MHW Alatreon: Special Assignment Guide - HP, Weakness & Strategy
Hey guys! So, you're diving into the world of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne and have heard whispers of a certain black dragon named Alatreon, huh? This guide is here to break down everything you need to know about the Alatreon Special Assignment, from its HP to its weaknesses, and the best strategies to take it down. Trust me; you'll need all the help you can get!
Unlocking the Alatreon Special Assignment
Before you can even think about battling Alatreon, you need to unlock the special assignment. To do this, you'll need to have completed the Iceborne story and reached the Guiding Lands. Once you've done that, keep an eye out for a special assignment called "Blazing Black Twilight". This quest will become available in Seliana, so make sure you check there often. Talking to the Third Fleet Master in Seliana is the first step in initiating the questline, so don't miss her! She'll give you the lowdown on the situation and get you started on your path to facing Alatreon. Completing a few preparatory quests is essential; these usually involve hunting monsters in the Guiding Lands or special investigations. These quests not only prepare you for the challenge ahead but also provide valuable resources. The Alatreon quest is notorious for its difficulty, demanding excellent preparation and strategy. Make sure your gear is top-notch and fully augmented, as Alatreon hits incredibly hard. Additionally, stocking up on essential items like Max Potions, Mega Potions, and other consumables will significantly increase your survivability. Your understanding of Alatreon's attack patterns and elemental shifts will be crucial to your success, so pay close attention to any information you gather during the preparatory quests. Remember, knowledge is power when it comes to monster hunting!
Alatreon's HP and Weaknesses
Alright, let's talk numbers. Alatreon's HP can vary depending on whether you're fighting it in the Special Assignment or the Event Quest version. Generally, in the Special Assignment, Alatreon has a significant amount of HP, making it a long and challenging fight. However, don't get discouraged! Understanding its weaknesses is key to bringing that HP down. Alatreon is unique because it shifts between different elemental states: Fire Active, Ice Active, and Dragon Active. Each state has different elemental weaknesses. When Alatreon is in its Fire Active state, it is weakest to Ice. Conversely, when it's in Ice Active, it's weakest to Fire. During its Dragon Active state, it's generally more resistant to elemental damage, but Dragon weapons can still be effective, particularly for suppressing its Escaton Judgment. Knowing these elemental shifts is crucial for dealing consistent and effective damage. Elemental weapons are almost a must for this fight. Raw damage weapons can work, but they require a much higher level of skill and precise targeting to overcome Alatreon's defenses. So, gear up with the right elemental weapon and get ready to exploit those weaknesses! Don't forget to bring along decorations or armor skills that boost your elemental attack power.
Elemental Weaknesses Breakdown
To make things crystal clear, here’s a quick breakdown of Alatreon's elemental weaknesses during each phase:
- Fire Active: Weak to Ice
- Ice Active: Weak to Fire
- Dragon Active: Neutral, but Dragon element can help suppress Escaton Judgment
It's worth noting that while Alatreon is susceptible to status effects like Blast, Paralysis, and Poison, they are not as effective as exploiting its elemental weaknesses. Focus primarily on elemental damage to meet the DPS check and survive Escaton Judgment.
Key Strategies for Defeating Alatreon
So, you know its weaknesses, but how do you actually take down this beast? Here are some key strategies to keep in mind:
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Elemental Weapon: Seriously, don't even think about going in without one. Choose a weapon with high elemental damage that matches Alatreon's current weakness (Fire for Ice Active, Ice for Fire Active). Weapons like Kjarr weapons, which have Critical Element built-in, are particularly effective. Elemental damage is crucial not only for dealing damage but also for weakening Alatreon's Escaton Judgment. The Escaton Judgment is a devastating attack that can wipe out your entire team if you don't meet the elemental damage threshold. So, prioritizing elemental damage is a matter of survival. Also, consider using elemental boosting armor skills and decorations to maximize your elemental damage output.
