- Class
- Flying Wyvern
- Size
- Large monster
- Habitat
- Coral Highlands
- Weak to
- Fire★★★ Thunder★★★
- Traps
- Pitfall Trap, Shock Trap, Vine Trap
- Inflicts
- Roar (small), Wind (large)
Quests29
Drop items33
Weapons38
Armor sets5
Paolumu feast on eggs found in the Coral Highlands. They are able to float through the air using unique sacs in their bodies, and attack with their extremely hard tails.In-game description
Paolumu is the big, fluffy balloon of the Coral Highlands. It looks almost harmless, but it fills its neck pouch with air, floats over your head and swings a tail as hard as stone. In World it is one of the first monsters you meet in the Highlands, and it returns in Iceborne’s Master Rank.
Out in the wild
Paolumu lives in the Coral Highlands, where it feeds on eggs. Special air sacs in its body let it drift through the air, and with a full neck pouch it can stay up for a long time. Once the air runs out, it moves far less freely. It is not the top of the food chain here: Legiana and Odogaron both get the better of it when they meet.
Where you meet it
Your first hunt is the 4-star Low Rank assignment Ballooning Problems. It shows up again in High Rank, where tempered Paolumu also exist. In Iceborne it is a Master Rank target, and the expansion adds a darker cousin, Nightshade Paolumu.
How the fight goes
On the ground it paces, bites and sweeps its tail, and it isn’t fast. The real fight starts when it inflates. Then it hovers, fires blasts of wind and dives down on you. Its nastiest trick is a wind vortex that holds you in place right before it slams into you.
Hunter’s tips
- Flash Pods help keep it on the ground, so fire one when it takes off.
- Aim for the head and the inflated neck pouch. Breaking the pouch, or shooting it from range, brings Paolumu back down.
- Fire is its big weakness, with Thunder a solid second. Blast and stun work very well too.
- It knocks you around with wind pressure, so Windproof is worth a slot if it keeps pinning you.
Weaknesses
Elements
Fire★★★Best hitzone: 25 (Head)
Water✕Best hitzone: 0
Thunder★★★Best hitzone: 15 (Head)
Ice★★★Best hitzone: 10 (Head)
Dragon★★★Best hitzone: 10 (Head)
Status & stun
Poison★★★
Sleep★★★
Paralysis★★★
Blast★★★
Stun★★★
Stars are the game’s own Hunter’s Notes rating: 3 = most effective, ✕ = no effect. "Best hitzone" is the highest value for that element on any body part.
Hitzones
| Part | Sever | Blunt | Shot | Fire | Water | Thndr | Ice | Drgn | Stun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head | 55 | 55 | 45 | 25 | 0 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 100 |
| Neck | 40 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 0 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 100 |
| Neck Pouch | 75 | 75 | 60 | 25 | 0 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 100 |
| Body | 46 | 46 | 42 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Left Leg | 40 | 35 | 25 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Right Leg | 40 | 35 | 25 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Left Wing | 35 | 35 | 45 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Right Wing | 35 | 35 | 45 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Tail | 25 | 25 | 15 | 20 | 0 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
Higher numbers take more damage. Highlighted: 45+ for physical and 20+ for elemental damage, the usual weak-spot thresholds.
Breakable parts
| Part | Flinch | Break | Sever | Extract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head | 180 | – | – | Red |
| Neck Pouch | 300 | 500 | – | Red |
| Body | 300 | 300 | – | Orange |
| Left Leg | 200 | – | – | White |
| Right Leg | 200 | – | – | White |
| Left Wing | 150 | 150 | – | White |
| Right Wing | 150 | 150 | – | White |
| Tail | 250 | 250 | – | Orange |
Damage needed to flinch, break or sever the part (Hunter’s Notes values). Extract is the Kinsect extract colour for Insect Glaive users.
