New Monster Nu Udra in Oilwell Basin Revealed by Monster Hunter Wilds Director

Monster Hunter Wilds directors reveal a whole new locale and ferocious monster to beat through an exclusive interview. Read on to find out more about the Oilwell Basin and its king, 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. The top strata feature oil-like swamps, creating a "gradation" in its overall structure.

Tokuda added that the area transforms during the event known as the Plenty. When entering around the center or bottom level, the Oilwell Basin resembles an underwater volcano ecosystem. The design draws inspiration from the Coral Highlands in Monster Hunter World. "During the Fallow and Inclemency, smoke comes out of everywhere in the Oilwell Basin, resembling a volcano or hot spring. But during the Plenty, it takes on a clear, marine-like tone. Look closely at the environmental biology, and you'll find creatures typical of the ocean bed," Tokuda noted.

The Oilwell Basin's distinct environment hosts a variety of native creatures, adding to its unique and seemingly lifeless landscape.

Nu Udra, The Black Flame

The apex predator of the Oilwell Basin is the "Black Flame," Nu Udra. This massive, octopus-like monster has a slimy and flammable body adapted to its environment. It uses its slithering tentacles to capture prey before unleashing scorching flames. Alongside Windward Plains’ Rey Dau and Scarlet Forest’s Uth Duna, Nu Udra completes the trio with its fire affinity.

Fujioka shared his long-standing desire to include a tentacled creature, saying, "I’ve always wanted to add a tentacled creature at some point." They modified a normally aquatic creature to give it a striking and demonic look, complete with horn-like elements on its head. The battle music enhances this theme, with Tokuda noting, "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."

Fighting Nu Udra is challenging due to its multiple tentacles and rapid succession of focused and AoE (area of effect) attacks. It's immune to Flash Bombs, relying on its tentacles to sense its environment.

More Monsters In The Basin

Beyond Nu Udra, the Oilwell Basin is home to other formidable creatures. The Ajarakan, a huge, scaly, and monkey-like monster covered in flames, uses martial arts-inspired movements and powerful fists in combat, blending massive physical strength with fire power.

The Rompopolo, a globular monster with a needle-like mouth, uses toxic gases in its attacks. Its purple color and glowing red eyes evoke a mad scientist vibe, and its drops can be crafted into surprisingly "cute" equipment for both the Hunter and their Palico companion.

Even the returning Gravios from Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate finds its place in the Oilwell Basin. Its rocky carapace and fiery breath fit perfectly with the volcanic environment. "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," Tokuda explained.

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