Helkeron

Helkeron is a tall piscivorous Bird Wyvern introduced in Monster Hunter: Farlands
==Physiology==
Similar to their relatives Aknosom and Rosaminos, Helkeron has a tall slender body with long thin legs, a tall neck, and a medium-length tail. What makes Helkeron unique however is its thick coat of soft black feathers that cover its neck, wings, and body, and form a fan on its tail. Their most striking features are localized on their neck and head as Helkeron has a brilliant blue coloration on their throat and face, which is complemented by the bright orange keratin and orange stripes of their beak and curved crest. There are a few minor differences between male and female individuals particularly in their head and neck region, as males sport a bright blue coloration and more saturated colors on their crest compared to females who display a more dull blue-grey on their neck and a desaturated orange crest. 
==Behavior==
Helkeron is an easily startled Bird Wyverns and will often flee when met with trouble, although males will be quick to fight with great ferocity during mating season. Often times they are seen wading through the waters of New World swamplands where they will wait with great stillness before swiftly snapping up their prey. When their day of fishing, wading, singing, and fleeing is over they will return to nests that they have built high up in trees, the reason they build these nests is to keep themselves safe from threats from below such as predatory monsters that inhabit swampy waters. 
===Specific Locale Interactions===
*Helkeron will frequently wade through the tall grass of the Arboreal Marshland when not in combat. While doing this it can sometimes catch a fish by piercing it with its beak.
*When wading near water, if a Kurotaurops or Zeltamadon is nearby, there is a chance the Helkeron will be attacked on the shore.
*On occasion, Helkeron can be seen in the background of the open regions of the Arboreal Marshland. When sighted outside the map it will be idly fishing for some time before eventually flying off into the distance.
===Special Behaviors===
*When resting, Helkeron can be seen sitting down and preening its feathers with its beak.
*If near water or otherwise wetted, Helkeron will periodically shake or ruffle its feathers to dry off. After shaking, it will flap its wings briefly and then return to being idle.
*On rare occasions when it has not been disturbed Helkeron can be seen performing a brief song. It will continue to sing and hoot until it is either disturbed or decides to leave the locale.
*When low on stamina or after a certain amount of idle time, Helkeron will seek out a nearby body of water from which to fish. When it reaches this body of water it will stand still and wade in the water until it can snap up a fish.
===Turf Wars===
====Pukei-Pukei Vs. (Tie)====
Upon meeting in the other's territory, the two Bird Wyverns will ruffle their feathers and open their wings in an attempt to put on a threat display. On some occasions, the threat display is enough, and one of the monsters will flee after a bout of roaring. However, violence is more frequent with one of the two striking before the other. If the Helkeron is the first to strike it will charge toward the Pukei-Pukei to jab at it with its beak, before kicking it down and winning the engagement. In the event that the Pukei-Pukei strikes first, it will spit out a blob of poison which knocks the fragile fishing bird off its feet. With its foe stunned, the Pukei-Pukei will lunge forward with its tongue extended to deal moderate damage before roaring to assert itself. 
====Kurotaurops Vs. (Loss)====
Upon noticing the hapless Bird Wyvern, the Kurotaurops will roar with great fury before going in for the attack with a lunging bite. The Helkeron will attempt to dodge but to no avail as it is clutched within the Brute's jaws within moments. With its prey in its grasp, the massive predator swings the Bird Wyvern back and forth as it squawks with fear. After shaking it the Kurotaurops ends its assault by slamming the Helkeron onto the ground repeatedly until it limply falls out of its jaws. This deals severe damage to the Bird Wyvern and can bring it near death on some dire occasions.
==Ecological Information==
===Habitat===
Helkeron is entirely endemic to the swamps and marshlands of the New World. They are specifically found within the Arboreal Marshland hunting locale. They tend to be active in the more open marshlands of the locale where they wade through the shallow water and tall grass to hunt for prey. When not hunting it retreats back into the forest where it makes its nests up in the tall ancient trees of the Arboreal Marshland. The canopies of these trees provide a sanctuary in the harsh swamps of the Arboreal Marshland, allowing Helkeron to rest peacefully above the turbulent and deadly marshes. 
