Better Know a Monster: Qurupeco

By ARCHON

The Qurupeco is the second boss-monster hunter's will come across in their adventure. He's a considerable step up from the Great Jaggi, but a relatively tight attack range makes his attacks easy to dodge.

The quirk is, that he can imitate the calls of other monsters and bring them too his aid. Wailing on him a little too hard? Oh don't worry, he'll call in a Great Jaggi, and now you are faced with not one but TWO boss monsters. Qurupeco doesn't like the way you are eyeing him? He'll call in a gigantic Rathian to rip your face off! Interrupting these calls and/or driving away the monsters they attract (with dung-bombs) is essential to victory. If you see your foe stand tall and start to bellow, hit him hard with a charge attack in the throat or head if you can, or throw in a sonic bomb to stop the call and momentarily stun him.

Knowing these things will bring you a long way toward victory, but the Qurupeco isn't really a lightweight. He'll charge toward you and bowl you over, biting downward. If you get too close he'll spin around and send you flying with his tail. Sometimes he'll hover just above the ground and spit wads of goo at you (get right in his face to avoid the spit and use a high-reaching attack).

In his most lethal attack, he jumps at you, banging the flints on his arms together and creating a fireball. Get caught by this one, and you will go flying and be set a-flame. Most of the time he claps his flints together twice before using this move so watch for the tell, and dodge or run at right angles to the direction he is jumping to escape. He'll usually attack three times with this so keep dodging. You can block, but even with the lance's shield, the attack takes some life away.

Focus your attacks on his throat or head using vertical slashes to take him down the quickest. A dull weapon will bounce off his wings or tail. Make sure to throw a paint pellet on him, as he'll fly to a new area when he feels he's getting beat. This makes him much easier to track down. Keep following, interrupt his calls, focus on his head and throat and you'll have him down in no time

Better Know a Monster: The Great Jaggi

By ARCHON

Zanzibar and I have already created guides for each of the weapons you will find in Monster Hunter Tri. Along those same lines we thought it might be a good idea to feature the boss monsters that you will encounter in the game. Knowing each monster's behaviors and weaknesses is essential to victory. So first up: The Great Jaggi Guide

The Great Jaggi is the first boss monster you will encounter. No doubt many of you have moved well past this foe and killing him is quite easy. But for the rest of you starting out with base level weapons and armor the Jaggi is a formidable opponent.

When he first spots you he will run towards you. Don't hesitate to attack as it usually takes him a few seconds to start biting and ramming. If you see him scratch at the ground, that's your chance as he's gearing up to roar at you which gives you an opening to land several good hits. He will also stand on his hind legs and call for help. Take advantage of this window to attack attack attack.

The Great Jaggi's main attacks are a sideways bite, a tail whip, and a hip-check that will send you flying across the screen. His bite and whip can be blocked but his tail will often reach around your defense, so I suggest rolling out of the way and counter attacking. The Jaggi will turn sideways and leap at you for his hip-check. Block this if possible and get in a few swipes of your weapon. He usually does each of his moves twice or three times in a row. So, if he's just tail swiped, WATCH OUT, another one is coming.

One of the things that makes this foe difficult is all his tiny Jaggi-lackeys. Although they don't do much damage, they will routinely interrupt your swings and occasionally knock you down. Use a horizontal weapon swipe (with the GS, Lance, Longsword, or SA) or a Hammer spinning attack to clear the area every now and again. Pellet ammo is recommended with the Bowgun for this task

The Great Jaggi takes pretty equal damage most everywhere on his body except his head which is the most sensitive. So strike where ever you can but aim for the head. With careful dodging and counter attacking you'll have him down in no time. Good luck!