Monster Hunter Wilds continues to bring classic monsters back into the limelight, much like Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise. A notable recent addition is a long-awaited creature that fans are excited to see again.
Lagiacrus makes its return in Monster Hunter Wilds after being absent since Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate. Both long-time fans and newcomers will need to adapt to its updated combat style, which may require hunters to get comfortable with aquatic environments. Here’s how to unlock and defeat Lagiacrus in Monster Hunter Wilds.
Unlocking Lagiacrus in Monster Hunter Wilds
To start hunting Lagiacrus, your Hunter Rank (HR) must be at least 31. Begin by accepting the quest from Erik at the Scarlet Forest base camp. This will initiate a main mission leading to a capture quest for a High-Rank Lagiacrus. Once you finish that, an optional quest for a regular Lagiacrus hunt will become available, which can randomly appear in the Scarlet Forest, either in its regular or Tempered forms. You can choose to chase it down in the open world or save it as an Investigation for a later time.
Strategies to Defeat Lagiacrus in Monster Hunter Wilds
Lagiacrus is a returning leviathan from earlier Monster Hunter entries, so some of its movements will be familiar to veteran players. Its lesser attacks include rapid bites, tail swipes, small lightning blasts, and a hip-check maneuver that utilizes its elongated body. Effective tactics against these attacks include using perfect guards, evasions, or counterattacks. Engaging in offset attacks early on can provide a crucial advantage before Lagiacrus starts using its stronger moves.
When enraged, Lagiacrus increases the frequency of its lightning assaults. Its signature moves are a forward lunging attack and a destructive lightning burst, which can inflict significant damage if not dodged. The lunging move propels it in a straight line, knocking down anything in its path, and the number of repetitions will depend on its rage level. Additionally, this may conclude with a smaller lightning eruption that impacts a vicinity where it finishes the lunge. The lightning eruption is particularly lethal; during combat, Lagiacrus will slow down right before unleashing an energy burst. It has a small-scale version that deals local damage and a larger one that sends out three waves of electricity over a broader area.
To anticipate its lunging attack, either roll out of the way or use an appropriate evade maneuver, such as those available to Dual Blades or Bow users. Perfect guarding can assist if Lagiacrus executes a single lunge, though caution is advised as this leaves you vulnerable should it perform a follow-up. Using traps strategically in its path can disrupt Lagiacrus’s momentum and provide a gap for attacking. When it comes to the lightning eruptions, the safest approach is to keep distance until the series of attacks is complete. Perfect guarding might mitigate initial impacts but risks overspending your stamina and still suffering damage from the lingering strikes. The window to attack opens after it finishes the larger eruption, during which it will display a brief vulnerability.
Underwater Combat
Returning from its debut in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, Lagiacrus also features underwater encounters in Monster Hunter Wilds. These segments strip away weapons’ unique attributes, forcing players to focus on avoidance and leveraging the environment to damage Lagiacrus. While submerged, players have the ability to dodge or swim vertically. Holding the left trigger on Xbox or L2 on PlayStation allows for versatile movement, which is vital for tracking Lagiacrus without losing sight of it.
In the underwater section, players can target two rock formations to drop on Lagiacrus. The first can be utilized quickly upon entering the water, stunning the creature. The second is located behind the entry point in the corner.
Players can grapple onto Lagiacrus similar to how they attach to its wounds, allowing for quick strikes. Inflicting sufficient damage underwater may trigger a special animation that delivers a final blow. If performed on the left side of the underwater arena, this can slam Lagiacrus into hazardous structures for additional damage, leaving it vulnerable at the surface, while elsewhere it may only deal moderate damage. If not enough damage is accumulated, Lagiacrus may unleash a massive supernova-like attack that poses a threat even to players out of the water. Therefore, maintaining distance is crucial, and diving deeper might be necessary until the attack subsides.
