This random Monster Hunter Wilds monster is tougher than the final boss – for a reason

Monster Hunter Wilds did something devious. The final boss, Arkveld, shortly followed by Zoh Shia, was tough but fair. But a skinny, chicken-looking bird was a nightmare.

Arkveld was always meant to be brutal. Since the beta, players knew they’d face a massive, cinematic showdown. Its moves are devastating, it’s powers unmatched, it’s chains downright terrifying: you know the drill. It had a rhythm, a strategy. Learn its patterns, dodge its big attacks, land your counters – you’d survive.

Then came the Yian Kut-Ku. This goofy bird wyvern humbled me. It dodged, it flailed, it set things on fire. It turned experienced players into panicked messes. And it wasn’t even the final boss.

There’s a reason for that. Arkveld is the end of Low Rank. Yian Kut-Ku is the start of High Rank. That means a shift – a brutal one.

It’s not just you: Yian Kut-Ku is stronger than Arkveld (on purpose, too)

If Arkveld was the test, Yian Kut-Ku was the real challenge. And that’s why so many players struggled with this ridiculous bird.

Capcom

Low Rank monsters ease you in. They hit softer, move slower, and have predictable patterns. They let you feel powerful. Arkveld, despite its fearsome reputation, was still part of that system. Even its deadliest attacks had clear counterplay.

High Rank is where the game stops holding back. Monsters hit harder, move faster, and get new tricks. Yian Kut-Ku isn’t just a dumb bird; it’s Capcom’s way of saying, “Welcome to the real hunt.”

That transition is painful. I, like many, got wrecked. I fainted, ran out of potions, and still couldn’t catch the thing. Even capturing it felt impossible.

Suddenly, I had to rethink everything. My armor was useless, my weapon too slow, and my meal was giving me the wrong buffs. The game forced me to adapt.

That’s the beauty of Monster Hunter Wilds. The shift from Low Rank to High Rank isn’t just about numbers. It’s a philosophy change.

You’ll faint more, perhaps rely on multiplayer more, and read up on monster weaknesses often. The wrong gear means failure. The wrong strategy means frustration. The game stops forgiving mistakes.

It also makes victory sweeter. That first High Rank hunt feels impossible. Then you adjust. You exploit weaknesses, cook the right meals, and land that perfect hit. Suddenly, that Yian Kut-Ku doesn’t seem so tough. You outsmart it. You beat it. And you feel unstoppable.

That’s why Monster Hunter Wilds works. It sold millions, broke records, and dominated Steam for a reason. It doesn’t just challenge players – teaches them. It makes them better hunters, one faint at a time. Even if that lesson comes from a giant, flaming chicken.