Yukitayu

Yukitayu is a subspecies of Futayu found in arctic regions. Due to it lacking explosive secretions like its red cousin, it prefers to fight bare-handed, forming icy gauntlets over its arms and striking foes with heavy punches.

Physiology
Yukitayu shares many traits with Futayu, but has some notable differences to set itself apart from it. Its head is silver with white outlines, and its tail is silver with pale blue rings, though its arms and legs remain black. The skin on its back is silver with small, pale blue spikes appearing all over it, and the fur on its chest and lower torso are white, with small, black spots appearing on the backside. Its arm braces are black, and it has long, blue claws on its paws. Its facial structure is also more like that of an arctic fox's, being more slender and having larger eyes and longer ears.

Ecology
As an adaptation to arctic biomes, which lack bamboo, Yukitayu is a more proactive predator than Yukitayu, feeding on a wide range of smaller animals, from rodents and insects to Popo and Anteka, but maintains an omnivorous diet, feeding on herbs and seeds found within its habitats. As it cannot produce combustible powder from its meals, it instead produces ice through a specialized sac that stores frigid fluids that freeze on contact with its metallic arm braces, creating a layer of "gloves" that can be used for both offense and defense. It is an excellent climber, being able to scale trees and mountains with ease, and spends its days sleeping in trees and caves while actively foraging and hunting at night. To maintain the properties of its braces, it will eat ore found in caves. Although it retains the wrist bones that have a thumb-like extension, they is vestigial in nature, with it preferring to slash at prey with its longer claws, and strong muscles in its arms and legs allow it to move much quicker than would be expected from a creature its size, which is useful when fleeing from predators or pursuing live prey. The species remains solitary, only interacting with each other during brief mating seasons, and when they are over, males will leave females to raise the young on their own. Females produce one to two cubs per birth, and they will provide them with food and shelter until they reach three years of age, which is when they can hunt and forage for themselves. Although it lacks the most intriguing trait of its red cousin, which is the usage of improvised fire lances, it makes up for it by being a more disciplined combatant, exhibiting greater speed and less susceptibility to conditions like forced sleep. It competes with other dangerous monsters, such as Barioth, Gammoth, Tigrex, Fulgur Anjanath, and Velkhana, for territory.

Behavior
Like Futayu, Yukitayu is docile around humans, but will attack them if provoked. However, it is territorial towards other large monsters as well as other members of its species, and may attack them if they appear. It generally keeps to itself, only interacting with others of its species during brief mating seasons.

Abilities
Like Futayu, Yukitayu is notably agile for a creature its size, running at high speeds and being able to jump fairly high into the air, and exhibits greater speed, durability, and power overall. It is a strong climber, and compensates for its lack of weapons and Blastblight by exhibiting prowess in melee combat and utilizing ice coatings, which inflict Snowman upon contact and provide it with a method of guarding.

Habitat
Yukitayu lives in icy locales found with the Old World and the New World

HP and Damage
HP:


 * Base HP: 4,800 HP


 * Low-Rank (0.55x,rounded up): 2,640 HP


 * High-Rank (0.70x): 3,360 HP


 * G-Rank (1.30x): 6,240 HP

Physical/Elemental Damage Taken:


 * Head: 45 (Cut), 45 (Impact), 45 (Shot), 15 (Fire), 10 (Water), 15 (Thunder), 0 (Ice), 5 (Dragon), 10 (Earth), 10 (Wind), 5 (Nature), 5 (Aether), 10 (Matter)


 * Body: 35 (Cut), 35 (Impact), 45 (Shot), 15 (Fire), 10 (Water), 15 (Thunder), 0 (Ice), 5 (Dragon), 10 (Earth), 10 (Wind), 0 (Nature), 5 (Aether), 10 (Matter)


 * Forelegs: 25 (Cut), 25 (Impact), 20 (Shot), 20 (Fire), 10 (Water), 20 (Thunder), 0 (Ice), 5 (Dragon), 10 (Earth), 10 (Wind), 0 (Nature), 5 (Aether), 10 (Matter)


 * Forelegs (Icy): 10 (Cut), 5 (Impact), 5 (Shot), 30 (Fire), 5 (Water), 30 (Thunder), 0 (Ice), 5 (Dragon), 5 (Earth), 5 (Wind), 5 (Nature), 5 (Aether), 5 (Matter)


 * Stomach/Hind Legs: 40 (Cut), 40 (Impact), 35 (Shot), 20 (Fire), 10 (Water), 20 (Thunder), 0 (Ice), 5 (Dragon), 10 (Earth), 10 (Wind), 5 (Nature), 5 (Aether), 10 (Matter)


 * Tail: 35 (Cut), 30 (Impact), 35 (Shot), 20 (Fire), 10 (Water), 20 (Thunder), 0 (Ice), 5 (Dragon), 10 (Earth), 10 (Wind), 5 (Nature), 5 (Aether), 10 (Matter)

Element/Status Effectiveness
 * Fire = ★★★
 * Water = ★★
 * Thunder = ★★★
 * Ice = ✖
 * Dragon = ★
 * Earth = ★★
 * Wind = ★★
 * Nature = ★
 * Aether = ★
 * Matter = ★★
 * Poison = ★★
 * Sleep = ★
 * Paralysis = ★
 * Blast = ★★★
 * Stun = ★

Attacks
Yukitayu shares many physical attacks with Futayu, but cannot use Blastblight or weapon-related attacks. To compensate, it has some moves of its own.

Apply Ice

Yukitayu licks its metallic arm braces, applying frigid liquid to them. This grants its claw-based attacks the ability to inflict Ice damage and inflict Snowman for 90 seconds. Once 90 seconds pass, it will then slam its paws together, creating a burst of ice that inflicts high damage and inflicts Severe Iceblight and Snowman.

