Every Big Monster You Can Fight In The Beta

Key Takeaways

• Monster Hunter Wilds offers boss-like monster encounters in rich open worlds with co-op play.
• The beta features four big monsters: Chatacabra, Doshaguma, Balahara, and Rey Dau.
• Rey Dau is the strongest new enemy, requiring strategic tactics and co-op play to defeat effectively.

There aren’t a lot of games like Monster Hunter Wilds or any other entry in the series. They can best be described as a series of boss encounters but they are more elevated than similar projects like Shadow of the Colossus. After all, players can explore rich open worlds with friends, level up their gear, and fight these boss-like monsters on repeat.

It’ll be interesting to see how many monsters the final version of Monster Hunter Wilds will include. In the beta, players could fight four big monsters alone or with friends and that’s not even counting the little monsters that are there merely for meat. So, let’s go over the four big monsters now, all of which were new additions to the franchise.

4 Chatacabra

This Toad Is Big But Easy

Chatacabra is an unskippable monster because that is part of the opening quest. After being chased through the desert by a group of Balahara, players will make a small camp wherein they can choose their starting weapon. Since this will be a solo affair, players should keep their distance from Chatacabra unless they want to take a more risky approach. A bow in any game can give players the safety of distance though. No matter what weapon players choose, they can replace it once they reach the main camp after this encounter, so don’t stress out too much.

Chatacabra is not that challenging as it’s a big target. It doesn’t have any wildly devastating attacks, save for its tongue, and its body doesn’t have a great defense. Through persistence strikes, players can ready a focus attack once they open up enough wounds. Wounds are a new mechanic in Monster Hunter Wilds wherein glowing bits stricken with weapons will deal critical damage. While not a smash hit of a new monster, players can have fun with Chatacabra on repeated encounters once co-op is unlocked.

3 Doshaguma

A Bear With A Dog’s Face

Doshaguma is the only beast-like monster players can face in the beta. It has the face of a dog and its body and aggression level can be likened to a bear. Video game fans know all too well that bears can often be as scary as goblins in games like Red Dead Redemption 2 or even the mutated ones, called Yao Guai, in the Fallout series. What makes Doshaguma dangerous, besides its hulking body and vicious claws, is that it hunts in packs. Players may be unlucky enough to get a Doshaguma next to another while trying to tackle this Hunt.

That may be a theme in Monster Hunter Wilds as there is another monster in the beta that at least seems to be around others of its kind often. It would make the game harder that’s for sure which is wild as the series was challenging way before Soulslikes came around. Regardless, hopefully, players can get a Doshaguma alone on their Hunt. It is the only other monster tied to a main quest in the beta and once players finish killing it, that will be it for guidance. Thankfully, others are lurking if players know where to look.

2 Balahara

An Armored Slippery Sand Snake

Balahara is technically the first monster players will see in the beta. The game begins with players surfing on a sea of sand when all of a sudden they see someone running from something beneath the surface. They are riding a monster called a Seikret, reminiscent of the Chocobos from the Final Fantasy series. This large monster is called a Balahara and it looks like a giant snake with appendages, covered in hard armor. They would give the giant Sandworms of Dune a run for their money not in size but in sheer power and speed.

Players will rescue this NPC in the opening but they cannot directly fight the Balahara. They can, however, encounter it later once they can explore the beta’s map. Damaging it enough will begin a quest-like mission to slay it, complete with Game Over limitations like if players die too many times. Its speed will be tricky to counter and its hide is rock hard. This one definitely requires a partner or three to vanquish it quickly. Afterward, it’s worth fighting the Balahara solo for practice as long as players have time left in the beta.

1 Rey Dau

The Terror From The Skies

The final, and strongest new enemy in the beta is called Rey Dau. There’s not even a question of who is the strongest monster in the beta once this thing arrives. It’s large, has the ability to fly, and can shoot lightning. If players aren’t careful, they can be blasted to smithereens if they suffer a direct attack from its lightning-infused mouth beam. It’s best to go into this one with a dish prepared at home in the tent. Hardcore Monster Hunter fans know the value of a well-prepared dish before a Hunt.

Because the smith is not ready in the beta, players cannot get stronger by creating gear from materials. This means defeating the Rey Dau alone is nearly impossible unless fans are expertly patient and know how to locate and exploit wounds quickly. Be sure to fire off an SOS Flare quickly when encountering a Rey Dau or better yet join in on someone else’s Hunt to give them a hand. If the fourth monster is this fierce in the beta then the final game assuredly has some tough encounters just waiting to punish unprepared Hunters. For many fans, that sounds exciting and they assuredly can’t wait until February rolls around next year.