heed in it's attacks. It may hit you with a swipe and you
can
poke back right after, but don't get carried away. You're left wide open while
attacking yourself, and should you be accosted by an attack like Triple-Combo
you'll receive the brunt of the blow.

Should you decide to reach for the tail, try an Uppercut (Triangle + Circle) to
nip it. Offing a few shells doesn't hurt either. For Wyvern Fire, the
opportunities come up at recovery points like Bloat, Belly Flop, and Triple-
Combo
especially. Choose the right moment after Bloat, just as Congalala exhales and
comes down activate it. It takes timing but when accomplished terminates any
advantage he possessed. With Belly Flop, all you need to do is guess the
trajectory of his landing. With Triple Combo just let him fall to the floor.
Sweet.

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o
 x--------------------x
 | BLANGO FUR BOW II! |
 x--------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 120
 | Element: Ice 80
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: All but Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Rapid Lv1
 | Charge Lv2: Pierce Lv1
 | Charge Lv3: Rapid Lv3
 | Charge Lv4: Scatter Lv3
 |
 | Path:
 | Blango Fur Bow I --> Blango Fur Bow II
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need ten Ice Crystals which can be gathered around the Snowy
 | Mountains. You'll also need five Giaprey Scales and four Blango Pelts, all
 | of which come from their respective sources (Giaprey = Scales, Blango =
 | Pelts.) When finished you'll need Brute Bone (Bulldrome or more Blango) four
 | Giadrome Hide, and ten Carpenterbugs (Pokke Farm.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-----------------x
 | KUT-KU STAVE I! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 120
 | Element: Fire 80
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: All but Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv1
 | Charge Lv2: Scatter Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Scatter Lv3
 | Charge Lv4: Pierce Lv2
 |
 | Path:
 | Kut-Kut Stave I
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need to have fought Yian Kut-Ku in order to unlock this Bow. The
 | difference between these two weapons is that Congalala is weaker to Fire
 | then Ice, ergo, does more damage. So if you feel you need it then gather
 | five Kut-Ku Shells, five Kut-Ku Scales, two Flame Sacs, and four
 | Carpenterbugs (Pokke Farm.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Bring whatever Coatings you wish, however remember his tolerance to abnormal
statuses. I brought Power Coatings, some Empty Bottles and Nitroshroom for
making
more. If you wish to induce an abnormal ailment why not bring something like
Tainted Meat? As soon as you near Congalala eat some Rations to max your
stamina.
You're biggest obstacle is going to be the wild-life. Try to kill those before
taking Congalala. Vespoids of Area 3 in the Jungle respawn, so it may be wise to
a
Paintball and vacate until he switches locale.

I prefer Blango Bow's Rapid Lv3, to Kut-Ku Staves Scatter Lv3. Scatter doesn't
suit Congalala due to the shape of his body, so Rapid is a useful alternative.
With either Bow, you'll want to aim for the main body. Don't bother going after
the tail, as we have enough distance from our as it is. Movement-wise you'll
want
to assume the usual counterclockwise pattern. It's true we don't have to fear
reprisal from Tail Whip, so you could maneuver in the opposite direction.

Most moves are countered the same way, charge, aim, and shoot. You can shoot
just
as Congalala finishes a Belly Flop. When using Bloat you can release just as he
exhales or if you have Blango Bow you can tag him with a Pierce Lv1. Triple
Combo
is self explanatory, however if you catch yourself directly in front of him you
can opt for Pierce Lv1 for decent damage.

 x------------------x
 | SHOTGUN (WHITE)! |
 x------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 120                Normal S: 6  6  -  Flame S : -  -  -
 | Reload: Fast                      Pierce S: 3  -  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 3  -  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  -  -  Freeze S: 3  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : 1  -  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 | Rapid Fire: Pellet S Lv1          Recov S : 3  3  -  Tranq S : -  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  -  -  Paint S : -  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  -  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  -  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need four Giadrome Claws, six Giaprey Scales, one Machalite Ore and
 | four Small Monster Bones. The claws come from Giadrome obviously, the scales
 | from Giaprey, the Machalite Ore comes from mining spots (see SnS section)
 | and the Small Monster Bones are found on Apceros in the Desert Gathering
 | Quest.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

 x-------------x
 | SAND DIVER! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 192                Normal S: 6  6  -  Flame S : 4  -  -
 | Reload: Fast                      Pierce S: 3  -  -  Water S : 4  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 3  -  -  Thnd S  : 4  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  -  -  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : 1  -  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3 3-  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: -  -  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  1  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | Skipping ahead a bit, the Liver of Legend quest grants you access to
 | Cephalos. You need two Cephalos Fin and six Cephalos Scales from them. While
 | accomplishing Liver of Legend you can search for these parts. The fins rare
 | but acquirable, and once you have them search for ten Iron Ore and three
 | Machalite Ore. Once you've spent the better part of an hour gathering forge
 | the Sand Diver and get ready to fight.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Light Bowgun Shells: Freeze S, Normal Lv2, Pierce Lv1, Normal Lv1, Clust Lv1
Heavy Bowgun Shells: Fire S, Normal Lv2, Pierce Lv1, Normal Lv1, Clust Lv1

Evoke the same strategy you used with the Bow concerning movement. With the
Heavy
Bowgun sheathing is a last resort as we want to continue the damage flow. If you
feel you must, then you must. As always wild-life continues to annoy ranged-
attackers. We can handle it a bit easier with the Bowgun's however, as we have a
decent cache of shells to spoil them with. Do your best to get by.

Reason Shotgun [White] was chosen was our lack of Fire S Bowguns. With this
Bowgun
we at least have Freeze S. And the reason Sand Diver was chosen was because it
gives us Fire S, and with four bullet slots in fact. Attacks like Triple Combo
and
Belly Flop recovery allow you barrage Shells. I found Normal S was well suited
for
said task. You could also take those moments to fire Clusts and cause severe
damage. I choose Battle Armor because of the Reloading +1. It does help,
especially since Shotgun [White] only has three slots for Freeze S. And every-
time
you reload it only makes you more the vulnerable.

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ What armor should I wear? |
o============o--------------------------o

At this point you have a small variety open to you. Try to obtain armor with
skills relevant to the weapon you're using. Remember, Defense < Skills. You can
do without defense so much if you focus on evasion. Skills are of dire
importance. Otherwise you have a few options open.

 x---------------x
 | BATTLE ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 80
 \ Total Slots: Four
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Sharpening Skl Inc
 / Attack Up [Small]
 \ Detect (Needs 2+ in Gems)
 / Guard (Needs 4+ in Gems)
 \
 / Armor Rating: Useful
 x============--------------------x

Or...

 x---------------x
 | BATTLE ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 50
 \ Total Slots: Four
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Water, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ Load Up
 / Attack Up [Small]
 \ Detect (Needs 2+ in Gems)
 / Normal S Up (Needs 4+ in Gems)
 \
 / Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

Congalala is an annoyer monster. His strategy consists of controlling the
environment with his brutish attacks. It's up to you to maintain. If you're
having trouble maintaining think about your last actions. Why did you get hit?
What did you DO wrong? How can you fix it?

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---| --- [7.3.3] Elder ** --- |---
                      ---|      ~~~ Khezu ~~~       |---
                         v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                 "The blood that flows in my veins is cursed."
                            ~Alucard, Castlevania

o==========o-----------------o
| Question  \ What is Khezu? |
o============o---------------o

I've seen and fought Khezu many times. Many, many, many times. And I still
don't know what he/she/it is (will be referred to as "he" because it's easier
for me.) Because unlike any of Wyvern, Khezu... it doesn't have eyes, or a beak
or a nose. It's like...a worms head. A Wyvern with a giant worm's head and
color to match. Along with electric moves that remind me of Street Fighter's
Blanka, it is truly bizarre.

Okay. I have a theory. Imagine if you will. That a wyvern shed it's skin (like
a snake.) Then a parasite comes along and burrows in said skin. After a while
these parasites get fatter. Eventually shaping themselves in a fashion similar
to the shell's shape, a Wyvern. A wolverine among wolves in wolves clothing.
That's Khezu, an impostor. This loathsome creature has no eyes, so it must
smell it's prey. It prefers areas far from sunlight, ergo pale skin. And scales
cavern walls like a insect crawling on it's belly. Without a shred of doubt,
the creepiest monster in all of Monster Hunter.

Most effective attacks: *Legs --> Head, Wing
Most effective element: Fire
Susceptible Status Ailments: Least Resistant to Sleep.
Susceptible Bombs: None**
Susceptible Traps: Stun Trap, Pitfall
Breakable Parts: Back
Near Death When: Will become docile for several seconds then flee the area, torn
body.

*Note: A good method of attacking would be going after the leg (stick to one)
first, causing him to fall over, then attacking his head.

**Note: Technically untrue, as Dung Bomb has can throw him into a berserk state.
I
don't mention it because it is more a detriment then anything.

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

Before we begin, you need to know about Khezu. He's a creeper monster. Which
means
the system doesn't recognize him as a monster. You know that yellow eye thingie
that comes up whenever a Wyvern spots you? Khezu doesn't have that. While you
may
think it's nothing to worry about. This nullifies (R + X) meaning you cannot use
the life-saving dodge. While not an outright attack, it does affect your
strategy.

Khezu is sluggish, possibly one of the slowest monsters in-game. Even in
flight, he's unbearably slow. This is not to be mistaken for a weakness. To
compensate, his attacks are immeasurably strong and chains them together like an
alchemist makes gold. Which means the casual Guarding has to stop. If you get
caught during Rage Mode, you're dead.

Electric Coat:
Usually his first attack. He will hunch down and plug his oddly shaped tail
into the ground then surround his body with a coat of electricity. This is an
anti-Blademaster repellent. And it's deadly. He is vulnerable for less then a
second as he begins to stand. You should strike before his head reaches normal
level.

He'll use this attack often. You need to be ready to dodge at any moment. While
Khezu himself is slow, this attack can happen quite fast with little warning.
It's been annoying Hunter's since the beginning of time. You MUST develop your
own sense of timing surrounding this attack. It's something that can't be
written down or even shown on video. Chances are, if you're having trouble
defeating Khezu. It's this attack you're fighting against.

Roar:
Khezu will emit a powerful Roar attack. Without Earplug, we're vulnerable to
one of his next attacks. Pray you never get caught by it. A good trick to avoid
being caught is to stand directly behind said monster. That way, the monster
will have to TURN before he attacks. Giving you extra moments of recovery.

Leap:
Kinda like Congalala's Belly Flop, our pale foe will attempt to leap over you.
And like a traumatic game of leap frog he comes up short. It's linear so you
should be able to avoid it. A good time to lay waste are the seconds directly
after he lands. That means you have to know WHERE he's going to land (which
isn't hard) and when to strike (dependent on your weapon type.) A weapon with
long reach is preferred.

If you time it right, you can actually get away with hitting him BEFORE he
leaps. It requires a great sense of timing, and tremendous skill (as to avoid
getting hit by his leap.)

Tail Whip:
Our pale foe will use Tail Whip. With his stubby tail though, the chances of
hitting you are slim (especially keeping to the right side.) Like all of his
attacks, it's something to watch out for.

Bite:
This is actually more dangerous then it is on a Yian Kut-Ku. Reason being that
Khezu's worm-like mouth elongates snapping a wide hit-zone. As long as you keep
away from his immediate front, you should be fine.

Three-Pronged Attack:
Similar to Congalala's Three-Pronged Throw, Khezu will launch three electric
projectiles on the ground and travel as is if they were live-wires.

Diagram #4 - Three Pronged Throw

=================
========V========
======/=|=\======
=====/==|==\=====
====/===|===\====
===/====|====\===

Legend:
V = Monster
/|\ = Line of fire

You're going to have to imagine a closer range then what I have drawn. As this
diagram takes liberties on the distance between each electric ball. Standing in
front of Khezu will most likely provoke this action. If you manage to get to
Khezu sides as he launches this attack, you'll have several seconds to inflict
a good amount before he recovers.

Rage Mode:
Khezu will instantly jerk his head down and emit a frosty-colored smoke. With
this in tow, his attacks become slightly faster but much deadlier. It's not out
of his power to inflict a OHKO on the unprepared.

He will also use Electric Coat far more often. Being in Rage Mode means his
recover time is cut half, which means less hits. Which translates to less
damage. In order to adapt, we must adjust our sense of timing.

Electric Leap:
A normal Leap with the exception of it being surrounded by an electric coat.
It's one of his more famous attacks, as it's paired with Roar to catch you off-
guard. However, he'll only perform this under Rage Mode.

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

Khezu will fly to Area 1, just outside the camp a few minutes into battle. Just
wait there to encounter him.

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o

 x-------------------x
 | VELOCIDROME BITE! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 168
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |  Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger +
 | Assassin's Dagger --> Velocidrome Bite
 |
 | Method:
 | If you already don't have Hunter's Dagger, you can buy it from the Felyne
 | Weapon seller. You must then take it to the weapon forger and improve it
 | with 3 Iron Ore. Iron Ore can be found in mining spots across the snowy
 | mountains, or jungle. Check GameFAQs resources map for details. While three
 | is the requirement, you'll actually need another three for the next weapon
 | improvement, so you want to gather six total.
 |
 | You should keep your eye out for three Earth Crystal and the elusive
 | Machalite Ore. You'll need four total, and at this point is quite a rare
 | find. I've had luck at Area 2 of the Snowy Mountains. Start by climbing to
 | the summit of Area 2 (approaches the entrance to Area 7) then turn face the
 | cliff. Adjust your camera and look for a small bluff below. Crawl to the
 | edge of the cliff and fall onto it, there should be another, keep going
 | until you find a fissure and start mining. I've walked away with one or two
 | Machalite Ore at a time. You may be luckier then me, so start mining!
 |
 | The rest comes from Velocidrome parts. Not to be confused with Velociprey,
 | Velocidrome is the mini-boss of the pack. You'll need four Velocidrome Claws
 | and two Velocidrome Hide for forging.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-------------x
 | VIPER BITE! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 140
 | Element: Par 220
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Snake Bite -->
 |   Snake Bite + --> Viper Bite
 |
 | Method:
 | Start from Hunter's Dagger and gather three Giaprey Hide, a Sharp Claw
 | (Conga or Hermituar in Jungle,) and a Small Monster Bone. Upon acquiring the
 | Snake Bite move onto Giadrome by carving one Giadrome Hide and four Giadrome
 | Claws from his corpse. Get four Carpenterbugs from Pokke Farm and forge the
 | Snake Bite +. You will need to accomplish the "Hunt the Gendrome" quest and
 | go after the Genprey for five Genprey Hide, fifteen Genprey Fangs, and three
 | Small Monster Bones.
 |
 | I've been told the Viper Bite is a decent alternative to the Velocidrome
 | Bite. Early players may not covet Paralyze, but it can be effective if
 | combined with the usage of Barrel Bombs and/or Shock Traps.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Why can't I get a flesh-addicted drooling mutant as a pet? Sigh... the most
irksome attack in Khezu's arsenal will be Electric Coat. Upon attacking close-
range, he can counter with it. Attempt to guard this and Roar, however you must
tame your swings to either the fist two (Triangle, Triangle) or Lunge (Triangle
+
Circle.) Reason I mention Roar is that during Rage Mode he'll chain Roar +
Electric Leap.

Attacking the legs is your main objective, but there are attacks which leave the
head wide open. Like Three-Pronged Attack which not only leaves his sides open
during the attack, but the head after execution. Occasionally you can go after
the
wings, as it's our "safe" strategy. Since his wings peak just a bit outside his
body, it's possible to score blows and avoid Electric Coat with a simple roll.
You
can even nip the tail after he lands from Leap.

 x--------------x
 | TWIN KUT-KU! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 154
 | Element: Fire 100
 | Sharpness: Yellow
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 | Bone Scythe --> Bone Scythe +
 | Chief Scythe --> Twin Kut-Ku
 |
 | Method:
 | Buy or start with a Bone Scythe improve into a Bone Scythe + by gathering
 | two Sharp Claws and two Small Monster Bones. In order to improve into a
 | Chief Scythe you must acquire two Medium Monster Bones from an Apceros or
 | Yian Kut-Ku. In order to find the eight Small Husk Bone you must venture
 | into Area 7 of the Jungle and search among the pile of bones. You must also
 | find two Unknown Skulls for the next upgrade so keep that in mind. Also note
 | that you can find Small Husk Bones on the Old Lady.
 |
 | You will need two Velocidrome Claws which come from the Velocidrome
 | obviously. Finally you will need four Kut-Ku Scales, and four Hot Drink to
 | forge the Twin Kut-Ku. I wouldn't blame you for giving up on the path. I
 | also won't stop you from fulfilling your dual sword fantasy (like a Jedi,
 | right?)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Pick a leg and attack with Roundhouse (Circle) in order to knock Khezu down.
Once
accomplished perform Demon Dance (Triangle + Circle in Demon Mode) or Double
Roundhouse (Circle in Demon Mode) on the head. You're weapon may dull, so bring
Battle Armor to shorten sharpening. Choose your moments wisely, as the wrong one
can mean defeat. This is due to his uncanny ability to chain his moves together
despite his sluggishness.

Like the Sword and Shield, attacking the wing is your "safe" option. We can
react
and evade quicker should our foe counter with Electric Coat. You can exploit
this
move by maneuvering in front of him while performing the attack, and execute a
Roundhouse as he recovers. You cannot do this during Rage Mode however. During
Tail Whip, it's possible to perform a Roundhouse just as our foes head meets
your
direction. It's tough trying to figure where the head will stop when you're
fixed
on the tail. It's doable however, but conditional on his size.

You can exploit Leap by attacking the legs of Khezu as he's recovering from the
jump. Be quick with you assault, as it's dangerous to remain that close. You can
exploit Three-Pronged Throw by waiting till after the currents have discharged
and
Forward Slash (Triangle + Circle) to the head. Should you find yourself on the
wrong end of this attack, try running away from the current. The further you
are,
the wider the gap becomes and the easier it is to dodge. In order to stave off
Roar, you must position yourself directly behind Khezu. That way, it will take a
bit more time for him to face you. It takes time to learn these openings, but
victory comes only with struggle and learning.

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x----------------x
 | RAVAGER BLADE! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 576
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Added Effect: Def +1
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword +
 | Buster Blade --> Ravager Blade
 |
 | Method:
 | You will need (assuming you did not make Buster Sword from scratch) a total
 | of twenty Iron Ore, five Disc Stones, fifteen earth crystals, and six
 | Machalite Ore. As of now, you have these resources available throughout the
 | Mining spots in the Jungle and the Snowy Mountains. If you are having
 | trouble locating them refer to Scootypuff's resource maps on GameFAQs.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Wait in Area 1, begin charging as his shadow stops and you should execute a
fully
charged attack. This is a prelude to your charging strategy. Feel free to
Pitfall
Trap Khezu, as it allows us to execute two full charges. During your bout
prepare
to guard against Roar, sheathed guard (R + Triangle + Circle) will help you
avoid
his chains. With the Greatsword, we can turn Electric Coat against our foe with
two options. We can position ourselves in front of him and charge for the head
as
he recovers, or the safer option (depending on how you look at it) which is
throwing a horizontal slash (Circle) during the attack.

You would be surprised how much positioning becomes key with the Greatsword. You
have a forty-sixty chance of Khezu turning to face you after performing an
attack.
Regardless, choose a safe distance then begin charging. You can exploit Three
Pronged Throw by positioning yourself near the head, by the top of of the wind
is
a good indicator, and charge. If positioned right, you should avoid the
discharge
and execute a charge. After a Leap, you can run to the side and pull of an
Unsheathed Attack on the legs or the wing depending on how safe you play it. And
during Rage Mode, you're forced to resort to lesser level charges as to avoid
dying.

 x-----------------------x
 | IRON KATANA "GOSPEL"! |
 x-----------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 576
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + --> Iron Katana
 | --> Iron Katana "Grace" --> Iron Katana Gospel
 |
 | Method:
 | Start or buy a Buster Sword. In order to reach "Gospel" you will need a
 | total of thirty-four Iron Ore, ten Disc Stone, eighteen Machalite Ore, and
 | twenty-five Earth Crystal. All of which come from mining spots throughout
 | the maps, so get digging!
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Our objective becomes tagging Khezu's parts bleeding the range our blade. You're
"safety" moves thin reprisal from Electric Coat. The Longsword possesses a
series
of clean swings, however these attacks inch us forward. Should we draw near
enough, we'll get sent backwards with his attacks. The combo Stab & Slash &
Backsweep (Circle, Triangle, Triangle + Circle) can dish out with minimal
inching.
In fact we can use this very combination to exploit Electric Coat by using this
combo in tandem. You may want to consider the shorter alternatives Stab & Slash
(Circle, Triangle) and Stab & Backsweep (Circle, Triangle + Circle.)

You're bound to fill that Spirit Gauge up. Should you desire to unleash it, tap
the R Trigger once to use a singular slash as to prevent inching. During the
recovery time of Three Pronged Throw you can use Stab & Slash. You have the same
opportunity to attack the sides after Leap. And like the Dual Swords you must
position yourself behind your enemy in order to avoid Roar.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x---------------x
 | IRON STRIKER! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | War Hammer --> War Hammer +
 |  War Mace --> Iron Striker
 |
 | Method:
 | Assuming you started with a War Hammer, you'll need a total of twenty-seven,
 | six Disc Stones, five Machalite Ore, and three Earth Crystals. All, and must
 | be, collected from various mining spots across the Jungle and Snowy
 | Mountains. Yeah, it's a grind I know, but Iron Striker is a reliable weapon
 | with a path that leads all the way to G Rank.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-------------x
 | KUT-KU JAW! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 676
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer -->
 |  Atlas Hammer --> Kut-Ku Jaw
 |
 | Method:
 | Start with Bone Club gather three Brute Bones (Blango, Bulldrome) and three
 | Small Monster Bones (Apceros, Aptonoth.) Once you have the Atlas Hammer
 | begin gathering two Giant Bones (Bulldrome) and another ten Small Monster
 | Bones. After that you must fight Yian Kut-Ku until you acquire it's rarest
 | drop the Giant Beak. You must also gather five Sharp Claws and two Monster
 | Fluid.
 |
 | The Monster Fluid comes from two places, the first from the Old Lady seller.
 | However they cost 5000z a pop, and I can't guarantee it will always show up
 | in her inventory. You can instead go buy Bomb Material and Toadstool (if it
 | doesn't show up you can do a quest and see if it comes later.) Combine those
 | to make a Poison Smoke Bomb and keep some of the materials you used for
 | combination in stock (it doesn't hurt to carry Combination Books.) Take the
 | quest "#13 Attack the Giant Bugs" and bring those poison bombs with you. You
 | can also take a Bowgun that's capable of using Poison S if you want. Once
 | done, you're objective is to kill the Vespoids *without* shattering their
 | bodies. To accomplish this you must kill those flying suckers with a Poison
 | Smoke Bomb or Poison S Shells. They must die of poison. Once that happens,
 | you can carve their bodies with a chance of receiving Monster Fluid along
 | with Vespoid parts (which we can use later for some sweet Gunner Armor.)
 |
 | Hunting for the Kut-Ku Jaw is supremely delicate work. It can easily take
 | you hours to gather all the necessary materials. There are two reasons why I
 | recommend you do this. First and foremost the Kut-Ku Jaw's power is rivaled
 | by no other weapon and in fact is on the path to the strongest Raw Hammer
 | in-game the Chaotic Order. Second, I'm going to recommend you do this
 | anyway, so you're just getting a leg-up right now by doing this.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

We will be using Charge solely throughout the match, with the exception of
toppling Khezu via legs. Beware, as your Charge unleashes you inch closer
towards
your target! It's up to you to find a ground between the drop of your hammer and
the coat of electricity. You can hit any part of the body due to innate ESP of
the
Hammer, but we want to focus on the head and/or legs. The tail can also be
snagged
after a Leap but damage is minimal.

Wait in Area 1 as usual, and begin charging as his shadow stops and release when
he lands. One of the largest advantages of the Hammer is the ability to hit
Khezu's head during Electric Coat. With the proper timing and positioning you
can
turn his most dangerous move to your advantage. You can accomplish this with any
part of the body and with moves like Three Pronged Attack. After performing a
Leap, you can release on the legs with his back turned. If you're having trouble
reaching for the legs or the head then try the wings. And like any weapon
without
the ability to block, you must position yourself behind your enemy to avoid
Roar.

 x--------------x
 | SONIC GLASS! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: 5%
 | Slots: N/A
 | Notes: White, Green, Yellow
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer --> Skullcrusher
 |   --> Skullcrusher + --> Sonic Glass
 |
 | Method:
 | The reason I don't mention the Sonic Glass earlier is for two-fold purposes.
 | The first being that it's impossible to forge without having access to
 | Congalala and Yian Kut-Ku. The second, and more pressing reason is because
 | the materials are crazy to gather. In order to follow this path you must
 | listen to my instructions with care.
 |
 | Improving Bone Club to Cyclo Hammer requires three Brute Bones (Bulldrome)
 | and three Small Monster Bones (Old Lady, Apceros, Giadrome.) You must then
 | farm Yian Kut-Ku until you have eight Medium Monster Bones. Then go after
 | Cephalos or Cephadrome for ten Piscine Fangs and Congalala for three
 | Congalala Claws. Finally, get Sharp Claws from either Conga or Blango. Once
 | completed it's time to get the Vespoid stuff out of the way. Refer the Kut-
 | Ku Jaw instructions as to *how* you gather the parts. Needless to say, you
 | will need one Vespoid Adomen, four Vespoid Shells, four Hornetaurs (on the
 | same mission as Vespoids,) and one Monster Fluid.
 |
 | Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Recover Speed[Small]) -- Green --> Green --> Yellow (1 Min.)
 | (High Frequency) -- Yellow --> Yellow --> Yellow
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

There's not a lot I can tell you that hasn't already been addressed through the
Hammer. The replacement Superpound (Triangle + Circle), is a poor man's Hammer
Charge. Trading power with cost for trifling simplicity once more. All the
points
to which Khezu is vulnerable with Hammer Charge can be done with Superpound with
a
variation on timing. It's true, we don't have to wait for a Charge so we can
strike whenever we wish.

You can use Superpound during Electric Coat, if you can't hit the head then go
after another body part. We can exploit Three Pronged Throw whilst his head is
lowered, just wait at the point of his wing and attempt to nail the head. Leap
can
be exploited with superb timing, you can nail him just as he jumps if you're
quick
enough. As always, the wing and legs are open if you can't score the head. And
often it's wiser to go after either. And like any weapon that can't block, if
you
see a Roar coming position yourself away from his front to buy time. Overall,
play
the instrument with the Hunting Horn as you did with the Hammer. Play with
spacing
and attempt to hone your sense of timing surrounding his movements.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

 x---------------x
 | SPIKED SPEAR! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 276
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Iron Lance --> Iron Lance + -->
 |  Bone Javelin --> Spiked Spear
 |
 | Method:
 | You need three Iron Ore to improve Iron Lance into Iron Lance +. You will
 | need to gather four Small Monster Bones from Apceros. And while you are
 | farming these from your quarry, venture to find three Medium Monster Bones.
 | Finding them can be quite difficult, and only other available to get the
 | materials come from boss Monsters like Yian Kut-Ku and Congalala themselves.
 | If you're up to it, then you may want to invest in Paladin Lance.
 |
 | You will also need four Iron Ore, four Brute Bones (Blango), three Machalite
 | Ore, and two Killer Beetles. Difficult to find I know, but worth the forge.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

Because of the natural inching of your pokes, you're limited to one poke per
Electric Coat. Most chances of attack should employ the Upwards Thrust (Circle)
and only when Khezu's head is lowered should you try the Forward Thrust
(Triangle.) Spacing is key should you wish to manipulate the field. Triple
Backhop
(Cross x3) serves us well in evading attacks (especially Electric Coat.) Your
maneuverability doesn't require you to sheathe as often, in fact I'd recommend
against it. You never know when you'll be forced to guard.

Don't try to guard against Triple Pronged Throw. Instead wait at the tip of
Khezu's wing during the attack, wait till he discharges and poke thrice. You can
obviously guard against Roar, but I'd still recommend you remain at side or
behind
for shield recoil. During Tail Whip, you can use Upwards Stab (Circle) to pierce
the head or wing. Overall, the Lance takes practice but you can grab victory
once
you've adapted. When your foe is docile in the moments before he flees to Area
3,
you can stab his head and attempt to stagger.

 x-----------------x
 | STEEL GUNLANCE! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 276
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Shelling Type: Normal Lv2
 | Path:
 | Iron Gunlance --> Iron Gunlance +
 |    --> Steel Gunlance
 |
 | Method:
 | You must create Iron Gunlance from scratch. That means you'll need five
 | Machalite Ore, ten Iron Ore, five Gunpowder (Fire Herb + Nitroshroom (both
 | come from Pokke Farm or various gathering spots or can be bought from the
 | Old Lady)) and one Flame Sac (Yian Kut-Ku.) After gathering your materials
 | to make Iron Gunlance. You'll want to gather ten more Machalite Ore, eight
 | Earth Crystals, ten Disk Stone, another five Gunpowder and another three
 | Flame Sacs.
 |
 | It's materials may be hard to acquire, it's path leads us to Devout End
 | however, one of the strongest Dragon type Gunlances in-game.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

The single Backhop limit is noticeably immaterial. Throughout the match you will
be dependent on two attacks, Uppercut (Triangle + Circle), and Shells (Circle).
You can spam Shells or Wyvern Fire during Electric Coat, giving you the ability
to
attack with zero consequences. Opportunities for Uppercut come from attacks like
Bite, where just as he withdraws his head you can counter with a quick one.

Guarding against Roar is tricky, but ultimately up to you to decide. You can
position yourself near his front in preparation for the Roar and when it happens
you can guard and counter with Uppercut. It's dangerous in general to be near
Khezu's front, so it's a risk. And like the Lance, you can counter Three Pronged
Throw by waiting by the tip of the wing for discharge. Avoid Forward Thrust
(Triangle while holding joystick forward) else settle for two-hits. Beware of
Electric Leap, while you can block against it the wrong spacing will connect
with
your backside. You can finish Khezu with the Upwards Stabs as he's locked in his
docile state before fleeing to Area 3.

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o

 x-----------------x
 | KUT-KU STAVE I! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 120
 | Element: Fire 80
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: All but Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv1
 | Charge Lv2: Scatter Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Scatter Lv3
 | Charge Lv4: Pierce Lv2
 |
 | Path:
 | Kut-Kut Stave I
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need five Kut-Ku Shells, five Kut-Ku Scales, two Flame Sacs, and four
 | Carpenterbugs (Pokke Farm.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Stave has Scatter, so find the proper spacing between you and Khezu that allows
for all arrows to connect. With the Bow, we spend less time aiming for a
specific
parts and more on evading. You should always retain that counterclockwise motion
as to avoid Tail Whip and other attacks. For Coatings, I sided with the Power
Coatings only. If you find yourself nosediving then consider using others.

As always our innate evasion and spacing shaves the likelihood of getting hit.
Wildlife remains a great annoyer. Use moments like Electric Coat or an-out-of-
the-
way Three Pronged Attack to strike at respawning Vespoids. Otherwise there is
not
much to your game that should change. Charge up, wait for opportunity to release
and repeat till dead.

 x---------------x
 | WILD ASSUALT! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 132                Normal S: 6  6  -  Flame S : 3  -  -
 | Reload: Fast                      Pierce S: 3  3  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 3  -  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : -  -  -  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: One                        Clust S : 1  -  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 | Rapid Fire: Pierce Lv1            Recov S : 3  3  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  1  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -  Armor S : 1  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need five Congalala Pelts, three Congalala Fangs, five Machalite Ore,
 | and one Giant Bone (Bulldrome, Congalala) to forge this weapon. To obtain
 | Pierce Lv2 ammunition combine Huskberry and Pin Tuna (Pokke Farm, Fishing
 | Pier.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

 x-------------x
 | SAND DIVER! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 192                Normal S: 6  6  -  Flame S : 4  -  -
 | Reload: Fast                      Pierce S: 3  -  -  Water S : 4  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 3  -  -  Thnd S  : 4  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  -  -  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : 1  -  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3 3-  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: -  -  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  1  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | Skipping ahead a bit, the Liver of Legend quest grants you access to
 | Cephalos. You need two Cephalos Fin and six Cephalos Scales from them. While
 | accomplishing Liver of Legend you can search for these parts. The fins rare
 | but acquirable, and once you have them search for ten Iron Ore and three
 | Machalite Ore. Once you've spent the better part of an hour gathering forge
 | the Sand Diver and get ready to fight.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Light Bowgun Shells: Flaming S. Normal S Lv2, Pierce S Lv2, Clust S Lv1.
Heavy Bowgun Shells: Flaming S. Normal S Lv2, Pierce S Lv1, Clust S Lv1.

Note: Bring Huskberry and Fire Herb should you desire more Flaming Shells.

Wait in Area 1, wait for Khezu to fly and land. Upon his descent fire a Clust.
You're objective here is to abuse the Flaming Shells. Being that you possess
decent spacing between you and your opponent, connecting shots with the head is
a
bit easier. Attacks like Three Pronged Attack for example, can leave him wide
open
for assault, but also reloading. When evading Leap, you often lose sight of the
head and should that happen you can aim for the other parts of the body.

Because of Khezu's speed, we are allowed to fire many Shells with little
discretion. Flaming Shells blast chunks of his health being weak to fire. Normal
Shells are backup and deal decent damage after the previous ammo has been
exhausted. Pierce S is for crowd control as our foe flees to areas teeming with
Giadrome. If you wish it, you can attach a shield to block Roar. Personally I
don't because Roar can be thwarted through positioning yourself on the side or
behind. However, beginner's may find this practice risky. Overall, the Bowgun
provides us with a level of space that makes fighting the pale thing easier.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

Brian is burnt, I should make dinner...oh? You mean about Khezu? Why didn't you
say so? Ah, this ugly earthworm of Wyvern spawn brandishes a powerful offense.
Once you've spent twelve hours trying to beat it with every weapon things become
a
bit easier. Till then, this bunny is as tough as a tiger, as electric as Street
Fighter's Blanka, and as slow as a sloth swimming through a flooded forest.

Fact: Wherever you are, expect the day to brighten a bit with you kick his sorry
hide.

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---|   --- [7.3.4] Review ---    |---
                      ---| ~~~ Reviewing Elder ** ~~~  |---
                         v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

In this section we'll review what we've learned after fighting our first
Wyverns/Monster. I'll make these sections after I've gone over a plethora of
new information every two or so sections. Why? Because you'll only learn
through repetition. Also, it's difficult to soak up all this new information at
once. Therefore, these sections cut out the tender bits of information for your
reading pleasure.

                           x----------------------x
                           | Gathering Materials! |
                           o======================o

By now, you should be well versed in the arts of gathering through Gathering
Quests. However, there is another side of gathering that encompasses the entire
series. Gathering Materials for your armor and weapons. With several monsters
at your disposal, it's hard to recognize which armor you'd rather have. I mean,
do I really need Anti-Quake Congalala Armor? No, if you rather Gem your armor,
then so be it.

Ah Gems, how wonderful to have. Of course, you shouldn't have access to very
many materials in order to make them. Don't feel discouraged by this. You're
just starting out. Like a freckle in the world of Monster Hunter. In order to
get more Gems, you'll need items from certain places. Albeit, Pokke Farm and
Wyverns. Should you have trouble locating what you seek, there are many guides
out there for beginners searching for the materials they need.

                           x----------------------x
                           | Upgrading Equipment! |
                           o======================o

Upgrading armor and weapons can be difficult. You'll notice that weapons follow
a chain. If you read the end-game weapons section "[6]" and got confused it's
understandable. Weapons follow a specific chain that can branch out to other
weapons, and sometimes other weapon types. It's like a tree, and you're
starting at the weakest root. Err...bad analogy.

Weapons branching does flow like a tree though. You start out as a seedling,
then you grow and have access to more and more branches. Eventually, you can
acquire the weapon you desire. Or the one you think is more powerful. In order
to do this, you have to gather materials from all over. Your most important lay
in Monster/Wyvern parts and raw Ores. Ores usually obtained at Pokke Farm or
trips to Mining Spots.

The other side of equipment is your armor. Unlike weapons, they don't follow
branching. Instead, what you see is what you get. Or is it? Often beginners
overlook armor types because they don't carry the skills they want. What they
don't realize is that the armor they overlooked may indeed carry more slots, or
offer a skill they didn't know they needed. It's tragic. Starting off as a
beginner myself, I forsook key pieces of armor with exceptional skills. It was
because I stuck to what I knew. And that was nothing.

Instead of branching, we can upgrade our armors defense. I know, it's not
nearly as glamorous as branching. It's entirely less confusing though. We're
limited to how far we can go by our "stones" and our wealth. And to tell you
the truth, the only way you're going ever get credible defense for Gunner armor
is by upgrading all pieces, not just one.

                               x--------------x
                               | The Pattern! |
                               o==============o

During your questing, you must have noticed it? That you fell into a pattern in
order to keep things in order? It's nothing to be ashamed of. Some may call
this "repetitiveness" but the beginner Hunter it prevents us from being
overwhelmed. Keeping things simple is the key. Have you tried out my suggestion
yet? The one where you make a list of your armor and the materials to make it?
If you haven't, it's expected. If you have, good job. Later on in the game,
these habits become crucial for breaking into the next rank.

By accepting the fact, that we must DO certain things before the next mission,
we fall into a pattern. The trick is to do this as efficiently as possible. In
other words, fast. A sad fact about "The Pattern" is that overtime it becomes a
"rut" meaning boring. If you've played for three-hundred hours like I have,
then you'd know. It's tedious.

When that happens, there really isn't anything you can do. And it's my
suggestion that you take a long break from Hunting. Chances are you could be
approaching Burn-out. That however, is beside the point. Settling into a
pattern can help you in the long run. These are skills you should learn before
you leave this guide behind. So make a checklist, Felyne Kitchen, Felyne
Fighter, Pokke Farm, Item Shop, Equipment Shop...ectera.

                              x----------------x
                              | Your Strategy! |
                              o================o

At this point. I'd estimate you're sluggish, get hit a lot, and just barely
made it by that Khezu. Being the case, I bet you're wondering how you'll make
through the next rank. If you're will to learn, then there are resources that
can help you. There are only so many things my writing can tell you. Being the
case, the best teacher is your own experience. We do this by self-reflection,
or more importantly, the Training Hall.

I was at first surprised when I fought in the Training Hall. They gave you weak
equipment and hardly any items and sent you off to fight. Believe it or not,
they give you exactly what you need. Nothing else. The Training Hall is a great
place to learn the movements of each weapon; what it takes to defeat each
Wyvern. You can absorb lots of info by watching other people take on these
Monsters. Be it YouTube, or a friend. Oh, lets face it, YouTube will be your
source.

Why does this work? Because other people have the same weapons as you. The
EXACT same items and equipment. The only difference between you and them, is
that they've had a lot more practice. We can close the gap, by learning exactly
what they did. By emulating a more experienced player, can apply it to our own
strategy. And who knows, you may end falling in love with a weapon type!

                               x--------------x
                               | Wrapping Up! |
                               o==============o

You should have a better understanding of the world of Monster Hunter. These
skills can and will propel you to newer and more challenging levels of the
game. I am doubtless that you will be able to handle it. Given all we've gone
over in this section. If you've followed my words to a tee, you should be doing
well. Or at least a little better. Either way, I've done my job.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [7.4] Elder Quest --- |---
                     ---|    ~~~ Elder *** ~~~      |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                      x----------------------------x
                      | #1 Gathering - Swamp Zone! |
                      x----------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No              /
                      | Type: Gathering Quest      \
                      | Reward: 12z                /
                      | Contract Fee: 0z           \
                      | Location: Swamp (Day)      /
                      | Details: Gather Materials  \
                      x----------------------------x

Different local, same request. This would be a good time to explore the Swamp.
Familiarize yourself with your environment. Otherwise, check the resources Map.

                      x----------------------------------x
                      | #2 Gathering - Forest and Hills! |
                      x----------------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No                   /
                      | Type: Gathering Quest           \
                      | Reward: 12z                     /
                      | Contract Fee: 0z                \
                      | Location: Forest & Hills (Day)  /
                      | Details: Gather Materials       \
                      x---------------------------------x

My place for capturing Bugs. It should be yours too.

                      x------------------------x
                      | #3 Shadow in the Snow! |
                      x------------------------x--------x
                      | Mandatory: No                   /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest             \
                      | Reward: 2100z                   /
                      | Contract Fee: 350z              \
                      | Location: Snowy Mountains (Day) /
                      | Details: Hunt Khezu             \
                      x---------------------------------x

Allows you to re-hunt Khezu for various materials.

                      x------------------------------x
                      | #4 The Subterranean Glutton! |
                      x------------------------------x---x
                      | Mandatory: No                    /
                      | Type: Gathering Quest            \
                      | Reward: 1200z                    /
                      | Contract Fee: 200z               \
                      | Location: Snowy Mountain (Night) /
                      | Details: Gather 3 Khezu Whelps   \
                      x----------------------------------x

A difficult quest for many. Because of the location of the "Khezu Whelps" many
wander around for ages looking for them. Lucky for you, you have me! ^_^

Explore around Area 8, until you find a small crawlspace. Go crawl through it
(crouch via X button duh) until you're out. From there, just keep climbing
until you come across what looks like a shell. It is in fact, this is the shed
skin of Kushala Daora. You must pick at them with a Pickax in order to obtain a
Khezu Whelp. So what's the catch? You can only carry one. Plus, they drain your
health. In other words, you have an actual parasite attached to you. 0_0;;

Doubtless, you've packed a Farcaster for at least one trip back. The rest
you're going to have to do on foot. It's up to you whether or not you want to
use it first, second, or last. Khezu Whelps provide a good amount of Pokke
Points as well. So you may want to consider farming.

                      x----------------------------x
                      | #5 Blango Slaying Tactics! |
                      x----------------------------x------x
                      | Mandatory: Yes                    /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest               \
                      | Reward: 900z                      /
                      | Contract Fee: 150z                \
                      | Location: Snowy Mountains (Night) /
                      | Details: Slay 10 Blango           \
                      x-----------------------------------x

I'll let you in on the joke, this is apparently trying to prep you for the
Urgent Quest "Ruler of the Snow" where you hunt Blangonga. Which is funny,
because it really doesn't help. You'll find Blango in Areas 6, 7, and 8. You'll
need to revisit each Area as they re-spawn.

                      x-----------------------------x
                      | #6 Aim for the Jungle Crab! |
                      x-----------------------------x--x
                      | Mandatory: No                  /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest            \
                      | Reward: 1800z                  /
                      | Contract Fee: 300z             \
                      | Location: Jungle (Night)       /
                      | Details: Hunt Daimyo Hermituar \
                      x--------------------------------x

See "[7.4.1]" for details.

                      x------------------------------x
                      | #7 Master of the Giant Lake! |
                      x------------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No                /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest          \
                      | Reward: 2400z                /
                      | Contract Fee: 400z           \
                      | Location: Jungle (Night)     /
                      | Details: Hunt Green Plesioth \
                      x------------------------------x

See "[7.4.2]" for details.

                      x---------------------------x
                      | #8 A Swarm of Hermituars! |
                      x---------------------------x-x
                      | Mandatory: No               /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest         \
                      | Reward: 900z                /
                      | Contract Fee: 150z          \
                      | Location: Jungle (Day)      /
                      | Details: Slay 10 Hermituars \
                      x-----------------------------x

Mini-version of Daimyo Hermituar. They can be found all throughout the Jungle.
They burrow themselves so they not in plain sight. Look for sections in an Area
where a small amount of dirt is rising. Walk over it and prepare to dodge.

                      x------------------------------x
                      | #9 The Purple Poison Menace! |
                      x-------------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No                 /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest           \
                      | Reward: 2100z                 /
                      | Contract Fee: 350z            \
                      | Location: Jungle (Night)      /
                      | Details: Hunt Purple Gypceros \
                      x-------------------------------x

See "[7.4.3]" for details.

                      x-------------------------------x
                      | #10 The Lurking Desert Giant! |
                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: Yes                 /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest            \
                      | Reward: 1800z                  /
                      | Contract Fee: 300z             \
                      | Location: Desert (Day)         /
                      | Details: Hunt Daimyo Hermituar \
                      x--------------------------------x

Once again, see "[7.4.1]" for details.

                      x---------------------------------x
                      | #11 Water Wyvern in the Desert! |
                      x---------------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No          /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest    \
                      | Reward: 2100z          /
                      | Contract Fee: 350z     \
                      | Location: Desert (Day) /
                      | Details: Hunt Plesioth \
                      x------------------------x

Once again, See "[7.4.2]" for details.

                      x-----------------------x
                      | #12 Slay the Genprey! |
                      x-----------------------x--x
                      | Mandatory: No            /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest      \
                      | Reward: 900z             /
                      | Contract Fee: 150z       \
                      | Location: Desert (Day)   /
                      | Details: Slay 20 Genprey \
                      x--------------------------x

Watch out for Gendrome!

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | #13 Gypceros: Venomous Terror! |
                      x-------------------------x------x
                      | Mandatory: Yes          /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest     \
                      | Reward: 1800z           /
                      | Contract Fee: 300z      \
                      | Location: Swamp (Night) /
                      | Details: Hunt Gypceros  \
                      x-------------------------x

Dear god, for the last time, See "[7.4.3]" for details.

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | #14 Attack of the Blue Kut-Ku! |
                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No                  /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest            \
                      | Reward: 1800z                  /
                      | Contract Fee: 300z             \
                      | Location: Swamp                /
                      | Details: Hunt Blue Yian Kut-Ku \
                      x--------------------------------x

Yian Kut-Ku with a color-swap. Handle with care, beware of poisonous miasma.

                      x-------------------------x
                      | #15 The Mischief-Maker! |
                      x-------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No           /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest     \
                      | Reward: 1500z           /
                      | Contract Fee: 250z      \
                      | Location: Swamp (Day)   /
                      | Details: Hunt Congalala \
                      x-------------------------x

Prepare to hunt you're arch-nemesis in the Swamp! How fitting.

                      x--------------------------x
                      | #16 Fang of the Iodrome! |
                      x--------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No         /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest   \
                      | Reward: 1200z         /
                      | Contract Fee: 200z    \
                      | Location: Swamp (Day) /
                      | Details: Hunt Iodrome \
                      x-----------------------x

Iodrome is the most annoying of the Prey family. It spits the poison!

                      x----------------------------x
                      | #17 Slay the Great Kut-Ku! |
                      x----------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No             /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest       \
                      | Reward: 1500z             /
                      | Contract Fee: 250z        \
                      | Location: Forest & Hills  /
                      | Details: Hunt Yian Kut-Ku \
                      x---------------------------x

Yian Kut-Ku has taken the Forest & Hills. It's time for you welcome him!

                      x-------------------------------x
                      | #18 A Killing from Mushrooms! |
                      x-------------------------------x------x
                      | Mandatory: Yes                       /
                      | Type: Gathering Quest                \
                      | Reward: 900z                         /
                      | Contract Fee: 150z                   \
                      | Location: Forest & Hills             /
                      | Details: Gather 10 Special Mushrooms \
                      x--------------------------------------x

Nothing you haven't done before. Look for Mushroom Gathering Points and
Mosswine (I believe they drop some too.)

                      x----------------------------x
                      | (U) The Ruler of the Snow! |
                      x----------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: Urgent         /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest       \
                      | Reward: 3000z             /
                      | Contract Fee: 500z        \
                      | Location: Snowy Mountains /
                      | Details: Hunt Blangonga   \
                      x---------------------------x

You won't be Hunting in the Snowy Mountains for long time after this mission.
Why not take the scenic route? No? In that case, head over to "[7.4.4]" for
details.

x--------------x
| Special Note |
o==============o---x
| As the section above wasn't enough to congratulate you on the passage of
| Elder ** now I'm offering a special note. This isn't so much as a
| congratulations as a warning.
|
| Steer clear of Dynamic Hammer. If you check around you'll find that Dynamic
| Hammer is actually upgradeable after fighting the Blue Kut-Ku. What the game
| doesn't tell you is that in order to create this weapon of astounding Raw you
| have sacrifice Kut-Ku Jaw. Don't. I assume you've worked hard (if not then
| you're cheater and I wish you nothing but ill luck) to forge that weapon as
| early as you've have. It would be a shame to put into Dynamic Hammer. Why?
|
| In Monster Hunter we take our own path. We forge our weapon with the
| expectation that an upgrade will be available in a decent amount of time. In
| the world of Dynamic Hammer you make one upgrade and can't improve until High
| Rank quests. And by then you have better options so really, the path you took
| is a waste of money. It's a trap. A trade for a little more attack power now |
is by all means a good option to have if you bother to forge two Kut-Ku Jaws.
| But most player's don't have that time or patience and I wouldn't recommend
| it unless you're a completionist. Bottom line, don't fall for the trap.
o------------------x

                         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                      ---| --- [7.4.1] Elder Quest --- |---
                      ---|  ~~~ Daimyo Hermituar ~~~   |---
                         v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

            "Guard your emotions first, then guard your summoner."
                            ~Auron, Final Fantasy X

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ What is Daimyo Hermituar? |
o============o--------------------------o

A behemoth red crab that looks like Sebastian from The Little Mermaid on
steroids. Hermy (his nickname) sports a fancy shell from a dead Monoblos
(you'll meet him soon.) He's got defense from the front, back, and his sides.
He's literally a walking fortress. Armed with two pincers that cut through fog
like a knife through butter; this lobster's boiling point was long overdue.

Most effective attacks: *Legs --> Skull or Head
Most effective element: Fire or Thunder.
Susceptible Status Ailments: **Stun
Susceptible Bombs: ***Sonic Bomb
Susceptible Traps: Stun Trap, Pitfall
Breakable Parts: Skull, Claws
Near Death When: Bubbles will gush from his mouth (tinted bloody red.) Don't
confuse this with Rage Mode.

*Note: Like Khezu, we aim for one of his legs (take your pick) to knock him
down. When that happens, we can either aim for the Skull (to break it) or the
Head (his weak-point.)

