Hey hunters,
Happy New Year! It’s been great seeing “Return to World” take flight and seeing both the fresh perspectives from new players, and the fond memories from everyone coming back or rolling a new hunter.
In our update this week, we’ll walk you through the second main location in Monster Hunter: World, as well as a few of the exciting monsters you’ll be facing down for the first time. We’ll also round up a few other updates from the world of Monster Hunter.
First up, our journey in Monster Hunter: World continues!
Hunting Locations – Wildspire Waste
The Wildspire Waste is the second locale in Monster Hunter: World’s early quests. As the name implies, the wastes are a combination of parched desert land and swamplands due to water flowing from the nearby Ancient Forest.
Hunters will start at the southwest camp as their starting camp, however there are three others in the locale that can be discovered and unlocked later.
The Wildspire Waste has multiple areas where you can take the high ground on monsters by leaping from elevated rocks. On the flip side, some areas with flowing water can hamper your movement and keep you from evading a powerful attack at just the right time. Be aware of your positioning and the elements around you at all times.
In the locale’s most northeast area you’ll need to deal with desert hills with rolling hills of sand resulting in unstable footing. This means plenty of chances to slide down those slopes and unleashing unique sliding attacks that can only be done during this state. This area also contains a natural trap in the form of quicksand! If the mighty Diablos is lurking in the area underneath the sand, it can be attracted through noise to come charging through the soft ground of the natural trap, causing monsters and hunters alike to fall into the caves below in epic fashion.
More Monsters – Besting a Barroth
Upon your arrival in Wildspire Wastes you’ll quickly come into a fresh range of Monsters that present wholly new challenges to what you’ve encountered so far in the Ancient Forest.
Many of the Monsters here use their size and power to attack with brute force, using their physical mass and their mastery of the local terrain to attack and repel any hunters that dare provoke their ire.
The first Monster you’ll be tasked to hunt in Wildspire Waste is Barroth, who introduces some new mechanics to further test your growing skills.
Hunt Preparation
A new locale means new challenges. If you’re finding you’re taking some bigger hits than you’d expect from the new Monsters you’re facing, consider visit the Smithy and spend some zenny and armor spheres to increase your armour set’s defence.
Many of the Monsters in this region can hit for high amounts of physical damage, so Mega Potions are incredibly handy to quickly heal. You may have also foraged some Adamant Seeds during your time in the Ancient Forest. Consuming one of these will give you a temporary boost to your defence! Trust us, they’re much more useful in your hunter than the storage box!
All that’s left is to eat a meal to boost your health and stamina, then you’re ready to meet Barroth.
Know Your Monster
Barroth is a Brute Wyvern characterised by a prominent, ridged crest on its head.
It primarily attacks by using its head (literally), tail and tackling the hunter up close.
Now a little earlier we mentioned that the Monsters that inhabit Wildspire Waste introduce new challenges, well Barroth is particularly hard-headed. This means that bladed weapons below blue sharpness will bounce off, doing reduced damage, increasing sharpness loss and making you recoil slightly. However, blunt damage weapons like the Hammer and its charged attacks, or playing self-enforcement with a Hunting Horn before striking, are ideal for this situation because these types of attacks can help in breaking the head’s crest without the strikes being bounced!
If you are using a bladed or ranged weapon, fear not, Barroth’s weak points are its forearms and severable tail! Target those areas and you’ll be just fine once you get through the mud.
Yes, the mud. Barroth loves to cover itself in mud, giving those areas extra production until the now hardened mud has been removed by your attacks.
Listen for the whistle!
Barroth’s strongest attack is its charge attack, which can catch unprepared or distracted hunters off-guard, dealing a massive blow. The good news? This attack will only occur in a straight line and there’s some tells when it’s going to occur!
1. Barroth will tilt its head to the ground and brace itself.
2. It’ll let off loud, steam-like whistle.
3. CHAAARGE!
If you see this attack barreling before you and you’ve got a shield, be prepared to use it. If not, get ready to run, roll and dive to avoid big hits that’s sure to leave a mark.
Try and stick close to Barroth, staying to its sides and rear to reduce the risk of being charged or catching a headbutt!
This may sound intimidating, but by applying what you’ve learned from hunting Great Jagras, Kulu-Ya-Ku and Puki-Puki, you’ll show this brute who’s boss!
Beyond Barroth
Barroth is but the first monster to tackle here, we’ll leave you to discover what else is waiting for you out there. But, one word of warning, if the ground begins to tremble, run!
A Message From Series Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto!
As we look forward to an exciting 2024, Monster Hunter series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto shared a brief video message reflecting on 20 years of Monster Hunter. If you haven’t watched it yet, have a look at the video below.
We also wrapped up voting for the Hunters’ Choice: Top Monster 20th anniversary poll! Hunters voted on their favorite monster in the series consisting of 229 total monsters! Stay tuned to find out the results this upcoming March.
Wishlist Monster Hunter Wilds!
The Steam store page for Monster Hunter Wilds is up now! Feel free to add the game to your wishlist as you wait for the arrival of the next generation of Monster Hunter in 2025. We’ve been energized seeing your reactions and excitement for the new game, and we can’t wait to share more details this summer.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2246340/Monster_Hunter_Wilds/
Quest Complete – We’ll See you next time!
Return to World Stream #3
We’re back this Thursday, January 11 at 9am PST/ 17:00 GMT with our Return to World stream! The team will be following along by taking on some new threats in the Wildspire Waste, including our first encounter with Jyuratodus and Tobi-Kadachi. As with previous Return to World streams, we’re playing as new hunters from the very start of the game!
Monster Hunter Twitch
Monster Hunter YouTube
See you in the hunt!
- The Monster Hunter Community Team