Everything you need to know about Alatreon’s arrival to Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

Monster Hunter World is a straightforward game in many ways. You make a character, you live in a world, you hunt monsters. In the expanded version, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, you venture to another part of the New World where there is plenty—you guessed it—ice. The simplicity of the general formula turned this most recent entry in the long-running series into a smash hit back when it released in 2017, but the deep game-play systems and consistent feed of high-quality content have kept people around for the long haul. Of course, it helps that you get to have a cat companion go on adventures with you.

After being originally slated for May 2020, the latest update to Monster Hunter World: Iceborne—Title Update 4—arrives on July 9, 2020, and it’s as juicy as the roast chicken you can make to feed your cat companion (or use as club).

What the new update includes

There’s a lot to look forward to in the new update, but the meat is going to be with a new Elder Dragon to hunt. Elder Dragons are some of the toughest bosses in the New World, and Title Update 4 will be ratcheting up the challenge even further with Alatreon. This “Blazing Black Dragon” will be able to change what kind of element it uses, so you’ll have to come prepared with gear that provides resistances for different types of damage. You’ll also want to be able to dish out damage yourself by attacking Altareon with the same kind of element he is using against you.

Beyond hunting Alatreon, you’ll be able to make some sweet new armor out of the Elder Dragon’s hide well. After crafting the 14 new Alatreon specific armor pieces, you’ll be able to get a new set bonus—Alatreon Divinity—which will match your elemental resistances to your elemental damage.

Alatreon’s arrival isn’t the only thing coming to Monster Hunter World: Iceborne this summer. There will also be the Sizzling Spice Fest and the Frostfang Barloth Event Quest to get ready for.

What you need to get into Title Update 4

Before you go after Altareon, you’ll have to make sure you have the expanded version Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, and not just the base game. Also, you will need to be at least Master Rank 24 and have finished the Safi’jiiva Recon Assignment. If you’ve only recently gotten the game or are looking to get into it now, Capcom has implemented several features to allow players to progress to the new content faster.

As a free download, players can get the Defender weapon tree and Guardian armor sets from the very outset of their quest. This equipment can allow the player to forget about crafting and power through the base game. That said, the early stuff is great, but there’s plenty of reason to get to Iceborne. Alatreon is waiting for you.