Jin Dahaad Monster Guide for Monster Hunter Wilds

Jin Dahaad is a brand new leviathan monster that is being introduced in the sixth generation of Monster Hunter in Monster Hunter Wilds. He is the apex predator of the fourth locale of Monster Hunter Wilds, the Iceshard Cliffs. He is the second largest monster in the entire game and only comes in one size as of base version of Monster Hunter Wilds. Not much is known about him in terms of combat, other than his an ice based monster.

Crown Sizes

• Small Crown - N/A
• Silver Crown - N/A
• Large Crown - 4560.8

Jin Dahaad is a formidable monster, and taking him down requires careful planning and strategy. If you want to optimize your damage output or achieve the fastest possible kill time, bringing a fire-elemental weapon is the way to go. When it comes to status effects, he isn’t particularly weak to most of them, with the exception of blast. In terms of utility items, only flash pods and shock traps will work against him—pitfall traps and sonic bombs have no effect whatsoever.

A general rule of thumb when fighting Jin Dahaad is to stay near his back legs and continuously attack them until he collapses. Once he’s down, immediately target the ridges on his back, as they are among his weakest points. However, he has an extensive and varied moveset, so you’ll need to be prepared for what’s coming. One of his more annoying attacks occurs when he loses sight of you—he’ll execute a wide-ranging head swipe in an attempt to locate and bite you. Due to his massive size, this attack can completely throw off your positioning, so be ready for it at all times.

If you spend too much time behind him, he will eventually release a freezing gas that will trap you in place. The last thing you want is to be frozen solid while a behemoth like Jin Dahaad prepares to slam down on you. Always bring a cleanser to free yourself, but if you don’t have one on hand, rapidly wiggle your left analogue stick to break free before he lands an attack.

When attacking his legs, he may respond with a backward kick using the leg closest to you. If you're wielding a long sword, this attack is easily countered, while shielded weapons can guard it effectively. Should you manage to knock him down, make sure to immediately focus your attacks on his back ridges—land a focus strike for massive damage and continue wailing on that weak spot for as long as possible.

As you deal significant damage, Jin Dahaad will leave the area and transition to the next phase of the fight. It’s important to remember that these transitions are damage-based, not time-based—the faster you deal damage, the sooner he moves on. Between phases, take the opportunity to sharpen your weapon, refresh your buffs, and drink a hot drink to maintain stamina regeneration.

Jin Dahaad’s charge attack can be a major threat. Due to his sheer size, he can still clip you even if it appears you’re at a safe distance. If you anticipate getting hit, it’s best to counter with a long sword or guard with a shielded weapon or Great Sword. This attack deals substantial damage, so be cautious when he begins winding up.

When standing beneath his face, he sometimes releases a wide breath attack in a circular area around him. You can avoid this by positioning yourself behind his front legs. However, don’t retreat too far—after the attack, his face will glow red in focus mode, allowing you to land a devastating focus strike that could knock him down.

One of his most dangerous abilities is his long-range ice breath attack. He telegraphs this move by lifting his head high and taking a deep breath. When you see this, immediately rush towards him but veer to one of his sides. If you time it right, you’ll be able to close the gap before he finishes and land a focus strike on his face, potentially staggering him.

Occasionally, Hirabami might show up in the same area and engage Jin Dahaad in combat. If this happens, consider it a huge advantage—Jin Dahaad will be completely distracted, giving you the freedom to attack whichever body part you choose. If this occurs, I usually prioritize severing his tail or targeting his back legs, depending on my position.

If you’re in front of him, he may attempt to slam you with one of his forelegs, striking one at a time. The attack isn’t particularly threatening, and its hitbox is fairly forgiving. With careful positioning, you can even remain near his head and continue attacking without much risk.

As a massive creature, Jin Dahaad occasionally throws tantrums. He will lift his upper body, pause briefly, and then slam down with all his weight. This attack is slow and easy to avoid, but if you somehow get caught by it, prepare for significant damage. If you’re confident in your timing, you can guard, offset, or even counter the attack depending on your weapon. Once he lands, take advantage of the downtime—either rush his face for a few quick hits or move towards his hind legs and tail for sustained damage. If you’re already near the tail, I recommend targeting it, as severing it grants two carves and reduces the effectiveness of his tail whip attacks.

Speaking of tail attacks, if you linger near his tail, he may lift it up and slam it down in an attempt to crush you. This is actually one of his more favorable attacks for the hunter—it’s predictable, easy to dodge, and his tail remains on the ground for a few seconds afterward, giving you a prime opportunity to deal significant damage. Always capitalize on this move.

When enough damage is dealt, Jin Dahaad will move to the next area, marking the beginning of the third phase of the fight. This phase introduces two major new mechanics that you need to be aware of. Before engaging him again, take a moment to sharpen your weapon, rebuff, and ensure your hot drink buff is still active.

