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Those who let themselves be lured into the trap...
Will be whisked away by a swift gale, the embodiment of darkness.
A darkness that does not let its victims go.
As they are slowly drained of their life...
The servants keep providing their master with vital essence.
And once the time is ripe, the darkness will show itself, basking in moonlight.
- Malzeno, Scarlet Feast


Malzeno is an Elder Dragon first introduced in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak.

Physiology

Malzeno has a body shape reminiscent of a European dragon, similar to Velkhana, with dark scales covering its body along with swarms of small, flying leech-like creatures called Qurio on its neck, chest, and front legs. Its wings, while being dull grey when looked at from above, have a red underside. The wing membrane connects "separately" to the wing fingers, and each wing possesses a single, giant talon. There is also a pair of smaller fins, similar in coloration to the wings at the base of its tail. Three of the fingers on its front legs end in a curved, giant claw. It has two large, golden horns, as well as frills extending from both sides of its neck that resemble a cowl. Its tail ends in three large, movable prongs that can be used to grab small prey. It can cover its body with its wings like a cape.

Upon draining enough life energy, Malzeno's appearances changes; its eyes begin to glow, its neck frills and wings begin emitting a pulsating light, its chest, front legs, and tail become covered in a dark red energy, the Qurio on its body begin glowing, and its body takes on a darker hue.

Abilities

Malzeno has a symbiotic relationship with the Qurio, allowing it to control them to drain life force from enemies and prey, as well as attack directly by firing clusters made of their energy. The influence of the Qurio causes many of Malzeno's physical attacks to inflict Bloodblight, which can greatly weaken a target and drain their vitality. They are also capable of breathing dragon energy, which they will utilize in the form of beams and shockwaves that cause explosive eruptions.

In melee combat, Malzeno relies on fast and powerful physical blows with its limbs, primarily the hook-like spikes on their wingtips and their clawed tail, the latter of which is dextrous enough to grab and pin down foes. Because of its thin frame, it is incredibly acrobatic and will frequently spin around or do barrel rolls to reposition or attack. However, in spite of said thin frame, its attacks carry a deceptive amount of brute force, as its physical strikes commonly shatter the ground and create shockwaves, and its tail is strong enough to easily pick up and throw a large monster like a Lunagaron.

When Malzeno drains enough life force, it enters a powered-up state known as the "Bloodening"; in this form, it becomes extremely agile, using bursts of the Qurio's energy to propel it so fast that it appears as if it is teleporting. Its attacks are also enhanced, creating massive explosions and black/red aftershocks while sending debris flying through the air, and it can combo multiple strong attacks in a row. However, during this state, its glowing body parts and its tail will become weaker, and dealing enough damage to these parts will knock Malzeno out of the Bloodening and cause it to topple over. Failure to do so will eventually result in Malzeno focusing all the energy from its transformation into a devastating attack, before reverting to its normal state after it finishes.

Behavior

Malzeno is an extremely powerful and aggressive Elder Dragon that will attack anything in its path by using the Qurio to drain their life and blood. If they survive, it will use the Qurio to afflict them with Bloodblight. Because of this, Malzeno is highly feared within the kingdom for the destruction it can cause to the ecosystem along with Qurio. It was believed to be the legendary monster that nearly destroyed the Kingdom in the past, until the discovery of the Qurio's true master, the Gaismagorm.

Malzeno was once a peaceful monster coexisting with humans along with many other monsters within the Citadel, known as a Variant called Primordial Malzeno. However, after a fight for dominance with the Archdemon of the Abyss, it was forced into symbiosis with the Qurio that afflicted it. As a side effect, it went through a morphological change over the next 50 years, transforming it into the violent monster that it is today.[1]

Habitat

Malzeno is mainly found in the ruins of the Citadel, but can also be found in the Shrine Ruins and Lava Caverns of Kamura.

Game Appearances

In-Game Description

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
A dragon covered with elegant silver scales. It uses the Qurio to drain the life energy of other living creatures, creeping around at night and attacking its prey from behind. It appears almost regal to start with, but after draining enough energy it can turn a violent, fresh-blood crimson. This form is known as the "Bloodening" and is widely feared.
Threat Level (危険度): ★★★★★★★★

Hunting Tips

Certain attacks will cause Bloodblight, causing your life to continuously drain but your attacks also to heal you; keep the pressure on. The Bloodening will occur after a certain amount of time, leading to raging attacks; end it and get a knock down by hitting the red flashing areas on the arms and neck.


