Monster Hunter: World - How To Beat Every Large Monster

Everything you need to know is in the name — Monster Hunter: World is all about hunting monsters in the New World, a mysterious continent ruled by prehistoric fantasy beasts. Taking these enormous critters down is your primary goal as a hunter, and not all monsters are created equal. Each ‘boss’-like animal has its own unique battle mechanics. Some of them will stand and fight, while others will run away at the first sign of danger.

Defeating monsters is a long, grueling process that might require help from your fellow players. If you’re ever overwhelmed by an ancient monster, use the S.O.S. flare to call for help and bring in more allies. Even just one additional hunter can make a world of difference.

Here, we’re going to focus on the very first location in the game. The Ancient Forest is a huge, complicated, lush location with five unique large monsters to hunt. Always be aware of your surroundings, or a T-Rex might stumble right into your hunting grounds and completely ruin your chances of survival.

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How To Beat Every Large Monster | Ancient Forest Guide

Monsters follow a similar pattern in Monster Hunter: World. There are certain things you’ll always have to do when fighting a monster.

Investigate footprints, saliva, dropping, scrapes, or other signs of monsters. Continue to investigate these and the location of the monster will be marked on your map.
Engage the monster! Monsters are tough, and they’ll retreat to new areas after taking damage. They’ll often change their tactics or use special secondary abilities as they take damage.
Follow them to their lair. Monsters will often retreat to a den or zone where they have an advantage. Be wary of other monsters (large and small) and finish them off.

There are many different monster types, and each one is totally unique. Here, we’re going to focus on strategies to defeat the monsters of the Ancient Forest.

Great Jagras

Often Found In: Area 1, Area 2 (Den: Area 10)
Weaknesses:
- All damage types / ailments are effective.
- Weak to Fire.
- Attack the belly when engorged.

The first major monster can be an overwhelming opponent for first-time hunters, but patience will defeat this monster. Watch out for it’s bite and tail swing attacks — a quick dodge will save you, but the battle doesn’t get heated until the Jagras eats a creature.

After eating a small monster, the Jagras will balloon and gain a fat stomach. It’ll use it’s extra girth to use damaging roll attacks and jumps. Attack the bulging stomach to make it vomit up its meal, leaving it temporarily stunned. You can also attack the head to stun it for a lengthy period of time.

Like all monsters, the Jagras will retreat when wounded. Follow it to a den and finish it off! Watch out for the smaller monsters. Great Jagras often lead packs of smaller Jagras.

Kulu-Ya-Ku

Often Found In: Area 4, Area 5 (Den: Area 11)
Weaknesses:
- Attack the rock to make it drop.
- Weak to Water.
- Smash the egg when it attempts to feed.

The Kulu-Ya-Ku is a giant velociraptor beast. It’s quick and uses its intellect to fight harder than some other monsters. When you damage the Kulu-Ya-Ku, it will dig a large rock out of the ground and use it like a blunt weapon, thrashing it around wildly and doing extra damage with its attacks.

The Kulu-Ya-Ku is pretty retreat-happy too. Construct Net traps to ensnare the beast, or lead it toward breakable tree stumps covered in vines on the hilly shores of Area 4. While swinging the rock around, it can pretty easily (and inadvertently) get itself caught up in the vines.

Like the first monster you encounter, the Giant Jagras, this beast will also retreat to a den. Instead of sleeping in a den, the Kulu-Ya-Ku will collect an egg and start chowing down to recover. Thankfully, eggs are way easier to break. This is the second easiest monster to hunt in the game. The battles are about to get a lot harder.

Pukei-Pukei

Often Found In: Area 6, Area 8
Weaknesses:
- Attack the tail with Cutting damage to chop it off.
- Weak to Thunder.
- Head is weak to all damage types.

The acid-spitting Pukei-Pukei might be your first real challenge. When it’s gullet expands, expect to dodge a mouthful of purple poison. Bring plenty of Antidotes to help you survive the fight. When you’re poisoned, you’ll want to remove that ailment fast.

The Pukei-Pukei has two major poison attacks — a longer range ball of poison that’s easier to dodge, and a wave of poison it spits in a wide arc when you’re near it’s head. Roll toward the back of Pukei-Pukei’s body to avoid this one. Watch out for the tail, too! When it becomes engorged, it can swing and spray more poison in an even wider arc. Use Cutting weapons to slice off the tail and you’ll have less to worry about.

The Pukei-Pukei will use spin-attacks when you’re attacking the side of its body, and may leap up and claw multiple times with its talons. After sustaining some damage, the Pukei-Pukei will retreat by flying away. I recommend attacking Pukei-Pukei just behind the legs, especially after cutting off the tail. It’s talon attack will always miss you here.

When Pukei-Pukei is low on health, it will retreat to Area 6. Once it’s low, it will become enraged and begin attacking with it’s tongue, dishing out extra damage.

Tobi-Kadachi

Often Found In: Only appears after Assigned Quest ‘Flying Sparks: Tobi-Kadachi’
Weaknesses:
- Weak to Water.
- Attack while it clings to walls to stun.

The electric wyvern is a fast opponent that uses the trees to launch powerful striking attacks and confuse hunters. It’s a little hyper-active, and you’ll want to watch out when it electrifies itself. Bring Water element infused weapons to deal extra damage.

The creature prefers staying in its den-like area, and will often retreat there even when it isn’t critically injured. The trick to defeating the Tobi-Kadachi is avoiding its lunge attacks, waiting for it to rest after a series of attacks, or knocking it off its high perch.

The Tobi-Kadachi will open it’s mouth and bite, but you’ll most often contend with the tail. It swings wide, and will sometimes follow-up with two or three more tail-swipes in a row. If it does, it will be winded and pause for a few seconds, giving you time to attack. Focus on the head and tail — the body seems mostly armored.

To stun Tobi-Kadachi, wait for it to cling to trees. If you have ranged weapons, shoot it while it’s on the trees — enough damage will cause it to topple over, leaving it stunned for a good amount of time. If you don’t have ranged weapons, use your wrist-mounted launcher to plink at it with redpits. It might be enough to make it go down.

Anjanath

Often Found In: Area 2, Area 3, Area 5, Area 6, Area 8, Area 12
Weaknesses:
- Weak to Water and Ice.
- Shoot hanging rocks to deal extra damage.

The enormous Tyrannosaurus Rex monster is one of the deadliest monsters you’ll find while exploring the Ancient Forest. This massive predator loves to wander the entire zone, attacking any monsters (and hunters) that get in its way.

On your first encounter with Anjanath, you’ll find it in Area 12. Use the large trees in Area 8 (and other areas) to trap the monster in vines — or, bring lots of traps! Traps will help slow it down, letting you do tons of damage.

The Anjanath’s deadliest attack is its giant bite. It can lunge halfway across any of the Ancient Forest maps, and it can kill an under-prepared hunter in a single attack. Watch out for the monster’s mouth — but aim for the head and tail, like usual.

When a fin and wings sprout out of its head, that when you know it’s time to be extra careful. Avoid standing in front of it — Anjanath will spew fire like a dragon in an arc. It isn’t excessively long range like it’s pounce attack, but you don’t want to be anywhere near it.

Rathalos