Arkveld: Monster Hunter Wilds Beta Sparks Player Frenzy

The Monster Hunter Wilds beta is back, and it's brought some serious new challenges. Beta testers are already facing off against Arkveld, a fearsome new flagship monster that's both exhilarating and terrifying.

Arkveld is the star of the show, destined to play a major role in the Wilds storyline. This beta lets brave hunters attempt a 20-minute hunt against the Chained Arkveld, with a five-faint limit.

As players are discovering, this behemoth is no pushover. Arkveld is a massive winged creature wielding electric chains from each arm. It unleashes crackling thunder attacks with surprising speed.

Arkveld is a peak monster
byu/Joeljb960 inMHWilds

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }Even seasoned hunters are finding themselves carted by its powerful attacks. Arkveld's whip-like chains allow for dynamic movement, long-range attacks, and general mayhem. One attack, in particular, has players stunned: Arkveld grabs the hunter, roars, and then slams them to the ground.

Arkveld's impact extends beyond combat. A hilarious video on the r/MHWilds subreddit shows Arkveld interrupting a hunter's meal—a testament to the unpredictable nature of the Wilds.

arkveld is having none of that
byu/tomkwuz inMHWilds

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }The fight is visually stunning and incredibly challenging. While the difficulty might intimidate some, the dedicated Monster Hunter community seems energized by it. After all, conquering formidable monsters is the core of the experience. Arkveld's fearsome design, coupled with the "Chained" designation, has players speculating about a potentially even more terrifying "Unchained" variant.

The Monster Hunter Wilds Open Beta Test 2 runs February 6-9 and February 13-16. Hunters can tackle both Arkveld and the returning Gypceros, along with new features like a Training Area and Private Lobbies.

Monster Hunter Wilds launches February 28, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Learn more about Capcom's latest hunting adventure in our IGN First coverage, including our Monster Hunter Wilds Final Preview.

For more information, check out our guide to the Monster Hunter Wilds Beta, covering multiplayer, weapon types, and confirmed monsters.