Shara Ishvalda is an Elder Dragon first introduced in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne.
Physiology
Shara Ishvalda is a large dragon that has two different forms. It will initially take on an appearance covered in rocks, sand, and other minerals. This gives it a very bulky shape, and its head's appearance is mostly impossible to make out. Most distinctively, instead of wings, it has adapted its appendages into a four-fingered hand-like structure.
In its true form, exposed from underneath the shell, it is a lithe and athletic creature with a hide resembling both bark and stone, colored in a variety of bright, yellows, purples, and white. Its face bears two large, forward-facing eyes that are normally closed, and crests around its head make the shape of a crown. The distinct arms are well-muscled, and the fingers are shown to be spindly and misshapen, bearing specialized tips for sound production. Spikes, markings, plates and indentations run along its neck, back, sides, and limbs, some invoking skeletal structures such as a ribcage. The tail ends in a entwining series of snaking structures, failing to form any one tip.
Abilities
Shara Ishvalda can manipulate the earth by emitting and controlling sonic vibrations from its wingtips to break down and reshape solid ground. These allow it to form quicksand to ensnare its enemies, tunnel through land as if it were water, cause destructive tremors and eruptions, fire supersonic beams, and focus its energy into massive blasts that cause huge explosions. Shara Ishvalda's vibrations are strong enough to collapse or sink entire landmasses, and can induce seismic activity over extremely long distances to the point of permanently altering biomes over time. In addition, the sounds or "song" created by the vibrations can agitate other monsters like Legiana, causing them to exhibit anomalous behavior such as unusual migration patterns.
Due to its subterranean lifestyle, Shara Ishvalda is nearly blind and uses an alternative sensory organ in its forehead in place of eyes, but seemingly has no difficulty sensing its surroundings even above ground. When burrowing through the ground, Shara Ishvalda will accumulate a heavy rock armor on its body, which it will initially use to defend itself and physically crush foes. Even without its armor, it will frequently use its wingtips to swat and scrape at enemies.
Behavior
When Shara Ishvalda was first discovered, it was found burrowing along the Everstream for an unknown reason; however, very little is known about its behavior outside of it only revealing itself when directly disturbed. When awakened, it will attempt to ward off its aggressor while in a heavily defended, rock-covered state, performing less aggressive attacks to fend off foes. If this outer hide is destroyed, it instantly becomes hyper-aggressive. In this state, Shara Ishvalda will forgo defense and focus its full power towards destroying direct threats. It does not give up a fight easily, and may attempt to continue attacking even when mortally injured, as opposed to retreating back underground.
Game Appearances
Main Series
- Monster Hunter World: Iceborne (Introduced)
In-Game Description
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Element/Status Effectiveness
| Element | Effectiveness | Status | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire | ★ | Poison | ★★ |
| Water | ★★ | Sleep | ✖ |
| Thunder | ✖ | Paralysis | ★ |
| Ice | ★★★ | Blast | ★★/★★★ (stone armor) |
| Dragon | ★ | Stun | ★ |
Monster Materials
Equipment
For more information, see Shara Ishvalda Equipment.
Shara Ishvalda materials can be used to craft two different armor sets: Shara Ishvalda α+ Armor and Shara Ishvalda β+ Armor.
Gallery
Notes
General Notes
- Shara Ishvalda will stare at the player rather than the hunter. This effect is achieved via an optical illusion: its eyes are actually motionless but concave-shaped, causing them to appear to stare directly into the camera no matter the angle.
- "Shara" could reference the ancient Mesopotamian deity associated with irrigation and canals, but it could also be a corruption of "Shiva", a significant Hindu deity. "Ishvalda" could be a reference to Ishvara, a Hindu concept with many potential meanings depending on time period and sect, but generally referring to a Supreme Being or a significant personal god. In Shaivism, Ishvara is an epithet for Shiva.
- When the Shara Ishvalda stands up, its stance and wingtips bear a resemblance to common depictions of multi-armed Hindu deities. Its face and head also resemble a lotus flower.
- The names for the Shara Ishvalda's weapons frequently contain references to Hindu or Buddhist concepts, especially the pursuit of enlightenment.
- Shara Ishavalda's first phase theme is called "From the Rumblings Come a Song". Its second phase theme is called "A Single Bloom in an Eternity," a reference to Buddha.
- Shara Ishvalda was voted 80th place in the Hunters' Choice for Top Monster during Monster Hunter's 20th Anniversary.[1]
- Shara Ishvalda serves as the final boss for the main story of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne.
Monster Hunter: World
- Unlike Xeno'jiiva, the story final boss in the base game, Shara Ishvalda can be mounted, and can be flinch shot into the wall.
- The large patches of sand created by Shara Ishvalda will hamper the hunter's movements. This makes the skill Aquatic/Polar Mobility quite useful, since it will significantly increase the hunter's moving speed.
- When flinch shot into the wall, it will stagger instead of being knocked down, unless it is sent into droppable rocks.
- The Ghillie mantle will not hide the player from Shara Ishvalda unless it is worn before entering the area.
- Shara Ishvalda secretes a sticky substance to which sand and rock attaches as it travels underground through the Everstream, thus forming its bulky armor.
- Breaking Shara Ishvalda's parts reveals a purple, amethyst geode-like interior.
