The Valstrax are Elder Dragons that was introduced in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate. They are mysterious dragons that live high up in the atmosphere, absorbing Dragon energy that allows them to fly at speeds comparable to fighter jets. As Valstrax are known to scatter Dragon energy laden scales during their flights, causing chaos and destruction as they fly, hunters are called in to stop them when they appear.
In Monster Hunter Rise, a variant of Valstrax is introduced called the Crimson Glow Valstrax. Unlike their passive kin, these Valstrax have absorbed too much Dragon energy, causing them to go mad with power. Thus, they rampage about in constant madness, indiscriminately attacking anything they see and making them a target for urgent missions.
Physiology[]
The Elder Dragon Valstrax is thin and has shiny silver scales covering it. Its most distinctive characteristic is the way its wings have come together to form a trident-like structure. Each segment of the wings ends in an aperture that is intended to release dragon energy in the form of scarlet flames. Its back is covered with projections that resemble fins. Its eyes feature blue sclera and crimson irises, and it possesses a beak with a pointed crest. Like a jet engine, it uses the three horizontal holes in its chest to draw in and pressurize air. When enraged, Valstrax will begin to vent Dragon energy from its head crest and chest holes.
Abilities[]
An ambush predator that spends most of its time flying high up in the atmosphere, Valstrax's signature ability is its keen control over Dragon energy, which it produces from a specialised organ in its body. This energy is mixed with air Valstrax inhales when flying through the sky to form a highly potent propellant which allows it to fly at unfathomable speeds. So far, Valstrax has been witnessed breaking the sound barrier simply by taking off and crossing whole hunting grounds in mere seconds. It can also fly with remarkable agility and precision, being capable of decelerating from its usual speeds near instantaneously and even hovering on the spot. This speed is also why Valstrax was only recognised as a species very recently as during its usual flights, it flies too fast and too high to be distinguished as anything other than a comet.
The Dragon energy Valstrax produces can also be utilised offensively, shot out as projectiles from the vents in its wings or used to enhance its physical attacks. However, this remarkable control over the Dragon element comes at a cost: the organ responsible for producing the energy will explode in an extremely damaging blast if sufficiently damaged, making it extremely vulnerable to attacks.
Elemental abilities aside, Valstrax, like other Elder Dragons, possesses supernatural physical attributes, being incapable of tiring in battle and withstanding an onslaught of hunter attacks. Valstrax mainly attacks with its pair of large, trident-shaped wings, the digits of which it can rotate forwards and backwards. This allows Valstrax to either pummel hunters with its "fists" or launch stabbing attacks at them, which are complemented by its incredible strength. Valstrax also possesses incredible eyesight as it is capable of spotting a small school of Ludroths while flying high in the sky, additionally being able to single one individual out and catch it for a meal.
Valstrax is incredibly durable and resilient against G-forces, being capable of crashing head-first into solid rock at incredible speeds with no injuries whatsoever and repeatedly accelerating and decelerating rapidly without adverse effects. These traits are what allow the Valstrax to execute its ultimate move, "Around the World": Valstrax takes off into the sky, performs a loop and crashes down onto its target, producing an explosion of Dragon energy and severely damaging whatever it impacts.
Behavior[]
Being a solitary creature, Valstrax only descends to pursue prey and spends much of its time at great heights. It's not very hostile, but it is prone to inadvertently crash with and kill everything in its airspace, even airships. Seeing as it possess the agility needed to avoid these airborne obstacles, it appears that Valstrax is self-assured in its durability and thus flies through them without a care. It will fight back fiercely if it is assaulted or its territory is threatened, even though it generally avoids both monsters and hunters. Valstrax seems to shed mid-flight, causing it to drop Dragon energy-rich scales which can cause mass destruction when they release their energy. Its presence also seems to scare and agitate monsters, making them more belligerent when it's around.
Valstrax appears to primarily be an ambush predator, dive-bombing prey from high up in the stratosphere before snatching them up and taking off, killing them either from a lack of oxygen or the sheer G-forces from the Valstrax's incredible acceleration. It has been seen catching a Ludroth to eat and likely preys on creatures that live in more open regions that would be easier for Valstrax to dive into.
Other than this, Valstrax's habits are almost completely unknown, seeing as they're incredibly hard to observe thanks to how high they fly in the sky.
Habitat[]
Valstrax is a monster that inhabits a variety of habitats and is mostly itinerant. The Ruined Pinnacle is most frequently linked to it, often being a nesting site thanks to its sheer altitude.
Trivia[]
- Valstrax received 4th place in the 20th Anniversary Hunters' Choice for Top Monster poll, making it the second most popular Elder Dragon.
- Additionally, its theme Silver Winged Star won the Top 10 Monster Themes poll, receiving an EDM remix as a result.
- Valstrax's Japanese name, Barufaruku (バルファルク), is a combination between baroru (バロル) which is "valor" translated to Japanese, and farukon (ファルコン), meaning "falcon" in Japanese.
- This falcon inspiration is noted in its dive-bombing habits and signature screech-like roar, both of which are associated with the Peregrine Falcon, a bird widely considered the fastest animal alive.
- Based on calculations comparing Valstrax’s body length to the Ruined Pinnacle’s height in its intro cutscene, a common consensus is that Valstrax flies at around 10,880 kilometres per hour or Mach 8.8. Interestingly, this speed is much higher than the typical speeds at which the fighter jets Valstrax is based off fly at.
