How’s the hunting going?
Before we delve into this week’s post and delve into the two distinct, yet intertwined locales that are the Coral Highlands and Rotten Vale, we just wanted to say a big WELCOME to all the new (and returning) hunters who picked up Monster Hunter: World in the recent discount, it’s awesome to have you with us!
If you’re looking for some early-game pointers to help you settle in whilst you get your hunting groove on, you can check out some of our earlier posts like hunting your first large monster, as well as some handy tips and tricks! For any more experienced hunters, feel free to share your personal top tips and advice in the comments too!
The Coral Highlands & Rotten Vale!
If you’re at the point where you’ve successfully hunted Anjanath in its dedicated Assigned Quest, you’ll soon be finding yourself in two new locales, each vastly different yet closely linked, the Coral Highlands and Rotten Vale!
An early concept art of how the two areas are linked!
We won’t go into too much detail on the monsters that roam these areas, as at this point you’re probably well settled into Low Rank and ready to face whatever comes your way! Just be prepared for even more monsters unlike anything you’ve faced so far, from their size and fighting behavior to the elements they wield and status effects they can inflict on you, these monsters will test what you’ve learned so far as you step ever closer to High Rank!
The Coral Highlands
The Coral Highlands, the third locale you’ll explore on your quest to track down Zorah Magdaros! This vibrant area can be found nestled high up among the clouds, giving home to a range of monsters that are perfected suited to thrive in this high-altitude environment!
Keep a lookout for the friendly Wiggler endemic life that can be found in this area!
Verticality is an apt description for this locale, so get ready to explore the crevices and peaks of the highlands. The monsters you’ll encounter here are well suited to take advantage of this terrain too, with many utilising flight and mobility to gain the upper hand on their prey.
Paolumu make look cute, but it’s far from cuddly! Watch out for sudden attacks from the air!
As you trek through the Coral Highlands, you may hear the shrill shrieking of the area’s Apex monster, Legiana, which can often be found in the highland’s upper reaches! When seeking out this monster, be ready for a frosty reception.
A glimpse at the highest reaches of Legiana’s domain.
Talking of exploring the Coral Highlands, just a gentle reminder to make sure you’re gathering from any Bone Piles and Ore Nodes you see to start building up your stockpile of region-specific materials for your armour and weapon crafting needs!
Now it’s time to delve deeper…
The Rotten Vale
After landing in the Coral Highlands, it won’t be long until you’re also delving into a realm of decay and malaise, The Rotten Vale. A stark contrast to the vibrance and teeming life of where you’ve just come from, this locale revolves around festering decomposition.
Welcome to the Rotten Vale.
As you descend deeper down the twisting paths of rock and bone in this locale, you’ll have to contend not only with the vicious monsters that inhabit this area, but the environment itself!
Crystal clear pools of harmful acid and dark green clouds of Effluvium gas cover swathes of the area, causing varying degrees of damage over time, so watch your health when traversing and fighting in these areas.
Helpful Tip: Wearing Mantles in areas where the Effluvium is gathering can stop the damage caused by the Effluvium. Alternatively, shooting Torch pod piles into the ground can create a safe area to fight or rest in without reducing your health. Just make sure to refresh them when they burn out! In addition, a Vitality Mantle can temporarily stop the damaging effects of the acid pool whilst it’s active. Also, since it’s not possible to fully stop the damaging effects of the acid pool without a Vitality Mantle, be careful to not run into the acid pool or worse, get knocked into it!
Watch your step!
If you’re finding yourself spending extended amounts of time in the Effluvium or acid pools during your hunts in this area, both the Girros Coil and Hornetaur Mail armour pieces offer the “Effluvial Expert” armour skill, nullifying the damage over time you’d suffer from Effluvium effect and reducing the damage you take from acid whilst standing in it. Something to consider if you feel it’ll support your set and playstyle whilst you’re in the Rotten Vale!
Speaking of things that are out to get you here, it’s not just the environment, but the monsters too!
Odogaron taking their food to go!
One such monster is the striking, red Fanged Wyvern, Odogaron. This monster uses unrelenting aggression and speed, backed up by razor sharp teeth and claws, to overwhelm any that dare stand before it. You’ll want to be quick on your feet and ready to block, if you can, when clashing with this monster.
Oh, those sharp claws we mentioned, they can also cause the Bleeding status effect. Whilst bleeding, you’ll periodically take small amounts of damage when performing actions such as attacking, evading and moving – which presents quite the challenge when dealing with a monster that’s as fast and aggressive as Odogaron, so you’ll want to deal with it quickly!
You can do that by either crouching for a short period of time (you can move whilst crouched without stopping the curing effect), or consuming some Astera Jerky, Sushifish Scale or a Well Done Steak – so get shopping, fishing or cooking for your preferred curative!
Watch out for Great Girros, its paralyzing bite will leave you wide open to a follow-up attack!
That wraps up our swift overview of the Coral Highlands and Rotten Vale locales! There’s even more to explore and secrets to discover in these areas, which we’ll leave you to find out!
You’re getting closed to High Rank now, you’ve got this!
Quest Complete – We’ll See you next time!
Return to World Stream #7
Our next Return to World stream takes place on Thursday, February 22 at 10:00 PST/ 18:00 GMT, following a short break as we hunt out a new High Rank set!
Watch on Twitch
Watch on YouTube
Once again, a massive welcome to all the new hunters that have joined us recently. Good luck out there, we hope you’re having a ton of fun!
See you in the hunt!
- The Monster Hunter Community Team
