Pukei-Pukei Guide: How to Hunt, Defeat, and Craft Gear

The Pukei-Pukei is a fascinating Bird Wyvern first encountered during the “Urgent: Pukei-Pukei Hunt” quest. Resembling a blend of a chameleon, frog, and bird, this large monster can be found in the Ancient Forest. You can track the Pukei-Pukei by following its Feathers and Footprints throughout the area. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about this poisonous adversary, from its weaknesses and attacks to fight tips and armor set recommendations.

Pukei-Pukei Overview

• Difficulty: Intermediate (3⭐)
• Location: Ancient Forest
• Size: Large
• Species: Bird Wyvern
• Weaknesses:
  • Thunder (3⭐)
  • Ice (2⭐)
  • Fire (2⭐)
• Breakable/Severable Weak Points:
  • Head: Weak point
  • Wings: Weak point
  • Tail: Weak point
  • Body

Reward Money: 2520 z

Storyline Quest: “Urgent: Pukei-Pukei Hunt”

Hunting Quest Text:
That Pukei-Pukei is none too pleased to have that slag in its territory. It’ll be even less pleased if we send in our own scholars to research it. Looks like we have to put it down!

Materials (Carves + Low Rank Rewards)

• Scale (5⭐)
• Shell (4⭐)
• Quill (3⭐)
• Tail (3⭐)
• Sac (3⭐)
• Monster Bone (M) (3⭐)

Materials (Carves + High Rank Rewards)

• Carapace (4⭐)
• Scale+ (4⭐)
• Wing (3⭐)
• Tail (3⭐)
• Sac+ (3⭐)
• Bird Wyvern Gem (⭐)

Characteristics

Pukei-Pukei is a flying Wyvern that secretes a toxic substance, making it dangerous for Hunters who aren’t prepared. It’s known to store scatternuts in its mouth or tail, coating them with poison and spitting them out at anyone who threatens it. It’s also a bully to smaller monsters but will flee from stronger ones. You can use this behavior to your advantage, as the Pukei-Pukei will retreat at the first sign of danger.

Pukei-Pukei Fight Guide

Main Fight Mechanics:

• Roar: Pukei-Pukei has a powerful roar that can stun lock you, briefly interrupting your actions.
• Poison: The Pukei-Pukei’s main gimmick is its poison. It can inflict Poison status on you, causing health to drain over time. This can be cured with Antidotes.

Attacks to Watch Out For:

• Ground Pound: The Pukei-Pukei rises into the air and then crashes down multiple times, dealing heavy damage.
• Charge w/Tongue: The Pukei-Pukei uses its long tongue to attack while charging forward.
• Air Dive: It leaps into the air and dives directly at the Hunter.
• Tongue Attack: The Pukei-Pukei can use its tongue to strike you up close.
• Spit (Poison): The Pukei-Pukei spits scatternuts that may inflict Poison.
• Spit-Splash (Poison): A larger version of its spit attack, spraying poison over a wide area.
• Tail Spray (Poison): The Pukei-Pukei can also spray poison from its tail.

Fight Tips

The Pukei-Pukei introduces poison to the gameplay, which is a status effect you’ll need to manage carefully. Here are some tips to make the fight easier:

• Eat Up: Make sure to eat a meal at the Canteen before the fight for extra buffs.
• Carry Antidotes: Since the Pukei-Pukei is a poison user, bring plenty of Antidotes to avoid the dangerous status effect.
• Bait Out Poison Spit: Try to bait out its poison spit attack and get in close for a good opportunity to attack the head and body.
• Cut Off the Tail: The tail sprays poison, so cutting it off reduces the risk of getting poisoned during the fight.
• Exploit Elemental Weakness: Pukei-Pukei is weak to Thunder, so bringing a Thunder elemental weapon is beneficial.
• Use Flash Pods: To deal with its flying behavior, use Flash Pods or Flash Bombs to bring it down to the ground.
• SOS: If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to send out an SOS to bring in extra help from the community.

Pukei-Pukei Armor Set (Rarity 2)

Armor Requirements (Human):

• Helmet: 2x Shell, 1x Tail, 2x Quill, 2x Machalite Ore
• Mail: 2x Scale, 1x Shell, 3x Iron Ore
• Vambraces: 2x Scale, 1x Shell, 1x Poison Sac
• Coil: 3x Shell, 1x Tail, 1x Sac, 1x Poison Sac
• Greaves: 2x Shell, 1x Sac, 2x Scale, 1x Monster Bone M

Palico Armor (Pukei-Pukei Carves/Drops unless noted):

• Bow: 1x Sac
• Hood: 1x Scale
• Mantle: 1x Quill

Pukei-Pukei α+β Sets (Rarity 5)

Armor Requirements (Human):

• Hood: 2x Carapace, 2x Tail, 3x Wing, 2x Toxin Sac
• Mail: 4x Scale+, 3x Carapace, 3x Carbalite Ore
• Vambraces: 4x Scale+, 3x Carapace, 1x Toxin Sac
• Coil: 4x Carapace, 2x Wing, 2x Sac+, 1x Bird Wyvern Gem
• Greaves: 2x Carapace, 2x Sac+, 4x Scale+, 2x Monster Keenbone

Palico Armor

• Bow: 1x Sac+
• Hood: 1x Scale+
• Mantle: 1x Scale+, 1x Quill

If you’re looking to take on more challenging water-based monsters, be sure to check out our Jyuratodus guide for tips and strategies on how to handle this slippery foe.

What do you think about this Pukei-Pukei guide? Drop your thoughts in the comments!