**Note: At the start of the battle, he's very vulnerable to Stun. However after
recovering from it once, his tolerance skyrockets. In other words, you can Stun
him once. Just don't rely on it happening a second time.

***Note: Only when he Guards is he vulnerable to Sonic Bomb.

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

Before we begin, I'd like to draw a picture of Daimyo Hermituar as a whole.
When I said he was a fortress, I wasn't kidding. He's protected from all sides.
I will try to attack you depending on where you are. Allow the crappy diagram
to explain.

Diagram #5 - Daimyo Hermituar

=======R=======
=======R=======
===S-S-V-S-S===
======FBF======
=======B=======
=======B=======

Legend:
V = Daimyo Hermituar
S-S = Range of Side-Swipe
B = Bash Attack (Frontal-Linear)
F = Frontal Swipe (Also Water Gun)
R = Rush (Back)

Be advised, this is hardly accurate. As defined in the Legend, "V" represents
downward Daimyo Hermituar. "S-S" is his attack Side-Swipe.

Side-Swipe:
As the name depicts, Side-Swipe is when Hermy swipes at you from his side.
Usually doing a side-ways crab-walk to reach you all the better. It extends in
a horizontal slash, cutting at you like a sickle to grass. You'll find that
this attack really isn't all that strong in Non-Rage Mode. I'm not saying you
should intentionally get hit, it's just if you get hit a few times, it isn't
the end of the world.

Bash Attack:
Defined as "C" in the diagram. If you happen to be facing Hermy's front, this
is what he'll throw at you! He'll march forward (depending how far you are away
from him) and bash you with the outside shell of his claws.

Frontal Swipe:
A wider and more horizontal swipes instead of the bashing we see with the Claw
Attack. Just consider Bash Attack more like an impact attack and Frontal Swipe
more like a cutting attack.

Rush:
Do you see that giant horned-skull atop Hermy's body? It ain't for decorations!
If find yourself behind him, he'll rush that horn full-speed towards you. It's
tough to avoid (least in my case.) Rush shows up as an "R" on the diagram.

Enraged Rush:
An additional attack exclusive to Unite. Consider it an advance form of Hermy's
Rush, where he attempt to ream you with the Horn. In this version, he'll squirm
like a fussy child in a stroller and throw his bodyweight with his back-side
leading charge. The attack possess a wide hit-zone and should you attempt to
guard
it will deal two-fold on your shield.

Guard:
Not nearly as advanced as your Guard, or else we'd be in trouble. In this case,
Hermy's Guard acts like an anti-Blademaster barrier (arrows don't pierce
either.) He will withdraw his body-parts, much a spider curls it's legs up when
dying. Hunched into an invincible shell, you're attacks won't damage him in the
slightest. What do we do? Sonic Bomb.

The only time we'll be able to use Sonic Bomb on him is when he's Guarding.
Just chuck on of those babies at Hermy and he'll shoot straight-up and right
back down. Stunning him for a brief moment allows your assault to go
unchallenged. It's one of his greatest points of vulnerability. If you don't
have
access to a Sonic Bomb, then just wait for him to break his Guard (you'll notice
a
slight shift of his legs/body/claws.) While it doesn't give you as much time as
a
Sonic Bomb would, it's still something right?

Water Gun:
Similar to the attack "Water Gun" from Pokemon. And true the series, it's
cuteness factor zero. Our foe will throw his claws in a wide arc just as the
liquid bursts, in other words it covers his front-section. If you plan on
attacking go after the sides, avoid the front-legs. After the discharge however,
his body is open to attack while recovering. Meaning, you can go after the legs,
claws, or the other body parts for a small window of time.

Burrow:
Another "Pokemon-esque" attack. Hermy will Burrow at the ground below him and
bury
himself. A good way of avoiding this attack is...running away. His horn will pop
up from the ground many times before resurfacing. If you're hit, boy, will you
be
sorry.

Take a look at what VioletKIRA says about Burrow.

"Whenever monsters burrow, there is a set time when they resurface. For
Carapaceons, they either resurface on 2 seconds later, 7 seconds or 10 seconds.
If
it hasn't resurfaced after the 7 seconds, drink your potion, sharpen etc...
because the 10 second resurfaces at the same place it burrows."

Jump:
Ole Hermy will try to flank you by jumping straight up into the air and right
back down. In later stages of the game he'll follow you, but not now. Another
reason for keeping your combos short, eh? After landing, he's vulnerable while
trying to get back onto his legs.

Rage Mode:
In order to flaunt his crab-like awesomeness, Hermy will raise his claws up and
down with bubbles flowing from his mouth. In this mode he is faster, stronger,
and
recovers from his attacks at lightening pace. Be on your guard!

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

Sir Author Conan Dole once wrote:

"It was easier to know it than to explain why I know it. If you were asked to
prove that two and two made four, you might find some difficulty, and yet you
are
quite sure of the fact."

The quest to explain combat against Hermy is somewhat ambiguous. When it comes
down to it, the only factual thing you need to know is to hit then evade. There
are several things I can touch up about specific weaponry, but the basics remain
the same. Hit, evade or guard, then hit again.

Leg Lock:
The process in which you aim for Hermy's legs the entire round. So much so,
that he barely gets the chance to attack. The "elite" look down on anyone who
uses such strategies. You're not trying to garner the respect of your peers.
You're trying to survive. We can worry about thriving later.

You have four legs to go after, how will you decide to attack them? You could go
after whichever crosses your path like most do, or you can target a specific
leg.
Targeting a single leg means a more consistent method of attack, while
swingingly
randomly means more knockdowns but they take longer to accomplish then the
former.

So say, I go after the right-hind leg. It's somewhat safe, and it easy to access
with my weapon type. In this scenario I attack that leg the entire round. And
upon
staggering Hermy, I attack the head go after the leg once more. The point here
is
that I never let up on the one leg. In the other scenario, I'm attacking the
right-front leg and the right-hind leg. Unless I can nail them both (via Hammer
Charge and smaller size variable) it will take longer to topple Hermy. Got it
memorized?

For the Skull:
I like to place a Stun Trap near Hermy before he notices. After trapping him I
aim for the shell (which is only breakable via Impact weapon.) You won't break
it at first, but a second try might just do it. Be aware that his shell has to
be broken twice in order to receive anything from the rewards.

For the Claws:
There are a few moments to which you have access to our foes Claws. To break
them
easier, you will need a weapon of range. Times when any weapon can clobber them
come from stunning via Leg-Locking or negating Hermy's Guard via Sonic Bomb.
These
frail windows of opportunity leave him open for claw shattering as well as other
avenues.

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o

 x-------------------x
 | VELOCIDROME BITE! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 168
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |  Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger +
 | Assassin's Dagger --> Velocidrome Bite
 |
 | Method:
 | Start with Hunter's Dagger. Gather a total of six Iron Ore, three Earth
 | Crystals, four Machalite Ore, four Velocidrome Claws, and two Velocidrome
 | Hide. We've yet to unlock the juicy new weapons for our new rank (should you
 | decide to go after Hermy first.) The Velocidrome Bite is a dependable ally
 | and should not be discarded yet.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Remember to choose your target whether it be leg, claw, or head. Practicing Leg-
Locking however allows us to any part when he's fallen over. With this in mind
we
can break off any part with minimal risk. If you're trigger-happy for Claw parts
you can also risk a Stun Trap to help move things along. Our weapon choice
allows
for quick clean attacks on the matter, which gives you more time to evade.

Abuse your speedy-swings, but not to the point where your route gets you hit.
There's a good chance no matter how good you are at evading, you will be struck
at
the very least once while working over Hermy. His attacks (especially Side-
Swipe)
come quick, but there are many to which you have more then enough time to either
put up your guard or avoid altogether. Being hit by those (Jump, Water Gun,
Burrow, Enraged Tackle) means you need more practice.

Time-wise the safe route is to attack is a maximum of two to three swings before
evading. I prefer a quick swing and following up with a Roundhouse (Triangle,
Circle) on his back leg. If you've knocked him over while avoiding a fair share
of
scraps, then you've done right. Swing & Roundhouse (Triangle, Circle) has a bit
of
a lag issue but damages a bit more then two regular sword swings. If you're good
enough with timing, you can notice the slight difference in speed between the
two.
If you find Slash & Roundhouse too slow then switch up to Lunge (Triangle +
Circle) and evade appropriately.

If you place yourself at his side during the Water Gun, you can execute the full
combo and have time to move away. You should also regard that his claws are
available. After executing Burrow he's open while surfacing for a few moments,
it's safer to take advantage of the seven second Burrow then the two second, as
the latter requires evasion if you get my drift. And finally, when coming down
from a Jump you have a few moments to attack. Remember that after landing Jump
generates Wind and if your proximity is close enough, damage. The best route to
avoiding this is to stay outside the zone of damage, but close enough to Lunge
when the moment feels right.

 x-------------------x
 | VELOCIPREY CLAWS! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 196
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Giaprey Claws -->
 | Giaprey Claws + --> Velociprey Claws
 |
 | Method:
 | To make Giaprey Claws +, buy or make a Hunter's Dagger. Then go after
 | Giadrome, yes, you're going to need Giaprey parts, but you get those in the
 | reward section for facing off with Giadrome anyway. Plus there are plenty of
 | Giaprey to go after during the quest. This will make collecting materials
 | easier, if not a bit tedious, in the long run. If you already have Giaprey
 | Claws +, you can skip this section entirely.
 |
 | In order to upgrade, you'll need six Velocidrome Claws, one Velocidrome
 | Head, and two Pale Extract (Khezu.) This means a lot of Velocidrome hunting,
 | however if you're adamant on using Dual Swords, this is by far the best you
 | can obtain at the moment.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

To put it simply, avoid the fickle attacks. It may be your assumption that since
you don't have a shield you'll be doing more dodging. Incorrect, as I'd
recommend
you avoid blocking with the Sword and Shield because of the recoil from blocking
(especially Enraged Rush.) In other words it acts akin to that of the Sword and
Shield with very minor variations.

Your avenue of attack will remain Roundhouse (Circle) for it's speedy work. It
helps to avoid Hermy's reach nonetheless. As always, the legs should be your
priority and when you've knocked him down enter Demon Mode (R Trigger while
Unsheathed.) Instead of the usual Demon Dance (Triangle + Circle) you can
attempt
a Double Roundhouse (Circle while in Demon Mode) and connect with Demon Dance by
pressing Circle during the Double Roundhouse. In other words, Circle then
Circle.
Cancel out Demon Mode and be ready to dodge the oncoming attack. Assuming you've
read up the Hermy's move-set you should be aware of his openings to a degree.
Continue to exploit the legs, and victory is yours.

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x--------------------x
 | KHEZU SHOCK SWORD! |
 x--------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 220
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + --> Buster Blade --> Ravager Blade
 | --> Khezu Shock Sword
 |
 | Method:
 | To forge Ravager Blade, you will need (assuming you did not make Buster
 | Sword from scratch) a total of twenty Iron Ore, five Disc Stones, fifteen
 | earth crystals, and six  Machalite Ore. As of now, you have these resources
 | available throughout the Mining spots in the Jungle and the Snowy Mountains.
 | If you are having trouble locating them refer to Scootypuff's resource maps
 | on GameFAQs.
 |
 | Should you already have the Ravager Blade as per my suggestions, then all
 | you'll need is fifteen Iron Ore, two Electro Sacs, and three Flabby Hides
 | (the last two come directly from Khezu.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The not-so-tidy weapon of choice. Your priorities should remain the same, and
when
done right the poor mobility is hardly a problem. One has, as they always do,
the
option to press with normal sword swings or Charge. In this case I submit
charging
works better. Better as in, when used right, it ends the fight. With the combos,
you'll have to deal a series of swings based the various openings I'm covering
with Charging anyway.

To Charge, you need correct spacing and placement. Spacing (in case you've
forgotten) means how far and how close you are to your enemy (in this case
Hermy.)
With the correct placement, your Charges can land while keeping a relatively
safe
distance allowing you to evade when you've recovered. The idea here is to find
moments where you can strike and recover without getting hit. Placement should
follow the Charge Method, which is to remain at an enemy's side. This is
especially important because of Enraged Tackle activates when attacking from the
behind.

Water Gun is a prime example of how Charging should work, as soon as you see the
frames begin charging. Depending on your timing you should get a full charge,
and
if not, then you released too soon or started too late. As he lands from a Jump
begin charging, should he turn to face you, you'll have more time. If he opts
for
a Side-Swipe then you may have no time to dodge. It'll be up to you to weigh
your
options. Remember the various forms of Burrow, the easiest to manipulate is the
ten second one as you know exactly where he surfaces. To sum up, after every
attack (aside from swings unless you've nailed the timing) rush to the side and
wait for the turn.

If you find yourself in a bind, Unsheathed attack is the alternative to
Charging.
Not as efficient but allows for easier evasion, and in the long run it's best to
minimize damage. This in turns works as our "safety" attack. Don't get caught
spamming the attack however, as you'll end up using only a fraction of the
Greatsword's power.

 x----------------x
 | EAGER CLEAVER! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 250
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + --> Iron Katana --> Iron Katana "Grace" -->
 | Iron Katana "Gospel" --> Eager Cleaver
 |
 | Method:
 | Start or buy a Buster Sword. In order to reach Eager Cleaver you will need a
 | total of thirty-four Iron Ore, ten Disc Stones, thirty-three Machalite Ore,
 | fifty Earth Crystals, and four Electro Sacs (Khezu.) All of which come from
 | mining spots throughout the maps, so get digging!
 |
 | If you've already acquired "Gospel" then it's a quick round-up of only
 | fifteen Machalite, twenty-five Earth Crystals, and four Electro Sacs
 | (Khezu.) You see? You get rewarded for following my advice.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

The speed of your swings and the fact that this is your first Thunder type
weapon
makes gutting Hermy a cinch. Apply the exact strategy written in the Sword and
Shield section. With the exception of your method of attack which should be Stab
&
Slash (Circle, Triangle) for speed. I don't place much faith in Backsweep
(Triangle + Circle) unless you've caught yourself in front of Hermy.

When you've built up your Spirit Combo, release in one swing increments unless
you
see an opening. There are plenty of opportunities to slash like a wild-man, but
getting carried away gets you hit. Attacks like Water Gun, after a Jump, and
resurfacing from a Burrow are the perfect times to apply.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x-------------x
 | KUT-KU JAW! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 676
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer -->
 |  Atlas Hammer --> Kut-Ku Jaw
 |
 | Method:
 | Start with Bone Club gather three Brute Bones, and three Small Monster
 | Bones. Once you have the Atlas Hammer begin gathering two Giant Bones and
 | another ten Small Monster Bones. After that you must fight Yian Kut-Ku until
 | you acquire it's rarest drop the Giant Beak. You must also gather five Sharp
 | Claws and two Monster Fluid via Vespoids and/or Hornetaurs.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low
 x---------------------------------x

Like cracking a first-rate Lobster from a first-rate restaurant. There is
nothing
the Hammer can't break when it comes to Hermy. His claws and skull are your
targets, but work on the legs and nip those while he's down. Keep your stamina
at
it's highest (as you should always.) Should you aim for the Shell, there's a
good
chance you'll need it to avoid Enraged Tackle.

Exploit the usual openings. Attacks like Water Gun leave him completely open to
the Super Pound. Just skate to the side and release. It's a bit trickier with
Burrow, but it's possible to release just before he submerges. Charging rids of
the minor Wind created when Hermy lands from a Jump, you can exploit this and
send
your opponent reeling. And once he's collapsed assault with a Triple Pound. You
can get away with at least one full attack. With his move-set in mind, simply
rinse and repeat until dead.

 x-------------x
 | KHEZU HORN! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 200
 | Sharpness: Green (Low)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Notes: White, Blue, Yellow
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer --> Atlas Hammer --> Khezu Horn
 |
 | Method:
 | Buy a Bone Club and gather two Giant Bones (Congalala), three Brute Bones,
 | and thirteen Small Monster Bones. Improve until you get Atlas Hammer, then
 | farm three Flabby Hide, four Pale Extract, and two Electro Sacs from Khezu.
 |
 | Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Infinite Stamina [Small]) -- White --> Blue (1 Min)
 | (Elemental Attack Up) -- Yellow --> Blue --> Yellow --> White (1:30 Min)
 | (Fire Def Up [Large]) -- Yellow --> Blue --> White (1 Min)
 | (Thunder Def Up [Large]) -- Yellow --> Yellow --> Blue (1 Min)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

A ritual you've been practicing with the Hunting Horn since you've first used
the
weapon type. Super Pound (Triangle + Circle) will help you catch his legs, while
Swing (Triangle) can score the claws. With the move-set in mind, you can be
daydreaming and still put up a decent fight. Find an opening, Super Pound, and
evade appropriately. Be in mind if you wish to break the skull, to watch out for
Enraged Tackle.

The notes, White --> White --> Blue --> White --> White will activate your extra
mobility, infinite stamina, and ESP. It's efficient but the infinite stamina
isn't
as useful in this fight. You will however, need ESP for the current sharpness of
your Hunting Horn, as it's barely in the green. Hence my suggestion for Battle
Armor as quick sharpening is infinitely useful. Because of the swing speed of
the
weapons, it's not entirely recommended you use this weapon type as a "body-part
breaker." You *do* have the options open however.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o
 x---------------x
 | SPIKED SPEAR! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 276
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Iron Lance --> Iron Lance + -->
 |  Bone Javelin --> Spiked Spear
 |
 | Method:
 | You need three Iron Ore to improve Iron Lance into Iron Lance +. You will
 | need to gather four Small Monster Bones from Apceros. And while you are
 | farming these from your quarry, venture to find three Medium Monster Bones.
 | Finding them can be quite difficult, and only other available to get the
 | materials come from boss Monsters like Yian Kut-Ku and Congalala themselves.
 | If you're up to it, then you may want to invest in Paladin Lance.
 |
 | You will also need four Iron Ore, four Brute Bones (Blango), three Machalite
 | Ore, and two Killer Beetles. Difficult to find I know, but worth the forge.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

A worthy woven tale of two guards. Forced to protect themselves by defeating
that
which threatens to arrest their armor. Oh, the beastly fate! Your weapon, the
Lance, should remain unsheathed in order to keep up the damage. Because of the
poor mobility of our weapon, we must enlist our Back-Hop (Cross) and slide out
of
range. You'll find that at least two Back-Hops are necessary for avoiding
Hermy's
frontal attacks, from Swipes to Water Gun.

Keep it simple, but generous. Approach the legs with Thrust (Triangle) until you
sense his counter. From there, you can either side-step (depending on your
timing)
or guard. Using Guard is tricky as we don't possess Guard +1 (but guess the
skills
that come with this armor?) which means knock-back. You can accept this, or you
can attempt to avoid it. Do this by capping your number of thrusts  to two, but
base your decision on instinct rather then my own advice.

While your aim should be true, the special ability of the Lance allows us to
shatter each individual part. The best "body-part breaker" by far, allowing you
to
attack the claws with Upwards Thrust, and break his shell. Be aware of the
pitfalls of this action, if you seek the claws wait for a Water Gun. If you
attack
the skull, be prepared to deal with Enraged Tackle. To avoid this, find the
space
between the back of our foe's hind-legs which allow you to connect without being
directly behind. It's tough to show.

When you've knocked him off balance, the best recourse is the Lance Charge
(Triangle + Circle.) In case you feel reckless enough to try to Guard one of
Hermy's attacks like Burrow, be careful. You'll be safe so long as you blow
strikes your front. If you are directly under Hermy as he emerges, it'll break
your guard. Should you however have some distance (in other words not directly
under) then you'll be safe. I still don't recommend you be anywhere near him
during this attack, but you can score an extra blow using this method.

 x-----------------x
 | STEEL GUNLANCE! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 276
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Shelling Type: Normal Lv2
 | Path:
 | Iron Gunlance --> Iron Gunlance +
 |    --> Steel Gunlance
 |
 | Method:
 | You must create Iron Gunlance from scratch. That means you'll need five
 | Machalite Ore, ten Iron Ore, five Gunpowder (Fire Herb + Nitroshroom (both
 | come from Pokke Farm or various gathering spots or can be bought from the
 | Old Lady)) and one Flame Sac (Yian Kut-Ku.) After gathering your materials
 | to make Iron Gunlance. You'll want to gather ten more Machalite Ore, eight
 | Earth Crystals, ten Disk Stone, another five Gunpowder and another three
 | Flame Sacs.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Keeping the move-set in mind, we can skewer *and* fry this menace. This is, for
the most part, exactly like using a Lance. The difference here is you'll mix
guarding with Evading more so then the Lance due to the lack of mobility. To
remain a threat it's best to keep our weapon unsheathed. This requires you to
pay
particular attention to Side-Swipe and Frontal Swipe as they cover a decent
amount
of range.

With the Gunlance we can attack the hard to reach points on the Wyvern's body,
like the claws. The Uppercut (Triangle + Circle) is useful for just that. Taking
out Hermy's legs is your main priority. Stab (Triangle) when the moment takes
you
and don't get carried away. Once you've knocked him down, rush him with the
Infinite Combo (Triangle 3x, circle, repeat) until he gets up. Repeat your game
until defeated.

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o
 x-----------------x
 | KUT-KU STAVE I! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 120
 | Element: Fire 80
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: All but Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv1
 | Charge Lv2: Scatter Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Scatter Lv3
 | Charge Lv4: Pierce Lv2
 |
 | Path:
 | Kut-Kut Stave I
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need five Kut-Ku Shells, five Kut-Ku Scales, two Flame Sacs, and four
 | Carpenterbugs (Pokke Farm.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x--------------x
 | SONIC BOW I! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 144
 | Element: Thunder 100
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: Power/Paralysis/Poison/Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv2: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv4: Scatter Lv3
 |
 | Path:
 | Sonic Bow I
 |
 | Method:
 | It's a tough forge as you'll have to gather two Electro Sacs (Khezu), ten
 | Vespoid Shells, five Hornetaur Wings, and two Killer Beetles (Pokke Farm.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

With the Bow we can snuff our foe like candlelight's flame. Because with this
weapon, we are the wind. Your form should take that of Charging and releasing.
Depending on your proximity, you'll be evading most attacks by using the rule of
spacing. With this in mind, we can detect his upcoming attacks from a distance
and
evade appropriately. Plan your shots wisely and watch your stamina. Attacking
the
legs is less important this time around. With Leg-Locking we were able to use
our
stronger attacks (IE, Hammer's Triple Pound, Greatsword Charge, ect.) but since
that's not the case here our attacks don't have to aim for them exclusively.

Maintain a counterclockwise perimeter around the enemy. The only danger to this
however is Enraged Tackle which can cut you down if connected. If you don't
think
you'll have enough time to avoid the next attack try rolling under the legs.
This
is especially useful for Side-Swipe and Frontal Swipe. You can exploit Hermy's
move-set with expected ease. Because of the shoddy range of Water Gun, you're
free
to get off an extra shot. The attack Jump has an extended recovery mode,
depending
on your distance you can nail him with several charged shots. The only attack
you
need to be wary of is Burrow. When he submerges you have my permission to
sheathe
your Bow and run.

 x----------------x
 | ANGEL PARASOL! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 144                Normal S: 6  6  9  Flame S : -  -  -
 | Reload: Very Fast                 Pierce S: 3  3  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 4  4  4  Thnd S  : 3  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  1  1  Freeze S: 3  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : -  -  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3  3  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  1  -  Demon S : 1  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -  Armor S : 1  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | A tricky and oddly shaped Bowgun that apparently has a history. In order to
 | make this beauty yours, you'll need four Flabby Hide (Khezu), eight
 | Carpenterbugs (Pokke Farm), three Electro Sacs (Khezu), and one Lost
 | Umbrella.
 |
 | In order to find the Lost Umbrella you must take the Swamp Gathering Mission
 | and go to Area 1. You should see Barrels and a Felyne Drop Point, search
 | among those. If you don't find it the first time, you're going to have to
 | repeat the mission. Good thing you only need one of these m'right?
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

 x---------------------x
 | YIAN KUT-KU CANNON! |
 x---------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 216                Normal S: 9  9  12  Flame S : 4  -  -
 | Reload: Very Slow                 Pierce S: -  3  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: -  4  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : -  1  -  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: One                        Clust S : -  1  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 | Added Effects: Def +6             Recov S : -  -  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : -  -  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : -  -  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | If you've been farming Yian Kut-Ku you should have the eight Kut-Ku Shells
 | and six Kut-Ku Scales you need for the first requirements. You'll then need
 | five Flabby Hides (Khezu) and ten Large Monster Bones (Cephadrome.) It's
 | actually difficult to get these from a Cephadrome since they give out only
 | one per capture. You can wait until after you've fought Daimyo Hermituar to
 | get them and instead opt for Sand Diver.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

Light Bowgun Shells: Thunder S, Peirce Lv2, Normal Lv2
Heavy Bowgun Shells: Flame S, Pierce Lv2, Normal Lv2

A full set of Elemental Shells can deal a great deal of damage in a short period
of time. Pierce Shells shoot through Hermy and to the skull, if aimed at the
legs
it travels through the body. And Normal is simply for crowd control, something
which the weapon type desperately needs. I didn't choose Clust or Crag because
they feel a bit "overkillish" if you ask me. And you did.

Combat works by firing your shots and reloading. Big surprise huh? With the
weapon's traits at hand all that really needs to be said can be read from the
Bow
section. If you'd like, you can storm the front wearing Battle Armor as it's
Reloading Speed +1 skill allows easier reloading for the Kut-Ku Cannon. There
are
minor niches in your strategy, as a Heavy Bowgun user you're going to have a
tough
time avoiding Hermy's attacks. If you feel you need a Shield attachment then
more
power to you, but power is what you'll lose.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

I can't say any weapon requires precise timing. Hermy is a fortress, built to
subvert, and counter. However we've nailed many of his weaknesses. To the
point, where you should be having a fun time.

On a side note...

 x------------------x
 | HERMITUAR ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 160
 \ Total Slots: Nine
 / Elemental Strength: Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Thunder, Fire
 / Skills:
 \ Guard (Needs 3+ Gems)
 / Defense +20
 \
 / Armor Rating: Useful-Lance/Gunlance
 x================----------------x

Hermy's armor can prove quite powerful for those who like Lancing. It's the
perfect beginner Lancer armor. So if you happen to master the crab-walk, then
why
not farm some? Keeps your options open.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [7.4.2] Elder Quest --- |---
                     ---|      ~~~ Plesioth ~~~       |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

              "What came from the sea, has returned to the sea."
                             ~Epitaph, Chrono Cross

o==========o--------------------o
| Question  \ What is Plesioth? |
o============o------------------o

It came from the deep! Plessy (nickname dubbed by the posters of GameFAQs) is a
fish. A fish Wyvern to be exact. That's right, we're going fishing! ^_^

To paint a picture of Plessy, imagine if you will, the Lock Ness monster. With
a long neck, flipper-like legs, and nasty shark-like mentality it's no wonder
many find him deplorable. On the other hand, he's really easy to find. He
travels to only two Areas on the entire map, just two. What's the catch? He's
underwater! Being a fish Wyvern, it's up to you surface him. I'll explain the
methods later on.

Most effective attacks: Stomach (Between the Legs), *Legs
Most effective element: Thunder
Susceptible Status Ailments: Stun, Sleep (Non-Green only)
Susceptible Bombs: **Sonic Bomb
Susceptible Traps: Stun Trap, Pitfall
Breakable Parts: ***Fin
Near Death When: Fin atop back will limp. Harder to tell if you've broken Fin.

*Note: Wanna topple Plessy? Like Khezu and Hermy, just aim for the legs.

**Note: Sonic Bomb is only effective when Plessy is in water. This is a trick
used to draw him to the surface and possibly on land.

***Note: Unless you have a Bow or Bowgun, it's gonna be tiring to break
Plessy's fin. However, if you abuse weapons like Greatsword (vertical slice)
then you have a better chance of breaking it.

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

First, I have to tell you, how to find Plessy. To reiterate, he can only be
found in two Areas out of the entire map. These Areas of very recognizable, as
they are both Areas that contain water. Like Areas 4 and 3 of the Jungle Map.

You HAVE to be aware that you will be fighting in enclosed space. Which
shortens your range, and makes Plessy's attacks much deadlier. You may want to
fight in the wider area.

Surfacing Plesioth:
You have three choices when it comes to surfacing Plessy. The first, and most
effective method is by acquiring Frogs. These critters can be sold occasionally
by the Old Lady but you can farm them from Area 3 of the Jungle (the rock
between
the walls of Area 7.) When you get these, now would be the time to act. Go up to
a
Fishing Point in the Area and toss a Frog over. When he appears, he'll notice
the
Frog and go up to it. Taking a moment to sniff the thing, he'll take a chomp out
of it and pull on your Fishing Rod. Respond in kind. This way, we can surface
Plessy and gain access to a moment of vulnerability.

The second, and less effective method, is casting a Sonic Bomb at Plessy. This
will disrupt his cheerful swimming. Hopefully, he'll take this fight to the
land. The third, can be the simple Paintball or Stone thrown to attract
attention.
You may wonder what the purpose of this is. In Area's like the Desert Plesioth
is
close to shore. Granted not near enough to hit with a close-range weapon (though
I
wonder sometimes with the Greatsword...) but it may be near enough to snag him
with properly placed Large Barrel Bombs. Food for thought huh?

Jumping Out:
Plessy will leap out of the water and come crashing down at a same point every
time. He will then squirm across land like a fish out of water. Seeing as
though he IS a fish out of water.

Glide:
You may have seen this with the infamous Cephalos or Cephadrome. In the desert,
the sand-shark creatures exploded out of the wastes like a missile. With
Plesioth,
he'll propel his body onto land, mouth again and fins flapping. Should you be
caught you'll be put to sleep.

Hip-Check:
Deadliest. Attack. EVAR! Gather 'round children and I shall tell you a tale.
The End. That's what happens when you're hit. Hip-Check is when all of
Plessy mass is pressed an attack from his side. It has an almost unfair hit-
zone because he includes his tail with the attack. Plus it wracks tons of
damage. It happens at his leisure, it's fast, deadly, the perfect offensive
attack. Expect it after every other attack.

Of course, the bright side is that moment after the check. The moment after his
attack where his head jerks to for a moment. That is his spot of vulnerability.
It's difficult to describe other then an angle his head rests on. If you
memorize this attack, you'll know what I'm talking about. If not, here is
another crappy diagram for you to ogle.

Diagram #6 - Hip-Check

==============
=====O>>>=====
=====----=====
==============

Legend:
O - Body of Plesioth
> - Direction of Head
"---" - Hit-zone of Hip-Check

It's pretty straightforward despite the utter confusion you must be feeling.
The "O" represents Plesioth and the ">" simply indicates the direction he is
in. Sorta like a freeze frame for the moment.

Bite:
Because of Plessy's size (did I forget to tell you he's as big as a beached
whale?) his bite attack can cross some range. Because of his size though, you
can easily navigate between his legs to counter. Beware of his tail though, as
it flaps when he executes Bite.

Tail Whip:
You know what a Tail Whip is. Plessy's is bigger. Go under the legs for
protection.

Jumping Back In:
When Plessy has sustained enough damage, he'll try to recover by fleeing to his
watery habitat. Walking in place while directed at the water is his signal.
He'll run like an kid running away from his fire-cracker-throwing big brother.
If you're in the way, you'll get trampled. Badly. And what wondrous attacks can
he propel from down under?

Water Beam:
Not to be confused with Hermy's Water Gun. Plessy's Water Beam is a horizontal
sweep, or a vertical one. He'll go vertical if you're far away, and sweep
horizontal if you're close by. He has a land version of this attack. It's
linear, but if you're hit during Rage Mode, it's lights out.

Glide:
A move performed near death. Plessy will try to swim on-land as if in water.
The results are usually devastating.

Rage Mode:
While his attacks don't change, they'll come with greater speed and power.
Making avoiding Plessy's onslaught a must.

Near death, Plessy will enter and re-enter the water many times. This involves
him running across the land in a frenzy to get back. Often you'll be trampled.
However the smart Hunter knows when to keep his distance, and where he'll stop
just before he jumps back in.

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

The Stun/Pitfall Trap scene is one stay away from nowadays. Partially because I
want to master the gist of a fight. The problem with this is that without these
devices to hoist me up I'm resorting to actually having to "learn." Gasp! That
being said abuse those traps like your a one-hit wonder rock-star and you just
learned your new album had poor returns. These methods are generally looked down
by the elite. Aside from the new lava fish Lavasioth (or Volganos depending on
your region) Plessy is the only one who seems to have a fleeing fetish. It's
times
like these where you look out to the great big sea watching fish-face flail like
a...fish...and wonder "what kind of sick joke is this?"

You have Darksun45230's "Handz & Roaz" seal of approval to trap Plessy up!
Whatever the "elite" tells you about trapping Plesioth don't listen. If you want
to be hardcore and wait every few minutes for him to come back to resume the
fight
(you'll be doing that anyway once you've used up your Traps) that's your right.
And don't forget kiddies, you can still blast our foe to hell with Large Barrel
Bombs once he releases the Water Beam. Except Large Barrel Bombs don't work when
it's raining, so damn!

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o

 x-------------------x
 | VELOCIDROME BITE! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 168
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |  Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger +
 | Assassin's Dagger --> Velocidrome Bite
 |
 | Method:
 | Start with Hunter's Dagger. Gather a total of six Iron Ore, three Earth
 | Crystals, four Machalite Ore, four Velocidrome Claws, and two Velocidrome
 | Hide. We've yet to unlock the juicy new weapons for our new rank (should you
 | decide to go after Hermy first.) The Velocidrome Bite is a dependable ally
 | and should not be discarded yet.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x--------------x
 | THUNDERBANE! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 168
 | Element: Thunder 170
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger + -->
 |    Assassin's Dagger --> Thunderbane
 |
 | Method:
 | This is assuming you've already fought Gypceros. The four Rubbery Hide you
 | need come from Gypceros (non-Purple), the three Large Monster Bone come from
 | Blangonga, and the two Electro Sacs come from Khezu. What does this make? A
 | crappy weapon. Thunderbane is terrible SnS 'cause it lacks decent sharpness.
 | Which means you'll be sharpening periodically to return it to the green.
 | Skills like Sharp Sword and Sharp Skill Inc help.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Should the need come up to use the shield then it should be against the dreaded
Hip-Check, and you should have no choice. Each blow you block zaps health and
major stamina. Our objective with the Sword and Shield is to attack the legs. So
draw him onto land and attack the legs. Keep your attacks short and be ready for
the switch to Hip-Check.

When he uses Water Beam (Land) go for an Unsheathed Attack (Triangle + Circle.)
When he uses Tail Whip, carve out his legs from underneath. For the love of god,
get out of the way when he starts walking in place. After a good deal of land-
loving, this action is a tell-tale sign he's planing on reuniting with his
beloved
body of water. Should you desire, you can memorize the spot he stops at before
diving back in and lay a Trap for next time around. It's a plan that never gets
old.

 x-------------------x
 | VELOCIPREY CLAWS! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 196
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Giaprey Claws -->
 | Giaprey Claws + --> Velociprey Claws
 |
 | Method:
 | To make Giaprey Claws +, buy or make a Hunter's Dagger. Then go after
 | Giadrome, yes, you're going to need Giaprey parts, but you get those in the
 | reward section for facing off with Giadrome anyway. Plus there are plenty of
 | Giaprey to go after during the quest. This will make collecting materials
 | easier, if not a bit tedious, in the long run. If you already have Giaprey
 | Claws +, you can skip this section entirely.
 |
 | In order to upgrade, you'll need six Velocidrome Claws, one Velocidrome
 | Head, and two Pale Extract (Khezu.) This means a lot of Velocidrome hunting,
 | however if you're adamant on using Dual Swords, this is by far the best you
 | can obtain at the moment.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Dual Sword combat is about choosing the right to release Demon Dance, and
Roundhouse (Circle.) When on shore, Plessy's attacks are limited meaning we have
a
good advantage over him. How? By predicting his attacks we're able to choose
between our set of attacks. When our fishy foe uses Water Beam (Land) we can get
away with a single Demon Dance (Triangle + Circle while in Demon Mode.)  While
you're under him (innuendo unintended) you can execute Slash, Slash, and
Roundhouse (Triangle, Triangle, and Circle.) This works well for when he uses
Tail
Whip (just beware of the movement of his feet) or when walking in place. The
problem with walking in place is that he may run towards your shore, and if
you're
still under him during that time you may get crushed. That's why it's better to
stay on the outer part of the leg for that short amount of time.

For most of the fight, you want to stay behind the legs. Evasion is top priority
as the Dual Swords don't block. Keep to his left as to see Tail Whip coming and
be
prepared to sheath and Dive (Hold R then X) if you cannot avoid it. The same
goes
with Hip-Check. If you should remain in the clockwise pattern  you'll do well to
see both attacks coming. Running under the legs help too.

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x--------------------x
 | KHEZU SHOCK SWORD! |
 x--------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 220
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + --> Buster Blade --> Ravager Blade
 | --> Khezu Shock Sword
 |
 | Method:
 | To forge Ravager Blade, you will need (assuming you did not make Buster
 | Sword from scratch) a total of twenty Iron Ore, five Disc Stones, fifteen
 | earth crystals, and six  Machalite Ore. As of now, you have these resources
 | available throughout the Mining spots in the Jungle and the Snowy Mountains.
 | If you are having trouble locating them refer to Scootypuff's resource maps
 | on GameFAQs.
 |
 | Should you already have the Ravager Blade as per my suggestions, then all
 | you'll need is fifteen Iron Ore, two Electro Sacs, and three Flabby Hides
 | (the last two come directly from Khezu.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Good times for a change. Your strategy will be size dependent and stomach
oriented. Since our weapon is gifted with incredible range, we're allowed to
score
several hits off the tender tummy and spill in innards like a birthday pinata.
Right away, fishing him out gives you the time for two full Charges. For the
rest
of our bout, stay between the legs. We can escape the savage Hip-Check if we
face
away from Plessy's front and role through the legs.

While under the fishy fiend you have to avenues of damage. The Infinite Combo
(Circle, Circle + Triangle) allows us to nab the legs with the Roundhouse
(Circle)
and butcher the stomach with the Upswing (Circle + Triangle.) If you've lost
your
bearings position-wise vacate the bottom and proceed in a clockwise direction
until you're confident you can get off a few attacks. That being said Guard only
when it becomes absolutely necessary.

Water Beam (Land) leaves him open for a Charge. If we apply the Charge Method,
we
can position ourselves at Plessy's side (preferable on inside of his left foot)
and begin charging. Should you hit the feet enough times, we can cause him to
fall
leaving him open for even more punishment.

 x----------------x
 | EAGER CLEAVER! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 250
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + --> Iron Katana --> Iron Katana "Grace" -->
 | Iron Katana "Gospel" --> Eager Cleaver
 |
 | Method:
 | Start or buy a Buster Sword. In order to reach Eager Cleaver you will need a
 | total of thirty-four Iron Ore, ten Disc Stones, thirty-three Machalite Ore,
 | fifty Earth Crystals, and four Electro Sacs (Khezu.) All of which come from
 | mining spots throughout the maps, so get digging!
 |
 | If you've already acquired "Gospel" then it's a quick round-up of only
 | fifteen Machalite, twenty-five Earth Crystals, and four Electro Sacs
 | (Khezu.) You see? You get rewarded for following my advice.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

There isn't much to say that isn't already covered in the Dual Sword/Greatsword
section, but I'll clarify. Because of the reach of the Longsword it's possible
to
chop the stomach however your focus should be on the legs. I say this because
the
Spirit Combo works through horizontal slashes rather then vertical, so you're
likely to chop those legs then the tummy (at least most of the time.) With that
in
mind play with caution. Our ever-so helpful safety move Back-Sweep (Triangle +
Circle) can be added at the end of any combo to ease the burden of escape. If
you
feel you'd rather forgo the Back-Sweep (for whatever reason) then simply don't
use
it. Should you take care to limit your swings, you'll go far.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x-------------x
 | KUT-KU JAW! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 676
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer -->
 |  Atlas Hammer --> Kut-Ku Jaw
 |
 | Method:
 | Start with Bone Club gather three Brute Bones, and three Small Monster
 | Bones. Once you have the Atlas Hammer begin gathering two Giant Bones and
 | another ten Small Monster Bones. After that you must fight Yian Kut-Ku until
 | you acquire it's rarest drop the Giant Beak. You must also gather five Sharp
 | Claws and two Monster Fluid via Vespoids and/or Hornetaurs.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

You have two options when it comes to combat. The first is the "safe" option
which
really isn't safe or effective but I feel I should mention it anyway. You can
Charge the head and go for a KO. Buuuut...Plessy's head doesn't carry a lot of
damage so you have to trade damage for the KO. It's possible to score the neck
as
well however that's size dependent. I don't recommend you follow this policy, in
fact I advise against it. However if you're terrified of Hip-Check and Tail
Whip,
attacking the outstretched part of his neck allows for quick escapes.

The second and most common method is the one I've been preaching throughout this
section, the legs. If we shatter those kneecaps old fish-face will flail like a
carp caught in net. That being said we charge, wait for the right moment, and
roll
under from the Godzilla reject when you see Hip-Check coming. If you get really
good at avoiding Hip-Check you can try to Triple-Pound. In order to explain, you
need a good idea of the frames of Plessy's attack. He lurches his body forward,
then retracts back. It's at that moment of recovery we take advantage of by
starting a Triple Pound at the spot where his foot returns to. It's then we can
deal a considerable amount of damage.

 x-------------x
 | KHEZU HORN! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 200
 | Sharpness: Green (Low)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Notes: White, Blue, Yellow
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer --> Atlas Hammer --> Khezu Horn
 |
 | Method:
 | Buy a Bone Club and gather two Giant Bones (Congalala), three Brute Bones,
 | and thirteen Small Monster Bones. Improve until you get Atlas Hammer, then
 | farm three Flabby Hide, four Pale Extract, and two Electro Sacs from Khezu.
 |
 | Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Infinite Stamina [Small]) -- White --> Blue (1 Min)
 | (Elemental Attack Up) -- Yellow --> Blue --> Yellow --> White (1:30 Min)
 | (Fire Def Up [Large]) -- Yellow --> Blue --> White (1 Min)
 | (Thunder Def Up [Large]) -- Yellow --> Yellow --> Blue (1 Min)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The game isn't any different for the Hunting Horn. It's just a trading Hammer
Charge for Superpound and some good Notes. You have the two options available,
the
"safe" neck-breaking pace, or the other method which will actually bring you
victory instead of shame. The Hunting Horn gets the "hard" attached to the
Challenging Rating keeping in mind that those Notes wear out fast. And with them
gone you stand as much chance against Plessy as a fish does out of water. Except
for the one pounding you with a Hip-Check.

I can't say you need anything else then White --> White however. There is some
appeal when it comes to Infinite Stamina especially if you find yourself evading
a
lot. However annoying Plessy's submerging was, it did give oodles of time to
buff
up in Recital Mode. And once again Hunting Horn usage has been broken down into
this simple pattern.

Evade --> Superpound --> Repeat

You win.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

 x---------------x
 | SPIKED SPEAR! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 276
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Iron Lance --> Iron Lance + -->
 |  Bone Javelin --> Spiked Spear
 |
 | Method:
 | You need three Iron Ore to improve Iron Lance into Iron Lance +. You will
 | need to gather four Small Monster Bones from Apceros. And while you are
 | farming these from your quarry, venture to find three Medium Monster Bones.
 | Finding them can be quite difficult, and only other available to get the
 | materials come from boss Monsters like Yian Kut-Ku and Congalala themselves.
 | If you're up to it, then you may want to invest in Paladin Lance.
 |
 | You will also need four Iron Ore, four Brute Bones (Blango), three Machalite
 | Ore, and two Killer Beetles. Difficult to find I know, but worth the forge.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x---------------x
 | NATIVE SPEAR! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 184
 | Element: Poison 430
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Native Spear
 |
 | Method:
 | Your first poison spear! The Native Spear isn't the best, but for now it's
 | all you have in alternative weaponry. While it's attack power and sharpness
 | leave much to be desired it's materials (Unknown Skull, Wyvern Claw, Bone,
 | and Iodrome Skull) are easy to get. Though you'll have some trouble
 | obtaining the Iodrome Skull as it's the Iodrome's rarest drop. Is it worth
 | it? You'll have to be the judge on that partner.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The tactics haven't really changed. It's just dealing with the mobility options
of
the Lance can be a problem. The clockwise pattern can be done so long as your
weapon remains sheathed. When Plessy commits to Water Beam (Land) or Tail Whip,
it's time to go after the legs. You can deal with Hip-Check in a few ways. The
first is simply Guarding and re-positioning yourself. The second is to try to
Lance Charge through the Legs but unfortunately you can only do this if you're
most of the way out already. And the last option is flipping yourself around
around and Back-Hopping (Cross).

 x-----------------x
 | STEEL GUNLANCE! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 276
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Shelling Type: Normal Lv2
 | Path:
 | Iron Gunlance --> Iron Gunlance +
 |    --> Steel Gunlance
 |
 | Method:
 | You must create Iron Gunlance from scratch. That means you'll need five
 | Machalite Ore, ten Iron Ore, five Gunpowder (Fire Herb + Nitroshroom (both
 | come from Pokke Farm or various gathering spots or can be bought from the
 | Old Lady)) and one Flame Sac (Yian Kut-Ku.) After gathering your materials
 | to make Iron Gunlance. You'll want to gather ten more Machalite Ore, eight
 | Earth Crystals, ten Disk Stone, another five Gunpowder and another three
 | Flame Sacs.
 |
 | This weapon requires you to have defeated Yian Kut-Ku already. It's
 | materials may be hard to acquire, it's path leads us to Devout End however,
 | one of the strongest Dragon type Gunlances in-game.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The word "Turtling" beats against my back-brains like yappy dog. It seems the
only
way to stand a chance against Plessy is to Guard like a mad dog. And why not?
It's
a familiar concept, and it only requires blunt timing and the R Trigger. That
being said, we treat this for the most part like a Lance. I'd like to say there
was some highly complicated variation to get my interested but there isn't.

As you may know (or are about to find out) a good indicator that Plessy is going
to Hip-Check or run to shore is walking in place. And thankfully while you're
under him you get a snippet of health locked off and gain a moment of
invincibility to recover. In this moment Plessy will (if not already then it's
not
going to happen) launch Hip-Check. I mention this as a generality since most of
the time you'll be blocking and it won't apply to you. That being said bring
lots
of stamina boosters (aka Meat.)

The usefulness of the Infinite Combo (Triangle 3x, Circle, Repeat) is somewhat
chaffed as Shooting has a bit of recoil. With that in mind we're in range of
that
ever disjointed Tail Whip. This however depends on the size of the bloody-beast,
so if it's bigger you're less likely to have this happen to you. Should the
creature your fighting be smaller then heed my words. That being said, I favor
Wyvern Fire (Triangle + Circle) over Lance Charge. There's something very
cathartic about blasting Plessy in the face with my fiery hot
gunpowder...umm....
okay, let me try that again. The best time to release it is when Plessy is on
the
floor-damn it!

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o

 x--------------x
 | SONIC BOW I! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 144
 | Element: Thunder 100
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: Power/Paralysis/Poison/Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv2: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv4: Scatter Lv3
 |
 | Path:
 | Sonic Bow I
 |
 | Method:
 | It's a tough forge as you'll have to gather two Electro Sacs (Khezu), ten
 | Vespoid Shells, five Hornetaur Wings, and two Killer Beetles (Pokke Farm.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

I forsook the Kut-Ku Stave for obvious space-saving reasons. With ranged
weapons,
you can attack Plessy from a distance. How much of a distance? This is actually
quite limited if you want to stay alive. Since the area you fight Plesioth
ranges
from expansive to claustrophobic the spacing is quite limited.   Where is summed
up to instinct. Be far enough away to avoid Tail Whip and instigate Water Beam
(Land) while close enough to maintain power.

We can aim for the Legs, but why not skip the ceremony and go for the tummy? The
legs will remain an easier target, but should you see an opening go for it.
Since
our Bow lacks the Peirce Charge, we can't make good use of the neck weakness.
Which means breaking the fin becomes tedious. And by the way, Coatings will do
you
good but run out too soon. You should consider stocking their base ingredients
for
Combination. On a overall note, I found Bowing Plesioth taking a lot longer then
when I fought in Melee weapons. I suppose when you fight ranged, you trade a bit
of power for it.

 x----------------x
 | ANGEL PARASOL! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 144                Normal S: 6  6  9  Flame S : -  -  -
 | Reload: Very Fast                 Pierce S: 3  3  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 4  4  4  Thnd S  : 3  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  1  1  Freeze S: 3  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : -  -  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3  3  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  1  -  Demon S : 1  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -  Armor S : 1  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | A tricky and oddly shaped Bowgun that apparently has a history. In order to
 | make this beauty yours, you'll need four Flabby Hide (Khezu), eight
 | Carpenterbugs (Pokke Farm), three Electro Sacs (Khezu), and one Lost
 | Umbrella.
 |
 | In order to find the Lost Umbrella you must take the Swamp Gathering Mission
 | and go to Area 1. You should see Barrels and a Felyne Drop Point, search
 | among those. If you don't find it the first time, you're going to have to
 | repeat the mission. Good thing you only need one of these m'right?
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

 x---------------------x
 | YIAN KUT-KU CANNON! |
 x---------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 216                Normal S: 9  9  12  Flame S : 4  -  -
 | Reload: Very Slow                 Pierce S: -  3  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: -  4  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : -  1  -  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: One                        Clust S : -  1  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 | Added Effects: Def +6             Recov S : -  -  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : -  -  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : -  -  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | If you've been farming Yian Kut-Ku you should have the eight Kut-Ku Shells
 | and six Kut-Ku Scales you need for the first requirements. You'll then need
 | five Flabby Hides (Khezu) and ten Large Monster Bones (Cephadrome.) It's
 | actually difficult to get these from a Cephadrome since they give out only
 | one per capture. You can wait until after you've fought Daimyo Hermituar to
 | get them and instead opt for Sand Diver.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

Light Bowgun Shells: Normal Lv2, Pierce Lv2, Thunder S, Crag Lv1
Heavy Bowgun Shells: Normal Lv2, Pierce Lv2, Flame S

Start off with your Elemental Shells then Pierce Shells and if he's still alive
then resort to Normal Lv2 Shells. The Kut-Ku Cannon cannot use Crag Lv1 so if
possible you can try to forge Crag Lv2 Shells from Sm Bone Husk (bought from Old
Lady or found in various bone piles like Area 7 of Jungle) and Burst Arrowana
(from fishing or Old Lady.) If this option doesn't suit you then you can switch
back to Sand Diver which shoots Crag Lv1, Flame S, and Thunder S as well.

