Uh oh, Monster Hunter Wilds isn’t messing around anymore—its new high-rank monsters hit hard and often, hopefully putting the difficulty discourse to bed

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If you’ve been following the experienced, rough-and-tumble monster hunters on social media networks, they’ll claim that Monster Hunter Wilds is a breeze compared to what they faced in their time. Back then, they had to trek uphill in both directions just for a chance to battle a monster—newcomers like myself have it much easier, according to them.

To clarify, I’m not intending to criticize them. Throughout the game’s lower rank story, I only carted once until the final battle, and surprisingly, I haven’t faced much difficulty in high rank (except for Gore Magala, it can take a hike!).

It could be that I’m exceptionally skilled at video games, particularly the Souls series, and managed to defeat Shadow of the Erdtree’s final boss before any adjustments were made (I had to conquer it first). However, based on my colleagues’ discussions, it seems that this game is indeed offering a more accessible starting point.

Indeed, avid gamers are in for a thrilling experience as the game’s newest update introduces two more substantial challenges tailored for skilled high-rank players (HR). The new additions are the Mizutsune (for HR 21+) and Zoh Shia (for HR 50), with an Arch-tempered Rey Dau expected in a future patch.

I faced off against Zoh Shia’s updated version, and despite a single defeat (which, technically speaking, didn’t count since my Palico used its once-per-battle revive ability, but I won’t be making any excuses), the improvement was evident. Additionally, I encountered an interesting mechanic to handle its powerful AoEs, so I went into the battle well-prepared with the knowledge at hand.

As a gamer, I found myself strategically approaching Zoh Shia more like a boss from FromSoftware games – watching for openings and anticipating telegraphed attacks. Yet, despite my best efforts, I was hit with a few unexpected combos. To my relief, my selection of dual blades seemed to be quite effective in this battle. Determined as I am, I’ll master the art of dodging Zoh Shia’s tricks. It took me approximately 21 minutes to conquer this foe, though a couple of random hunters joining mid-fight added an unexpected challenge.

This new level of challenge introduced by Capcom holds great potential. As of now, I haven’t had the chance to tackle Mitzutsune or its tempered variant due to commitments (such as writing this very article). However, here’s a video shared on Reddit by user T_Sheckler, showcasing their entire team getting thoroughly defeated.

Tempered Mizutsune doesn’t play around from r/MonsterHunter

It seems like I’m not the only one finding Zoh Shia challenging. In a discussion, one hunter admits it was the toughest battle they’ve faced so far, saying, “For real, it’s been a tough fight for me.” Another confesses they were anticipating an easy victory as in lower ranks, but instead, they encountered their first quest failure from this character and his rapid-fire attacks.

Remember, this is just a sample or preview. Arch-tempered Rey Dau hasn’t even been added to the game yet. Capcom wasn’t exaggerating when they said that the toughest battles are still ahead of us.

1. Monster Hunter Wilds Manual: Comprehensive Field Guide

2. Top Modifications for Monster Hunter Wilds: Packed with Solutions

3. Weapon Ranking in Monster Hunter Wilds: Clearly Organized

4. Recommended Armor in Monster Hunter Wilds: What to Don

5. All Creatures in Monster Hunter Wilds: The Complete Roster

6. Special Quests in Monster Hunter Wilds: Exclusive Rewards

7. Cooperative Play in Monster Hunter Wilds: Strategies for Hunting Together

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2025-04-04 17:47