A big new challenge has been added to Monster Hunter World today, for fans on PS4 and Xbox One.
A new beast has been unleashed on all platforms, providing another Elder Dragon to face off again in teams.
Lunastra, the Empress of Flame has come to reclaim her throne in Monster Hunter World and is likely to prove pretty vicious.
She was launched as part of a new Monster Hunter World update, which should be available to download on all platforms.
The latest MHW patch weighs in at around 550-570MB on both platforms, and also includes some new gameplay improvements.
However, the biggest addition to the game is definitely MHW’s Lunastra, a rare female Elder Dragon that litters the air with hot blue dust.
Here’s more from Capcom, who have been providing some tips to fans before the big MHW release.
“Thanks to the help from all the hunters of the Fifth Fleet, the ecosystems of the New World continue to thrive and flourish. Incidentally, this bloom of bioenergy also makes it a very welcoming spot for all manner of species,” the Capcom message reads.
“We’ve seen it happen with the arrival of Deviljho and the resurgence of Kulve Taroth, and now another Elder Dragon is on its way: Lunastra.
“The Empress of Flame returns with new tricks and unique abilities to challenge even the most seasoned hunters.
“Not only is she more aggressive than her male companion Teostra, but her capacity to alter the environment around her is unmatched. Stay awake and alert to her burning blue fire at all times if you want to survive.
“Teamwork is a powerful tool to conquer any foe in Monster Hunter, however hunters beware, Lunastra has learned this lesson as well.
“With the ability to fight alongside her mate Teostra and bond with him for devastating attacks, you’ll want to get a full hunting party stocked up on Lifepowders if you want to stand a chance against this power couple.”
This quest is built for multiplayer, so Monster Hunters will need to work together to complete the challenge.
As usual, players will be able to gather materials after defeating the new dragon boss, with an extra bonus included.
“The Smithy was able to master the technique for combining a Bazelgeuse Gem to unlock the “Guts” skill, adding a tactical defensive ability to Lunastra weapons.
“Materials from Nergigante and Xeno’jiiva have also shown the potential to resonate with Lunastra, so check with the Smithy when you’ve successfully completed your hunt against Lunastra.”
As mentioned above, today’s update also includes new gameplay changes, which have been listed in the official patch notes below:
- You will now also discover investigations for tempered monsters when hunting a tempered monster or breaking its parts.
- You can now change armor pigments and layered armor at all item boxes found within Astera (except the Training Area) or the Research Base.
- It’s now easier to successfully pet the Poogie.
- The camera will not be forcibly moved by Scoutfly guidance when arriving at camp at the start of a quest.
- The trophy conditions for “Monster Ph.D.” were updated to no longer include monsters added in free title updates.
- With this design change, you can now unlock the trophy by speaking to Ecological Research if you’ve already maxed out the research levels for the original lineup of monsters.
Capcom have also announced plans to change the Elder Dragon ecosystem in the New World.
According to the latest details shared by the development team, more powerful Tempered Elder Dragons, or “Arch-Tempered Elder Dragons” are on the way and should prove a real challenge.