The key to victory relies on keeping your distance. By judging the distance of
our
land-loving foe, we can unload shells with ease. You're biggest problem remains
the wildlife, which needs to be cleared (preferably with Normal Lv2) upon
entering
an Area. If you have Crag you can use that surface Plessy, if not refer to other
methods or just shoot. Once on land your target is the Neck. With Thunder and
Pierce our bullets travel straight up the Neck and shatter it's fin. Once you're
on Normal Lv2 however you'll need to switch to the Legs or Stomach for your
shots.
There isn't much else in regards to strategy. Remember the rule of spacing and
keep to the left.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

An intimidating creature indeed. His shifts between land and sea/lake annoys
many. The fact you may fight in an enclosed area is no help either. However,
these are the struggles of a Hunter. In our every changing environment, we are
forced to adapt ergo evolve.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [7.4.3] Elder Quest --- |---
                     ---|       ~~~ Gypceros ~~~      |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                      "I can see! ...oh, I guess not..."
                     ~Blinkin, Robin Hood, Men in Tights

o==========o--------------------o
| Question  \ What is Gypceros? |
o============o------------------o

This bothersome buzzard is a bird Wyvern. Annoying as hell, ridiculous as hell.
Deals a wide variety of status ailments along with his ever-so special ability
to
steal your items! And unlike wild Felyne, you can't get these back!

Imagine, if you will, a featherless bird shaded murky green. Add a flashing
jewel
atop his head, a long whip-like tail, and you have Gypceros. Being related to
Yian
Kut-Ku, you'll find it has many of the same attacks.

This is section was painful to write. Why? Gyps is boring. Nothing remarkable
about his armor, though later on you'll need to hunt him for Poison weapons. His
attacks are hardly original. They move in the same motions as Yian Kut-Ku.

Most effective attacks: Tail/Stomach (Cutting), Head (Impact)
Most effective element: Fire
Susceptible Status Ailments: Least resistant to Stun and Sleep. (Purple Gypceros
is more vulnerable to Sleep.)
Susceptible Bombs: None
Susceptible Traps: Pitfall
Breakable Parts: Beacon (Flashing thing atop head.)
Near Death When: Tries to Fake Death multiple times. (See Below) Or Limping.

Note: Gyps can be knocked over by aiming for his legs. When aiming for the
stomach, try to make sure his legs get in the way. *hint* *hint*

Note: Because of Gyps Poison Attacks, bringing Antidote would help.

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

Peck Attack:
An attack exactly the same as Yian Kut-Ku's. Gyps will hop forward (sometimes
not)
and bob his head up and down in a pecking motion. What's the difference here? If
you're caught by this attack, there's a chance he'll steal an item.

You can exploit this linear attack by going around him and aiming for his tail.
If
you didn't bring a weapon with an overhead swing, try the wings.

Backward Brush:
Like Yian Kut-Ku, Gyps will summon wind and launch himself backwards. This isn't
to be confused with a simple Jump, where he hovers above ground a little to
summon
Wind.

Poison-ball:
Gyps will launch a ball of concentrated poison similar to Yian Kut-Ku's
Fireball.
It has the same terrible range. It has the same points of vulnerability. Round
and
round we go...

Bite:
Gyps will do a simple bite attack. It's nothing we haven't seen before.

Tail Whip:
Use the same method of avoiding this as you do Kut-Ku's. By sticking to Gyps
right
we can escape being hit while taking advantage of gap of time between attacks.
There's something I should bring up before we move on though...

Diagram #7 - Gypceros Tail Whip

The following is the diagram of Kut-Ku's Tail Whip.

==============
====\\|//=====
======X=======
==============

Legend:
\|/ = Range of Tail Whip.
X = Yian Kut Ku.

Pretty Straightforward. Yian Kut-Ku moves in a roughly ninety degree angle.

Now compare with Gypceros Tail Whip:

==============
=====\|//=====
====\\|//=====
======X=======
==============

Legend:
\|/ = Range of Tail Whip.
X = Gypceros.

See the difference? Gyps is slightly longer because his tail is longer. Or at
least, extend during the Tail Whip. At first though, it doesn't. Only when it's
in
full swing do we see it extend. But because you'll be sticking to his right,
chances are you won't be hit. Ergo, you don't have to worry.

Flash:
Gyps will snap his jaw while atop his hind legs. He'll do this three times
before
releasing a flash similar to a Flash Bomb. Except he's using it on you. With
Lunge, it's possible to avoid this with correct timing. The first few times you
may get caught. Don't get frustrated. It happens to EVERYONE.

If you're far enough away from him when he uses it, theres a chance you can
avoid
the attack. For non-blocker weapon users remember a quick way of recovering from
Flash is to rotate the Joystick. Also, if you're anywhere other then his front,
he'll waste a brief moment to turn to face you. Giving you a chance to avoid his
next attack.

Fake Death:
After receiving a hit Gyps will PRETEND to die. What he doesn't know is that YOU
know he's faking. A good way of telling if he's faking or not is the fact "Quest
Completed" didn't appear. If you can't be sure then, wait a couple of seconds.

What I like to do is exploit the time Gyps has given us. You'll have a short
window of time to plant Barrel Bombs near him (preferably at the tip of the
furtherest body-part, his wings.) Others like setting up traps, or attacking
from
afar. Most however, just wait.

You CAN carve him, but it's getting hit is almost guaranteed.

False Take-off:
Gyps will run a specific spot and take-off. It will appear as if he's changing
Areas, however he'll flap at a low altitude. This indicates that he'll try to
leave the Area soon. Possibly, his next attempt.

Rage Mode:
Beware of Rage Mode, as Gyps will hop up and down. If you're in his range you
could end up being pushed back. His eyes will light, the beacon on his head will
flash, and purple-ish miasma will emit from his mouth. His attacks become much
faster and there are points where he'll use his most annoying attack.

Bum Rush:
Our flabby foe will run across the Area in a zig-zag motion. Spraying Poison-
balls
across his path. Sorta like Multi-Fireball except it has a chance of hitting.
His
pattern is easy to memorize. If the situation calls for it though, you should
Lunge.

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o

 x-------------------x
 | VELOCIDROME BITE! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Sword and Shield
 | Weapon Attack: 168
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |  Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger +
 | Assassin's Dagger --> Velocidrome Bite
 |
 | Method:
 | Start with Hunter's Dagger. Gather a total of six Iron Ore, three Earth
 | Crystals, four Machalite Ore, four Velocidrome Claws, and two Velocidrome
 | Hide. We've yet to unlock the juicy new weapons for our new rank (should you
 | decide to go after Hermy first.) The Velocidrome Bite is a dependable ally
 | and should not be discarded yet.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-----------------x
 | WEARY FINSWORD! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Sword and Shield
 | Weapon Attack: 168
 | Element: Sleep 180
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |   Bone Kris --> Bone Kris +
 | Chief Kris --> Weary Finsword
 |
 | Method:
 | Starting off with Bone Kris and Bone Kris + is simple as you should already
 | have an abundance of Small Monster Bones (and if not then start hunting.)
 | To improve to Chief Kris you'll need a single Medium Monster Bone (Yian Kut-
 | Kut, Congalala), two Small Monster Bones, and two Small Bone Husks (Old
 | Lady.) When you do have the Chief Kris (and assuming you've already taken on
 | Plesioth) you'll need to hunt for two Plesioth Fins (non-green Plessy by the
 | way) two Cephalos Fin (rewarded for breaking Cephadrome's Fin) and ten Sleep
 | Herbs (Old Lady.)
 |
 | Why invest in the Weary Finsword now? Down the line this becomes a highly
 | useful Sword and Shield. It can be used in tandem with the Sleep-Bombing
 | Method, which basically infers putting an enemy to sleep, laying down a few
 | Bombs and setting them off. The trade-off here is that the Velocidrome Bite
 | has more sharpness, so choose wisely before considering your weapon.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

By aiming for the Stomach, we hit the legs too. This can cause Gyps to fall over
leaving him vulnerable to attack. With the Sword and Shield we can block our
foes
Flash attack. With these weapon types, battle will be a dance of evasion. Always
keep to his right or else that Tail Whip will get you. Blocking with the Sword
and
Shield is possible however the recoil hits you hard. Otherwise this is your
classic Kut-Ku clone fight.

 x-------------------x
 | VELOCIPREY CLAWS! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 196
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Giaprey Claws -->
 | Giaprey Claws + --> Velociprey Claws
 |
 | Method:
 | To make Giaprey Claws +, buy or make a Hunter's Dagger. Then go after
 | Giadrome, yes, you're going to need Giaprey parts, but you get those in the
 | reward section for facing off with Giadrome anyway. Plus there are plenty of
 | Giaprey to go after during the quest. This will make collecting materials
 | easier, if not a bit tedious, in the long run. If you already have Giaprey
 | Claws +, you can skip this section entirely.
 |
 | In order to upgrade, you'll need six Velocidrome Claws, one Velocidrome
 | Head, and two Pale Extract (Khezu.) This means a lot of Velocidrome hunting,
 | however if you're adamant on using Dual Swords, this is by far the best you
 | can obtain at the moment.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

It's contrary with the Dual Swords. While lacking that range, players may find
themselves forced to deal quick bursts then evade. I found the Roundhouse (O
button) effective when aiming for the right leg. Because you're on Gyps right in
order to avoid his Tail Whip, why not take advantage of his leg?

When you've knocked him down go for the his weak-point (stomach.) It's possible
to
Double Roundhouse when he's playing dead (aim for the wing.) Finding the right
place can be tricky, but it's doable. The Dual Swords are definitely the more
difficult weapon of the two. When mastered though, battle is that much more fun!

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x----------------------x
 | PLESIOTH WATERSWORD! |
 x----------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 576
 | Element: Water 390
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Bone Blade --> Bone Blade + --> Bone Slasher
 |    --> Finblade --> Plesioth Watersword
 |
 | Method:
 | Ready to sharpen those Bow skills? Allow me to explain. The best weapon in
 | your current predicament would be the Plesioth Watersword. It's a kick-ass
 | Water Greatsword that's difficult to make. You can create the Finsword right
 | off the bat; after you have that it's time to hunt. You need three Plesioth
 | Fins, four Plesioth scales and one Mega Demondrug (see [4.2.5] for
 | ingredients.) If you don't have Pale Extract, I suggest going after Khezu as
 | well.
 |
 | So why a Bow? Typically, any weapon can shatter Plessy's fin, but in my case
 | Bow works best. Because of the sheer size of Plessy, shattering that fin
 | can't be done with weapons with short reach. Get ready to go Fin hunting!
 | Bring your strongest Bow and aim for the Fin. I usually get one per round,
 | two if I'm lucky. You could do better or worse. After going through that
 | painful campaign you can forge the Plesioth Watersword.
 |
 | Challenge: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x--------------------x
 | KHEZU SHOCK SWORD! |
 x--------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 220
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + --> Buster Blade --> Ravager Blade
 | --> Khezu Shock Sword
 |
 | Method:
 | To forge Ravager Blade, you will need (assuming you did not make Buster
 | Sword from scratch) a total of twenty Iron Ore, five Disc Stones, fifteen
 | earth crystals, and six  Machalite Ore. As of now, you have these resources
 | available throughout the Mining spots in the Jungle and the Snowy Mountains.
 | If you are having trouble locating them refer to Scootypuff's resource maps
 | on GameFAQs. Should you already have the Ravager Blade as per my
 | suggestions, then all you'll need is fifteen Iron Ore, two Electro Sacs, and
 | three Flabby Hides (the last two come directly from Khezu.)
 |
 | Note that I only recommend this against Gyps because it has a good Raw
 | damage. Gypceros is NOT weak against Thunder Element. This is merely an
 | alternative to those who haven't farmed for Plesioth parts yet.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

A few things. Now that we have a Greatsword/Longsword we have an overhead swing.
With this, we can go after Gyps Tail. It's easier for Longsword because of it's
obvious speed. However, the Greatsword can block his Flash attacks. You'll have
plenty of opportunities for the Charge Method. By placing yourself at a spot
where
Gyps will have to turn multiple times to get. It's that place we want to be.
Depending on his size, there's a chance you can get in some Combos while he's
using Tail Whip. When the moment he begins to Fake Death is the moment you begin
Charging. Aim for his wing.

 x---------------------x
 | DRAGONWOOD L.SWORD! |
 x---------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Paralysis 190
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Dragonwood L.Sword
 |
 | Method:
 | The Dragonwood Longsword is a neat alternative to the Bone Katana "Dragon".
 | So long as you have Trenya and several Pokke Points to spare, you can farm
 | for the materials. You'll need three Dragonwood which can be gotten by
 | sending her either to the Jungle, the Swamp, the Forest & Hills, or the
 | Volcano (though you won't have the Volcano open at this time) for 300 Pokke
 | Points. If you haven't checked up on Boldrin's Pokke Farm Guide then you'll
 | need to know that you must complete a quest before she returns. Any quest
 | other then a Gathering one.
 |
 | After you've gotten your Dragonwood it's time to send Trenya away for
 | Dragonmoss. The Dragonmoss can be gotten from the Snowy Mountains, the
 | Swamp, the Forest & Hills, and the Volcano by paying Trenya 300 Pokke
 | Points. While she's out hunting for items, try to farm for fifteen
 | Thunderbug's at Pokke Farm and Mushroom Tree for ten Chaos Shrooms.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

The practice with the Longsword is simpler. With the Longsword range, you can
easily grab the Tail, Wings, or Legs/Stomach and Backsweep all at once. Your
biggest foe will be Gyps Flash Attack. So don't get caught while using Spirit
Combo. Just treat it as you would the Dual Swords, time your hacking and keep to
his side and you'll prevail.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x-------------x
 | KUT-KU JAW! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 676
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer -->
 |  Atlas Hammer --> Kut-Ku Jaw
 |
 | Method:
 | Start with Bone Club gather three Brute Bones, and three Small Monster
 | Bones. Once you have the Atlas Hammer begin gathering two Giant Bones and
 | another ten Small Monster Bones. After that you must fight Yian Kut-Ku until
 | you acquire it's rarest drop the Giant Beak. You must also gather five Sharp
 | Claws and two Monster Fluid via Vespoids and/or Hornetaurs.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low
 x---------------------------------x

While his head the weak-point, Hammer users will be limited to Gyps leg. Why?
Because he'll massacre you if you attempt to tackle his front. The silver lining
here is that you have a free-shot whenever he Bites. Just find the correct
timing
and you can wrack up serious damage. Once again, Flash it not our friend.
Because
of our inability to block we have to able to sheath our weapon at a moment's
notice. Why is this worse for Hammer users? Because we've already spent a hefty
load of Stamina on Charging. When we've knocked him down (if you've been aiming
for the legs) you can perform a Triple Pound on the head.

It's possible to execute a Charged attack while Gyps is using Tail Whip. When
Gyps
is using multiple Tail Whips (often does) he'll not only turn his tail, but his
head too. It's up to you to determine what spot his head will stop at. If you
anticipate the move, you can land a Charged attack. It sounds more difficult
then
it actually is. All you need is a keen sense of timing.

 x--------------x
 | SONIC GLASS! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: 5%
 | Slots: N/A
 | Notes: White, Green, Yellow
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer --> Skullcrusher
 |   --> Skullcrusher + --> Sonic Glass
 |
 | Method:|
 | Improving Bone Club to Cyclo Hammer requires three Brute Bones (Bulldrome)
 | and three Small Monster Bones (Old Lady, Apceros, Giadrome.) You must then
 | farm Yian Kut-Ku until you have eight Medium Monster Bones. Then go after
 | Cephalos or Cephadrome for ten Piscine Fangs and Congalala for three
 | Congalala Claws. Finally, get Sharp Claws from either Conga or Blango. Once
 | completed it's time to get the Vespoid stuff out of the way. You'll need one
 | Vespoid Adomen, four Vespoid Shells, four Hornetaurs (on the same mission as
 | Vespoids,) and one Monster Fluid.
 |
 | Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Recover Speed[Small]) -- Green --> Green --> Yellow (1 Min.)
 | (High Frequency) -- Yellow --> Yellow --> Yellow
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x------------------x
 | DRAGONWOOD HORN! |
 x------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Paralysis 140
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Notes: Purple, Blue, Red
 | Path:
 | Dragonwood Horn
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need to Trenya to fetch you the two Dragonwood and three Dragonmoss
 | you'll need for construction, ten Monster Fluid from farming Hornetaurs and
 | Vespoids, and twenty Thunderbugs. See "Dragonwood L.Sword" for more details.
 |
 | Without a doubt, a valuable and powerful Hunting Horn. Especially since your
 | choice of weapons in this category are limited. The materials for forging
 | are hell to gather, but the weapon path is worth the investment.
 |
 | Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Attack Power Up [Large]) -- Purple --> Red -> Red  (2 min)
 | (Health +50) -- Red --> Blue --> Red --> Purple (3 min)
 | (Wind Pressure [Small]) -- Blue --> Blue --> Red (3 min)
 | (Infinite Stamina [Large]) -- Purple --> Blue -> Blue (3 min)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Hunting Horn is tricker, as we don't have many opportunities. Most of the time
you
want to manipulate his turning. If you can make him turn into a Super Pound,
you're doing something right. The safer route his to spam the Triangle button
until his legs give way. Or we can aim for the wing for some minor damage. You
have to pick your moments in Recital Mode. By planning on what notes you'll
play,
you can get the Buff faster so you avoid getting hit.

The best advantage of these weapon types is that once you've broken the Gyps
beacon, Flash is nullified. But guess what? He still tries to use it! All the
more
time to build up damage or even use those precious moments for a Recital buff!
When he begins to Fake Death, use a Super Pound on his wing to bring him back.
With luck you may be able to KO him. I wasn't so lucky during testing.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

 x-------------------x
 | BLACK BELT LANCE! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 345
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: Two
 | Path:
 | Black Belt Lance
 |
 | Method:
 | In order to create the Black Belt Lance you'll need to fight in the Training
 | Hall. You'll need to fight Yian Kut-Ku for fifteen Kut-Ku Coins, Congalala
 | for ten Congalala Coins, and Plesioth for ten Plesioth Coins. You'll also
 | need eight Blackbelt Tickets which come as rewards from Training as well.
 |
 | The Black Belt Lance is a decent weapon with credible sharpness. It's
 | materials take a bit of hard work to gather, but having a weapon like this
 | is a huge advantage for Lancers early on. That being said, if you, for some
 | reason, choose not to forge this weapon then stick with Spiked Spear.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

I suggest taking advantage of Lances dual weapon type. I've already mentioned
that
the Lance has the unique ability to switch weapon type damage. Depending on what
weak spot you're attacking, the Lance will shift to the type that deals the most
damage. Anyway, our targets should remain either the Head, the stomach, or the
Tail. The tail is oh-so-hard to nail (that's what she said.) Since we can block,
we can Guard against Flash and Backward Brush with ease. With this in mind, we
can
hit most parts of Gyps and not worry if the damage is carrying over.

 x----------------x
 | MARINE FISHER! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 299
 | Element: Ice 100
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Shelling Type: Long Lv1
 | Path:
 |     Iron Gunlance --> Snow Gunlance
 | --> Snow Gunlance MK.II --> Marine Fisher
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need two Giaprey Hide, three Giaprey Scales, eight Iron Ore for the
 | upgrade to Snow Gunlance. After this, you'll need eight Earth Crystals,
 | three Giadrome Hide, and one Giadrome Head. The Giadrome Head (as I
 | mentioned before) is a rare drop but your chances increase by capturing it.
 | At this you'll obtain the Snow Gunlance MK.II (if you already don't have
 | it.)
 |
 | In order to forge the Marine Fisher you'll need five Plesioth Scales, three
 | Cephalos Scales, and seven Machalite Ore. Yeah, I know. We're losing perhaps
 | our only Ice elemental Gunlance. Let me assure you it's worth the trade.
 | There, you feel better?
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Because the Gunlance limits your Back-Hop to one, you'll have to be careful on
how
you proceed. Turtling would be advisable. In battle, my strategy consisted of
going in-between his legs while in Tail Whip. Using the Gunlance's Uppercut
(Triangle + O) move I had access to his Tail. That's what you should aim for,
the
Tail. Before he lets off a Flash, try to Uppercut. And when he Fakes Death,
unleash that Wyvern Fire.

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o

 x--------------------x
 | DAIMYO'S WARBOW I! |
 x--------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 144
 | Element: Water 80
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: All but Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv1
 | Charge Lv2: Pierce Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Pierce Lv3
 | Charge Lv4: Rapid Lv2
 |
 | Path:
 | Daimyo's Warbow I
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need four Hermituar Shell, four Plesioth scales, ten Small Hermituar
 | Shells and eight Earth Crystals.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Stun and Sleep Coatings can catch Gyps off guard. Bow users have the power to
smash his Beacon and I recommend doing so. It should be the same evasive shtick,
keep to his right, dodge appropriately. Watch out for his Tail Whip as it's
range
extends further from the norm. For the most part, you should aim for the head.
The
Tail is harder to connect with because of accuracy issues. If you're a true
marksman, you should have no problem.

 x----------------x
 | ANGEL PARASOL! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 144                Normal S: 6  6  9  Flame S : -  -  -
 | Reload: Very Fast                 Pierce S: 3  3  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 4  4  4  Thnd S  : 3  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  1  1  Freeze S: 3  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : -  -  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3  3  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  1  -  Demon S : 1  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -  Armor S : 1  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | A tricky and oddly shaped Bowgun that apparently has a history. In order to
 | make this beauty yours, you'll need four Flabby Hide (Khezu), eight
 | Carpenterbugs (Pokke Farm), three Electro Sacs (Khezu), and one Lost
 | Umbrella.
 |
 | In order to find the Lost Umbrella you must take the Swamp Gathering Mission
 | and go to Area 1. You should see Barrels and a Felyne Drop Point, search
 | among those. If you don't find it the first time, you're going to have to
 | repeat the mission. Good thing you only need one of these m'right?
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

 x---------------------x
 | YIAN KUT-KU CANNON! |
 x---------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 216                Normal S: 9  9  12  Flame S : 4  -  -
 | Reload: Very Slow                 Pierce S: -  3  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: -  4  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : -  1  -  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: One                        Clust S : -  1  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 | Added Effects: Def +6             Recov S : -  -  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : -  -  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : -  -  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | If you've been farming Yian Kut-Ku you should have the eight Kut-Ku Shells
 | and six Kut-Ku Scales you need for the first requirements. You'll then need
 | five Flabby Hides (Khezu) and ten Large Monster Bones (Cephadrome.) It's
 | actually difficult to get these from a Cephadrome since they give out only
 | one per capture. You can wait until after you've fought Daimyo Hermituar to
 | get them and instead opt for Sand Diver.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

Light Bowgun Shells: Normal Lv2, Pellet Lv2, Flame S, Crag Lv1
Heavy Bowgun Shells: Normal Lv2, Pellet Lv2, Flame S

If you prefer Peirce over Pellet be my guest and use it. However I've found
Pellet
to me be more useful (at least from my point of view.) The Flame S allows us
chip
at our foe's weakness. And the Normal S is mainly for backup and crowd control.
Remember to be choosy with your areas, a gunner can't survive if he or she is
being pummeled by the wildlife.

Our strategy should remain the same. Keep to his left, aim for either the sides
or
his head. It's important we break his Beacon. And when he's trying to flee, you
can nail him with a Crag or Clust (if your Bowgun can use either.) If he's shot
mid-air with either there's a chance you can make him fall.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

Gyps is a miserable vulture of a Wyvern. It's attacks are hardly original. It's
pattern is only slightly changed. Yet he's a Wyvern, and he's got materials you
need. I take great pleasure in finished up with this Wyvern. Those stolen items
cost a lot to replace (took all my Combo Books.) -_-;;

There are bigger fish to fry...oh wait, that was the last section.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [7.4.4] Elder Quest --- |---
                    ---|      ~~~ Blangonga ~~~      |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                        "My favorite animal is steak."
                                ~Fran Lebowitz

o==========o---------------------o
| Question  \ What is Blangonga? |
o============o-------------------o

Blangonga is a ape-like snow lion similar to a Blango. Except much larger,
stronger, and faster. He's a whole new type of monster you must tangle with.
Later
on, giving needed materials for forge Ice element weaponry. Is his armor worth
harvesting? Yes, there is occasion when Blango armor becomes useful for it's
Quake
Resistance. See "[4.3]" for details.

To give you a quick picture, Blangonga propels Ice oriented attacks. He even has
a
breath attack that can encase you in solid Ice! Be sure to pack Thawing Agent!
He's what I'd like to label a "jumper" who likes to keep in constant motion.
Blangonga will make short hops in one of three directions in order to elude
Hunters.

Most effective attacks: Head, or Legs (for staggering and knocking over.)
Most effective element: Fire (minor weakness to Thunder.)
Susceptible Status Ailments: Stun, least resistant to Sleep.
Susceptible Bombs: Flash
Susceptible Traps: Stun Trap, Pitfall
Breakable Parts: *Fangs
Near Death When: Limping.

*Note: His Fangs are only breakable with a Fire Elemental Weapon.

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

Hop:
Being one of the most mobile Monster types in-game, Blangonga will jump around
quite a lot. Forward Hop to get closer, Back-Hop to nail anyone behind him,
Side-
Hop to reposition itself or knock you over. With this in mind, precise attacks
are
key for it's defeat.

Tackle:
Blangonga will hurl itself forward arm outstretched. When leaping off the
ground,
he'll leave a little space open. Depending on WHERE you're positioned, you can
avoid getting hit.

Burrow:
The same "Pokemon-esque" move we've seen on Hermy. Blangonga will Burrow it's
paws
into the ground until submerged. Unlike Hermy, where he emerges multiple times,
our furry foe will only do this once.

Slash:
Blangonga will slash you with his claw. It happens if you're within close range.
I
wouldn't worry about this one, as it's hit-zone is pitiful.

Slam:
Much like Congalala, Blangonga will stand on it's hind legs and crash back down.
If you happen to the nearby, the shock-waves induce a "Quake" status. It's easy
to
avoid this when using longer range weaponry. It acts more like an Anti-Melee
attack as it can stop the average Hunter's attack. It's simply better to escape
this attacks range.

With precise timing, you can actually avoid the Quake, as it comes in a short
wave. A good way of practicing is to keep an eye on said wave. Try to literally
roll over it. Its best to actually roll towards Blangonga as he's slamming.

Roar:
Blangonga will roar which can be countered with Earplugs. If you're fighting him
in his natural habitat he'll summon Blango with this attack. The good news is
that
we can disable this if we've broken the Fangs. Giving us a free hit whenever he
tries to use it thereafter.

Rock Cross:
Because of Blangonga's poor turning capabilities he'll try to even the playing
field by launching an ice rock from the ground. It will land several feet in
front
of him then break into four consecutive pieces. These pieces actually break off
into four separate directions. I say Rock Cross because of the angle in which
the
Rocks fly.

Diagram #8 - Rock Cross

===============
=======V=======
======x=x======
=======O=======
======x=x======
===============

Legend:
V - Blangonga and the direction he's facing.
O - Where the Rock Lands.
x - Where the Rock splits.

Ice Breath:
A very linear, short range attack. Ole fuzz-ball will strain it's body
to summon nasty Ice Breath. If you're caught, you become encased in solid ice.
It
you didn't bring any Thawing Agent, you'll have to wait until it breaks or until
you're hit by an attack. By holding the R Trigger, we are able to gain a little
speed. Allowing a small amount of evasion.

Our strategy, his counter:
We do, sincerely want to go for his hind-legs. Do NOT mistake his sides for his
back-side. Blangonga has a Back-hop ready to pounce on unsuspecting Hunters. Our
best bet is to attack from the sides. That way we can take advantage of his
turning and subsequent seconds after he finishes an attack.

Blangonga is vulnerable after and during the execution of many attacks. There
are
some like Roar, where, unless you have Earplug, you can't counter.

You do have a few chances during Ice Breath, AFTER Slam, BEFORE and maybe during
Rock Cross. It all depends on where you are, and how far you are from him. And
for
that I recommend a "counter-clockwise" motion for whatever weapon you're
carrying.
Especially Long Ranged.

Rage Mode:
Blangonga's attacks will increase, he'll jump around a lot more, and worse yet
his
attacks are even faster! It's very dangerous to attempt to attack during Rage
Mode.

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

Should you want to smash Blangonga's Fangs, bring a Fire elemental weapon (if
you
can.) The Fang is key for unlocking it's armor and future ice weaponry.

You should (if you haven't already) invest in making Traps or gathering Flash
Bombs. Now, Flash Bombs are wholly useful as they just drive Blangonga wild.
However when combined with Shock Traps and/or Large Barrel Bombs, they can prove
quite effective. With this in mind, we can effectively take out a chunk of his
Health before real combat begins. Beware of after though, as you'll most likely
drive him into Rage Mode.

An effective method of cornering these "jumpers" like Blangonga is by cornering
him. Luring them into an enclosed section of an area. While you may not have
that
freedom in some areas, it's possible in others. Since Blangonga tries to put
distance away from you, it will unknowingly hop near a wall. This will be your
chance to take advantage. It sounds complicated, but I'll cover in greater
detail
further on.

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o

 x-------------------x
 | POISON BATTLEAXE! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Sword and Shield
 | Weapon Attack: 182
 | Element: Poison 240
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 |    Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger +
 | --> Assassin's Dagger --> Poison Battleaxe
 |
 | Method:
 | Gathering the materials for Poison Battleaxe should be simple enough. Start
 | with seven Iron Ore, three Earth Crystals, one Disk Stone and a single
 | Machalite Ore and you should get the Assassin's Dagger.
 |
 | With that done, hunt Gypceros for four Rubbery Hide, four Poison Sacs, and
 | either pink or Blue Yian Kut-Ku (although Blue yields more) for three Medium
 | Monster Bones.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The disadvantage of the Poison Battleaxe is that since it isn't a fire weapon
you'll have to endure the Roar. That means attempting to avoid it via blocking
is
key. And once you get that down, there should be little else to worry about.

The Sword and Shield's range can annoy Hunters. However it's progressive speed
can
determine whether you're hit or not. I found it difficult going after sides
without roaming across his back-side. Which led to him using Back-hop. The plus
side is I could attack and move at my own pace. Plus, if the situation arose, I
could block his Roars, Ice Breath, and Quake inducing Slam.

 x-------------------x
 | VELOCIPREY CLAWS! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 196
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Giaprey Claws -->
 | Giaprey Claws + --> Velociprey Claws
 |
 | Method:
 | To make Giaprey Claws +, buy or make a Hunter's Dagger. Then go after
 | Giadrome, yes, you're going to need Giaprey parts, but you get those in the
 | reward section for facing off with Giadrome anyway. Plus there are plenty of
 | Giaprey to go after during the quest. This will make collecting materials
 | easier, if not a bit tedious, in the long run. If you already have Giaprey
 | Claws +, you can skip this section entirely.
 |
 | In order to upgrade, you'll need six Velocidrome Claws, one Velocidrome
 | Head, and two Pale Extract (Khezu.) This means a lot of Velocidrome hunting,
 | however if you're adamant on using Dual Swords, this is by far the best you
 | can obtain at the moment.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Once again, our limited weaponry disallows us from shattering our foe's Fang.
And
without the ability to guard our only options are as such. You can either keep
your distance (which is difficult) or you can let the Roar hit you and exploit
the
seconds you have to recover by forcing Blangonga to turn to face you. This is
not
always successful however, especially in Rage Mode.

With the Dual Swords, beginners of the craft are limited to the using Roundhouse
(or Double Roundhouse if you can time the transition to Demon Mode right.) Dual
Swords are just as evasive however they lack the blocking ability the SnS has.
So
if you're caught by Roar, just make sure you're not in front of Blangonga. Like
the Gypceros, I found myself attached to a hind-leg. Attacking these can help
topple Blangonga making him vulnerable to attack.

Since this is close-range-combat beware of his turning, as his hind-legs can
knock
you over. Effectively making you vulnerable to his next attack. With either
weapon
type, quick attacks are the main focus here. You're forced to keep up with his
great speed and size.

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x--------------------x
 | KHEZU SHOCK SWORD! |
 x--------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 220
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + --> Buster Blade --> Ravager Blade
 | --> Khezu Shock Sword
 |
 | Method:
 | To forge Ravager Blade, you will need (assuming you did not make Buster
 | Sword from scratch) a total of twenty Iron Ore, five Disc Stones, fifteen
 | earth crystals, and six  Machalite Ore. As of now, you have these resources
 | available throughout the Mining spots in the Jungle and the Snowy Mountains.
 | If you are having trouble locating them refer to Scootypuff's resource maps
 | on GameFAQs. Should you already have the Ravager Blade as per my
 | suggestions, then all you'll need is fifteen Iron Ore, two Electro Sacs, and
 | three Flabby Hides (the last two come directly from Khezu.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

An alternative to the Khezu Shock Sword is the Barbaroi Blade which is weaker.
However if you want to farm Blangonga's Fang right away then this is an option.

It takes tremendous skill in order to compensate for the Greatsword sluggish
movements. Hunters not so great with Charging may find themselves using old
fashion combos and Unsheathe attacks. Which is fine. There isn't anything wrong
with HOW you use a Greatsword as long as you have fun... And kill the SOB.

Blangonga doesn't always turn, he hops. Take care when Charging. If you need to,
employ a Shock Trap or Pitfall (you get more charges out of a Pitfall.) Charging
becomes a guessing game at this point. Whether or not he will turn or hop to
change position. If possible one could corner Blangonga and go from there.

You have to employ the extra mile. You have to find moments where you can
unleash
a Charged attack. The problem here is that you can waste your time attempting a
Charge. Damage over time is effected. And there comes a time when you must ask
yourself, could I be doing more damage with using combos or Charging? Whichever
path you, just make sure you stay alive.

 x----------------x
 | EAGER CLEAVER! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 250
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Iron Katana --> Iron Katana "Grace" -->
 | Iron Katana "Gospel" --> Eager Cleaver
 |
 | Method:
 | Fifteen Iron Ore, twelve Machalite Ore, fifteen Earth Crystals. Not exactly
 | taxing requirements. If you've been following my advice, then you've
 | accumulated lots of Ores from Volcano - Gathering Quests. If not, then nows
 | the time to gather what you need.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

As for the unique Longsword users, our methods are far simpler. Evade --> Circle
then Triangle --> Repeat was my pattern. When I built up enough of the Spirit
Gauge I unleashed a few key blows and then rebuilt. It's all about getting in
the
proper strikes while still having the time to avoid. It is much easier with the
Longsword because of it's range. With the addition of Back-Sweep we can play our
defense even more-so. If you carry a Fire Element weapon, I highly recommend
shattering those annoying Fangs as to negate Roar. Otherwise, the fight is
yours.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x-------------x
 | KUT-KU JAW! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 676
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer -->
 |  Atlas Hammer --> Kut-Ku Jaw
 |
 | Method:
 | Start with Bone Club gather three Brute Bones, and three Small Monster
 | Bones. Once you have the Atlas Hammer begin gathering two Giant Bones and
 | another ten Small Monster Bones. After that you must fight Yian Kut-Ku until
 | you acquire it's rarest drop the Giant Beak. You must also gather five Sharp
 | Claws and two Monster Fluid via Vespoids and/or Hornetaurs.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

It's the Charge and Release game with your host Blangonga! It's simple really,
just Charge, and Release while trying to catch our furry foe! Sorta-like an
advance game of Whack-a-Mole except this mole can kill you...and isn't blind.

Novelties aside, you'll learn the Hammer has a simplistic role in the world of
Monster Hunter. You Charge, you find right moment, and you release. Such perfect
times include the moment where he belches Ice Breath, or launches Rock Cross.
Our
enemy are his hops. Back-Hop, Forward-Hop, Side-Hop, these are the demons you
must
slay in order to champion the Hammer.

The safe route is his hind-legs. You must decide whether or not to aim for it.
The
benefits of both Hammer and Hunting Horn is that we have a chance at KO. The
Super
Pound must address Blangonga's turning. Other times will require the simple
spammable Triangle.

 x-------------x
 | KHEZU HORN! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 200
 | Sharpness: Green (Low)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Notes: White, Blue, Yellow
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer --> Atlas Hammer --> Khezu Horn
 |
 | Method:
 | Buy a Bone Club and gather two Giant Bones (Congalala), three Brute Bones,
 | and thirteen Small Monster Bones. Improve until you get Atlas Hammer, then
 | farm three Flabby Hide, four Pale Extract, and two Electro Sacs from Khezu.
 |
 | Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Infinite Stamina [Small]) -- White --> Blue (1 Min)
 | (Elemental Attack Up) -- Yellow --> Blue --> Yellow --> White (1:30 Min)
 | (Fire Def Up [Large]) -- Yellow --> Blue --> White (1 Min)
 | (Thunder Def Up [Large]) -- Yellow --> Yellow --> Blue (1 Min)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

We seem to have an abundance of Thunder element weapons on our hands. The
Infinite
Stamina and Elemental Attack Up provide us with a reason to pick this weapon. If
you'd like you could substitute Infinite Stamina for using a Hot Drink (but I
wouldn't recommend it.)

The game is much the same as it always is. Run in a clock-wise around the area
and
wait for your opportunity to strike. If you're confident enough with your skills
you can attack during Slam if you roll through the seismic waves. Perhaps your
best chance comes from Ice Breath. If by his side, you can throw down the Super
Pound (Triangle + Circle) for a clean hit (and hopefully getaway.) Repeat Super
Pound + Evade strategy until you've dully done Blangonga in.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

 x-------------------x
 | BLACK BELT LANCE! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 345
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: Two
 | Path:
 | Black Belt Lance
 |
 | Method:
 | In order to create the Black Belt Lance you'll need to fight in the Training
 | Hall. You'll need to fight Yian Kut-Ku for fifteen Kut-Ku Coins, Congalala
 | for ten Congalala Coins, and Plesioth for ten Plesioth Coins. You'll also
 | need eight Blackbelt Tickets which come as rewards from Training as well.
 |
 | The Black Belt Lance is a decent weapon with credible sharpness. It's
 | materials take a bit of hard work to gather, but having a weapon like this
 | is a huge advantage for Lancers early on. That being said, if you, for some
 | reason, choose not to forge this weapon then stick with Spiked Spear.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

 x----------------x
 | MARINE FISHER! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 299
 | Element: Ice 100
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Shelling Type: Long Lv1
 | Path:
 |     Iron Gunlance --> Snow Gunlance
 | --> Snow Gunlance MK.II --> Marine Fisher
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need two Giaprey Hide, three Giaprey Scales, eight Iron Ore for the
 | upgrade to Snow Gunlance. After this, you'll need eight Earth Crystals,
 | three Giadrome Hide, and one Giadrome Head. The Giadrome Head (as I
 | mentioned before) is a rare drop but your chances increase by capturing it.
 | At this you'll obtain the Snow Gunlance MK.II (if you already don't have
 | it.)
 |
 | In order to forge the Marine Fisher you'll need five Plesioth Scales, three
 | Cephalos Scales, and seven Machalite Ore. Yeah, I know. We're losing perhaps
 | our only Ice elemental Gunlance. Let me assure you it's worth the trade.
 | There, you feel better?
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

The Lance grants us the mobility that the Gunlance does not. With Blangonga you
should be always willing and ready to abuse the Back-hop. Because Guarding
drains
your stamina (more or less depending on the hits received), you should use it
only
when it can be effective. How you may ask?

Diagram #9 - Wall-Guarding

=======V=======
===============
=======^=======
===|-------|===
===============

Legend:
V = Enemy and it's direction.
^ = You and your direction.
|---| = The wall

This is what I like to call "Wall-Guarding." Simply put, it is facing your back
against a wall letting the enemy corner you. This enables us to poke our foe (in
this case Blangonga) when he comes after you (with Tackle.) When Blangonga hits
you (Guarding of course) you'll be granted an opportunity to poke. Depending on
your position you can disable Rock Cross. With Blangonga facing the corner, that
rock will pass over you. Allowing you free hits when he's attacking. The risk
here
is that he'll use attacks like Roar or Slash. Even turning can knock you down.
If
your Blangonga is large enough, you can move under him.

On the North-Western edge of Area 7 of the Snowy Mountains, there is said method
works wonders. If you don't know maps then look at Scooty_Poof's Mountain
Resources Map.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/934395/50001

It's at the upper-left spot. Just before the path starts narrowing unto Area 8.
That spot allows Wall-Guarding at it's finest. Once again beware of Slash and
Roar. Those two are your biggest enemies as they are performed without warning.
You must play a mix of offense and defense in order to succeed. When Blangonga
moves, there is a similar spot on the north-most part of Area 8 too.

One final note, Large Barrel Bomb + Wyvern Fire = VICTORY!

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o

 x--------------x
 | SONIC BOW I! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 144
 | Element: Thunder 100
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: Power/Paralysis/Poison/Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv2: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv4: Scatter Lv3
 |
 | Path:
 | Sonic Bow I
 |
 | Method:
 | It's a tough forge as you'll have to gather two Electro Sacs (Khezu), ten
 | Vespoid Shells, five Hornetaur Wings, and two Killer Beetles (Pokke Farm.)
 |
 | Because of the iffy strength behind this Bow, I wouldn't recommend you fight
 | off Blangonga with it if you seek the quickest kill. Rather, this should be
 | used when you believe you can't handle him with any other type. And if that
 | happens, well, you need more practice.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-----------------x
 | KUT-KU STAVE I! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 120
 | Element: Fire 80
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: All but Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv1
 | Charge Lv2: Scatter Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Scatter Lv3
 | Charge Lv4: Pierce Lv2
 |
 | Path:
 | Kut-Kut Stave I
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need five Kut-Ku Shells, five Kut-Ku Scales, two Flame Sacs, and four
 | Carpenterbugs (Pokke Farm.)
 |
 | This is entirely optional, but we do have another fire weapon available to
 | us should we decide to go after Blangonga's Fang. However, the attack power
 | for this weapon is even less then that of the Sonic Bow, so ultimately I
 | wouldn't recommend it. If you feel that this weapon does the job though,
 | then more power to you. Just remember Power Coatings and Power Seeds.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Pick a motion, clock-wise or counter-clockwise. Then stick with it. Bow users
will
be accompanied with the natural stamina drain of their charge. Which means
keeping
up your stamina and always keeping tabs on your Hot Drinks. If you'll recall the
landscape of the Snowy Mountains then you'll remember how boxed in the three
top-
most areas are. In some situations, you'll be required to change directions in
order to keep out of Blangonga's way. Beware when it comes to distancing
yourself
from him however. Chances are he'll resort to a Tackling to close that gap.

 x---------------x
 | KUT-KU ANGER! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 156                Normal S: 9  9  12  Flame S : 4  -  -
 | Reload: Very Slow                 Pierce S: -  3  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: -  4  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : -  1  -  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : -  1  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 | Added Effect: Defense +8          Recov S : -  -  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : -  -  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : -  -  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | A very good weapon, forged through rare parts. First and foremost
 | you'll need to pursue Yian Kut-Ku until you've acquired a Giant Beak, two
 | Kut-Ku Ears, and five Kut-Ku Shells. Finally, you'll need two Flabby Hide
 | which come from Khezu.
 |
 | I didn't mention Kut-Ku Anger before because I felt it wasn't worth the
 | trouble. Since it's stronger counterpart, Kut-Ku Anger, requires much the
 | same materials but is out of your reach until you unlocked Red Khezu.
 | However if you'd like a weapon that can shatter Blangonga's Fang then this
 | can do, will do nicely. If you're not big on slow reloading then you can
 | stay with Angel Parasol. Just be aware that you'll need to substitute
 | Thunder Shells for the listed Flame Shells in the Light Bowgun Shell list.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

 x---------------------x
 | YIAN KUT-KU CANNON! |
 x---------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 216                Normal S: 9  9  12  Flame S : 4  -  -
 | Reload: Very Slow                 Pierce S: -  3  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: -  4  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : -  1  -  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: One                        Clust S : -  1  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 | Added Effects: Def +6             Recov S : -  -  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : -  -  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : -  -  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | If you've been farming Yian Kut-Ku you should have the eight Kut-Ku Shells
 | and six Kut-Ku Scales you need for the first requirements. You'll then need
 | five Flabby Hides (Khezu) and ten Large Monster Bones (Cephadrome.) It's
 | actually difficult to get these from a Cephadrome since they give out only
 | one per capture. You can wait until after you've fought Daimyo Hermituar to
 | get them and instead opt for Sand Diver.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

Light Bowgun Shells: Flame S, Pellet Lv2, Normal Lv2
Heavy Bowgun Shells: Flame S, Pellet Lv2, Normal Lv2

The Flame S is mainly for attacking Blangonga's head and shattering his fang.
However, if you're having trouble breaking it, try using up your Pellets first
then moving onto Flame Shells. And as always the Normal Shells are for backup.

The Gunner's bane, Roar can be an ever menacing thing. You have several ways to
defend against it. Checking the section below, for example, instructs you on how
to acquire Hornet Armor which comes with High Grade Earplugs. You can also
attach
a shield to your Heavy Bowgun which blocks the Roar as well. If you opt for
neither option you could always exploit Blangonga's turning. And if you don't
wish
to do any of those...well...good luck!

Your attack method should remain close to the Bow, keep circling around and
exploiting those moments to fire. There's nothing I haven't already said in
terms
of attack so I won't mince words. Good luck and good hunt!

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ What armor should I wear? |
o============o--------------------------o

 x---------------x
 | HORNET ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 55
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Water, Dragon
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Ice, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ High Grade Earplug
 / Dragon Resistance +5
 \ Gathering +1 (Need +4 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Situational
 x================----------------x

Hornet Armor we get from Hornetaurs and Vibrant Pelt from Congalala. Acquiring
their parts are no small feat. We must first make Poison Smoke Bombs from
Toadstool (Old Lady or Pokke Farm) and Bomb Material (Old Lady or Stone + Sap
Plant.) After we've made a sufficient amount. Take the Elder ** Quest "#13
Attack
of the Giant Bugs!" and go after the Hornetaurs.

Throw down a Poison Smoke Bomb on as many as you can. When they've died, carve
their remains for Monster Fluid (3), Hornetaur Wings (12), Hornetaur Shells
(19),
and Hornetaur Heads (3). After this, farm Congalala until you've collected the
rare Vibrant Pelt. Finally, farm a Killer Beetle from Pokke Farm's Insect
Thicket
or try your luck in Forest & Hills Gathering Quest. You will also need ten Iron
Ores, four Earth Crystals, and three Disk Stones; available through Mining Point
at Pokke Farm. Be prepared to spend 6750z in order to make all pieces of the
Hornet Gunner Armor.

With this set, you will have High Grade Earplug, Dragon Res +5, and Demonic
Protection. Effectively giving you armor with Earplug at the earliest possible
time. High Grade Earplugs equals win.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

Blangonga's agile, but his attacks are linear. While powerful, you can counter
with a variety of attacks, strategies, and whatnot to keep him on the ropes. And
in the end, he's just another monster corpse to pile onto the rest. Now go! It's
time to teach this fuzz-ball a lesson!

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [7.5] Elder Quest --- |---
                     ---|    ~~~ Elder **** ~~~     |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

We unlock the Elder **** Quests. Unlocking a new location, the Volcano! This
place
is an excellent location to mine for Ruststones! What are Ruststones? These are
individual items that can be polished into a rare weapon! For more information I
suggest looking into chefs knife's Ruststone guide.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/934395/50713

                      x-------------------------------x
                      | #1 Gathering - Volcanic Zone! |
                      x---------------------------x---x
                      | Mandatory: No             /
                      | Type: Gathering Quest     \
                      | Reward: 12z               /
                      | Contract Fee: 0z          \
                      | Location: Volcano         /
                      | Details: Gather Materials \
                      x---------------------------x

Break into the Area just to get accompanied with it's layout. This place is THE
location for mining Ores. So if you find yourself running out, it's here you can
flock to the rare.

                      x---------------------------x
                      | #2 The Ruler of the Snow! |
                      x---------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No             /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest       \
                      | Reward: 3000z             /
                      | Contract Fee: 500z        \
                      | Location: Snowy Mountains /
                      | Details: Hunt Blangonga   \
                      x---------------------------x

Repeat Urgent quest. Which isn't the worst thing in the world if you seek
Materials.

                      x-----------------------------x
                      | #3 Red Shadow on the Swamp! |
                      x-------------------------x---x
                      | Mandatory: No           /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest     \
                      | Reward: 2700z           /
                      | Contract Fee: 450z      \
                      | Location: Swamp (Night) /
                      | Details: Hunt Red Khezu \
                      x-------------------------x

Khezu variant. Trades weakness of Fire for weakness of Water. It has single
additional attack where his bite is longer. Otherwise the differences are
marginal. Unlike pale Khezu, Red Khezu has a chance of giving away Alluring Hide
when captured or killed.

                      x---------------------------x
                      | #4 The Long Black Garuga! |
                      x---------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No             /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest       \
                      | Reward: 3600z             /
                      | Contract Fee: 600z        \
                      | Location: Jungle (Night)  /
                      | Details: Hunt Yian Garuga \
                      x---------------------------x

Note: You must slay ten Yian Kut-Ku to unlock Yian Garuga

See section "[7.5.1]" for details.

My thoughts on Garuga vs. Hornet Armor is that even with a full set, you still
need two Earplug gems in activate the skill. Since they require Hornetaur Head,
you'll have to go after then anyway. So why not invest it in an armor with
better
Earplug?

