Monster Hunter Wild Arkveld Guide

I’ve been to every region in Monster Hunter Wilds, fought every monster and overcome every obstacle to get to the top. My latest conquest was Arkveld, a beast that roams the harsh lands and will put your skills to the test with its tail whips and frenzy attacks. Today I’ll share my knowledge about Arkveld’s boss mechanics, tempered Arkveld hunts and the rewards you can get once you’re done with it. This guide is everything I’ve learned during hours of Arkveld research, so let’s get started and see what makes this monster so tough.
Arkveld in Monster Hunter Wilds
The Arkveld in Monster Hunter Wilds is one of the fastest and most aggressive monsters in the book. Its double hunt appearances with Chacarra show how important it is for those who want to test their resolve. Many players consider its speed and aggression a fun challenge since it leaves little room for mistakes.
Arkveld becomes even more formidable during tempered hunts when it gets stronger and more unpredictable. At that point everything from its tendrils to its two-pronged tail slash will do more damage. Hunters who want to boost their monster rank or get exotic loot often target it for its special drops and rare materials.
Equipment for the Arkveld Quest
You need to have the right weapons, armor and tools for the Arkveld quest. If you’re new to Arkveld hunting an introduction is in order. Its frenzy will deal high damage to unaware players so balanced offense and defense is key. My loadout usually includes gear that resists physical slams and tail hits while doing solid raw damage. Here’s a comparison of some popular weapons and recommended stats:
Weapon Type | Recommended Armor | Skill/Charm Suggestion | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Greatsword | High Defense Set (DEF 180+) | Stamina Thief Charm | Slower swings, but huge damage. Blocks some tail hits effectively. |
Long Sword | Evade-Focused Gear (EVA 25+) | Critical Eye Charm | Ideal for swift counters. Timed parries help exploit its frenzy openings. |
Sword & Shield | Balanced Armor (DEF 160) | Health Boost Charm | Fast attacks and guard potential. Great for consistent chip damage. |
Switch Axe | High Defense Set (DEF 175+) | Attack Boost Charm | Builds up burst DPS. Excellent for dealing with Arkveld’s tail whips. |
Light Bowgun | Elemental Resist Gear | Reload Speed Charm | Ranged approach for safe damage. Watch out for its leaps. |
Having a Greatsword or Switch Axe is a good way to capitalize on Arkveld’s recovery windows, but Long Sword allows for quick counters on openings between its combos. Bowgun players can stay ranged but must dodge carefully to avoid lunges. In my experience, having defense stats around 160-180 and stacking health or stamina is a game changer.
Choosing robust armor and a weapon that fits your playstyle will help you keep up with Arkveld’s speed. Balancing your gear will help manage the dreaded frenzy status that occurs when you get cornered by repeated tendril hits. Once your gear is set, it’s time to think about support items and supplies to bring along before heading out.
Gathering Items Before the Tempered Arkveld Investigation
The path to a successful tempered Arkveld investigation involves a lot of item farming. Each piece of gear and potion gives you a boost in survivability especially when you anticipate tail slams and combos. I stock up on traps, bombs and healing items for an edge in my hunts. Here’s a list of items, recommended quantities and general use:
Item | Ideal Quantity | Purpose |
---|---|---|
Mega Potions | 10 | Restores 70-80 HP. Useful for heavy hits. |
Max Potions | 2 | Emergency full heal. Best saved for dire moments. |
Shock Trap | 1 or 2 | Stuns Arkveld, giving time for safe attacks. |
Barrels (Large/Barrel Bombs) | 2 Large + 2 Normal | Deals strong damage if placed during monster downtime. |
Energy Drinks | 5 | Reduces stamina depletion from consecutive dodges. |
Antidotes | 3 | Arkveld sometimes inflicts toxins via tail swipes. |
Herbal Medicine | 2 | Used to dispel persistent frenzy build-up. |
Gathering these items before the hunt saves a lot of headaches during the actual hunt. Mega Potions and Max Potions help with Arkveld’s big hits, while traps like Shock Trap provide windows to attack. I usually have enough bombs to blast it when it trips or when I mount it.
