Zoh Shia weaknesses location strategy and rewards in Monster Hunter Wilds

Zoh Shia, the formidable final boss of Monster Hunter Wilds, is a colossal guardian encased in a regenerating crystalline shell that makes it one of the toughest hunts in the game. Found in the Ruins of Wyveria, this massive construct uses powerful energy and elemental attacks, forcing hunters to strategically break its crystal armor piece by piece-targeting its head, wings, forelegs, and tail-to expose vulnerable spots beneath. With a primary weakness to Dragon-element attacks and a fight that demands endurance and precision, Zoh Shia offers a relentless challenge that tests every hunter’s skill and preparation.

If you’re stuck at the very end of the first half of the campaign, don’t fret. This guide covers the Zoh Shia weaknesses and resistances so you can prepare accordingly, where to find it, and the best strategy to defeat it.

Zoh Shialocation

Zoh Shia is found in the Ruins of Wyveria, specifically in zone 15, where the battle takes place in a fixed arena during key quest assignments. This location does not change, and the monster does not flee or move to other zones, allowing hunters to consistently prepare for the fight in the same environment. The encounter is typically part of the main questline, notably in Chapter 3, and can be replayed after certain updates. The fixed location offers strategic advantages, as hunters can utilize the terrain and environmental features to their benefit during the challenging battle against this formidable guardian.

You’ll first encounter Zoh Shia in Chapter 3, during the “Monster Hunter” main mission. That’s the very last mission before you reach the end credits and hit High Rank. As such, all you need to do to unlock the monster is progress through the main questline.

At the time of publication, Zoh Shia is only available during that mission. There’s no High Rank version, nor the option to repeat the Low Rank encounter. There are no specific monster parts as drops, either. It literally is a one-time thing, at least for now.

Keep in mind that in Monster Hunter Wilds, tracking monsters isn’t really a prominent feature. Except for a few first-time exceptions, you can use the Environment Overview screen to see if your target is roaming around the map. If not, exploring its corresponding biome(s) for a few minutes usually does the trick – you’ll see a notification on screen announcing its appearance. Worst case scenario, you can speak to Alma and post a hunt for it. For better or worse, the process of finding a monster is much more streamlined now. If you find tracks or other monster residuals on the ground, you can loot them for materials.

How to prepare for Zoh Shia

To prepare for the Zoh Shia fight in Monster Hunter Wilds, ensure you have a well-stocked inventory with both regular and mega potions, as the battle demands strong survivability. Eating a meal at the portable BBQ to boost your health and stamina is crucial, along with applying food buffs to enhance your defense. Since Zoh Shia is highly vulnerable to Dragon elemental attacks, bringing weapons or ammo with Dragon properties, such as Dragon Pods or Dragon Ammo, will be advantageous. Customize your item pouch to include status effect items like sleep or paralysis tools, as Zoh Shia has a two-star susceptibility to these effects. Additionally, be ready to manage the environment hazards, such as ice glaciers, by using ranged attacks or tools like the Farcaster to avoid damage. Overall, focus on maximizing your health, defense, and exploiting Zoh Shia’s elemental weaknesses to increase your chances of success.

Zoh Shia is part of the main story of Monster Hunter Wilds. As such, its encounter is likely to fit your Hunter Rank at that corresponding moment. Since the encounter occurs during a main mission, you’ll be thrust into the fray after the introductory cutscene. As per usual, whenever you’re asked if you’re ready to depart, make sure that you’re carrying regular and mega potions with you. If you’re short on the latter, take a lap around the biome and loot any honey you come across.

In addition, don’t forget to eat – you can use the portable BBQ to grill a meal. Increasing your health and stamina is essential, as Zoh Shia packs a punch. Investing in defense is a good strategy for this encounter, and you can find some recommendations in our list of best food buffs.

Carrying a few Dragon Pods will be beneficial – if you have a ranged weapon with Dragon Ammo, even better.

Zoh Shiaweakness

Zoh Shia’s primary weakness in Monster Hunter Wilds is its vulnerability to Dragon-element attacks, making Dragon-based weapons and ammo the most effective choice against it. While its crystallized armor offers significant protection and regenerates over time, hunters should focus on breaking this armor on key parts such as the head, wings, forelegs, and tail to expose its true weak points. Status effects like Poison, Sleep, Paralysis, and Blastblight also work well, though Stun is less effective and Exhaustion has no effect. Due to its powerful elemental attacks and regenerating crystal shell, a strategy combining rapid damage to exposed areas with strong defense and healing is essential for success against this formidable guardian.