The pros of Garuga armor are that they have none of the elemental weaknesses of
Hornet armor. They have better defense and some decent skills (Reckless Abandon
+
1, and PierceS Up.) In the end, it's up to you to decide. Which is worth the
gather and which isn't?

                      x----------------------x
                      | #5 Twin Velocidrome! |
                      x----------------------x--------x
                      | Mandatory: No                 /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest           \
                      | Reward: 1500z                 /
                      | Contract Fee: 250z            \
                      | Location: Jungle (Night)      /
                      | Details: Hunt two Velocidrome \
                      x-------------------------------x

You're hunting two Velocidrome in the Jungle. What more is there to say?

                      x------------------------------x
                      | #6 Attack of the Giant Bugs! |
                      x------------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No               /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest         \
                      | Reward: 1200z               /
                      | Contract Fee: 200z          \
                      | Location: Jungle (Night)    /
                      | Details: Slay 20 Hornetaurs \
                      x-----------------------------x

An excellent opportunity to go after Hornetaur parts if you're intent on making
the Hornet Armor.

                      x------------------------x
                      | #7 Battle of the Blos! |
                      x------------------------x-x
                      | Mandatory: Yes           /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest      \
                      | Reward: 3000z            /
                      | Contract Fee: 500z       \
                      | Location: Desert (Night) /
                      | Details: Hunt Monoblos   \
                      x--------------------------x

See section "[7.5.2]" for details.

                      x---------------------x
                      | #8 The Silver Horn! |
                      x---------------------x--------x
                      | Mandatory: No                /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest          \
                      | Reward: 3600z                /
                      | Contract Fee: 600z           \
                      | Location: Desert (Day)       /
                      | Details: Hunt White Monoblos \
                      x------------------------------x

See section "[7.5.2]" for details.

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | #9 Supreme Ruler of the Swamp! |
                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No                  /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest            \
                      | Reward: 3000z                  /
                      | Contract Fee: 500z             \
                      | Location: Swamp (Day)          /
                      | Details: Hunt Shogun Ceanataur \
                      x--------------------------------x

See section "[7.5.3]" for details.

                      x-----------------------------x
                      | #10 Trapped by Yian Kut-Ku! |
                      x-----------------------------x-x
                      | Mandatory: No                 /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest           \
                      | Reward: 3000z                 /
                      | Contract Fee: 500z            \
                      | Location: Swamp (Night)       /
                      | Details: Hunt Blue & Pink YKK \
                      x-------------------------------x

Rule of thumb when fighting two Monster/Wyverns in the same mission. Avoid
fighting them at once. Find a Wyvern, stick to it, kill it, start on the other.
Enough said.

                      x------------------------x
                      | #11 The Ioprey Leader! |
                      x-------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No           /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest     \
                      | Reward: 1800z           /
                      | Contract Fee: 350z      \
                      | Location: Volcano (Day) /
                      | Details: Hunt Iodrome   \
                      x-------------------------x

Probably the more vicious of the Prey family. The Iodrome spits poison and his
hellishly annoying during later missions. Not because he's tough or anything.
It's
because he gets in the way of the bigger Wyvern.

                      x-----------------------------x
                      | #12 Basarios: Unseen Peril! |
                      x-------------------------x---x
                      | Mandatory: Yes          /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest     \
                      | Reward: 2400z           /
                      | Contract Fee: 400z      \
                      | Location: Volcano (Day) /
                      | Details: Hunt Basarios  \
                      x-------------------------x

See section "[7.5.4]" for details.

                      x------------------------------x
                      | #13 Commander in the Flames! |
                      x------------------------------x-x
                      | Mandatory: Yes                 /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest            \
                      | Reward: 3000z                  /
                      | Contract Fee: 500z             \
                      | Location: Volcano (Night)      /
                      | Details: Hunt Shogun Ceanataur \
                      x--------------------------------x

Once again, see section "[7.5.3]" for details.

                      x---------------------x
                      | #14 Ioprey Hunting! |
                      x---------------------x-----x
                      | Mandatory: No             /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest       \
                      | Reward: 1200z             /
                      | Contract Fee: 200z        \
                      | Location: Volcano (Night) /
                      | Details: Slay 20 Ioprey   \
                      x---------------------------x

Bring Antidotes in case of poison.

                      x---------------------------x
                      | #15 A Band of Ceanataurs! |
                      x---------------------------x-x
                      | Mandatory: No               /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest         \
                      | Reward: 1200z               /
                      | Contract Fee: 200z          \
                      | Location: Volcano (Day)     /
                      | Details: Slay 10 Ceanataurs \
                      x-----------------------------x

Filler. Wander around the Volcano spilling the blood of these annoying
creatures.
They have Sharp Claw, which can be useful later on.

                      x-----------------------x
                      | #16 More Coal Please! |
                      x-----------------------x-x
                      | Mandatory: Yes          /
                      | Type: Gathering Quest   \
                      | Reward: 1200z           /
                      | Contract Fee: 200z      \
                      | Location: Volcano (Day) /
                      | Details: Gather Coal    \
                      x-------------------------x

Bring a Pickax and mine the various areas for Coal. You can even use the Method
proposed in "[5.3]" to make gathering worthwhile.

                      x-------------------------x
                      | #17 The Frozen Dictator! |
                      x-------------------------x---------x
                      | Mandatory: No                     /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest               \
                      | Reward: 4500z                     /
                      | Contract Fee: 750z                \
                      | Location: Snowy Mountains (Night) /
                      | Details: Slay Kushala Daora       \
                      x-----------------------------------x

A cold wind blows. See Section "[7.5.5]" for details.

                      x-------------------------------x
                      | #17 The Elder Dragon of Wind! |
                      x-------------------------------x--x
                      | Mandatory: No                    /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest              \
                      | Reward: 4500z                    /
                      | Contract Fee: 750z               \
                      | Location: Jungle (Night)         /
                      | Details: Slay Kushala Daora      \
                      x----------------------------------x

Not a typo. See Section "[7.5.5]" for details.

                      x-----------------------x
                      | #18 Slay the Hermits! |
                      x-----------------------x-----x
                      | Mandatory: No               /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest         \
                      | Reward: 1500z               /
                      | Contract Fee: 250z          \
                      | Location: Arena             /
                      | Details: Slay 20 Hermituars \
                      x-----------------------------x

A quest available only in Unite. Slay twenty Hermituars in the cramped Arena in
order to claim victory.

                     x---------------------x
                     | (U) Absolute Power! |
                     x---------------------x-------------x
                     | Mandatory: Urgent                 /
                     | Type: Hunting Quest               \
                     | Reward: 4500z                     /
                     | Contract Fee: 750z                \
                     | Location: Snowy Mountains (Night) /
                     | Details: Hunt Tigrex              \
                     x-----------------------------------x

See section "[7.5.6]" for details.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [7.5.1] Elder Quest --- |---
                     ---|     ~~~ Yian Garuga ~~~     |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                                   "Wark!"
                            ~Chocobo, Final Fantasy

o==========o-----------------------o
| Question  \ What is Yian Garuga? |
o============o---------------------o

So, Yian Kut-Ku and a Rathian (you'll find out about her later) had a baby. It's
name was Garuga, Yian Garuga. Rejected by it's mother, this runt was probably
forced into some tough situations. The result of years of loneliness was a
scarred
purplish Wyvern. Sporting a spiked tail and scars alike, Hunters will have a
hell-
of-a time taming this beast.

 x--------------------x
 | YIAN GARUGA ARMOR! |
 x=====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 180
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: N/A
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +1
 / Sharp Sword
 \ Earplug (Need 2+ Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x--------------------x
 | YIAN GARUGA ARMOR! |
 x====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 90
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: N/A
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +1
 / Pierce S Lv1 Add
 \ Earplug (Need +2 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Eat your heart out Blademasters. Garuga is a must-own set. Championing the
skills
for Blademaster's like Sharp Sword and Reckless Abandon, it will do you proper
for
a long time to come.

Most effective attacks: Legs --> Head, Tail (Cutting only.)
Most effective element: Water
Susceptible Status Ailments: Sleep but fast recovery time.
Susceptible Bombs: Flash Bomb
Susceptible Traps: Stun Trap, Pitfall (Non-Rage Mode)
Breakable Parts: *Tail (Cut), Claws, Beak, **Ear
Near Death When: Limping, Enters Rage Mode often

*Note: Yian Garuga's Tail is armed with it's own venom. Beware when cutting off
his tail.
**Note: After destroying one of this ears, his resistance increases slightly.

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

Peck Attack:
Similar to Bird-Wyvern parent, Garuga will launch into a pecking attack. Dodge
appropriately.

Tackle:
The exact same attack you'd see coming from a Yian Kut-Ku. Once again, dodge
appropriately.

Bite:
Accompanied by a sudden rush, Garuga will attempt to bite you. Because of
Garuga's
extended neck this can cover slightly more range. Don't be fooled, it has the
same
terrible hit-zone.

The real enemy here is that his tail whips out from the left side. If you happen
to be there he executes said attack. You're cooked.

Taunt:
Garuga will scratch the ground and make a soft cry. In the exact form Yian Kut-
Ku
would.

Roar:
Sometimes following up after a Taunt, Garuga will stand on it's hind-legs and
screech. If you look for the signs you can easily anticipate and block. If you
have Earplugs and carry a cutting weapon, you'd do good to know that his tail is
at ground level when in this position.

Fireball & Triple Fireball:
Yian Garuga will cock his head and fire a single linear fireball. Unlike Yian
Kut-
Ku, where he spits one out. This one travels in nature, similar to Rathian. The
three variants are Fireball, Locked Fireball, and Triple Fireball.

Fireball is just that, the linear fireball will travels a decent distance.
Locked
Fireball is when Yian Garuga's AI will lock onto a spot then fire. Usually
hitting
the ground nearby. And Triple-Fireball looks like this.

Diagram #10 - Triple-Fireball

======V======       ======V======
=====/|\=====       =====/|\=====
====/=|=\====  Or   ====/=|=\====
===/==|==\===       ===/==|==\===
==2===1===3==       ==3===1===2==
=============       =============

Legend:
V - Yian Garuga
1,2,3 - Direction of first, second, and third fireball.

What makes this different from most ranged attacks we've seen so far? It has
decent range and decent speed. It's something Gunner's in particular will have
to
watch out for. I'm not sure, but I think Triple Fireball has it's own version of
Locked Fireball.

Tail Whip:
Unlike the regular Tail Whip this covers an extended range. Similar to a
Rathian's
in shape, getting caught by this isn't a good idea. An added effect to Garuga's
assault is that if you are hit, it'll poison you.

His Tail Whip comes from the right, so stay on the his left. In a counter-
clockwise motion. Beware of Bite as his Tail flies in that direction.

Backward-Brush plus Roar:
Similar to the Yian Kut-Ku, Garuga will brush-back to create some distance
between
you two. In order to make sure you don't follow, he'll Roar at the exact same
time. A split second before he uses this, his wings will expand giving you a
chance to block if possible.

Rage Mode:
The same jumping up and down motion we've seen before. An increase in speed and
power we have not. Combine that with the range of Tail Whip and Fireball and
you're looking at trouble.

Tail-Flip:
Taking an attack from his mother's side, Garuga will do a back-flip in mid-air
whipping his tail. He'll create some Wind then land. If you're caught, the Tail
will most likely poison you.

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o

 x-------------------x
 | POISON BATTLEAXE! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Sword and Shield
 | Weapon Attack: 182
 | Element: Poison 240
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 |    Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger +
 | --> Assassin's Dagger --> Poison Battleaxe
 |
 | Method:
 | Gathering the materials for Poison Battleaxe should be simple enough. Start
 | with seven Iron Ore, three Earth Crystals, one Disk Stone and a single
 | Machalite Ore and you should get the Assassin's Dagger.
 |
 | With that done, hunt Gypceros for four Rubbery Hide, four Poison Sacs, and
 | either pink or Blue Yian Kut-Ku (although Blue yields more) for three Medium
 | Monster Bones.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

With the Sword and Shield, range is a problem. Most of your time should be spent
working the legs. However when Garuga fires a Fireball, be it linear or locked,
you'll have the chance to pounce on that head. Taunt and Bite work in our favor.
Plus, with the shield you are able to defend yourself against Roar. We risk
several things; stumbling when Garuga goes into Rage Mode, and basic turning.

You should know the pitfalls of blocking against certain attacks. Wind (created
by
landing or Backward-Brush) and Peck Attack can drain stamina. Since you have a
weak Guard with this weapon type I'd advise you to dodge more. Blocking Fireball
does come in handy however. Just be aware of the strong recoil.

 x-------------x
 | HOLY SABER! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 196
 | Element: Water 190
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |    Twin Dagger --> Twin Dagger +
 | Dual Tomahawk --> Dual Tomahawk + -->
 |    Order Rapier --> Holy Saber
 |
 |               Or...
 |
 |    Order Rapier --> Holy Saber
 |
 | Method:
 | A weapon I'd pick under the most severe of circumstances. Forging from Order
 | Rapier (which is recommended) requires twelve Lightcrystal, five Black
 | Pearl, twenty Machalite Ore, and ten Small Goldfish. Circle round Gypceros,
 | Pokke Farm, or the Swamp Mining Areas for Lightcrystal. Black Pearls can be
 | found from Daimyo Hermituar and around the Jungle Area 4 where the shells
 | are.
 |
 | The Small Goldfish are found at Pokke Farm or at the Training School
 | (I've netted several from Yian Kut-Ku.) Finally, you'll need six Hercudrome
 | (which you'll have to net in Area 2 of the Volcano Gathering Quest) and ten
 | Dragonite Ore (found in Area 6 of the Volcano.)
 |
 | Now, my beef with Holy Saber is that, it can be upgraded, but it's
 | overshadowed by other weapons. If you're cool with that, then by all means
 | invest.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The Dual Swords are of a different dance. Still intent of fulfilling your Roxas
Fantasy eh? It take skills as sharp as your weapon type to succeed. You must
time
your attacks wisely, precisely in order to win. You can't block Roar, or
Fireball.
You're only hope is to abuse his turning for extra recovery time. Or you know,
get
Earplug. That Hornet Armors lookin' kinda good right now huh? No? Yes?

The safe way is to spam Roundhouse. Picking your moments during non-rage mode to
use it is simple. Fireball, Triple Fireball, recovering from Roar (Earplug
needed), recovering from Bite, and most practical turning to face you. The only
time you may be trouble when Garuga's turning is if he uses Tackle. With this in
mind, you can fire off one or two Roundhouses. Tackle can really kill you here,
because you can get knocked into a wall. This can make recovering next to nil
giving him an opening to his next attack.

During Rage Mode we can Roundhouse the tip of his Tail just after falling from a
Tackle. I can report my success in applying Double-Round several times.
Experiment
and see what you come up with.

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x----------------------x
 | PLESIOTH WATERSWORD! |
 x----------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 576
 | Element: Water 390
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Bone Blade --> Bone Blade + --> Bone Slasher
 |    --> Finblade --> Plesioth Watersword
 |
 | Method:
 | Ready to sharpen those Bow skills? Allow me to explain. The best weapon in
 | your current predicament would be the Plesioth Watersword. It's a kick-ass
 | Water Greatsword that's difficult to make. You can create the Finsword right
 | off the bat; after you have that it's time to hunt. You need three Plesioth
 | Fins, four Plesioth scales and one Mega Demondrug (see [4.2.5] for
 | ingredients.) If you don't have Pale Extract, I suggest going after Khezu as
 | well.
 |
 | So why a Bow? Typically, any weapon can shatter Plessy's fin, but in my case
 | Bow works best. Because of the sheer size of Plessy, shattering that fin
 | can't be done with weapons with short reach. Get ready to go Fin hunting!
 | Bring your strongest Bow and aim for the Fin. I usually get one per round,
 | two if I'm lucky. You could do better or worse. After going through that
 | painful campaign you can forge the Plesioth Watersword.
 |
 | Challenge: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Like any Wyvern, Garuga unveils his "charge" moments to us. As simple as the
unwrapping of parchment. Yet as complicated to follow through as a series of
movements are. In other words, a dance. First off, Guarding against Roar is
advised. Second, for those choosing the safer route, I'd recommend only
Unsheathe
and regular attacks. Look for those moments where you feel you can strike and
still recover. Or at least, guard before you are hit.

I found Overhead Swing (Circle + Triangle) effective when Garuga uses Fireball.
By
positioning your body away from Garuga's head (at his side) as he's firing, you
can successfully pull of an overhead swing and have a great deal of time to
evade.

Times when you should Charge are limited. You should concentrate on finding
those
openings. When Garuga uses Fireball or Bite, you should develop that Charge
Method
skill. Start charging at a certain point and unleash it fully charged. If you're
human, you'll get the timing off. When that happens just unleash it, even if
it's
not fully charged. Beware of your weapon bouncing off though. It can happen.

 x----------------x
 | EAGER CLEAVER! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 250
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + --> Iron Katana --> Iron Katana "Grace" -->
 | Iron Katana "Gospel" --> Eager Cleaver
 |
 | Method:
 | Start or buy a Buster Sword. In order to reach Eager Cleaver you will need a
 | total of thirty-four Iron Ore, ten Disc Stones, thirty-three Machalite Ore,
 | fifty Earth Crystals, and four Electro Sacs (Khezu.) All of which come from
 | mining spots throughout the maps, so get digging!
 |
 | If you've already acquired "Gospel" then it's a quick round-up of only
 | fifteen Machalite, twenty-five Earth Crystals, and four Electro Sacs
 | (Khezu.) You see? You get rewarded for following my advice.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x---------------------x
 | DRAGONWOOD L.SWORD! |
 x---------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Paralysis 190
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Dragonwood L.Sword
 |
 | Method:
 | The Dragonwood Longsword is a neat alternative to the Bone Katana "Dragon".
 | So long as you have Trenya and several Pokke Points to spare, you can farm
 | for the materials. You'll need three Dragonwood which can be gotten by
 | sending her either to the Jungle, the Swamp, the Forest & Hills, or the
 | Volcano (though you won't have the Volcano open at this time) for 300 Pokke
 | Points. If you haven't checked up on Boldrin's Pokke Farm Guide then you'll
 | need to know that you must complete a quest before she returns. Any quest
 | other then a Gathering one.
 |
 | After you've gotten your Dragonwood it's time to send Trenya away for
 | Dragonmoss. The Dragonmoss can be gotten from the Snowy Mountains, the
 | Swamp, the Forest & Hills, and the Volcano by paying Trenya 300 Pokke
 | Points. While she's out hunting for items, try to farm for fifteen
 | Thunderbug's at Pokke Farm and Mushroom Tree for ten Chaos Shrooms.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

We have the natural range of the Longsword, plus Back-Sweep. I like to play
defensively, using back-sweep until I build up the Spirit Gauge. And when I find
the moment to unleash it (like say Fireball) I do. Back-Sweep in general can
cover
a unique hit-zone easily reach Garuga. And with said range, it's even easier to
peg his tail when recovering from a Tail-Flip or Tackle in Rage Mode.

The Longsword is also the most capable of cutting his tail. Granted, the
Greatsword is equally capable. I found it's overhead swings a bit faster, ergo a
bit easier to peg the tail. When we've severed it, it'll weaken his Tail Whip
and
depending on his size nullify it. Without the barbed tail we don't have to worry
about Poison.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x-----------------x
 | IRON STRIKER +! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 832
 | Element: N/A
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 |         War Hammer --> War Hammer +
 | War Mace --> Iron Striker --> Iron Striker +
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need five Dragonite Ore (Volcano Gathering), eleven Malchalite Ore
 | (covers the requirements for Iron Striker) and a few base materials to forge
 | this weapon. Not to mention ever-so-useful. Iron Striker's Path leads to the
 | second strongest Hammer in-game, Juggernaut.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

There will be plenty of opportunities to Triple Pound this sucker. The Hammer
makes a perfect play-mate for your Garuga needs. Times like Taunt, Triple Pound
works well. And during Fireball, there's always a chance to score with a charged
attack. When in Rage Mode, simply abuse his turns. If you know he's going to
turn
to face you, try to time a charge.

While difficult, it's possible to nail the tail during Tackle and Tail-Flip with
a
charged attack. Your biggest trouble is going to be his Roar. This goes for
Hunting Horns as well. Other then that, you should have no problem facing Garuga
with a Hammer.

 x-------------x
 | KHEZU HORN! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 200
 | Sharpness: Green (Low)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Notes: White, Blue, Yellow
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer --> Atlas Hammer --> Khezu Horn
 |
 | Method:
 | Buy a Bone Club and gather two Giant Bones (Congalala), three Brute Bones,
 | and thirteen Small Monster Bones. Improve until you get Atlas Hammer, then
 | farm three Flabby Hide, four Pale Extract, and two Electro Sacs from Khezu.
 |
 | Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Infinite Stamina [Small]) -- White --> Blue (1 Min)
 | (Elemental Attack Up) -- Yellow --> Blue --> Yellow --> White (1:30 Min)
 | (Fire Def Up [Large]) -- Yellow --> Blue --> White (1 Min)
 | (Thunder Def Up [Large]) -- Yellow --> Yellow --> Blue (1 Min)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The Hunting Horn however lacks the physical or KO potential of it's counter-
part.
You may be inclined to go with the other. If you have a twisted Ocarina of Time
fetish, I can't blame you for using it. You'll want to use a combination of
Swings
and Super Pounds. Hopefully, you can score a KO. When the chance appears you can
get off two to three super-pounds. You can even exploit his Rage Mode with a
Super
Pound to the head. Right off the bat, when jumping up and down you can execute a
Super Pound and get away with the correct timing.

In Rage Mode, you're options will be cut. Your best bet is to capture him while
turning, the Super Pound doesn't need the charge time like the Hammer. This
allows
you to peg Garuga easier. All in all, there are many options open to us when
trying our hand with him. It's your job to develop a good sense of timing.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

 x-------------------x
 | BLACK BELT LANCE! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 345
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: Two
 | Path:
 | Black Belt Lance
 |
 | Method:
 | In order to create the Black Belt Lance you'll need to fight in the Training
 | Hall. You'll need to fight Yian Kut-Ku for fifteen Kut-Ku Coins, Congalala
 | for ten Congalala Coins, and Plesioth for ten Plesioth Coins. You'll also
 | need eight Blackbelt Tickets which come as rewards from Training as well.
 |
 | The Black Belt Lance is a decent weapon with credible sharpness. It's
 | materials take a bit of hard work to gather, but having a weapon like this
 | is a huge advantage for Lancers early on. That being said, if you, for some
 | reason, choose not to forge this weapon then stick with Spiked Spear.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

With a shield, we can defend ourselves against Roar. You shouldn't have any
problems with Fireball either. The thing you have to remember about the Lance or
Gunlance is that you need a good timing on their speed. I'm not talking about
mobility, I'm talking about the speed of their attacks. Any weapon is master-
able
so as long as you know the speed.

 x----------------x
 | MARINE FISHER! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 299
 | Element: Ice 100
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Shelling Type: Long Lv1
 | Path:
 |     Iron Gunlance --> Snow Gunlance
 | --> Snow Gunlance MK.II --> Marine Fisher
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need two Giaprey Hide, three Giaprey Scales, eight Iron Ore for the
 | upgrade to Snow Gunlance. After this, you'll need eight Earth Crystals,
 | three Giadrome Hide, and one Giadrome Head. The Giadrome Head (as I
 | mentioned before) is a rare drop but your chances increase by capturing it.
 | At this you'll obtain the Snow Gunlance MK.II (if you already don't have
 | it.)
 |
 | In order to forge the Marine Fisher you'll need five Plesioth Scales, three
 | Cephalos Scales, and seven Machalite Ore. Yeah, I know. We're losing perhaps
 | our only Ice elemental Gunlance. Let me assure you it's worth the trade.
 | There, you feel better?
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

You have the same openings with either weapon. Both should aim for the head.
Wyvern Fire is executable during a Taunt or if you can catch Garuga in a turn.
At
times I got away with Circle + Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, Circle. Usually
when
he was Taunting. It's not easy, you can sever the tail with Circle + Triangle.
By
using that upwards swing to reach the tip, we can slice off that tail. When
Garuga
performs Tail-Flip, he'll hover a few feet forward from his original position.
It's possible for you to guess that trajectory and attack with another upwards
swing when he lands.

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o

 x--------------------x
 | DAIMYO'S WARBOW I! |
 x--------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 144
 | Element: Water 80
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: All but Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv1
 | Charge Lv2: Pierce Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Pierce Lv3
 | Charge Lv4: Rapid Lv2
 |
 | Path:
 | Daimyo's Warbow I
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need four Hermituar Shell, four Plesioth scales, ten Small Hermituar
 | Shells and eight Earth Crystals.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Same method. Same timing. Find yourself a nice pattern for avoiding Garuga. Bow
users should consider the Hornet armor for the Earplug. At least for this match.
Your goal should be the same. I targeted his noggin, charging can drain the
stamina.

 x-------------x
 | JADE STORM! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 132                Normal S: 6  3  -  Flame S : 3  -  -
 | Reload: Normal                    Pierce S: 2  2  2  Water S : 3  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 2  2  2  Thnd S  : 3  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  1  1  Freeze S: 3  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : 1  1  1  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3  3  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  1  -  Demon S : 1  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -  Armor S : 1  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | It was this, or Lobster Gun. I prefer Jade Storm because of it's Clust/Crag
 | potential. Either weapon can pack a punch, plus, it's versatile, allowing
 | you access to most ammunition. The downside is that if you plan on using
 | anything other then Normal or Clust/Crag you're going to reload every two
 | shots.
 |
 | You'll need six Green Plesioth Scales (common drop), five Machalite Ore
 | (Mining point or Volcano Gathering), three Springnight Carp (common fishing
 | spots, or Fishing Pier at Pokke Farm), and last but not least three Plesioth
 | fins.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

 x-------------x
 | SAND DIVER! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 192                Normal S: 6  6  -  Flame S : 4  -  -
 | Reload: Fast                      Pierce S: 3  -  -  Water S : 4  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 3  -  -  Thnd S  : 4  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  -  -  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : 1  -  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3  3  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: -  -  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  1  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | You need two Cephalos Fin, six Cephalos Scales, ten Iron Ore, and three
 | Machalite Ore. If you'd like a stronger weapon invest in Crab Buster. In
 | trade you'll receive Slow Recoil which may leave you vulnerable.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Light Bowgun Shells: Pellet Lv2, Water S, Normal Lv2, Normal Lv1
Heavy Bowgun Shells: Pellet Lv1, Water S, Normal Lv2, Normal Lv1

Light Bowguns get the mobility but suffer the lack of firepower. Try to upgrade
your equipment before moving on Garuga with this type. Heavy Bowgun users always
find a way to compensate for it's poor mobility. You won't be able Guard
automatically either. Which means you'll either need your Bowgun out all the
time,
or forsake the shield altogether. Most of our purple foes attacks can be
avoided,
and should. Except for Roar, intercepting with your shield can take up health.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

Good practice for later Wyverns. One needs an exact sense of when the monster is
going to strike in order to win. Garuga will be the last new bird Wyvern we'll
see
for a long time. And overall? To a seasoned Hunter, taking care of him is a task
of ease.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [7.5.2] Elder Quest --- |---
                     ---|   ~~~ Monoblos/Diablos ~~~  |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

               "There no munchies here, sand taste good though."
                            ~Quina, Final Fantasy IX

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ What is Monoblos/Diablos? |
o============o--------------------------o

First we must clarify the difference between Monoblos and Diablos. "Mono" means
one and "Di" means two. Hence, Monoblos has one Horn, while Diablos has two.
This
new type of Wyvern sports a horn (or two) upon it's head. There are no gimmicky
moves with the Blos family. Each attack closes range and deals exclusively in
psychical attacks.

Since they are so similar they can be covered in the same section. Like all
monsters, their strategy of defeat is quite simple. There are certain pitfalls
however. Blos (nickname from now on) has the hardest head in the game. Meaning
they take the least damage in the head then other monsters do. So where do we
hit?

If you want an exact location, it's the base of the tail. The spot that connects
Blos tail to his stomach. Kinda where his crotch would be, if he had one.
Basically, we're going after his jewels.

To paint a picture of Blos in general is difficult. They appear to be Wyverns
but
act like sand sharks in a sense. Because they bury themselves in the sand and
resurface only when it senses it's prey. That'd be you. Meaning we either have
to
know his EXACT location or we have to walk around a deserted area and hope for
the
best. By now, you should be packing Psychoserum and/or Paintball. Use them well.

Just to be clear, "Blos" refers to both types. If I say something like "Diablos"
or "Monoblos" I mean just the one. This can get confusing.

                                 x-----------x
                                 | Monoblos! |
                                 o===========o

Most effective attacks: *Left Leg --> Base of Tail, Wings
Most effective element: Ice, Thunder
Susceptible Status Ailments: Poison, Stun, Sleep
Susceptible Bombs: **Sonic Bomb, Flash Bomb
Susceptible Traps: Stun Trap
Breakable Parts: Tail, ***Horn
Near Death When: Limping, fleeing to his rest spot Area 9.

                                 x----------x
                                 | Diablos! |
                                 o==========o

Most effective attacks: *Left Leg --> Base of Tail, Wings
Most effective element: Ice
Susceptible Status Ailments: Poison (more res), Stun (more res), Sleep
Susceptible Bombs: **Sonic Bomb, Flash Bomb
Susceptible Traps: Stun Trap
Breakable Parts: Tail, ***Horns
Near Death When: Limping, fleeing to his rest spot Area 9.

*Note: It's preferable you go after the left leg. When he's in Rage Mode, he
will
scratch the ground with his right leg. This can effectively put an end to your
strategy. Beware!

**Note: Sonic Bomb only works when surfacing Blos from the sand. IE: Burrow.

***Note: Horns can be broken two ways, attacking with weapon, or making him
crash
into walls. By walls, I mean certain rock-wall areas in the Desert. These places
actually trap a Blos horn, allowing you several moments to attack the body. Like
the lone rock formation in Area 7. Or the platform in Area 3, and 9.

Also, after cutting off Blos Tail it will automatically switch to Rage Mode.
This
is based on my own observations. Every time I cut off Blos Tail, they switched
to
Rage Mode.

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

Blos Burrow:
Far more advanced then the average Burrow. Diablos will use this attack in great
amounts. The Blos in general will Burrow into the ground burring itself. During
the time it's underground, the Blos will lock onto said player and their
direction.

At this time, you can commit two actions. Throw a Sonic Bomb to surface Blos.
This
will also leave him vulnerable to assault. Ergo giving you the upper-hand. Blos
will break from the sand-trap and hover above you generating Wind. Then land.

The second action is you attempting to avoid Blos. Usually chosen when you run
out
of Sonic Bombs or have none. By moving directly behind Blos, we can avoid him
locking on us in general. Instead he'll surface right away. A good way of
telling
where he is, is by looking for a line of streaming sand. When you see it, it
would
be a good time to dodge, lunge if needed. When Blos surfaces he'll perform a
Tail
Sweep.

Tail Sweep:
Not to be confused with Tail Whip where Blos swings in 90 degree directions.
Tail
Sweep is where Blos will sweep his tail at a lower, longer angle. Chances are,
if
you're behind him, you're going to get hit. Take a look of this simple, yet
confusing example.

Diagram #11 - Tail Sweep

=============  =============  =============
======|======  ====\========  =============
======|======  =====\=======  =============
======V======  ======V======  ====--V======
=============  =============  =============
=============  =============  =============
    First          Second        Third

Reverses.

=============  =============  =============
====\========  ========/====  =============
=====\=======  =======/=====  =============
======V======  ======V======  ======V--====
=============  =============  =============
=============  =============  =============
   Fourth          Fifth           Six

Legend:
\|/ - Tail
V - Direction of Blos

You want to counterattack during "frames" fourth and fifth. Just as the Tail
makes
its way around the leg.

Tail Whip:
We've seen this before. It's deadlier on Blos because of the length and size of
the tail. Our objective here is to gauge the hit-zone the tail covers. That way,
we can execute our counterattack.

Note: Both Tail Whip and Tail Sweep are weakened when Blos Tail is cut off.

Tackle:
A simple tackle. Since Blos body is so large avoiding it will take extra work.
Not
only that, but when you manage to escape Blos path, he'll stop and turn to face
you.

Now, Tackle can be taken advantage of. By using the rock-wall as our instrument,
we conduct the show. By standing behind a rock formation or platform we can trap
his horn. When Blos crashes into a platform (assuming you're standing on it)
it'll
generate a Quake effect. You can avoid this by hugging the wall with your back
up
to it.

I caution you when trying attempting this. While the pay-off is grand, there is
a
considerable level of danger when hugging a wall. If you don't have a blocking
weapon, I can't recommend you commit to this at all.

High Roar:
The improved version of Roar. Normal Earplug (+10) will no longer be able to
block
this. You must possess High Grade Earplug (+15) in order to nullify this move.
That or you can block the blow. Just know that it can recoil on less durable
shields (SnS, HBG, and I believe GS.)

Because of the duration of High Roar, abusing a monsters turn is no longer an
option. If you're caught in a High Roar, you're dead. The way Roar works is like
a
bubble. Now this is a rough estimate of Roars range, remember that Roar is
invisible to the naked eye.

Diagram #12 - High Roar

==============
=====\|/======
====\|X|/=====
===//|||\\====
====//|\\=====
=====/|\======
==============

Legend:
\|/ - Area of Roar
X - Monster

Section Credits:
mukyo (diagram drawing)

I'm not aware of the differences between the range of Roar and High Roar. With
Blos, it's possible to escape the range of High Roar by keeping to the rear.
Unless you set this up, execution will be difficult. High Grade Earplugs are a
far
simpler solution.

Bite:
A simple bite.

Hip-Check:
Clone Hip-Check attack we've seen on Plessy.

Rage Mode:
We've incited Blos into his symphonic solo. He will scratch the earth with his
right leg (can hit you) and emit a soft growl. During this mode, his attacks
will
be much, much quicker and stronger. Sonic Bombs DO NOT work while Blos uses
Burrow.

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

It is impossible to condense the words needed to explain timing. Period. In
order
to master Diablos, you have to develop a keen sense of timing. That means
knowing
the speed of a weapons swing. If you know this, you can add an extra for certain
moves. Ergo, wrack up damage.

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o

 x--------------x
 | THUNDERBANE! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 168
 | Element: Thunder 170
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger + -->
 |    Assassin's Dagger --> Thunderbane
 |
 | Method:
 | Get four Rubbery Hide from non-purple Gypceros, three Large Monster Bones
 | (Blangonga), and two Electro Sacs from Khezu. Thunderbane is terrible SnS
 | 'cause it lacks decent sharpness. Which means you'll be sharpening
 | periodically to return it to the green. Skills like Sharp Sword and Sharp
 | Skill Inc help.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-------------------x
 | POISON BATTLEAXE! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Sword and Shield
 | Weapon Attack: 182
 | Element: Poison 240
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 |    Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger +
 | --> Assassin's Dagger --> Poison Battleaxe
 |
 | Method:
 | Gathering the materials for Poison Battleaxe should be simple enough. Start
 | with seven Iron Ore, three Earth Crystals, one Disk Stone and a single
 | Machalite Ore and you should get the Assassin's Dagger.
 |
 | With that done, hunt Gypceros for four Rubbery Hide, four Poison Sacs, and
 | either pink or Blue Yian Kut-Ku (although Blue yields more) for three Medium
 | Monster Bones.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Because of the range of each weapon cutting the Tail is difficult to do. It CAN
be
done though. By looking for moments when Blos Tail is within our hit-zone can be
strike. Which means you better know the hit-zone of your weapon. For those
clueless readers, I'm speak of the reach of your weapon.

If you didn't manage to forge a set of Garuga. Or you find the armor "fugly" the
Sword and Shield will help with Guarding Roar. You should have weened yourself
off
from abusing that tiny shield. While useful, stronger attacks cause health to
drain and plummet your stamina. Though, the same could be said about all
Guarding
weapons.

What you should focus on is the left leg. There are moments when you can, and
should, target the wings. Look for attacks animations that expose the wing-span
to
your level. Same goes with Dual Swords.

 x-------------x
 | HOLY SABER! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 196
 | Element: Water 190
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |    Twin Dagger --> Twin Dagger +
 | Dual Tomahawk --> Dual Tomahawk + -->
 |    Order Rapier --> Holy Saber
 |
 |               Or...
 |
 |    Order Rapier --> Holy Saber
 |
 | Method:
 | Forging from Order Rapier (which is recommended) requires twelve
 | Lightcrystal, five Black Pearl, twenty Machalite Ore, and ten Small
 | Goldfish. Circle round Gypceros, Pokke Farm, or the Swamp Mining Areas for
 | Lightcrystal. Black Pearls can be found from Daimyo Hermituar and around the
 | Jungle Area 4 where the shells are.
 |
 | The Small Goldfish are found at Pokke Farm or at the Training School
 | (I've netted several from Yian Kut-Ku.) Finally, you'll need six Hercudrome
 | (which you'll have to net in Area 2 of the Volcano Gathering Quest) and ten
 | Dragonite Ore (found in Area 6 of the Volcano.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Dual Swords have a wider hit-zone compared it's counter-part. Because you lack a
shield, High Grade Earplugs are a must. Be it true Dual Sword-slinger or crazed
Kratos fan, you should should start investing in Power Juice or Mega Juice. With
unlimited stamina you can Double-Roundhouse Blos with ease. This tactic works
wonders when aiming for the leg. Because when we've knocked him down, it's time
to
slice off that tail.

Evasion is key. Because you cannot afford to re-do Demon Mode. It wastes time.
Period. When Mega/Power Juice wears off either reapply or abuse Roundhouse.
Because of the range of Roundhouse, you should be able to reach the Tail easier.
The wings exist so that we can keep rack bonus hits.

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x--------------------x
 | KHEZU SHOCK SWORD! |
 x--------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 220
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + --> Buster Blade --> Ravager Blade
 | --> Khezu Shock Sword
 |
 | Method:
 | To forge Ravager Blade, you will need (assuming you did not make Buster
 | Sword from scratch) a total of twenty Iron Ore, five Disc Stones, fifteen
 | earth crystals, and six  Machalite Ore. As of now, you have these resources
 | available throughout the Mining spots in the Jungle and the Snowy Mountains.
 | If you are having trouble locating them refer to Scootypuff's resource maps
 | on GameFAQs. Should you already have the Ravager Blade as per my
 | suggestions, then all you'll need is fifteen Iron Ore, two Electro Sacs, and
 | three Flabby Hides (the last two come directly from Khezu.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x----------------------x
 | PLESIOTH WATERSWORD! |
 x----------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 576
 | Element: Water 390
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Bone Blade --> Bone Blade + --> Bone Slasher
 |    --> Finblade --> Plesioth Watersword
 |
 | Method:
 | You need three Plesioth Fins, four Plesioth scales and one Mega Demondrug
 | (see [4.2.5] for ingredients.) If you don't have Pale Extract, I suggest
 | going after Khezu as well.
 |
 | Challenge: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

When you've developed a sense of timing, you should practice your Charging. If
not, one would do wise to stick with Infinite Combo. What makes the Greatsword
appealing is it's outstanding power and range. With Blos, we can target the base
of the tail much easier. We can take the Legs out of the equation for this
weapon
type. Because our target is already within reach. I praise the Overhead Swing
(Circle + Triangle) for it's ability to nip the Tail. The combo strategy is
simple, find a niche between Blos legs and go crazy. Be prepared to block High
Roar, and pay attention to his next movements. If you think he's going to
Burrow,
get as far away as you can. The generated Wind can stun you momentarily allowing
Blos Burrow to reach you.

Charge moments are present, you just have to find them. Like when Blos first
Burrows, by surfacing via Sonic Bomb, we can build up at least one Charge. When
he
breaks free and hovers in the air. Try to get a good sense of when he'll land.
It's possible to land another fully Charged shot on Blos. Attempt to skirt the
Wind by just an inch. Far enough so as not to effect you, but close enough to
nail
Blos. This takes practice to complete.

The path of the Greatsword has a pitfall. Because of the slow speed of our
swings,
we are unable to factor the times between High Roar. Meaning, if we're in a
middle
of an attack, and he uses this, we're caught. If you're lucky, he'll use Burrow.
If you're not, you know the consequences.

 x----------------x
 | EAGER CLEAVER! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 250
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Iron Katana --> Iron Katana "Grace" -->
 | Iron Katana "Gospel" --> Eager Cleaver
 |
 | Method:
 | Fifteen Iron Ore, twelve Machalite Ore, fifteen Earth Crystals. Not exactly
 | taxing requirements. If you've been following my advice, then you've
 | accumulated lots of Ores from Volcano - Gathering Quests. If not, then nows
 | the time to gather what you need.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Don't have a lot to say about Longsword. Just aim for the same parts we did for
Greatsword. Spirit Gauge is for correct timing, otherwise you should employ the
simple evasion tactics.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x-----------------x
 | IRON STRIKER +! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 832
 | Element: N/A
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 |         War Hammer --> War Hammer +
 | War Mace --> Iron Striker --> Iron Striker +
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need five Dragonite Ore (Volcano Gathering), eleven Malchalite Ore
 | (covers the requirements for Iron Striker) and a few base materials to forge
 | this weapon. Not to mention ever-so-useful. Iron Striker's Path leads to the
 | second strongest Hammer in-game, Juggernaut.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

The name of the game is Charge Hammer! Your goal; to get in as many Charged hits
as humanly possible. Aim for the legs (or left leg) and keep your distance. The
cons of this strategy is the drain on your stamina. Which can be fixed with
Power/Mega Juice. You can play many "games" with Blos. Like "Triple-Tail-
Bobbing"
or "Pin-The-Hammer-On-The-Leg" and so on. It all depends on what part is most
readily available.

"Triple-Tail-Bobbing" is where you attempt to Triple Pound the base of Blos
Tail.
Executable during certain attack animations where the tail has been lowered. The
method involves finding Blos "sweet spot" between his legs and unleashing our
weapon. When I mean "sweet spot" I mean the part between the legs that will
allow
you to attack while remaining unscathed.

"Pin-The-Hammer-On-The-Leg" is a party favorite. As it's a cleaner method. Our
method is abusing the left leg with the Hammer. Be it Charge, or a well timed
Triple Pound. Our objective is to knock him down then aim for the base of the
Tail. Either way to cut it, Hammers are a great weapon to keep alongside.

 x-------------x
 | KHEZU HORN! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 200
 | Sharpness: Green (Low)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Notes: White, Blue, Yellow
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer --> Atlas Hammer --> Khezu Horn
 |
 | Method:
 | Buy a Bone Club and gather two Giant Bones (Congalala), three Brute Bones,
 | and thirteen Small Monster Bones. Improve until you get Atlas Hammer, then
 | farm three Flabby Hide, four Pale Extract, and two Electro Sacs from Khezu.
 |
 | Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Infinite Stamina [Small]) -- White --> Blue (1 Min)
 | (Elemental Attack Up) -- Yellow --> Blue --> Yellow --> White (1:30 Min)
 | (Fire Def Up [Large]) -- Yellow --> Blue --> White (1 Min)
 | (Thunder Def Up [Large]) -- Yellow --> Yellow --> Blue (1 Min)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Spam, spam, spam Hunting Horns Swing. Because of it's reach, we can peg the
head,
and modestly touch on the Tail. Your real aim is limited to his legs. Look for
spots where Super Pound can be executed. Like just as Blos is begins to Burrow
you
can nail him right at the base of his tail.

It is also possible to clip the front edge of Blos Wing. These windows of
opportunity appear outside attack animations. His Wing needs to be on level.
Because of our ESP (White, White after speed boost) we can hit any part of the
body without worrying of it bouncing. That doesn't mean greater damage on parts
that would normally bounce off however, nor should you neglect sharpening.

Pick your Recital Modes with caution. Rule of thumb for beginners is to limit
yourself to one song, two notes each. If your song takes any longer to perform
you'd better have Blos in a "Flash" status.

The real disadvantage with the Hunting Horn here lies in the fact that we cannot
KO Blos. Aiming for the head is counter-productive. Overall? I'd recommend
another
weapon. Unless you can utilize the Hunting Horn to it's fullest you're going to
fall behind when compared to the other weapons.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

 x-------------------x
 | BLACK BELT LANCE! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 345
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: Two
 | Path:
 | Black Belt Lance
 |
 | Method:
 | In order to create the Black Belt Lance you'll need to fight in the Training
 | Hall. You'll need to fight Yian Kut-Ku for fifteen Kut-Ku Coins, Congalala
 | for ten Congalala Coins, and Plesioth for ten Plesioth Coins. You'll also
 | need eight Blackbelt Tickets which come as rewards from Training as well.
 |
 | The Black Belt Lance is a decent weapon with credible sharpness. It's
 | materials take a bit of hard work to gather, but having a weapon like this
 | is a huge advantage for Lancers early on. That being said, if you, for some
 | reason, choose not to forge this weapon then stick with Spiked Spear.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

In this situation the Lance lags behind. Because we lack the Upwards Swing,
Shells, and Wyvern Fire of the Gunlance we're limited to poking. Because the
Lance
attacks stronger we can get Blos to stagger easier. Lance Charge doesn't serve
much purpose unless you've caught him with a Sonic Bomb. Since Lance Charge
compels you in a direction we lose sight of Blos "sweet spot." In every other
way
though, the Lance wins. The extra Back-Hops can help one avoid most attacks. And
while taxing, the Lance is capable of severing the Tail.

 x----------------x
 | MARINE FISHER! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 299
 | Element: Ice 100
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Shelling Type: Long Lv1
 | Path:
 |     Iron Gunlance --> Snow Gunlance
 | --> Snow Gunlance MK.II --> Marine Fisher
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need two Giaprey Hide, three Giaprey Scales, eight Iron Ore for the
 | upgrade to Snow Gunlance. After this, you'll need eight Earth Crystals,
 | three Giadrome Hide, and one Giadrome Head. The Giadrome Head (as I
 | mentioned before) is a rare drop but your chances increase by capturing it.
 | At this you'll obtain the Snow Gunlance MK.II (if you already don't have
 | it.)
 |
 | In order to forge the Marine Fisher you'll need five Plesioth Scales, three
 | Cephalos Scales, and seven Machalite Ore. Yeah, I know. We're losing perhaps
 | our only Ice elemental Gunlance. Let me assure you it's worth the trade.
 | There, you feel better?
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

In all it's simplistic ways, the Gunlance has the potential of championing
battle.
Why? It has the ability to block High Roar with ease. It's a cutting weapon,
capable of severing Blos Tail. Wyvern Fire is an excellent tool for knocking him
down. It's upwards stab while Turtling under his "sweet spot" can dominate. That
plus, the Shells. The Gunlance has every resource to denounce Blos into
stuffing.
What's the catch? It takes time to master the mobility issues, and twice as long
to get the timing down. One minute you could be swinging, the next, blasted back
by a High Roar. The attack itself isn't hard to predict. Once you get acquainted
with said animations.

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o

 x--------------x
 | SONIC BOW I! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 144
 | Element: Thunder 100
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: Power/Paralysis/Poison/Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv2: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv4: Scatter Lv3
 |
 | Path:
 | Sonic Bow I
 |
 | Method:
 | Gather two Electro Sacs (Khezu), ten Vespoid Shells, five Hornetaur Wings,
 | and two Killer Beetles (Pokke Farm.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Ho hum. Blos attacks are all about closing in on you. Be it Burrow, Tackle, and
so
on. Abusing the distance between you a Blos will be scarce. However manageable.
For the inexperienced, you may abuse the trapping Blos horn in a Rock-wall,
trapping him, or dishing a Sonic or Flash. Don't forget your objective is still
to
crack that Tail of his. I found Scatter a little more useful, as it allowed me
to
target his wingspan. Due to Blos size, it's no wonder they hit. And since he's
adamant on a face-to-face chat, I'd say Scatter is wise.

 x-------------x
 | JADE STORM! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 132                Normal S: 6  3  -  Flame S : 3  -  -
 | Reload: Normal                    Pierce S: 2  2  2  Water S : 3  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 2  2  2  Thnd S  : 3  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  1  1  Freeze S: 3  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : 1  1  1  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3  3  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  1  -  Demon S : 1  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -  Armor S : 1  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | It was this, or Lobster Gun. I prefer Jade Storm because of it's Clust/Crag
 | potential. Either weapon can pack a punch, plus, it's versatile, allowing
 | you access to most ammunition. The downside is that if you plan on using
 | anything other then Normal or Clust/Crag you're going to reload every two
 | shots.
 |
 | You'll need six Green Plesioth Scales (common drop), five Machalite Ore
 | (Mining point or Volcano Gathering), three Springnight Carp (common fishing
 | spots, or Fishing Pier at Pokke Farm), and last but not least three Plesioth
 | fins.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

 x--------------x
 | CRAB BUSTER! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 216                Normal S: 6  6  9  Flame S : -  -  -
 | Reload: Slow                      Pierce S: 3  3  -  Water S : 3  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 4  -  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : -  -  -  Freeze S: 3  -  -
 | Slots: Two                        Clust S : 1  -  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3  3  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: -  -  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  1  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : -  -  -  Armor S : 1  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need three Hermituar Claws, eight Hermituar Shells, ten Small
 | Hermituar Shells, and, oh yeah, four Piscine Fangs. Farm Hermy for the
 | materials then hound after Cephadrome. You should get the required items in
 | less then four missions.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Light Bowgun Shells: Pellet Lv2, Freeze S, Normal Lv2, Normal Lv1
Heavy Bowgun Shells: Pellet Lv1, Freeze S, Normal Lv2, Normal Lv1

With any ranged weapon, the wings are easiest to attack. Bowguns are no
exception
to this rule. With the Light Bowgun, we have the mobility we need to avoid that
god-fearing Tackle. With Heavy Bowgun, we have a little shield to block High
Roar,
but hardly anything else. A few hits to your shield with any attack and it will
be
as if you really were hit.

