With the release ofMonster Hunter Wildsonly a few weeks away,Capcom has showcased plenty of exciting monsters that are making their way into the latest entry of the franchise. From returning fan favorites to entirely new additions,Wildsalready boasts an impressive variety of monster types to hunt down. While Capcom is likely to reveal even more exciting monsters asWildsgets closer to release, there is already some standout competition that will be hard to top.
AlthoughCapcom has confirmed some returning monstersthat haven’t even been shown yet, like Rathalos and Rathian, not every monster teased in the gameplay trailers forWildshas been fully unveiled.Wildsalso teased a massive ice-breathing monsterthat appears to be this region’s native Elder Dragon, or at the very least an Apex monster of some kind. While fans will likely have to wait until release to get a closer look at the massive elemental dragon for themselves, there are already plenty of memorable hunting experiences on the way.
10Defending Against The Massive Gravios
The Massively Armored Tank Wyvern
While the hulking Basario might not seem as intimidating as a fast-flying Rathalos or powerful Rajang at first glance, it’s not a monster that should be underestimated. Resulting from its lifetime in the intense heat of volcanic lands,Gravios wears a thick shell of armor that requires either powerful weapons or precisely aimed attacks to cut through. Despite being an incredibly heavy monster, Basarios can still fly for limited distances, giving it a burst of speed that can catch unprepared hunters off guard.
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Given that Basarios is the adult form of Gravios last seen inMonster Hunter Rise, it bears many similarities to its juvenile version, except for its sleeping gas ability replacing its poison attack. Despite its similarities to the smaller Basarios,this monster shouldn’t be underestimated, as its massive clubbed tail and ability to shoot out a powerful heat beam can quickly take down even well-armored hunters.
9The Hard To Reach Hirabami
The Wind Sheer Wyvern Of The Iceshard Cliffs
While not much is known about Hirabami, given it only appeared for a short time in the most recent trailer, it’s still one of the most standout designsWildshas to offer so far. Much like Ibushi and Narwa fromMonster Hunter Rise,Hirabami can Levitate without using wings, easily taking to the skies while delivering vicious strikes with its massively clawed tail. Using the same clawed appendage, Hirabami can also hang from ceilings to ambush prey, launching barrages of icy projectiles that can freeze hunters in their tracks.
One of the most standout designsWildshas to offer.
While its attack patterns already make it stand out,the otherworldly appearance of the flying Hirabami is a sight to behold, with its slender and glowing body making a stark appearance in windy environments. Being a monster that spends most of its time in the air, ranged weapons andFlash Podwill be incredibly useful for slaying Hirabami, although it often brings itself to the ground when unleashing melee and spinning attacks with its body.
8The Tunnelling Terror Balahara
The Tunnelling Sand Sea Wyvern
While it’s one of the first monsters that will be encountered in the journey through the wilds, Balahara still makes for a unique and challenging hunt. Being a serpentine leviathan,Balahara can quickly tunnel through the ground just as well as most amphibians could in water, allowing it to quickly reposition around the battlefield. By far the standout feature of this monster is what lets it travel underground in the first place, with its drill-like mouth and three sets of razor-sharp teeth shredding through anything in its way.
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The Balahara can do more than just travel through sand as well, as it can set up traps in the ground much like quicksand to ambush smaller prey.On top of its vicious melee attacks, Balahara will also hang from rock formations to spew mud at its opponents from a distance, leaving it open for a quick flash pod or collapsing rocks.
7Avoiding The Deadly Flames Of Nu Udra
The Supreme Ruler Of The Oilwel Basin
Pushing the boundaries of what kind of creatures can be brought to the franchise,Monster Hunter Wilds' Nu Udrais just as deadly as it is strange.Resembling an octopus but with six large limbs, Nu Udra’s entire body is covered in a thick layer of oil, allowing it to entirely engulf itself and others in flames. Despite its strengths, the gigantic monster still has plenty of weak spots, with glowing feelers on its head and arms making for the perfect target to take the creature down.
Raining down burning oil that deals massive damage but leaves it vulnerable to attacks.
Being massive enough to take down multiple aggressive Ajarakan with ease, this monster can use its large tentacles to smash into hunters or even grab them whole for a quick finisher. Nu Udra also has a plethora of ranged attacks to unleash against hunters, from spewing streams of flame, launching fireballs, and raining down burning oil that deals massive damage but leaves it vulnerable to attacks.
6Rathalos Returns To Terrorize Hunters Once More
The Red King Of The Skies
Being the poster child ofMonster Hunteritself, it’s unsurprising that the terror of the skies, Rathalos is making his way intoMonster Hunter Wildsfor another generation. Being incredibly aggressive and territorial, Rathalos descends on any threats with flame and poison for a deadly status effect combination.While he’s a familiar sight for many, the bright red scales are always a standout image, no matter which distant land Rathalos finds his way to.
Offering more difficulty and incredibly powerful weapons for brave hunters up for the challenge.
Unlike the Rathain female counterpart that stays closer to the ground,Rathalos frequently takes to the skies, spewing fireballs down towards hunters or rapidly striking with its large poisonous claws from the air. The presence of both Rathalos and Rathain inMonster Hunter Wildslikely points towards empowered variations making their way in the future as well, offering more difficulty and incredibly powerful weapons for brave hunters up for the challenge.
