User blog comment:BannedLagiacrus/Monster Appreciation Week: Nightshade Paolumu/@comment-4969421-20200131163052

Gonna go against the tide here and say I for one like this monster. I can't really explain why either. But I guess everyone has that one monster that just hits the right spot for them. For me, it's Nightshade Paolumu.

The color scheme is fantastic. Primarily pitch black, to contrast with the original Paolumu's white, but then you have that range of colors on its wings and neck, much like a peacock's, even down to the ocelli. Finally, the pale face that really stands out from the rest of its body, specially when the creature is inflated. I'm not a fan of regular Paolumu, but it's cool to see how a change in coloration can do so much about my opinion of a monster. Frankly, I didn't think I would like it as much as I do.

Now for the fight, this is understandably the main thing people have an issue with. Thematically, giving Sleep to a bat monster seems like a naturally good fit. However, it really is shitty ailment to deal with (always has been), and if it's any different in Worldborne is to highlight the Palico's mind-numbingly retarded AI. Still, I personally don't find it that bad. While inflated, it focuses on attacking with its Sleep gas, even being able to send it in different directions thanks to its paddle-like tail, similarly to what Chameleos does in 4th Gen with its Poison. After some time, it'll discharge all that sleep gas it has stored in its neck, an attack that covers a lot of space but also makes it deflate. Once deflated, it mainly uses its tail as its primary means of attack, using it more efficently than its standard cousin. And finally, on the ground, it fights similarly to other Flying Wyverns. Having these three distinct modes - inflated; focusing on Sleep, deflated; focusing on tail attacks, and grounded, makes for a surprisingly dynamic fight for early MR2, and that's something I can appreciate.

The armor is pretty nice looking (MR transmog when?) but is not something you'd want to use skill wise, unless you want to make the most out of your Sleep weapons if you have any.

One of the better subspecies, which is even more impressive when Iceborne has almost nothing but good subspecies.