Crags work, but Crab Buster only allows Clust. Pierce blasts through Diablos
hide,
but Pellet can slice through his underside. While Normal Ammo should be a
measure
of last resort. If you're accurate with shots, you won't need to. By now, you
should be bringing items to make more ammo. Your objective here is to pinch off
the legs, tail, or wings. Avoid Blos any way you can. You have a gain a hyper-
awareness of his next move. Conserve your shots until you know you have a
chance.
Put recoil, reload, and aiming into factor. It's all about how you manage them,
while creating distance between him.

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ What armor should I wear? |
o============o--------------------------o

Does this look familiar?

 x--------------------x
 | YIAN GARUGA ARMOR! |
 x=====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 180
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: N/A
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +1
 / Sharp Sword
 \ Earplug (Need 2+ Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x--------------------x
 | YIAN GARUGA ARMOR! |
 x====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 90
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: N/A
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +1
 / Pierce S Lv1 Add
 \ Earplug (Need +2 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Hmmm...? Doesn't huh? Anyway, you'll need +7 Hearing Protection in gems. That's
a
lot of Garuga ears, and Hornetaur Heads. Look on the bright side, if you gather
them now, you won't have to later. If you decide to make a Gunner set, just be
sure to note the difference in skill points. Or simply go with Hornet Armor.

o==========o----------------o
| Question  \ Other Advice? |
o============o--------------o

                  o-----------------------------------------x
                  |              Bow Strategy!              |
                  | Submitted by Will a.k.a Bloodred_Hunter |
                  x=========================================o

Edited by yours truly. Shortened for greater precision.

Use the Daimyo's Warbow [Monoblos] or the Blango Fur Bow [Diablos]

Equip Hornet Armor [GUNNER]: This will give you High Grade Earplugs, which is a
lifesaver when going against the Black Diablos. Protection Jewel would be
recommended, as it offsets Demonic Protection.

Once you've got all of your basic hunting gear (Potions, Steaks, Sonic Bombs,
etc.), start the quest.

Eat your rations, adjust your camera as needed, and head to Area 7 through the
Well at Camp. In this area, there is the enormous rock at it's center, and the
place Blos will appear. Once he appears throw a Paintball, then retreat behind
the
rock. Your goal in this area is to break Blos Horns; so you can avoid the Quake
Effect in Area 3 and 9. (More on those later.)

When Blos charges, charge your bow. Upon entrapment, he'll be helpless to
Charged
Arrows. Aim for the head. When he's broken free, retreat behind the rock-wall
and
repeat until his horns shatter. On occasion, he'll burrow. While you can drive
him
our via Sonic Bombs; I prefer to save those for later. When they've broken,
treat
Area 7 as an Open Area.

Open Areas (Areas 1, 2, and 5) lack the special terrain properties that give us
the advantage. Evasion is key, and learning to dodge is all but a necessity.
Otherwise you're looking to get your butt handed to you. Stay close to Blos,
right
out of the range of his Tail Swipe. Walk in a circular motion with Bow
unsheathed.
With this in mind, we can evade his attacks whether in Rage Mode or not.

His Attacks:

CHARGE - When he starts to charge (in normal or in Rage Mode) and you are within
the range I stated above, there is no need to sheath your bow. And as a matter
of
fact, doing so could get you hit. Provided that you are going in a circular
motion, start walking straight in the direction of the Blos at about a forty-
five
degree angle. Here is a diagram to help.

-x-o---
--\|---
---x---
---|---

o = Blos
| = Blos Path
x = You before, then after the charge
\ = You getting the heck out of his way

Chances are you won't be in front of Blos when initiating Charge. Better safe
then
dead. If you're hit, you weren't close enough. Regroup, heal, and edge closer
next
time.

After the Charge, he will either do a Horn thrust or Slide. When he Horn
Thrusts,
don't worry about getting hit. Instead, try to get off a charge. If he Slides,
sheath your Bow and start running. It's improbable that you'll escape him from a
distance. Keep avoiding him until you've regained your composure.

+When to attack - If he does a Horn Thrust, start your charge. He'll likely use
Tail Swipe or Scream. If not, you should be able to get one off safely anyway.

DIG - With this attack, the Blos will burrow under the sand. When he does this
keep circling and make a mental note of where you were when the dust settled.
Reason being is because Blos will aim for that area. In rage mode, he will start
his attack faster, so be hasty about getting away.

+When to attack - After walking a second or two, start your charge and turn
around. He will surface where you were when he last "saw" you. Release your shot
and start another one, chances are he will do a Tail Swipe or a Scream (which
won't affect you with Hornet Armor.) I've actually had a Black Diablos do a
Burrow, Tail Swipe, and two Screams and was able release 4 fully Charged Shots.

TAIL SWIPE - You should be out of range when Blos uses this. Since it is always
a
follow up attack. A great opportunity to hit with a Charged shot (two if you
started the first Charge early enough.)

SCREAM - Should not affect you with Hornet Armor on. Treat it the same way you
would a Tail Swipe.

In the Areas 3 and 9, you want to safely climb up the ledges. This is tricky, so
look for the opportunity. When up on he ledge hug the center wall to make sure
you're out of reach. In Area 3, kill the Genprey and Vespoid as they come. Now
with both Horns broken, you won't suffer any Quake Effect from Charges. Aim for
the wings and fire away.

Use this strategy and you should escape without serious scrapes or bruises.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

You're stepping into a whole new level champ. Think of Blos as the berserker of
Wyverns. It doesn't know, care, or even think about those linear long range
attacks we exploited long ago. Nor does carry those familiar openings. It
requires
a pragmatic mind to defeat him. Through study of animation and precise timing
can
we claim victory!

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [7.5.3] Elder Quest --- |---
                     ---|   ~~~ Shogun Ceanataur ~~~  |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

               "Those who live by the sword, die by the sword."
                               ~Biblical Proverb

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ What is Shogun Ceanataur? |
o============o--------------------------o

A crustacean from the other side of the ocean. Where Daimyo Hermituar launched a
staunch defense, Shogun Ceanataur brings offense. Armed with two retractable
scythe-like claws, it sweeps in every direction imaginable to kill it's prey.
Scary! What's the bright side? How about it's armor?

 x------------------x
 | CEANATUAR ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 185
 \ Total Slots: Five
 / Elemental Strength: Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Thunder, Ice (low)
 / Skills:
 \ Sharpness +1 (Needs 5+ Gems)
 / Sword Sharpener
 \ Sharp Sword
 / Defense -20
 \
 / Armor Rating: Fantastic
 x================----------------x

If you don't recognize this, scroll up to section "[4.3]" for Elder Armor. It
requires FIVE Monoblos Hearts to reach it's full potential. If you're having
trouble finding even one, then I'd forsake this set. However hard-core
Longsword,
Dual Sword users should consider. Both skills aide these particular weapons.

It should be noted that if you want Ceanataur Gauntlets, you need his Pincer. In
order to get this, you must break his actual pincers in battle.

Getting back to Shogun (his short-name from now on.) His attacks, while similar
to
Hermy are given an upgrade in range and power. Ouch. Taking on this bad boy is
going to be tough. Lucky you have this magical guide to help you! Yay
information!

Most effective attacks: Head (Cutting & Impact), Shell (Impact), *Legs
Most effective element: Thunder, Ice (weaker then Thunder)
Susceptible Status Ailments: Stun, Sleep, Poison (average rate of inducing)
Susceptible Bombs: None
Susceptible Traps: Stun Trap
Breakable Parts: **Shell, Claws (both)
Near Death When: Fleeing, bleeding from mouth.

*Note: Shogun has stronger legs then it's Hermituar counter-part.

**Note: Unlike Hermy, the shell on Shogun Ceanataur is completely breakable. He
even has three variations of the shell. The Gravios Skull is the most unique. If
broken has a chance of giving a Gravios Skull Shell in rewards.

When Shogun's shell is broken, it'll flee several areas to a designated Area. In
this area, he'll Burrow then resurface with a new shell. At most, this will
happen
twice per mission.

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

In order to paint the picture of Shogun's range I must explain in great detail.
Unlike all the other monsters, Shogun actually gains a wider hit-zone when in
Rage
Mode. I kid you not, it can be scary.

Most of Shogun's attacks are avoidable. In an unorthodox way, we can evade him
by
rolling between his legs. In other words, moving towards him. Obviously
dangerous
stuff. Effective nonetheless.

Most of Shogun's attacks (the ones using pincers) are intended to make you
stumble
rather then fall. This allows for quicker recovery for us... and the ability to
stack attacks against you. Shogun is able link attacks together and death
serious
damage to your health. Is that dangerous? Duh. The risks on how you fight are
yours.

The true methods of evading Shogun's pincers are to measure the exact range of
his
moves. That means you must pay attention to every attack to get an estimate. The
trick to keeping the pressure on Shogun is by remaining within striking
distance.
In order to do this, we must practice evading Shogun's moves.

Creep:
When Shogun spots you, it may lead forward with it's shell in an attempt to
catch
you unawares. While you think he's just backing up, pay attention to that yellow
eye on the corner of your screen.

Rush:
Another method of closing the distance is Rushing you with pincers extended.

Frontal Tap:
Using both pincers, Shogun will raise his claws and drop them down. It is slow,
avoidable, and predictable as he'll only use it while you're in front of him.
Even
better, Frontal Tap has shoddy range. Allowing us to hug Shogun and dish out an
attack.

Frontal Lunge:
Using a either pincer, Shogun will slice vertically only to wedge it, allowing
you
a moment to attack. Like Frontal Tap, this is sluggish and highly inaccurate, so
dodge appropriately.

Frontal Sweep:
Using both pincers, Shogun will throw his claws back then launch them forward in
a
sweeping motion.

Diagram #13 - Forward Sweep

============  ===========  ===========
===/===\====  ====\=/====  ====\/=====
===\===/====  ====/=\====  ====/\=====
====-X-=====  ====-X-====  ===-X-=====
============  ===========  ===========
   First         Second       Third

Legend:
\-/ - Hit-zone of claws
X - Shogun

Terrible I know. Just imagine Shogun's claws acting like a pair of scissors
closing up on you. By rolling through Shogun's legs we can evade this attack.

Side-Swipe:
The infamous move of Hermituar is now put in overdrive by Shogun. Doing the
crab-
walk, he'll swipe anything at his side. Sometimes used a frontal attack, this
has
the ability to zip towards you. Avoid this like the plague. Pay attention to the
animation.

Spin-Swipe:
If you're positioned on any angle on the front, Shogun will spin around and
attempt to swipe you. This is especially used when attacking his Shell. It's
faster then his other moves, avoiding this takes a keen eye. Memorize the
animation, and you should be fine.

Ceiling Crawl:
If there is a ceiling where you're fighting Shogun, chances are he'll jump up
there. While facing you upside-down, it'll attempt to re-enter right over your
head. Just pay attention to it's shadow and you'll do fine.

Often, it will shoot out a linear Water Beam, similar to the move we've seen on
Plessy. However as Shogun moves the beam will sweep the ground. He'll try to
ensnare you, but you can avoid this. So long as you keep an eye on his position.

Taunt:
Shogun will raise his claws up and down. As if to provoke you...It worked. Take
advantage of his momentarily flaunting by giving him a "thwack!"

Burrow:
Regular level Burrow. Mimicking Hermy's Burrow, he'll use it's horn instead of
his
shell. If you lay a Trap during or before Shogun Burrow's it may target that
trap
when surfacing destroying it. This includes the Burrow attacks of every monster.

Take a look at what VioletKIRA says about Burrow.

"Whenever monsters burrow, there is a set time when they resurface. For
Carapaceons, they either resurface on 2 seconds later, 7 seconds or 10 seconds.
If
it hasn't resurfaced after the 7 seconds, drink your potion, sharpen etc...
because the 10 second resurfaces at the same place it burrows."

Which means we have a chance of predicting when and where Shogun will surface.
Meaning, we can get another hit on him.

Rage Mode:
One of the most dangerous Rage Modes you've faced. Water Bubbles will foam at
the
base of Shogun's mouth. Not only this but you may here the dread "shhhhing!"
which
are his pincers turning into scythes. This doubles our crustacean's range.
What's
worse are the usual perks of Rage Mode, including greater speed, mobility, and
power.

In order to disable Shogun's extended pincers we must break them. The longer
reach
your weapon has, the easier it will be to accomplish this.

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

Your primary target differs depending on the weapon brought in battle. For
Impact
weapons like Hammer and Hunting Horns, aim for the shell. For Cutting weapons
aim
for the legs to stagger, and the head for greater damage. Since the Lance is
both
Cutting and Impact, it makes for an ideal fight.

To summarize.
Cutting: Legs --> Head or just Head.
Impact: Legs --> Head, Shell, or just Head.

You DO have more options with Impact weapons. Thus, favoring them. This isn't
the
green light to swap your favorite weapon out. Any weapon you're skilled with can
defeat Shogun. The golden rule of Monster Hunter is to have fun. What fun would
it
be to use a weapon you weren't good with? Better yet, why aren't you good with
this weapon yet!? Have you learned nothing!?

There are minor differences in case of Shogun's legs. His right side can stagger
easier then his left. Granted this is a small amount, but good to know.

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o

 x--------------x
 | THUNDERBANE! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 168
 | Element: Thunder 170
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger + -->
 |    Assassin's Dagger --> Thunderbane
 |
 | Method:
 | Get four Rubbery Hide from non-purple Gypceros, three Large Monster Bones
 | (Blangonga), and two Electro Sacs from Khezu. Remember it's terrible
 | Sharpness and adapt.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The Sword and Shield have the mobility and defense to keep up with Shogun's
assault. You remember when I explained evasion over Guarding? That holds true,
in
this case though, you should prepare to Guard. His attacks come quick, and
sometimes you cannot dodge. When this happens you have to pull out the shield.
You're not failing if you Guard every now and then. Just don't make a habit of
it.

Method of attack, circle around Shogun. Analyze his moves then prepare to
strike.
I'd recommend going after the legs. Look for points of vulnerability where the
head becomes available. Our objective is to knock Shogun long enough to assault
the body. There are plenty of opportunities to attack. Personally, I enjoy
Circle
+ Triangle just as he resurfaces from Burrow. The trick with Burrow is watch
where
he last emerges. When he emerges in that same spot, he's resurfacing. While
difficult, it's possible to attack the pincers during Forward Lunge.

 x-------------x
 | HOLY SABER! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 196
 | Element: Water 190
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |    Twin Dagger --> Twin Dagger +
 | Dual Tomahawk --> Dual Tomahawk + -->
 |    Order Rapier --> Holy Saber
 |
 |               Or...
 |
 |    Order Rapier --> Holy Saber
 |
 | Method:
 |
 | Forge from Order Rapier then collect twelve Lightcrystals (Gypceros, Pokke
 | Farm, Swamp Mining Areas), five Black Pearls (Hermituar), twenty Machalite
 | Ore, ten Small Goldfish, six Hercudrome, and ten Dragonite Ore.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Before you double-dice fanatics go anywhere, pack Power/Mega Juice. These can be
a
huge asset on the battlefield. You should also know the disadvantages you'll
face.
It's essential that whatever area you're in, you kill off the wildlife first. In
the delicate balance of battle, its of the utmost importance we keep Demon Mode.
If lost, the consequences for restarting could throw off your entire strategy.

Our method is simple. Roundhouse/Double Roundhouse then evade by rolling under
the
legs. It works for several of his attacks, including all of his Frontal type
attacks. It's trickier to accomplish with Side-Sweep though.

Both weapon types are unable to strike the pincers often. Because of the height
Shogun keeps them at, weapons with overhead swings are ideal. Kinda like...

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x--------------------x
 | KHEZU SHOCK SWORD! |
 x--------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 220
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + --> Buster Blade --> Ravager Blade
 | --> Khezu Shock Sword
 |
 | Method:
 | To forge Ravager Blade, you will need (assuming you did not make Buster
 | Sword from scratch) a total of twenty Iron Ore, five Disc Stones, fifteen
 | earth crystals, and six  Machalite Ore. As of now, you have these resources
 | available throughout the Mining spots in the Jungle and the Snowy Mountains.
 | If you are having trouble locating them refer to Scootypuff's resource maps
 | on GameFAQs.
 |
 | Should you already have the Ravager Blade as per my suggestions, then all
 | you'll need is fifteen Iron Ore, two Electro Sacs, and three Flabby Hides
 | (the last two come directly from Khezu.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Dominating our Greatsword should be a series of Unsheathe attacks. I regret to
inform you, that green sharpness is not enough to pierce Shogun's pincers.
Meaning
you must unleash a Charge in order to get them. At times though, and this is
funny, you can actually capture him in a Charge.

Shogun's majority of attacks come from his front. Being that he lacks the long
range attacks, he'll attempt to close distance. Usually by scuttling towards
you.
What he doesn't know is that you can have a Charged attack ready and waiting.
This
makes taking down Shogun much easier. The problem with this is that you may take
the brunt of his attacks. If you find it worth the risk though, all I can say is
tally ho!

 x----------------x
 | EAGER CLEAVER! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 250
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + --> Iron Katana --> Iron Katana "Grace" -->
 | Iron Katana "Gospel" --> Eager Cleaver
 |
 | Method:
 | Start or buy a Buster Sword. In order to reach Eager Cleaver you will need a
 | total of thirty-four Iron Ore, ten Disc Stones, thirty-three Machalite Ore,
 | fifty Earth Crystals, and four Electro Sacs (Khezu.) All of which come from
 | mining spots throughout the maps, so get digging!
 |
 | If you've already acquired "Gospel" then it's a quick round-up of only
 | fifteen Machalite, twenty-five Earth Crystals, and four Electro Sacs
 | (Khezu.) You see? You get rewarded for following my advice.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Because of the speed of the Longsword we can successfully evade most moves. Our
method of attack should consists of evenhanded Back-Sweeps and overhead slashes.
Should you take the safer route, Back-Sweep and Circle + Triangle are always
there. If you act more like a berserker, abuse Spirit Combo without getting
carried away. When in a tough spot evade through the legs and watch out for
Spin-
Swipe.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x-----------------x
 | IRON STRIKER +! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 832
 | Element: N/A
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 |         War Hammer --> War Hammer +
 | War Mace --> Iron Striker --> Iron Striker +
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need five Dragonite Ore (Volcano Gathering), eleven Malchalite Ore
 | (covers the requirements for Iron Striker) and a few base materials to forge
 | this weapon. Not to mention ever-so-useful. Iron Striker's Path leads to the
 | second strongest Hammer in-game, Juggernaut.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low
 x---------------------------------x

A warrior much bigger then myself once said that "Hammers make Shogun look like
an
overgrown punch-bag." That Hunter, was Shimmerweed. If you've never considered
using the Hammer, why not now?

As a Hammer user, it's up to you to circle around and aim for the shell. Our
objective is to shatter this thing. The Hammer is best suited to destroying the
shell and the pincers, making this weapon ideal. The only time we'll have the
window to attack the pincers though is when we've staggered or trapped Shogun.
When you've broken the shell, it'll retreat two areas. Area 3 in the swamp. When
it's replaced it's shell you can attempt to shatter it once more.

Our aim matters little after this. It's body is weakest to our Hammer, and pound
you shall. To stay alive, try circling around Shogun until he attacks or you
have
a clean shot. If either situation comes up, just take advantage.

 x-------------x
 | KHEZU HORN! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 200
 | Sharpness: Green (Low)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Notes: White, Blue, Yellow
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer --> Atlas Hammer --> Khezu Horn
 |
 | Method:
 | Buy a Bone Club and gather two Giant Bones (Congalala), three Brute Bones,
 | and thirteen Small Monster Bones. Improve until you get Atlas Hammer, then
 | farm three Flabby Hide, four Pale Extract, and two Electro Sacs from Khezu.
 |
 | Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Infinite Stamina [Small]) -- White --> Blue (1 Min)
 | (Elemental Attack Up) -- Yellow --> Blue --> Yellow --> White (1:30 Min)
 | (Fire Def Up [Large]) -- Yellow --> Blue --> White (1 Min)
 | (Thunder Def Up [Large]) -- Yellow --> Yellow --> Blue (1 Min)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

The Hunting Horn should be played carefully. It's possible to sneak in a Buff
every now and then (Ceiling Crawl, Burrow.) Your main goal is to berserk the
hell
out of his legs. Super Pound --> Roll should be your strategy. Combined with the
mobility buff, it can be child's play taking out Shogun. Aim for the Legs,
because
of Super Pound you can nab both hind and front. Super Pound is also useful for
Crowd Control, which wild-life infested areas come as a lifesaver. Make him
Stagger, then aim for the shell. If done, you can successfully break it.
Otherwise
stick to the same routine we did with the Hammer. `

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

 x-------------------x
 | BLACK BELT LANCE! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 345
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: Two
 | Path:
 | Black Belt Lance
 |
 | Method:
 | In order to create the Black Belt Lance you'll need to fight in the Training
 | Hall. You'll need to fight Yian Kut-Ku for fifteen Kut-Ku Coins, Congalala
 | for ten Congalala Coins, and Plesioth for ten Plesioth Coins. You'll also
 | need eight Blackbelt Tickets which come as rewards from Training as well.
 |
 | The Black Belt Lance is a decent weapon with credible sharpness. It's
 | materials take a bit of hard work to gather, but having a weapon like this
 | is a huge advantage for Lancers early on. That being said, if you, for some
 | reason, choose not to forge this weapon then stick with Spiked Spear.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

A weapon of unprecedented advantage, the Lance Charge is capable of decimating
Shogun. With the extra mobility and Guard, we can deflect most attacks. It makes
our counterattack simpler. Our method of attacking should be, poke, poke poke
-->
Back-Hop (2x if needed) --> Guard if needed. Since the Lance counts as an impact
weapon, aim for the same parts as you would a Hammer. The Legs and the Shell are
the most vulnerable parts. By using the Back-Hop, we can scoot our way to any
part
of the body. When he digs, you can Guard or sheathe your weapon. It depends on
how
much time you believe you have. If you find yourself abusing that Back-Hop then
try fueling on Power/Mega Juice.

By Back-Hoping between the legs, we have a greater chance of skirting damage.
You
may need to do this multiple times to evade. Sometimes, it's just better to
Guard
and poke back. It's a match of skill, to avoid damage is to increase the output
of
damage. In other words, the less you're hit, the more chances you'll have of
dealing.

 x-----------------------x
 | SPECIAL OPS GUNLANCE! |
 x-----------------------x-----x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 322
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: Two
 | Shelling Type: Normal Lv3
 | Path:
 |    Iron Gunlance --> Iron Gunlance +
 | Steel Gunlance --> Special Ops Gunlance
 |
 | Method:
 | Remember that Steel Gunlance we haven't used since Congalala? It's time we
 | upgraded. To forge this weapon we need fifteen Machalite Ore, two
 | Lightcrystals (Swamp Mining) and three Firestones. You can acquire Machalite
 | and Firestone from the Volcano Gathering Quest.
 x---------------------------------x

The Gunlance lacks the mobility of the Lance. We have to modify our strategy to
that of a Guard oriented one. Turtling comes to mind. Most moves can be blocked
with no health damage. However I'd still recommend Guard +1, because if you plan
on Guarding Burrow it'll decrease the damage. When Guarding against Burrow,
standing below Shogun is suicide. If you're located in FRONT of Shogun as he
emerges, you can Guard against it. This allows us to be next him as he emerges.
There's a method you can apply the same idea to.

Hypothetically, I place two Large Barrel Bombs in front of me. Drawing my weapon
and Back-Hoping a few times, place myself in front of the bombs. Now, I have to
wait for Shogun, or my said monster to close range. When they do, I can fire a
shell with my Gunlance, or I can poke them with my Lance. The result is a the
same. This method is brilliant for tacking enemy health.

With either weapon, you want to ring around Shogun. Avoiding the various
attacks,
and go for the kill.

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o

 x-----------------x
 | KUT-KU STAVE I! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 120
 | Element: Fire 80
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: All but Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv1
 | Charge Lv2: Scatter Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Scatter Lv3
 | Charge Lv4: Pierce Lv2
 |
 | Path:
 | Kut-Kut Stave I
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need to have fought Yian Kut-Ku in order to unlock this Bow. The
 | difference between these two weapons is that Congalala is weaker to Fire
 | then Ice, ergo, does more damage. So if you feel you need it then gather
 | five Kut-Ku Shells, five Kut-Ku Scales, two Flame Sacs, and four
 | Carpenterbugs (Pokke Farm.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x--------------x
 | SONIC BOW I! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 144
 | Element: Thunder 100
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: Power/Paralysis/Poison/Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv2: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv4: Scatter Lv3
 |
 | Path:
 | Sonic Bow I
 |
 | Method:
 | It's a tough forge as you'll have to gather two Electro Sacs (Khezu), ten
 | Vespoid Shells, five Hornetaur Wings, and two Killer Beetles (Pokke Farm.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

There's not much to say. Travel in a counter-clockwise motion. Keep close to
your
target. By being *just* outside the range of his attacks, we increase the
accuracy
of our Charges. Launching missiles takes a while to wear down your enemy. That
being said it isn't the most efficient way of downing him.

 x---------------x
 | KUT-KU RAGE! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 180                Normal S: 9  9  12  Flame S : 4  -  -
 | Reload: Very Slow                 Pierce S: -  3  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: -  4  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: 10%                     Crag S  : -  1  -  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : -  1  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 | Added Effect: Defense +8          Recov S : -  -  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : -  -  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : -  -  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | Pursue Yian Kut-Ku until you've acquired a Giant Beak and two
 | Kut-Ku Ears. Then hunt it's blue counterpart for four Blue Kut-Ku Shells.
 | Finally, you'll need two Alluring Hide which comes from Red Khezu.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

 x---------------------x
 | YIAN KUT-KU CANNON! |
 x---------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 216                Normal S: 9  9  12  Flame S : 4  -  -
 | Reload: Very Slow                 Pierce S: -  3  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: -  4  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : -  1  -  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: One                        Clust S : -  1  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 | Added Effects: Def +6             Recov S : -  -  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : -  -  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : -  -  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | If you've been farming Yian Kut-Ku you should have the eight Kut-Ku Shells
 | and six Kut-Ku Scales you need for the first requirements. You'll then need
 | five Flabby Hides (Khezu) and ten Large Monster Bones (Cephadrome.) It's
 | actually difficult to get these from a Cephadrome since they give out only
 | one per capture. You can wait until after you've fought Daimyo Hermituar to
 | get them and instead opt for Sand Diver.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Light Bowgun Shells: Flame S, Pellet Lv2, Normal Lv2
Heavy Bowgun Shells: Flame S, Pellet Lv2, Normal Lv2

Should Shogun commit to Ceiling Crawl, lay waste. Have a holiday when it comes
to
pegging him. Break out your finest Shells and open fire. Knock him down and
you'll
have time to unload your shells. And should you have Para, or Sleep shells the
better.

For Heavy Bowguns, pay extra attention . It's lack of mobility makes it the
least
likely to avoid attacks. Blocking with that tiny shield costs health, so make
each
hit count.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

Shogun is an offensive fighter, lacking the proper range with many of it's
attacks. Don't underestimate him though. A few swipes is all he needs to reduce
your health to ribbons.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [7.5.4] Elder Quest --- |---
                     ---|       ~~~ Basarios ~~~      |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

             "It's not just a boulder! It's a rock! It's a rock."
                             ~SpongeBob SquarePants

o==========o--------------------o
| Question  \ What is Basarios? |
o============o------------------o

Another new wyvern type is introduced, Rock Wyverns. Gravios and Basarios fall
under this category, however the they are encountered at different times, come
with different sizes and attacks. Which forced me to split them into two
sections.
Their peak difference is that Basarios is smaller, allowing you to evade his
attacks.

Now, what do I mean by Rock Wyverns? Generally, they are creatures that carry
rocks the size of boulders on their bodies. Their hide can make most weapons
bounce off with ease. Meaning you'll need ESP or Blue Sharpness in order to cut
through. And in Rage Mode, their gain even more protection. What's the solution?
With such a strong defense we must exploit the natural ESP of our weapons. That
could mean bringing a Hammer or a Greatsword to unleash a Charge. You could
bring
a Bow or Bowgun with the ability to pierce. Weapons like Dual Swords, and
Longswords need a new level of Sharpness or ESP in order to count. Even then,
your
still hacking with a less effective weapon.

Most effective attacks: Stomach, Feet
Most effective element: Water, Dragon
Susceptible Status Ailments: Sleep
Susceptible Bombs: None
Susceptible Traps: Stun Trap, Pitfall
Breakable Parts: Tail, *Stomach Area
Near Death When: **Flees then reburies self in Rest Area.

*Note: The Stomach area is breakable. When done, a patch of flesh will appear
which will allow greater damage when attacked with either weapon type. Even
better
if you're carrying Water or Dragon element.

**Note: Noteworthy behavior, Basarios is difficult for beginners to find. Reason
being is that he buries himself to resemble a rock. With a combination of
Psychoserum and Paintball throwing you can stir him awake.

Side-Note: Staggering Basarios is like a mosquito bite. He'll shake it off
momentarily then go back to his business. It's not smart to rely on it.

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

Bite:
A simple Bite. Same motion, same shoddy range.

Hip-Check:
Depending on your enemies size, this can be overwhelming. This is his main
attack,
if you manage your way around this, you'll do fine. Since his head sticks out at
the same angle, it's possible to counter-attack. Though, your Wyvern's head is
much harder then the average.

Overshot Tackle:
Even if you're far away, our foe will perform rush at you. Because of his size,
this covers a wider area. He'll usually perform his own version of "Tail Sweep"
right after. This is done in order to prevent Hunters from ambushing him from
behind. Why? Because Basarios always overshoots his mark.

You can time a Whetstone, a Potion, a lot of things between the time he tackles
and when he recovers. The cons are that since he overshoots, he'll try another
Tackle, and another...it can get tedious.

Tail Wag:
The follow-up move of our enemy after performing a Tackle. Simply put, our foe
will wag it's tail in a left-right pattern until it comes to complete stop. The
more time that goes by, the less strides it'll make.

High Roar:
Our foe will emit a roar. You've dealt with this before right? With High Grade
Earplugs we can score a few moments to attack. If you don't have a blocking
weapon
or Earplugs, just position yourself behind your enemy and hope for the best.

Fly:
Our craggy foe will kick up into the air, stirring up Wind. Shortly he'll drop
back down. This acts like an Anti-Melee move then anything. You've seen this
before and Yian Kut-Ku as well.

Sleep Gas:
Though rare, our foe will release a grayish gas from all sides. If you're hit,
you'll fall asleep. It's one of our foe's best anti-melee move.

This move is block-able via Guard Inc. only.

Miasma:
The most disturbing move in Basarios arsenal. He'll crouch then summon a toxic
cloud of poison. If caught, you'll get knocked back and poisoned. Antidotes are
a
must!

This move is block-able via Guard Inc. only.

Rage Mode:
The usual speed increase is traded for defense along with attack.

Basarios Beam:
Sometimes, Basarios will strain it's body and attempt to fire a beam. This
rarely
works, most of the time a wisp of light will appear at the base of it's mouth.
Followed by a sound effect. However when it does work, it can take a chunk of
your
health. By far, one of the most dangerous, yet linear moves you'll encounter in
Elder Rank.

This move is block-able via Guard Inc. only.

Fireball:
Taking a play right out of Yian Kut-Ku's book, Basarios will fire a single,
linear
fireball. It has a deadly explosive effect, so keep out of it's way.

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

Before we cover our foes, I need to reiterate.

ESP.

The Dual Sword, Greatsword, Longsword, Lance, and Gunlance all need this skill
or
Blue Sharpness in order to pierce Basarios hide. For some odd reason, Sword and
Shield is a minor exception to this rule. Allowing you to strike it's stomach.
The
main choices for Melee are narrowed to Sword and Shield, Hammer, and to a lesser
degree the Hunting Horn. Since I'm a son-of-a-gun when it comes to weapon
tactics,
the following will be written under the presumption that you have the skill.

...You don't by the way. The earliest chance you get of obtaining this skill is
from Death Stench. Later on, you can send Trenya to the Desert for 300/500/1000
Pokke Points, you can occasionally pick up an item called "Sinister Cloth." This
will unlock the armor pieces of Death Stench.

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o

 x---------------x
 | FROST EDGE +! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 182
 | Element: Ice 280
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 | Frost Edge --> Frost Edge +
 |            Or
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger + -->
 |      Frost Edge --> Frost Edge +
 |
 | Method:
 | Not a hard weapon to make. I would prefer you forge the Frost Edge right off
 | instead of building from scratch. Improvement requires two Machalite Ore,
 | and you may not have access to those. If you do, then you'll need Blango
 | Pelt as well as Ice Crystals. The main Material is Ice Crystal, you'll need
 | a total of twenty-three in order to forge Frost Edge then improve the Frost
 | Edge +. If you forge outright, you'll need eight Iron Ore (Volcano Gathering
 | plus Pokke Farm), five Giaprey Scale (Giaprey, duh), three Knife Mackerel
 | (buy from Old Lady or Fishing Spots). Then for Frost Edge + you'll need your
 | remaining Ice Crystals  (you should have fifteen), two Blangonga Fang
 | (shatter the fangs of the Blangonga,) and two White Monoblos Shell. Okay,
 | maybe it's hard.
 |
 | The Frost Edge + is the best weapon available to handle Basarios. Not the
 | very best, but the best available to us at the time. That is taking into
 | fact you're going by the order I've given out these quests. If you choose to
 | farm Kushala Daora for Elder Dragon Blood, you can forge Eternal Strife
 | which is much better.
 |
 | In general, the Frost Edge + can be helpful when it comes to your Ice SnS
 | needs. Back in Monster Hunter Freedom 2, this weapons path was considered
 | one of the best. While it's value has been dampened, you can still take
 | advantage.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Your strategy should focus on evasion rather then attack. Our aim should always
be
for the stomach. Hitting the tail depends on the size of your monster. You have
split seconds during the recovery time of some attacks to whack it. In the end,
severing Basarios tail is a project.

We're allowed a little latitude however anything below green sharpness will
bounce
off. Take time to sharpen when he Tackles. Just position yourself out of his
line
of fire, it's not difficult when further away. When he Roars, you Guard (if you
don't have HGE.) When he uses Miasma, you'll need to roll twice away to evade.
And
as usual, look for other opportunities to rack up damage while avoiding taking
any
yourself.

 x----------x
 | CUTLASS! |
 x----------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 168
 | Element: Water 150
 | Sharpness: Green (No Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 | Bone Scythe --> Bone Scythe + -->
 |    Chief Scythe --> Cutlass
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need four Plesioth Scale, two Cephalos Fin, and four Knife Mackerel.
 | ...I recommend you find another weapon type.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard. With ESP or Blue Sharpness Average-Hard.
 x---------------------------------x

Now the problem here, is that the best Water Dual Sword (for your level) is
Cutlass. If you're a die-hard Dual Sword user (it's cause Kid has them right?)
then it's what you're looking for. I don't care for it, as it's usefulness is
limited to Elder Rank (branch stops at Cutlass +) and it ain't wholly powerful.
I
would suggest another method of bringing down your foe.

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x----------------------x
 | PLESIOTH WATERSWORD! |
 x----------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 576
 | Element: Water 390
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Bone Blade --> Bone Blade + --> Bone Slasher
 |    --> Finblade --> Plesioth Watersword
 |
 | Method:
 | You need three Plesioth Fins, four Plesioth scales and one Mega Demondrug
 | (see [4.2.5] for ingredients.) If you don't have Pale Extract, I suggest
 | going after Khezu as well.
 |
 | Challenge: Hard. With ESP Average.
 x---------------------------------x

A few things you should know about Basarios. Since he "buries" himself, it's
possible to sneak a Charge on him. You must keep your distance or else he'll pop
up and send you backwards. It's up to you to decide when to Charge; at times
you'll be limited to Unsheathe Attack (Tackle.) The best time you'll have to
unleash a charge is when your foe is turning around. It's possible to combo
under
your foe during Tail Whip. In fact, you can do the most damage that way.

Size is important here. Their "gas" attacks depend on the size of your enemy.
It's
possible to strike the Tail just outside the "hit-zone." Measure the length of
the
gas and place yourself just outside it, then aim for the tail. With this in
mind,
you can score a fully Charged attack. Allowing you to eventually sever the tail.
We can still exploit this move even with the tail gone. Switch to the wings.

I love Fly. Your enemy is literally giving you the opportunity to unleash a
Charge. With skill and a little luck, you can maneuver yourself just out of
their
reach. Overall? There are many chances to snag hits, left and right, your
blitzing
will ultimately result in your foes end.

 x----------------x
 | EAGER CLEAVER! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 250
 | Sharpness: Green Sharpness (No Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Iron Katana --> Iron Katana "Grace" -->
 | Iron Katana "Gospel" --> Eager Cleaver
 |
 | Method:
 | Fifteen Iron Ore, twelve Machalite Ore, fifteen Earth Crystals. Not exactly
 | taxing requirements. If you've been following my advice, then you've
 | accumulated lots of Ores from Volcano - Gathering Quests. If not, then nows
 | the time to gather what you need.
 |
 | Why Thunder element? Because the choices in elements for your level is
 | lacking. All three Wyvern types carry a slight weakness to Thunder, Basarios
 | the most. Plus, Eager Cleaver is easier to forge. The only flaw is that
 | Thunder element damage doesn't increase when the stomach is broken.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Impossible without ESP.
 x---------------------------------x

If you find ESP, wake Basarios up with a Back-sweep, without taking damage. With
either, you should focus on the stomach area. When the "gas" attacks are used,
try
to swat the wing. The range of the Longsword allows opportunities for attacks.
Our
method is pretty simple, wreak the stomach and unload as many Spirit Combos as
you
can. Avoid his attacks, try to tag your foe during a Hip-Check (like we did with
Plessy.) You're safer hacking at his wings though, that overhead slash can do
wonders.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x-----------------x
 | IRON STRIKER +! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 832
 | Element: N/A
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 |         War Hammer --> War Hammer +
 | War Mace --> Iron Striker --> Iron Striker +
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need five Dragonite Ore (Volcano Gathering), eleven Malchalite Ore
 | (covers the requirements for Iron Striker) and a few base materials to forge
 | this weapon. Not to mention ever-so-useful. Iron Striker's Path leads to the
 | second strongest Hammer in-game, Juggernaut.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Because of our Hammer Charge, we're not effected by the level of Sharpness. The
key to our strategy against Basarios is to beat down the stomach. Of course
dealing the "gas" attacks remains the same. Trace the outside of the "Area of
effect" then unleash a charge on the wing, going for the tail is tricker. Look
for
opportunities to unleash a charge. With Basarios Beam, he's literally inviting
you
to take him out.

Because of the rate of stamina consumption, I recommend taking a few Power
Juices
if not already. I'd also like to take the opportunity to show a trick.

Diagram #14 - Overshot Tackle

============
====X=======
====|=======
====|=O=====
====v=======
============

Legend:
X - Basarios and path of Tackle.
O - You.

When Basarios rears up for a Tackle, you can maneuver yourself past his linear
hit-zone and position yourself just outside. If you correctly get the timing,
you
can unleash a Charge as Basarios is in motion. This can be applied to Gravios
later on. Once you've smashed his stomach apart, Basarios is vulnerable to
Triple
Pound. Take advantage of this.

 x----------------x
 | SONIC GLASS +! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 728
 | Element: N/A
 | Sharpness: Blue (White with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: 10%
 | Slots: N/A
 | Notes: White, Yellow, Green
 | Path:
 |         Bone Club --> Cyclo-Hammer -->
 |       Skull Crusher --> Skullcrusher +
 |       --> Sonic Glass --> Sonic Glass +
 |
 | Method:
 | Obviously we start with Bone Club.
 | For Cyclo-Hammer you'll need three Brute Bone (Blango) and three Sm Monster
 | Bone. For Skullcrusher, you'll need two Med Monster Bone, eight Sharp Claws
 | (Conga, Hermituar), and Monster Fluid which can be carved from Vespoid and
 | Hornetaurs. Finally, we need to gather one Vespoid Abdomen, four Vespoid
 | Shells, and four Hornetaur Shell. If you skipped the Hornetaur armor
 | section, you should know you need to make Poison Smoke Bombs in order to
 | kill them without shattering their bodies. Finally comes Sonic Glass +,
 | which requires twenty Vespoid and Hornetaur Wings. The three Hercudrome can
 | be found in the Volcano, Area 2.
 |
 | I'm going to be straightforward. The Sonic Glass path can lead to one of
 | best Ice elemental Hunting Horns in-game, Queen Vespoid Hunting Horn. If
 | you're big on Hunting Horns, then it's a weapon worthwhile.
 |
 | Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Recover Speed[Small]) -- Green --> Green --> Yellow (1 Min.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard. White, White --> White, White for ESP.
 x---------------------------------x

The natural ESP of our Hunting Horns allows us to combat Basarios. It isn't the
most effective weapon, but good nonetheless. The Super Pound has super lag, so
at
times you'll limit yourself to overhead swings with Triangle. The Super Pound is
useful for Basarios "gas" attacks.

In Diagram #14, you can substitute Super Pound for Hammer Charge. It's a little
easier to execute as you don't need to Charge up. The biggest problem you'll
have
in battle with Basarios is when your songs wear off. Flute Expert eases this,
but
be prepared to enter Recital Mode. Pick your moments, like when he performs his
tackle, or tries to fire off a humorous Basarios Beam. The constant hard-hitting
attacks should level Basarios in no time.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

 x------------------x
 | INCESSANT RAVEN! |
 x------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 368
 | Element: Poison 80
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1!)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |    Long Horn --> Longhorn + -->
 | Barbaroi Tusk --> Incessant Raven
 |
 | Method:
 | You could follow the path or make it on the spot. The difference here is the
 | cost and quality of the materials needed. Can you farm three Garuga Tails?
 | If the answer is yes, then forge from scratch. If you can only wrangle one,
 | and you have a Barbarioi Tusk on standby, that works too.
 |
 | I know, I know. After exploiting the Garuga glitch in Monster Hunter
 | Freedom, you feel reluctant to take up the Lance. Long ago, I was
 | responsible for the same thing. I've put my demons to bed now; it was past
 | their bedtime anyway. Zing!
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard with ESP or Sharpness +1
 x---------------------------------x

 x------------x
 | HELLSTING! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 322
 | Element: Ice 250
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: 10%
 | Slots: One
 | Shells: Spread Lv.1
 | Path:
 | Bone Gunlance --> Great Bone Gunlance -->
 |    Wyvern Bone Gunlance --> Hellsting
 |
 | Method:
 | The main materials here are Blango and Blangonga parts. I'd rather Forge
 | then go through the Path. Blangonga Fangs (2x) aren't impossible to acquire,
 | and twenty Blango Pelt, two Giant Bone, and ten Sharp Claws are quite common
 | on enemies. You may need to topple a few Bulldrome for Giant Bone, but
 | that's nothing compared to later material gathering.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard with ESP or Sharpness +1
 x---------------------------------x

In this battle, both weapons carry similar methods of attack. Go for the
stomach,
when you sense a "gas" attack coming you'll want to vacate. Lancers can Back-hop
(3x) to evade, but Gunlancers will have a tougher time. The good news is that
you
can block Hip-Check, and most other attacks with ease. Now for the bad news,
avoid
the unblock-able Basarios Beam. Yeah, it's funny to see him try it, but on the
off-chance that baby pops out, no amount of blocking can save you.

It's difficult to peg the tail, but the Overhead Swing of a Gunlance can ease
your
troubles. Both weapons are more then capable of slicing off the Tail, however it
requires precision. Overall, the Gunlance is better suiting for this. Wyvern
Fire
is a great way of shattering stomach protection, and a funny way of waking
Basarios. You can even plant a few Barrel Bombs as he rests underground!

If I had to choose one or the other, it'd still be the Lance. You really can't
beat Back-Hop. I've found it a valuable ability during combat. On the other
hand,
Lance Charge can't compare with Wyvern Fire. I guess, in the end, it's how you
play.

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o

 x----------------------x
 | DAIMYO'S WARBOW III! |
 x----------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 180
 | Element: Water 120
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: Two
 | Coatings: All but Razor
 |
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv3
 | Charge Lv2: Scatter Lv3
 | Charge Lv3: Pierce Lv3
 | Charge Lv4: Rapid Lv4
 |
 | Path:
 | Daimyo's Warbow I --> Daimyo's Warbow II --> Daimyo's Warbow III
 |
 | Method:
 | Piggy-backing off of your recent kills you'll need two Ceantaur Claws, three
 | Green Plesioth Scales, and four Medium Monster Bones to forge Daimyo's
 | Warbow II. Through that, gather six Black Pearls, four Hermituar Claws, and
 | two Twisted Horns (Break Diablos Horn) to make Daimyo's Warbow III.
 |
 | A good weapon eventually beaten out by Dragonhead Harp in elemental attack.
 | The parts necessary for forging are quite common. All except for two Twisted
 | Horns, requiring you to shatter Diablos Horn. Happy Hunting!
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low
 x---------------------------------x

Being that all of Basarios moves are anti-Melee, you're in the clear with a Bow.
With Hornet's Armor, you can block High-Roar. The only ranged attacks in his
arsenal are the non-homing Fireball and Basarios Beam. Overshot Tackle can get
annoying but only that.

Your method of attack is clear. Aim for the stomach, break it, then break
Basarios. Keep in the same counterclockwise motion discussed earlier in the
guide,
and you'll be safe. Should you not be wearing armor with High-Grade Earplugs,
and
you happen to get trapping in High Roar. Try to maneuver behind Basarios, and
preempt his Roar. That's about it. You'd be amazed how fast you can take down
Gravios once you got the timing.

 x-------------x
 | JADE STORM! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 132                Normal S: 6  3  -  Flame S : 3  -  -
 | Reload: Normal                    Pierce S: 2  2  2  Water S : 3  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 2  2  2  Thnd S  : 3  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  1  1  Freeze S: 3  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : 1  1  1  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3  3  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  1  -  Demon S : 1  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -  Armor S : 1  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | It was this, or Lobster Gun. I prefer Jade Storm because of it's Clust/Crag
 | potential. Either weapon can pack a punch, plus, it's versatile,
 | allowing you access to most ammunition. The downside is that if you plan on
 | using anything other then Normal or Clust/Crag you're going to reload every
 | two shots.
 |
 | You'll need six Green Plesioth Scales (common drop), five Machalite Ore
 | (Mining point or Volcano Gathering), three Springnight Carp (common fishing
 | spots, or Fishing Pier at Pokke Farm), and last but not least three Plesioth
 | fins.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

 x----------------x
 | METEOR CANNON! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 216                Normal S: 6  6  9  Flame S : -  -  -
 | Reload: Fast                      Pierce S: 4  4  4  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: -  -  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  1  1  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: Two                        Clust S : -  -  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : -  -  -  Tranq S : -  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: -  -  -  Paint S : -  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  -  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  -  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | *Whistles* Forty Iron Ore, Twenty Machalite Ore, fifteen Dragonite Ore, and
 | one Fire Stone. All obtainable via Volcano Gathering Quest. You should cycle
 | that with Mining Points at Pokke Farm for maximum obtainably.
 |
 | Why Meteor Cannon? It's pretty darn good, requiring only Ores to forge and
 | packed with Clusts. Sleep and Para are invaluable if you're trying to
 | Sleep-Para Bomb Basarios (and I'd recommend you do.) Moving on.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low-Average
 x---------------------------------x

Not much cover that hasn't already been. Keep out of Basarios reach and tackle.
Time your reloads and shots with recoil. Use the ole "counterclockwise" rotation
and as always don't get greedy. Once again, for Heavy Bowguns, don't count on
the
shield for anything besides High Roar.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

Basarios is a tough customer that focuses on defense rather then offense. A
difficult monster to handle with any weapon. And like all, he takes time to get
used to. You'd better, 'cause Basarios is an infant compared to it's cousin
Gravios.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [7.5.5] Elder Quest --- |---
                    ---|    ~~~ Kushala Daora ~~~    |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                   "The bitter black wind begins to howl&"
                          ~Magus, Chrono Trigger

o==========o-------------------------o
| Question  \ What is Kushala Daora? |
o============o-----------------------o

Funny name, I know. Daora is different from the Wyverns you've encountered
before.
He can't be captured, or trapped. In fact, the best you can hope for is stagger
and Flash Bombs.

Kushala Daora is an Elder Dragon.

The Elder Dragons belong an ancient bloodline. They have the unique ability to
flee battle once they feel their lives are threatened. Daora shares this trait.
It's possible to lay waste to an Elder Dragon before it flees. However in most
cases they flee, simply take flight and don't come back. What does this mean to
you, the hunter? It means quests are split into two. That's right, Daora has
another quest. Each quest serves a single purpose, to deplete an Elder Dragon's
HP. Later on, during HR4 - HR9, it's possible to transfer damage onto these
quests.

This "fleeing" mechanism is also Capcom's little way of allowing Elder Dragons
tons of HP. An Elder Dragon fleeing is merely the hiatus. Depending on how
you've
fought till now, most battles have taken around twenty-thirty minutes right? If
we
were to fight an Elder Dragon an entire round, you'd go over the clock. Not in
all
situations, but later on this conclusion becomes more and more likely.

Allow me the privilege of side-tracking. I believed I've earned it. Daora has
become a "wall" of sorts, the impassible barrier. This headache can be countered
through studying his motions. Just like any monster. The obstacles you encounter
from now on attribute to two factors. One, you lack the proper weaponry or
equipment to make an accurate offense. This is commonly do to ignorance, or pure
laziness. The second, and generally common reason, is that you lack basic skills
necessary to take your wyvern down.

The purpose of this guide is show you have to combat the overgrown suitcases
called Wyverns. Victory by an inch isn't winning. You can't properly farm if you
can't properly kill.

"Wait, Darksun. I don't plan on farming this Wyvern for materials!"

You're state of naivet� is adorable. There will always be a need to farm
Wyverns.
Not just this one. It doesn't matter what it's for, what matters is that you
still
have to kill it. And kill it effectively you must. So why not take the time to
study your Wyverns moves? Why not avoid the pain of backtracking when you can
make
the time to get better now? That, or risk becoming a Wyverns plaything later on.
The choice is up to the Hunter.

