Shadowboxer Great Maccao

Shadowboxer Great Maccao is a Subspecies of Great Maccao that has control over the Darkness element.

Physiology
Shadowboxer Great Maccao has dark blue skin, black feathers lining its body, and a crest made up of dark purple feathers. Its arms, legs, and tail have dark grey scales, and its eyes as well as the spikes on its tail are crimson. When enraged, its entire body becomes enveloped in darkness, making it harder to detect in dim lighting.

Behavior
Shadowboxer Great Maccao is more aggressive than the standard species, being more likely to attack a threat than run away from it. However, it is also more cowardly, utilizing underhanded tactics such as taking hunters hostage to avoid taking damage from their allies or hiding behind other large monsters so hunters wind up hitting them instead, and it likes to attack from the shadows. It only appears at night due to its overall colouration and Rage Mode helping it blend in with the night sky but making it easy to detect in daylight. This behaviour stems from it losing its entire pack in battle, which forced it to adapt to new situations to avoid becoming easy prey. It has been reported that it whines mournfully when it sees other Maccao due to them reminding it of its past failures.

Abilities
Shadowboxer Great Maccao can harness the Darkness element in battle, bringing down prey and driving off predators with darkness-infused punches and kicks. When enraged, its entire body becomes enveloped in darkness, allowing it to easily blend in with the night sky and the shadows. It can also take hunters as hostages and use them to avoid taking damage from their allies.

Habitat
Shadowboxer Great Maccao inhabits the same areas as its red and green counterpart, but only appears at night.

Attacks
Shadowboxer Great Maccao uses stronger, Darkness-infused versions of the regular species' attacks. However, it has some moves of its own.

Hostage Situation

If there is more than one hunter in the area, Shadowboxer Great Maccao will run behind them and attempt to wrap its arms around them. If it succeeds, it will use the hunter as meat shields to avoid taking damage from the other hunter(s), shifting them in the direction of their attacks. It will let go of them after 55 seconds, but using a Flash Bomb will make them let go of their hostage right away.

Meat Shield

If there is another large monster in the area, Shadowboxer Great Maccao will hide behind them to avoid taking damage from the hunter's attacks. It will do this until the other monster leaves the area or gets killed/captured.

Sucker Punch

Shadowboxer Great Maccao will run behind a hunter and punch them, dealing low damage and knocking them over. It will often use this attack if a hunter is charging up an attack of their own or blocking. This attack's speed and power increase when it's enraged.

Shifting Jump Kick

As opposed to a straightforward jump kick, Shadowboxer Great Maccao will opt to hop to the sides until it is behind the hunter, then launch itself at them. This attack deals medium-high damage and has a homing effect. Hitting it while it's in the air or using a Flash Bomb will topple it, allowing the hunter to get some free hits in or recover until it gets up. This attack's speed and power increase when it's enraged. It will also fall over if it attempts to use this attack while it's exhausted or has its tail broken.

Hidden Jump Kick

Shadowboxer Great Maccao will hide within the shadows that appear within the area it's in and screech as if taunting the hunter until they draw near. Once they do, it will launch itself at them, dealing medium-high damage if the attack connects. This attack has a homing effect and will only be used when it's enraged. Using a Flash Bomb when it's preparing the attack will topple it, allowing the hunter to get some free hits in or recover until it gets up. If its tail is broken, it will fail to use this attack, and will fall over instead.

Sword and Shield
Bane Sword --> Eclipse Sword

Dual Blades
Nocturnal Blades --> Nightfall Blades

Hammer
Gothic Hammer --> Unholy Hammer

Gunlance
Demon's Gunlance --> High Demon's Gunlance

Charge Axe
Fallen Axe --> Corrupted Axe

Insect Glaive
Terror Rod --> Nightmare Rod

Light Bowgun
Shadow Burst --> Umbra Burst

Bow
Dark Bow --> Devil's Bow


 * Note: All of Shadowboxer Great Maccao's weapons are upgrades of the regular species' weapons.

High-Rank
Defense: 275-620

Elemental Resistances:
 * Fire -15
 * Water +5
 * Thunder -15
 * Ice +10
 * Dragon +10
 * Earth +5
 * Wind -5

Skills: Vault, Sneak, Weakness Exploit, Double Stun

G-Rank
Defense: 215-590

Elemental Resistances:
 * Fire -15
 * Water +5
 * Thunder -15
 * Ice +10
 * Dragon +10
 * Earth +5
 * Wind -5

Skills: Vault, Sneak, Weakness Exploit, Double Stun

High-Rank
Defense: 370-655

Elemental Resistances:
 * Fire -10
 * Water +10
 * Thunder -10
 * Ice +20
 * Dragon +20
 * Earth +10
 * Wind 0

Skills: Vault, Sneak, Weakness Exploit, Double Stun

G-Rank
Defense: 200-430

Elemental Resistances:
 * Fire -10
 * Water -10
 * Thunder -10
 * Ice +20
 * Dragon +20
 * Earth +10
 * Wind 0

Skills: Vault, Sneak, Weakness Exploit, Double Stun

Breakable Parts
Crest- The feathers will break.

Tail- The tail's spikes will break off.

Trivia

 * Shadowboxer Great Maccao's name was chosen to reflect its control over the Darkness element as well as its use of punches and kicks in battle.
 * Shadowboxer Great Maccao's armour was designed as an evil counterpart to the regular species', with the former being popular among poachers and the latter seeing use among rangers.