Drops & rewards
Low Rank
| Item | Method | Qty | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Scale | Bandit Mantle | 1 | 100% |
| Paolumu Scale | Carve / Capture | 1 | 36% |
| Paolumu Pelt | Carve / Capture | 1 | 28% |
| Paolumu Webbing | Carve / Capture | 1 | 21% |
| Paolumu Shell | Carve / Capture | 1 | 15% |
| Paolumu Pelt | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 27% |
| Paolumu Scale | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 21% |
| Monster Bone L | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 16% |
| Paolumu Shell | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 15% |
| Nourishing Extract | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 12% |
| Paolumu Webbing | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 9% |
| Paolumu Shell | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 36% |
| Paolumu Webbing | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 30% |
| Paolumu Pelt | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 14% |
| Nourishing Extract | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 12% |
| Paolumu Scale | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 8% |
| Paolumu Shell | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 32% |
| Paolumu Webbing | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 25% |
| Paolumu Pelt | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 18% |
| Nourishing Extract | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 14% |
| Paolumu Scale | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 11% |
| Paolumu Scale | Palico Bonus | 1 | 50% |
| Paolumu Shell | Palico Bonus | 1 | 28% |
| Wyvern Tear | Palico Bonus | 1 | 22% |
| Paolumu Scale | Plunderblade | 1 | 43% |
| Paolumu Pelt | Plunderblade | 1 | 35% |
| Paolumu Shell | Plunderblade | 1 | 22% |
| Paolumu Scale | Shiny Drop | 1 | 50% |
| Paolumu Shell | Shiny Drop | 1 | 28% |
| Wyvern Tear | Shiny Drop | 1 | 22% |
| Paolumu Scale | Track | 1 | 100% |
| Paolumu Pelt | Wound Back | 1 | 100% |
| Paolumu Pelt | Wound Neck Pouch | 1 | 100% |
| Paolumu Shell | Wound Tail | 1 | 100% |
| Paolumu Webbing | Wound Wings | 1 | 100% |
High Rank
| Item | Method | Qty | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Scale | Bandit Mantle | 1 | 70% |
| Beautiful Scale | Bandit Mantle | 1 | 30% |
| Paolumu Scale+ | Carve / Capture | 1 | 34% |
| Paolumu Pelt+ | Carve / Capture | 1 | 28% |
| Paolumu Wing | Carve / Capture | 1 | 21% |
| Paolumu Carapace+ | Carve / Capture | 1 | 15% |
| Wyvern Gem | Carve / Capture | 1 | 2% |
| Paolumu Pelt+ | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 26% |
| Paolumu Scale+ | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 20% |
| Monster Keenbone | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 16% |
| Paolumu Carapace+ | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 14% |
| Nourishing Extract | Hunt (Bronze) | 2 | 14% |
| Paolumu Wing | Hunt (Bronze) | 2 | 9% |
| Wyvern Gem | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 1% |
| Paolumu Carapace+ | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 30% |
| Paolumu Wing | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 24% |
| Wyvern Gem | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 16% |
| Paolumu Pelt+ | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 12% |
| Nourishing Extract | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 10% |
| Paolumu Scale+ | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 8% |
