Every New 9-Star Monster Hunt in Monster Hunter Wilds

New Monster Hunter Wilds content is always a cause for celebration, especially for those who may have bounced off the game shortly after launch. The game’s latest update added new 9-star monster hunts, which are integral when it comes to grinding endgame gear and reaching the highest levels of Hunter Rank. Accordingly, these hunts are the toughest in the game, and if you want to survive them, you must be prepared and coordinated in your efforts. Here’s everything you need to know and look out for when it comes to the new 9-star monster hunts in Monster Hunter Wilds, as well as which of the game’s predators can be challenged.

Once you’ve reached HR 100, you’ll be able to start taking on the 9-star quests. They’ll start by appearing on the map as potential Investigations. These quests can be accessed in multiplayer lobbies as well, able to join other players in your lobby via the quest board or by using SOS flares. If, for some reason, they don’t show up on the field, you can rest in your tent until one spawns.

• Type — Leviathan
• Roar Level — Weak
• Status Effect — Waterblight
• Element — Water
• Elemental Weakness — Thunder
• Elemental Resistances — Water

When fighting Uth Duna, make sure you use the environment just like you would with any other monster. In Area 17 of its habitat, you can use a Falling Boulder trap on it. Be sure to be on the lookout for it. Other environmental traps, such as the Dam in Area 15, are also great for the fight. After Uth Duna breaches the water and does a belly flop attack, it becomes susceptible to a Focus Strike on its head, making it a good opening to unload a bunch of damage. However, at the high ranks, he won’t always topple over after hitting this weak point. Another tip would be to carry Nulberries with you on this hunt to quickly remedy the Waterblight status effect.

• Type — Flying Wyvern
• Roar Level — Weak
• Status Effect — Thunderblight
• Element — Thunder
• Elemental Weakness — Ice
• Elemental Resistances — Thunder

Rey Dau is incredibly weak to Flash Pods, so be sure to bring some with you on the hunt. Flash Pods can not only interrupt Rey Dau’s attacks but also interrupt them while flying. If you’re able to flash the wyvern while it’s mid-flight, it will be toppled, allowing for an extended counterattack. Players can also exploit Rey Dau’s horns after it uses its railgun lightning beam attack. The horns themselves will overheat and glow red, similar to a wound, indicating you can target them with a Focus Strike. Since most of Rey Dau’s attacks deal Thunder damage, high Thunder Resistance is heavily recommended.

• Type — Cephalapod
• Roar Level — Weak
• Status Effect — Fireblight
• Element — Fire
• Elemental Weakness — Water
• Elemental Resistances — Fire

When fighting Nu Udra, it’s essential to stay in front of it so that it’s easier to read the attacks of the six-armed monster. The best way to fight this monster is actually by focusing on its arms first, since they’re the easiest to reach. Severing the arms also allows for extra material drops. If you become afflicted with Fireblight from Nu Udra’s attacks before using a Nulberry to cure it, you can also roll three times to remove it. Otherwise, the fight with Nu Udra is all about persistence and situational awareness.

• Type — Leviathan
• Roar Level — Strong
• Status Effect — Iceblight, Frostblight
• Element — Ice
• Weakness — Fire
• Resistances — Ice

The 9-star fight against Jin Dahaad is a battle of attrition. You must stay vigilant, as one mistake can lead to your demise and force you to restart an already long fight. The primary attack to look out for is its one-shot explosion. About halfway into the fight, Jin Dahaad will begin to charge a massive area-of-effect attack. To survive it, you must knock down a giant ice chunk from above to create cover for yourself. You can also avoid it by fast traveling to camp. Aside from this attack, the fight is pretty straightforward. Utilize the environment and prioritize targeting the beast’s forearms and the plates along its back.

• Type — Leviathan
• Roar Level — Weak
• Status Effect — Fireblight, Waterblight, Minor Bubbleblight, and Major Bubbleblight
• Element — Water
• Weakness — Thunder
• Resistances — Water

Mizutsune is a weird fight because some of its attacks are beneficial to the player if they are hit. It is beneficial to avoid the Bubbleblight status ailment, but it may also be worth getting hit by a few bubbles. Every bubble attack from Mizutsune launched your way inflicts Bubbleblight, but the only ones you want to avoid every time are the white and blue flame bubbles. Green and red bubbles are worth getting hit by in the right situations, as they heal and increase attack, respectively. After you deal a lot of damage to the head of Mizutsune, it enters an enraged state, indicated by flames from its left eye. While Mizutsune is enraged, prioritize playing defense until it exhausts itself.

• Type — Demi Elder
• Roar Level — Strong
• Status Effect — Frenzy
• Element — N/A
• Weakness — N/A
• Resistances — Water

Just the normal Gore Magala fight is one of the toughest hunts in Monster Hunter Wilds, so expect the 9-star version to be quite the challenge. It’s a very fast and powerful monster that requires the player to match its aggression. Gore Magala will commonly attack with clouds that inflict the Frenzy status ailment, which would prevent you from being able to heal if it successfully procs. There aren’t as many tips for fighting against Gore Magala outside of the use of your environment to your advantage, but you can still make sure to use your traps and avoid using weapons with the Water element, owing to Gore Magala’s resistance to it.

• Type — Leviathan
• Roar Level — Weak
• Status Effect — Thunderblight
• Element — Thunder
• Weakness — N/A
• Resistances — Water and Thunder

Lagiacrus is another powerful thunder-based monster, similar to Rey Dau, but different in that its thunder attacks are primarily area of effect. The key to defeating Lagiacrus is to attack its head to knock it down. You can also use the environment to deal massive damage to it, specifically the dam rubble in areas 13 and 15 of the Scarlet Forest. Lagiacrus changes the mechanics of the game because you actually fight it underwater during the hunt. While underwater, the beast can unleash a thunder discharge attack that can kill if you don’t swim away far enough.

• Type — Flying Wyvern
• Roar Level — Weak
• Status Effect — Bleeding
• Element — N/A
• Weakness — Thunder
• Resistances — N/A

Bleeding is a highly detrimental status ailment in Monster Hunter Wilds, and it happens to be the main effect to watch out for when fighting Seregios. Before facing Seregios, you should make sure you have armor with high bleed resistance and consumables that cure bleeding, such as wild jerky or rations. The best element for Seregios, even though he technically doesn’t have a true weakness, is Thunder. Seregios will also take to the skies in flight more than other flying wyverns, making flash pods a necessity to bring him crashing back down to the ground. After doing some of its strongest attacks, Seregios’s leg becomes a weak point. Be on the lookout for this opening and be ready to use a focus strike.

• Type — Flying Wyvern
• Roar Level — Weak
• Status Effect — Dragonblight
• Element — Dragon
• Weakness — Dragon
• Resistances — N/A

Arkveld is the showcase monster of Monster Hunter Wilds‘ campaign, so players should be used to fighting him by this point. Still, this predator’s 9-star variant is a good bit more challenging. Using the Dragon element against Arkveld is still effective, as are flash and slinger pods. When facing Arkveld, the part of the creature you should focus on is its chains. Not only can you break them, but if you disable them both, you are guaranteed to topple the beast, creating an opening for more damage, which you’ll desperately need when facing them in a 9-star hunt.