Was Barroth the recommended "benchmark" to see if it's time for me to go online or not? If so, anyone around there want to quest (it'd be my first time)?
Barroth kind of teaches players the importance of evasive action more so than the other early boss monsters. At least this was the case in MH Tri.
- Running Head butt
Barroth's main attack will show him lowering his head while quickly focusing on a player to run into. Obviously, never stand in front of his face when he's about to peform this attack or you'll get trampled, and never try to play chicken with Barroth by running across his charge path, he's the faster runner! There's not much you can do when he's doing this attack unless you're a lance user, in which case you can simultaneously block with your shield while safely attacking with the lance. Of course, don't block if you're stamina is too low otherwise Barroth will manage to hit you.
If you are being targeted by Barroth, then prepare to either block this attack, run out of the way (preferably with your weapon not out), or side-step/ roll out of the way (though this is not really a good solution for players new to the series since dodging correctly takes skill to master, but it's signicantly easier to do if you happen to have an evasion-based armor skill. When it comes to running, you can perform a useful way to dodge called a "superman" dive, but it requires that you do not have your weapon out. This evasive move is simple to do compared to the difficulty of learning how to using a roll or side-step dodge. However, the recovery time is a bit slow. You'll briefly be left vunerable once you're about to lift yourself off of the ground to get back up from having performed the dodge animation. Lastly, you can try to trick Barroth into being lured into a shocktrap or pitball trap by standing on one side of the trap while waiting for Barroth to run into it. Barroth has some clever little attacks, but he's still a stupid animal. This is a good opportunity to set up bombs if he's caught in a pitfall trap or hit the tail if he's in a shocktrap.
- Tail swing # 1
Barroth will stand in one place and proceed to swing his body around twice. His tail will swing by and knock down anyone close enough to it. It's best not to approach him while doing this attack unless you want to block the attack or dodge it while trying to quickly hit him.
- Tail swing # 2
After Barroth performs his running head butt attack, he'll swing his tail to one side of his body. Don't try to run up to Barroth from behind right after he has performed his head butt because Barroth will be ready to slap you with his tail. Even veteran players can have a bad habit of thinking they can approach Barroth during that time, but Barroth will teach you a lesson.
- Mud Fling
Barroth likes to shake his head which throws off balls of mud into the air. It's easy to get hit by one of these, and if you're caught, then you will be unable to use your weapon, run, or any items except one that can allow you to break out of the mud ball. The only other ways to free yourself from the mudball is to keep rolling around on the ground, quickly move the analog sticks around, or have a team mate use the kick gesture animation to hit you with. If you' wan to attack him, then it is best to try to be near his back.
Player tips: Barroth's tail gets in the way so focus on cutting it off first if you have a blade-based weapon. Now Barroth's only a real threat due to his running head butt attack. Lastly, Barroth is weak to fire-based elemental weapons but weak to water-based elemental weapons while he is covered in mud.
