Azure Rathalos General Information¶

Azure Rathalos is another High Rank palette swap that you never have to fight to advance the story. You’ll first be able to fight it after completing the mandatory Elder’s Recess expedition, where the quests Rathalos in Blue and Ruler of the Azure Skies should unlock. Around the same time you should also be able to pick up the quest The Red and Blue Crew by talking to the Armory Clerk in the Workshop. After defeating an Azure Rathalos, you may also unlock the optional quest Special Arena: HR Azure Rathalos, a standard arena hunting quest.

Azure Rathalos Strengths and Weaknesses¶

The Azure Rathalos has much in common with the Rathalos, and its weak points are one such similarity. The head takes the most damage from attacks, followed by the wings and tail. The head, wings and body are all breakable, with the tail being severable.

Azure Rathalos is resistant to Fire, but very weak to Dragon, and somewhat weak to Ice.

While not particularly susceptible to any ailment, Sleep, Paralysis and Stun are easier to inflict than Poison and Blast.

More than any other type of Flying Wyvern, the Azure Rathalos prefers remaining airborne and using its fire breath to attack. A Fire Resistance score of twenty or higher is recommended, as it’ll prevent you from being set on fire, as are means of reaching the monster. Flash Pods will help greatly during this fight. While its tail attacks are less common, Azure Rathalos can still inflict Poison, but this time with its claw attacks instead of with tail strikes. If you can manage it, three ranks of the Poison Resistance skill will negate this hazard, but failing that, Antidotes may be necessary.

Azure Rathalos Attacks¶

In combat, the Azure Rathalos fights much like the Rathalos, using most of the same attacks. The difference is a matter of preference, not of arsenal, as the Azure Rathalos employs its fiery breath far more frequently than the Rathalos, although both are fond of staying in the air as much as possible.

While it can employ flying charge attacks and a diving claw attack (which it is quite fond of, and which can inflict Poison now), it very regularly makes use of its fire breath while in the air and on the ground. These fire breath attacks include a single blast (in the air it’ll often immediately follow this up with a diving claw attack), a triple blast, or a sweeping arc of fire. While somewhat rare, they can also use their tail to sweep the area in front of them - a marked different use of the tail as compared to the Rathian, Rathalos and Pink Rathian, who prefer aerial tail flips.

If it does find itself forced to the ground and deigns to accept its terrestrial fetters, it can make use of the charge “attack” that all Flying Wyverns seem to share, but it will also frequently leap into the air before immediately slamming itself down - ample deterrence to hunters with close-range weapons. When it tires of remaining on the ground, it can seamlessly transition back to the air with a leaping fire breath blast.

The Azure Rathalos has precious little to offer, as far as unique drops go. It can drop a Rathalos Ruby - a drop also shared by High Rank Rathalos - which is a very rare carve. You can increase your odds of obtaining this item by breaking the head or body, or by carving the tail. Otherwise, its rare drops include a Rathalos Plate (which can also be obtained from the much easier Low Rank Rathalos).