Now that Monster Hunter Wilds is officially out in the wild, most players have likely experienced the majority of monster hunts, including encounters with the game's new and deadly creatures. Here’s a ranking of these monsters based on how cool they are to fight.
There are 15 new monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds, but we’ll only be ranking 14 of them. The final boss has been omitted to avoid spoilers. This ranking evaluates the game’s fresh lineup, from the least exciting battles to those truly cinematic ones.
Chatacabra
Poor Chatacabra. Being the first monster to hunt is a harrowing experience for this adorable, muscular amphibian. Even Capcom has acknowledged its role as a mere "training dummy" for new hunters, which is sad.
Chatacabra’s frog-like moveset isn’t particularly dangerous if you’re well-versed in your weapon and the game’s controls. Just be mindful of its devious tongue licks and the new “frog smash” moves in High Rank. Overall, Chatacabra is more of a tutorial monster than a real challenge—but it’s too adorable not to appreciate.
Quematrice
This humongous T-Rex chicken is a fresh new face for Monster Hunter fans, especially those who didn’t participate in the Beta. It’s not a particularly difficult battle since Quematrice is a large monster with visible weak spots, but it’s certainly fun when you mess up and fall victim to its fire-based tail attacks.
In High Rank, things get crazier—especially in areas with flammable vegetation, where your hunter will likely suffer some third-degree burns.
Rompopolo
When you reach the Oilwell Basin, one of your first hunts will be Rompopolo. This freaky abomination is part mosquito, part…whatever it is. It uses its air sacs to release explosive gas, so be mindful of the leaking pressure from the floor—otherwise, you’ll get blown to smithereens.
It’s not a great fight, and I don’t particularly enjoy hunting it. Like Quematrice, it’s a Brute Wyvern with low mobility and a big target on its back.
Hirabami
The first monster you’ll encounter in the Iceshard Cliffs, Hirabami, is a leviathan with a centipede-like design. It has claws attached to its tail, and—somehow—it can levitate. By using the wind sacs behind its face, it floats through the Iceshard Cliffs, aided by the region’s harsh Frostwinds.
Hirabami isn’t particularly dangerous, but it can be worrisome when a horde of them swarms you and your lowly Palico. Since they travel in packs, using a Dung Pod to disperse them can help you focus on the right target.
It has no game-changing moves, but I appreciate the Iceshard Cliffs' theme song when fighting it.
Lala Barina
This is the first significant challenge for Monster Hunter fans with severe arachnophobia. Lala Barina is a twirling, dancing spider with a knack for Paralysis. It uses its rose-like appendage to disperse multiple paralytic florets, which can build up and incapacitate you if you’re not careful.
It’s not a difficult fight, but I love its armor set. With its Victorian aesthetic, it looks like something straight out of Bloodborne. Even its nest, found in the Scarlet Forest, is coated in beautiful scarlet webs due to the region’s unique weather phenomenon.
Balahara
Among the large monsters in the Windward Plains, Balahara is my personal favorite to fight. It’s a well-designed battle that takes full advantage of the desert terrain. It can sometimes turn the ground beneath you into a makeshift sinkhole, slowing you down before lunging in for an attack.
It’s also one of the most realistic monsters in the game—something that could genuinely exist in a desert biome. It's a fascinating creature with its drill-like tail for burrowing and thick, alien-looking face to protect itself from sandstorms.
Ajarakan
Another beast found in the Oilwell Basin, Ajarakan, is a ferocious Fanged Beast that reminds me of Monster Hunter’s favorite angry monkey, Rajang. It’s a cool fight, not just because it’s a flaming gorilla, but because it takes full advantage of the Oilwell Basin’s Firespring, turning the area into its own personal inferno.
You can feel its back drum's rhythmic pounding when it becomes enraged—your cue to move away fast. And when it launches its ultimate attack? Buckle up. You’re in for a tough time.
Doshaguma
Doshaguma, especially the Alpha variants, is a true skill check for first-time hunters. It hits hard and is insanely massive compared to your hunter, making it a great opponent to test out new builds.
I love Doshaguma battles. It’s pure, unadulterated power—no elemental abilities, no fire breath, just raw strength. Its high-damage lunges and smashes will leave your hunter sore for days.
Uth Duna
Of all the Inclement Four, Uth Duna is my least favorite to fight—though I have to admit, I once carted to its body slam and never fully recovered.
It’s a cinematic fight, no doubt. The persistent downpour adds to the drama, and its Leviathan-like movements would make for an incredible aquatic battle if Capcom ever revisits underwater combat.
Nu Udra
Monster Hunter Wilds introduces Cephalopods as a new monster type, and they’ve instantly become some of my favorites—more so than even Zinogre or Velkhana.
Nu Udra, also known as the Black Flame, is an impressive fight. It uses its multiple tentacles to flick and whip at hunters, hitting even harder when enraged.
Not to mention, Nu Udra’s theme is phenomenal—like battling a Lovecraftian horror you don’t fully understand but must defeat to save the world.
Xu Wu
The first time I saw Xu Wu, I thought I was playing Bloodborne again. This disturbing Cephalopod is an apex predator that feeds on Guardian Monsters in the Ruins of Wyveria. With its bulging head and grotesque, gaping maw, it’s pure nightmare fuel.
But my fight with Xu Wu? Epic. Its moves are incredibly cool—it hardens mucus into blade-like weapons for its tentacles, turning it into a terrifying ninja-like opponent. It’s one of the best fights in the game.
Rey Dau
Armed with a railgun on its head and wings coated in razor-sharp glass, the Rey Dau is the first actual test for any hunter struggling to master the game's mechanics.
Once the Sandtide has completely engulfed the Plains in lightning strikes, the battle against the Rey Dau becomes an epic duel among the dunes. It quickly became a fan-favorite monster during the game's open beta, sending players scrambling for their lives after being carted multiple times by its devastating, one-shot railgun strikes.
Jin Dahaad
The largest non-final boss monster in the base game, Jin Dahaad, is a massive Leviathan that disperses heat from its body to control the cold. Don’t tell Capcom, but its ridged design reminds me of a CPU heatsink.
Jin Dahaad’s battle is one you don’t want to miss. It’s a siege-like encounter, so teamwork is key. If you don’t coordinate to break its metallic ridges, its devastating Nova Attack will wipe out the entire arena, leaving nothing but dust and ash.
Arkveld
There are no surprises here—the best new monster in Monster Hunter Wilds is the Flagship Monster, Arkveld. This Flying Wyvern is too angry to die, using its chain-like appendages—coated in Dragon Energy—to deal massive damage.
Arkveld is fast, agile, and incredibly powerful. The fight feels like a fusion of Elden Ring and Monster Hunter, complete with an intense, synth-infused theme that feels like Duel of the Fates on steroids. I loved this fight and can’t wait to face Arkveld again.
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