Ethan Crossfield 
Azhdaha isn’t a “walk in and fight” weekly boss—he’s gated behind Zhongli’s story, and his elemental infusions can turn an otherwise simple encounter into a trap. This guide tells you how to unlock the rematch, what to watch for at the entrance, how each of the three phases changes his resistances and moves, and the one team requirement that keeps the Hatred mechanic from ruining your run.
Unlock Azhdaha and know what changes week to week
Azhdaha is a weekly boss whose drops are used to ascend certain characters, and he’s also required for several achievements. The first time you meet him happens during a story quest, where the boss is weaker than later encounters—so don’t expect your opening battle to match what comes next.
To unlock the boss fight, complete the first part of Zhongli’s story quest “Historia Antiqua” and start the second chapter, “No Mere Stone.” During that progression, you’ll receive the quest “Amidst Chaos, the Rock Is Unmoved.”
For repeat fights, go to the domain “Beneath the Dragon-Queller.” Depending on your progression, you can select difficulty levels of “Memories: Earthshaking Dragon.”
Before you begin, check the stele at the dungeon entrance: it displays two elemental symbols. Those are the elements Azhdaha will use in your fight, which directly affects how you should build your team and damage plan.
Azhdaha’s phases: resistances, Hatred, and the moves to respect
The fight is split into three phases as Azhdaha loses health. His resistances shift when he absorbs elements and gains enhanced abilities.
Base resistances:
– Physical: 40%
– Pyro/Hydro/Anemo/Cryo/Dendro/Electro: 10%
– Geo: 70%
When he absorbs his first element, he gains 60% resistance to it; absorbing the second grants 50% resistance to that element.
Phase One (until HP drops below 75%): Geo-only abilities. Expect attacks like Landslide (head slam shockwave), Massiveness (spinning sweep), Stomp (shockwaves around his paw), Rockfall (leap and two shockwaves), Tail Slam (only if you’re behind him), and Seismic Tremors (burrows, becomes temporarily invulnerable, then drops rocks and may briefly surface to drain HP). He can also fire Stone Spears that embed and detonate, plus Electro/Cryo-specific versions of Tail Slam and other moves.
Phase Two (at 75% HP): Azhdaha triggers Earthquake and infuses himself with either Pyro or Hydro. All Phase One abilities remain, now enhanced by that element. A new mechanic appears: if he deals Pyro or Hydro damage to you while you’re not shielded, you’ll gain a “Hatred” mark that persists until you stop taking that infused-element damage—and while it’s active, you take periodic damage.
Phase Three (at 45% HP): He uses Earthquake again, then infuses with either Electro or Cryo. Hatred now applies to Cryo/Electro damage instead. Key abilities include Monolith (HP can’t drop below 1 while active, with Electro cone shockwaves or Cryo icicle rain and lingering ice shards) and Primal Wrath (Electro orbs or Cryo spears).
Team strategy: the non-negotiable shield and practical positioning
A universal “best team” is hard because Azhdaha’s infusion changes, but one requirement is explicit: your team must include a shielder. Shields do two crucial things—reduce the boss’s devastating damage and prevent the Hatred mechanic from being applied.
General tips that matter in practice:
– Positioning: attacking from behind is generally safer. Tail Slam can still hit you, but it’s often less dangerous than frontal options like Rockfall.
– Element coverage: Azhdaha doesn’t use Anemo or Dendro, so Anemo/Dendro characters remain effective regardless of his infusion.
– Mobility and range: Azhdaha is slow with poor mobility, so ranged characters (bows or catalysts) can land damage more consistently.
If you’re struggling, co-op is an option—Azhdaha can be fought with another player, which can help you manage survival and element reads while you focus on uptime.
What players should know
- Check the stele symbols at the entrance—those two elements determine Azhdaha’s resistances and which mechanics to prepare for.
- Bring a shielder. Without one, the Hatred mark can force periodic damage whenever the infused element hits you.
- Expect three phase transitions tied to HP thresholds: 75% and 45% change his infusion and abilities.
- Tail Slam is a behind-the-boss risk—if you’re going for rear pressure, stay aware of his tail timing.
- Ranged damage often performs well due to his slow, limited movement.
| Phase trigger | Infusion / mechanic | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| HP < 75% | Geo-only to Pyro/Hydro infusion | Earthquake transition; Hatred applies if you take infused-element hits without a shield |
| HP < 45% | Electro/Cryo infusion | Hatred shifts to Cryo/Electro; Monolith prevents HP from dropping below 1 while active |
Expert View
Azhdaha is a weekly boss that rewards preparation more than raw damage. The entrance element read and the shield requirement are the difference between a controlled run and a death loop caused by Hatred. If you can reliably keep a shield up and adjust to his infused elements, the fight becomes manageable—even when his moves get more punishing in later phases.
FAQ
How do I unlock Azhdaha outside the story encounter?
Complete Zhongli’s story quest up to “Historia Antiqua” part one, start “No Mere Stone,” and follow the progression until you receive “Amidst Chaos, the Rock Is Unmoved.” After that, rematches are available in the domain “Beneath the Dragon-Queller.”
What are the two most important things to check before the fight?
Look at the stele at the entrance to see the two elements Azhdaha will use, and make sure your team includes a shielder to neutralize the Hatred mechanic.
When does the Hatred mechanic start, and what causes it?
It begins in Phase Two when Azhdaha infuses with Pyro or Hydro. If you take damage from that infused element without a shield, you gain Hatred, and you take periodic damage until you stop receiving that infused-element damage. In Phase Three, Hatred applies to Cryo/Electro instead.
