The Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Velkhana is the face of this cold expansion. Not only is it a visually stunning creature; it’s also an incredibly powerful one, and can command ice in a way that no other monster can. Alongside its deadly spear-like tail, it also breathes freezing air, can cause chunks of ice to form above you and crush you, and can also change the landscape itself with its icy blasts. You’re going to need to be prepared to beat down this cool creature, and that’s where we come in.
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Velkhana behaviour and traits
Velkhana uses its immense power to control and bend the icy elements to its will. Its attacks can be broadly split between its normal form and its enraged or powered-up form. The former has Velkhana looking almost sweet, while the latter has it coating itself in powerful ice armour and spikes. In the latter form it attacks more often and can even do completely different attacks like summoning giant ice crystals out of thin air. It’s not to be underestimated.
Velkhana attacks and strategy tips
You will fight against Velkhana multiple times over the course of the Iceborne story. The first time will have it purely in its normal form. This is the easiest fight by far and serves as a good primer on how to fight it later on. While it can fly into the air it only tends to do so for specific attacks. These are firing an ice beam across the stage, a spinning tail sweep, and a tail stab with a surprisingly long range. On the ground, it tends to stick to a straight-firing ice beam, or quick stabs with its lance-like tail.
After this fight you’ll have to repel it. This involves fighting against the powered-up form, but only for long enough to satisfy the mission requirements. It has access to most of its new attacks, which include hovering in the air and breathing ice straight down, which cause ice crystals to appear all around it. It can also now shoot its frozen beam in a sweeping motion, so you have to get behind it or dodge through it. Finally, it can do a couple of attacks that cause ice crystals to form above you and fall upon you, stay on the move and these will miss you. After you’ve dealt a certain amount of damage you’ll have to load up a special gun and fire it to end the fight.
You’ll then have to face it for real in Hoarfrost Reach. This time it has access to all of its moves, but you’ll have to genuinely beat it. If you don’t bring a weapon with Elderseal then you can expect to fight it in its powered-up form for most of the fight. The final arena you fight it in is quite small, so you have to be especially wary of the ice walls it can create as well as the AoE attacks. No matter which form it is in, it’s weak to Fire, Thunder, Dragon, and Water, so make sure you’re well equipped. It’s also very vulnerable to Blast attacks, if you prefer to attack in a more flashy manner.
Looking for more help with the new DLC monsters? Then check out our complete Monster Hunter World: Iceborne monsters guide, or pick up some general tips from our video below:
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