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As you build a strong team of Monsties in Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, most battles will start to become easy, allowing you to finish them quickly. However, the Calamitous Elder Dragons are an entirely different challenge.
They are the toughest enemies in the game, and facing two at once—Ibushi and Narwa—is the most difficult battle you’ll encounter. These two Elder Dragons are the only enemies that can truly test your skills and strategy.
The Best Monsties to Use Against Ibushi and Narwa
Because you’re fighting two Elder Dragons simultaneously, it’s best to bring at least two powerful Monsties that you can switch between. Both of these dragons are weak to Dragon elements, making Dragon-type Monsties a good choice. Malzeno can both heal and deal damage, but it’s weak to Dragon as well, which makes Ibushi a tough opponent for it. On the other hand, Stygian Zinogre resists Dragon attacks well but is vulnerable to Narwa’s Thunder attacks.
When targeting Ibushi’s Fire weakness, Ratha is useful, though its Dragon weakness remains a concern. Hellblade Glavenus is a good option because it handles the resistances well, though low Defense and Speed make survival tricky. For Narwa’s Ice weakness, Goss Harag is effective, particularly because of its high Defense. Velkhana, despite weaker resistances, can cause more damage due to its higher Speed, helping it dodge attacks more easily.
Since finding a single Monstie capable of handling both monsters is hard without raising a dual-element monster, having a rotation of different Monsties is important. Skills that improve team defenses and agility, especially Dodge and Defense boosts, are vital. Also, abilities like E. Dominance can help reduce their Attack and Defense, giving you an edge.
The Best Equipment to Use Against Ibushi and Narwa
For gear, you’ll want armor that offers well-rounded defenses, multiple Decoration slots, and good resistances since equipment can’t be swapped during battles. Goss Harag armor is highly recommended for this, especially when fully leveled up to level three. It provides solid defenses and slots for Decorations like Dragon Def Boost (XL), Thunder Def Boost (XL), and Elemental Assault (XL) to boost elemental damage.
Regarding weapons, equip one of each element the enemies are weak to. For example, use the Fire Ashen Wrath Bow, the Dragon Duke’s Grail Hunting Horn, and the Ice Icebrink Long Sword. This ensures you have good coverage against both Elder Dragons. Decorations like Accuracy Down Coating on your bow can help avoid attacks more often, which is very useful.
The Best Companion to Use Against Ibushi and Narwa
When selecting a partner, Thea and Eleanor are generally the strongest options. Kora and Gael can also be effective, but Kora’s Focal Point is less useful since much of Ibushi and Narwa’s damage hits the entire party.
For Thea, use her Hunting Horn, which can’t deal much damage to the enemies but can buff the whole team. Make sure to bring Gnocchi, who wields Ice and Dragon attacks, making it useful against both Elder Dragons. For Eleanor, her Great Sword is particularly powerful against Ibushi. Its high damage output, combined with Fortified Spirit, effectively grants an extra Heart, increasing survivability. Also, bring her Glavenus partner for better Speed and Evasion.
How to Beat Ibushi and Narwa
The fight begins with Ibushi and Narwa employing a unique mechanic called the Mind Connection. During this phase, one dragon is empowered with a Mantle, acting mainly in support—removing or applying buffs and minor healing—while the other deals damage. Both can still attack, so ignore them at your peril.
The Mind Connection also affects the Wyvernsoul Gauge: damaging one dragon reduces the gauge for both. When one is staggered, so is the other, but this also means you can’t perform Synchro Rushes during this time.
Focus your attacks on the empowered dragon, since it will have more vulnerable spots, making it easier to drain the Wyvernsoul Gauge. Keep in mind that each dragon’s attack type changes frequently based on their current state:
- Ibushi: Wind Mantle (Power), Mind Connection (Speed), Exposed (Power).
- Narwa: Thunder Mantle (Technical), Mind Connection (Speed), Exposed (Technical).
Avoid starting rounds with low HP when both dragons are about to perform non-head-to-head attacks, since they can wipe out your entire party. Use Kinship Skills strategically to cancel their most powerful moves. Prolonging the fight is safer than risking an early wipeout.
The battle becomes most intense when both dragons’ HP drops below 50%. They then become empowered, gaining new moves and buffs, making the fight much harder. This phase also makes it easier to deplete their Wyvernsoul Gauge—the Mantles help, but it’s a punishing stretch.
If you manage to repel Ibushi and Narwa after bringing their HP below 50%, they will both enter their empowered states again during the next battle, so plan your approach accordingly.
As the fight progresses, learn their attack patterns and focus on keeping defenses up while chipping away at their health. Attacks that cause higher Wyvernfell build up Exposed status faster, exposing their weak spots and prompting them to perform head-to-head attacks more often.
Once defeated, your allies earn the Follower’s Testament Skill, which can be upgraded if they’ve already fought an Elder Dragon. You also unlock an upgraded version of this skill for yourself if you manage to defeat them without repelling.
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