===Ecological Niche===
Within the swamps of the New World, Helkeron is fairly low on the food chain as it feeds primarily upon fish. To most fish it is a terrifying apex predator that can catch and consume almost any typical fish, however, there are still some larger fish that see Helkeron as only a minute threat. While it feeds primarily on fish, Helkeron is also known to prey upon other creatures such as eggs, small birds, small reptiles, and a few select baby monsters. When opportunity presents itself, Helkeron will feed on the eggs or babies of Kurotaurops which has seemingly led to a violent rivalry between the two wyverns. 
===Tracks===
Helkeron can leave Footprints, Dark Feathers, and Fish Carcasses on the ground.
==Abilities==
Helkeron are not necessarily the most formidable creatures, preferring to back away from fights unless the subject of territory, pride, or food comes under threat from an attacker. When fighting they typically avoid flight as they are better suited to combat on the ground by using heavy piercing strikes from their beaks, complimented by swift kicks from their long slender legs. On occasion, they will use their sharpened wing fingers in combat similarly to their relative the Aknosom, although this is avoided as Helkeron tend to prefer to keep their wings intact so they can make a swift escape when combat becomes dire. 
===Attacks===
*Crested Piercer- Helkeron will lift its head up for a brief moment before rapidly slamming its head down to stab what is beneath it. When performing this attack on hard ground its beak can sometimes become stuck, opening it up to attack.
*Repeating Pierces- Similar to the Crested Piercer attack, however Helkeron will hold its head up for a slight bit longer and stand on on leg before quickly slamming its beak down several times in rapid succession.
*Jumping Pierce- Helkeron will jump up and hover in the air for a brief moment before slamming back down head first. When performing this attack above hard ground its beak can sometimes become stuck, opening it up to attack.
*Bite- If hunters are directly under its head, Helkeron will quickly snap at them several times.
*Basic Kick- Helkeron will quickly lift one of its legs up before rapidly releasing a defensive kick towards the hunter.
*Waterfowl Kick- Helkeron will hold itself up on one leg and rapidly release anywhere from one to three jabbing kicks with its long slender legs. It is easily knocked out of this attack by heavy weapons due to the delicate balance of its one-legged stance.
*Wing Slash Combo- Similar to Aknosom, Helkeron will slash one wing forward and swiftly follow up with a strike from its other wing, in some cases it can extend this combo to repeat the two wing slashes up to two more times.
*Waterfowl Twirl- Helkeron will slash one of its wings forward while standing on one leg which allows it to perform a short twirl, this twirl builds up momentum and allows it to produce a heavier strike with its other wing.
*Tail Swipe- When hunters linger behind it, Helkeron will swipe its tail back and forth a few times to get hunters off its back. After performing this attack, it will turn around to face the hunter and perform another attack.
*Stomp- When hunters are directly under it, Helkeron will lift up its leg and slam its webbed foot down to pin the hunter underneath. While the hunter is pinned, Helkeron will rapidly stab at them with its beak until the hunter can escape from being pinned.
*Distress Flail- When enraged, Helkeron will become extremely distressed and will rapidly jump up and down while flailing its wings and head about in order to get hunters to step away from it. It can be easily stunned out of this attack with heavy weapons as it has neglected even the most delicate of balance in favor of wild flailing.
*Charge (HR, MR, GR Only)- Helkeron will lower its head and charge forward while shrieking. If it runs into a wall its beak can sometimes become stuck, opening it up to attack.
*Spinning Kick (HR, MR, GR Only)- Similar to its Basic Kick attack, Helkeron will hold itself on one leg, however it will spin around to roundhouse kick its opponent as opposed to simply releasing a normal kick.
* Flying Pierce (HR, MR, GR Only)- Helkeron will fly up into the air for a moment and hover in place while it carefully tracks the position of the Hunter before launching itself down head first. When performing this attack on hard ground its beak can sometimes become stuck, opening it up to attack.
*Regurgitate (MR, GR Only)- Helkeron's throat will pulsate for a moment before it vomits out a ball of water and fish corpses at its foe. However, it will only do this when enraged and desperate.
*Sliding Kick (MR, GR Only)- Helkeron will ascend into the air and hover in place for a moment before descending with its feet first, dragging them along the ground akin to Seregios. Unlike Seregios however, this attack is a bit clumsy and so Helkeron will attempt to turn itself around with little grace and great ferocity in a similar motion to its Distress Flail attack.
*
*Waterblight is inflicted by some attacks only when Helkeron attacks in water. 
*
===Rage and Tired States=== 
*Rage State - When engaging in combat, Helkeron will put on an intimidating display as its black feathers stand up on its neck and shoulders. It will also roar and screech often while fighting with great aggression and ferocity.
