"Monster Hunter Wilds Unveils Nu Udra, New Monster from Oilwell Basin"

Monster Hunter Wilds directors reveal a whole new locale and ferocious monster to conquer through an exclusive interview. Dive deeper to learn more about the Oilwell Basin and its ruler, the Nu Udra.

Monster Hunter Wilds Introduces The Black Flame, Nu Udra

Welcome To Oilwell Basin

In an exclusive interview with IGN, Monster Hunter Wilds directors Yuya Tokuda and Kaname Fujioka introduce players to one of the game's explorable areas, the Oilwell Basin, along with its dominant monster, the Nu Udra.

Oilwell Basin stands out with its vertical structure, a departure from the series' typical horizontally expansive locales. "We had two horizontally broad locales in the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, so we decided to make the Oilwell Basin a vertically connected place. The deeper you go, the more magma-filled and hot it gets," explained Fujioka. He added that the top strata are primarily oil-like swamps, creating a "gradation" in the area's overall structure.

Tokuda elaborated that the area transforms during the event known as the Plenty. When you enter around the center or bottom level, it resembles an underwater volcano ecosystem. The team leveraged their experience from designing the Coral Highlands in Monster Hunter World to craft the Oilwell Basin's unique state. "During the Fallow and Inclemency, smoke emerges from everywhere in the Oilwell Basin, resembling a volcano or hot spring. But during the Plenty, it adopts a clear, marine-like tone. If you look closely at the environmental biology, you'll discover it's a region inhabited by creatures you'd expect to find on the ocean bed," Tokuda noted.

These creatures are unique and native to the Oilwell Basin, enhancing the environment's distinctiveness. Despite its seemingly lifeless appearance, the area teems with a variety of monsters and creatures.

Nu Udra, The Black Flame

Every Monster Hunter locale has its apex predator, and the Oilwell Basin is no exception. It's ruled by the "Black Flame," Nu Udra. This massive, octopus-like monster has a slimy, flammable body adapted to its environment. It uses its slithering tentacles to capture prey before engulfing them in scorching flames. With Rey Dau reigning over lightning in the Windward Plains and Uth Duna wielding water in the Scarlet Forest, Nu Udra completes the elemental trio with its fire affinity.

Nu Udra's design draws inspiration from octopuses, a choice Fujioka had long desired. "I’ve always wanted to add a tentacled creature at some point," he said. They transformed a typically aquatic creature into something more striking and demonic, adding horn-like elements to its head. The battle music complements this theme, featuring phrases and instruments reminiscent of black magic. "We had the composers include elements reminiscent of black magic. I think it ended up being a unique and good piece of music," Tokuda added.

Battling Nu Udra is a formidable challenge, as it wields multiple tentacles and can unleash both focused and area-of-effect attacks rapidly. It's immune to Flash Bombs, relying instead on its tentacles to sense its surroundings.

More Monsters In The Basin

Nu Udra isn't the only formidable creature in the Oilwell Basin. The Ajarakan, a huge, scaly, monkey-like monster covered in flames, also roams the area. It employs martial arts-inspired movements and powerful fist attacks, blending immense physical strength with fiery prowess.

Another intriguing addition is the Rompopolo, a globular monster with a needle-like mouth that emits toxic gases. Its eerie purple color and glowing red eyes evoke a mad scientist's vibe. The developers drew inspiration from this archetype, describing Rompopolo as a "tricky monster." Despite its menacing appearance, its drops yield surprisingly "cute" equipment for both the Hunter and their Palico companion.

A familiar face also returns to the Oilwell Basin: Gravios from Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate. Its rocky carapace and fiery breath make it a fitting inhabitant of this volcanic region. "When considering monsters that match the Oilwell Basin's environment and fit the game's progression without overlapping with other monsters, we thought Gravios could offer a fresh challenge," Tokuda explained.

With these exciting reveals, anticipation builds for Monster Hunter Wilds' release on February 28th.