I'll be honest, when I first reached the upper echelons of high rank in Monster Hunter Wilds, something felt... off. It was like preparing for a grand feast only to realize your favorite dish wasn't on the menu. For two decades, elder dragons have been the cornerstone of every Monster Hunter experience - the Teostras, Kushala Daoras, and Kirins that defined endgame content. Yet here I was in 2025, facing Wilds' revolutionary approach: a world completely devoid of these legendary creatures.

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The Ghost of Hunts Past

Coming straight from Monster Hunter World, the absence hit me like a Diablos charge. World didn't just have elder dragons - it was drowning in them! The story revolved around these majestic beasts, and by the time Iceborne wrapped up, we had hunted everything from Velkhana to Fatalis. But here's the thing - after hunting Teostra for what felt like the hundredth time across multiple games, the magic had started to fade. These encounters had become... comfortable. Predictable. And honestly? A little tired.

Wilds' Fresh Approach

What Wilds offers instead are these incredible apex monsters that genuinely make me excited to hunt again. Let me break down why these newcomers work so well:

  • Uth Duna: This lightning-fast predator keeps me on my toes like Kirin used to

  • Nu Udra: Its aquatic adaptations create completely new combat dynamics

  • Rey Dau: Early game encounter that grows with you throughout high rank

  • Jin Dahaad: Massive scale that makes every encounter feel epic

Truth be told, if you slapped "elder dragon" on any of these designs, nobody would bat an eye. The difficulty curve feels just right, and each hunt presents unique challenges that force me to adapt my strategies.

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Why This Change Matters

Capcom made a brave choice here, and I've come to appreciate it. Including the usual suspects would have meant cutting other monsters due to development constraints. Would I really trade Rey Dau for another Teostra hunt? Not a chance. The franchise needed this refresh - we'd reached peak elder dragon saturation.

Sometimes you've gotta clear out the old to make room for the new, you know?

Looking to the Future

I'm not naive enough to think elder dragons are gone forever. Title updates will likely bring them back, and that's fine - as special events rather than expected roster filler. But when they do return, I hope Capcom takes this opportunity to redefine what makes an elder dragon truly special.

Imagine if Wilds' first elder dragon introduction was something completely new - a creature that makes us re-learn what it means to face these legendary beasts. Something that brings back that feeling of facing Kirin for the very first time, when your hands would actually shake during the hunt.

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The Hunt Continues

At the end of the day, Monster Hunter has always been about adaptation. We adapt our gear, our strategies, and our expectations. Wilds is asking us to adapt to a new paradigm, and after hundreds of hours with the game, I can confidently say it's working.

The absence of elder dragons isn't a loss - it's an opportunity. An opportunity to fall in love with new monsters, to experience fresh challenges, and to remember why we started hunting in the first place. Sometimes the bravest hunt is the one that breaks tradition to create something better.

And honestly? I'm here for it.