In recent years, mostMonster Hunterexperiences, includingMonster Hunter Wilds,have been book-ended by a few familiar faces that fall into a particular category: elder dragons. Despite the term’s rather vague definition (any monster with an ill-defined amount of strength and rarity), elder dragons remain a tried and trueMonster Hunterstaple and have appeared in every franchise title.Wildsis the first mainline entry to not include any elder dragons, which is a shocking departure from the previous title.
Upon reaching the upper end of high rank, it was a strange feeling knowing that the ever-present cast —the likes of Teostra, Kushala Daora, and Kirin — were, in fact, absent. In previous games, this trio, in particular, often served as the initial basis ofMH Wilds' endgame. Upon more reflection, however, I’ve begun viewing the lack of elder dragons less in terms of what’s missing and, instead,on whatWildsand the franchise as a whole gained from their exclusion.
Monster Hunter World Centered Around Elder Dragons
Sometimes Breaks Are Needed
Wilds’lack of elder dragons is especially jarring coming fromWorld, which, along with its staggering number of huntable elder dragons, also had a story entirely centered around them. While these stories usually serve as tutorials before players can trulyget into the classicMonster Hunterendgame, they do set the tone for the sorts of monsters that are available to hunt.Asa result, MH World had a bit of an elder dragon overload, enough to make the classification even more muddled.
I’m Positive Monster Hunter Wilds Would Be Better With My Favorite Monster, & It’s Not An Elder Dragon
Monster Hunter Wilds needs more updates, and a returning creature from Rise could improve its content and address complaints about its difficulty.
Besides the aforementioned trio, I assume many people imagine Fatalis at the mention of elder dragons. The penultimate boss, created in the originalMonster Hunter, perfectly embodies the classification.Killing Fatalis is an achievement on its own, with it most recently serving as the final challenge ofIceborne.It is a little weird that something likeWorld’sVelkhana shares the same classification with Fatalis when, story-wise, Velkhana fulfills an equal purpose toWildsRey Dau, a zone apex encountered early in the story.
Elder Dragons were so prominent in the fifth generation that a new weapon mechanic, Elderseal, was created.
Beyond the now even more muddled definition of an elder dragon, because World and Rise shared their fifth-generation label, much of their rosters had overlap. Velkhana, Teostra, Kushala Daora, and Elderseal were present inRise,which included a few other returning elder dragon additions. At this point,it’s difficult to say how many times I’ve hunted these monsters across both games, with it being easy to see how elder dragons became so pervasive within the franchise and so noticeably absent withinWilds.
The Lack Of Elder Dragons Gives New Monsters A Time To Shine
The Four Apexes Are Fantastic End-Game Hunts
My initial disappointment, then, seemed to come from the absolute casualness of elder dragons in the fifth generation. Taking a step back and looking at the usual suspects of endgame farming inWildsmakes me glad that the elder dragons weren’t included. I’ve always been fond of Kirin, the first elder dragon I hunted,but I’ve had that experience enough times. In their stead,Wildshas introduced a new set of monstersthat are relevant throughout high rank and are a joy to hunt.
Monster Hunter Wilds' Voiced Protagonist Is The Right Move For The Future Of The Franchise
Monster Hunter Wilds has already made significant improvements to its story telling, with the hunter being a great fit for the change in direction.
The apexes — Uth Duna, Nu Udra, Rey Dau, and Jin Dahaad — stand out in particular as both inspired designs and engaging hunts. Truthfully, with the more obscure definition of what an elder dragon should be, I see no fundamental difference between their difficulty andWorld’s initial elder dragon roster. While the lack of familiar faces can be disappointing because ofWilds’status as a new generation ofMonster Hunter,I firmly believe that Capcom made the right decision to ton back the now fatigued elder dragonsand focus on something new for players to engage with.
Even Rathalos, which is included in everyMHgame, enteredWildswith its new Guardian spin, changing up the most iconic monster for its new generation debut.
Realistically,Wildsfit in all the monsters the standard development restraints allowed for. As such, including Teostra would likely mean the exclusion of another monster, and that trade is not one I would take. WithWilds’own excellent final boss, Zoh Shia, not having a high-rank version, it’s difficult to say what would have been further cut to accommodate the inclusion of the classic elder dragons. All in all,Wildsis a new generation ofMonster Hunter;thisis exactly the time to experiment and innovate on monster designs, not re-tread old hits.
Elder Dragons Will Likely Be Added
Reclaiming Their Status
I do not doubt thatMonster Hunter Wildswill eventually include elder dragons.Title updates feel like the perfect place to bring back old classics, a far better option than clogging up the release roster with returning monsters. In any case, I don’t believe thatadding elder dragons will solveWilds’difficulty problem, as, once again, the likely choices feel no different in strength toWilds' apexes. Further, against my nostalgia, I feel thatWildswould do the franchise justice by holding off on including elder dragons for as long as possible.
The first elder dragon added toWildsshould be an original creation in an ideal world.
The first elder dragon added toWildsshould be an original creation in an ideal world.Doing so could re-establish the strength of the classification, pushing the scale closer to Alatreon or Fatalis and making elder dragon fights something to prepare for, look forward to, and overcome through trial and error. The fact that Zoh Shia is not classified as an elder dragon, or the massive Jin Dahaad for that matter, makes me look forward to the eventuality of a new one even more. Instead of throwing in a Kirin, perhapsWilds' should use this anticipation for something entirely new.
The complete lack of elder dragons feels like a deliberate choice by Capcom, especially after the fifth generation ofMonster Hunter. I doubt any hunter would bat an eye if the zone apexes were classified as elder dragons. The fact that they weren’t and that the classics were left out mayhopefully lead to a grand re-introduction of what an elder dragon isand why the monsters within that classification deserve to be there. In the meantime, there’s plenty to hunt inMonster Hunter Wilds,even without the inclusion of elder dragons.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds is the highly anticipated follow-up to Capcom’s multi-million seller, Monster Hunter World. Announced at The Game Awards 2023, Monster Hunter Wilds will put players into a sprawling world where they’ll hunt monsters to create new weapons and armor while protecting their home base and uncovering the secrets of unexplored lands with friends or alone.
