"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 in 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

The 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 mainly oil-like swamps, creating a "gradation" in its overall structure.

Tokuda elaborated that the entire area transforms during the event known as the Plenty. When you enter around the center or bottom level, the area resembles an underwater volcano ecosystem. The team leveraged their experience from creating the Coral Highlands in Monster Hunter World to design the Oilwell Basin in this state. "During the Fallow and Inclemency, smoke emerges from everywhere in the Oilwell Basin, giving it the feel of a volcano or hot spring. But during the Plenty, it adopts a clear, marine-like tone. Observe the environmental biology closely, and you'll find 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, a diverse array of monsters and creatures call it home.

Nu Udra, The Black Flame

Every location in a Monster Hunter game has its apex predator, and the Oilwell Basin is no exception. This harsh and desolate environment is ruled by the "Black Flame," Nu Udra. This massive, octopus-like monster, with its slimy and flammable body adapted to its surroundings, uses its slithering tentacles to capture prey before unleashing scorching flames, ensuring a fiery demise. With Rey Dau reigning over lightning in the Windward Plains and Uth Duna wielding water in the Scarlet Forest, the eldritch horror-looking Nu Udra completes the trio with its fire affinity.

Nu Udra's design draws inspiration from octopuses, a choice Fujioka confirmed was intentional. "I’ve always wanted to add a tentacled creature at some point," he said, explaining that they took a typically aquatic creature and modified it for a more striking appearance. They aimed for a "demonic" look, adding horn-like elements to its head. This design is complemented by its unique battle music, which evokes demonic imagery and black magic. "We had the composers include phrases and musical instruments 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 execute both focused and area-of-effect attacks rapidly. It's immune to Flash Bombs, relying instead on its tentacles to sense its environment.

More Monsters In The Basin

Nu Udra isn't the only dominant force in the Oilwell Basin. The huge, scaly, and monkey-like Ajarakan, covered in flames, also roams the area. It attacks with martial arts-inspired movements and frequently uses its fists, blending massive physical strength with fiery power. Ajarakan is a thrilling addition to the series' monster lineup.

Another intriguing inhabitant is the globular Rompopolo, with its thin needles for a mouth and toxic gas emissions. Its eerie purple color and glowing red eyes give it a menacing, mad scientist vibe. The developers drew inspiration from the mad scientist archetype in designing Rompopolo, describing it as a "tricky monster." Despite its unsettling appearance, its drops yield surprisingly "cute" equipment for both the Hunter and their Palico companion.

Even a monster from previous games, Gravios, makes a return to the Oilwell Basin. Last seen in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, Gravios fits perfectly with its rocky carapace, fiery breath, and preference for volcanic regions. "When we were thinking of monsters that match the Oilwell Basin's environment, make sense in the game's overall progression, and don't play too similarly to any other monsters, we thought that we could make Gravios seem like a fresh challenge and decided that it would reappear," Tokuda explained.

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