*Tired State - Due to being a fairly frail creature, Helkeron becomes exhausted easily and when it is tired during combat it will lower its feathers and attack much more slowly while drooling slightly.
*
==In-Game Data==
===Hitzones===
 
 
===Breakable Parts===
*Head: Upon breaking the head or beak, the crest will be broken in half and the beak will be covered in lacerations or cracks. The beak in particular will now feature a long crack on the upper beak, akin to the head break on Qurupeco.
*Wings: Upon breaking both wings will appear broken, displaying tattered and torn feathers as well as scars all over the Bird Wyvern's now dulled wing fingers.
===Monster Drops ===
====Shiny Drops====
* Wyvern Tear
====Material Items====
* Helkeron Scale/Shard/Lamina
* Helkeron Feather/Plume/Darkplume
==In-Game Description==
==Carves==
<tabber>
|-|Low Rank=
Material	Material 	Description 	Drop Rate	Drop Type
 	Helkeron Scale 	A small circular scale retrieved from the body of a Helkeron. This scale is quite smooth to the touch, and appears to glisten with a sparkling blue color under close inspection. 	★★★ 	Carve
 	Helkeron Scute 	A large thick scale pried from the tail of a Helkeron. These scutes are toughened to provide protection to the Bird Wyvern's otherwise fickle body. 	★★★ 	Carve
 	Helkeron Feather	A dark feather plucked from the scaly hide of a Helkeron. These feathers are uniquely waterproof and allow the Bird Wyvern to keep itself dry in its wet habitat. 	★★★ 	Carve Wing Break
 	Helkeron Hide 	A grey-blue hide made of fine pebbly scales, carved from the body of a Helkeron. This hide has a strange texture as the scales are very smooth and small, making for a soft hide of scales.	★★★ 	Carve Tail Break
 	Helkeron Crest 	A tall vibrantly colored crest carved from the beak of a Helkeron. In males this crest stands even taller and brighter, as it is used as a symbol of fitness. 	★★ 	Carve Head Break
 	Wyvern Tear 	Bitter tears wept by Wyverns on certain occasions. 	★★★ 	Shiny Drop
|-|High Rank=
Material	Material 	Description 	Drop Rate	Drop Type
 	Helkeron Scale+ 	A high condition scale retrieved from the body of a Helkeron. This scale is very smooth to the touch, and appears to glisten with a deep iridescent blue color under close inspection. 	★★★ 	Carve
 	Helkeron Scute+ 	A very dense scale forcefully pried from the tail of a Helkeron. These thick scutes are toughened to provide protection to the Bird Wyvern's otherwise fickle body. 	★★★ 	Carve
 	Helkeron Feather+	A deep black feather plucked from the scaly hide of a Helkeron. These feathers are uniquely waterproof and allow the Bird Wyvern to shake off water with great ease. 	★★★ 	Carve Wing Break
 	Helkeron Hide+ 	A grey-blue hide made of fine pebbly scales, carved from the body of a Helkeron. This hide has a unique texture as the scales are very smooth and small, making for a perfectly soft hide of scales.	★★★ 	Carve Tail Break
 	Helkeron Crest+ 	A beautifully vibrant crest carved from the beak of a Helkeron. In males this crest is significantly brighter compared to that of female Helkeron. 	★★ 	Carve Head Break
 	Wyvern Tear 	Bitter tears wept by Wyverns on certain occasions. 	★★★ 	Shiny Drop
 	Large Wyvern Tear	Large, bitter tears wept by wyverns on certain occasions. 	★★★ 	Shiny Drop
 	Bird Wyvern Gem 	A valuable gem that can be harvested from bird wyverns. Said to fetch a high price on the market. 	★ 	Rare Carve
|-|Master Rank=
Material	Material 	Description 	Drop Rate	Drop Type
 	Helkeron Shard 	An iridescent blue shard of scales taken from the hide of a prime condition Helkeron. These scales are smooth and water resistant to allow Helkeron to seamlessly traverse aquatic environments. 	★★★ 	Carve
 	Helkeron Cortex 	A hard cortex plate taken from the back of a Helkeron. This plate was formed from hard layers of scale that developed into a tough osteoderm. 	★★★ 	Carve
 	Helkeron Plume 	A soft downy plume plucked from the hide of a Helkeron. Typically male and female Helkeron have indistinguishable soft coats, however during mating season males develop a shinier coat of deep black feathers.	★★★ 	Carve Wing Break
 	Helkeron Thickhide 	This Helkeron hide was cut with great care and so it is excellently condition. Each shining grey-blue scale is an example of this individual's unique condition. 	★★★ 	Carve Tail Break
