TheMonster Hunterfranchise has never been afraid to experiment with monster encounters, andMonster Hunter Wildsis a testament to this. With its varied pool of creatures to hunt,Monster Hunter Wildsgives players a unique experience with every expedition.
The arrival of Title Update 2 added two fan-favorite monsters to the game:Lagiacrus and Seregios. Their inclusion inMonster Hunter Wildswas accidentally revealed early, but this only generated more excitement in the community. Lagiacrus’ debut resulted in one of the series’ most unique mechanics, which is also referenced in itsMonster Hunter Wilds, albeit slightly different. Its addition to the latest installment in the franchise has the potential to yield something more in future updates.
Lagiacrus' Underwater Combat Could Open the Door to More Monsters
Lagiacrus Defined Monster Hunter’s Underwater Combat
Lagiacrus’ introduction inMonster Hunter Triwas a spectacle for players, opening up new opportunities for underwater combat. Previously, players were restricted to ground-based combat, but monsters like Lagiacrus granted players the ability to dive into water-based combat and fight creatures in their own domain.
Underwater combat inMonster Hunter Wildsisn’t the sameas in past titles. Instead of being able to freely attack monsters underwater with their primary weapon, players are instead restricted to interactions using the Slinger Hook. This keeps the essence of what made water-based combat enjoyable in the third generation ofMonster Huntergames while staying within the confines ofMonster Hunter Wilds.
As theflagship monster ofMonster Hunter Triand being among the first to utilize underwater combat during a hunt, it makes sense that Lagiacrus would be the first to make use of a similar feature inMonster Hunter Wilds. It is intrinsically linked to the monster’s origins, and its inclusion in Title Update 2 is made all the more impactful by the underwater section. Lagiacrus could be the first stepping stone, though, paving the way for more underwater hunts in future updates.
Other Monsters Could Make Use of This Feature
Since Lagiacrus has proved that underwater combat can still work in some capacity, this could open the floodgates to more aquatic monsters in later updates. If Capcom wants to appeal to players’nostalgia for pastMonster Huntertitles, Gobul could be a worthwhile inclusion. Like Lagiacrus, it first debuted inMonster Hunter Tri, but with the exception of theMonster Hunter 3 Ultimateexpansion, it has yet to be included in another game in the series.Monster Hunter Wildscould be the perfect opportunity for Gobul’s comeback.
Despite its changes from past games, adding this form of underwater combat back to the series could benefit monsters that first appeared inMonster Hunter Wilds. During part of the Uth Duna fight, it dives underwater, out of the player’s reach. With Lagiacrus proving the viability of underwater combat inMonster Hunter Wilds, it’s possible that Uth Duna could be reworked to include this during the hunt. The reveal ofTitle Update 2 confirmed Arch-tempered Uth Dunawill be available as a limited-time event from the end of July. While unlikely, it’s possible that this mechanic could be added to the hunt for this variant of the monster.
While the previousMonster Hunter WildsTitle Updates have added creatures from the series’ past to the game, it’s also possible that new monsters could be introduced as well. The base game included very few aquatic monsters, explained byMonster Hunter Wilds’ lack of underwater combat, but now that a form of this has been included thanks to Lagiacrus, there are fewer restrictions on monster designs. If future updates do include brand-new monsters in the game, aquatic capabilities are no longer ruled out.
Full Underwater Combat Could Still Be Possible
Monster Hunter Wilds' iteration of Lagiacrus has shown that underwater combat is still possible in the series, even if it takes a more diminished role when compared to the third generation ofMonster Hunter. It has gently reintroduced the mechanic back to the series, testing its viability. If fans respond well to this hunt, it could be the incentive Capcom needs to add fully-formed underwater combat features to the games again,improved for the next generation ofMonster Hunter.
Underwater combat, complete with full use of the hunter’s weapons, may not be entirely ruled out forMonster Hunter Wilds. Title Update 2 could be testing the waters for a potential DLC at a later date.Monster Hunter World: Iceborneadded new featuresthat were not found in the standard versionMonster Hunter World, proving that expansions can go beyond what the base game set out to achieve. IfMonster Hunter Wildswere to receive an expansion in time, it could finally bring back underwater combat as it was inMonster Hunter Tri, or possibly better.
Though nothing is holding future Title Updates back from introducing new monsters to the series, an expansion or even a hypotheticalUltimate version ofMonster Hunter Wildscould be the best way for these to be included. By focusing on water-based combat and improving upon it, a more diverse array of new biomes and aquatic monsters could be added toMonster Hunter Wildswith an expansion, alongside some fan favorites.
It is generally agreed thatMonster Hunter Wildsis the most accessible game in the series, making it easier than ever for newcomers to get started with the franchise. The underwater combat of previous games was a great change of pace, but was sometimes criticized for being cumbersome. Its current inclusion inMonster Hunter Wildsas part of the Lagiacrus fight helps to make these sections ofMonster Hunter Wildsmore accessiblethan before, without losing what made the mechanic special to players all those years ago. This makes the case for including more aquatic monsters in the game in future updates, even if the underwater combat remains the same or evolves into something closer to its third-generation counterpart.