| Mysterious Feystone | Investigation (Purple) | 1 | 55% |
| Glowing Feystone | Investigation (Purple) | 1 | 25% |
| Worn Feystone | Investigation (Purple) | 1 | 15% |
| Warped Feystone | Investigation (Purple) | 1 | 5% |
| Paolumu Carapace+ | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 32% |
| Paolumu Wing | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 23% |
| Paolumu Pelt+ | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 14% |
| Nourishing Extract | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 12% |
| Paolumu Scale+ | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 11% |
| Wyvern Gem | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 8% |
| Paolumu Scale+ | Palico Bonus | 1 | 50% |
| Paolumu Carapace+ | Palico Bonus | 1 | 28% |
| Wyvern Tear | Palico Bonus | 1 | 22% |
| Paolumu Pelt+ | Plunderblade | 1 | 43% |
| Paolumu Scale+ | Plunderblade | 1 | 35% |
| Paolumu Carapace+ | Plunderblade | 1 | 20% |
| Wyvern Gem | Plunderblade | 1 | 2% |
| Paolumu Scale+ | Shiny Drop | 1 | 50% |
| Paolumu Carapace+ | Shiny Drop | 1 | 28% |
| Wyvern Tear | Shiny Drop | 1 | 22% |
| Paolumu Scale+ | Track | 1 | 100% |
| Paolumu Pelt+ | Wound Back | 1 | 100% |
| Paolumu Pelt+ | Wound Neck Pouch | 1 | 100% |
| Paolumu Carapace+ | Wound Tail | 1 | 100% |
| Paolumu Wing | Wound Wings | 1 | 100% |
Master Rank
| Item | Method | Qty | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lustrous Scale | Bandit Mantle | 1 | 100% |
| Paolumu Shard | Carve / Capture | 1 | 32% |
| Paolumu Thickfur | Carve / Capture | 1 | 26% |
| Paolumu Fellwing | Carve / Capture | 1 | 20% |
| Paolumu Cortex | Carve / Capture | 1 | 15% |
| Wyvern Gem | Carve / Capture | 1 | 5% |
| Large Wyvern Gem | Carve / Capture | 1 | 2% |
| Rubbery Shell | Guiding Lands (High) | 1 | 100% |
| Fierce Dragonvein Bone | Guiding Lands (Low) | 1 | 63% |
| Rubbery Shell | Guiding Lands (Low) | 1 | 37% |
| Rubbery Shell | Guiding Lands (Mid) | 1 | 63% |
| Fierce Dragonvein Bone | Guiding Lands (Mid) | 1 | 37% |
| Tempered Rubbery Shell | Guiding Lands (Tempered) | 1 | 54% |
| Spiritvein Slogbone | Guiding Lands (Tempered) | 1 | 25% |
| Spiritvein Gem Shard | Guiding Lands (Tempered) | 1 | 21% |
| Paolumu Thickfur | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 32% |
| Paolumu Shard | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 21% |
| Nourishing Extract | Hunt (Bronze) | 3 | 18% |
| Paolumu Cortex | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 16% |
| Paolumu Fellwing | Hunt (Bronze) | 2 | 11% |
| Large Wyvern Gem | Hunt (Bronze) | 1 | 2% |
| Paolumu Cortex | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 30% |
| Paolumu Fellwing | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 24% |
| Large Wyvern Gem | Investigation (Gold) | 1 | 16% |
| Paolumu Thickfur | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 12% |
| Nourishing Extract | Investigation (Gold) | 5 | 10% |
| Paolumu Shard | Investigation (Gold) | 3 | 8% |
| Ancient Feystone | Investigation (Purple) | 1 | 70% |
| Carved Feystone | Investigation (Purple) | 1 | 30% |
| Paolumu Cortex | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 32% |
| Paolumu Fellwing | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 23% |
| Paolumu Thickfur | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 14% |
| Nourishing Extract | Investigation (Silver) | 3 | 12% |
| Paolumu Shard | Investigation (Silver) | 2 | 11% |
| Large Wyvern Gem | Investigation (Silver) | 1 | 8% |
