Azure Rathalos

Learn how to defeat the aggressive Azure Rathalos in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. Discover its weaknesses, attack patterns, and strategies to bring it down from the sky.

Alright, so you've run into the Azure Rathalos, huh? This guy's a real step up from the regular Rathalos, and honestly, a bit of a pain in the sky. Unlike its cousin, this blue menace prefers to stay airborne, making it tough for most weapons to even touch it. It's also way more aggressive and quicker with its attacks, so you'll definitely want to pack some Antidotes. Seriously, don't skimp on them!

The biggest challenge is its aerial dominance. When it's up there, most of us ground-bound hunters can't reach it. It's also super precise with its talon attacks. If you don't have Evasion+2 or +3, or a shield to block, your best bet when it charges is to sprint away and then press B to dive. This is your main way to survive its onslaught. If you just try to run around, it'll still find a way to hit you, and it's not afraid to chain those attacks, which can easily stun you and lead to a faint.

One of its signature moves is the Air Chomp. While it's in the air, it'll lunge forward with a chomp. Watch out, because this move also spits out a plume of flame. If you're trying to sneak in a hit from directly underneath, you might get caught by that fire.

Stats / Weaknesses

• Elemental Weakness: Dragon
• Status Weakness: Blast

Phases

The Azure Rathalos doesn't really have distinct phases in terms of its moveset changing drastically, but its behavior shifts based on whether it's grounded or airborne. The key is to manage its time in the air.

Strategy

• Bring Antidotes: Its talon attacks can inflict poison, and you'll want to clear that status quickly.
• Master the Dive: When it's airborne and charging, sprinting and pressing B to dive is crucial for survival if you lack high evasion skills or a shield.
• Flash Bomb Timing: Azure Rathalos is incredibly susceptible to Flash Bombs. If you time it right, you can knock it out of the sky, giving you a valuable window to attack while it's grounded.
• Exploit Grounded Time: When it's on the ground, focus on hitting its weak points. Since it spends so much time in the air, these grounded opportunities are precious.
• Dragon and Blast: Utilize weapons with Dragon element or apply Blast status to inflict extra damage.
• Breakable Parts: Like the regular Rathalos, its wings, head, and tail are breakable. Breaking the wings can sometimes limit its aerial capabilities, and the tail can be cut for extra materials.

Here's a quick look at where you might find this beast: