The hardest monster to defeat in Monster Hunter: World is unequivocally Extreme Behemoth, often affectionately nicknamed "Extremoth" by the player community. This formidable Elder Dragon is an absolute titan, widely recognized for presenting the ultimate challenge in the game and arguably one of the most difficult foes in the entire Monster Hunter series.
The Reign of Extreme Behemoth
Extreme Behemoth is a significantly enhanced variant of the standard Behemoth, itself a crossover monster from Final Fantasy XIV. Introduced as a special assignment, Extremoth takes all the challenging aspects of its regular counterpart and amplifies them to an unprecedented degree. Its immense power, complex mechanics, and unforgiving nature ensure that only the most skilled and coordinated hunting parties stand a chance of taking it down.
Why Extremoth Stands Alone
Extreme Behemoth's difficulty stems from a combination of factors that demand precision, strategic planning, and exceptional teamwork. Unlike many other monsters that can be soloed with enough practice, Extremoth is designed as a multiplayer encounter, pushing the limits of cooperative play.
Here's a breakdown of its key challenges:
| Challenge Aspect | Specifics of Extreme Behemoth's Difficulty |
|---|---|
| Damage Output | Possesses extremely high attack power, capable of one-shotting even well-geared hunters. |
| Health Pool | Features an enormous health bar, requiring sustained and efficient damage throughout the fight. |
| Unique Mechanics | Ecliptic Meteor: An instant-kill attack that forces hunters to take cover behind a comet or perform a perfectly timed "Dragon Jump" emote. Fail to do so, and it's an automatic cart. Charybdis: Creates powerful, persistent wind vortexes that hinder movement and can separate the team. Aether Gigaflare: A devastating, wide-area attack that also requires specific positioning or evasion. |
| Team Coordination | Demands specific roles (e.g., a "tank" to maintain aggro, damage dealers, and support/healers) and synchronized actions to manage its mechanics effectively. |
| Time Limit | The hunt often comes with a tight time limit, adding pressure and demanding efficient execution of strategies. |
| Limited Resources | Hunters have a finite number of Farcasters and may struggle to restock supplies due to the intense combat pace. |
Strategies for Conquering Extremoth
Facing Extreme Behemoth requires meticulous preparation and execution. Here are some practical insights for hunters aiming to overcome this monumental challenge:
- Role Assignment: Before the hunt, establish roles within your four-player team. A designated "Tank" (often using a Lance or Gunlance with Guard Up) is crucial for holding Behemoth's aggro using the "Enmity" mechanic.
- Communication is Key: Constant communication is vital, especially for calling out Charybdis placements and warning about Ecliptic Meteor.
- Master the Ecliptic Meteor: This is the primary cause of hunt failures. Pay close attention to Behemoth's cues and the environment. Position yourself behind comets dropped during the fight, or practice the "Dragon Jump" emote for emergency evasion.
- Health and Defense: Max out your health (Health Boost 3) and consider defensive skills like Divine Blessing, Evade Window/Extender, and more importantly, skills to resist stun or blight.
- Elemental Weakness: Behemoth is moderately weak to Dragon and Water elements, so optimize your weapons accordingly.
- Environmental Awareness: Utilize the environment to your advantage. Lead Behemoth into areas with falling stalactites to deal extra damage or trigger knockdowns.
Successfully hunting Extreme Behemoth is considered one of the ultimate achievements in Monster Hunter: World, a testament to a hunter's skill, patience, and ability to work as part of a cohesive team. For more information on Monster Hunter: World's most formidable challenges, you can refer to insights from the Green Man Gaming Blog.