 	Regal Helkeron Crest	A tall refined crest taken from the head of a Helkeron. In mature males these crests almost resemble the regal crown of a lord. 	★★ 	Carve Head Break
 	Large Wyvern Tear 	Large, bitter tears wept by wyverns on certain occasions. 	★★★ 	Shiny Drop
 	Fey Wyvern Gem 	An exceptionally pure gem taken from a bird wyvern. Its fragility makes it difficult to carve. 	★ 	Rare Carve Quest Reward
 	Bird Wyvern Gem 	A valuable gem that can be harvested from bird wyverns. Said to fetch a high price on the market. 	★ 	Rare Carve Quest Reward
|-|Grandmaster Rank=
Material	Material 	Description 	Drop Rate	Drop Type
 	Helkeron Lamina 	A surprisingly light weight scale that was once deeply imbedded in the hide of a Helkeron. This thick, robust scale has a beautifully curated iridescent blue glow that is produced by the Helkeron regularly cleaning its scales with flowing river water.	★★★ 	Carve
 	Helkeron Hard-Plate 	This highly dense plate is the result of harvesting from the armored back of a Helkeron. These plates are heavily developed scutes that are used to protect the Helkeron's back while it puts an extreme level of focus into its fishing strategy. 	★★★ 	Carve
 	Helkeron Darkplume 	A deep dark plume pilfered from a Helkeron, its quality is portrayed by the magnificent shine along its length. During the mating season, male Helkeron will grow a new coat of deep black, iridescent feathers to attract potential mates. 	★★★ 	Carve Wing Break
 	Helkeron Scalehide 	A pristine hide carved from a Helkeron, it shines with an iridescent shine all across its grey-blue surface. This hide bears a remarkably soft texture despite being made of firm avian scales. 	★★★ 	Carve Tail Break
 	Helkeron Piercerbeak 	A refined, sharpened peak tenderly removed from the skull of a peak condition Helkeron. This beak has been weathered down to a sharp point after a life of stabbing and snapping with great precision. 	★★ 	Carve Head Break
 	Large Wyvern Tear 	Large, bitter tears wept by wyverns on certain occasions. 	★★★ 	Shiny Drop
 	Fey Wyvern Gem 	An exceptionally pure gem taken from a bird wyvern. Its fragility makes it difficult to carve. 	★ 	Rare Carve Quest Reward
 	Bird Wyvern Gem 	A valuable gem that can be harvested from bird wyverns. Said to fetch a high price on the market. 	★ 	Rare Carve Quest Reward
 	Soft-Tempered Thickhide	A dense hide carved from a monster that has been tempered and hardened by its harsh environment. Evidently, the monster this came from was once quite weak but it has adapted to become a formidable threat. 	★★★ 	Quest Reward
</tabber>
==Roar==
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==Notes and Trivia== 
*Helkeron serves as the first Large Monster to be fought in Monster Hunter Farlands.
**It is unique compared to starter monsters in mainline games in its ability to fly. However, it does not fly in combat, preferring to stay grounded and only flying when fleeing from combat. This is intended to encourage the use of Farland's increased methods of vertical movement such as the Palcon or Latch Hook.
*Helkeron displays unique detail features in Monster Hunter Farlands which is subtle sexual dimorphism for monsters. In this case, Helkeron's beak and head region are more saturated if it is male and more dull if it is female. 
**The first Helkeron fought in the story of Monster Hunter Farlands will always be male.
*Due to its position as a fairly weak tutorial monster, Helkeron is specifically intended to receive extra benefits in the ranks following Low Rank, gaining a great number of new attacks and an above-average boost to its health and damage. This is intended to show how early game monsters can still prove formidable even in the endgame, and also prevent this particular monster from losing all relevance in the aforementioned endgame.
*A nearly life-sized hand puppet was made of Helkeron for one of my High School art projects. This puppet received a perfect score and was admired by many. This puppet also makes Helkeron the most well-known out of all of my monsters as it is known by people outside of the Monster Hunter community.
Category:Bird Wyvern
Category:2 Star Level Monster
Category:Water Element Monster
Category:Monster Creation
Category:Lillid0ptera