As soon as you enter the new area, Jin Dahaad will climb up a massive pillar-like structure and begin breathing ice from above. He will breathe in four different directions—simply keep your camera locked on him and watch where he aims so you can avoid each attack accordingly. Although it may seem daunting at first, dodging these breath attacks becomes second nature after a few hunts.

Once he has finished his fourth breath, you can use your hook slinger to pull down the structure he’s perched on, sending him crashing to the ground. The falling debris will deal significant damage, giving you an opening to unleash a full barrage of attacks. Be mindful of your position—standing too close when he falls will knock you down, delaying your ability to capitalize on his vulnerable state.

By now, his tail should already be severed, so shift your focus to breaking his ridges and dealing maximum damage. As the fight progresses, Jin Dahaad will grow increasingly aggressive. Eventually, he will begin casting his ultimate attack. He will coil himself in the center of the arena while gathering ice energy, encasing himself in a protective ice barrier. At this point, look up and locate the giant ice chunks hanging above—use your hook slinger to bring one down immediately.

As soon as the ice chunk falls, rush behind it. Jin Dahaad will soon unleash an enormous ice explosion that covers the entire battlefield. This attack is absolutely cinematic, but if you aren’t behind cover, it will instantly kill you. Stay put until the explosion fully dissipates before stepping out, as moving too early can still result in death. This ability only occurs in this phase and the final phase, so be prepared to repeat this sequence once more.

Keep following the same strategy, and eventually, Jin Dahaad will retreat to the final area—the lowest depths of Iceshard Cliffs, his nesting grounds. As always, make sure to rebuff and sharpen your weapon before engaging. Jin Dahaad is one of the few monsters that can be mounted, and due to his immense size, he has four different woundable spots: his head, neck, mid-back, and tail base. However, it’s physically impossible to open all four wounds before he throws you off, so prioritize whichever two are easiest for you. In my experience, his back is the hardest to pop when dismounted, so I suggest popping it while mounted.

During the final phase, he gains a new attack where he gathers frost around him before releasing it in a wide area. While I’m not entirely certain of its exact effect, it seems to freeze and trap hunters in place. The best option is to run away as soon as you see him charging up, as this move is often followed by his ultimate ability.

Just like before, use your hook slinger to bring down an ice chunk for cover. You also have the option to drop additional chunks on his head to deal damage, but be careful not to break too many, or you might run out of cover when his ultimate attack comes around.

At this point, it’s just a matter of repeating the established strategy. Continue dealing damage, pop any remaining wounds, and keep applying pressure. Eventually, he will reach the skull icon on the radar, signaling his impending demise. Use your strongest combos and maximize your DPS to finish him off.

In terms of the enrage, he just gets more aggressive and starts doing more ice breathing attacks. There really isn't much to his enrage, so just keep doing the same thing you've been doing and that's about it. Just be a bit more reactive and cautious.

In conclusion, Jin Dahaad is a well-designed and engaging fight, in my opinion. It’s not overwhelmingly difficult, but it’s certainly not a pushover either. This encounter teaches you the importance of patience, especially when dealing with large apex monsters. It forces you to learn proper positioning and know when to strike, while also encouraging the use of environmental mechanics to your advantage. The large pillar-like structures and the giant ice chunks aren’t just for show—they serve as both defensive cover and offensive tools if used correctly. The wound system also plays a major role in this battle, and if you make full use of it, you’ll find yourself in a much better position to secure the kill.

One of the most crucial aspects of this fight is knowing when to attack and when to back off. Jin Dahaad’s sheer size means that if you strike at the wrong moment, you could easily be punished for it. I’ll be the first to admit that I carted a few times during my first attempt against him. However, after multiple hunts, I learned his patterns, adjusted my playstyle, and started appreciating the fight a lot more.

In many ways, this battle feels like a siege rather than a typical hunt. Jin Dahaad has his own dedicated arena, but it doesn’t rely on special weapons or gimmicks like other siege fights in past Monster Hunter titles. Instead, this fight is all about mastering your own weapon and using your skills efficiently, which I thought was a fantastic design choice.

If you find yourself struggling, I highly recommend crafting armor with solid ice resistance and slotting in ice resistance gems to reduce incoming damage. Bringing a fire-elemental weapon will also help immensely, and when in doubt, focus on attacking whatever body part is easiest for you to hit rather than taking unnecessary risks. Playing recklessly can get you killed very quickly, but if you take your time and approach the fight methodically, you’ll eventually bring him down.

It doesn’t matter if your hunt time isn’t the fastest—this isn’t a speedrun competition. The goal is to take Jin Dahaad down, and if that means playing cautiously, so be it. Stick to the strategies we’ve discussed, stay patient, and soon enough, he’ll just be another massive corpse lying at your feet.