Introducing Arkveld: Monster Hunter's New Fearsome Flagship

The Monster Hunter Wilds beta is back, introducing thrilling new challenges, notably the formidable Arkveld. This flagship monster, prominently featured on the game's cover, promises a significant role in the Wilds adventure.

The beta allows hunters to test their mettle against the Chained Arkveld, a 20-minute hunt with a five-faint limit. As players are discovering, Arkveld is a powerful, massive winged beast wielding electrically charged chains. Its swift attacks and thunderous power pose a significant threat.

Arkveld is a peak monster
byu/Joeljb960 in MHWilds

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }Even experienced hunters are finding Arkveld's attacks incredibly challenging. Its whip-like chains allow for diverse, long-range attacks, showcasing impressive new game mechanics. One particularly memorable attack involves grabbing and roaring at the hunter before a powerful slam.

Arkveld's presence extends beyond combat, as seen in a humorous video on the r/MHWilds subreddit:

arkveld is having none of that
byu/tomkwuz in MHWilds

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }Despite the difficulty, the challenging encounter is well-received by the Monster Hunter community. The impressive visuals and dangerous nature of Arkveld reinforce the core gameplay loop. The "Chained" designation also fuels speculation about a potentially even more challenging "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 more information, explore IGN First's coverage, including the Monster Hunter Wilds Final Preview. Our guide to the Monster Hunter Wilds Beta offers additional details on multiplayer, weapon types, and confirmed monsters.