Most effective attacks: *Head/Neck (Impact/Cutting), Stomach (Impact)
Most effective element: Dragon (Thunder is a good substitute)
Susceptible Status Ailments: *Poison, Stun (twenty-second duration)
Susceptible Bombs: Flash Bomb
Susceptible Traps: N/A
Breakable Parts: Tail, Wings, **Horns
Near Death When: Flees Area, but usually is preparing to run away. Limps but
rarely.

*Note: Kushala Daora has the ability to coat itself in Wind. This makes Melee
utterly frustrating. During this mode his defense spikes a bit. The only way to
counter Kushala Wind is by Poisoning him and/or making him flinch. Even then,
those are temporary measures.

**Note: Break the Horns to cancel Daora Wind (See below)

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

Remember when I said that your battles with Elder Dragons are two-front? I
wasn't
kidding. Daora shifts between the Jungle and Snowy Mountains. His attacks are
drastically effected by this. The Elder Dragons possess a kinship, a bond with
an
element of nature. His is wind.

Daora is able to command the majesties of gust into a furry unheard of. It's
bitterly annoying, and without the proper skills (which you don't have access
to)
can ultimately lead to your downfall. Which leads me his first "mode", Daora
Wind.

Daora Wind:
At one point, be it the battle's beginning or during a Roar, Daora will summon
wind. I'm not talking of the wind that Wyverns emit when beating their wings. I
speak of a coat of gale surrounding his body. The hellish trait of this "wind
armor" is that it does not vanish on it's own. You're required to put this beast
under a status ailment or cause him to stagger. Entire strategies are formed
around this basis. To cause Daora to stagger. Breaking off his attacks breaks
Daora Wind and allows you to attack.

There are several ways to cancel Daora Wind. Flash Bombs, Poisoning, and of
course
staggering. These of course, are temporarily. In order to cancel this attack
completely, you must break his horn.

If that wasn't crazy. Daora's mastery of wind allows him to take the fight mid-
air. In a later section, I will discussing the "fly mode", Daora Air, whatever
you
want to call it. I call it annoying. For now, we're going to cover Daora's moves
while grounded. Some attacks will have attachments, noting the additional
annoyances of the tundra.

Alert Roar:
Daora will jump on it's hind-legs and emit a sharp cry. Usually throwing you off
balance. I've noticed the distance of this attack has short range. Chances are,
it's because his head is raised when committing. Cutting the area of effect to
right in front of him.

Back-Leap:
This generic sounding name is one of Daora's favorite moves. Our scaled foe will
brush-backwards and commit a taunt before chaining an attack. I've found the
following information noteworthy.

Back-Leap is commonly chained with three other attacks, Rush, Air Bullet, and
Quick Roar.

Rush:
Rush is just that, it is a immediate tackle that occurs without warning. The
careless Hunter will take the most damage, get hit the most times, and most
likely
get KOed because of this move. It is lag-less, and there is no tell for it. The
good news? It only happens when in front of Daora. Avoidable right? The bad news
is that in order to effectively combat the Elder Dragon, we have to attack the
head.

It's true, you could play it safe, go for the sides and avoid the swipes. And in
the beginner's case I suggest you do. I've always found attacking the head an
easier, if not sensible, route.

Air Bullet:
Daora will send out a concentrated bullet of air, hence the term coined "Air
Bullet." In environments other then the Snowy Mountains, it'll blast you away.
It's a linear attack but because of it's wide hit-zone it's something to watch
out
for.

For the Snowy Mountains, the icy tundra will blanket the wind transforming it
into
a ball of ice. Monster Hunter's own Blizzaga. Should you have the misfortune of
getting caught, you'll be encased in Ice. Hence my suggestion, Thawing Agent.

Ah, what a double-edged sword. There is a point of lag, after the firing of an
Air
Bullet where you can strike. Look for it, and take care not to get hit by the
next
attack.

Quick Roar:
Starting with the list of annoyances ranks Quick Roar. It gets it's name from
the
fact that, no matter how prepared you are, Daora can emit a roar at any moment.
With the same animation as Alert Roar, the difference between the two is that
Quick Roar happens during combat. While having a "tell" our foe works it so fast
that you barely have to time to block the blow.

Swipe:
A short-ranged claw swipe using either the left, or the right front-legs.
Primarily used to stop close-ranged Melee oriented attackers.

Short list of attacks I know. Combined with Daora Wind, plus the chaining of
Back-
Leap --> Rush, Back-Leap --> Air Bullet, Back-leap --> Quick Roar makes for
challenging combat. We arrive at the "alternative" phase of combat. Aerial
Combat.

Fly Mode:
Probably the most unique attack form in this game comes from Daora's Fly Mode.
Your method of attack must rely on overhead swings in order to hit. Most weapons
will be able to tag Daora's legs as they dangle from above, tail as well. While
that is your method, remember that Daora Wind applies to Fly Mode as well.

You'll notice the kick in Daora's step as he is allowed to maneuver in every-so-
direction without much trouble. That includes side-gliding. This coy motion
throws
the Hunter off 'cause he cuts in front of you. Ready and willing to blindside
you
with one of several joyous attacks. Huzzah.

Dive:
Daora will nose-dive mid-air attempting to snag you in it's wake. By staying out
of his front, you can avoid it's hit-zone. I've noticed that Daora ends up
facing
the wrong direction. Like Basarios when using Overshot Tackle. Often prompting a
turn around.

Slam:
Daora leg's will kiss the ground, stirring bits of gravel and rock. While
trivial
at best, he has amazing recovery time. And before you know it, he's switching to
a
deadlier attack.

Back-lash:
Should you happen to posses the gull to maneuver behind Daora, you'll meet a
rather disturbing counter. The Back-lash is only used when positioned at his
rear.
This acts as a warning to all who think getting behind an enemy is the key to
victory. This is where you put your Crisis Core notions to bed.

Daora will also slap his tail across the back of your head. While a separate
move
altogether, it didn't seem to deserve it's own section. Since it contributes to
the whole "take-me-from-behind-and-you'll-be-sorry" bit.

Air Bullet (Fly Mode):
Daora will fire a concentrated bullet of air from on high. Expect the same lag
time.

Blaster:
Coo-coo Bananas I say! This attack is by far the deadlier of Daora's arsenal.
He'll fire a steady stream of concentrated air, then sweep it left and right as
if
dousing a fire. And being the flames that so irk him, expect to be hit.

What not to forgot is where his left and right are. 'Cause being air-born, he'll
often change that direction.

I'd also like to note, that Daora will signal it's landing. RaX from Minegarde
has
told us of the events in which this occur. The first is after performing
Blaster,
or at least the longer version of the attack. The second occurs after performing
Slam twice in a row. It will instantly land after this.

Eventually, Daora will touch base with the ground. You can hasten this by
applying
a Flash Bomb, or shooting him down with Clusts. Either way, happy times are had
by
all. It should also be noted that Blaster, when used in the Snowy Mountains, can
trap you in Ice.

Sometimes, Daora will chain an Air Bullet before going aerial. Not only does
this
take you by surprise, but it possess not a single "tell."

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

Let me explain the situation. For the longest time, you've encountered monsters
with features different to that of Daora. The usual "aim-for-the-head" dogma is
applied religiously as it knocks him off his rocker. The problem lies in the
fact
that his head is quite slender and small. Till now, you've been fighting
monster's
like Kut-Ku, Khezu, and Plesioth. All of which have decent shaped noggins.
Daora's
body is more slender, similar to the European dragon. Like an arrow with a small
tip for a head. Not to say our foe is deformed, no, but not easy to land a blow.

Which is why most aim for the sides, where they only have to fear Daora's Swipes
and the Daora Wind. Clever players come ready with Poison. While it works, the
"elite" prefer the less complicated thrashing of the head.

And why not? By attacking the head, we stagger Daora. Screaming in agony, he'll
fall unto the ground and thrash about for several seconds. Seconds you can use
to
pay homage to the head, thus building up for the next stagger.

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o


 x--------------x
 | THUNDERBANE! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 168
 | Element: Thunder
 | Sharpness: Green (Terrible Sharpness without Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: 0%
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger + -->
 |    Assassin's Dagger --> Thunderbane
 |
 | Method:
 | The four Rubbery Hide you need come from Gypceros (non-Purple), the three Lg
 | Monster Bone come from Blangonga, and the two Electro Sacs come from Khezu.
 | What does this make? A crappy weapon. Thunderbane is terrible SnS 'cause it
 | lacks decent sharpness. Which means you'll be sharpening periodically to
 | return it to the green. Skills like Sharp Sword and Sharp Skl Inc help, but
 | Sharpness +1 is key.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-----------------x
 | DEADLY POISON! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 168
 | Element: Poison 360
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |     Hunter's Dagger --> Snake Bite -->
 | Snake Bite + --> Hydra Bite --> Deadly Poison
 |
 | Method:
 | I prefer forging Hydra Bite from scratch. You're going after Iodrome to get
 | these parts anyway. You'll need a total of eight Iodrome Hide, seven Ioprey
 | scales, four Poison Sacs, four Sm Monster Bones, five Dragonite Ore, and one
 | Iodrome Skull.
 |
 | KyrieRain of the Minegarde forums has suggested Deadly Poison in the stead
 | of Thunderbane. Since Poison disables Daora Wind, why the hell not? And who
 | doesn't enjoy carrying a weapon called Deadly Poison? Hey Daora! I'm gonna
 | wreck your world with Deadly Poison! I'll cut you! I'll cut 'cha good!
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The short range of the Sword and Shield deter many Hunters. For killing
purposes,
Thunderbane is the appropriate choice. For farming purposes later on, you should
rely on Eternal Strife. Granted, the weapon's Sharpness is worse then
Thunderbane,
however the elemental damage inflicted with such Dragon Element is nothing short
of amazing.

You have two basic avenues of approach. The aimless slashing of the head, or the
easier target, the torso. As I've already mentioned, attacking the torso safer
but
does nothing to stop Daora Wind when it kicks up. Plus, you can't manipulate the
stagger rate as well. While Daora will flinch when hit enough times in the torso
area, striking the head does far greater damage.

In my case, I decided to go for the head. Where I was met with sudden, if not
irritating interruptions in my routine. Mostly due to Quick Roar. I'm glad to
report that with great effort I manged to severe my opponent's tail. During the
overhead slash of an SnS, you can graze that tail. This is enough to cut it off.
This relies on taking advantage of when Daora lands from Fly Mode. Speaking of
which, you can connect with the tip of his tail with it too.

Rating the weapon overall against Daora I have to say, the ability to avoid the
enemy was key to victory. I had access to fluid attacks that allowed me to evade
at a moment's notice. A tactic which Daora demanded of. The constant pursuit of
the head can be a tedious task, but rewarding. If you concentrate, you can fly
through the fight with ease.

 x-----------------x
 | PINK MARACAS +! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 224
 | Element: N/A
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |      Bone Scythe --> Bone Scythe + -->
 | Twin Kut-Ku --> Pink Maracas --> Pink Maracas +
 |
 | Method:
 | The simplistic combination of Kut-Ku, Congalala, and Blangonga parts make
 | gathering for this weapon more tedious then difficult. Good news about Pink
 | Maraca's is that with Sharpness +1 you can acquire Blue Sharpness.
 |
 | With Dual Swords in general, expect to sharpen many times. It's a fact of
 | life that Dual Swords lose the most. Which is why skills like Sharp Sword
 | and Sharp Skill Inc are vital.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The secret of fighting Daora with Dual Swords is simply asking yourself which
moves won't get you killed. Demon Dance, while effective for staggering our foe
you'll likely end with becoming air-born. Quick attacks, even as a meager as
pressing the Triangle once and rolling way, are key for avoiding and defeating
him.

Moments between Back-Leap can be exploited with Unsheathe Attack (Triangle +
Circle.) I found scarce moments to activate Demon Dance. This is likely due to
Daora Wind, which can nullify Demon Mode altogether. The trick behind the Dual
Swords is building up the stagger. Performing Demon Dance while Daora is
struggling to get up, builds towards the next stagger. If you can master this,
you
can defeat him.

Slicing the Tail is delegated to Roundhouse (Circle). Which precise aiming, we
can
nick it clean off. One must aim for the tail's white tip. Which dangles lower
then
the rest of the appendage.

Overall, I wouldn't reach for this weapon type when facing Daora. While I found
the Demon Dance appealing, the quick loss of sharpness lowers the tier. Die hard
Dual Sword fans (it's 'cause of Sora m'right?) can go out of their way to forge
the dream set Ceanataur Armor with the necessary Artisan Gems. If you have Sharp
Sword, Sharpness +1, and Sharp Skl Inc., fighting Daora with Dual Swords becomes
a
requirement.

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x------------------x
 | RAVAGER BLADE +! |
 x------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 768
 | Element: N/A
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 |       Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + -->
 | Buster Blade --> Ravager Blade --> Ravager Blade +
 |
 | Method:
 | You need a total of twenty-one Iron Ore, five Disc Stone, sixteen Machalite
 | Ore, thirty Earth Crystals, and three Dragonite Ores. All of which comes
 | from Volcano Gathering Quests. Extremely easy, but tedious to accomplish.
 | Nonetheless the Ravager Blade + is a powerful weapon, and useful in later on
 | ranks.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

I write this from the chill of the Snowy Mountains. Taking my Greatsword, I
trekked about seeking an audience with Daora. I was met by an Alert Roar,
expected
and blocked. I was not ready for his lightening fast speed. Wondering how I
would
counter with my heavy sword, I relied on Unsheathe attacks.

The term comes to mind, "Head-locking."

It's the method I've been describing only up till this point. Yet I did not know
the name. Ironic no? Returning to our strategy, we fall onto a straightforward
scenario. Unsheathe Attack, because of it's speed we can successfully crack our
foe on the head, then roll aside. We do this till, wouldn't you know it, he
comes
crashing down. Favor Daora's right when attempting to Charge. Should your aim be
accurate, you can unleash a fully Charged attack just as he recovers. And that's
it.

Charging in general, while extremely useful, is terribly difficult. Your aim
must
be immaculate. And this takes practice; so don't feel discouraged for missing
several times. Opportunities other then the stagger come from the rare
manipulation of Daora turning. Since the Elder Dragon favors Back-Leap over mere
turning, capturing him in one can be rather difficult.

Fly Mode is probably the most proficient time to catch Daora in a Charge. It is
also the most difficult. While hovering, our foe will sometimes the ground
underneath him vulnerable. At least for a short time. During which I was able to
unleash a fully Charged shot and ground him. Useful for the advance Greatsword
user to know. The learner will take heed of this technique and opt for mere
Unsheathe Attacks. As they are far safer to perform.

Overall, the Greatsword is tricky, but like the Dual Swords, have great
potential
for "Head-locking." Better in fact. Besides it's naturally sluggish
maneuverability, the GS is a great tool for dueling with Daora.

 x----------------x
 | EAGER CLEAVER! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 250
 | Sharpness: Green Sharpness (No Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Iron Katana --> Iron Katana "Grace" -->
 | Iron Katana "Gospel" --> Eager Cleaver
 |
 | Method:
 | Fifteen Iron Ore, twelve Machalite Ore, fifteen Earth Crystals. Not exactly
 | taxing requirements. If you've been following my advice, then you've
 | accumulated lots of Ores from Volcano - Gathering Quests. If not, then nows
 | the time to gather what you need.
 |
 | We find ourselves in need of the service of this wretched blade once more.
 | You'll find this familiar, as it is the exact weapon we used to fight
 | Basarios (if you've been following my guide up till this point.) Now you may
 | be wondering (for those transferring over from MHF2) why not Devil Slicer?
 | 'Cause Devil Slicer comes with an extra requirement in order to balance out.
 | Kirin Tail. Not acquirable till you start farming Kirin.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Delight is to him who masters this swarthy blade. As I find myself pummeled by
Daora's gale more times then any other weapon I've carried. Perhaps it's the
slight lag of the Unsheathe Attack. A feature I had little problem working
around
the mighty Greatsword. The Longsword carries great promise, in the efforts of
severing my quarries tail. With it's long overhead strokes, I seldom managed to
miss that which dangled down. My greatest complaint stems from the hit-zone of
the
Longsword.

To the novice Blademaster, the only thing more dangerous then missing, is trying
to compensate. I speak of the attempt to compensate for missing. Rather then
wait
out the next opportunity, one who feels insecure about the damage over time may
try to spam the Longsword. An endeavor that will likely get you killed. The
solution to avoiding damage and achieving decent aim is to abuse the Stab attack
(Circle.) We exploit this by angling ourselves to the left or right side of
Daora,
using the stab, then dodging appropriately.

This is cruel work that drive Hunters to use another weapon. Those that do are
forgetting the best feature of a Longsword. In that, they the best weapon for
severing Daora's Tail. The problem is that tricky, just too slow, overhead
slash.
While having the same animation as the Unsheathe Attack, you can't believe how
different these two can be. Not till you've tried it.

Overall, the Longsword has it's pros and cons. The challenge is outstanding, yet
the benefits balance the cons. If you prefer the Longsword, if you prefer the
opting for quick movements to compensate our foe's drastic movements, then by
all
means, slash away. My tale is one of caution; of warning you against the sin of
stupidity. The Longsword is truly one for the masters.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x-----------------x
 | IRON STRIKER +! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 832
 | Element: N/A
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 |         War Hammer --> War Hammer +
 | War Mace --> Iron Striker --> Iron Striker +
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need five Dragonite Ore, eleven Malchalite Ore (covers the
 | requirements for Iron Striker) and a few base materials to forge this
 | weapon. Not to mention ever-so-useful. Iron Striker's Path leads to the
 | second strongest Hammer in-game, Juggernaut.
 |
 | Once again, repeat weapons make my job easier. Copy&Pasta! Reason being we
 | use Iron Striker + again is why Cinderella had a happy ending.
 |
 | If the shoe fits.
 |
 | In this case, the shoe not only its, but is snug as a bug in a rug. Take a
 | moment to realize that there are most definitely bugs crawling in your
 | carpet. Jealous am I for those who have wood paneling. All you have to deal
 | with are termites.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

You'll find many Hunter's flock to the Hammer. The truth of the matter, is that
the Hammer requires less concentration. Why is this? The Hammer has an amazing
hit-zone, especially when talking about Charging. The basic idea surrounding
Hammer combat is Charging, maneuvering, and unleashing. The charismatic hit-zone
of the Charge debunks the needless concentration needed for the other weapons.
In
other words, the Hammer is the lazier mans weapon.

Sure, many wax on about the generous damage that builds up. My spite with
Hammers
generally rests of the deep trust beginner's pour into it. They aren't aware, or
simply don't care, of the millisecond lag between unleashing of the said weapon,
and actual collision. Then of course, the entire second of recovery you need
before cleverly rolling aside. Taken into fact, this weapon needs precise
timing.

One has to admire the wrath the Hammer can inflict. Especially when attempting
to
"head-lock." Daora will stagger, allowing a Triple Pound. The problem? Our foe
will thrash his head about. Making contact a rare occurrence. When you do find
yourself in the correct position (favoring the right side) you may get lucky
enough to cause KO.

Overall? A great weapon type to kill Daora, but not to farm him. The lack of
Tail
cutting is delegated to the item, the Boomerang. Which is the equivalent of the
kid on the playground with lice. No one wants to play with him, or in the
Boomerang's case, it.

 x----------------x
 | SONIC GLASS +! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 728
 | Element: N/A
 | Sharpness: Blue (White with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: 10%
 | Slots: N/A
 | Notes: White, Red, Green
 | Path:
 |         Bone Club --> Cyclo-Hammer -->
 |       Skull Crusher --> Skullcrusher +
 |       --> Sonic Glass --> Sonic Glass +
 |
 | Method:
 | Obviously we start with Bone Club.
 | For Cyclo-Hammer you'll need three Brute Bone (Blango) and three Sm Monster
 | Bone. For Skullcrusher, you'll need two Med Monster Bone, eight Sharp Claws
 | (Conga, Hermituar), and Monster Fluid which can be carved from Vespoid and
 | Hornetaurs. Finally, we need to gather one Vespoid Abdomen, four Vespoid
 | Shells, and four Hornetaur Shell. If you skipped the Hornetaur armor
 | section, you should know you need to make Poison Smoke Bombs in order to
 | kill them without shattering their bodies. Finally comes Sonic Glass +,
 | which requires twenty Vespoid and Hornetaur Wings. The three Hercudrome can
 | be found in the Volcano, Area 2.
 |
 | Yet another Copy&Pasta! This proves Sonic Glass + a useful and capable
 | Hunting Horn for all interested in the craft. It's also pretty much useful
 | cause of it's Sharpness.
 |
 |  Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Recover Speed[Small]) -- Green --> Green --> Yellow (1 Min.)
 | (Heal +20 & Antidote ) -- White --> Green
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The vigilante Impact weapon. No one could ever guess the amount of tact this
weapon requires in order to successfully combat Daora. The sloth of the Hunting
Horn in general makes for a challenging venture. However Hunter's will praise
the
Super Pound for it's slow-to-launch but quick-to-roll-away nature.

In general the Hunting Horn carries the same flaws as the Hammer. Can't cut the
tail. It doesn't possess the Hammer's Charge, rather opts for the Super Pound.
You
don't need to Charge meaning no drain on stamina. More for avoiding and running
for you life right? The myth that Daora is hard to hit during Fly Mode is
laughable as Overhead Swing can nip the legs. Should you have the chance to get
close enough I suggest you pursue this course with zeal.

Back-leap is a plague. And when I mean plague, I mean bubonic. The kind of
disease
that wipes out half a nation is responsible for cutting potential damage dealing
in half. The slow motions of the Hunting Horn disallow any potential quick cuts
before Daora is finished with his taunt. And since our foe is adamant on using
this, we're limited to exploiting Air Bullet.

Perhaps I was over-exaggerating when I said Back-leap was a plague. Rather, it
requires you to retool your strategy. Transforming it into one of cornering. You
must suddenly recall your knowledge of Daora's favorite areas. And of these
Area's
when is he more likely to back into a wall? The potential for damage dealing
returns. You may find yourself coy for exploiting the terrain, like all
advantages
it comes with it's pitfalls. For one, Daora may attempt to position itself back
onto open space via Rush. An action which it follows often. Should you be so
lucky
to make your way between him and Air Bullet the stagger potential is unlimited.

Overall? The Hunting Horn is a tricky and rather challenging weapon. Once you
have
the "head-locking" pattern down, and the corning down, and have the right notes
playing, it can be a decent weapon. Like all challenging weapons, a little
polishing is a gimme.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

 x------------------x
 | INCESSANT RAVEN! |
 x------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 368
 | Element: Poison 80
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1!)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |    Long Horn --> Longhorn + -->
 | Barbaroi Tusk --> Incessant Raven
 |
 | Method:
 | You could follow the path or make it on the spot. The difference here is the
 | cost and quality of the materials needed. Can you farm three Garuga Tails?
 | If the answer is yes, then forge from scratch. If you can only wrangle one,
 | and you have a Barbarioi Tusk on standby, that works too.
 |
 | Our rank is still the same, not a lot has changed. I could have suggested
 | the Crimson War Pike which is stronger. My preach for Incessant Raven
 | continues merely for the fact that Crimson War Pike requires Monoblos Heart.
 | An investment you may not want to input. Reason being is that beyond early
 | Upper Elder Quests, the Crimson War Pike path ends abruptly.
 |
 | Of course all weapon paths end. Crimson War Pike however is like a nasty
 | lover. The one you leave your family for, only to see them boarding the
 | next train a day later. Now you're alone, wondering why you spent your only
 | heart on a Lance that becomes useless.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The nature of the Lance has delivered us an exotic strategy. Because of the
Lance's attack speed and maneuverability the novice turns tail. I find the Lance
intriguing as the game-plan changes. Rather then following the nature of "cut-
and-
run" tactics of cutting weapons, the Lance attacks from a different angle.
Literally. Attacking Daora demands that you approach the side of his head, and
unleash a series of pokes via Circle button.

The upwards stab becomes the "magic bullet" that can hit every part of Daora.
The
Tail being the most important, can be severed. Simply find a time alone with
that
danglingly thing and poke away. I can sermon the use of poking of Daora during
Fly
Mode. The pitfall was that it ended with me getting hit. Not recommended for
beginners.

Perhaps the most difficulty I've encountered with the Lance rested in the fact
that Daora abuses Back-leap. As a Lancer, you cannot help but sheathe your
weapon
'cause of mobility issues. And sadly, by the time you can exploit the Back-leap
our foe has already moved on. Cornering mends, but does not fix the issue.
Especially when the enemy plants himself in a corner.

You know that big thing next to your Lance? You know, your shield? In all the
intensity of the battlefield, one forgets the most basic attributes of their
weapon. In my case, I forgot what a useful tool the shield becomes. Both Air
Bullet and Blaster can be blocked with no health damage. The recoil and stamina
cost is great though, meaning you should avoid pulling it out. All-and-all the
shield becomes lifesaver one shouldn't avoid especially with heavy gusts ahead.

Overall, the Lance shares the Hunting Horn's trickery, along with oddities of
their own. I could end this section with a rant about the declining usefulness
of
the Lance Charge. Or launch into the subject of my dashed hopes concerning
"poke,
poke, poke" jokes. For now, I can say the Lance is always the weapon I pick up
when looking for a challenge.

 x------------x
 | HELLSTING! |
 x------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 322
 | Element: Ice 250
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: 10%
 | Slots: One
 | Shells: Spread Lv.1
 | Path:
 | Bone Gunlance --> Great Bone Gunlance -->
 |    Wyvern Bone Gunlance --> Hellsting
 |
 | Method:
 | The main materials here are Blango and Blangonga parts. I'd rather Forge
 | then go through the Path. Blangonga Fangs (2x) aren't impossible to acquire,
 | and twenty Blango Pelt, two Giant Bone, and ten Sharp Claws are quite common
 | on enemies. You may need to topple a few Bulldrome for Giant Bone, but
 | that's nothing compared to later material gathering.
 |
 | I don't see what the problem is. You all should be glad you don't have to
 | forge another weapon in the meantime. Our time upon Elder **** is reaching
 | it's swan-song. And there will oodles of equipment to collect. For now, suck
 | it up, and bring this bad boy into battle.
 | And stop staring daggers at me.
 | I'm serious.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

If ever there be a more creaky gentlemen weapon, it'd be the Gunlance. Ever
poised
to run Daora through, especially with it's Unsheathe Attack. As a Gunlancer,
take
advantage of the usually Lancer mantra. Corner, attack, stagger, and repeat. The
lack of Back-Hop is blemished by the usefulness of the Forward Stab. You may
want
to scroll up to Lance, as this section will cover what it didn't.

Should the carnal desire possess you to engage Daora with said weapon, you must
be
aware of many things. Like the Lance, the best you can hope for is a simple
Unsheathe Attack. Staggering is the opportunity of that allows you to unleash
Wyvern Fire without fear of reprisal. Fly Mode unveils the chance to attack that
dangling tail. Especially when firing Blaster (be at his left.) If Daora is
firing
Air Bullets, try to take advantage of the Extended Combo. And of course, during
the seconds between exiting Fly Mode, landing, we can snag the tail for the
potential severing blow.

Overall, the differences, while subtle, make me favor the Gunlance over the
Lance.
Bleak, I know. However the natural Back-Hop of the Lance matters little when
compared to the Forward stab of the Gunlance. It acts as an invaluable tool,
that
spools the thread of many victories. If you're iffy on the Lance, then the
Gunlance is a smooth compromise. Having respect for the Gunlance... is not the
same thing as believing in the Gunlance.

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o
 x------------x
 | SONIC BOW! |
 x------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 144
 | Element: Thunder 100
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: Power, Para, Paint, and Razor.
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv2: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv4: Scatter Lv3
 |
 | Path:
 | Sonic Bow
 |
 | Method:
 | Created from scratch, simply get two Electro Sac, ten Vespiod Shells, five
 | Hornetaur Wings, and two Killer Beatles.
 |
 | A decent weapon at a time where your choices have limits. The Sonic Bow is a
 | great Thunder Elemental bow that can last you quite sometime.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

The power of the Bow is not a well-kept secret. The nature of the Bow in this
scenario allows you to assume the role of the sniper, the solider, and the
survivalist. Each school of thought is applied whether you realize it or not.
And
every mode you phase into allows for a smooth, clear cut victory.

In general, the way you act like a sniper is the way you aim. Or at what. With
Rapid, you should have no problem launching a folly of arrows at Daora's skull.
Since you don't follow the rules of cornering, or following the Back-leap, your
greatest concern is when he turns to attack you. Be it Air Bullet, or a simple
Rush, the Bow makes targeting easy.

The part where you play the solider is when you try to wreck Daora's defense.
Case
and point, Daora Wind. Since lobbing those arrows requires a lot on the basics
of
propulsion, an object in motion tends to stay in motion, your hoping that Daora
Wind won't deflect this. The Bow is most effected by Daora Wind 'cause that's
exactly what it does. In order to counter this we usually Poison, Flash, and
ultimately shatter the horn that produces it. With our Bow we've hopefully
brought
Power and Para Coatings meaning stagger away. In this part, you act like the
smart
soldier.

The survivalist is the miscellaneous column. The way you act during playing the
sniper and the solider. I speak of your recommended clock-wise movements (as to
avoid Blaster.) Playing survivalist begins with the issue of timing, when to
avoid
attacks, the space open between and Daora, and of course when you attack. It's
very possible to ground Daora during Fly Mode, yet you wouldn't just start
shooting would you? No, you would pick the right time to unload that Charged
shot.
The nit-picky traits are what will separate you from the norm like the wheat
from
the chaff.

Of course, your ultimate decision is whether or not you decide to slice Daora's
Tail. The melee attack of the Bow is a minor step up from the Boomerang. 'Cause
unlike the kid on the playground with lice, this kid just picks his nose.
Ironically, the best time to pick at that snot-shaped tail is during Fly Mode.
Of
course you can score chances between the time to land and the the time to
recover.

Overall, the Bow acts in defense rather then offense. For the novice Hunter,
this
may be right up your alley. That is to say the Bow has it's own pitfalls, but
the
ease of use will have many settling. Rather then what they should be doing,
which
is making a rational justification. The Bow isn't a bad choice, but using it
shouldn't be made lightly.

 x----------------x
 | TAIL STRING +! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 168                Normal S: 9  9  12  Flame S : -  -  -
 | Reload: Normal                    Pierce S: 3  2  2   Water S : 3  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 4  2  2   Thnd S  : 3  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : -  -  -   Freeze S: 3  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : -  -  -   Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3  3  -   Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: -  -  -   Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : -  -  -   Demon S : 1  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -   Armor S : 1  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | The Jade Storm gave us Clusts and Crags along with a massive variety in
 | ammunition. The Tail String + unlocks extra power but at the cost of the
 | explosive ammunition we've coddled. The division between Pierce and Pellet
 | is pretty even, favoring Pellet a bit more.
 |
 | The three Blangonga Whiskers and three Blangonga pelts can be gotten from,
 | guess who, Blangonga. The four Giant Bone come from Bulldrome, or guess
 | again, Blangonga. The only other item is three Killer Beatles which can be
 | netted from Pokke Farm. This is something you can easily do in-between trips
 | of fighting Blangonga.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

 x----------------x
 | METEOR CANNON! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 216                Normal S: 6  6  9  Flame S : -  -  -
 | Reload: Fast                      Pierce S: 4  4  4  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: -  -  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  1  1  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: Two                        Clust S : -  -  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : -  -  -  Tranq S : -  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: -  -  -  Paint S : -  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  -  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  -  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | *Whistles* Forty Iron Ore, Twenty Machalite Ore, fifteen Dragonite Ore, and
 | one Fire Stone. All obtainable via Volcano Gathering Quest. You should cycle
 | that with Mining Points at Pokke Farm for maximum obtainably.
 |
 | Again with Meteor Cannon. Not exactly my top pick, but Crag is useful to
 | have.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

I always found the term "long ranged" ironic. In Monster Hunter you'll often
hear
a player talk about "ranged" weapons, never "long." Why is that? Why is it that
we
never speak of fights that occur from far-away? The truth of the matter is that
there is no such successful fight as a long-ranged one. The closest we'll ever
get
is firing at Shen Gaoren, but that comes much later in the guide.

The Light Bowgun, the Heavy Bowgun, and the Bow all fall under the "ranged"
category. The testament to this evenly spaced doctrine is the fight with Daora.
The sniper, the solider, and the survivalist come to motion in greater
quantities.
The sniper and solider you must be, become amplified. Allow me to break it down.

With the Bow, our arrows had a wider hit-zone, making targeting Daora's skull
child's play. With Shells, you're going to have a much tougher time. Adding the
variable times you'll need to aim for Daora's head then fire... can end with
you,
dead. Rush becomes the bane of your existence, and Air Bullet your golden boy.
Quick Roar is the game's way of telling you that you're too close. And goodbye.

To avoid a quick death, your objective boils down to how fast you can fire your
shot then get out of the way. The solider, the pragmatic part of any Bowgun user
will try whatever they might to disable Daora Wind. While the Bow suffers the
worst of Daora Wind, the Bowgun isn't entirely saved. Normal Bullets have the
potential of bouncing off. Not that I recommend using them anyway.

Your choice of ammunition relies on you. Can you aim without the R Trigger? Most
Shells rely on your ability to aim, then fire. This process can be taxing if
every
waking second counts. A millisecond longer can prompt Daora to railroad you.

Pellet, Crag, Clust. You can aim these without much trouble. The downfall here
is
that they come with much recoil. Your choice of Shells, in the end, should be
reflective of the skills you possess.

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ What armor should I wear? |
o============o--------------------------o

Garuga Armor is demanded for most Melee weapons. Earplug and Reckless Abandon +1
are valuable tools for combating Daora.

 x--------------------x
 | YIAN GARUGA ARMOR! |
 x=====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 180
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: N/A
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +1
 / Sharp Sword
 \ Earplug (Need 2+ Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Or...

 x--------------------x
 | YIAN GARUGA ARMOR! |
 x====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 90
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: N/A
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +1
 / Pierce S Lv1 Add
 \ Earplug (Need +2 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

Fighting this beast has been an exceptional experience that has forced me to
change the ways of my approach. I hope my recorded experience of him will
encourage you to look at Daora differently. Good luck Hunters!

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [7.5.6] Elder Quest --- |---
                    ---|       ~~~ Tigrex ~~~        |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                "We give up what we want when we want power."
                              ~Ian McShane, Kings

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ What is Tigrex? |
o============o----------------o

A diabolical demon, a rampaging ruffian, a beastly beast. A Tiggy. Tigrex is a
unique blend of animal and reptilian. The only other creature like him would be
Nagura Kuruga. You see, unlike other Wyverns, Tigrex thing is speed and
overwhelming power. Bet you haven't seen that before m'right? Beginner's loath
him, but veteran's love him.

Why is this? Tigrex is all about muscle. He's a beast, that can quite
literately,
tear you apart. There's no gimmicky attacks or exceptional weaknesses. Because
with him, it's all about the attack. This destructive "in-your-face" attitude is
the reason why so many Hunters recoil when thinking of him. He's not easy, far
from it. He's an expert that professes in combat and combat alone. A true
soldier.

No beast could ever prompt the show-offy, self-flagellated satisfaction that
players get when bypassing all his moves. Browse YouTube for a few minutes and
you'll find articles on Tigrex. People killing him with the Bow Melee attack,
people mastering the GS Charge with him, and so on. In fact, Tiggy is probably
one
of the most recorded Wyverns in-game. Only second to Silver Rathalos and Gold
Rathian.

Most effective attacks: Head (Cutting & Impact)
Most effective element: Thunder
Susceptible Status Ailments: Sleep (one hundred-eighty seconds of sleep ^_^)
Susceptible Bombs: Flash Bomb
Susceptible Traps: Stun Trap, Pitfall
Breakable Parts: Horn, Tail, Claws
Near Death When: Limping, fleeing to rest Area 3.

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

Alert Roar:
Like the Roar of Kushala Daora, Tiggy will emit a sharp, and powerful roar. So
powerful in fact, that is has the ability to knock you back. This is more or
less
all that Roar does. The Earplug part takes a back-seat, 'cause Tiggy positions
itself in the way Daora did.

Back-leap:
Same form as we've seen with Daora. Aren't you glad we covered him first? Often
chained with Sonic Roar.

Sonic Roar:
Sonic Roar is essentially a variation of Roar. This shares a bond with Quick
Roar,
being that the main difference between the two is getting blasted away. The
Sonic
Roar is avoidable, 'cause the animation has frames before unleashing.

Sonic Roar however, has a major weakness. When timed right, you can roll into
sound blast the moment Tigrex emits the roar. That way, you can avoid running
away
and even deal a margin of damage. You must master the timing in order to exploit
this.

You practice this by observing the move, and experimenting by rolling into the
Roar itself. Getting this wrong means taking in damage, not to mention becoming
vulnerable to his next attack, this is called chaining.

Three-Sixty Spin:
The Three-Sixty Spin is exactly that, a spin in a complete circle. Tigrex will
clamp the ground making a soft cry before spinning round. This works to counter
weapons lost in combos, or those with poor mobility. Overall, it's a god-send to
Bow and Bowgunners alike.

Taunt:
Returning from it's glory days comes the old fashion taunt. Moments where Tiggy
will snap his jowls about and can actually hurt if in proximity. These rare, but
indulgent moments should be taken with fervor. Lay down hell.

Bite:
A simple bite. I mention this because it's different from...

Double-bite:
Not so simple. Tigrex will throw it's body back before launching like forward
like
a jack-in-a-box. He'll gnash his teeth twice and cover a decent amount of
ground.
It's quick, painful, and chain-able to the point of unfair. Yet another reason
to
avoided being cornered.

Bum Rush:
Our friend Tiggy will commit the blasphemy of tackling you. He will begin by a
sharp cry then pedal his claws across the base of the terrain. Finally building
into a force strong enough to tug a greyhound bus. The first version of this is
when he puts his body into a single tackle and ends it with a bite.

The second version is where he'll turn around after performing the first tackle
aimed at, guess who? Chances are this is as far as Tigrex will go in non-Rage
Mode.

The third version is the same as the second, except by the third time you're
dangerously low on stamina. This is Bum Rush, to which I must overstate my
displeasure for this attack. As it can end many quests. A likely candidate
especially if Tigrex is in Rage Mode.

Forward-Leap:
To my curiosity, Tigrex will leap forward. I assumed at first that this was a
way
of closing the distance between him and I. To my surprise, Forward Leap is
actually aerial attack. Guess how I figured it out? The good news is that this
attack will effect you if you're under him. Otherwise terrible hit-zone.

Three Pronged Throw:
An exact duplicate of the move seen on Congalala. Instead of dung however ole
Tiggy will toss up some debris. Some concept though, down the mark.

Diagram #4 - Three Pronged Throw

=================
========V========
======/=|=\======
=====/==|==\=====
=== /===|===\====
===/====|====\===

Legend:
V = Monster
/|\ = Line of fire

This move is exceptional, as it's hit-zone is wide. This is mainly used to mow
down anyone who has strayed too far from Tiggy. He'll launch with his right
claw/foot (it's slightly longer then his left. We'll cover this later.)

Rage Mode:
Tigrex will start this off with a quick, and understandable, Sonic Roar. His
attacks will have increased speed and power. Meaning to the average Hunter, he
can
essentially OHKO you depending on your health and armor. Not only this, but as
his
death nears, he'll enter this mode more often. Like the temper tantrum of a
wounded ego.

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

Before we get to specific stratagem, let's discuss your movements. They should
consist of a counterclockwise motion. Stick to the right. Tigrex does not
possess
Tail Whip, so no need to worry about. Why the right? The answer is quite simple,
his right leg. I'm not talking about your right, but his. It can easily be
identified because the front-leg is sticking out ahead of the other. That is
your
demon leg. When Tigrex performs a Bum Rush, he'll mow down the path using this
leg
like a cannonball. Though it doesn't separate you from your torso, the health
loss
is grim. Hence, the counterclockwise motion.

I'd also like to note, the behavior of Tigrex during the start of your
encounter.
Despite his skill in fighting, our foe is kinda oblivious. In fact you're
allowed
to nip at his tail before he turns to face you. An opportunity that should not
be
wasted.

Tigrex armpits. You may be wondering how that fragmented sentence applies to
you.
What I speak of young padawan, is the gap that exposes the space between Tiggy's
armpits. When turning, our foe will obviously move his legs to meet you. If hit
by
these you'll be pushed down. When timed right however, you can literally walk
under Tigrex and emerge at his backside. It's useful to know.

In Area 8 of the Snowy Mountains, there is that wall of ice and rock. It is
possible to capture Tigrex during a Bum Rush. This will be possible for as long
his horns remain unbroken. Blocking weapons work best with this, however any
weapon will do so long as you dodge the incoming train...I mean Tigrex.

The Areas around the Snowy Mountains teemed with "compact" areas. These areas,
while easy to navigate, cause serious situations to unfold. Cornering comes to
mind. While hugging a wall is good for weapons like Lance and Gunlance, any
other
Hunter will want to stay as close to the middle as possible. Being cornered
allows
Tiggy to shoot off some chain-able attacks. I learned this the hard way while
tackling him in my Hunting Horn section.

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o

 x--------------x
 | THUNDERBANE! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 168
 | Element: Thunder
 | Sharpness: Green (Terrible Sharpness without Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger + -->
 |    Assassin's Dagger --> Thunderbane
 |
 | Method:
 | The four Rubbery Hide you need come from Gypceros (non-Purple), the three Lg
 | Monster Bone come from Blangonga, and the two Electro Sacs come from Khezu.
 | What does this make? A crappy weapon. Thunderbane is terrible SnS 'cause it
 | lacks decent sharpness. Which means you'll be sharpening periodically to
 | return it to the green. Skills like Sharp Sword and Sharp Skl Inc help, but
 | Sharpness +1 is key.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-------------------x
 | SANDMAN FINSWORD! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 182
 | Element: Sleep 230
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |            Bone Kris --> Bone Kris + -->
 | Chief Kris --> Weary Finsword --> Sandman Finsword
 |
 | Method:
 | Starting from Weary Finsword to Sandman Finsword we'll need a whopping seven
 | Plesioth Fins, two Cephalos Fins, ten Sleep Herbs (Old Lady), ten Sleepyfish
 | (Pokke Farm Fishing Pier), and five Dragonite Ore.
 |
 | Sandman Finsword is the sleeping SnS used so often on Wyverns that it's come
 | to the point of clich�. The very nature of this weapon is to put to sleep
 | Tigrex. Our foe has the longest duration of the Sleep status in-game.
 | Allowing you set-up some powerful bombs.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The Thunderbane infers the traditional route, damage over time. While The
Sandman
Finsword is weapon for Sleep-Bombing. Repeated several times already, Sleep-
Bombing is where you put a Wyvern to sleep, lay bombs down, and set them off
either by firing at them, or throwing something at them. The effect is still the
same. Sleep-Bombing is a method that can be applied to every weapon type so long
as you have a weapon with Sleep status.

To begin, the Sword and Shield allows the average Hunter to evenly scope his
prey
before striking. A weapon with such speed, that it can be matched by few others.
This speed enables us to avoid ole Tiggy.

Your pattern is obvious, counterclockwise while always taking the time to cut
Tigrex. Like most common monsters, his head is what we aim for. The hit-zone for
it is larger then Kushala's but smaller then the average slack-jawed Yian Kut
Ku.
The head is attack by the usual Unsheathe Attack, and/or Triangle + Circle. The
instant-roll can fix a lot of hurt that Three-Sixty hands out.

Three-Sixty is the SnS equivalent of kryptonite. Because our attacks happen from
close range, you'll encounter close calls. In those situations where escape is
unavoidable, I'd advise blocking. However, you have to promise me you'll pinch
yourself later. 'Cause for every move you block, a bit of your health is taken
off. Especially during Rage Mode.

The tragedy of turning is that his legs make it impossible to attack his sides.
As
his legs move, so should you. Otherwise, you're knocked down and exposed to
attack.

You're capable of one quick Unsheathe Attack in the moment between Tigrex ceases
Sonic Roar, and before his next attack. The most surprising avenue of assault,
at
least I've found, was that his tail was an easier target. Prone to the ground,
and
far from the usual damage. The most you have to fear back there is Three-Sixty,
turning, and occasionally Sonic Roar. In many of his attacks, his head is either
raised or aimed for your meaty body. Three Pronged Throw becomes as blessed as
holy grail. While not often chained after Back-leap, the times they aren't can
benefit you. By say, attacking while he is so busy attacking you.

Overall I must admit the accosting of my soul as Tigrex pummeled me like so many
Monks of Final Fantasy Tactics. Making common mistakes are always made when
facing
him. Don't let a few deaths deter your cause. The SnS is an excellent weapon for
combating our foe. The benefits of speed outweigh the cons of range. And when
introduced to a monster as new as Tigrex, an SnS can be your best friend.

 x-----------------x
 | PINK MARACAS +! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 224
 | Element: N/A
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |      Bone Scythe --> Bone Scythe + -->
 | Twin Kut-Ku --> Pink Maracas --> Pink Maracas +
 |
 | Method:
 | The simplistic combination of Kut-Ku, Congalala, and Blangonga parts make
 | gathering for this weapon more tedious then difficult. Good news about Pink
 | Maraca's is that with Sharpness +1 you can acquire Blue Sharpness.
 |
 | In general, I don't like Pink Maracas. They're ugly as hell, and make it
 | look like you're carrying fat drumsticks. For now, they're your best Dual
 | Swords, and unfortunately Pink Maracas + lead to the strongest Raw weapon of
 | Dual Swords, Evergreen.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Harder
 x---------------------------------x

Dual Sword users (it's 'cause of Drizzt Do'Urden m'right?) will worship the
Circle
button. It's quick for oncoming turning damage. Allow me to explain, just when
Tigrex is about to turn to face you, you can press the Circle button to catch
him
in a Roundhouse. Quick Roundhouses are the key for building up damage.
Exploiting
the windows of chance, without taking one yourself. Failing this creed will be a
surefire way to die.

Since you will be keeping to Tiggy's left, should you have the fortune to catch
him using Three Pronged Throw, you'll find a chance to execute a Roundhouse.
I've
found his left leg (your right side) quite vulnerable after our foe performs a
Three-Sixty. After a Double-Bite as well. These small niches will help you
clobber
him in the long run.

The only time I will ever recommend Demon Mode is when you've trapped Tigrex.
Double-Roundhouse does work, but it's dangerous to use. I have however, found it
a
useful tool when attempting to sever the Tail. Should he end Bum Rush early and
his back facing me, I'll take the opportunity to enter Demon Mode and Double-
Roundhouse.

Overall, I can't say I had an easy time with the Dual Swords. My skills weren't
perfect, and perfection is what Tigrex demands. The odds of avoiding damage with
this weapon is overwhelming. To escape without a scratch is something that a
hard-
core DS user could accomplish. At times you may be as limited as a single push
of
the Triangle button. Others, you can successfully accomplish a Demon Dance and
get
away. It's all about the manipulation of your enemy, and exposing the windows of
opportunity.

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x------------------x
 | RAVAGER BLADE +! |
 x------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 768
 | Element: N/A
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 |       Buster Sword --> Buster Sword + -->
 | Buster Blade --> Ravager Blade --> Ravager Blade +
 |
 | Method:
 | You need a total of twenty-one Iron Ore, five Disc Stone, sixteen Machalite
 | Ore, thirty Earth Crystals, and three Dragonite Ores. All of which comes
 | from Volcano Gathering Quests. Extremely easy, but tedious to accomplish.
 | Nonetheless the Ravager Blade + is a powerful weapon, and useful in later on
 | ranks.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

I find myself quite taken with the Greatsword. As in this scenario Tigrex habits
make for Charging a less taxing venture. I purchased good time exploiting the
moments of his turning. Between the heavy weakness to cutting, and the overall
power of the weapon itself, the Greatsword is his kryptonite.

In Tiggy's other charming aggressions, such as but not limited to, Three Pronged
Throw. It's great fun indeed to unleash an Unsheathe Attack then roll aside.
These
include Three-Sixty, where it's possible to get in at least a first level
Charge.
And depending on your skill with the Greatsword, it's possible to block Sonic
Roar
and attempt another Charge. And of course, the doting Taunt allowing you to
unleash a complete Charge without fear of reprisal.

Immersed with the already open windows of Tigrex attacks comes Traps and Flash
Bombs. I normally wouldn't mention them, but as you know Traps allow you to trap
a
monster in place. Ergo, allowing us a Charge on Tiggy. I might well get Area 8
out
of the way as well. That spot where the ice meets the wall you can use to trap
our
foe. While you may lose Sharpness, it's another opportunity to break out another
Charge.

My praise for the Greatsword comes bundled with a word of warning. Like many
Wyverns you meet from now on, a single mistake can lead to loss of health. Not
only this but exposure to their next attack. In situations, you'll find yourself
praying for that one attack to not happen, IE Bum Rush after Sonic Roar. It
happens though. These mistakes can send you reeling. The Greatsword having
terrible mobility can weigh you down and vulnerable to Tigrex. At those times,
blocking can only help you so much.

Overall, the Greatsword is a remarkable weapon with ability to send Tigrex to
the
hell from whence he came. Performing with this weapon is a real challenge with
real benefits. And if paper isn't enough to prove that, search for  naijiao's
videos via YouTube.

 x----------------x
 | EAGER CLEAVER! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 624
 | Element: Thunder 250
 | Sharpness: Green Sharpness (No Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Iron Katana --> Iron Katana "Grace" -->
 | Iron Katana "Gospel" --> Eager Cleaver
 |
 | Method:
 | Fifteen Iron Ore, twelve Machalite Ore, fifteen Earth Crystals. Not exactly
 | taxing requirements. If you've been following my advice, then you've
 | accumulated lots of Ores from Volcano - Gathering Quests. If not, then nows
 | the time to gather what you need.
 |
 | Copy&Pasta Magic!
 |
 | We find ourselves in need of the service of this wretched blade once more.
 | You'll find this familiar, as it is the exact weapon we used to fight
 | Basarios (if you've been following my guide up till this point.) Now you may
 | be wondering (for those transferring over from MHF2) why not Devil Slicer?
 | 'Cause Devil Slicer comes with an extra requirement in order to balance out.
 | Kirin Tail. Not acquirable till you start farming Kirin.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

You know between all the Unsheathe Attacks I found myself using one move above
all, R + X. The life-saving Evade attack can be your closest friend. It can be
that special buddy, who not only takes you to the ball-game every now and then,
but also saves your life.