5Escaping The Clutches Of The Vicious Lala Barina
As Deadly As It Is Beautiful
Being the first large arachnoid revealed inMonster Hunter Wilds, Lala Barina has an incredibly unique appearance, which further benefits from its unorthodox fighting style. Boasting a distractingly beautiful rose on its back that blooms when it’s enraged,Lala Barina swings around the environment with surprising grace for such a large monster. These swift movements are further aided by the glowing silk it produces, allowing it to pull itself around the environment and even trap hunters.
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While Lala Barina may not seem intimidating at first, it fights with vicious ferocity using everything from its claws, spiked legs, and mandibles, alongside a powerful stinger that paralyzes its prey. Although it’s not tied to one location,the massive scarlet nests weaved by the monstrous arachnid create a gorgeous backdrop for an enjoyable duel to death.
4Ajarakan Gives Rajang A Run For Its Money
The Fiery Glowing Monkey Beast
With an appearance straight out of an ancient legend, Ajarakan is a fanged beast that rivals even the iconic Rajang in its unbridled ferocity. Covered in unique crimson and emerald scales that billow outwards from its back,Ajarakan has an instantly recognizable silhouette that will undoubtedly become a terrifying sight for new hunters. Being aggressive and quick with its attacks, Ajarakan uses its brute strength to smash and grapple opponents, while having the ability to throw entire chunks of molten rock towards its prey.
Being native to the fiery Oilwell Basin, Ajarakan has access to numerous flame abilities when enraged, unleashing barrages of fiery punches or launching waves of magma outwards by slamming the ground. Ajarakan’s incredible agility also allows it to quickly traverse environments, catching hunters off guard from above, or evading them by launching itself into the air, right before shooting downwards for an explosive impact. While it’s too early to tell if Rajang will make a return inMonster Hunter Wilds, a turf war between the two powerful monsters will be a sight to behold,so long as no naive hunters find themselves between the two deadly beasts.
3Grounding Against The Electrifying Rey Dau
The Apex Predator Of The Windward Plains
There’s no doubt that Rey Dau is one of the best monster designs to come out ofWildsso far,offering the balance between an incredible visual spectacle and a consistently tense encounter every time. The flying wyvern is primarily covered with bone-like scales that give it a regal appearance with its golden hue marking its place as the king of the natural food chain in the Wildspire Wastes. By far the most standout feature of Rey Dau is its ability to shoot out devastating blasts of electricity or empower its regular attacks with powerful lightning.
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Rey Dau even makes perfect use of one of themost exciting features coming toMonster Hunter Wilds, with its dynamic weather systems, often utilizing rolling thunderstorms to bolster its abilities far beyond its natural limits. After unleashing the full power of a natural disaster upon its enemies, Rey Dau’s armored wings crystalize into sharp blades that deal even more damage to its opponents. With its unique design and fierce attack patterns, Rey Dau was easily one of the most memorable monsters encountered in the Open Beta.
2Taking On The Frenzy Of Gore Magala
One Of Monster Hunter’s Most Mysterious Elder Dragons
Having one of the most intimidating presences in the entireMonster Hunterfranchise,Gore Magala stands as a testament to the creative creature design the series is known for.Covered head to claw in jet-black scales, Gore Magala is incredibly aggressive and sporadic, attacking anything that it comes across with deadly efficiency. Even Gore Magala’s wings have a specialized design, appearing like a tattered cape wrapped around the beast being held up by its two additional clawed limbs. Where Gore Magala truly shines is in its enraged state, pulling back its vampire-like caped wings to unleash its deadly Frenzy Virus on anything that gets too close through its scales.
Being inflicted with Gore Magala’s frenzy virus will cause hunters to take more damage from attacks while eliminating their ability to heal while afflicted by it.
Upon entering its frenzied state, Gore Magala will use its scales to enshroud the area with darkness, empowering itself with greater strength and aggression,before unleashing powerful slashes and grappling attacks toward anything that moves. These purple scale particles have more uses than just transmitting the frenzy virus as well, as they’re what allows Gore Magala to see its surroundings and opponents given its lack of developed eyes. While most ofMonster Hunter Wildspre-launch trailers have been focusing on the exciting new monsters releasing alongsideWilds, the return of monsters likeGore Magala is a great signfor the future ofWildswhen it comes to introducing fan-favorite monsters once more.
1Surviving The Onslaught Of Arkveld’s Chain Blades
The White Wrath Of The Wilds
Out of all the monsters shown so far,Arkveld by far stands at the top as the deadliest and most climactic experience shown inMonster Hunter Wilds. While the initial trailers teased the Arkveld’s true power, thesecond open betaprovided a taste of just how challenging the headlining monster will be in the full game. Even though the open beta provided much weaker gear than players would normally have by the time they fight the dreaded monster, Arkveld’s powerful and varied attacks require quick reactions and plenty of healing potions.
More than worthy of its spot as a title monster.
Empowering its chain-like appendages with dragon energy, Arkveld unleashes overwhelmingly powerful barrages of slashes and explosive blasts to send hunters flying.Arkveld can even drain the energy of other powerful apex monsters to empower itself further, much like how Rey Dau siphons electricity directly from the surrounding lightning storms. Being surprisingly nimble for its size, Arkveld will provide an excellent challenge inMonster Hunter Wilds,being more than worthy of its spot as a title monster, although its chained title has started rumors that it may receive an even more powerfulunchained form in the future.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds is the highly anticipated follow-up to Capcom’s multi-million seller, Monster Hunter World. Announced at The Game Awards 2023, Monster Hunter Wilds will put players into a sprawling world where they’ll hunt monsters to create new weapons and armor while protecting their home base and uncovering the secrets of unexplored lands with friends or alone.