Zoh Shia’s recommended elemental attack is Dragon. This encompasses Dragon Ammo, Dragon Pod, Dragon Attack, Critical Element, and Charge Master, all in addition to your own weapon’s properties.

You can find a breakdown of Zoh Shia’s elemental weaknesses and resistances below:

Effective status effects

• Poison: 2 stars
• Sleep: 2 stars
• Paralysis: 2 stars
• Blastblight: 2 stars
• Stun: 1 star
• Exhaust: No effect

Effective items

• Flash Pod: No effect
• Sonic Bomb: No effect
• Shock Trap: No effect
• Pitfall Trap: No effect

As for the monster’s weak points and breakable parts, Zoh Shia has no weak points. Its Head, Wings (x2) and Forelegs (x2) can be broken, and its Tail can be severed.

Before diving deep into combat strategy, here’s the breakdown of Zoh Shia’s vulnerable limbs:

Zoh Shia is a formidable Large Monster in Monster Hunter Wilds, found primarily in the Ruins of Wyveria. This massive guardian is encased in a regenerating crystalline armor made of crystallized Wyvern Milk, which protects its vulnerable parts such as the head, wings, forelegs, and tail. Its main elemental weakness is Dragon, making Dragon-element attacks the most effective, while it has no significant resistances. The fight is challenging due to Zoh Shia’s multiple transformations and powerful energy-based attacks, including fire and thunderblight effects. Hunters must focus on breaking its crystal armor quickly to expose weak points and deal heavy damage before the armor regenerates. Recommended strategies include using weapons with cut or blunt damage combined with Dragon elemental effects, and carrying items like Earplugs and Nullberries to counter its roar and elemental blights. The battle takes place in a fixed arena, requiring endurance and adaptability to its phases and attack patterns.

For details about what to expect in terms of attacks and general behavior, the following section has you covered.

Zoh Shiaattacks and strategy

Zoh Shia in Monster Hunter Wilds is a formidable final boss known for its regenerating crystalline shell that protects its vulnerable limbs such as the head, wings, forelegs, and tail. The key to defeating Zoh Shia lies in repeatedly breaking this crystal armor to expose and damage its weak points, with Dragon-element attacks being the most effective due to the monster’s elemental weakness. The fight is a test of attrition, requiring players to manage powerful fire and ice attacks while exploiting moments when the crystal shell is cracked. Using weapons that deal cut or blunt damage combined with Dragon elemental effects, along with status effects like poison, sleep, paralysis, and blastblight, can significantly aid in the battle. Additionally, carrying items like Earplugs and Windproof skills helps counter Zoh Shia’s strong roars and elemental pressures, making careful preparation and sustained offense crucial to victory.

The fight is somewhat similar to Jin Dahaad’s in the vein that Zoh Shia’s body has a protective layer – ice in this case – that you’ll have to progressively break down. The key factor here is that the crystals regenerate over time, so you need to punish the exposed area as promptly as possible.

Whenever the head is exposed, brace yourself for a plethora of fire attacks. These are easy to prepare for, as you’ll see the red glow coming from a mile away. Keep in mind that Zoh will continue to use ice attacks with its hands, though, so that’s two elements to keep an eye out for. That said, the head will be exposed to greater damage than usual, so try to reciprocate when you have the chance.

Elsewhere, Zoh Shia will constantly make use of the terrain to attack in large areas. A move you’ll see often is one telegraphed by the creature lifting one of its hands, and then placing it on the ground, causing a path of ice toward your direction that explodes after a brief pause. There’s a variation in which it uses both hands, and then drags them to its sides to cover a larger area.

Zoh Shia has a plethora of special attacks. As per usual with monsters of its size, you’ll do well to carry earplugs to prevent the strong roar attack from immobilizing you. The same applies to dragon wind pressure, which can be countered with the windproof skill.

