User blog comment:BannedLagiacrus/Monster Appreciation Week: Xeno'jiiva/@comment-26421638-20180829163452

Back in MHGen some people didn't liked Nakarkos not because was bad (it was a good monster and was somehow interesting) but because was too easy for being a final boss, and nowadays we have Xeno'jiiva which is... Even more easier.... Xeno'jiiva had an insane amount of potential, but is terribly wasted due to a lot of mistakes, despite everything somehow I """""like""""" this monster, don't ask me how is even possible...

Lore-wise, suits perfectly as a final boss of MHW, it's the reason why the decennial Elder's Crossing is a thing, and explains the whole stuff that involves bioenergy and crystals of Elder's Recess. Xeno'jiiva BGM fits with the monster itself but is a very forgettable music and its sounds or cries are terribly outstanding...

Design-wise? Despite being not very Monsterhunterish (what happened to Seath or Midir memes?), I like how this Monster looks: a grayish-azure dragon with yellow eyes (the three pairs of fake eyes gives a more menacing look), red energy glowing in its chest, unusual "hands", veil-like protuberances on its head, arms, wings and tail and at least but not least, some transparent body parts, could be better for sure but at least is not like a traditional black Fatalis.

To be honest, I kinda like fighting it (solo is the way) but I cannot deny that Xeno suffers of major flaws. Its main issues are its slowness and its predictability, even a mediocre player like me could deal with it while eating some chips, drinking your favorite soda and striking terrible jokes with your teammates. Since every move is slow or predictable, this Monster is pretty easy despite being capable to do moderate damage, at least is not annoying at all. Technically, Xeno has a lot of attacks but most of them aren't new (a lot of moves were borrowed from Magala-like dragons or Nergigante) in any case is capable to perform various melee attacks and shoot blue fireballs (?) or energy beams in a lot of different ways. Blue fire (or whatever it is) is always appreciated but only a few of its attacks are noticeable, perhaps only its aerial claw swipe, the splash where triggers an AoE explosion and afterwards a few smaller explosions (but... Why makes a water or geyser-like noise?) or its beam that does when critical state ends are its most noticeable moves.

Ok, when is on Critical State, Xeno is slightly more dangerous, is capable to heat terrain with its signature attacks and changes its elemental weakness. A mechanic that help to make its battle not totally boring. Xeno is also capable to fly but is just a huge opportunity to attack Xeno instead, if you're a gunner or an IG user just do your best or alternatively you can gather some pods that Xeno dropped during battle (Bombs or Piercing Pods for example) and a few of them are capable to bring down Xeno and create an opening for attacking its head/chest. On the other hand I don't understand why cannot be mounted, why its informations in-game are incomplete or absolutely inaccurate (elemental weakness for example) and which attacks inflicts Dragonblight or not...

Xeno'jiiva weapons are really lame, beside having good slots everything else is not interesting and they could put a bit more effort to design weapons for final boss but developers were and are still suffering of a terrible syndrome called laziness. Luna/Xeno weapons? We'll talk about when Lunastra will have her MAW. Its armor is crap as a full set (what's the point to have skills for gunners and then having power prolonger?), at this point is better use some pieces for some good mixed sets. Aesthetically is one of my favorite armors and possibly my favorite armor for females (sorry but I cannot say no for a goddess-like armor).

Overall: as a final boss, Xeno'jiiva is a huge failure if we ignore MHW's plot or lore. Actually Xeno has something of good but is not enough for a final boss, perhaps if MHWG will be a thing, a G-Rank Xeno (at its full potential?) could be more interesting, just like what G-rank Nakarkos did in MHGU and won't suffer anymore the pressure for being a final boss. If Xeno was an half of what Frontier G Rank Black Fatalis is capable to do, perhaps had the potential to be a great final boss but it isn't even close. However, fighting this Monster once in a while isn't that bad, especially if compared with any post-release Monster...