{"id":1167729,"date":"2026-02-11T20:10:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T20:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shpFAB6QFw2aUAy4gGqUcg"},"modified":"2026-02-11T20:10:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T20:10:09","slug":"uh-oh-monster-hunter-wilds-isnt-messing-around-anymore-its-new-high-rank-monsters-hit-hard-and-often-hopefully-putting-the-difficulty-discourse-to-bed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/uh-oh-monster-hunter-wilds-isnt-messing-around-anymore-its-new-high-rank-monsters-hit-hard-and-often-hopefully-putting-the-difficulty-discourse-to-bed\/","title":{"rendered":"Uh oh, Monster Hunter Wilds isn’t messing around anymore\u2014its new high-rank monsters hit hard and often, hopefully putting the difficulty discourse to bed"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you’ve been listening to the seasoned, grizzled veteran monster hunters gathered around the campfires of social media, they’ll tell you that Monster Hunter Wilds is easy<\/a>. Back in their day, they had to climb up a hill both ways just to have a shot at killing a monster\u2014series newcomers like me have it easy, rabble rabble.<\/p>\n

I’m not here to say they were wrong, mind. I didn’t cart once during the game’s low rank story until the final fight\u2014and I haven’t been having too hard of a time in high rank, either (except for Gore Magala, which can go screw itself).<\/p>\n

This might just be because I’m god’s gift to videogames and a certified souls freak (I had to knock over Shadow of the Erdtree’s final boss<\/a> before they nerfed it) but hearing the way my compatriots talk about it, it is very much an easier entry ramp.<\/p>\n

Well, those hardcore gamers are in for a treat with the game’s latest title update<\/a> which, by all accounts, has added a duo of far meatier challenges for high hunter-rank (HR) players to sink their fangs into. Those being Mizutsune (HR 21+) and Zoh Shia (HR 50), with an Arch-tempered Rey Dau soon to follow in a coming patch.<\/p>\n

I’ve tackled Zoh Shia’s new and improved form, and while I only carted once (technically zero times, since my Palico’s once-per-battle revive kicked in, but I’m not about to make excuses for myself) it was absolutely a step up. I was also spoiled on a unique mechanic to deal with its gnarly AoEs, so I went forearmed with knowledge.<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Capcom)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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See? Told you it was fine. <\/span>(Image credit: Capcom)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

I absolutely had to treat Zoh Shia more like a FromSoftware boss than any other critter in the game\u2014waiting for openings and reading telegraphed attacks. Even then, I still got wombo combo’d a couple of times. I was pleased to find out that my choice of dual blades is pretty dang good for this fight, too. By my own order, I will perfect dodge all of Zoh Shia’s bullcrap. It took me about 21 minutes, even with a couple of stray hunters dropping into my game about halfway through the brawl.<\/p>\n

Given this is Capcom’s introduction <\/em>to a new tier of difficulty, there’s a ton of promise. I’m yet to try out Mitzutsune or its tempered version, because I have to write things today (like this article) but here’s a clip of Reddit user T_Sheckler<\/a> and their entire crew <\/em>getting absolutely bodied.<\/p>\n

Tempered Mizutsune doesn\u2019t play around<\/a> from r\/MonsterHunter<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n