Xu Wu Monster Guide for Monster Hunter Wilds

Xu Wu is a brand new monster that is being introduced in the sixth generation of Monster Hunter in Monster Hunter Wilds. Not much is known about him at the moment other than the fact his nest is located in the fifth locale known as the Wounded Hollows. He is the second cephalopod that exists in Monster Hunter Wilds besides Nu Udra. Cephalopod is a brand new monster classification that never existed in the past titles and is completely brand new to the franchise. Xu Wu is a Guardian Hunter meaning he hunts other Guardians and eats them.

Crown Sizes

• Small Crown - 1256.6
• Silver Crown - 1605.7
• Large Crown - 1717.4

Let’s break down Xu Wu’s strengths, weaknesses, and the best ways to approach fighting him. For optimal damage and a faster kill time, make sure to bring an ice-elemental weapon to the hunt. He’s most susceptible to poison, while blast, paralysis, and stun also perform well against him. Sleep, on the other hand, is not very effective here. As for utility items, stick to shock traps and pitfall traps—both flash pods and sonic bombs won’t have any effect on him.

Xu Wu is definitely a unique fight, offering a nice mix of both melee and ranged attacks that can catch you off guard if you’re not careful. He’s got the vibe of a rogue-style octopus, darting around and using sharp tentacle weapons, which makes him stand out among other monsters.

Your best strategy here is to stay close and focus on cutting off his tentacle arms, or simply attacking his mouth if you’re not concerned about collecting crafting materials from severed limbs. If you pester him enough, he may throw his arms up and, after a short wind-up, spin in place to knock back anything nearby—including you. Be ready to guard, counter, offset, or dodge this move.

If you keep a bit of distance from Xu Wu, he may leap into the air and rotate his body as he comes down, swiping at you with his arms. This is another attack that can easily be handled with a counter, block, dodge, or offset if you’re paying attention. Sometimes he’ll stretch out one of his tentacle arms to jab at you from a distance with the sharp tip—it hits hard, so keep your eyes peeled for this one.

If you’re standing in front of him, he might slam one of his tentacle arms down in your direction. After this slam, he’ll pause for a few seconds, giving you a perfect opportunity to wail on his arm and deal enough damage to potentially sever it. Occasionally, Xu Wu will also leap backwards and fire a spread of blades from his tentacles, similar to a fan of knives. He can also toss blades at you without leaping, just by flinging them forward from one of his arms while you’re directly in front of him.

Another move he can perform is placing one of his tentacle arms on the ground and spinning horizontally, sweeping anything caught in the path. This is a variation of his full-body 360-degree spin, except this time it’s more of a side swipe. He can also whip out his tentacle for a straightforward lashing attack.

If you manage to mount him, Xu Wu has two areas where you can open up wounds: one on top of his head (or what seems to be a membrane) and another on the lower section of his body. I’d recommend prioritizing the top of his head while mounted since it can be harder to reach from the ground.

When enraged, Xu Wu becomes more aggressive and erratic, often jumping much higher and changing positions quickly. During this state, he may also attempt his ultimate move where he exposes his wide, gaping mouth and lunges toward you from a distance in an effort to swallow you whole. This can easily cart you if you’re not quick with a dodge, counter, or guard.

In conclusion, Xu Wu is a fun fight with a cool design, though I personally find him to be a bit on the easy side—even in his tempered version, his health pool isn’t anything to write home about. Keep focusing on severing his tentacle arms to severely limit his offensive options, and you’ll rack up a lot of damage along the way. Long sword users will especially find this tactic rewarding since his limbs aren’t that difficult to cut through.

If you’re still struggling, just bring along traps and focus your attacks on his tentacles when he’s immobilized. Take advantage of any environmental hazards nearby and consider using explosive barrels for some extra burst damage. Rinse and repeat, and before you know it, Xu Wu will be reduced to a plate of fried calamari.