Monster Hunter Wilds Beta Players Share Love — and Fear — for Its New Flagship Monster Arkveld

The Monster Hunter Wilds beta is back, offering thrilling new challenges. A formidable new adversary, Arkveld, is proving to be a significant test for even seasoned hunters.

Arkveld, the game's flagship monster and cover star, plays a pivotal role in the Wilds storyline. The beta introduces a timed hunt against the Chained Arkveld, presenting a 20-minute challenge with a five-faint limit.

This massive, winged beast wields electric chains, unleashing powerful, swift attacks. Its impressive mobility and devastating moves, including a particularly memorable grab-and-slam attack, are already legendary among beta testers.

Arkveld is a peak monster
byu/Joeljb960 inMHWilds

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }Even experienced hunters are finding Arkveld exceptionally difficult. Its dynamic use of its chains for movement and attacks showcases impressive technological advancements. The monster's unexpected interruptions, like the hilarious mealtime ambush captured in one player's video, add to its memorable character.

arkveld is having none of that
byu/tomkwuz inMHWilds

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }Despite the high difficulty, the challenging encounter is well-received by the Monster Hunter community. The fearsome yet iconic design of Wilds' flagship monster is a testament to the game's ambition. The "Chained" designation also fuels speculation about a potentially even more formidable "Unchained" variant in the future.

The Monster Hunter Wilds Open Beta Test 2 runs from February 6th to 9th, and again from February 13th to 16th. Hunters can face both Arkveld and the returning Gypceros, alongside new features like a Training Area and Private Lobbies.

Monster Hunter Wilds launches February 28th, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For further details, explore IGN First's extensive coverage, including the Monster Hunter Wilds Final Preview.

Our comprehensive guide to the Monster Hunter Wilds Beta covers multiplayer gameplay, weapon types, and confirmed monsters.