Monster Hunter Wilds Ascendance: Everything You Need to Know

Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance is a major DLC expansion coming to Monster Hunter Wilds in 2027. It is not a standalone game, meaning players will need to own the base Monster Hunter Wilds game before they can access it.

Ascendance continues the story several years after the ending of Wilds while introducing Master Rank quests, a new location, new and returning monsters, and additional actions for all 14 weapon types.

Here is everything confirmed for the Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance DLC so far.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance will be released in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam.

An exact release date, price and preorder information have not been announced yet. However, the base Monster Hunter Wilds game will be required to play the DLC when it arrives.

Players must also reach Hunter Rank 40 and complete the “Awaking From a Dream” quest before they can begin the Ascendance story and enter Master Rank.

The Ascendance DLC continues beyond the ending of Monster Hunter Wilds, with several years passing since the Expedition Team’s encounter with Arkveld.

The new story begins when the colossal Elder Dragon Lao-Shan Lung suddenly appears in the Forbidden Lands. The Expedition Team fights back but is ultimately overwhelmed by the monster’s strength and the destruction it leaves behind.

Expecting Lao-Shan Lung to return, the Guild and people of the Eastlands construct Madoi Stronghold. This fortified new base gives the Expedition Team somewhere to prepare for the growing threats appearing throughout the region.

The team will investigate ecological disturbances seemingly set in motion by Lao-Shan Lung’s arrival. These include abnormalities across the Forbidden Lands, the expansion of Guardian Monster habitats and the emergence of Elder Dragons.

The passage of several years has changed several familiar characters from Monster Hunter Wilds.

Nata has grown from the young Keeper introduced in the base game into a full-fledged member of the Expedition Team. He now travels alongside Bangard, a Wudwud who has become particularly attached to him.

The pair will help guide the Hunter into the Skybound Eyrie as the Expedition Team investigates the strange events affecting the Forbidden Lands.

The Ascendance DLC introduces the Skybound Eyrie, a new locale floating high above the clouds.

This mysterious region is uncovered after the mist covering the skies above Wyveria begins to clear. It contains lush open environments, ancient ruins, undiscovered endemic life and monsters never previously seen in the Forbidden Lands.

Updrafts can be found throughout the Skybound Eyrie. Hunters can use these currents to glide through the air while riding their Seikret, opening new ways to travel between the area’s floating landmasses.

The Skybound Eyrie’s unusual ecosystem will be central to the DLC’s story as the Expedition Team investigates the disturbances spreading throughout the region.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance will expand the roster with completely new creatures and returning Elder Dragons.

These are the monsters officially confirmed for the DLC so far.

Lao-Shan Lung

Lao-Shan Lung is a colossal Elder Dragon whose arrival begins the story of Ascendance.

The Expedition Team is unable to stop it during its first appearance, and the resulting destruction leads to the construction of Madoi Stronghold. Preparing for Lao-Shan Lung’s return appears to be one of the main storylines running through the DLC.

Its enormous size has traditionally made Lao-Shan Lung very different from a standard monster hunt, making its modern return one of the biggest additions to Ascendance.

Kushala Daora

Kushala Daora is another returning Elder Dragon confirmed for Ascendance.

Its body is protected by hard metallic scales, while the fierce winds surrounding it can prevent Hunters from getting close. Footage from the DLC shows Kushala Daora creating powerful wind attacks as Elder Dragons begin appearing across the Forbidden Lands.

Araketa

Araketa is a new Bird Wyvern found within the Skybound Eyrie.

A unique organ inside its wings allows it to produce powerful bursts of air and travel at extremely high speeds, earning it the title of the Jetstream Wyvern.

Araketa also hunt in packs. Their leaders produce distinctive calls that command and coordinate the movements of the other members, allowing the entire group to attack together.

Gundoraja

Gundoraja is a newly discovered Elder Dragon known as the Black Sky’s Wrath.

This enormous serpentine monster can cover itself with storm clouds and call down lightning. It emerges from the severe weather surrounding the Skybound Eyrie and appears to be one of the DLC’s most dangerous new threats.

Ascendance will expand combat with the Boost Bracer, a new piece of equipment that works through the Hunter’s Slinger.

Activating the Boost Bracer temporarily enhances certain actions and unlocks powerful new attacks known as Boost Drivers. Hunters can use these attacks to create an opening before taking advantage of the temporary Boost State.

All 14 weapon types will receive actions designed around their individual strengths. These include new attacks, follow-up moves, combos and additional mobility, giving Hunters more options when facing the DLC’s Master Rank monsters.

Individual weapon showcases are being released ahead of Ascendance, providing a closer look at how the Boost Bracer affects each weapon.

The Ascendance DLC will introduce Master Rank quests to Monster Hunter Wilds.

Master Rank will provide experienced Hunters with a new level of quests and stronger monsters to overcome as they progress through the expansion’s story.

To unlock Ascendance and enter Master Rank, players must reach Hunter Rank 40 and complete the “Awaking From a Dream” quest in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Anyone preparing for the DLC should therefore focus on completing the base game’s story and reaching the required Hunter Rank before its 2027 release.

More information will be shared ahead of release, including additional monsters, weapon actions, Master Rank progression and other gameplay features.