Vaal Hazak: Hellish Fiend

Learn how to defeat Vaal Hazak in Monster Hunter: World. Get tips on weaknesses, resistances, and strategies to overcome its effluvia attacks.

Alright, so you're about to face Vaal Hazak, the Hellish Fiend. This one's a bit different – it doesn't mess with elements like fire or ice. Instead, it's all about ailments, specifically that nasty effluvia that drains your health. Your best bet for protection is armor made from Vaal Hazak's own materials, but until then, you'll need to rely heavily on your healing items. Make sure you pack plenty of Nulberries and max Potions, and keep an eye on your decorations; Miasma Jewels can grant Effluvia Resistance, which is super helpful, especially at rank three where it can block the ailment entirely. Gobbler decorations (Speed Eater) can also help you recover faster from its effects.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Elements: Fire (***), Water (X), Thunder (*), Ice (**), Dragon (***)
• Ailments: Poison (*), Sleep (*), Paralysis (*), Blast (**), Stun (**)

Strategy:

• Vaal Hazak is a bit like a dracolich, using the Rotten Vale's effluvia as its weapon. It can concentrate this toxin into deadly attacks.
• Compared to some other Elder Dragons, Vaal Hazak's movements can seem a bit slow, but don't let that fool you. It compensates with surprising bursts of speed and a wide range of attacks.
• It has several charge attacks, including leaping ones, multi-stage charges, and a fast sprint that covers a lot of ground.
• Like Teostra, Vaal Hazak gets more dangerous as the fight goes on. It accumulates effluvia around itself, creating a mist that damages melee attackers.
• Its most dangerous attacks are its effluvia discharges. These are usually front-focused but have a large area of effect. Vaal Hazak often rears up or inhales before releasing them, giving you a window to react.
• The long-range stream of effluvia it sweeps back and forth is particularly nasty due to its damage and frequency. If you're safe when it starts, it can't turn during the attack, giving you an opening.
• It can also release a cloud of effluvia centered on itself, which drains health if you're caught inside. This is often telegraphed by a roar.
• A variation of the cloud attack involves Vaal Hazak vomiting a gout of effluvia in front of it. This deals heavy damage and scales with how much effluvia it has absorbed. Elderseal weapons can help diminish this.
• For close-range combat, Vaal Hazak uses a lunging bite, a claw sweep, a spinning bite that can hit its flanks and rear, and a tail sweep. It's best to try and stay to its sides and rear, especially when you see it preparing its frontal attacks.
• Warning: Vaal Hazak's attacks can inflict effluvia, which halves your current health bar. This makes you extremely vulnerable. While Nulberries can cure the effluvia, they won't restore your lost health, which you'll need to heal with other items, leaving you exposed.