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How to play the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne beta

How to join the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne beta and hunt an Elder Dragon

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Image used with permission by copyright holder

We’re less than two weeks away from Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, but Capcom will let PS4 and Xbox One hunters check out a sampling of the expansion early courtesy of an open beta. In June, Capcom held two beta periods for PS4 users. The upcoming beta lets Xbox One users get in on the action for the first time. If you want to partake in the monster-slaying festivities — and you should since Iceborne is a ton of fun — here’s when the beta starts and how to jump in.

Monster Hunter: Iceborne PS4 beta start/end times:

PS4 users will get the beta first. It’s open to all PS4 owners with a PlayStation Plus subscription.

  • PS4 beta start time: Friday, August 30 at 12:01 a.m. PT
  • PS4 beta end time: Sunday, September 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT
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You can preload the PS4 beta starting August 28. We recommend pre-loading if you want to begin hunting right when the beta goes live.

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Monster Hunter: Iceborne Xbox One beta start/end times:

Xbox One users can jump into the beta after the PS4 beta ends. Though an open beta, you’ll need an Xbox Live Gold subscription to play.

  • Xbox One beta start time: Monday, September 2 at 12:01 a.m. PT
  • Xbox One beta end time: Wednesday, September 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT

Pre-loading for Xbox One will begin August 28. If you own both consoles, you can of course double up if you want to play throughout the entire beta window.

What’s in the Monster Hunter: Iceborne beta?

Image used with permission by copyright holder

For PlayStation 4 users, the new beta will be pretty similar to the first one. Xbox One hunters, on the other hand, will get their first taste of Hoarfrost Reach, the new snowy landmass that serves as the setting for Iceborne’s storyline. Hoarfrost Reach is the largest locale in Monster Hunter World. For this beta, you’ll get to hunt four of the announced large monsters, either solo or online.

  • Great Jagras (already in World)
  • Banbaro (new to Iceborne)
  • Tigrex (featured in previous Monster Hunter games, but not World)
  • Velkhana (new Elder Dragon and the main antagonist of Iceborne)

The opportunity to hunt Velkhana, the cover monster and main antagonist of Iceborne is a pretty enticing way to get PS4 users to return to the beta for a second time. While beta progress won’t carry over to the full game, you can earn up to four commendation packs filled with consumable items to use in the full game.

While on the hunt, you’ll get to try Iceborne‘s new mechanics. The Clutch Claw is a grappling hook that lets you easily mount monsters when in range, and the Slinger lets you strategically guide monsters.

We recommend hunting the four monsters in the order listed above. If you’re having trouble, check out our Iceborne beginner’s guide for tips and tricks and our monsters guide for specific tips for Great Jagras, Banbaro, and Tigrex.

If you like what you play…

Chances are most players who participate in the Iceborne beta already own Monster Hunter World. For those who have played World, you probably want to check your save file to ensure you’re ready for Iceborne when it launches September 6 on PS4 and Xbox One. It’s expected to launch next January for PC. You need to complete the main story and reach Hunter Rank 16 to access Iceborne content come launch.

Those who already have Monster Hunter World can pre-order a digital copy of the Iceborne expansion for $40. Monster Hunter World is Game Pass eligible on Xbox One/PC, so if you have an active subscription, you can also just buy the expansion.

  • Pre-order Iceborne (PS4)
  • Pre-order Iceborne (Xbox One)
  • Pre-order Iceborne (PC)

If you don’t already have Monster Hunter World, you can pre-order the $60 Master Edition, which comes with the base game and Iceborne.

  • Pre-order Master Edition (PS4)
  • Pre-order Master Edition (Xbox One)

If you’re feeling fancy, you can pre-order the Master Edition Deluxe for $80. It comes with a steelbook case and the following pre-order bonuses: Silver Knight armor set, one face paint and hairstyle, two sticker sets, three gestures, and one room decor item.

  • Pre-order Master Edition Deluxe (PS4)
  • Pre-order Master Edition Deluxe (Xbox One)

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Steven Petite
Steven Petite
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Steven is a writer from Northeast Ohio currently based in Louisiana. He writes about video games and books, and consumes…
Monster Hunter Wilds weapons guide
A hunter leaps at a Monster in Monster Hunter Wilds.

There are dozens of important tips and tricks you need to master in Monster Hunter Wilds, but they all pale in comparison to learning how to use your weapon effectively. All 14 are available right from the start and each one completely changes the flow of a hunt. Experienced hunters will be familiar with most of them, but there are some new aspects to take into account this time around. If you plan on playing with friends especially then you will want to make sure you're not holding the team back by just spamming attack. Before you put a new weapon on your wishlist, check out this quick weapons guide for Monster Hunter Wilds.
Weapons guide

