Aaaand that’s it. The first wave of Monster Hunter Wilds’ second open beta is over. Players have spent countless hours slaying Arkveld and Rey Dau, while others are slowly learning the ropes of the game’s new mechanics. But what now? What’s left to play in a world without Monster Hunter Wilds?
Wait for the Open Beta’s Second Wave
The good news is that the Monster Hunter Wilds open beta isn’t actually over — a second wave is coming next weekend, just in time to make your Valentine’s Day better. Running from February 13 to February 17, players can return to Windward Plains using the same account and hunt monsters again. An extra day for the second wave was added to compensate for the sudden PSN shutdown over the weekend.
Keep in mind that this will be the final open beta before the game’s full release on February 28. If you enjoyed the first wave, the second will offer a nearly identical experience, featuring the usual hunts for Doshaguma, Rey Dau, Gypceros, and Arkveld.
Capcom has emphasized that the open beta is not fully representative of the final release. High-priority fixes such as gameplay performance, optimization, balancing, and hitstop effects are not present in any of the betas.
Play Monster Hunter: World/Iceborne
As crazy as it may sound, now might be the perfect time to return to Seliana and Astera to complete any unfinished business. If you’re a trophy-hunting connoisseur, this is your chance to 100% the game and collect all Gold and Silver Crowns for every monster — which is arguably a long and arduous task.
For those still invested in the endgame, the Grinding (Guiding) Lands remain endless. Find a lobby with other hunters and go hunt Tempered Elder Dragons just for the fun of it. And if you still haven’t defeated Alatreon and Fatalis, now is the time to reconsider. Brushing up on familiar controls and combos is a smart move, as most of them carry over to Monster Hunter Wilds — except for new weapon moves and Focus Mode.
At least in Wilds, we don’t have the Clutch Claw anymore. Thankfully.
And Then Play Monster Hunter Rise/Sunbreak
Ignore anyone who says that Rise and Sunbreak aren’t good Monster Hunter titles. There’s no such thing as a bad Monster Hunter game, and every dedicated fan of the franchise can attest to that.
Risebreak is still Monster Hunter, but it caters to a faster-paced playstyle for those who didn’t enjoy the slower, more methodical combat of Worldborne. The Wirebug is a game-changing mechanic that allows hunters to zip and dash across the environment, defining the Risebreak experience.
Personally, I had much more fun with Risebreak than Worldborne’s combat. It was quick, straightforward, and cut down on unnecessary prep time. I hated Cold Drinks and Hot Drinks in the older entries, but the longer I played Risebreak, the more I missed preparing for a real hunt. The Spiribugs didn’t help much, as they only trivialized the hunting experience. So I’m glad actual preparation such as eating a meal and stocking up on drinks and items comes back in Wilds — alongside a much more slow-burn experience.
Nonetheless, Risebreak is a great game and should be considered essential before diving into Wilds.
Invite Your Friends
Monster Hunter is best enjoyed with friends. Now’s the time to do what every fan of the franchise should — bring others into the fold. It’s not a hard sell, considering Monster Hunter is Capcom’s best-selling franchise. Just convince your friends to start with World, and if they enjoy the gameplay loop, introduce them to the Clutch Claw mechanic and the Ice Wyvern, Velkhana.
If they like World and Iceborne, move on to Rise and Sunbreak next. You have less than 20 days to finish both entries, but pace yourself to avoid burnout from all that hunting.
Thankfully, Wilds features a completely new roster of monsters, ranging from the familiar to the downright creepy.
Monster Hunter Wilds is easily one of my most anticipated games this year, and it’s great to see more and more players discovering the franchise for the first time. See you in the Forbidden Lands, Hunters!