The Monster Hunter Wilds beta is back, featuring exciting new challenges, most notably the formidable Arkveld. This flagship monster, prominently featured on the game's cover, promises a significant role in the Wilds experience. The beta allows hunters to test their mettle against the Chained Arkveld, a 20-minute hunt with a five-faint limit.

Arkveld, a massive winged beast wielding electrifying chains, proves a formidable opponent. Its speed and powerful, wide-ranging attacks, including a particularly devastating grab-and-slam move, are already proving challenging even for veteran hunters. Reddit users are sharing their experiences, highlighting the monster's impressive visuals and punishing difficulty. One amusing video showcases Arkveld unexpectedly disrupting a hunter's meal, a testament to the unpredictable nature of the Wilds.

Arkveld is a peak monster
byu/Joeljb960 inMHWilds

Experienced players report being frequently defeated by Arkveld's devastating moves. The monster's fluid use of its chains for movement and attacks showcases the game's advanced technology.

arkveld is having none of that
byu/tomkwuz inMHWilds

Despite the challenging difficulty, the Monster Hunter community embraces the challenge. Conquering powerful monsters is central to the series' appeal, and Arkveld's impressive design reinforces this core gameplay loop. The "Chained" designation and Arkveld's flagship status fuel speculation about a potentially even more difficult "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 engage with both Arkveld and the returning Gypceros, along with new features like a Training Area and Private Lobbies.

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