Seldom do creatures appear so daunting in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne than when it comes to the Stygian Zinogre.. The Stygian Zinogre is a subspecies of the thunder wolf, and is the second free DLC monster that will be added in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne.
The creature boasts Dragon damage and the devastating Dragonblight effect, as well as an entire arsenal of new attacks. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne players will have to take a unique approach to this fight if they plan on walking away in one piece.
Dragon Damage, and the Dreaded Dragonblight
Any Monster Hunter World: Iceborne player worth their salt will understand that armor absent of Dragon resistance will naturally take more Dragon damage. As such, players should get that Dragon resistance as high as they can for this fight, as having it high enough can render them immune to the status effect Dragonblight.
Unlike most status effects, Dragonblight makes players deal only raw damage. This is devastating for anyone wielding a Poison weapon, as the toxin will not build. To get ahead of Dragonblight, players should consider forgoing elemental and status damage in favor of raw damage.
For Monster Hunter World: Iceborne players that simply cannot do without elemental or status damage, they can remove Dragonblight by using the Dragonproof Mantle, which is obtained via the mission “The Food Chain Dominator.” Putting on the Dragonproof Mantle will automatically remove Dragonblight.
Again, having high Dragon resistance will serve Monster Hunter World: Iceborne players tremendously in this fight, as twenty Dragon resistance will make players immune to Dragonblight, and really streamline the fight.
Weaknesses, and Exploiting Them
Throughout the fight the Stygian Zinogre will charge itself up, and glow with red energy. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne players must attack when the creature is charging itself up, as it is weaker to all forms of damage, especially Thunder damage. The creature’s Blast weakness also stays at level three throughout the fight, leaving it constantly vulnerable.
The Stygian Zinogre will send balls of energy at the hunter. This can be dodged by running behind the Stygian Zinogre, while also affording players the chance to kite the homing energy balls into the boss. The Stygian Zinogre will summon Dracophage bugs, which call forth bolts of energy from the sky that can be blocked. It is advised, however, that Monster Hunter World: Iceborne players try walking between them, as the bolts telegraph their placement on the ground, giving players the chance to get out of the way.
This is a dragon, however, and dragons have claws. The Stygian Zinogre will lunge at Monster Hunter World: Iceborne players with mighty Dragon strikes. It also has a spinning tackle, so try dodging to the sides as it strikes very linearly. Players that are quick on the draw can also get off a few attacks as it rushes past.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is available now on PS4 and Xbox One, with a PC release to follow in 2020.