| Paolumu Shard | Palico Bonus | 1 | 50% |
| Paolumu Cortex | Palico Bonus | 1 | 28% |
| Large Wyvern Tear | Palico Bonus | 1 | 22% |
| Paolumu Thickfur | Plunderblade | 1 | 43% |
| Paolumu Shard | Plunderblade | 1 | 35% |
| Paolumu Cortex | Plunderblade | 1 | 20% |
| Large Wyvern Gem | Plunderblade | 1 | 2% |
| Paolumu Shard | Shiny Drop | 1 | 50% |
| Paolumu Cortex | Shiny Drop | 1 | 28% |
| Large Wyvern Tear | Shiny Drop | 1 | 22% |
| Paolumu Shard | Track | 1 | 100% |
| Paolumu Thickfur | Wound Back | 1 | 100% |
| Paolumu Thickfur | Wound Neck Pouch | 1 | 100% |
| Paolumu Cortex | Wound Tail | 1 | 100% |
| Paolumu Fellwing | Wound Wings | 1 | 100% |
Paolumu weapons & armor
Weapons
Glacial Arrow IIBow · Rarity 5Downy Crake BroomsDual Blades · Rarity 3Downy Crake LoveDual Blades · Rarity 7Downy ParadiseDual Blades · Rarity 11Wyvern Ignition “Steel”Great Sword · Rarity 4Glacial Gunlance IIGunlance · Rarity 5Lumu Horn IHunting Horn · Rarity 3Lumu Horn IIHunting Horn · Rarity 4Glacial Bagpipe IIHunting Horn · Rarity 5Lumu Barone IHunting Horn · Rarity 5Lumu Barone IIHunting Horn · Rarity 6Lumu Barone IIIHunting Horn · Rarity 6Lumu Drone IHunting Horn · Rarity 9Lumu Drone IIHunting Horn · Rarity 10Glacial Lance IILance · Rarity 5Lumu Blitz ILight Bowgun · Rarity 3Lumu Blitz IILight Bowgun · Rarity 4Lumu Typhon ILight Bowgun · Rarity 5Lumu Typhon IILight Bowgun · Rarity 6Lumu Typhon IIILight Bowgun · Rarity 6Lumu Typhon IVLight Bowgun · Rarity 9Glacial Shotel IILong Sword · Rarity 5Lumu Axe ISwitch Axe · Rarity 3Lumu Axe IISwitch Axe · Rarity 4Glacial Axe IISwitch Axe · Rarity 5Lumu Smasher ISwitch Axe · Rarity 5Lumu Smasher IISwitch Axe · Rarity 6Lumu Smasher IIISwitch Axe · Rarity 7Mechanical Lumu ISwitch Axe · Rarity 9Mechanical Lumu IISwitch Axe · Rarity 10Lumu Knife ISword & Shield · Rarity 3Lumu Knife IISword & Shield · Rarity 4Glacial Grace IISword & Shield · Rarity 5Lumu Tabar ISword & Shield · Rarity 5Lumu Tabar IISword & Shield · Rarity 6Lumu Tabar IIISword & Shield · Rarity 6Lumu Nightmare ISword & Shield · Rarity 9Lumu Nightmare IISword & Shield · Rarity 10
Armor sets
LumuLow Rank · Rarity 3Lumu αHigh Rank · Rarity 5Lumu βHigh Rank · Rarity 5Lumu α+Master Rank · Rarity 9Lumu β+Master Rank · Rarity 9
Gear that needs a material only Paolumu drops.
Strongest Fire weapons
Sorted by element value. Paolumu takes extra fire damage.
Quests
Low Rank
A Tzitzi for Science4★ · Also appearsBallooning Problems4★ · TargetChallenge Quest 2: Beginner4★ · TargetGreeting the Gluttons4★ · TargetSorry You're Not Invited4★ · TargetSpecial Arena: Paolumu4★ · TargetWhite Monster for a White Coat4★ · TargetA Humid Headache5★ · Also appearsEvery Hunter's Dream5★ · TargetLegiana: Embodiment of Elegance5★ · Also appears
High Rank
Loop the Paolumu6★ · TargetSay Cheese!6★ · Also appearsSpecial Arena: HR Paolumu6★ · TargetA Cherry Wind upon the Reefs7★ · Also appearsCoral Waltz7★ · TargetLegiana: Highlands Royalty7★ · Also appears
Master Rank
All the Wrong Signals1★ · Also appearsSkyward Snipers1★ · Also appearsBalloon Fight2★ · TargetEvery Hunter's Dream II2★ · Also appearsPink Power Grab2★ · Also appearsPlay Both Ends2★ · Also appearsProtip: Stay Hydrated2★ · Also appearsSpecial Arena: MR Paolumu2★ · TargetThe Plight of Paolumu2★ · TargetA Nasty Flesh Wound3★ · Also appearsSoaked and Shivering3★ · Also appearsMoonlit Howl6★ · Also appearsSymphony of the Coral6★ · Target
Other monsters in the same areas
Data: Monster Hunter World: Iceborne game files (final version 15.11).