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Learn about the Elder Dragons and whether the fearsome and majestic creatures are returning to Monster Hunter Wilds, or not.
Elder Dragons have always played a crucial role in the Monster Hunter series, especially in the mainline entries. In fact, the most successful title in the series, Monster Hunter World, is centered around Elder Dragons and how their presence affects the ecosystem inhabited by other creatures. Furthermore, the Iceborne expansion’s primary focus was the Elder Dragons named Velkhana and Shara Ishvalda.
Even the most recent portable Monster Hunter title, Monster Hunter Rise and the Sunbreak expansion, were focused around Elder Dragons. Naturally, for the upcoming mainline title, fans might be wondering whether Elder Dragons will once again be the primary focus of the story or not.
Surprisingly enough, for Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom is shifting focus from Elder Dragons to a completely new (unknown classification) species of monsters. However, that’s not to say Elder Dragons won’t be returning to the upcoming Monster Hunter title. Here’s everything you need to know about Elder Dragons, and how they might make an appearance in Monster Hunter Wilds.
What Are Elder Dragons in Monster Hunter
Elder Dragons are essentially an ancient species of monsters that have traits, which often defy the natural laws of the ecosystems they inhabit. Unlike other monsters in the series, Elder Dragons aren’t classified based on shared traits. This is because hardly any two Elder Dragon subspecies ever have anything in common, apart from their heightened aggression.
Elder Dragons usually don’t occupy an ecosystem of their own. Instead, they use their power and brute strength to invade and inhabit other ecosystems, while also morphing and destroying it, simultaneously. The Chief Ecologist in Monster Hunter World describes Elder Dragons as:
“We’ve taken to using the term Elder Dragon for any creature that defies ordinary classification, but I suppose you could call them a type of phenomenon: disasters, cataclysms, living, breathing forces of nature.”Chief Ecologist (Monster Hunter World)
Although there are some Elder Dragons who serve as protectors of the natural balance, a la Ruiner Nergigante, most of them are nothing more than catalysts for ecological devastation. Hence, in most Monster Hunter games, the appearance of an Elder Dragon is treated as a matter of utmost importance. Furthermore, the Elder Dragons serve as the highest form of challenge any Monster Hunter game has to offer. From Monster Hunter World’s Fatalis to Monster Hunter Rise’s Primordial Malzeno, the Elder Dragons the some of the most challenging encounters in the entire series.
Elder Dragons in Monster Hunter Wilds
As of writing this article, Capcom has not revealed any information on Elder Dragons returning to Monster Hunter Wilds. The main focus for Monster Hunter Wilds, at least based on the promotional material for the game, seems to be on an unknown “extinct species” of monsters. Monsters like the Black Flame, and the flagship monster for the game, Arkveld, fall under the said extinct species.
However, that’s not to say Elder Dragons won’t make a return in the latest Monster Hunter title. Although it’s purely speculation on our part, we do think that Elder Dragons will eventually be added to Monster Hunter Wilds, albeit as part of post-launch title updates.
Both Monster Hunter World and Rise received regular content updates, with some of them even adding new Elder Dragons to the games. Fatalis, Alatreon, Chameleos, Shagaru Magala, and Primordial Malzeno are all examples of Elder Dragons that were added post-launch. As such, it’s quite possible Capcom might add Elder Dragons to Monster Hunter Wilds, via post-launch content updates.
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