Hook Volley

Similar to Rajang, Yukitayu releases a series of hooks while moving towards the hunter. This attack deals high damage and, when ice is applied to the claws, inflicts Iceblight.

Freezing Gust

Futayu exhales a gust of ice at the hunter. This attack deals medium-high damage, inflicts Severe Iceblight, and sends the hunter flying across the area. It often uses this as a counterattack against hunters who make it flinch or knock it down.

Face Guard

When ice is applied to its claws, Yukitayu will sometimes block attack with its arms in a cross-like manner. If its arms are struck, the hunter's attack will automatically deflect without the use of Mind's Eye, and the monster will respond with a quick jab that deals medium damage and inflicts Severe Iceblight.

Uppercut

Yukitayu stores in energy, then unleashes a heavy uppercut. This attack deals high damage and inflicts Stun and, if ice is applied to the claws, Severe Iceblight. This attack has wind pressure that can be mitigated with Wind Res (Lo).

Bear Hug

Yukitayu extends its arms out, then pounces on the hunter, dealing low damage and pinning them. Upon pinning the hunter, it will wrap its arms around them and squeeze them tight, dealing low-medium damage that gradually turns into high damage. If the hunter does not escape in time, it will slam them on the ground, dealing high damage.

Sumo Stomp

Yukitayu lifts one leg high into the air, then stomps, creating a wide-reaching tremor that requires Tremor Res (Lo) to negate. Direct contact with the leg deals medium-high damage.

Haymaker

Yukitayu rears one arm back, then leaps at the hunter with the intention of striking them. This attack deals medium-high damage and (if ice is applied to the claws) Severe Iceblight.

Heavy Kick

Yukitayu lifts one foot up, then forcibly kicks the hunter away. This attack deals high damage and sends the hunter flying across the area. Like the Freezing Gust, it is often used as a counterattack.

Fake-Out

Yukitayu seemingly goes to swipe at the hunter with its claws, then jumps to the side, quickly spewing a Freezing Gust at them instead. Fake-outs can be determined by looking at the monster's ears; the ears twitch slightly when feigning attacks.

Power Burst

Yukitayu stands in place while storing power inside of its icy claws, then slams them down, creating a series of rupture lines filled with large icicles. This attack, while slow, is a OHKO on any hunter whose Ice Resistance is below +20, and will deal high damage along with Severe Iceblight and Snowman on any hunter whose Fire Resistance is above that level.

Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o942-S83DE&list=PL7B6106DEAE8CA4FC&index=6

Great Sword
Subzero Halberd --> Subzero Halberd+ --> Cryogenic Halberd

Long Sword
Silver Naginata --> Silver Naginata+ --> Glacial Naginata

Lance
Freezing Lance --> Freezing Lance+ --> Boreal Lance

Gunlance
Arctic Cannon --> Arctic Cannon+ --> Freezing Cannon

Switch Axe
Nitrogen Axe --> Nitrogen Axe+ --> Polar Axe

Insect Glaive
Frost Glaive --> Frost Glaive+ --> Tundral Glaive

Light Bowgun
Fox Musket --> Fox Musket+ --> Chilling Musket

Heavy Bowgun
Snow Howitzer --> Snow Howitzer+ --> Blizzard Howitzer

Bow
Crystal Crossbow --> Crystal Crossbow+ --> Snowstorm Crossbow

High-Rank
Defense: 285-630

Elemental Resistances:
 * Fire -15
 * Water 0
 * Thunder -15
 * Ice +20
 * Dragon +10
 * Earth 0
 * Wind 0
 * Nature +15
 * Aether +10
 * Matter 0

Skills: Artillery Expert, Guard +2, Guard Boost, Blunt Edge

G-Rank
Defense: 480-715

Elemental Resistances:
 * Fire -15
 * Water 0
 * Thunder -15
 * Ice +20
 * Dragon +10
 * Earth 0
 * Wind 0
 * Nature +15
 * Aether +10
 * Matter 0

Skills: Artillery God, Guard +2, Guard Boost, Blunt Edge

High-Rank
Defense: 140-400

Elemental Resistances:
 * Fire -10
 * Water +5
 * Thunder -10
 * Ice +25
 * Dragon +15
 * Earth +5
 * Wind +5
 * Nature +20
 * Aether +15
 * Matter +5

Skills: Artillery Expert, Guard +2, Guard Boost, Steadiness -2

G-Rank
Defense: 265-465

Elemental Resistances:
 * Fire -10
 * Water +5
 * Thunder -10
 * Ice +25
 * Dragon +15
 * Earth +5
 * Wind +5
 * Nature +20
 * Aether +15
 * Matter +5

Skills: Artillery God, Guard +2, Guard Boost, Steadiness -2

Breakable-Parts
Forelegs x2- The braces will lose their spikes and become cracked.

Tail- The tail will lose hair and become bristly.

Legs x2- The legs will be scarred.

Forelegs (Icy)- The ice will fall off, leaving an Ice Crystal drop behind.

Quests
WIP.

Trivia

 * Yukitayu was based on arctic foxes, polar bears, and red pandas in terms of design.
 * Yukitayu's name is a portmanteau of Yuki, the Japanese word for "snow", and zouyu, a legendary Chinese creature said to resemble a white tiger with black spots.
 * Breaking Yukitayu's forearms will lower the range of its ice-based claw attacks.
 * When exhausted, Yukitayu will take longer to recover after using its heavier attacks. It can recover stamina by feeding on mushrooms, berries, herbs, insects, honey, or carrion.
 * Yukitayu will not attack hunters unless they attack it first.