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Focus on Forelegs: Alatreon's forelegs are generally the weakest points and are great for dealing elemental damage. Focus your attacks on these areas to maximize your damage output and contribute to weakening Escaton Judgment. Concentrating your attacks on the forelegs allows you to consistently deal elemental damage and build up the elemental threshold needed to weaken Escaton Judgment. Furthermore, damaging the forelegs can sometimes lead to a knockdown, giving you and your team a window to unleash more attacks.
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Suppress Escaton Judgment: The biggest challenge in the Alatreon fight is surviving its Escaton Judgment. To survive this, you need to deal enough elemental damage to weaken it. When you deal enough elemental damage, a message will appear on screen indicating that you've suppressed Escaton Judgment. This reduces the intensity of the attack, making it survivable with proper healing. Failing to meet the elemental damage threshold will result in an Escaton Judgment that can easily one-shot your entire team. This is why elemental weapons and focusing on elemental damage are so crucial.
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Temporal Mantle and Rocksteady Mantle: These mantles can be incredibly useful for surviving Alatreon's attacks and dealing consistent damage. The Temporal Mantle allows you to automatically dodge attacks, while the Rocksteady Mantle lets you tank through attacks without being knocked down. However, be careful when using the Rocksteady Mantle, as you'll still take full damage, so be ready to heal. The Temporal Mantle is great for creating openings and avoiding devastating attacks. The Rocksteady Mantle is useful for sustained damage output, but always be aware of your health and be ready to heal through incoming damage.
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Astera Jerky and Healing: Astera Jerky is your best friend in this fight. It heals a significant amount of health very quickly, which is essential for surviving Escaton Judgment. Bring plenty of Mega Potions, Max Potions, and Lifepowders as well. Proper healing is crucial for surviving both Alatreon's regular attacks and the weakened Escaton Judgment. Make sure to communicate with your team and coordinate healing efforts to keep everyone alive.
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Divine Blessing: The Divine Blessing skill can be a lifesaver, as it gives you a chance to reduce the damage you take from attacks. This can be particularly helpful for surviving Escaton Judgment, even if you've weakened it. The higher the level of Divine Blessing, the greater the chance of reducing damage. This skill can provide an extra layer of defense against Alatreon's powerful attacks and increase your overall survivability.
Recommended Skills and Equipment
Choosing the right skills and equipment can make a huge difference in your success against Alatreon. Here are some recommendations:
- Elemental Attack Up: Maximize your elemental damage with skills like Fire Attack, Ice Attack, etc., depending on your weapon.
- Critical Element: This skill increases the elemental damage you deal on critical hits. Kjarr weapons come with this skill built-in, making them excellent choices.
- Health Boost: This is a must-have skill for almost any endgame build. It increases your maximum health, making you more resistant to one-shot attacks.
- Evade Window: This skill increases the invulnerability window when dodging, making it easier to avoid Alatreon's attacks.
- Divine Blessing: As mentioned earlier, this skill reduces the damage you take from attacks.
- Equipment: Focus on armor sets that provide useful skills and high defense. Alatreon armor itself can be a good option, as it provides useful skills for the fight.
Surviving Escaton Judgment
The Escaton Judgment is Alatreon's ultimate attack, and surviving it is the key to winning the fight. As mentioned earlier, you need to deal enough elemental damage to weaken it. When you've successfully weakened Escaton Judgment, it will still deal a lot of damage, but it should be survivable with proper healing. Here's what you need to do:
- Heal: As soon as Escaton Judgment begins, start healing. Use Astera Jerky, Mega Potions, or Max Potions to keep your health topped off.
- Superman Dive: If you're caught in the blast, try to Superman dive (sheathe your weapon and press the dodge button). This can give you a brief moment of invulnerability and help you survive the initial burst of damage.
- Teamwork: Coordinate with your team to heal each other. Use Lifepowders to quickly heal your teammates.
If you fail to weaken Escaton Judgment, it will likely one-shot you, regardless of your health or armor. So, focus on dealing elemental damage throughout the fight to ensure you can survive this devastating attack.
Final Thoughts
Alatreon is undoubtedly one of the toughest monsters in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. But with the right preparation, strategy, and teamwork, you can overcome this challenge. Remember to focus on elemental damage, exploit its weaknesses, and prioritize survival. Good luck, hunters, and happy hunting!