There are two quests tasking you with hunting down the Azure Rathalos; this quest, and the quest Ruler of the Azure Skies. Both are virtually identical, save for the locale, and it really comes down to a matter of preference - would you rather fight the Azure Rathalos in the familiar confines of the Ancient Forest, or in the Elder’s Recess? The big difference, aside from geography, are the monsters that’ll be present alongside it. In this quest, in the Ancient Forest, expect a Rathalos and Rathian to be flying about, while in the Elder’s Recess its companions are a Lavasioth and an Uragaan. The Flying Wyverns in the Ancient Forest are more likely to interfere with your fight, but then again, that might not be a bad thing if you can get them to injure each other.

Hunt - Azure Rathalos¶

Whichever of these two quests you choose, the Azure Rathalos is the same either way, and depending upon your skills and weapon choice, the Azure Rathalos may not be too much more of a hassle than a normal Rathalos. They both like to stay airborne a majority of the time, and they have the same attacks. The difference is a matter of preference, not capability. While the Rathalos was plenty fond of using its fire breath, it also used its claws and tail regularly. The Azure Rathalos doubles down on fire attacks, to the point where other attacks (save it’s aerial claw-charge, of which it is quite fond) are relatively rare. Fire resistance is highly recommended to mitigate the damage, but the Azure Rathalos can also inflict poison… but with its claws rather than with its tail.

While the Rathalos often consented to getting into melee range, the Azure Rathalos much more frequently relies on distant fireballs and charge attacks. Against a hunter with a melee weapon, the Azure Rathalos can be a chore, but on the other hand, Flash Pods have never been more useful. Dung Pods will help keep the other flying wyverns away, as well, so there’s plenty of use for your Slinger in these quests. Fortunately, the tail still proves to be a convenient enough target, if you’re savvy enough to keep in reach… just don’t be as eager to lop it off, as doing so won’t hinder the Azure Rathalos as much as it did its kin.

The Azure Rathalos takes more damage from blows to the head, wings and tail, as usual, with the head taking the most damage from attacks. The head, wings, body and tail are all breakable, with the latter being severable. It is weak to Dragon element attacks and resistant to Fire, while also being resilient to the Poison and Blast ailments and not particularly weak against any other ailments.