As mentioned, there are 14 weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds. We will give you a basic idea of each one's strengths, weaknesses, and playstyle but the best thing you can do to decide is take on into the training area and try it out.
Great Sword
If you like a slow weapon that packs a massive punch, the Great Sword is still the king. This is the iconic weapon of the franchise capable of high-damage charge attacks and a block. You need to be brave and account for your slow swing speeds to land a hit, but once you do, it will count.
Long Sword
A sword so long even Sephiroth would be jealous. This weapon allows you to perform perfect dodges and counterattacks more like an action game. It also has nice wide, sweeping attacks for smaller mobs and hitting multiple parts of a monster at once. Landing hits builds a spirit gauge you can spend on a special combo that buffs your attack.
Sword and Shield
If you're new to the series, this is a great weapon to start with. It has fast attacks with the sword and shield, a decent block, dodge, and is the only weapon that lets you use items without having to put your weapon away first.
Dual Blades
For something a bit more fancy, the Dual Blades are just as fast but have more layers to consider. They give you a Demon and Archdemon gauge that buffs your attack power and speed as you build each one up. If you want to be fast and aggressive, give these a whirl.
Hammer
The Hammer is a lot like the Great Sword, only dealing blunt damage that can quickly tire a monster out or stun it if you target the right body parts. You're not as slow with this weapon and have a dodge, but no guard.
Hunting Horn
This weapon is one best saved for veterans or players who are part of a dedicated squad. The horn plays different tunes that buff yourself and other hunters in addition to attacks, meaning you need to pay attention to the entire battlefield and know which buffs to trigger when.
Lance
If you fancy yourself a tank, pick up the Lance. This weapon lets you attack from relative safety behind your big shield at the expense of speed and damage. What it lacks in damage, however, it makes up for in targeted damage. You can easily wound and exploit a monster's limbs with precise thrusts.
Gunlance
The Gunlance is basically what it says on the tin. You still have the heavy shield, but now focus on shooting explosive shells. It gives you a lot more range to work with and has a dodge.
Switch Axe
This weapon feels ripped right out of Bloodborne. You can use it as a heavy axe or transform it into a more nimble sword. Each one has their strengths, such as being able to cause explosions, but neither are the best in their class. If you want to be as versatile as possible, go with this.
Charge Blade
Another transforming weapon, the Charge Blade also has an axe mode as well as a sword and shield. Most consider this the most difficult weapon to master in the series since using one mode powers up the second and each has their own complete combo list to internalize.
Insect Glaive
Verticality is better in Monster Hunter Wilds than ever before. The Insect Glave will let you leap and sping around the environment and make mounting monsters a breeze. You will need to snag parts of monsters with your Kinsect during fights to buff yourself otherwise you will deal very little damage.
Light Bowgun
The first pure ranged weapon, this bowgun keeps you light on your feet and has a fast rate of fire for great DPS if you can keep the monster in your sights. Landing hits build up a gauge you can spend on a Rapid Fire ability to unload all at once. Just make sure you come stocked with ammo.
Heavy Bowgun
We suggest saving the Heavy Bowgun for party hunts since it is most effective from long-range while others draw aggro. You do have an auto-guard just in case, but an ideal run with this weapon will have you sniping from a distance with the correct ammo type to bring down your target.
Bow
The Bow is unique compared to the other two ranged weapons. It uses your stamina to draw and fire but encourages you to stay somewhat close since a perfect dodge will completely refill your stamina. The coolest feature, though, is the tracer shot. Once you land this, all the arrows you shoot after will home in on that spot. Eventually, the tracer explodes for even more damage.

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How long is Monster Hunter Wilds
A hunter leaps at a Monster in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Hunters have been preparing meals, sharpening their weapons, and sharing all the best tips and tricks for months waiting for Monster Hunter Wilds to arrive. Now that it has arrived, we're all ready to gather our friends and hunt down the most epic beasts yet. Fans have come to expect these games to last dozens, if not hundreds, of hours beyond just the main campaign. Going into High Rank hunts, grinding to upgrade gear, and taking on rare species can extend the fun for those who want to dive deep into the systems. But the question remains if Capcom had to scale down this latest entry, at least at launch, to account for all the new systems and improved visuals. Let's take a break at camp to find out just how long Monster Hunter Wilds is.
How long is Monster Hunter Wilds

Determining how long Monster Hunter Wilds is depends on what you consider finishing the game. If reaching the game's credits is your definition of the end, which comes after beating the main story, then you could expect the game to last anywhere from 15 to 20 hours depending on how many optional quests and hunts you decide to take. However, the main story only lasts through the end of Low Rank, with High Rank being where the game really starts for most players and also includes even more story content.

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Monster Hunter Wilds is Capcom’s most sucessful PC launch ever
A hunter about to eat meat in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Monster Hunter Wilds hasn't even been available for a full 24 hours, and it has already reached the number-six spot for the most-played games of all time on Steam. It has also firmly secured its position as Capcom's most successful PC launch by more than 500,000 players, and that number just keeps growing. Right now, as of roughly 9:40 AM ET, the game currently has more than 1.3 million concurrent players.

That's a lot of players at one time — more than Elden Ring or Baldur's Gate 3 ever achieved. It's also an astronomical increase from Monster Hunter World, which peaked at just over 330,000 players. Wilds is a runaway success, especially when you consider that neither PlayStation nor Xbox players are included in this count.

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