You’ve finally reached the endgame of Monster Hunter: World. You’re looking at that shiny new piece of Master Rank Teostra gear or perhaps a high-end weapon upgrade, and there it is: the requirement for a large elder dragon bone mhw. If you’re like most players, you probably checked your inventory, saw a big fat zero, and wondered if you’ve been playing a different game this whole time. Don't worry. It happens to everyone because these things don't just drop from any old lizard.
Finding a large elder dragon bone mhw isn't about luck as much as it is about knowing which specific fights are worth your time. We aren't talking about High Rank anymore. This is strictly Iceborne territory. If you aren't in Master Rank (MR), you won't see these. Period.
Why Everyone Struggles With the Large Elder Dragon Bone MHW
The name is a bit of a trick. In previous games, "Elder Dragon Bone" was a fairly standard drop. In MHW: Iceborne, the "Large" variant is a Master Rank specific material. It’s a Rarity 10 item. It’s the literal backbone of some of the best transitional and endgame sets in the game.
You need them for the Kaiser Crown γ (if you're still rocking some High Rank niche builds) but more importantly for the Master Rank Kaiser (Teostra) and Kushala sets. If you're a Great Sword user or a Charge Blade main looking to augment or craft top-tier elemental weapons, these bones are your primary bottleneck.
The frustration usually stems from the drop rates. They aren't "rare" like a Mantle or a Gem, but they aren't guaranteed either. You can't just go out and mine them from a bone pile in the Guiding Lands. They are strictly quest rewards and carves from the big hitters.
The Best Way to Farm Large Elder Dragon Bone MHW
If you want to be efficient, stop doing expeditions. Expeditions are great for gathering plants, but they suck for specific material farming because the reward tables are diluted. You want Investigations. Specifically, you want Gold and Silver reward box Investigations.
Which Monsters Actually Drop Them?
Not all "Elders" are created equal in the eyes of the loot table. To get a large elder dragon bone mhw, you need to target the heavyweights of the Master Rank ecosystem.
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- Teostra: Probably the most farmed because his Master Rank armor (Kaiser) is essential for Master's Touch.
- Kushala Daora: Annoying? Yes. Does he drop the bones? Frequently.
- Lunastra: The blue flame queen is a nightmare, but she’s a reliable source.
- Kirin: If you can handle the lightning, Kirin has a decent drop rate and the fight is usually faster than the others if you have a solid Spread HBG or Fire Bow build.
- Namielle: The water-lightning dragon is a great choice because you'll likely need its other unique materials for health augments later anyway.
- Vaal Hazak (Blackveil): A very consistent source, especially if you break parts.
The Secret is in the "Quest Rewards"
Here is something a lot of players overlook: the large elder dragon bone mhw is often found in the "Quest Rewards" section rather than just body carves. While you have about a 10-15% chance to carve one from the corpse, the chance of getting one in the bronze, silver, or gold boxes of an Investigation is significantly higher.
I’ve had runs where I got zero carves but walked away with three bones because of the Investigation bonus slots. Always check your Resource Center in Seliana for any Elder Dragon investigations. If you don't have any, go follow a Tempered Kirin around in the Coral Highlands for ten minutes and pick up its tracks. It’s boring, but it’s the fastest way to stock up on high-tier investigations.
Breaking Down the Drop Rates (The Nitty Gritty)
Let's get real about the numbers. According to the internal data (and confirmed by the community via the Kiranico database), a standard Master Rank Elder Dragon kill gives you roughly:
- Body Carve: ~12-14% chance.
- Shiny Drops: Almost 0%. Don't rely on these. You'll get Dragonvein Shards or Large Wyvern Gems instead.
- Gold Investigation Slot: ~18% chance.
- Silver Investigation Slot: ~15% chance.
Basically, if you kill a Kushala Daora on a regular "Optional" quest, you’re betting on that 12% carve. If you do it on a Gold/Silver Investigation, you’re rolling the dice five or six extra times with better odds. It’s basic math, yet I still see people grinding the "We Three Kings" event quest and wondering why they're coming up empty-handed.
