Espinas Weaknesses, Patterns, and How to Beat
This is a guide to the Espinas Secret Boss Fight in Azuria in Monster Hunter Stories 3 (MHS3). Learn where to find Espinas, how to beat it, its weaknesses, behaviour and attack pattern, and the best strategy to beat Espinas.
| Espinas Guides | |
|---|---|
| Monstie Guide | Boss Guide |
| Variants |
 Espinas |
 Feral Espinas |
|---|
List of Contents
Espinas Boss Weaknesses and Resistances
Espinas Weakness
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| ↑ | ↓↓ | ↓ |
Espinas Damage Type Weaknesses
| Body Part |  Slash |
 Pierce |
 Blunt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Body | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ |
| Head | ✕ | ✕ | ◯ |
| Wings | ✕ | ◯ | ✕ |
| Tail | ◯ | ✕ | ✕ |
Status Ailment Resistance and Weaknesses
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Espinas Pattern and Behaviour
| Jump to a Section |
|---|
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2. Sleep State 3. Normal State |
Attack Behavior
| Sleep State | 
|
|---|---|
| Normal State | |
| Enraged State | 
|
Espinas has 3 states which are its Sleep, Normal and Enraged state.
Sleep State
| Turn Count | Move |
|---|---|
| Turn 1 | Napping (Counter if attacked) |
| Turn 2 | Napping (Counter if attacked) |
| Turn 3 | Napping (Counter if attacked) |
The Espinas will be in the Sleep state, same as how you encountered them in the cave. Throughout the three turns, until it shifts to the Normal state, it will be napping. Proceed with caution as if the Espinas is attacked in this state it will counterattack with a strong move.
Normal State
| Turn Count | Move |
|---|---|
| Turn 1 From the Sleep State |
Power Attack |
| Turn 2 | Power Attack |
| Turn 3 | Venom Flame (Single Attack) |
When the Espinas wakes up to the Normal State, it will engage in Head to Head with Power Attacks. Watch out however for its Venom Flame attack afterwards as it is a powerful single target attack that can deal a large amount of damage.
Enraged State
| Turn Count | Move |
|---|---|
| Turn 1 From the Normal State |
Speed Attack |
| Turn 2 | Venom Flame |
| Turn 3 | Infernal Flames |
| Turn 4 Reverts to Normal State After |
Infernal Flames |
In the enraged state, the Espinas will now engage in head to heads with a Speed Attack. Make sure to switch out your Monstie to one that uses a Technical Attack. During this state, it will also unleash powerful Fire type attacks, Venom Flame and Infernal Flame, the latter of which hits all of your party members.
During this state, try to interrupt its turns by stunning it or using your Kinship skill to avoid depleting your hearts.
Recommended Monsties for Espinas
 Purple Gypceros
|
 Dreadqueen Rathian
|
The Purple Gypceros is quite helpful with the use of the move Tail Stun. It can negate a turn for when Espinas is attacking. Keep in mind however that it will be very weak to the Fire type moves Espinas lets loose so anticipate them and switch the Monsite out accordingly.
Players can also have the Dreadqueen Rathian to apply Noxious Poison. It is also helpful in countering its Power attacks with Speed attacks during head to heads in the Normal state.
How to Beat Espinas
| Jump to a Section |
|---|
|
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Level Up to at Least Level 35
Although it is doable at lower levels, it can be risky to fight Espinas at these levels as it is more likely to oneshot your party members. The Monster will be at Level 44 so it is recommended to be at Level 35 to help with sustaining your characters.
Time the Use of the Kinship Skill
The Kinship skill during this fight can greatly help in reducing the damage your party receives. Make sure to time it correctly for when it unleashes strong attacks like Infernal Flame.
How to Use Kinship Skills
Use Solar Cry or Pet to Avoid the Counter
In its Sleeping State, Espinas will retaliate strongly if players attack it offensively. Instead use skills like Solar Cry or Pet to avoid this.
Using these moves also helps fill the Kinship Gauge which can help interrupt its strong attack later on.
Invite Kora as a Battle Ally
Kora makes an excellent ally during this fight since she can draw away single target attacks, set up traps and hit quite offensively
Also, do not worry if Kora and her Monstie Gravy, lose all their hearts during the Sleep State as they will revive later on with the Ride Mechanic and their Kinship Gauge. This and the Espinas' resistance to ailments is why Ogden, although still a good choice, is not as recommended.
Equip the Magia Charm
Equip your protagonist with the Magia Charm as its moves can greatly help with Stamina Regen and recovering hearts through the Magnificent Trio.
Use a Weapon with Sweet Spot BLNT
Sweet Spot BLNT can help inflict the enemy with Stun thereby increasing the chance of skipping the Espinas' turn to attack. This skill, which can be used by Venom Monster as an example, also causes heavy damage to the Wyvernsoul.
List of All Weapons
Focus Attacks During the Enraged State
In the Normal and Sleep state, Espinas will have high resistances against any attacks. Make sure instead to unleash your attacks during the Enraged State where it will be weak to Ice and Dragon.
Espinas Location
Located in the South East Area of Azuria
Espinas is located in the South East Area of Azuria, near a lake in a cave by the water. It will be sleeping right near the entrance guarding some items to collect.
Azuria Map and Exploration Guide
Monster Hunter Stories 3 (MHS 3) Related Guides
Main Mission Bosses
| All Main Mission Bosses | |
|---|---|
| Azuria (Chapter 1) | |
 Honed Glavenus |
 Invasive Yian Garuga |
 Dual Feral Velocidromes |
 Feral Gypceros |
 Magnamalo |
- | Cataracts (Chapter 2) |
 Feral Great Izuchi
|
 Invasive Arzuros |
 Feral Somnacanth |
 Feral Aknosom |
 Yama Tsukami |
- |
| Galyad (Chapter 3) | |
 Feral Ajarakan |
 Feral Rakna-Kadaki |
 Rey Dau |
- |
| Seranthis (Chapter 4) | |
 Feral Blangonga |
 Goss Harag |
 Malzeno |
 Arkveld |
 Bound Azure Rathalos |
 Bound Lunagaron |
 Aenshin |
|
Invasive Monster Bosses
| All Invasive Monster Bosses | |
|---|---|
| Invasive Yian Garuga |
 Invasive Seregios |
 Invasive Plesioth |
Invasive Arzuros |
 Invasive Nerscylla |
 Invasive Shogun Ceanataur |
 Invasive Diablos |
 Invasive Odogaron |
 Invasive Khezu |
- |
Feral Monster Bosses
| List of All Feral Monsters | |
|---|---|
 Feral Nerscylla |
 Feral Brachydios |
 Feral Tobi-Kadachi |
 Feral Glavenus |
 Feral Bishaten |
Feral Espinas |
 Feral Paolumu |
- |
Elder Dragon Bosses
| List of All Elder Dragon Bosses | |
|---|---|
 Namielle |
  |
 Yama Tsukami (Green) |
 Velkhana |
| Aenshin |
- |
Exotic Monster Bosses
| List of All Exotic Monster Bosses | |
|---|---|
 Exotic Seregios |
 Exotic Velocidrome |
Optional Bosses
| List of All Optional Bosses | |
|---|---|
| Espinas
|
- |
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