That’s not all. There are certain phases during the fight when the whole arena will be affected by powerful moves. The first has Zoh Shia flying and taking a stance far from you, creating cracks on the ground that can deal damage if you don’t dodge in time. Then, multiple rocks will appear, and all the while, the monster will spit fireballs. In this instance, take cover behind any of these structures and point upward with the camera to see if there’s any upcoming projectile. Once you know you’re safe, hop on your mount and head to the opposite side of Zoh Shia, in an area that’s just outside of the main arena ground, as the ground is about to become covered by molten lava.

Eventually, Zoh Shia will lose its protective layer to introduce its latter phase, in which it’ll also produce lightning strikes on top of fire and ice attacks. As daunting as the prospect is, you will already know what to expect by this point in terms of general movements. It’s always best to go around Zoh Shia when it’s attacking to try and sneak in a few attacks while it’s stuck in an animation.

Throughout the fight, it’s key to focus on weak points as much as possible. Technically, the monster has none, but remember that its Head, Wings, and Forelegs can be broken. It’s unlikely that you’ll get the time to sever its tail, so I’d recommend focusing on the forelegs and wings primarily.

In terms of elemental attacks, you’ll have to watch out for fireblight, which temporarily causes your health to deplete, and thunderblight, which temporarily makes you easier to stun. Evading repeatedly will remove either condition, or you can use a nulberry. In terms of skills, you can counter fireblight with fire resistance and blight resistance, and both thunder resistance and blight resistance will be of help around thunderblight.

Alongside the usual wound control and dodging fire as much as possible, you won’t be able to use traps during this fight, as none of them will have an effect on Zoh Shia. Good luck!

Zoh Shiadrops

Zoh Shia is the formidable final boss in Monster Hunter Wilds, known for its massive size and protective crystalline shell made of crystallized Wyvern Milk that regenerates over time. This guardian excels in energy-based attacks, including powerful explosions, and requires hunters to strategically break its crystal armor on the head, wings, forelegs, and tail to expose vulnerable areas for heavy damage. Its primary elemental weakness is Dragon, making Dragon-element weapons especially effective. The fight takes place in a fixed arena within the Ruins of Wyveria, where players must manage both fire and ice attacks while exploiting moments when Zoh Shia’s armor is shattered to maximize damage. Preparation with skills like Earplugs and Windproof, as well as carrying items to counter Fireblight and Thunderblight, is crucial for success against this challenging foe.

As it stands, Zoh Shia doesn’t have an armor set or weapon, so you won’t be seeing monster-specific parts as drops. Rather, the drops are Guardian-related.

If you’re wondering what the Zoh Shia drops in Monster Hunter Wilds are, you can find a handy list below:

Low Rank materials

How can I exploit Zoh Shia’s regenerating crystal shell in my strategy

To exploit Zoh Shia’s regenerating crystal shell effectively, focus on destroying the crystals it spawns using elemental slinger ammo, particularly Dragon and Thunder pods. Shooting these crystals causes them to explode, dealing significant elemental damage to Zoh Shia and creating safe zones amid its devastating area attacks. This tactic not only prevents the crystals from detonating on you but also triggers chain reactions that inflict heavy damage on the monster. Timing is crucial: after Zoh Shia regenerates its crystal armor, immediately shoot the crystals with elemental pods to maximize damage during its recovery phase. Additionally, pulling down large crystal structures from the ceiling onto Zoh Shia during vulnerable phases can cause knockouts and massive damage. Staying aware of crystal placement and using these environmental tools turns Zoh Shia’s defensive shell into a strategic advantage for hunters.

How do elemental pods trigger explosions on Zoh Shia’s crystals effectively

Elemental pods trigger explosions on Zoh Shia’s crystals by dealing elemental damage that causes the crystals to detonate with the same element as the pod used, inflicting area-of-effect damage to the monster. Specifically, shooting the crystals with Dragon and Thunder pods is most effective, as these cause the crystals to explode and deal significant elemental damage to Zoh Shia, often triggering chain reactions that hit multiple crystals and amplify overall damage. This tactic exploits the fact that Zoh Shia frequently generates these crystals during its attacks, allowing hunters to create continuous explosive bursts by targeting the crystals promptly after they appear. The explosions not only damage Zoh Shia but can also stagger it, providing openings for further attacks. It is recommended to use Thunder pods especially, as they tend to have a wider area of effect and avoid triggering dragonblight, which can negate elemental damage. Timing your shots to detonate crystals as soon as they form maximizes damage output and helps control the battlefield by preventing Zoh Shia from using the crystals to amplify its own attacks.