The Guiding Lands Trap
A lot of players think they can just go to the Guiding Lands, lure out a Velkhana, and walk away with a stack of bones. It doesn't work like that. The Guiding Lands has its own unique loot table focused on Spiritvein materials and specific regional drops (like the Hardened Icebone).
While you can technically get a large elder dragon bone mhw from a Guiding Lands Elder, the drop rate is significantly lower than a standard Investigation. The game wants you to use the Guiding Lands for augments and the standard quests for crafting materials. Don't mix them up or you'll waste hours for very little progress.
Common Misconceptions and Mistakes
"I can get these from Ruiner Nergigante, right?"
Actually, Ruiner Nergigante has a very weird loot table. While he is an Elder Dragon, he leans much more heavily into dropping his own unique bones (Lush Bone, etc.) and Large Elder Dragon Gems. If you specifically need the large elder dragon bone mhw, you are actually better off fighting "standard" Elders like Teostra or Vaal Hazak.
"Does Plunderblade work?"
Yes, but it’s a slow burn. Your Palico can snag one using the Plunderblade tool, but the odds are low. It’s better than nothing if you’re struggling to survive the fight, but it shouldn't be your primary strategy. Honestly, if you're at the point where you need these bones, your Palico should probably be using the Coral Orchestra to keep you from getting stunned and carting.
"What about Event Quests?"
Some Event Quests are better than others. Quests like "The Distant Rumble" or any quest featuring multiple Elders will increase your chances simply because you're killing more targets per loading screen. However, for sheer speed, a single-target Investigation is king.
Tips for Solo Players
If you're hunting solo, the easiest target is usually Blackveil Vaal Hazak. If you slot in three levels of Effluvia Resistance, he becomes a punching bag. He moves slowly, has massive hitboxes, and is very susceptible to fire. You can consistently sub-10 minute this fight even with mid-tier Master Rank gear.
Kirin is the other "fast" option, but only if you're comfortable with a glass-cannon playstyle. One wrong move and you're back at camp. For most people, Teostra is the middle ground. His moves are predictable, and as long as you stay to his side and don't get caught in the Supernova, you'll be fine.
Summary of Actionable Steps
Stop wandering aimlessly. If you need a large elder dragon bone mhw right now, follow this exact sequence:
- Check your Investigations: Look for Master Rank (MR) Teostra, Kushala, Vaal Hazak, or Namielle. Filter for 4 or 5 reward boxes if possible.
- Eat for Lucky Cat: If you have the vouchers, eat at the canteen for the Felyne Lucky Cat skill. It increases the number of rewards you get at the end of a quest. It's a game-changer for bone farming.
- Focus on Breaks: While the bone isn't a specific "head break" reward, breaking parts increases the overall reward pool. Break the wings and the head.
- Use a Lucky Voucher: If you have those daily login vouchers, use them here. They double your zenny, but more importantly, they guarantee more reward slots in the "Quest Rewards" screen.
- Avoid Tempered Elders for this specific farm: If you're hunting Tempered (purple box) Elders, you're getting Decorations and Great Spiritvein Gems. Those are great, but the purple boxes replace the gold/silver boxes that have the higher drop rates for the bones. If you specifically need the bone, hunt a "normal" Master Rank Elder.
This isn't a grind that should take you days. With the right Investigation and a Lucky Voucher, you should be able to land 2-4 bones in a single 15-minute hunt. Once you have them, you can finally finish that Teostra set and get back to the real endgame: fashion hunting and trying to get a decent Attack Jewel +4 to actually drop.
Remember that Monster Hunter is a game of patience. The "Desire Sensor" is a real thing in the community—the more you want it, the less the game wants to give it to you. Just put on some music, load up a Vaal Hazak investigation, and you'll have your gear crafted before you know it. The large elder dragon bone mhw is a hurdle, but once you're past it, the rest of the Master Rank upgrades start to feel a lot more manageable.
To ensure you are fully prepared for the hunt, double-check that your weapon is at least Rarity 9 or 10. Attempting these Master Rank Elders with High Rank gear is a recipe for a 40-minute struggle. Use the Elder Melder if you're desperate, but honestly, saving your Research Points and materials for rare gems is a better long-term play than melding for bones. Keep your investigations updated, keep your armor upgraded, and the bones will eventually pile up in your box.