Slay it and you’ll earn versatile Awakened weapons
Stygian Zinogre isn’t the only beast lurking in the new title update for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. There’s also a bigger, badder threat – the full-grown adult form of Xeno’jiiva, also known as Safi’jiiva.
Capcom previously teased the new monster, but given its traditional-looking design (a far cry from the glowing alien aesthetic of Xeno’jiiva), I never would’ve put two and two together. It’s official now.
Following in the footsteps of Kulve Taroth, the fight to bring down Safi’jiiva is structured as a “siege” – a multifaceted hunt in which up to 16 players collectively work together for big rewards. Bash on the dragon until it’s on the ropes, watch in horror as it draws energy to heal itself, then repeat the process.
If you manage to slay it, you’ll get a batch of Awakened weapons – one of which will match your currently equipped weapon type – and you’ll take your pick. You can appraise the gear to see the elements/statuses, and from there, you’ll start on a path of “endless” upgrades. In short: each time you upgrade an Awakened weapon, you can choose one of three skills to keep – or you can pass on them to “store potential to increase the odds of getting rarer-level abilities.” They max out at five total skills.
“A fun aspect of this weapon is that you can tailor it to your exact specifications,” explained Monster Hunter World: Iceborne director Daisuke Ichihara. “For example, if you’ve switched up your loadout skills or if a skill you want is a bit different, you can change them all to suit you. Given the flexibility you’re afforded, we think it’ll end up being a lot of hunters’ go-to weapon for the foreseeable future.”
You can get a glimpse of Safi’jiiva right now with a Recon Assignment in the Gathering Hub, but the siege itself is a limited-time event. The first appearance? December 13, 2019 through January 5, 2020.
I’m way more interested in this siege than I ever was in Kulve Taroth. I need those rewards!
