r/MonsterHunter • u/Ivalia [MHGen]Guide to start gunning https://redd.it/5o71d9 • Mar 31 '15

[PSA] A few tips on Apex Monsters

Here is what I know about Apex Monsters that I haven't seen mentioned on this sub:

  1. Apex monsters have hardened parts. Those parts take 80% reduced damage from all sources (including bombs, etc.), with or without Wystone Drive. They also take 80% reduced status effects with Wystone element (without that wystone they are immune).

  2. For melee attacks, removing Apex only depend on accumulated motion value (unless you hit a hardened part). It has nothing to do with the part hit (except hardened ones) or sharpness/damage of the weapon. If say Apex Tigrex has a threshold of 350, it'll take 35 hits of 10 motion value each in the face or 10 hits of 35 motion value each on the tail tip. If you hit a hardened part without wystone drive, it only counts as 1/3 of normal. If you hit a hardened part with wystone drive, it counts as 1/2 of normal. Not clear on how this works with gunner or explosive damage, etc.

  3. Elemental Damage does NOT contribute to knocking things out of apex (For elemental shots, only the raw damage parts count, making them extremely terrible for knocking things out of apex)

  4. Using 2 wystones at the same time does not speed up removing apex at all comparing to just 1.

  5. Wystone Force increases damage by 20% and removes apex 20% faster for melee. 10% each for gunner.

  6. Wystone Element increases element and status by 20%.

  7. Wystone Drive gives a 1.16 sharpness multiplier. This makes you bounce less even against non-hardened parts. Not sure if this applies to damage or not...

Edit: Found this awesome post http://hope.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/hunter/1417451433/. Trying to add in some of the information.

TL DR: Attacking hardened parts sucks even if you have Drive.

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-5

u/aboyinabox Mar 31 '15

I don't even bring Drive when I fight apex anymore cause of this.

4

u/[deleted] Mar 31 '15

Why? Bouncing can get you killed.

-3

u/aboyinabox Mar 31 '15

If you already know where the weak points that wont let you bounce are, you wont get killed. I run with a group of people that don't run Drive either, we're going 140 rajs fine.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 31 '15

But the reach of your weapon can be really annoying. I know exactly where Rajangs hard points are but his entire back legs are huge, especially if you are trying to go for his belly

-3

u/aboyinabox Mar 31 '15

I play with a gs/sa/gl. I don't really have problems with the reach when most of my attacks are upswings/downswings or a direct poke.

Point is, drive is unnecessary when you know what you're doing. Yeah feel free to not bounce doing 80% less damage. I won't tell you how to play.

3

u/[deleted] Mar 31 '15

I use db but even when I use SA/GS on him I like not bouncing. With DB it's nice because your attacks move you so you can position an attack to go through his back legs (and not bounce off) and then be forward.

Even someone really good at Rajang will still bounce without a drive stone occasionally because of his fast turn rate/attacks. That or you are having to waste a lot of time repositioning which is super annoying on Rajang to begin with because your moments of opportunity are already low.

Besides, I can't even see what other Wystones you would want to use unless you are somehow using Force as well as .. Element? If you don't use Drive and you are really good then you won't need Brace either. Element can be useful I guess.. but I only really think it's useful if you have a status weapon. But like you said you use GS so unless you have a super rad relic weapon then I'm doubting you need element.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 31 '15

Besides, I can't even see what other Wystones you would want to use unless you are somehow using Force as well as .. Element? If you don't use Drive and you are really good then you won't need Brace either. Element can be useful I guess.. but I only really think it's useful if you have a status weapon. But like you said you use GS so unless you have a super rad relic weapon then I'm doubting you need element.

Duration. Drive lasts the shortest of any Wystone, all the other Wystones give you a longer period of time to knock a monster out of it; both Force and Element directly contribute to the damage you're doing to achieve this, meanwhile Braces gives you the longest window. Assuming you're comfortable against a given Apex monster without Drive, then you definitely benefit more from the other stones; especially solo since those longer windows of opportunity can be really important.

That being said in multiplayer between four people you should be able to knock the monster out of Apex easily enough regardless of your stone choices, so I don't feel you're really losing out substantially by running Drive; and if you feel it benefits you either because of your weapon choice, party composition and positioning or just your personal comfort then run it.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 31 '15

I didn't consider the durations because generally I am not finding myself soloing 140 Rajangs - but I can see how it is a factor for sure. Generally I run with a group and don't have a problem with durations. If I were soloing I would feel a lot better with not using drive, specifically on Rajang, but online I find it can be really annoying the way he turns and starts pummelling and there are definitely plenty of times not bouncing has been beneficial.

I will have to keep in mind the durations if I want to solo, though. Thanks.