The Level 70 Normal-difficulty trial The Great Hunt, also known as Rathalos NM, can be unlocked by accepting the Level 70 quest “The New King on the Block” from Hearty Hunter in Kugane (X:9.7, Y:8.9).
This trial was made available in patch 4.36 of the Stormblood expansion in collaboration with Monster Hunter: World, and it can only be unlocked after you finish the Level 70 MSQ “Stormblood” from Pipin in The Lochs (X:32.6, Y:22.9).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Step-by-Step Unlock Guide
- Finish the Level 70 MSQ “Stormblood” from Pipin in The Lochs (X:32.6, Y:22.9).
- Accept the Level 70 quest “The New King on the Block” from Hearty Hunter in Kugane (X:9.7, Y:8.9).
- Teleport to the Reunion Aetheryte in The Azim Steppe and speak with the locals.
- Head to The Azim Steppe (X:27.7, Y:32.9) and talk to the Palico.
- Speak with Felyne once more in The Azim Steppe (X:11.8, Y:11.1).
Detailed Unlocking Guide
The Great Hunt is one of the endgame trials in the Stormblood expansion and can only be unlocked after completing the patch 4.0 main storyline.
So if you haven’t done so already, accept and complete the Level 70 MSQ “Stormblood” from Pipin in The Lochs (X:32.6, Y:22.9).
Then speak with the Hearty Hunter in Kugane (X:9.7, Y:8.9) to begin the quest for unlocking The Great Hunt.
The Hearty Hunter recently came across an unusual hunt bill for a large wyvern in the Clan Hunt board and wants you to investigate further.
Being the competitive hunter that he is, he also challenges you to a race to see who can hunt the wyvern down first.
After talking to the Hearty Hunter, teleport to Reunion Aetheryte in The Azim Steppe to continue.
Speak with the local au ras to learn more about the monster until you come across a Concerned Qestir, who will point you toward a certain direction where the monster may be located.
Head to The Azim Steppe (X:27.7, Y:32.9) to continue.
Upon reaching the destination, a cutscene will occur and you’ll be approached by a Fashionable Feline.
If you’ve played Monster Hunter: World before, you’ll know that this cat-like creature is a Palico. The Palico will introduce herself as Felyne, and she’ll tell you that she posted the hunt bill back in Kugane.
You’ll learn of her search for the monster named Rathalos, also known as the King of the Skies.
Soon after, the wyvern itself will appear and scare off some local fauna before flying away.
Chase after it with Felyne to The Azim Steppe (X:11.8, Y:11.1).
After a brief chat with your newfound friend, The Great Hunt will be unlocked. This trial requires at least a Level 70 Disciple of War or Magic job and an average item level of 320 to enter.
Trial Boss: Rathalos
Similar to Monster Hunter: World’s gameplay, the boss can’t be tanked normally. Most of the boss’ attacks will be non-telegraphed, so watch for visual cues when dodging.
Phase 1: Non-telegraphed Attacks
Don’t stand in front or behind the boss.
If you’re using a ranged character, never go within the boss’ melee range. Mechanics will repeat randomly until the boss drops under 85% HP.
- Roar: A room-wide AoE attack. Mitigate and heal through the damage.
- Rush: The boss will lower its head and prepare to rush toward a random player, damaging anyone caught in its path and may stun them for five seconds.
- Tail Swipe: A 180-degree frontal AoE followed by a 180-degree backward AoE. Run away from melee range.
- Fire Breath: One player will be marked for a circle AoE that applies a “Burns” DoT for 20 seconds. Move away from the party if you’re marked and dispel the DoT immediately.
- Mangle: The boss will turn its head to the right and prepare a frontal cone that knocks players back and applies a “Burns” DoT for 20 seconds.
- Flaming Recoil: One player will be targeted with an AoE that apples a “Burns” DoT for 20 seconds.
Phase 2: Steppe Animals, Garula, and King of the Skies
In Phase 2, animals will spawn and begin attacking the boss.
These animals can be tanked and will also be damaged by the boss’ attacks. Tank the animals near the boss and focus on killing the coeurl first.
- Lullaby (Steppe Sheep): A point-blank AoE that applies “Sleep” for eight seconds. Dispel as soon as possible.
- Wide Blaster (Steppe Coeurl): A room-wide frontal cone AoE that applies “Paralysis” for 30 seconds. This can also be dispelled.
- Head Butt (Steppe Yamaa): A frontal column attack.
- Seismic Scream (Steppe Yamaa): A “Physical Damage Up” buff.
- Garula: Will spawn when the boss reaches 69% HP and must be killed immediately. Its corpse is required to survive the boss’ incoming “King of the Skies” ultimate attack.
- Rush (Garula): The garula will charge the boss and incapacitate it. This attack also spawns a “Foothold” that one player must use to mount the boss for an Active Time Maneuver (ATM) event, a reference to the mounting mechanic in Monster Hunter: World. Kill the garula before the ATM timer runs out, or you will wipe to “King of the Skies.”
- Heave (Garula): A strong column attack toward a random player.
- Foothold: One player must interact with the “Foothold” in front of the boss’ head to keep it grounded and prevent it from using “King of the Skies.” This player will mount the boss for an ATM and will constantly receive damage. If the mounted player dies, the party will wipe, so keep them topped off at all times.
- King of the Skies: A room-wide ultimate AoE attack that deals 999,999 damage. Hide behind the garula’s corpse to survive.
Phase 3: Down Gauge and Tail
At this point, the entire party will receive a “Scalebound” debuff, preventing players from recovering HP normally. You can only receive healing through the 10 Mega Potions available in your duty action slot. You can still use shields, barriers, and other mitigation skills to reduce incoming damage.
The boss will also receive a “Vulnerability Down” buff, and it can only be significantly damaged once its “Down Gauge” reaches 100.
- Down Gauge & Rathalos’ Tail: Once this gauge reaches 100, the boss will be grounded and its tail will become targetable. Burn down the tail to deal massive damage to the boss.
The next time you fill the Down Gauge after destroying its tail, the boss itself will become more vulnerable. Continue filling the gauge and attacking the boss until it’s dead. - Rush (Phase 3): This attack now applies a 20-second “Poison” DoT.
- Sweeping Flames: Immediately after “Rush,” the boss will turn around and use a non-telegraphed AoE that applies a 20-second “Burns” DoT.
- Fireball (Phase 3): This attack is now a stack marker that leaves a fiery puddle afterward. Stand with the affected player to mitigate incoming damage then move out of the puddle.
Rewards
After killing the boss, you need to interact with its neck and severed tail to receive your loot:
- Rathalos Scale (Crafting Material)
Guide Navigation
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Final Fantasy XIV
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