Monster Hunter Wilds has been keeping the game alive with its free Title Updates, and in a recent Capcom Spotlight, the contents of Title Update 2 have been revealed. There is plenty of content to encourage Monster Hunter Wilds players to return to the game, some of which fans of the series should be familiar with and have eagerly been hoping for it to return.
In the upcoming update, players are able to update their style with the new layered weapons feature and a range of layered armors as part of Cosmetic DLC Pack 2, but the focus of many players will be on the monsters. The limited-time Arch-tempered Uth Duna quest will be added later in July, but this month, two beloved monsters are returning to give Monster Hunter fans a burst of nostalgia. Players may need to temper their expectations for one of these monsters, however, as its underwater elements won't be handled like old school players would expect.
Monster Hunter Wilds is Adding Layered Weapons
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Monster Hunter Title Update 2 Reintroduces Underwater Combat, With a Twist
Lagiacrus’ Long-Awaited Return
The Capcom Spotlight, which was hosted on June 26, included the official reveal for Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 2. As many had predicted prior to the official announcement, this update would add Lagiacrus and Seregios to Monster Hunter Wilds, two fan-favorite monsters from the series’ past. The two monsters are in contrast with each other, with one being aquatic and the other being an aerial hunter, so Monster Hunter Wilds players who are HR 31 or higher will be able to enjoy two very different experiences.
Though Seregios most recently appeared in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, Lagiacrus has not appeared in a completely new mainline Monster Hunter experience since Monster Hunter Generations. As its original creator, Monster Hunter Wilds’ director Yuya Tokuda, described his emotional attachment to the monster during the Capcom Spotlight, praised the game’s staff for doing it justice. Its return has been long awaited, and as of June 30, players are able to hunt the leviathan once more.
Lagiacrus Fight Includes an Underwater Section
What makes Lagiacrus so unique is that it was the flagship monster for Monster Hunter Tri, the first game in the series to include underwater combat. This style of combat was much slower and more challenging, giving aquatic monsters the upper hand and forcing hunters to reconsider their approach. The reveal of Lagiacrus in Monster Hunter Wilds made many believe that underwater combat could return to the Monster Hunter series, but from the Capcom Spotlight footage, it isn’t the same as players may remember.
Underwater mechanics have been available in Monster Hunter Wilds since its initial release. Players can head to Monster Hunter Wilds’ Scarlet Forest to find a large body of water that they can dive into to find all kinds of materials and treasures. This seems to have acted as a major hint for underwater combat to come back to the series, but not in the way players could have been expecting.
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Monster Hunter Wilds’ Underwater Combat Is Unlike Its Previous Iterations
While the Monster Hunter Wilds’ Lagiacrus fight requires players to dive underwater for part of the fight, it is very different from the underwater combat fans will be used to from the third generation of Monster Hunter games. Rather than being able to freely use their weapons as they could in Monster Hunter Tri, players have restricted options in Monster Hunter Wilds’ underwater sections, and as a result, the majority of the fight will take place on land.
Hunters are not helpless underwater, however, as they are equipped with tools to deal damage to the monster. In the Capcom Spotlight, it was stated that the team intended to open access to a wider range of player actions when underwater that align with the game’s established content without undermining what makes the Lagiacrus fight distinct. A preview of the fight revealed that players can still use their Slinger Hook underwater, using it to damage the monster with surrounding environment pieces or latching onto the monster itself for a close-ranged attack.
Lagiacrus’ return to the series is significant, and taking care not to omit the underwater elements from the game it was introduced in shows respect for Monster Hunter Wilds’ predecessors, while also being a great reward for players who have stuck with the series all this time. Though it may not give the players the same amount of combat freedom as Monster Hunter Tri and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, it could give hope for the series’ future. At first, underwater combat seemed polarizing, but some of the game’s community seem to have adjusted to the idea. If the Lagiacrus fight is received well, it’s possible that this mechanic can properly return in the next installment in the franchise, or even a Monster Hunter Wilds DLC expansion.
The introduction of Lagiacrus in Monster Hunter Wilds also adds some other well-deserved features for the monster. The Insect Glaive weapon was introduced in the fourth generation of the series, and despite Lagiacrus featuring in Monster Hunter Generations, players could not forge an Insect Glaive using this monster’s materials. In Monster Hunter Wilds, this is no longer a concern, giving Insect Glaive users an incentive to hunt the Lagiacrus. As well as this, the Lagiacrus fight will also feature exclusive music for this monster, something that has been missing from its past appearances.
Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 2 seems to be full of content to keep players satisfied, with more quests and collaborations being added until late September. The return of Lagiacrus and Seregios is the standout feature of this update, though, giving Monster Hunter Wilds’ player base a great reason to return to the game and face off against these classic monsters. The changes to the underwater combat section of the Lagiacrus fight have made it markedly different from its original appearance in Monster Hunter Tri, and how fans will react to this gameplay change is yet to be seen. Hopefully, it is just a step toward underwater combat's true return in future Monster Hunter titles.
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