Vaal Hazak is an elder dragon appearing in Monster Hunter World.
Appearance[]
Vaal Hazak has a typical draconic figure, albeit with a very disturbing tone to it. It's maroon and green body is long and slender figure, covered in numerous hooks, while the claws on its feet have grown long and twisted. The dragon has long fangs and a double jaw. Most disturbingly, it appears to wear a sinewy coat of rotting flesh over its body.
Ecology[]
Vaal Hazak lives exclusively within a region known as the Rotten Vale, a series of valleys and caverns filled to the brim with corpses, bones, and fungi, as the region is where wildlife from the Coral Highlands above fall after death, and where old monsters and dragons journey to meet their end. Vaal usually lies dormant deep within the Vale, releasing a unique type of flesh-eating bacteria known as effluvium into the deep Vale. The bacterial clouds feed on rotting flesh and infect living creatures alike before Vaal draws them back in, feeding itself and helping to hasten the speed of decay in the Vale. However, if agitated, Vaal will awaken and begin roaming the Vale, causing a major upset in the ecosystem.
Abilities[]
Vaal Hazak possesses a unique symbiosis with the Effluvium Bacteria. It's body is constantly surrounded by a cloud of the bacteria, and it can spread it out to choke out and weakened foes, or use it in the form of powerful breath attacks. Additionally, by drawing in or releasing the bacteria, Vaal can drain the life force of an infected creature, or "resurrect" their corpses with the bacteria controlling them.
Weaknesses[]
Vaal Hazak features a vulnerability to fire attacks.
Staggering Vaal will temporarily cause him to lose control over the Effluvium clouds.
His head, chest, claws, and wings can be damaged, and his tail can be cut.