Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance Adds New Monsters and Locale

Capcom has unveiled Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, a major expansion to Monster Hunter Wilds that introduces new monsters, a new locale, and story developments continuing beyond the base game's ending. The announcement, including a new trailer, came during State of Play on September 3, 2026. The expansion arrives on PlayStation 5 in 2027.

Ascendance continues the Expedition Team's story years after the base game. The narrative begins with the sudden appearance of the colossal Elder Dragon Lao-Shan Lung in the Forbidden Lands, overwhelming the Expedition Team. Several years later, the team has fortified its position with the construction of Madoi Stronghold in preparation for the dragon's return.

The mist over Wyveria's skies has cleared, revealing the Skybound Eyrie, a new locale floating high above the clouds. This region features lush open landscapes, ancient ruins, and never-before-seen endemic life. It serves as an unexplored frontier for hunters.

New monsters include Araketa and the Elder Dragon Gundoraja. Araketa is a Bird Wyvern that soars the skies in packs and controls powerful air currents from its wings for high-speed flight. Pack leaders emit distinctive calls to command and coordinate movements.

Gundoraja is an Elder Dragon that controls storm clouds and has emerged from the darkest clouds over the Skybound Eyrie. It represents a thunderous new foe for hunters. These additions join ecological disturbances triggered by Lao-Shan Lung's arrival, including abnormalities in the Forbidden Lands and expanded habitats for Guardian Monsters.

Returning characters have aged and taken on new roles. Nata, previously a young Keeper, has grown into a full-fledged member of the Expedition Team and an apprentice Hunter. He partners with the Wudwud Bangard to guide players into the Skybound Eyrie, where unexpected events and mysteries await investigation.

Boost Action introduces new combat mechanics for all 14 weapon types. The Boost Bracer is new equipment that enhances the Hunter's Slinger, temporarily amplifying combat capabilities and the unique strengths of each weapon. Players activate Boost Driverability to create openings before entering a Boost state for enhanced abilities and momentum-based opportunities.

Capcom states that more abilities for each weapon type and additional gameplay mechanics will be revealed in the future. The company directs players to the official Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance website and social channels for a closer look at Boost Action per weapon. A Monster Hunter Wilds Prologue demo is available now.