The Longsword is like the Greatsword, except for the fact that you have no
defense. Without the ability to block, we're forced to dodge, dodge, dodge,
especially in Rage Mode. Your timing surrounding Tigrex has to be perfect. Take
the time to frame the situation, and respond appropriately. In other words, Stab
(circle) then roll.

Timing is something that can't be explain, as it is a learned skill. Which
hopefully you've been developing since your first encounter with Yian Kut-Ku. Do
yourself a favor and put this into practice now. Take the time to recognize the
speed of each of your attacks. And for this reason, attacks like Unsheathe
Attack
and Stab work a little better then Overhead Swing.

Three-Sixty Spin allows you to attack Tigrex's left fore-foot (your right, his
left) for a moment. I got off an Overhead Swing and a Back-Sweep. Depending on
your location, you can also cut his head in the middle of Three-Pronged Throw.
However one of your biggest concerns should be Rage Mode. Attempting to attack
Tigrex in Rage Mode is a big risk yet a necessary step. He has the same
vulnerabilities with shorter windows of opportunity.

Overall, the Longsword remains a difficult weapon to truly master. Beginner's
latch onto this type simply because it's easier to use. Not true, as this weapon
type requires better timing then any I've encountered. It requires strict
knowledge of Tigrex abilities and movements (which this guides helps with.) It
also requires actual, factual, genuine skill. A sense of timing that comes from
hours of practice, and breaks for meditation. The Longsword is not a weapon to
taken lightly...which technically it is....a lighter weapon... >.<

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x-----------------x
 | IRON STRIKER +! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 832
 | Element: N/A
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 |         War Hammer --> War Hammer +
 | War Mace --> Iron Striker --> Iron Striker +
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need five Dragonite Ore, eleven Malchalite Ore (covers the
 | requirements for Iron Striker) and a few base materials to forge this
 | weapon. Not to mention ever-so-useful. Iron Striker's Path leads to the
 | second strongest Hammer in-game, Juggernaut.
 |
 | Copy&Pasta Magic!
 |
 | Filler. Do I really need to go over it? Easy materials, great path, and
 | wholesome damage. Outclasses others of it's kind, at least at your rank.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The Hammer's ease, and mobility during Charging attracts Hunters. Especially if
Tigrex does something silly, like Forward-Leap, overshoots his landing and is
forced to turn around to face you. Boom! Just like that, you have a flinching
Tigrex.

The union between your Hammer and yourself is tested by how well you execute a
Hammer Charge, and evade. Opportunities like Three-Sixty Spin; aim for the head
the very moment he finishes his spin. That way you can nail him during his
recovery and hopefully avoid taking a hit yourself. If found an opportunity
during
Double-Bite by clinging to his side and waiting for the attack to finish up in
order to achieve a precise shot. You don't really need amazing aim though.

Bum Rush is, and has always been, a killer. Your task is to adapt, it's
something
we've all had a problem with. Should you feel up to it, you can sneak behind
Tiggy
after a Bum Rush, wait for a turn, and let him have it. You can trap him in Area
8, which gives you a good amount of time to either Charge or Triple Attack.
Which
reminds me, Triple Attack won't be used concerning Tigrex unless in Taunt, KOed,
or trapped.

Overall? The Hammer sends Tigrex's offensive into a spiral. The Hammer is not
without it's pitfalls, but the Hammer Charge is what sinks him. Unlike the other
cutting weapons like SnS, Dual Swords, and Longsword, the Hammer allows for a
quick, powerful release while still allowing you time to move away. This is a
top
choice for Hunters.

 x----------------x
 | SONIC GLASS +! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 728
 | Element: N/A
 | Sharpness: Blue (White with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: 10%
 | Slots: N/A
 | Notes: White, Red, Green
 | Path:
 |         Bone Club --> Cyclo-Hammer -->
 |       Skull Crusher --> Skullcrusher +
 |       --> Sonic Glass --> Sonic Glass +
 |
 | Method:
 | Obviously we start with Bone Club.
 | For Cyclo-Hammer you'll need three Brute Bone (Blango) and three Sm Monster
 | Bone. For Skullcrusher, you'll need two Med Monster Bone, eight Sharp Claws
 | (Conga, Hermituar), and Monster Fluid which can be carved from Vespoid and
 | Hornetaurs. Finally, we need to gather one Vespoid Abdomen, four Vespoid
 | Shells, and four Hornetaur Shell. If you skipped the Hornetaur armor
 | section, you should know you need to make Poison Smoke Bombs in order to
 | kill them without shattering their bodies. Finally comes Sonic Glass +,
 | which requires twenty Vespoid and Hornetaur Wings. The three Hercudrome can
 | be found in the Volcano, Area 2.
 |
 | Yet another Copy&Pasta! Low and Behold, I have discovered the Hunting Horn
 | of mightiness! With this, and several battery lawsuits pending, I shall
 | smite my enemies!
 |
 |  Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Recover Speed[Small]) -- Green --> Green --> Yellow (1 Min.)
 | (Heal +20 & Antidote ) -- White --> Green
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

A weapon with enough sloth to inconvenience everyone. To convince us that it's
possessed the spirit of an angry boulder. If you are the average Hunter, you
will
find little appeal with this weapon. Super Pound, though powerful, lacks the
grace
of it's Hammering brethren. The ultimate slap to the face is unleashing a Super
Pound, yet dodging requires you to roll twice in order to stave off damage. If
we
cannot attack the head without getting hit, then how are we to ever deal damage?
I
shake my fist at this weapon.

We have the same vulnerabilities with Tigrex as we do with the Hammer. Three-
Sixty
Spin should aim for the leg or head, Three-Pronged Throw the head, and of course
the ever advantageous turning. I have to note that turning damage has to be
applied with care as it can easily end with our foe hitting you.

In my quest for "dealing-as-much-damage-without-getting-the-****-kicked-out-of-
me" I attempted to hold Tigrex off with mere Overhead Swings (Triangle.) It's a
bit quicker then Super Pound, but not by much. To survive you have to correctly
guess and dodge Tigrex. With Overhead Swing, you can deal a bit of damage in-
between.

Overall? It's a solid weapon but left me wanting speedier swings. Mobility
wasn't
a problem after White --> White, but after wearing off reactivating it can be a
pain. Can't say this is a weapon I'd first pick up when going after Tiggy.
Operating a Hunting Horn around Tigrex will always be a tricky challenge.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

 x------------------x
 | INCESSANT RAVEN! |
 x------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 368
 | Element: Poison 80
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1!)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |    Long Horn --> Longhorn + -->
 | Barbaroi Tusk --> Incessant Raven
 |
 | Method:
 | You could follow the path or make it on the spot. The difference here is the
 | cost and quality of the materials needed. Can you farm three Garuga Tails?
 | If the answer is yes, then forge from scratch. If you can only wrangle one,
 | and you have a Barbarioi Tusk on standby, that works too.
 |
 | This may or may not be the last time we use Incessant Raven. Why? New rank
 | means new equipment. Till then, the Incessant Raven is a sure bet. It's
 | kinda like that annoying younger kid in your neighborhood. That one that
 | always follows you thinking your cool. Sure your related, but that doesn't
 | mean you can always hang out with him. Nope, it's time he found his own
 | friends, and you yours. I'm sure he'll understand why you tied him to the
 | tree now... -_-;;
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

 x------------x
 | HELLSTING! |
 x------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 322
 | Element: Ice 250
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: 10%
 | Slots: One
 | Shells: Spread Lv.1
 | Path:
 | Bone Gunlance --> Great Bone Gunlance -->
 |    Wyvern Bone Gunlance --> Hellsting
 |
 | Method:
 | The main materials here are Blango and Blangonga parts. I'd rather Forge
 | then go through the Path. Blangonga Fangs (2x) aren't impossible to acquire,
 | and twenty Blango Pelt, two Giant Bone, and ten Sharp Claws are quite common
 | on enemies. You may need to topple a few Bulldrome for Giant Bone, but
 | that's nothing compared to later material gathering.
 |
 | After unlocking the next rank, this Gunlance usefulness only strengthens.
 | Heck, Tigrex Fangs are a necessary material for Hellsting +. With things as
 | they stand, you'll be budding with the Hellsting for awhile.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

There are two ways of combating Tigrex. The defensive way, or the offensive way.
The offensive way is wearing a full set of Garuga armor, along with Power Seeds
and Power Juice to offset the stamina loss. This way, your Lance gets a huge
boost
in power. Combined with the proper skill, you can be become unstoppable. The
defensive way is done by wearing a full set of Hermituar armor giving you Guard
+1
and decent defense. You can still bring the Power Seed and Power Juice, but with
Guard +1 the Juice isn't entirely necessary.

Why go through the trouble? Tigrex, being an all-powerful tyrant of the land,
can
kill stamina. Without Guard +1 or Power Juice you'll be like a kitten hanging on
the side of a couch, unable to hold on. So why not give that kitty extra sharp
claws? Or in this case, ol'Guardo plus uno. You cannot compromise between Guard
+1
on Garuga armor as it has only six open slots. If math isn't your thing, it
means
you need four extra slots to make it work.

Our strategy is to put Guard +1 to use. We do this by, you guessed it, Turtling.
While it may seem like sunshine, let me assure Tiggy's attacks are very willing
to
kill stamina. Attacks that hit twice, Double-Bite and depending on how close you
are Three-Sixty Spin are stamina killers. Should you come equipped with Guard +1
the damage is cushioned. Ultimately allowing you get a few pokes.

You are armed with the standard options. Attacking between the recovery of
Three-
Sixty Spin, and Turtling after Bite or Double Bite. Favoring his left side is
required to avoid severe damage if you screw up. This is also a good preventer
of
Three-Pronged Throw collision; not to mention turning damage can be wracked from
poking the left foot. And then, there was Bum Rush. My god, no other Hunter can
say they're glad when Tigrex engages this. The moment he collides with your
shield, you can turn around and poke him as he runs past. While it may not be
much, it certainly adds up.

Your weapon has one distinct advantage over all others in Tigrex case. Guarding.
Remember Wall-Guarding? In case you don't, here is a quick rundown.

Diagram #9 - Wall-Guarding

=======V=======
===============
=======^=======
===|-------|===
===============

Legend:
V = Enemy and it's direction.
^ = You and your direction.
|---| = The wall

In Area 8, we have a wall which traps Tigrex. Wall-Guarding, especially with
Guard
+1, is harmless to you and lethal to him. It's yet another advantage your weapon
type can lord over in tact. Combine that with the trapping, laying down a few
bombs, and setting them off with Wyvern Fire (Gunlance only obviously) and your
pretty much set.

Overall? The Gunlance is more suited for Tiggy then the Lance. The Turtling
strategy boasts of defense, and the mobility of the Lance serves little purpose.
And this is coming from a softly on Lances. Though, Lances are generally
stronger
(attack-wise) and with the proper attack increase can induce stagger more often.
The decision rests with you.

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o

 x------------x
 | SONIC BOW! |
 x------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 144
 | Element: Thunder 100
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: Power, Para, Paint, and Razor.
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv2: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv4: Scatter Lv3
 |
 | Path:
 | Sonic Bow
 |
 | Method:
 | Created from scratch, simply get two Electro Sac, ten Vespiod Shells, five
 | Hornetaur Wings, and two Killer Beatles.
 |
 | Patting on the back aside, this is a gimme. Tigrex, being weakest to Thunder
 | Element allows Sonic Bow to dominate. That's IF you manage to stay alive.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Harder
 x---------------------------------x

 x----------------x
 | TAIL STRING +! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 168                Normal S: 9  9  12  Flame S : -  -  -
 | Reload: Normal                    Pierce S: 3  2  2   Water S : 3  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 4  2  2   Thnd S  : 3  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : -  -  -   Freeze S: 3  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : -  -  -   Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3  3  -   Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: -  -  -   Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : -  -  -   Demon S : 1  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -   Armor S : 1  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | The Jade Storm gave us Clusts and Crags along with a massive variety in
 | ammunition. The Tail String + unlocks extra power but at the cost of the
 | explosive ammunition we've coddled. The division between Pierce and Pellet
 | is pretty even, favoring Pellet a bit more.
 |
 | The three Blangonga Whiskers and three Blangonga pelts can be gotten from,
 | guess who, Blangonga. The four Giant Bone come from Bulldrome, or guess
 | again, Blangonga. The only other item is three Killer Beatles which can be
 | netted from Pokke Farm. This is something you can easily do in-between trips
 | of fighting Blangonga.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Harder
 x---------------------------------x

 x----------------x
 | METEOR CANNON! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 216                Normal S: 6  6  9  Flame S : -  -  -
 | Reload: Fast                      Pierce S: 4  4  4  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: -  -  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : 1  1  1  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: Two                        Clust S : -  -  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : -  -  -  Tranq S : -  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: -  -  -  Paint S : -  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  -  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  -  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | *Whistles* Forty Iron Ore, Twenty Machalite Ore, fifteen Dragonite Ore, and
 | one Fire Stone. All obtainable via Volcano Gathering Quest. You should cycle
 | that with Mining Points at Pokke Farm for maximum obtainably.
 |
 | Again with Meteor Cannon. Not exactly my top pick, but Crag is useful to
 | have.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

There are two things you need to know before setting out with any ranged weapon
type. The first is since you're wearing Gunner armor, low defense means
certainty
of death. Improving your armor's defense through upgrade helps, but if you're
caught in a chain...

Armor-wise, you can stick with Hornet, or try your hand at the Garuga Gunner
version. Both come with Earing Protection, but Hornet gives High Grade while
Garuga the lesser. However the purple armor does come with Reckless Abandon
giving
extra affinity. Something you may need, as Bow and Bowguns aren't exactly
packing
power at this time of the game. While it does give PierceSUp, it remains useless
to Sonic Bow users as we only possess Rapid Charges.

Strategy is straightforward. Move in a counterclockwise motion as we've done
with
the other weapons. Stamina consumption remains a minor annoyance, bring Power
Juice if you'd like. Fighting against Tigrex is a game of space. Being too far
from your foe will force him to counter. At the same time, being too close will
have obvious consequences. Your task as a Gunner is to find the appropriate
space
between you and your foe. You may notice this if you've ever fought with a Bow
before. I repeat this now because there are many who have not.

Employ the same opportunities you would when using weapons of closer range. To
avoid sounding like a broken record, just read the sections. Battle with Tigrex
should always consist of avoiding his front. There will be times where you'll
have
to sheathe your Bow or Bowgun and dive aside. Which once again questions the
necessity of carrying them.

I prefer the Heavy Bowgun over the Light in this case. While the shield
attachment
can barely keep you alive, it does prevent further damage. It can be a lifesaver
and a way of preventing Sonic Roar. Combined with the right shells you're
transformed into a formidable opponent.

Overall? The set-up taxes Hunters. With low defense, and questionable power the
Ranged family are unable to endure Tigrex. This class of weaponry is not for
beginners, but for the more skilled. And with skill it's possible to derail his
onslaught. Until you reach that plateau, may I recommend another weapon?

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ What armor should I wear? |
o============o--------------------------o

I'd have to recommend the standard. For Blademaster's we have...

 x--------------------x
 | YIAN GARUGA ARMOR! |
 x=====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 180
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: N/A
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +1
 / Sharp Sword
 \ Earplug (Need 2+ Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

For Lancers/Gunlancers we have...

 x------------------x
 | HERMITUAR ARMOR! |
 x==================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 160
 \ Total Slots: Nine
 / Elemental Strength: Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Thunder, Fire
 / Skills:
 \ Guard (Needs 3+ Gems)
 / Defense +20
 \
 / Armor Rating: Useful-Lance/Gunlance
 x================----------------x

And for the cheery Gunners...

 x---------------x
 | HORNET ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 55
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Water, Dragon
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Ice, Thunder
 / Skills:
 \ High Grade Earplug
 / Dragon Resistance +5
 \ Gathering +1 (Need +4 Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Situational
 x================----------------x

It depends on your taste. The Garuga Armor suits the offensive nature of
Blademaster's which all concentrate on the quicker kill. The Hermituar Armor is
solely for your stamina protection against Tiggy. And of course, the Hornet
Armor
prevents you from being charged by Roar. Guaranteed lifesaver.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

I never thought I'd get to this section. Particularly because Tigrex is a
powerful
creature. The way it crashes it's path in a machine-like way. The constant
terror
of Bum Rush, and the overwhelming arms that threaten our very existence on his
whim. Without a doubt, Tigrex tests the fortitude of Hunters old and new alike.

                       ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                    ---| --- [7.5.7] Elder Quest --- |---
                    ---|    ~~~ Another Review ~~~   |---
                       v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

We have reached the end of the road. Technically, the end of Elder ****. What
does
this mean to you, the Hunter? Well, a few things. With new rank comes new
monsters, and the opportunity to unlock more weapons and armor. There are
several
noteworthy things about this next step.

                              x----------------x
                              | New Materials! |
                              o================o

Do you smell that? If you're me, writing at this very moment, you're smelling
dog
farts. If not, you're thinking about NEW Materials!

                       x---------x
                       | METHOD! |
                       x=========x---------------------------x
                       | Quest Type: Check the Ancient Tower \
                       | Map: Tower                          /
                       | Level: Elder *****                  \
                       | Item: Thunderbug Juice, Thunderbug, /
                       |       Monster Bone +                \
                       | Requirements: Unlock Elder *****    /
                       x==============-----------------------x

Ah, the candied wonder that has spurned many-a-topic. Don't believe me? Check
the
Monster Hunter Freedom 2 board on GameFAQs and search for "Thunderbug Juice"
topics. At this moment, there are eleven pages chock-full questions surrounding
this item. Believe it or not, it's not that hard to find. In Area 3 of the Tower
there are flashing swarms of bugs, Great Thunderbugs. Killing them will make
them
drop the Juice. It's that simple.

What can Thunderbug Juice be used for? Why is it so important?

#1. Devil Slicer

 x---------------x
 | DEVIL SLICER! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 720
 | Element: Thunder 450
 | Sharpness: Green Sharpness (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |      Iron Katana --> Iron Katana "Grace" -->
 | Iron Katana "Gospel" --> Eager Cleaver --> Devil Slicer
 |
 | Method:
 | Of the god-fearing, sky-bleeding, sonavaguns who ever trampled this realm,
 | the Devil Slicer is the tool of the lazy. It is the crutch that binds the
 | cheap the slovenly to their earthen and unskilled practices.
 |
 | However Devil Slicer is a decent Thunder Elemental Longsword, so you may as
 | well pick one up, just long as you keep filling your inventory with other
 | weapon types. And if you happen to show some skill with the Longsword, this
 | can be a comforting ally.
 |
 | Lucky, lucky, the developers put an extra requirement upon Devil Slicer.
 | Which means those who've been playing Unite since the beginning will not be
 | able to forge the Devil Slicer until you've acquired two Kirin Thunder Tail.
 | To which you will learn later, Kirin is a Elder ***** exclusive monster.
 |
 | You will also need five Dragonite Ore, twenty Machalite, and of course the
 | four Thunderbug Juice that made this section what it is.
 x---------------------------------x

#2. Sonic Bow II

 x---------------x
 | SONIC BOW II! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 180
 | Element: Thunder 120
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Coatings: Power, Para, Paint, and Razor.
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv2: Scatter Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Rapid Lv3
 | Charge Lv4: Scatter Lv3
 |
 | Path:
 | Sonic Bow I --> Sonic Bow II
 |
 | Method:
 | Our Thunder Elemental Bow gets an upgrade! Woot! We'll need four Thunderbug
 | Juice, four Alluring Hide (Red Khezu), and two Hornetaurs Heads. The reason
 | this ranks number two is that our Bow armory in general is lacking. The
 | Sonic Bow II gives our Bows a little boost.
 x---------------------------------x

#3. Thunderspear

 x---------------x
 | THUNDERSPEAR! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 322
 | Element: Thunder 300
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1!)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Iron Lance --> Iron Lance + --> Bone Javelin
 | Spiked Spear --> Paralyzer --> Thunderspear
 |
 | Method:
 | I'd prefer to forge this outright. All you need three Kirin Horn, eight
 | Kirin Hide, fifteen Rubbery Hides, and sixteen Thunderbugs. It beats the
 | eighteen you'd have to gather through forging through the path.
 x---------------------------------x

I'd like the split the section, as Monster Bone + requires a section of it's
own.
Yes. I'm being quite theatrical.

#1. Imperial Gunlance

 x--------------------x
 | IMPERIAL GUNLANCE! |
 x--------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 391
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: Two
 | Path:
 |          Iron Gunlance --> Iron Gunlance +
 | Steel Gunlance --> Special Ops Gunlance --> Imperial Gunlance
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need thirty Machalite Ore total, eight Earth Crystals, ten Disk
 | Stones, five Gunpowder (Old Lady), three Flame Sac (Capture Yian Kut-Ku),
 | two Lightcrystal (Break Gypceros Headpiece), nine Fire Stone (Volcano
 | Gathering), five Dragonite Ore, and of course three Monster Bone +.
 |
 | If you've been keeping up the mining in Pokke Farm, you should have a decent
 | amount to forge the Imperial Gunlance. The Machalite Ore, Dragonite Ore,
 | Fire Stone, and excess Earth Crystals or Disk Stones you may need all come
 | from the Volcano Gathering Quest.
 |
 | The Fire Sac comes from capturing Yian Kut-Ku. It's important that you
 | capture, not kill him. There's always a chance you already scored the Fire
 | Sacs you needed when you took on Yian Kut-Ku the ten times you needed in
 | order to unlock Yian Garuga. If that is the case then move onto Gypceros and
 | the Lightcrystals. If you want to double your chances of scoring one, you
 | could send Trenya to the Swamp for 300 Points. Even mine areas of the Swamp
 | yourself if you feel lucky. Chances are, you picked this up in Pokke Farm
 | already.
 |
 | And of course, the measly Monster Bone + from the Check the Tower Quest.
 | Kinda seems like a small effort now doesn't it? Truthfully, the Imperial
 | Gunlance is tedious to forge but oh-so worth it. It has the strongest Raw
 | Attack in Elder Rank and eventually becomes one of the best Dragon Element
 | Gunlances in the game. Acquiring the weapon is pretty much a requirement.
 x---------------------------------x

#2. Blango Fur Bow IV

 x--------------------x
 | BLANGO FUR BOW IV! |
 x--------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 180
 | Element: Ice 120
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: Two
 | Coatings: Everything but Razor
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Rapid Lv2
 | Charge Lv2: Pierce Lv2
 | Charge Lv3: Rapid Lv3
 | Charge Lv4: Scatter Lv4
 |
 | Path:
 | Blango Fur Bow I --> Blango Fur Bow II -->
 | Blango Fur Bow III --> Blango Fur Bow IV
 |
 | Method:
 | Acquired through a series of Giaprey, Blango, and Blangonga parts. If you've
 | taken the opportunity defeat Daora, you should have no problem meeting the
 | four Daora Dragon Scales to meet the requirements for number IV. You'll need
 | only two Monster Bone + in order to forge this weapon.
 |
 | Ice Elemental can do you good in the long run. This path runs to Abominable
 | Bow II, while being a powerful Ice Bow, it's eventually beaten out by Daora
 | Ippos. Ippos is a long time away though, so Blango Fur Bow can do for now.
 x---------------------------------x

#3. Ogre Tusk

 x------------x
 | OGRE TUSK! |
 x------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 414
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Longhorn --> Longhorn + --> Long Tusk
 |     Barbaroi Tusk --> Ogre Tusk
 |
 | Method:
 | You've been down this path with Incessant Raven. Now, you're just making a
 | detour to Ogre Tusk, a powerful Raw weapon. Ogre Tusk's path is out-gunned
 | by Raging Tempest, but because of the Affinity, it's recommended you use
 | Ogre Tusk for the time. Five Monster Bone + are required to forge this
 | weapon along with twenty Ioprey Hide and two Mega Demondrugs.
 x---------------------------------x

Those are just a few of the weapons you can uncover.

"But Darksun, I don't plan on using that weapon."

Listen punk. You are always need a versatile of arsenal. I've told you this from
the beginning. I just...I just don't understand why I have to repeat this so
much...*sniff* *sniff*

"But Darksun, this is too much of a hassle."

...And getting thrashed by a monster isn't? How about using the same weapon type
over and over, hmm? If finding the proper materials is too much of a hassle now,
I
shudder to think how you'll do in later ranks. This is merely practice my
friend.
Practice.

                      ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                   ---| --- [7.6] Elder Quest --- |---
                   ---|    ~~~ Elder ***** ~~~    |---
                      v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

The time has come to move on. Upon us, we've unlocked a new array of weaponry
and
armor sets. Take a gander at section "[4.3]" on your best options. I suggest you
take the time gather the equipment listed in the review above you as well.
Chances
all, you'll need as much aide as you can muster.

                      x--------------------x
                      | #1 Absolute Power! |
                      x--------------------x--------------x
                      | Mandatory: No                     /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest               \
                      | Reward: 4500z                     /
                      | Contract Fee: 750z                \
                      | Location: Snowy Mountains (Night) /
                      | Details: Hunt Tigrex              \
                      x-----------------------------------x

Should you desire a rematch with Tigrex, Absolute Power is present. There is a
sincere difference in terrain in the other quest "The Tigrex's Roar." As you
fight
in the desert in the other one. The map is quite spacious allowing the
Greatsword
to thrive. It all depends on your strategy.

                      x-------------------------x
                      | #2 The Legendary Kirin! |
                      x-------------------------x---------x
                      | Mandatory: No                     /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest               \
                      | Reward: 4500z                     /
                      | Contract Fee: 750z                \
                      | Location: Snowy Mountains (Night) /
                      | Details: Slay Kirin               \
                      x-----------------------------------x

Oh joy. A unicorn with a thunder fetish. See "[7.6.1]" for details.

                      x---------------------------x
                      | #3 Two Roars in the Snow! |
                      x---------------------------x-------x
                      | Mandatory: No                     /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest               \
                      | Reward: 5100z                     /
                      | Contract Fee: 850z                \
                      | Location: Snowy Mountains (Night) /
                      | Details: Hunt two Blangonga       \
                      x-----------------------------------x

Is this your first double-hunt quest? No? Still... some good news, bad news,
more
bad news. The bad news is that you will hunting two monsters in this quest. Do
not
make the mistake of believing you need to hunt both at the same time. Terms of
battle require always a one-on-one match. You will scarce find a situation that
demands otherwise.

More bad news, you will find both Blangonga mainly in Areas 6, 7, and 8. They
will
intersect, I kid you not. The beast of the matter is luring one away from the
other. To accomplish this you must... you must wait. I know, terrible thing. You
must paint both monsters and then attack whichever one is left behind.

Rules of engagement are rather tricky. You should always pursue one, and only
one
monster until that monster is dead. This increases the likelihood of victory and
eliminates the possibility of an attack by the other. Never fool yourself into a
situation that tags you with both monsters at once. For it is a skirmish you
cannot win.

Oh, the good news? The monster's HP is split between the two. Meaning each
monster
has less HP then a single one of it's kind. It's common in dual monster hunts.
This translates into more carves, and more opportunity for rare materials.
Enjoy.

                      x----------------------x
                      | #4 The Poison Siege! |
                      x----------------------x------------------x
                      | Mandatory: Yes                          /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest                     \
                      | Reward: 3600z                           /
                      | Contract Fee: 600z                      \
                      | Location: Jungle (Night)                /
                      | Details: Hunt Gypceros, Purple Gypceros \
                      x-----------------------------------------x

Another dual-hunting quest. Should you need Gypceros parts, this is it.

                      x-----------------------x
                      | #5 The Tigrex's Roar! |
                      x------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No          /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest    \
                      | Reward: 4500z          /
                      | Contract Fee: 750z     \
                      | Location: Desert (Day) /
                      | Details: Hunt Tigrex   \
                      x------------------------x

Dessert. Desert. Dessert. Desert. I can't decide which one this is. Depending on
your level of skill, you may find the open area a godsend. Or all the same. All
the same, the rewards of this quest, for it's effort, is nothing short of yummy.

                      x-------------------------x
                      | #6 The Runaway Diablos! |
                      x-------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: Yes         /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest    \
                      | Reward: 4200z          /
                      | Contract Fee: 700z     \
                      | Location: Desert (Day) /
                      | Details: Hunt Diablos  \
                      x------------------------x

Diablos is exactly like Monoblos in many aspects. Keen observance is still
needed
to observe these differences. Follow the strategy in section "[7.5.2]" and all
will be well.

                      x---------------------------x
                      | #7 The Fierce Black Horn! |
                      x---------------------------x--x
                      | Mandatory: No                /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest          \
                      | Reward: 4800z                /
                      | Contract Fee: 800z           \
                      | Location: Desert (Night)     /
                      | Details: Hunt Black Diablos  \
                      x------------------------------x

The Black Diablos is a variation of speed and power. You'll notice a quicker
step
in each of it's assaults. Not to mention the meddling Cephalos, who need to be
exterminated on sight. Still, "[7.5.2]" is your base, just be aware of the
timing
differences.

                      x--------------------------x
                      | #8 Ultimate Crab Dinner! |
                      x--------------------------x----------x
                      | Mandatory: Yes                      /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest                 \
                      | Reward: 3600z                       /
                      | Contract Fee: 600z                  \
                      | Location: Desert (Night)            /
                      | Details: Hunt two Daimyo Hermituars \
                      x-------------------------------------x

This is good on two-fold. One, this is one of the best quests for grabbing
Monoblos Hearts. Seeing as though you are hunting two Hermituars, the chance of
receiving those hearts double. Giving you excellent opportunity to gem the
Ceanataur Armor. A set, if Gemmed, will last you the rest of the Elder Quests
and
beyond.

                      x-----------------------------x
                      | #9 Black Rock in the Swamp! |
                      x-----------------------------x---x
                      | Mandatory: No                   /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest             \
                      | Reward: 4800z                   /
                      | Contract Fee: 800z              \
                      | Location: Swamp (Night)         /
                      | Details: Hunt Black Gravios     \
                      x---------------------------------x

...Gravios. It has come at last. No worries, head to section "[7.6.2]" for
details.

                      x-------------------------------x
                      | #10 Seeking the Strange Mask! |
                      x-------------------------------x-x
                      | Mandatory: No                   /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest             \
                      | Reward: 3000z                   /
                      | Contract Fee: 500z              \
                      | Location: Forest & Hills (Day)  /
                      | Details: Slay five Shakalakas   \
                      x---------------------------------x

These savage creatures are found under highlight mushrooms across the Forest &
Hills Area. You'll be hounded by a Blue Yian Kut-Ku occasionally, and if you
wish
can kill it for fun. The deed is hardly necessary but making Shakalaka hunting
all
the easier.

                      x----------------------------x
                      | #11 Terror of the Gravios! |
                      x----------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: Yes            /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest       \
                      | Reward: 4200z             /
                      | Contract Fee: 700z        \
                      | Location: Volcano (Day)   /
                      | Details: Hunt Gravios     \
                      x---------------------------x

The variable difference between the gray and the black Gravios is the usage of
Gravios Beam. He's a spammer, a killer, and a fierce opponent. Section "[7.6.2]"
shall be your aegis.

                      x------------------------------x
                      | #12 Check the Ancient Tower! |
                      x---------------------------x--x
                      | Mandatory: No             /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest       \
                      | Reward: 3000z             /
                      | Contract Fee: 500z        \
                      | Location: Tower           /
                      | Details: Slay ten Remobra \
                      x---------------------------x
A treasure trove of materials await you with this quest. Monster Bone + from the
rewards, Thunderbug Juice from Thunderbugs, and various Remobra parts. Hi-ho!

                      x-------------------------------x
                      | #13 Overseer of the Ancients  |
                      |             Or...             |
                      | The Empress Blazing Throne!   |
                      x-------------------------x-----x
                      | Mandatory: No           /
                      | Type: Slaying Quest     \
                      | Reward: 5400z           /
                      | Contract Fee: 900z      \
                      | Location: Tower/Volcano /
                      | Details: Slay Lunastra  \
                      x-------------------------x

Those ruby flames licking your legs, those are of the queen of fire, Lunastra.
See
"[7.6.3]" for details.

                      x------------------------------x
                      | #14 The Elder Dragon of Mist |
                      |             Or...            |
                      |    Towards the Silence!      |
                      x------------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No                 \
                      | Type: Slaying Quest            \
                      | Reward: 5400z                  /
                      | Contract Fee: 900z             \
                      | Location: Forest & Hills/Swamp /
                      | Details: Slay Chameleos        \
                      x--------------------------------x

That which cloaks itself in plain sight. See "[7.6.4]" for details.

                      x--------------------------x
                      | #15 Festival of Thunder! |
                      x--------------------------x
                      | Mandatory: No            /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest      \
                      | Reward: 3600z            /
                      | Contract Fee: 600z       \
                      | Location: Swamp (Night)  /
                      | Details: Hunt mini Khezu \
                      x--------------------------x

The "mini" monsters are a particular breed that are minuscule compared to their
larger breeds. Their size determines the terms of battle. It's harder to aim for
a
specific body part and bouncing becomes a certainty. I usually take Khezu with a
Hammer, that way I don't have to worry. Still, the choice is yours. Good luck.

*Dengeki Ticket is your reward for completing this quest.
*Is it unknown whether or not this quest is a Japanese exclusive.

                      x---------------------x
                      | #16 The Pink Horde! |
                      x---------------------x-------x
                      | Mandatory: No               /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest         \
                      | Reward: 4200z               /
                      | Contract Fee: 700z          \
                      | Location: Swamp (Day)       /
                      | Details: Hunt two Congalala \
                      x-----------------------------x

Follow the rules of dual hunts and you should come out swimmingly.

                      x--------------------------x
                      | (U) A Troublesome Pair ! |
                      x--------------------------x-------x
                      | Mandatory: Urgent                /
                      | Type: Hunting Quest              \
                      | Reward: 8400z                    /
                      | Contract Fee: 1400z              \
                      | Location: Forest & Hills (Day)   /
                      | Details: Hunt Rathalos & Rathian \
                      x----------------------------------x

If you've never chanced the low rank Guild quests, then this is your first time
facing down a Rathalos. Same for Rathian. They are called the King and Queen of
Wyverns for a reason, and soon you shall find out. Sections "[7.6.5]" and
"[7.6.6]" for details concerning each. God, luck, or skill be with you.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [7.6.1] Elder Quest --- |---
                     ---|        ~~~ Kirin ~~~        |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                          "He knows when you're happy
                       He knows when you're comfortable
                        He knows when you're confident
                And he 'always' knows when you have carrots."
                                ~Author Unknown

o==========o-----------------o
| Question  \ What is Kirin? |
o============o---------------o

Upon first being asked this, I would tell you that he is a horse. And on his
horse
is mounted a horn, and when glowing blue it can kill. Straight from Chinese
mythology emerges Kirin. The words "Thunder Unicorn" best describe the form of
this beast. It prances across the battlefield with grace unlike the Wyverns. And
attacks with such ferocity that would humble even the strongest.

Aside from the miniature Wyverns, Kirin is perhaps the slenderest of beasts. A
fact that will annoy you during the hunt. In addition, he is blessed with
agility,
speed, and can almost never be caught in one place. Battling the likes our foe
will take an equal amount of tact.

Most effective attacks: Head, Horn (Both)
Most effective element: Fire/Water
Susceptible Status Ailments: Poison does pathetic damage, immunity to stun,
average susceptibility to sleep, immunity to KO.
Susceptible Bombs: N/A
Susceptible Traps: N/A
Breakable Parts: N/A
Near Death When: Flees area.

Yeah, not much to tell about Kirin. Players take advantage of his average sleep
tolerance and blow him to bits with Large Barrel Bombs.

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

Kirin's attacks deal with a variation of lightening strikes. Though our foe may
give off the appearance of having the same tell for every attack it's just not
true. Memorizing them takes an extra deal of care, with this guide though you
shouldn't have too much to worry about.

    x-----------------------x                      x-------------------x
    | Full Moon Lightening! | <--- Same Frames --> | Aimed Lightening! |
    o=======================o                      o===================o

I've yet to see contrasting frames between the attacks Full Moon Lightening and
Aimed Lightening. Before he attacks Kirin's horn glows blue, it will reel back
standing on it's hind hooves then land followed shortly by the strikes.

Full Moon Lightening:
A common attack, especially in Rage Mode, is to call forth Lightening that
strikes
in a circular pattern.  Being surrounded by lightening doesn't automatically
mean
he's invincible during this attack. There are niches in his wall that allow you
to
score a hit. However you must analyze the lightening strikes themselves to a
fault.

Diagram #15 - Full Moon Lightening

===============
=====5=1=6=====
=====2`X`3=====
=====7=4=8=====
===============

Or...

===============
=====5=1=6=====
=====2`X`3=====
=====7=4=======
===============

Legend:
X - Kirin
1 - First strike located at the front.
2 - Second strike located at his right.
3 - Third strike located at his left.
4 - Fourth strike located at his back.
5 - Fifth strike located diagonal upper-left from him.
6 - Sixth strike located diagonal upper-right from him.
7 - Seventh strike located diagonal lower-left from him.
8 - Eighth strike located diagonal lower-right from him.

The pattern, as far as I can tell, is always the same. Sometimes, he will forgo
the eighth strike. How do we use this to our advantage? It's tricky, but
choosing
the right moment to attack can score you an extra hit.

Aimed Lightening:
Aimed Lightening is a single bolt that targets the ground you walk. That spot
will
lite up, and it'll be your chance to evade. Should the bolt hit you, it'll
instantly stun you. This allows Kirin to chain Ram or an even deadlier attack.
It
can be an instant KO should that happen. My beef with this attack is that it's
frame is similar to Full Moon Lightening.

Note: All of Kirin's Lightening Strikes have a chance of paralyzing. Aimed
Lightening has a greater chance (I'd say almost every time) of doing so.

        x--------------------x                      x-----------------x
        | Direct Lightening! | <--- Same Frames --> | "Y" Lightening! |
        o====================o                      o=================o
                                       |
                                       v
                           x-----------------------x
                           | Scrambled Lightening! |
                           o=======================o

Instead of the glory stirring we saw with the Full Moon/Aimed link frames is
that
Kirin will shake his body, throw his head back, and lift it's legs slightly.

Direct Lightening:
The perfect counter for those who go after Kirin's head. Direct Lightening
envelops Kirin's own body in a series of thunder-strikes. Ranging from his
front,
behind, and at the center of his own body. The contrast between Full Moon is
that
the strikes all happen in one spot and are less frequent in number. Leaving him
open the rest of his body, however your window of time passes rapidly.

"Y" Lightening:
Occasion calls when Kirin will execute this attack. The reason it's called "Y"
Lightening is because it is shaped as such. A total of five strikes, the attack
seems to favor his left more then his right. Ergo, the best way to avoid this
attack would be to circle round his right side.

Diagram #16 - "Y" Lightening

===============
======3=2======
=======1=======
======4X=======
===============

Legend:
1 - The starting and ending strike.
2 - The strike upper-left from strike number one.
3 - The strike upper-right from strike number one.
4 - The strike down-left from strike number one.

Remember there are five strikes, it hits area "1" twice.

Scrambled Lightening:
The killer unicorns ranged attack. It's called Scrambled Lightening because the
strikes emit in a somewhat odd pattern.

Diagram #17 - Scrambled Lightening

==========
====X=====
==========
====5=====
====6=====
===1`4====
==========
===2`3====
==========

Quick Lightening:
Sometimes Kirin will thrust it's head and horn upwards and call forth a quick
series of strikes. It possess short range, but it's yet another reminder to keep
away from his front.

Taunt:
Rejoice, he is vulnerable! Kirin will occasionally scratch the ground and look
about. At this time, you can get a few hits in before he returns in full fury.

Ram:
One of Kirin's only physical attacks. He'll make a beeline for you, should you
stay in one place for more then a moment. This is also his anti-usage move, as
it
can disrupt any item use. Quick Eating comes to mind, but should you really want
to improve your skills, you shouldn't have to take any at all.

Thrust:
A simple thrust, done usually after Ram.

Prance:
Not so much of an attack is it is a defensive measure. Kirin will 'prance' in a
left-right evasive pattern. Should you be caught, you can get hurt. Especially
in
Rage Mode where healing opportunities are slender.

Rage Mode:
You knew this was coming. Lucky for us, Kirin lacks any specific Rage Mode
attacks. Instead, he jacks up the speed of his attacks and his own
maneuverability. Making him not only dangerous to hit, but insanely difficult as
well. You'll notice the static, the glowing white aura, and of course the damage
increase. My advice, play it safe.

*Note: All of Kirin's Lightening attacks can set off Barrel Bombs, keep this in
mind should you decide to exploit it.

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

Your ultimate goal here is to maneuver past these attacks to hit his main body.
Some attacks are near-impossible to manipulate, yet all can be conquered with
practice. I will instruct you on those which can be broken and others more
difficult.

You will also notice that his body parts are among the most difficult to hit.
Because of his size in Elder Rank, most strikes will hit the body. You want to
avoid this, as your weapon can bounce off leaving you vulnerable.

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o

 x---------------x
 | FROST EDGE +! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 180
 | Element: Ice 280
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: Two
 | Path:
 |      Frost Edge --> Frost Edge +
 |
 |                Or...
 |
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger + -->
 |      Frost Edge --> Frost Edge +
 |
 | Method:
 | Not a hard weapon to make. I would prefer you forge the Frost Edge right off
 | instead of building from scratch. Improvement requires two Machalite Ore,
 | and you may not have access to those. If you do, then you'll need Blango
 | Pelt as well as Ice Crystals. The main Material is Ice Crystal, you'll need
 | a total of twenty-three in order to forge Frost Edge then improve the Frost
 | Edge +. If you forge outright, you'll need eight Iron Ore (Volcano Gathering
 | plus Pokke Farm), five Giaprey Scale (Giaprey, duh), three Knife Mackerel
 | (buy from Old Lady or Fishing Spots). Then for Frost Edge + you'll need your
 | remaining Ice Crystals  (you should have fifteen), two Blangonga Fang
 | (shatter the fangs of the Blangonga,) and two White Monoblos Shell. Okay,
 | maybe it's hard.
 |
 | Ahem, if you've been following with the guide, that paragraph above may read
 | familiar. I've introduced you to Frost Edge + on your date with Basarios.
 | Sadly, Kirin is a particular creature with a particular set of weaknesses.
 | The Frost Edge is the best we can do.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-------------------x
 | SANDMAN FINSWORD! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 182
 | Element: Sleep 230
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |            Bone Kris --> Bone Kris + -->
 | Chief Kris --> Weary Finsword --> Sandman Finsword
 |
 | Method:
 | Starting from Weary Finsword to Sandman Finsword we'll need a whopping seven
 | Plesioth Fins, two Cephalos Fins, ten Sleep Herbs (Old Lady), ten Sleepyfish
 | (Pokke Farm Fishing Pier), and five Dragonite Ore.
 |
 | Once more, Sandman Finsword is the sleeping SnS used so often on Wyverns
 | that it's come to the point of clich�. Just like we did with Tigrex,
 | inducing sleep allows you set-up some powerful bombs. Just remember to place
 | the bombs in front of his HORN. Not just his head.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

For keeping up damage overtime, it's demanded that you remain in range of Kirin.
We take the same counterclockwise pattern we've done with most so far. Here, you
must learn the proper range between you and your foe. Far enough to escape Full
Moon, but close enough to attack. The unsheathe attack (Triangle + Circle) I've
found a reliable ally. My method was to manipulate his turning and pounce to
score
a hit. The strategy has its disadvantages because our foe counters with Ram,
stealing a bit of health.

Keeping up with him is tough, considering he has Prance and Ram which he uses to
escape you. You have to tail him though. You also must decide the more valuable
body part to attack. His main body is more susceptible to your weapons attacks.
While the head and horn end the battle faster.

The game comes down to how good you are at attacking and dodging. You should mix
your attacks aiming for both the head and body. You'll want to go after the
head,
the body plays second fiddle. If you detect a turn-around, unleash an unsheathe
attack. Remember the more hits you bring, the faster you can bring him down. So
go
for it!

 x-------------x
 | HOLY SABER! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 196
 | Element: Water 190
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |    Twin Dagger --> Twin Dagger +
 | Dual Tomahawk --> Dual Tomahawk + -->
 |    Order Rapier --> Holy Saber
 |
 |               Or...
 |
 |    Order Rapier --> Holy Saber
 |
 | Method:
 | A weapon I'd pick under the most severe of circumstances. Forging from Order
 | Rapier (which is recommended) requires twelve Lightcrystal, five Black
 | Pearl, twenty Machalite Ore, and ten Small Goldfish. Circle round Gypceros,
 | Pokke Farm, or the Swamp Mining Areas for Lightcrystal. Black Pearls can be
 | found from Daimyo Hermituar and around the Jungle Area 4 where the shells
 | are.
 |
 | The Small Goldfish are found at Pokke Farm or at the Training School
 | (I've netted several from Yian Kut-Ku.) Finally, you'll need six Hercudrome
 | (which you'll have to net in Area 2 of the Volcano Gathering Quest) and ten
 | Dragonite Ore (found in Area 6 of the Volcano.)
 |
 | Now, my beef with Holy Saber is that, it can be upgraded, but it's
 | overshadowed by other weapons. If you're cool with that, then by all means
 | invest.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Not much has changed tactics-wise. You must remain within Kirin's range, but
more
importantly be capable of dodging whatever comes. With Holy Saber, I found my
strikes bounce off the body which forced me to focus on the head and horn. My
most
triumphant moments where when he turned around and I was allowed to attack, most
often with Roundhouse. For those packing Power/Mega Juice Double Roundhouse
isn't
out of the question. For those looking to completely avoid Ram, you're limited
to
a single slash before having to dodge. Even then your prospects don't look good.

There is little you can do to avoid damage. Because of the range and requirement
of our weapon we have to be close. Because of this, we're more likely to get
caught in Lightening attacks. Ram is your enemy here, never forget it. Taunt is
your friend, as it allows you to unload a full Demon Dance or a Double
Roundhouse
depending on when you begin. The Dual Swords own Unsheathe Attack (Triangle +
Circle) is useful only in moments when Kirin's head is lowered. Otherwise
they'll
bounce off.

Overall? While it's simple to maneuverer with the Dual Swords, it's hard to land
a
strike against him. This makes it one the harder weapons to use. I recommend
this
weapon only if you are testing your skills or if you're a die-hard Dual Sword
user
(Cause you got to in D&D right?)

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x-----------------------x
 | PLESIOTH CRYSTASWORD! |
 x-----------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 672
 | Element: Water 470
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Finblade --> Plesioth Watersword
 |    --> Plesioth Crystasword
 |
 | Method:
 | If you've been following the guide up to this point then you already possess
the
 | Plesioth Watersword. You're still going to need four Green Plesioth Fins,
five
 | Green Plesioth Scales, and two Monster Bone +. Getting the Fins can be hell,
but
 | it's well worth it.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Depending on how you play with the weapon, Kirin can be a tad easier. Non-
starter
Greatsword users like myself may be limited to Unsheathe Attack then evade. Not
too bad considering it's a decent method for knocking him down. It's a battle of
mobility and skill. How well you do depends on how well you've got down the
Charge
Method, and the Turning Method. Memorizing his attacks also plays heavily into
the
strategy.

Moving around with the Greatsword is irksome, as you're required to sheath your
weapon in order to go after Kirin. Aside from all the jargon, frames, hit-zones,
and whatnot, your target remains the same. His Horn. Capitalizing on his moments
of vulnerability is key, Scrambled and/or Direct Lightening is our gift. During
these moments, we are allowed to position ourselves for a charge attack. The
area
you've chosen should avoid the strikes of "Y", and the range of Scrambled. In
other words, not too far, but not too close. Close enough for the edge of your
blade to join with his flesh.

Once you've developed the habit of placement it's time to focus on entrapment.
You
want to snare Kirin on your Greatsword the moment he turns to face you.
Hopefully
you've saved up at least a Level 1 Charge. Don't forget to let go. Also remember
the same can be applied to his Full Moon Lightening attack. That requires a
suitable amount of organization in positioning and timing. The major weakness of
this strategy is when you hit the body with a Level 1 Charge or below. It
bounces
off leaving you vulnerable to one of Kirin's attacks. Worse case scenario you
die,
best case you get up and try again.

Overall, the Greatsword is a difficult weapon to fight with, but damn fun to
learn. Developing this strategy delivered satisfaction like none other. Like
winning tickets to your favorite sports team, like drinking a can of coke for
the
first time in a LONG time... like winning.

 x-------------------x
 | BLANGO DECIMATOR! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 672
 | Element: Ice 250
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: 10%
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Method:
 |    Buster Sword --> Blango Destroyer
 | Blango Destroyer + --> Blango Decimator
 |
 | You may already be keeping tabs on this weapon. Mindful of the fact that this
 | weapon leads to Desert Decapitator, the strongest Raw Longsword in-game. It
 | somewhat makes up for the uselessness we see the weapon type travel to
towards
 | end-game.
 |
 | I recommend you start from Buster Sword, it's easy to make and you branch off
 | the bat into Blango Destroyer. Improvement takes six Blango Pelts, eight Iron
 | Ore, and five Ice Crystals. You probably have the latter two if you've been
 | keeping up with Pokke Farm. And of course, you know where Blango Pelts come
 | from. From Blangos! Don't stop until you have sixteen though, as you'll need
ten
 | for Blango Destroyer +, and while you're at it get six Sharp Claw. Pokke Farm
or
 | Forest & Hills can give you the two Killer Beetles you need.
 |
 | You're going to need to go after Blangonga after finishing up Destroyer +.
 | You'll need to net five Blangonga Whiskers as well as three Blangonga Fangs.
You
 | have to destroy his fangs in order to receive them. While going back and
forth
 | between quests, don't forget to harvest at least twenty Ice Crystals. With
that
 | in mind, you can net this weapon in as little as an hour.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

With the Longsword, one trades power for speed and mobility. The absence of the
Greatsword's Charge is like the absence of a companion. Our methods of attacking
are changed drastically, not all for the bad though. This weapon type allows us
the ability to maneuver without having to sheath our weapon. Not only that, but
the Spirit Combo does okay to correct the imbalance. However the attack in
general
requires your foe to stay within the area of your blade. A fact which Kirin
seems
to forget. Before you discard the Longsword, know that you can easily mend this
by
Cornering him.