Going into a tempered hunt means extra care is necessary. That’s why my final check before heading out is to make sure I have enough healing items and at least one trap. Once I have all of these, it’s time to move on to learning Arkveld’s attack patterns so no attack goes unaccounted for.
Arkveld’s Attack and Boss Mechanics
Arkveld has multiple movement patterns and attack variations per quest. Knowing them through experience or observation helps minimize the assault. I watch out for its tail slashes since those sweeps often come from weird angles. Here’s an overview of Arkveld’s common moves, in a quick list with notes:
- Twin Tail Swipes – Two sweeping attacks that cover wide areas. Block or roll sideways.
- Rapid Tendril Lash – It extends its tendrils forward in a frenzy. Timed blocks will keep you safe, but deals 70-90 damage if it hits.
- Leaping Slam – Forward leap followed by a stomp that deals 80-100 damage. Dodge backward or to the sides.
- Frenzy Flurry – It glows and roars before unleashing consecutive lunges. Guard with Greatsword or counter with Long Sword to open up an attack window.
- Enraged Dash – It charges straight ahead, destroying everything in its path for 100-120 damage.
Knowing these movements provides a roadmap to find those short windows to attack back. The Leaping Slam can be baited by staying at mid-range. The Frenzy Flurry is risky, especially when Arkveld’s health is low, so preparing a well-timed block or fast dodge helps a lot.
Studying Arkveld’s patterns allows you to know when to move in for a combo and when to reposition. Most of its attacks are telegraphed by certain animations, giving you a fraction of a second to react if you pay attention to its posture. The next section details the methods I’ve used to beat it, based on these attack patterns.
Best Ways to Kill Arkveld
Those hunting Arkveld for monster rank or forging materials should consider multiple approaches. From explosive bursts to patient pokes, each method depends on your playstyle and party composition. I’ve got a table below to show how different methods fare against Arkveld’s onslaught:
Method | Focus | Advantages | Potential Downside |
---|---|---|---|
Offensive Burst | High DPS | Overwhelms it before it enters frenzy | Risk of being locked in combos against swift counters |
Hit-and-Move | Frequent Dodges | Minimizes damage taken, capitalizes on small openings | Slower progress if Arkveld’s HP is high |
Defensive Strategy | Guard & Counter | Blocks major strikes, stable damage trading | Might miss damage windows if it keeps moving |
Trapping & Bombing | Crowd Control | Allows free hits during trap duration | Requires setup time and item farming |
Team Coordination | Role Specialization | Spreads threat among players, synchronized attacks | Reliant on party synergy and voice communication |
An offensive burst style suits those who wield heavy weapons and like to combo. Hit-and-move is safer with lighter weapons like Dual Blades or Long Sword. My go-to method is Trapping & Bombing since Arkveld is vulnerable to traps and I can blast it with barrel bombs.
In the end, each method is useful. One misstep in front of Arkveld’s tail whip or frenzy and you’ll lose a ton of health, so whatever method works for your gear and reflexes is the way to go. Everyone has their own way of handling Arkveld, but for me mixing moderate defense with opportunistic offense has worked out most of the time.
Rewards and Aftermath of Arkveld’s Defeat
Defeating Arkveld gives you a variety of crafting materials to unlock new things in Monster Hunter Wilds. Its hide, tendrils and sometimes an Arkveld Gem become the core ingredients for advanced weapon upgrades and specialty armor sets. I still remember the excitement of the first time I carved an Arkveld Gem from its tail after a double hunt.
Arkveld’s drops have certain patterns that affect forging. Its Hide+ items add up to 20 raw defense. The Tendril Shard is usually combined with other monster parts for elemental resistances. Selling its parts gives you a big bag of resources to restock potions, bombs and everything else. Defeating it is another milestone in Monster Hunter Wilds. Getting the materials and coins from one quest prepares you for the next one, whether that’s another it or a different monster. Enjoy the sense of accomplishment and use that to keep growing as a hunter.