Lagiacrus is coming back in Monster Hunter Wilds, and if you are new to the series or started with World, you might be wondering: Why is this such a big deal?
To a lot of longtime players, Lagiacrus was their first real wall. The flagship of Monster Hunter Tri, this massive electric sea serpent was the face of underwater combat and the monster that made many players finally “get” Monster Hunter. Tri and 3U introduced tons of people to the series, especially on Wii and 3DS, and Lagiacrus apparently left a lasting impression as the terrifying beast that was very difficult to beat until you learned how to play properly.
There is a whole generation of hunters who grew up with this fight. His return is not just ‘fan service’; it is the comeback of a monster many thought Capcom would never bring back.
The Long Absence
What really sets Lagiacrus apart is how long he has been gone. While most flagship monsters, like Rathalos, Zinogre, Tigrex, or Nargacuga, kept showing up across different games, Lagiacrus was left behind. He was planned for World, but dropped due to technical issues with his skeleton. The only real post-Tri appearances were in Generations and GenU, where he was missing half his kit because underwater combat was removed.
That absence made hunters appreciate him even more. He became the “forgotten king of the seas”; cool design, great theme, nostalgic fight, and all connected to an era that many fans still remember to this day.
Will Underwater Combat Return?
Probably not. Capcom has said before that underwater fights were too complex to bring back properly, and most hunters are not expecting it. With that in mind, though, there is a lot of speculation that Wilds will at least try to let Lagiacrus use water-based mechanics in creative ways, maybe using deeper terrain or siege-style phases. Some players even think the focus mode could be Capcom’s way of solving the movement issues underwater combat had.
But honestly, even if it is just a land fight, many are just happy to finally see him again. In any case, Lagiacrus is a piece of Monster Hunter history, and Wilds is (probably) giving him the comeback he deserves.