The Overhead Slash is your friend. One touch of the Triangle then evade
appropriately. Accuracy is vital, and failure incurs Kirin's wrath. I speak of
striking the Horn/Head. Your blade will bounce if you attack the body leaving
you
vulnerable to assault. Attacking the weak body parts will build up your Spirit
Gauge allowing you to execute your combo. You'll be lucky if you can build the
gauge halfway however. Essentially, your damage output is the Unsheathe Attack
slash Overhead Slash.

Overall, the Longsword is a decent tool against Kirin. It's a smooth alternative
to the Greatsword without it's advantages. It gains some of it's own, but not
enough to redeem itself in the face of thunder Elder Dragon.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x--------------x
 | KUT-KU PICK! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 884
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: 10%
 | Slots: Three
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer --> Atlas Hammer
 |        Kut-Ku Jaw --> Kut-Ku Pick
 |
 | Method:
 | I chose the Kut-Ku Pick for a few outlandish reasons. One is that it's one of
 | the strongest Hammer's in Elder Rank. Only beaten by the Bull Tusk Hammer,
which
 | path ends at Bull Tusk Hammer. It also leads to Chaotic Order, one of the
 | strongest Raw Hammers in-game. Yeah, I know, I'm a rebel. :/
 |
 | Start with Bone Club and branch into Cylo Hammer and then Atlas Hammer.
 | Gathering the materials for Kut-Ku Jaw one Giant Beak which only comes from
 | carving Yian Kut-Ku. I've had a bigger issue with finding the four Kut-Ku
Ears
 | to forge Kut-Ku Pick, you'll need four of those by the way. You can buy the
two
 | Monster Fluid from the Old Lady for 5000z a pop, or carve them from
Hornetaurs.
 | Personally I'd just spend the cash.
 |
 | Once you've got your materials to forge the Jaw, it's time we went after the
 | Pick. Hopefully you frisked four Kut-Ku Ears from your questing. Under the
 | likely event that you didn't, harvest till you do. Next comes two Vibrant
Pelt
 | which come from Congalala, and guess what? They're also hard to find! And
 | finally comes the tedious four Monster Bone + hunting. You can alternate
quests
 | to mix things up, but it's still a drag.
 |
 | Is it worth it? Hell yes. Get hunting!
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-----------------x
 | IRON STRIKER +! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 832
 | Element: N/A
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 |         War Hammer --> War Hammer +
 | War Mace --> Iron Striker --> Iron Striker +
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need five Dragonite Ore, eleven Malchalite Ore (covers the
 | requirements for Iron Striker) and a few base materials to forge this
 | weapon. Not to mention ever-so-useful. Iron Striker's Path leads to the
 | second strongest Hammer in-game, Juggernaut.
 |
 | Copy&Pasta Magic! Reason we've chosen it this time is because Anvil Hammer
 | requires two Gravios Shell. We haven't covered Gravios yet, so I'm betting
 | you don't have the shells. If you do, shame on you for skipping Kirin. If
 | you don't, Iron Striker + will do. I added this as an option for the lazy
 | who don't want to go out of their way to forge Kut-Ku Pick. Iron Striker +
 | is inherently weaker then the Pick, but doesn't require nearly as much
 | running around to forge. In fact, if you've been following this guide, you
 | have it in your arsenal already.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Low
 x---------------------------------x

Facing down Kirin with a Hammer is laughable. Compared to the short ranges of
the
SnS and the Dual swords. Between the "prayer" strikes of the Greatsword and
Longsword (because you're praying the blade won't bounce!) And poking prodigies
the Lance and the Gunlance (to which we'll discuss later) the hammer is god. The
Hammer is not only the two-eyed man in the land of the blind, but he's the one
with 20/20 vision.

Take your Hammer, your Power Juice, and start off with a bang. Your friend is
the
Hammer Charge, and R Trigger is what determines victory and defeat. The reason
your weapon is so lethal to Kirin resides in the fact that you don't have to
aim.
At least not as much as the other weapons will make you. A trait that will
appeal
to first time users of the type from now on. In other words, the Hammer allows
you
to be lazy. It enables Hunter's to forsake the skills you would need to develop
with a Greatsword, or the hardships endured with the Bow. The Hammer isn't so
much
a triumph as it is a way to beat around the bush.

This practice of aiming is still necessary, and a good sense of timing goes a
long
way. The real method of victory resides in the manipulation of turning. When you
face down a Kirin while Charging, you're required to read his tell and dodge
appropriately. Once you evaded the move or determined it cannot possibly hit
you,
you wait for your foe to turn your direction. In the course of that moment, you
should be unleashing your bludgeon. It doesn't take a whole lot to send our foe
spinning onto the floor.

You run into the obvious problems with Charging. Once your Power/Mega Juice runs
out, you're required to drink once more to keep the stamina. Doing this can
leave
you open to Kirin's Ram. Running against our foe without it is acceptable but
beware of long moments holding the Charge. A drained stamina gauge means none
left
for evade, which under unlucky circumstances can be lethal.

Overall, given the same effort as weapon you hold, the Hammer can be a fiend
against the likes of Kirin. The natural ESP of the Hammer Charge, combined with
the power of the advantageous Triple Pound can shuffle our enemy like a deck of
cards.

 x-------------x
 | WAR DRUM +! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 936
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Notes: White, Yellow, Red
 | Path:
 | Ivory Horn --> War Drum --> War Drum +
 |
 | Method:
 | The parts are child's play to get, all expect for the single Vibrant Pelt and
 | the Striped Skin that comes from Remobra. Vibrant Pelt is a rare drop, and
 | hopefully you have at least one from your adventures so far. If not then good
 | luck. Know that I don't envy you.
 |
 | War Drum + is the strongest Hunting Horn in the Elder Rank. It's notes (as
seen
 | below) do the weapon justice. Should you be lucky enough to have a friend who
 | also plays Monster Hunter, the War Drum + can be the perfect side-kick.
 |
 | Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Defense Up [Small]) -- Red --> Yellow (2 min)
 | (Attack Power Up [Small]) -- White --> Red (2 min)
 | (Fire Def Up [Small]) -- Yellow -> Red  (1 min)
 | (Dragon Def Up [Small]) -- White -> Yellow (1 min)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

With the Hunting Horn, the challenge of Kirin is lessoned. In my earlier days, I
was under the belief that he was weak against Dragon (ergo I used Sakura Bell,)
I
also believed in wearing his Armor because it had Auto-Tracker. Boy did I learn.
My creditable skills with the Super Pound (Triangle + Circle) convinced me of
the
Hunting Horn's power.

The strategy doesn't change from the Hammer counterpart. In this case you're
trading power and a bit of mobility (counter with White --> White) for
simplicity.
You don't have the Hammer Charges stamina drain to worry about, because all you
need is the Hunting Horn's Super Pound. So it devolves into a game of cat and
mouse. A game where you attempt to net the mousy Kirin into the range of your
flailing instrument. It's repetitive and ultimately tedious.

For those are hunting our foe for the sake of materials will find this weapons
usage a change in pace. There really isn't a strategy in it. It's the
manipulation
of turning, predicting the proceeding move and countering.

My quarrel with the Hunting Horn is that it reduces the value of your target. I
like to drizzle a little flowery comment about the aesthetic of beast your
fighting. Kushala's is wind, Garuga is loneliness, and Kirin's is the myth. The
myth of the beast, how it stands out even among Elder Dragons. Then this novice
shows up and conks him over the head with it. How sad it is to watch as all the
strategy surrounding the beast becomes worthless in the face of a weapon like
this. It devalues the worth of Kirin.

The redundant method of attack dampens my spirit. I'd recommend anyone who is
facing Kirin for the first time to choose another weapon before trying. The
Hunting Horn in this case acts like a "safe" weapon. It allows you to deal your
damage and roll aside, not always ending with you unscathed.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

 x------------x
 | OGRE TUSK! |
 x------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 414
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Longhorn --> Longhorn + --> Long Tusk
 |     Barbaroi Tusk --> Ogre Tusk
 |
 | Method:
 | You've been down this path with Incessant Raven. Now, you're just making a
 | detour to Ogre Tusk, a powerful Raw weapon. Ogre Tusk's path is out-gunned
 | by Raging Tempest, but because of the Affinity, it's recommended you use
 | Ogre Tusk for the time. Five Monster Bone + are required to forge this
 | weapon along with twenty Ioprey Hide and two Mega Demondrugs.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Harder
 x---------------------------------x

The Lance is a weapon of tender execution. By choosing it, we adopt a newborn
lifestyle, to poke everything we see. Kirin is no exception. With the Ogre Tusk
in
your possession, it's very much possible to tackle our shock-happy foe. First
off,
it is possible to block any attack. The catch? You have to position yourself
correctly. Imagine yourself for a moment, if your avatar was being looked upon
from on high.

Diagram #18 - Guarding against Lightening

=============  =============  =============  =============
=============  ======x======  =============  =============
======V======  ======^======  =====x<======  =====>x======
======x======  =============  =============  =============
=============  =============  =============  =============
=============  =============  =============  =============
 Facing Down     Facing Up     Facing Left    Facing Right

Legend:
V, ^, <, > - You facing different directions.
x - Lightening Strike.

In order to successfully guard against Lightening, you must position yourself
in-
front of it. If you are hit from the side, or from behind then you'll get
shocked.

Our weapon comes with the triple Back-hop. This tool will serve us handsomely
depending how it's used. We deal with the obvious difficulties. The slow
movement
makes our thunder-hopper hard to catch up with. You could corner, it, but beware
it doesn't corner you. It's easy to misunderstand his tells and turn the battle
in
his favor. Being responsible hunter, you're going to do your best m'right?

The premise of dueling the demon blue-horn is complex. Most of the time you will
attack with the Upwards Stab (Circle) and hopefully keep up the hit-rate. Your
advances need to be quick as your escape. It is not so much HIS attacks and YOUR
positioning and timing. You must keep away from his front while keeping out your
weapon. A not so difficult task with the Lance so long as you abuse the
Power/Mega
Juice and the Back-hops. His Ram attack has an opening. Allow him to run through
you (while blocking with Guard) and he will stop a few feet away. Turn around
and
wait for him to face you, release a poke, then evade.

A few good rules of thumb concerning his lightening attacks are that they're all
block-able. This doesn't mean your going to be fully protected. As the diagram
shows above, you must position yourself in front of the strike. With the flurry
of
bolts it's quite difficult to keep track of all of them. As I said, positioning
is
key. Successfully guarding against a Full Moon Lightening attack is a feat that
takes skill. You have to sneak into the hit-zone of one of eight strikes, block
against one of them, and avoid being it by the others. I would equate it to
winning the lottery but really it's like rudimentary pinball, biased but doable.

Taunt makes miracles happen. Depending on your proximity you can score as many
as
six hits on Kirin. Should you knock him off his feet I recommend plowing him
with
the Lance Charge. It covers the distance you need to cover and provides whipping
on top of the cake. Shifting gears, pattern-wise I thrust then double Back-hoped
in order to dodge his front. His switch between psychical and electrical attacks
can throw many players off. Just don't be discouraged.

Overall, when broken down Kirin is a challenge that can be overcome through
severe
perseverance. Thrill-seeking Hunters, those looking to finish Normal Training,
and
obsessive completion-ists, I recommend a fight against Kirin with a Lance.

 x--------------x
 | DEEP FISHER! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 368
 | Element: Water 200
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Shelling: Long Lv. 1
 | Path:
 | Iron Gunlance --> Snow Gunlance --> Snow Gunlance MK. II
 |            Marine Fisher --> Deep Fisher
 |
 | Method:
 | I would choose the easier path and create a Marine Fisher from scratch then
 | upgrade directly to Deep Fisher. It will cost you a hefty amount of Plesioth
 | Fins (eleven to be exact,) four Monster Bone +, and seven Dragonite Ore. The
 | other materials (Plesioth Scale, Iron Ore, and Burst Arrowana) come from
 | various sources but aren't hard to gather.
 |
 | Now you're wondering, is it worth it? Totally. The Deep Fisher leads to the
 | weapon Lavasioth Gunlance, one of the strongest fire type Gunlances in-game.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Harder
 x---------------------------------x

Like trying to swat a fly with a tennis racket. It CAN be done, but only with
precision. You literally have to plant yourself a certain distance AWAY from
Kirin
in order to hit him. You should treat every attack the same way we've treated
him
with the Lance (read above for details) except you'll be guarding more then
back-
hoping for obvious reasons. Generally, it's better to use Back-hop even if
you're
limited to one.

Your damage dealer will be the Upwards Swing (Circle + Triangle) and Shelling
but
mostly the former. Now, in order to be as detailed as possible on how to
effective
combat Kirin, I must show you this crappy but informative depiction.

Diagram #19 - Gunlance, Kirin, and you

                                  ^
                            _____// <-- Horn
                      -/~-`/    //\
                    -/~            \
         ________-/~           ,_   \ <-- Head
 .....__(           _        //  ���`
 .....--|'''~---~"��        /   - - -
 '''''  {                  /    - - -
         \    _---___    //     - - -
        /;: __/      (\\)       - - - <-- Area that tip of Gunlance swings for.
       |;:;/         |\\|       -- --     Anything past this bounces off hide.
       /  )          /| \        - -
      \' |          ( . |         '
       \__)          \_]_\

It is beyond my imagination and/or skills to show you the proper distance
between
you and your foe. You can however, measure the distance of the tip of your
Gunlance for exact calculations.

Now, it is fully possible and highly recommended you attempt to trap Kirin with
Barrel Bombs for this strategy. The Shelling off your Gunlance can detonate them
not only that but damage Kirin regardless. It's not amazing damage but it keeps
the hit-rate up.

Your pattern should consist of Shelling, Guarding, back-hopping and taking the
occasional Upwards Swing. Firing your Gunlance will increase the probability of
sending him sprawling. When he does this, get on-top with a Unsheathe Stab
(Forward + Triangle) depending on your distance. You may want to employ Wyvern
Fire when he is in a Taunt, as you won't be able to peg him any other way.

Because of the proximity issue with Kirin, it's impossible to take advantage of
Ram because he is far too close for you to throw an Upwards Swing. So as soon as
you finish blocking it, turn around a fire a Shell. If you detect a Lightening
attack coming scoot out of the way. I find it prudent to Back-Hop to his side
through facing away from him. It's dangerous, but it can help deter scathe
damage.
The attacks you want to guard against are things like Full Moon Circle and Aimed
Lightening, the others are more or less things you want to avoid. Particularly
because our friend has the potential to be vulnerable during or after an attack.

Overall? It takes precise work and practice to best Kirin with a Gunlance. At
times I found myself rolling against the powdered and others paralyzed, waiting
for one the Blangos to set me free. It's unbearably frustrating, but as
rewarding
if not more-so then then the Lance. I recommend tackling this beast with only
the
sharpest of skills.

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o

 x----------------------x
 | DAIMYO'S WARBOW III! |
 x----------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 180
 | Element: Water 120
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: Two
 | Coatings: All but Razor
 |
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv3
 | Charge Lv2: Scatter Lv3
 | Charge Lv3: Pierce Lv3
 | Charge Lv4: Rapid Lv4
 |
 | Path:
 | Daimyo's Warbow I --> Daimyo's Warbow II --> Daimyo's Warbow III
 |
 | Method:
 | Created through Plessy and Hermy parts, the Diamyo's Warbow path can take
 | you far. Unfortunately, it's eventually beaten out by Dragonhead Harp in
 | elemental attack. The parts necessary for forging are quite common. All
 | except for two Twisted Horns, requiring you to shatter Diablos Horn. Happy
 | Hunting!
 |
 | Well, we haven't seen this since our match with Basarios. It's about time we
 | brandished this Bow again.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Ah the Bow, condemned to relay unimpressive damage overtime. Pack some Sleep
Coatings and Large Barrel Bombs, then meet up with Kirin. Now, the challenge of
nailing on him the head isn't as challenging as you would think. Scatter helps
cover the scope and can hit the horn with little resistance. I prefer Rapid over
Scatter and Pierce in this situation however, so if you feel another Bow can do
a
better job then let me know.

Should you have Diablos D and have activated Load Up, then this Bow would be
perfect. If you are however accomplishing the quests in numbered order then you
haven't come across Black Diablos as of yet. Should it concern you deeply to
defeat the blue-horned demon with a Bow, then may I suggest following said
advice?

For combative purposes, I will approach it from the respect that you do not
possess Load Up. In which case things are a bit tougher. Sleep Coatings aren't
fool-proof. Chances are you'll run out before causing Sleep. It might be wise to
bring along Sleep Herb and Empty bottle just in-case. And if in the end, you
can't
put him to sleep, just use your judgment guide him into your Bomb trap.

You should remain nearby for the purposes of aim, though I don't recommend point
blank, the nearer is often more accurate. Attacking should be a game of
predicting
Lightening attacks and avoiding Ram and Prance at all costs. They can ruin
charges
as well as throw you off guard. Full Moon Circle makes him highly susceptible to
your advances as you'll be outside charging up. For Taunt, I can't say it helps
much, as you're attacking with the strongest shots regardless. If you feel
cocky,
the Melee attack is comical.

Overall, sparing against Kirin is otherwise a risky fight. It's more or less a
match whittling down his health. You get plenty of opportunity to nail him but
it's nothing we haven't seen before. I found the entire affair to be quite dull.

 x-----------x
 | RAVEN DO! |
 x-----------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 180                Normal S: 6  6  9  Flame S : 6  -  -
 | Reload: Normal                    Pierce S: -  3  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: -  4  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : -  1  -  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : -  1  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3  3  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : -  -  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : -  -  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | Forged from Garuga parts, six Garuga Shells, two Sharpened Beaks, two Garuga
 | Ears, and eight Ceanataur Shells. It's not a hard forge, and the four bullet
 | slots for Pellet means a lot less loading. Raven Do is weaker and a bit
slower
 | at reload compared to Raven Heirloom. However the weapon has excellent
mobility,
 | and if you value that then this is the right weapon for you.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

 x-----------------x
 | RAVEN HEIRLOOM! |
 x-----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 264                Normal S: 6  6  9  Flame S : 6  -  -
 | Reload: Fast                      Pierce S: -  3  -  Water S : -  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: -  4  -  Thnd S  : -  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : -  1  -  Freeze S: -  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : -  1  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3  3  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : -  -  -  Demon S : -  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : -  -  -  Armor S : -  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | Another Garuga forge done right. You'll need two Garuga Ears, eight Garuga
 | Shells, four Blangonga Whiskers, and three Ceanataur Claws. Raven Heirloom is
 | stronger then Raven Do, so if you can handle the poor mobility (I could) then
 | this is the right weapon for you.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Shells: Pellet S Lv2, Flaming S, Clust Lv2, Normal S Lv2,

The safest place to be is beside Kirin. The mobility of the Light Bowgun allows
us
to easily round to his side, avoiding whatever he can dish at us. If you'd like,
you can invest in Ioprey armor (you would still need +2 Gems) for Pellet S Up.
On
doing so you can make cake of the blue-horned demon. Although it has such awful
defense, you would be leaving yourself open to certain death. It's ultimately up
to you. For technical purposes, I will assume you didn't.

Because of Kirin's size, it's difficult to land a shot. With Pellet though, you
can always hit the horn. Backed with the power of either weapons can take a
hefty
toll on our foe's health. The increased power of the Heavy Bowgun means more
flinching power and knocking power, all of which piles on the damage. Avoiding
his
attacks can be tricky with the Heavy Bowgun, especially with the death-trap
areas
of the Snowy Mountains. Have faith in your weapon, and fire only when you see an
opportunity and only when you have enough time to evade.

When you've expended your Pellets (hopefully you brought Huskberry and Wyvern
Fangs) move onto Flaming Shells. Kirin's weak to fire so aim for that horn and
hope it hits. Depending on how upgraded your Bowguns are, you can have the
battle
done before this. There is no need for a shield since Kirin doesn't emit a Roar,
and you'll be dodging 100% of the time. I went with the Power Scope on my Heavy
Bowgun because made my hand stronger.

Overall, the Bowgun is a solid weapon against the likes of Kirin. Pellet makes
for
immaculate shooting, so much that it should be considered cheating. I have to
settle on the Heavy Bowgun's case, as it allowed me to hit much harder then it's
counterpart.

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ What armor should I wear? |
o============o--------------------------o

For Blademaster:

 x--------------------x
 | YIAN GARUGA ARMOR! |
 x=====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 180
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: N/A
 / Skills:
 \ Reckless Abandon +1
 / Sharp Sword
 \ Earplug (Need 2+ Gems)
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

Same old, same old.

For Gunners:

 x---------------x
 | IOPREY ARMOR! |
 x===============x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 60
 \ Total Slots: Four
 / Elemental Strength: Fire, Water, Ice
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: N/A
 / Skills:
 \ Pellet S Up (Need +2 Gems)
 / Pellet S Add (Upgrade for +3 Gems)
 \ Poison Negated
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Situational
 x================----------------x

If you want to mess up Kirin's game, then this armor can help. The defense can
kill, so it's a reminder to remain quick on your feet.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

Playing the wise-man, I have to say Kirin is one of the more dangerous foes
you'll
come across during your career. Traces of nobility and majesty can be found in
the
way he moves, attacks, and falls. Truly a creature worthy of myth.

                        ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
                     ---| --- [7.6.2] Elder Quest --- |---
                     ---|       ~~~ Gravios ~~~       |---
                        v~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~v

                It's a ROCK. It doesn't HAVE vulnerable spots!
                            ~Tim Allen, Galaxy Quest

o==========o-------------------o
| Question  \ What is Gravios? |
o============o-----------------o

Much like Basarios, except he was a mere child. Once matured their kind gain
immense girth and vitality. In short, you're facing a tank. Gravios can channel
a
terrible beam that saws through the thickest armor. Testing the endurance of
Hunters throughout the series.

The behaviors between Gravios and Black Gravios is that the latter relies on
Gravios Beam. That spells an increase in Exhaust, and the chances it'll occur.

                                 x----------x
                                 | Gravios! |
                                 o==========o

Most effective attacks: Stomach
Most effective element: Water, Dragon
Susceptible Status Ailments: Poison, Sleep (minute duration)
Susceptible Bombs: None
Susceptible Traps: Stun Trap, Pitfall
Breakable Parts: Tail, *Stomach Area
Near Death When: Flees Area

*Note: The Stomach area is breakable. When done, a patch of flesh will appear
which will allow greater damage when attacked with either weapon type. Even
better
if you're carrying Water or Dragon element.

                               x----------------x
                               | Black Gravios! |
                               o================o

Most effective attacks: Stomach
Most effective element: Water, *Dragon
Susceptible Status Ailments: Poison (greater resistance but greater health
loss),
Sleep (minute duration)
Susceptible Bombs: None
Susceptible Traps: Stun Trap, Pitfall
Breakable Parts: Tail, **Stomach Area
Near Death When: Flees Area

*Note: Only when his stomach is vulnerable does Dragon Element count. You need
to
break the stomach first. However, Water is much, much more effective.

**Note: The Stomach area is breakable. When done, a patch of flesh will appear
which will allow greater damage when attacked with either weapon type. Even
better
if you're carrying Water or Dragon element.

o==========o-----------------------------o
| Question  \ What attacks does it have? |
o============o---------------------------o

Alert High Roar:
When Gravios first sees you, chances it will emit a High Roar. Worth mentioning,
as he chains it with another attack. If he's hit during this time he'll break
out
of the Roar lag free.

Gravios Beam:
Unlike Basarios, his beam has a good chance of working. Don't scoff. Gravios
Beam
is one of the most dangerous linear attacks, ever. He'll lean forward, spreading
his wings and wrenching open his mouth. Out will pour a reddish-colored beam.
Since it beelines in one direction you can avoid it easily. Just don't get
caught
quaffing a Potion in front of him.

Exhaust:
After performing a Gravios Beam, he'll sometimes expel exhaust covering his
immediate area. That's Exhaust. It works to counter players taking advantage of
attacking the stomach during the moves execution. Look for the black smoke
leaking
from him as the Beam is fired. If there is stay away. If there isn't then take
advantage.

*Exhaust Gas:
Like Exhaust except Gravios expels this like he would Sleeping Gas. Avoid as you
would Exhaust.

High Roar:
Our foe will emit a roar. You've dealt with this before right? With High Grade
Earplugs we can score a few moments to attack. If you don't have a blocking
weapon
or Earplugs, just position yourself behind your enemy and hope for the best.

Combos:

                     x---------------x       x----------x
                     | Gravios Beam! |   +   | Exhaust! |
                     o===============o       o==========o

THIS is what you must concentrate on. Gravios Beam is linear, and Exhaust only
flares up every-so-often. But if you're buffeted by Exhaust and into his outer
circle then he'll prep a Beam during your recovery frames. Thinning the seconds
you have to evade the oncoming ray. With gray Gravios, focus your worries on his
physical moves like Hip-Check and Tackle.

                    x------------x       x---------------x
                    | High Roar! |   +   | Gravios Beam! |
                    o============o       o===============o

This isn't all that tricky to avoid, since it rarely happens. The Roar + Beam
combo usually steals chunks of health. What Gravios does is freeze your
movements
with High Roar and follows with the Beam. It acts as you're still prone,
guaranteeing a direct it. It's unfair but there ways of dealing with it.

Guarding against the High Roar as it comes is one. As long as you're fixed on
his
frames you should be able to see it coming. Obviously High Grade Earplugs can
drown out the Roar altogether. And by sliding behind him, we're able to buy some
time as he turns around. I don't endorse that method the effect of High Roar has
longer duration.

Bite:
A simple Bite. Same motion. Same shoddy range.

Hip-Check:
Depending on your enemies size, this can be overwhelming. This is his main
attack,
if you manage your way around this, you'll do fine. Since his head sticks out at
the same angle, it's possible to counter-attack. Though, your Wyvern's head is
much harder then the average.

Overshot Tackle:
Even if you're far away, our foe will perform rush at you. Because of his size,
this covers a wider area. He'll usually perform his own version of "Tail
Sweep" right after. This is done in order to prevent Hunters from ambushing him
from behind.

Tail Whip:
Nothing you haven't seen before. Gravios mace-tail will wrench clockwise, only
punishing mid-range hunters. Those sticking close will avoid this altogether.
Allowing the clever to take advantage.

Fly:
Our craggy foe will kick up into the air, stirring up Wind. Shortly he'll drop
back down. This acts like an Anti-Melee move then anything. You've seen this
before and Yian Kut-Ku as well.

*Sleep Gas:
A non-black Gravios exclusive. Though rare, our foe will release a grayish gas
from all sides. If you're hit, you'll fall asleep. It's one of our foe's best
anti-melee move.

*Note:
You can escape Gravios �gas� attacks (assuming your under the belly of the
beast)
by double-rolling out. Lancers will have to double-backhop. If you find you're
getting hit too many times, consider new tactic.

o==========o------------------------------------o
| Question  \ What should I know about the map? |
o============o----------------------------------o

You will be fighting Black Gravios in the swamp. Swamps are bad. There are areas
filled with poisonous pools. Being a creature prone to Overshoot his Tackles, he
might end up sitting in one of these. Don't get your hopes up, he's immune to
them. When this happens, lure him out. You don't want to waste Potions. In the
long run it'll do you better to bait him.

Of course, if you're using a ranged weapon feel free to ignore this.

o==========o----------------------------o
| Question  \ What armor should I wear? |
o============o--------------------------o

Let me remind you of the attributes of Rock Wyverns. They have hardened shells,
which means using the Dual Sword, Greatsword, Longsword, Lance, and Gunlance is
out of the question. Unless you can acquire ESP, which then begs the question,
what armor should you wear?

Like I said in the Elder Armor section, we're limited to Death Stench Cloths
delivered by Trenya. Trips to the Desert (for 500 points) take a mission to
complete (with the exclusion of gathering quests) so be sure to have a lot of
points to send Trenya on trips.

 x---------------------x
 | DEATH STENCH ARMOR! |
 x=====================x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 200
 \ Total Slots: Six
 / Elemental Strength: Fire
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Ice
 / Skills:
 \ Stealth
 / ESP
 \ Health -20
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Useful
 x================----------------x

To forge this complicated piece of equipment you need Ten Sinister Cloth. Then
hunt for eleven Striped Skins (Remobra), three Blos Fangs (Monoblos/Diablos),
three Tigrex Fangs, three Unknown Skulls (Area 7 Jungle), four Large Monster
Bones, and six Elder Dragon Bones (Kushala Daora.)

The trip can take hours, but the reward is a reliable suit of armor. And of
course, Extra Sword Piercing, ESP. With this in our inventory, we can battle
Gravios with whatever weapon we desire. Using whatever tactics are demanded. The
cons to wearing this armor is that you're vulnerable to High Roar. Which in turn
leaves you open to the dreaded combo. And before experimenting with Black Belt
armor don't. Death Stench's Torso only has one slot, and an Earplug gem only
adds
+1 skill point. Which means you can't have your cake and eat it too.

Besides, you'll probably focus on countering the Health -20. The best you can do
(assuming you pack all six slots with Strength Gems) is bring it down to Health
-
10. With Health boosting food from the Felyne Kitchen you can counter this. Or
perhaps by ingesting Nutrients.

For Hunting Horn users...

 x--------------x
 | KHEZU ARMOR! |
 x==============x--------x
 \ User Type: Blademaster
 / Total Defense: 160
 \ Total Slots: Five
 / Elemental Strength: Thunder
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: Fire
 / Skills:
 \ Damage Rec Speed +1 (Needs +2 Gems for 2+ Upgrade)
 / Flute Expert (Needs +2 Gems)
 \ Wide Area +1
 /
 \ Armor Rating: Situational-Party
 x================----------------x

The full set (plus +2 Gems) will give you Flute Expert. It'll also weaken your
resistance Gravios fire attacks. To solve this you can trade the majority of
your
armor for Black Belt, which should augment resistance. The tradeoff being
lowered
defense (112 points compared to 160.) Withstanding your foe's onslaught will
require quick feet.

For Gunners...

 x--------------x
 | KIRIN ARMOR! |
 x==============x--------x
 \ User Type: Gunner
 / Total Defense: 110
 \ Total Slots: Five
 / Elemental Strength: Thunder, Water
 \ Elemental Weaknesses: None
 / Skills:
 \ All Resist +5 (Need +5 to Upgrade)
 / Elemental Attack Up
 \ Detect (Need +2 Gems)
 / Item Usage Decline (Need +1 Gem to negate)
 \
 / Armor Rating: Fair
 x================----------------x

When paired with the Daimyo Warbow III, you become the Hunter! Paired with Water
and Freeze Shells, you're a Superstar! Concerns for High Roar are noted, so if
you
feel iffy about facing him without it then try Tigrex Gunner Armor (but you
would
+7 Gems to gain High Roar immunity.) If not then there's ole dependable Hornet
Armor (which has terrible defense against physical and fire attacks.) Guaranteed
to send chunks of health flying off the bar if struck.

o==========o-------------------------------o
| Question  \ What weapons should I bring? |
o============o-----------------------------o

Provided you've donned the proper armor...

                      x--------------------------------x
                      | Sword and Shield, Dual Swords! |
                      o================================o
 x---------------x
 | FROST EDGE +! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 182
 | Element: Ice 280
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 | Frost Edge --> Frost Edge +
 |            Or
 | Hunter's Dagger --> Hunter's Dagger + -->
 |      Frost Edge --> Frost Edge +
 |
 | Method:
 | Starting with Frost Edge find fifteen Ice Crystals, two Blangonga Fangs, and
two
 | Monoblos Shells.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Or...

 x-------------------x
 | SANDMAN FINSWORD! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: SnS
 | Weapon Attack: 182
 | Element: Sleep 230
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |            Bone Kris --> Bone Kris + -->
 | Chief Kris --> Weary Finsword --> Sandman Finsword
 |
 | Method:
 | Starting from Weary Finsword to Sandman Finsword we'll need a whopping seven
 | Plesioth Fins, two Cephalos Fins, ten Sleep Herbs (Old Lady), ten Sleepyfish
 | (Pokke Farm Fishing Pier), and five Dragonite Ore.
 |
 | Sandman Finsword is the sleeping SnS used so often on Wyverns that it's come
 | to the point of clich�. The very nature of this weapon is to put to sleep
 | enemies. Our foe (non-black Gravios) has a long duration of the Sleep.
Allowing
 | you set-up some powerful bombs.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Use one for dicing up his insides, the other for Sleep-Bombing. Our blows should
focus on the stomach. While tending to the movements of Gravios. It's possible
to
severe the tail, but you'll have better luck with weapons of longer reach.

We're allowed a latitude with this weapon type. Anything that falls below green
sharpness will bounce off. Unfortunately, you may not have the same
opportunities
to sharpen when dodging an Overshot Tackle. His recovery time is shorter then
his
younger counterpart. However his Beam unlocks a window of time to edge towards a
vital part, or if you see Exhaust forming, a Potion to recover with. Beware of
Sleep Gas as you'll lose all ability to act. You can't block it, so dodge it.
Remember the basics, look for other opportunities to rack up damage while
avoiding
taking any yourself.

 x-------------x
 | HOLY SABER! |
 x-------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Dual Swords
 | Weapon Attack: 196
 | Element: Water 190
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Path:
 |    Twin Dagger --> Twin Dagger +
 | Dual Tomahawk --> Dual Tomahawk + -->
 |    Order Rapier --> Holy Saber
 |
 |               Or...
 |
 |    Order Rapier --> Holy Saber
 |
 | Method:
 | Forging from Order Rapier (which is recommended) requires twelve
 | Lightcrystal, five Black Pearl, twenty Machalite Ore, and ten Small
 | Goldfish. Circle round Gypceros, Pokke Farm, or the Swamp Mining Areas for
 | Lightcrystal. Black Pearls can be found from Daimyo Hermituar and around the
 | Jungle Area 4 where the shells are.
 |
 | The Small Goldfish are found at Pokke Farm or at the Training School
 | (I've netted several from Yian Kut-Ku.) Finally, you'll need six Hercudrome
 | (which you'll have to net in Area 2 of the Volcano Gathering Quest) and ten
 | Dragonite Ore (found in Area 6 of the Volcano.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Without ESP, you stand no chance. Without High Grade Earplugs you'll survive
until
High Roar + Gravios Beam. You have no way of blocking roar, rather there's a way
to manipulate it. When our foe begins a High Roar he takes a step forward. This
movement can push you down staving off the Roar's effects. It's tricky to pull
off, as it relies purely on luck. You can't predict High Roar.

That being said, worrying about Exhaust can be handled by chipping at the Wings
during a Gravios Beam. Hip Check can also be taken advantage of by giving the
attack a wide berth then closing in on his head or wing. You can even position
yourself on the spot his stomach will be. It takes some timing and memorizing,
but
doable.

Why is it challenging to use Dual Swords? You're disadvantaged. You lack that
reach like the Lance and Longsword. You can't block like the Sword and Shield.
And
your best attack is not fully Charged, but done with a Roundhouse. And by best,
I
mean the faster, going-to-get-you-out-so-you-don't-get-hit-move. You can
successfully chip at the Wing, but that takes time. Still, if you're looking for
an 'out of the norm' fight the Dual Swords will do.

                          x------------------------x
                          | Greatsword, Longsword! |
                          o========================o

 x-----------------------x
 | PLESIOTH CRYSTASWORD! |
 x-----------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Greatsword
 | Weapon Attack: 672
 | Element: Water 470
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Finblade --> Plesioth Watersword
 |    --> Plesioth Crystasword
 |
 | Method:
 | If you've been following the guide up to this point then you already possess
 | the Plesioth Watersword. You're still going to need four Green Plesioth Fins,
 | five Green Plesioth Scales, and two Monster Bone +. Getting the Fins can be
 | hell, but it's well worth it.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

With Gravios you're able to hack 'n slash his underside with every swing. Your
obstacle is the Exhaust that follows a Beam. You only need to worry about this
with Black Gravios though. By now you're somewhat familiar with the Charge
Method.
You have many options to consider. During a Tail Whip, you've the opportunity to
Charge a near fully charged strike. You might have issues with Sleep Gas from
gray
Gravios, and Exhaust with the Black. I found escaping bordering on impossible.
Considering the effects of the attacks being sent sprawling isn't too bad. If
you're wearing the Death Stench armor the damage is cut down. Being put to sleep
on the other hand leaves you wide open to a Hip Check at worst.

Like Basarios, it's possible to strike the Tail just outside the "hit-zone." By
measuring the area of the gas, we can edge just outside it. Allotting us the
opportunity to score a Charged attack. Severing the limb also weakens Tail Whip
and Tail Wag. Fly can also be turned against him. By planting yourself near him
during the move's execution, you can score another blow. Allowing you to blitz
yet
another rock Wyvern.

 x-------------------x
 | BLANGO DECIMATOR! |
 x-------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Longsword
 | Weapon Attack: 672
 | Element: Ice 250
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: 10%
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Method:
 |    Buster Sword --> Blango Destroyer
 | Blango Destroyer + --> Blango Decimator
 |
 | Starting from Buster Sword find six Blango Pelts, eight Iron Ore, and five
Ice
 | Crystal. You'll need to collect an additional ten Blango Pelts (which makes
 | sixteen total), six Sharp Claw, and two Killer Beatles (Pokke Farm or Forest
&
 | Hills.)
 |
 | You're going to need to go after Blangonga after finishing up Destroyer +.
Net
 | five Blangonga Whiskers and three Blangonga Fangs. You have to destroy his
fangs
 | in order to receive them. While going back and forth between quests, don't
 | forget to harvest at least twenty Ice Crystals. With that in mind, you can
net
 | this weapon in as little as an hour.
 |
 | I choose this weapon over White Mantis as a matter of convenience. You may
 | already possess Blango Decimator from past skirmishes. The White Mantis,
while
 | being THE best weapon to fight Elder Gravios, it takes a dozen rare materials
to
 | forge. Which wasn't worth it as it's path ends at Crescent Vice. A weapon
 | overshadowed by the better water Longsword, Atlantica.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The reach Longsword allows us to cleanly chop at our foe's Tail. Our strategy is
straightforward. Dice the insides like fanatic butcher. Take opportunities like
Tail Whip to chop madly. If you sense a gas attack then pull out. Hip-Check
allows us to barrage the Tail, while chipping the Wings becomes our safety. Try
following the Dual Swords in terms of evasion. If you sense a High Roar on the
way, get out of there quick. If you're lucky you can avoid it.

                           x-----------------------x
                           | Hammer, Hunting Horn! |
                           o=======================o

 x--------------x
 | KUT-KU PICK! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hammer
 | Weapon Attack: 884
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: 10%
 | Slots: Three
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer --> Atlas Hammer
 |        Kut-Ku Jaw --> Kut-Ku Pick
 |
 | Method:
 |
 | Start with Bone Club and branch into Cylo Hammer and then Atlas Hammer.
 | Gathering the materials for Kut-Ku Jaw one Giant Beak which only comes from
 | carving Yian Kut-Ku. I've had a bigger issue with finding the four Kut-Ku
Ears
 | to forge Kut-Ku Pick, you'll need four of those by the way. You can buy the
two
 | Monster Fluid from the Old Lady for 5000z a pop, or carve them from
Hornetaurs.
 | Personally I'd just spend the cash.
 |
 | Once you've got your materials to forge the Jaw, it's time we went after the
 | Pick. Hopefully you frisked four Kut-Ku Ears from your questing. Under the
 | likely event that you didn't, harvest till you do. Next comes two Vibrant
Pelt
 | which come from Congalala, and guess what? They're also hard to find! And
 | finally comes the tedious four Monster Bone + hunting. You can alternate
quests
 | to mix things up, but it's still a drag.
 |
 | Is it worth it? Hell yes. Get hunting!
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Triple-Pounding the stomach is the effective, but risky. Hammering the underside
takes time, leaving you open to a nasty Hip-Check. Players often have easier
times
hunkering near the Wing than the Stomach. In fact it's recommended you do so if
Black Gravios camps on a Poison Pool (Swamp). That being said you can settle for
a
Charge. Power-up, release, glide away, repeat. Refer to Dual Swords section for
evasion tactics.

 x---------------x
 | KHEZU HORN +! |
 x---------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Hunting Horn
 | Weapon Attack: 780
 | Element: Thunder 290
 | Sharpness: Green
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: One
 | Notes: White, Blue, Yellow
 | Path:
 | Bone Club --> Cyclo Hammer --> Atlas Hammer
 |    --> Khezu Horn --> Khezu Horn +
 |
 | Method:
 | Buy a Bone Club and gather two Giant Bones (Congalala), three Brute Bones,
 | and thirteen Small Monster Bones. Improve until you get Atlas Hammer, then
 | farm three Flabby Hide, four Pale Extract, and two Electro Sacs from Khezu
until
 | you get the Khezu Horn.
 |
 | From there farm eight Flabby Hide and a Pale Bone from Khezu, and four
Monster
 | Bone + to forge the Khezu Horn +.
 |
 | Noteworthy Notes:
 | (Infinite Stamina [Small]) -- White --> Blue (1 Min)
 | (Elemental Attack Up) -- Yellow --> Blue --> Yellow --> White (1:30 Min)
 | (Fire Def Up [Large]) -- Yellow --> Blue --> White (1 Min)
 | (Thunder Def Up [Large]) -- Yellow --> Yellow --> Blue (1 Min)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The Hunting Horn's a tad easier to handle when dealing with Gravios. The
Superpound (Triangle + Circle) allows you to attack with some range. With it you
can smash the Tail from behind, the Wing on the side, or the belly underneath
depending on the circumstances. Plus the Infinite Stamina, Elemental Attack Up,
and extra Fire Defense bolsters your offense AND defense. Depending on your
choices in armor however, you'll have a tough time enduring Gravios.

Pick the right moments for Recital Mode. A Gravios Beam is perfect for a quick
White --> White note. Our ultimate goal is the stomach. Quick Upwards Swings
(Triangle) allow you to roll away faster then a Superpound might. Which comes
useful in case you detect Exhaust and need to get away.

                             x------------------x
                             | Lance, Gunlance! |
                             o==================o

 x------------x
 | OGRE TUSK! |
 x------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Lance
 | Weapon Attack: 414
 | Element: Raw
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Path:
 | Longhorn --> Longhorn + --> Long Tusk
 |     Barbaroi Tusk --> Ogre Tusk
 |
 | Method:
 | You've been down this path with Incessant Raven. Now, you're just making a
 | detour to Ogre Tusk, a powerful Raw weapon. Ogre Tusk's path is out-gunned
 | by Raging Tempest, but because of the Affinity, it's recommended you use
 | Ogre Tusk for the time. Five Monster Bone + are required to forge this
 | weapon along with twenty Ioprey Hide and two Mega Demondrugs.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

Not all that different from the Hunting Horn in terms of attack. Instead of
heavy-
swinging we'll be stabbing his underside with gusto. Your enemy is Exhaust and
his
'gas' attacks. Exhaust can knock you outside Gravios perimeter, and Black
Gravios
can counter with a Beam. Beams are harder to avoid as a Lancer. Try double-
hopping
away from the path of the beam.

Guarding allows to block much of Gravios attacks like Hip-Check, Fly, and Tail
Whip if needed. Even better, the Lance buys you the opportunity to cleave his
Tail. Your options are versatile, making the Lance the perfect weapon for
dueling
Gravios.

 x--------------x
 | DEEP FISHER! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Gunlance
 | Weapon Attack: 368
 | Element: Water 200
 | Sharpness: Green (Blue with Sharpness +1)
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: N/A
 | Shelling: Long Lv. 1
 | Path:
 | Iron Gunlance --> Snow Gunlance --> Snow Gunlance MK. II
 |            Marine Fisher --> Deep Fisher
 |
 | Method:
 | I would choose the easier path and create a Marine Fisher from scratch then
 | upgrade directly to Deep Fisher. It will cost you a hefty amount of Plesioth
 | Fins (eleven to be exact,) four Monster Bone +, and seven Dragonite Ore. The
 | other materials (Plesioth Scale, Iron Ore, and Burst Arrowana) come from
 | various sources but aren't hard to gather.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Hard
 x---------------------------------x

The Gunlance trades powers with the Lance. Devoted offense, weaker defense. The
pros allow you Shell Gravios insides. Which comes in handy during an overused
Tail
Whip. The cons is the inherently slow hop. Meaning you got to stash your gear
before high-tailing it out of there. Worse yet, if you're hit by Exhaust your
chances of escaping the Gravios Beam is slim.

Guard works for intercepting Hip-Check, Fly, and Tail Whip. Turtling enables
strong upwards stabs paired with Shells and Wyvern Fire. Which is great, up
until
you're ambushed with Exhaust and Gravios Beam. If you see it coming, sheath your
Gunlance and evade. If you're hit while unsheathed, you have the opportunity to
avoid the oncoming Beam.

                               x--------------x
                               | Bow, Bowgun! |
                               o==============o

 x----------------------x
 | DAIMYO'S WARBOW III! |
 x----------------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Bow
 | Weapon Attack: 180
 | Element: Water 120
 | Affinity: N/A
 | Slots: Two
 | Coatings: All but Razor
 |
 | Charges Levels:
 | Charge Lv1: Scatter Lv3
 | Charge Lv2: Scatter Lv3
 | Charge Lv3: Pierce Lv3
 | Charge Lv4: Rapid Lv4
 |
 | Path:
 | Daimyo's Warbow I --> Daimyo's Warbow II --> Daimyo's Warbow III
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need two Ceantaur Claws, three Green Plesioth Scales, and four Medium
 | Monster Bones to forge Daimyo's Warbow II. Through that, gather six Black
 | Pearls, four Hermituar Claws, and two Twisted Horns (Break Diablos Horn) to
make
 | Daimyo's Warbow III.
 |
 | A good weapon eventually beaten out by Dragonhead Harp in elemental attack.
 | The parts necessary for forging are quite common. All except for two Twisted
 | Horns, requiring you to shatter Diablos Horn. Happy Hunting!
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

I brought Power, Poison, and Sleep Coatings. Along with any Large Barrel Bombs I
could take (to take advantage of the Sleep status.) Worries of Exhaust are over!
Keep to Gravios left, in a counterclockwise motion. Pierce arrows penetrate his
thick skin, inflicting great damage. Otherwise there's not much to it. Watch out
for attacks like Tail Whip, and Overshot Tackle. Sometimes he'll spam Tackle (or
in Black Gravios case) Gravios Beam. If you're not sure how to manipulate a
Tackle
see Diagram #14 - Overshot Tackle.

 x----------------x
 | TAIL STRING +! |
 x----------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Light Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 168                Normal S: 9  9  12  Flame S : -  -  -
 | Reload: Normal                    Pierce S: 3  2  2   Water S : 3  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: 4  2  2   Thnd S  : 3  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : -  -  -   Freeze S: 3  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : -  -  -   Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3  3  -   Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: -  -  -   Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : -  -  -   Demon S : 1  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -   Armor S : 1  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | The Jade Storm gave us Clusts and Crags along with a massive variety in
 | ammunition. The Tail String + unlocks extra power but at the cost of the
 | explosive ammunition we've coddled. The division between Pierce and Pellet
 | is pretty even, favoring Pellet a bit more.
 |
 | The three Blangonga Whiskers and three Blangonga pelts can be gotten from,
 | guess who, Blangonga. The four Giant Bone come from Bulldrome, or guess
 | again, Blangonga. The only other item is three Killer Beatles which can be
 | netted from Pokke Farm. This is something you can easily do in-between trips
 | of fighting Blangonga.
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average
 x---------------------------------x

 x--------------x
 | QUICKCASTER! |
 x--------------x--------x
 | Weapon Type: Heavy Bowgun         Load Lv:  1  2  3
 | Weapon Attack: 252                Normal S: 6  6  9  Flame S : 3  -  -
 | Reload: Very Fast                 Pierce S: 3  3  -  Water S : 3  -  -
 | Recoil: Moderate                  Pellet S: -  4  -  Thnd S  : 3  -  -
 | Affinity: N/A                     Crag S  : -  1  -  Freeze S: 3  -  -
 | Slots: N/A                        Clust S : -  1  -  Drgn S  : -  -  -
 |                                   Recov S : 3  3  -  Tranq S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Poison S: 3  1  -  Paint S : 2  -  -
 |                                   Para S  : 3  1  -  Demon S : 1  -  -
 |                                   Sleep S : 3  1  -  Armor S : 1  -  -
 |
 | Method:
 | You'll need eight Kirin Mane, two Kirin hide, ten Dragonite Ore, and two
Twisted
 | Horn (Monoblos.)
 |
 | Challenge Rating: Average-Hard
 x---------------------------------x

Light Bowgun Shells: Pierce Lv2, Water S, Freeze S, Normal Lv3
Heavy Bowgun Shells: Pierce Lv2, Water S, Freeze S, Normal Lv3, Crag S/Clust S

Give Gravios a wide berth, like you would with the Bow. Ween your reload times,
using the moments you have between tackles and beams. Use the shield attachment
for your Heavy Bowgun if you desire to block it.

o==========o------------------o
| Question  \ Final thoughts? |
o============o----------------o

When broken down, he's not so intimidating. Even though he's a gargantuan rock
glutton that forfeit mercy long ago. Okay, try this image. You're the dart, and
Gravios is the dartboard. The dartboard WANTS the darts. It NEEDS the darts. And
your ready to deliver. Now open your eyes, and fire!

 /\  /\        |_|
/  \/  \onster | |unter===================================================--x
-----------x----------|                 To Be Continued!                     \
                      x===================================================----x

Sadly, you have reached the end of this guide. Is this really the end? Will the
guide-maker burnout and stop writing? Or will he find the courage to slay the
boredom monster and make it one more day? When will he update next? Will he
cover more monsters? And will his laptop return to him before the warranty
expires? Find out this and more next update! Until then, this section will
remain.