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

The Monster Hunter Wilds beta is back, introducing thrilling new challenges, notably the formidable Arkveld. This fearsome beast, the game's flagship monster, is proving a significant hurdle for even experienced hunters.

Arkveld, a massive winged creature wielding electrifying chains, is the cover star of Monster Hunter Wilds. The beta features a timed hunt against the "Chained" Arkveld, limiting players to 20 minutes and five faints.

This imposing foe's powerful attacks, including a particularly devastating grab-and-slam maneuver, are already legendary among beta testers. Its speed and reach, facilitated by its chain-whips, make for a visually stunning and intensely challenging fight. Even seasoned hunters are finding themselves repeatedly defeated.

One amusing encounter, captured on the r/MHWilds subreddit, shows Arkveld unexpectedly disrupting a hunter's meal, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the Wilds.

Arkveld is a peak monster by u/Joeljb960 in MHWilds

arkveld is having none of that by u/tomkwuz in MHWilds

The challenging difficulty, while potentially daunting, has only fueled the enthusiasm of dedicated Monster Hunter fans. The "Chained" designation, coupled with Arkveld's flagship status, has sparked speculation about a potentially even more terrifying "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 tackle both Arkveld and the returning Gypceros, along with new features like a Training Area and Private Lobbies.

Monster Hunter Wilds launches on February 28th, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For more information, including our IGN First coverage and final preview, check out our dedicated Monster Hunter Wilds hub. This also includes our beta guide, covering multiplayer, weapon types, and confirmed monsters.