Strategies for Defeating All Elder Dragons in Monster Hunter Stories 3
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Calamitous Elder Dragons are the ultimate challenges in Monster Hunter Stories 3. These legendary beasts appear only under specific conditions, and you can even recruit some to your team after defeating them.
Each region in Monster Hunter Stories 3 features one Calamitous Elder Dragon. To summon them, you need to defeat a series of monsters at night. After enough battles, a cutscene will signal the arrival of an Elder Dragon somewhere in the world.
Prepare a strong team of Monsties and stock up on items to take down these Elder Dragons, as they drop the best gear in the game. Here’s how to conquer all four Calamitous Elder Dragons in Monster Hunter Stories 3.
Namielle, introduced in Monster Hunter World’s Iceborne expansion, is the Calamitous Elder Dragon menacing the kingdom of Azuria. You can find it soaring above Mirror Lake once summoned.
Malzeno is the top choice for this battle, boasting powerful dragon attacks that can significantly deplete Namielle’s health, along with resistance to its electric and water attacks.
During the fight, Namielle shifts between three forms. It starts with Water Mantle active, so counter its green Technical moves with red Power attacks. After a few turns, it will switch to Abyssal Charge, using electric damage and blue Speed attacks.
Namielle unleashes devastating AOE attacks during Abyssal Charge, so bolster your defenses and keep your HP high. Surviving this phase will lead to its Water Depleted state, making it more vulnerable. In this state, it will use red Power attacks, so win Head-to-Heads with blue Speed attacks to chip away at its Wyvernsoul gauge.
Equip armor and decorations that mitigate thunder and water damage to withstand Namielle’s onslaught. Its water attacks can inflict a status that halts stamina recovery, so bring Nulberry Elixirs to counter this effect.
After your initial encounter, Yama Tsukami awaits for a rematch in Tarkuan. While it’s one of the easier Calamitous Elder Dragons, it still poses a challenge.
Malzeno remains the best option here as well, thanks to its strong dragon attacks and genes like Self-Heal, which enhance its survivability. Lunagaron or Aurora Somnacanth are also solid alternatives.
In its normal state, Yama Tsukami uses red Power attacks and slams its tentacles down. Focus on breaking its tentacles while keeping everyone’s HP topped off. All of its attacks deal normal damage, so equip armor and decorations that boost your defenses.
Once the tentacles are broken, Yama Tsukami will open its mouth. After seven turns, it will unleash a lethal AOE attack called Yama Tsukami Pull, which can wipe your party. You must break its mouth before this happens.
Repeat the process until you either repel or defeat Yama Tsukami. This fight is manageable as long as you can withstand its tentacles and deal enough damage to its mouth to prevent the AOE.
The toughest battle in the game pits you against both Ibushi and Narwa at the same time, both capable of one-shotting even the strongest teams.
Magnamalo is the ideal Monstie for this encounter, delivering powerful dragon attacks that exploit both Elder Dragons’ weaknesses. It resists thunder damage, which is beneficial against Narwa, but has a slight vulnerability to dragon attacks from Ibushi. Fortunately, Magnamalo boasts higher defense than most Monsties.
This fight is more about endurance than anything else. Even with top-tier gear and genetically enhanced Monsties, Ibushi and Narwa can still wipe your party.
Ride your Monstie whenever possible. If you get knocked off after a major attack, you won’t lose any hearts. Since you can only use a limited number of Vital Essences per battle, preserving your hearts is crucial.
During the fight, Narwa and Ibushi will buff themselves and debuff your team. Remove your debuffs quickly and apply your own to weaken them. Malzeno’s E. Dominance Egg Skill is particularly effective, so channel that onto your favorite Monstie.
The two Elder Dragons will alternate their attacks. One will have the Mind Connection status, focusing on support, while the other will be in Thunder/Wind Mantle state, dealing heavy damage. Target the one with Thunder or Wind Mantle, as they have more parts to break and provide more chances to inflict Wyvernsoul damage.
Since they are so interconnected, dealing Wyvernsoul damage to one will also affect the other. Avoid using AOE attacks on both; concentrate your efforts on a single target!
When Ibushi has Wind Mantle active, it will use red Power attacks. When Narwa has Thunder Mantle, it will employ green Technical attacks. Both will use blue Speed attacks while in Mind Connection. They will unleash numerous AOE attacks, so ensure you’re using the right color of attacks to win Head-to-Heads.
Even with a solid strategy, an unlucky run can still lead to a wipe. To enhance your survival odds, equip armor and decorations with Divine Blessing, Anti 1-Hit KO, Tenacity, and other defensive buffs. Dodging attacks will also make this fight significantly easier, so Evasion Ability is essential for your Monsties.
The final Calamitous Elder Dragon you can face in Monster Hunter Stories 3 is Velkhana, the flagship monster from Iceborne.
Rathalos is the best all-around Monstie for this battle due to its ice resistance and strong fire attacks, but any fire Monstie that isn’t overly weak to ice will suffice. Ensure your chosen Monstie has an Ice Def Boost gene and genes that enhance Kinship gains.
Velkhana starts the fight in its normal state, using green Technical attacks. Shortly after, it will activate an Ice Mantle and switch to blue Speed attacks. Once the Ice Mantle is depleted, it will cover itself with a Freezing Fog Mantle and use red Power attacks. Win those Head-to-Heads to lower its Wyvernsoul gauge!
Velkhana can inflict Frostblight, which can be cured by winning Head-to-Heads or executing Double Attacks with your Monstie. Ignoring Frostblight will leave you vulnerable and lose a turn.
Frostblight is a crucial mechanic in this battle, and since it can only be removed through Head-to-Heads or Double Attacks, Velkhana will spend much of the fight using single-target attacks that you can counter for significant Wyvernsoul damage.
This is the key to victory. Bring a hammer with skills that deal extra damage to monster parts and send your Monsties on Excursions to unlock Egg Powers like Battle Thirst, which enhance Head-to-Head effectiveness. Your goal is to overwhelm Velkhana.
Velkhana also has several AOE attacks, and its icy blasts can easily wipe your team if you’re not cautious. If you see it preparing for an AOE attack, use a Kinship Skill to interrupt it. If your Kinship Gauge isn’t full, boost your defense and hope for the best.
As long as you use the right attacks to win Head-to-Heads and equip gear that resists ice damage, you’ll take down Velkhana in a few attempts.
