Get ready, Hunters! The desert trembles as the fearsome Diablos invades in Monster Hunter Now’s first-ever community event, challenging players to track, battle, and conquer this notorious wyvern for exclusive gear and rewards. But beware-this beast is as elusive as it is deadly, requiring sharp strategy and teamwork to bring down.
There are some notable differences between the two events, but the ethos if the same; if you wanted an excuse to play for an afternoon and get your hands on some rare resources, this is a good time to play.
Looking for more advice? Our Monster Hunter Now tips and tricks page can give you some extra pointers.
Monster Hunter Now ’Diablos Invasion’ event times and bonuses
The “Diablos Invasion” event in Monster Hunter Now takes place on Saturday, September 23, and Sunday, September 24, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time each day. During this event, Diablos will spawn more frequently in desert regions, providing hunters at Hunter Rank 11 and above the chance to face this formidable monster even if they haven’t progressed far in the main story. Players can participate in time-limited event quests such as snapping AR photos of Diablos and slaying the beast to earn rewards including Zenny and Hunter Rank points. The quests are available from September 23 at 12:00 a.m. until September 24 at 11:59 p.m. local time. This event offers a great opportunity to farm rare Diablos materials and test your skills alongside fellow hunters.
The “Diablos Invasion” will take place on Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24 between 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. local time for those Hunter Rank 11 and above.
This gives you two opportunities – and six hours in total – to make the most out of the bonus Diablos spawns, which will be boosted in desert areas.
The event is a useful opportunity to farm monster parts for Diablos weapons and armor, whose set perks include Guard (reduces damage and knockback when blocking), Heroics (increases attack power when below a third health), and Slugger (increases stun power).
Time-limited quests, meanwhile, will be available for the entirety of weekend – from 12:01 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday – giving you extra time to complete their steps. You can find these in the ’Special’ tab alongside the game’s daily quests.
As the first ever event in Monster Hunter Now, the exact spawn rate, number of quests and their rewards are unknown at the time of writing – though we do know one time-limited quest includes “snapping a picture of Diablos in AR mode,” so get your cameras ready.
Update (Sept. 25): With the event now over, going by the community reaction and my own experience, Monster Hunter Now’s first event was disappointing. Spawns were low for most players – personally, I saw very little on the Saturday, but fared much better on Sunday – while the quests available were limited to just two: the aforementioned “snap a picture in AR mode” and “defeat a Diablos,” the latter a tall order for many considering how new the game is.
The only positive was the surprise debut of a new monster – Black Diablos – a very rare spawn that eluded many players. At the time of writing it has yet to be seen outside of “Diablos Invasion,” suggesting it will be an event exclusive.
How to prepare for Diablos and the Diablos Invasion event
To prepare for the Diablos and the Diablos Invasion event in Monster Hunter Now, focus on equipping weapons that exploit Diablos’ weaknesses, primarily Ice and Paralysis; Legiana weapons are highly recommended for their Ice element, and Great Girros weapons for their paralysis effect. Upgrade your weapons to at least Grade 3 to maximize damage. Stock up on plenty of first aid meds-ideally 15-to sustain yourself during the intense three-hour event periods. Coordinate with your hunting party to include at least one sword and shield user with a paralysis weapon to stun Diablos, allowing the team to deal free damage. Learn Diablos’ attack patterns, such as its horn charges, tail swings, and burrowing attacks, to dodge effectively and strike its breakable parts like horns, tail, and back. The event runs on set dates and times, so plan your play sessions accordingly to make the most of the boosted spawn rates and event quests.
Diablos will appear for all players at Hunter Rank 11 and above – meaning you won’t have to have encountered one in the story first – giving all players an easy opportunity to encounter a late-game monster.
Though Diablos will be available for all players, a Niantic spokesperson has confirmed to AELGAMES it will be at minimum a five-star encounter, and encourages players at lower levels to team up with others to defeat them.
This gives players at lower levels a few options. The best is find other players to join them during the event hours, while the other is hope random players locally will be matchmaking for party members in-game (see the upper left corner of the screen for when others are looking for an assist).
Another option for lower-level players is to progress through the story to the point where taking one on solo is viable (this is realistically Chapter 10 onwards, when you start to unlock five-star encounters in general – which we reached after around one week of playtime).
Finally, though not confirmed whether it’s possible for event spawns, it’s possible you could Paintball a Diablos or two to encounter for after the event ends, and if so, then ask others to join you via a QR code before the Paintball expires.
Whichever way you plan to take on Diablos, know they are weak to ice, dragon, and paralysis, so we recommend you have one of these elemental weapons (we recommend Grade 3 or above) to give you the edge in battle.
How can I maximize my chances of defeating Diablos during the invasion
To maximize your chances of defeating Diablos during the Monster Hunter Now Diablos Invasion event, consider the following strategies:
-
Study Diablos’s attack patterns and weaknesses to anticipate and dodge its powerful charges and burrowing attacks effectively.
-
Optimize your gear and skills to boost damage output and survivability; prioritize equipment that enhances critical strike, attack speed, and damage reduction.
-
Bring plenty of healing and resistance potions to sustain through the fight, and prepare control-break items if available to counter Diablos’s stun or debuff abilities.
-
Maintain flexible movement during combat to evade area attacks and linear charges, looking for openings to unleash damage safely.
-
If playing in a group, coordinate roles such as tanking, damage dealing, and support to manage aggro and maximize team damage.
-
Utilize environmental features to your advantage, such as obstacles to block Diablos’s attacks or terrain that limits its mobility.
-
Level up your character and refine your build to improve base attributes, which will increase both your damage and survivability against this formidable foe.
These tactics, adapted from general boss fight and invasion event strategies, will help you stand a better chance against Diablos’s ferocity in Monster Hunter Now.
What gear and skills increase my survival against Diablos during invasions
To increase your survival chances against Diablos during invasions in Monster Hunter Now, focus on the following gear and skills:
-
Armor: Use armor sets with high defense and health boost skills to withstand Diablos’s powerful hits. The Diablos armor set is particularly strong, offering high defense and useful skills like Heroics, which boosts attack power when your HP is low, and Slugger, which increases stun power.
-
Recommended Skills:
-
Health Boost: Increases your maximum HP, helping you endure more damage.
-
Divine Blessing: Gives a chance to reduce incoming damage by 30-50%, enhancing survivability.
-
Last Stand (Heroics): Boosts defense or attack when your health drops below a threshold, useful for clutch moments.
-
Earplugs: Nullifies Diablos’s roar, which stuns and interrupts your attacks, though this skill may be harder to obtain early on.
-
Evade Extender (Full Dodger): Increases your evasion distance, helping you dodge Diablos’s charges and burrowing attacks more effectively.
-
Partbreaker: Helps break Diablos’s horns and tail faster, reducing its threat over time.
-
-
Weapons: Ice-elemental weapons are most effective since Diablos is weak to ice. Bow and light bowgun are recommended for ranged attacks, allowing safer targeting of weak points like the stomach and breakable horns.
-
Additional Tips: Carry plenty of healing items to recover quickly during the fight, and consider including a team member with paralysis weapons to stun Diablos, creating openings for the whole party.
Combining high-defense armor with health and damage-mitigating skills, alongside ice-elemental weapons and strategic evasion, will significantly improve your survival and success against Diablos during the invasion event.