Notes

General Notes

  • Malzeno is based on classical myths of vampires, reflected in its gothic appearance and life-draining ability.[2]
    • Malzeno’s design was incorporated with elements of aristocracy, nobility, grandeur, and cunningness.[3]
  • Malzeno is considered one of the "Three Lords" of The Kingdom, alongside Garangolm and Lunagaron.
  • Due to the Malzeno fought in-game having gained its Qurio-based powers from its encounter with Gaismagorm, it was initially unknown whether their symbiosis with the Qurio is a species-wide trait or a specific change in that individual. The introduction of Primordial Malzeno reveals that the symbiosis is not natural.
    • According to the HAUNTING OF THE SUN Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Official Setting Materials Collection, the majority of the Malzeno species taken over by Qurio is a normal occurrence, transforming from Primordial Malzeno into Malzeno. The only exception is the Primordial Malzeno first encountered by the Kingdom.
  • As Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak's flagship, Malzeno was also the first monster to be introduced in the game, while its Variant was the very last monster to be in the game.
  • Malzeno was voted 38th place in the Hunters' Choice for Top Monster during Monster Hunter's 20th Anniversary.[4]
  • Malzeno and its variant are considered to be the fastest out of all monsters, at least, in their Bloodening state.

Monster Hunter Rise

  • In Narwa the Allmother's MR Quest, Malzeno can potentially show up in the Coral Palace and engage in a fight with the Allmother.
    • It appears that the first time a player (quest poster) takes on the quest, Malzeno is guaranteed to appear, just like Magnamalo in High Rank.
  • Malzeno's head, front legs, and wings can be broken and its tail can be severed.
  • Occasionally, Malzeno will attack and kill small monsters like Gowngoat or Slagtoth, then command the Qurio to feed off their carcasses, and in doing so, transfer their life force to Malzeno and hasten its transformation process.
  • Malzeno's model doesn't allow it to fully close its mouth without its upper teeth clipping through its lower jaw.

  • References


    Monsters appearing in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (edit)
    Herbivore  Anteka  Gowngoat  Kelbi  Kestodon  Popo  Rhenoplos  Slagtoth
    Amphibian  Zamite
     Tetranadon
    Fish  Gajau
    Fanged Beast  Bombadgy  Bullfango
     Arzuros  Apex Arzuros  Bishaten  Blood Orange Bishaten  Garangolm  Goss Harag  Lagombi  Rajang  Furious Rajang  Volvidon
    Lynian  Felyne  Melynx
    Carapaceon  Ceanataur  Hermitaur
     Daimyo Hermitaur  Shogun Ceanataur
    Neopteron  Altaroth  Bnahabra  Hornetaur  Vespoid
    Temnoceran  Pyrantula  Rachnoid
     Rakna-Kadaki  Pyre Rakna-Kadaki
    Bird Wyvern  Baggi  Boggi  Gargwa  Izuchi  Jaggi  Jaggia  Velociprey  Wroggi
     Aknosom  Great Baggi  Great Izuchi  Great Wroggi  Kulu-Ya-Ku  Pukei-Pukei
    Brute Wyvern  Anjanath  Barroth
    Fanged Wyvern  Jagras
     Lunagaron  Magnamalo  Scorned Magnamalo  Tobi-Kadachi  Zinogre  Apex Zinogre
    Leviathan  Ludroth  Uroktor
     Almudron  Magma Almudron  Mizutsune  Violet Mizutsune  Apex Mizutsune  Royal Ludroth  Somnacanth  Aurora Somnacanth
    Piscine Wyvern  Delex
     Jyuratodus
    Snake Wyvern  Remobra
    Flying Wyvern  Astalos  Barioth  Basarios  Bazelgeuse  Seething Bazelgeuse  Diablos  Apex Diablos  Espinas  Flaming Espinas  Khezu  Nargacuga  Lucent Nargacuga  Rathalos  Silver Rathalos  Apex Rathalos  Rathian  Gold Rathian  Apex Rathian  Seregios  Tigrex
    Elder Dragon  Amatsu  Chameleos  Risen Chameleos  Crimson Glow Valstrax  Risen Crimson Glow Valstrax  Gaismagorm  Kushala Daora  Risen Kushala Daora  Malzeno  Primordial Malzeno  Shagaru Magala  Risen Shagaru Magala  Teostra  Risen Teostra  Thunder Serpent Narwa  Narwa the Allmother  Velkhana  Wind Serpent Ibushi
    ???  Gore Magala  Chaotic Gore Magala