The ground shakes, your Scoutflies turn a frantic red, and suddenly a massive, pickle-shaped nightmare is trying to chew through your armor. If you’ve played World or Rise, you know that feeling. It's the "Deviljho tax." You're just trying to hunt a Great Jagras, and then he shows up. Since the first reveal of the Forbidden Lands, every veteran hunter has been asking the same thing: Is Deviljho in Monster Hunter Wilds? Honestly, the answer is a bit of a "yes, but wait."
Capcom has been notoriously tight-lipped during the marketing cycle leading into 2026. We've seen the Rey Dau, the Lala Barina, and that terrifying "railgun" wyvern, but the World Eater is still playing hide and seek.
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If we look at the history of the franchise, Deviljho is more than just a monster; he’s a mechanical necessity for the ecosystem. Monster Hunter Wilds is all about "living worlds" and shifting weather patterns. Think about it. The game literally features a mechanic where the environment transitions from a lush "Plenty" phase to a brutal "Fallow" phase. In a world defined by starvation and competition for resources, leaving out the hungriest monster in history would be a weird move.
The Evidence for Deviljho Returning to the Forbidden Lands
Let's get into the weeds of why people think he's a lock. First off, look at the engine. Wilds is built on the RE Engine, which Capcom has now mastered for massive open-scale environments. We saw Deviljho make a seamless transition into Monster Hunter World, and he functioned as the ultimate "invader" monster.
Invaders are monsters that don't belong to a specific locale but roam everywhere to ruin your day. Currently, Wilds has shown us the Balahara and the Doshaguma, both of which travel in packs. But a pack-based ecosystem needs a top-tier solitary predator to keep things interesting.
The "Fallow" period in the Windward Plains is characterized by extreme lightning storms and a total lack of food. This is Deviljho's natural habitat. Not literally the plains, but the concept of "scarcity." A monster that is perpetually starving and capable of eating its own severed tail is the perfect mascot for a game about survival in a harsh, changing climate.
Why he might be a DLC addition instead of base game
There is a catch. Capcom has started a bit of a trend. In World, Deviljho wasn't there on day one. He was the very first major free title update. In Rise, he was skipped entirely in favor of Rajang and Bazelgeuse, only to have his skeleton potentially utilized for other monsters.
If is Deviljho in Monster Hunter Wilds turns out to be a "no" for the launch roster, don't panic. The "Title Update" model is Capcom’s bread and butter. They love dropping a classic fan-favorite two months after launch to bring players back. It’s a smart business move, even if it makes us hunters wait.
Comparing the New Apexes to the Old King
We've seen the Rey Dau, the apex of the Windward Plains. It’s fast, it uses electricity, and it’s clearly the boss of that region. But Deviljho isn't an apex in the traditional sense. He's an anomaly.
- Size Difference: Most new monsters in Wilds seem designed around verticality and herd mechanics.
- The Hunger Factor: Wilds features a complex food chain where monsters hunt each other in real-time. Deviljho’s AI would have a field day here.
- Turf Wars: One of the best parts of the newer games is watching a Rathalos fight an Anjanath. Imagine a Deviljho picking up a Chatacabra like a chew toy.
The Seikret mount mechanic also changes how we interact with invaders. In previous games, if Deviljho showed up, you either fought or used a Dung Pod. Now, you can actually lead monsters into each other while mounted. The tactical potential of "weaponizing" a Deviljho against a difficult target like a Uth Duna is something the developers at Capcom, led by Yuya Tokuda, likely haven't overlooked.
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The Skeleton Argument
In game dev, everything comes down to skeletons (rigs). Deviljho uses a specific bipedal brute wyvern skeleton. We have already seen the Doshaguma and other large-bodied monsters, but we haven't seen a "pure" Brute Wyvern yet in the Wilds trailers. If the skeleton isn't in the game at launch, the chances of Jho being there drop significantly.
However, rumors from the 2024 Tokyo Game Show suggest that several "legacy" rigs are being updated for the new hardware. If Anjanath or Barroth make a surprise appearance, Deviljho is almost a certainty.
What Hunters Want: Savage Deviljho or the Original?
There’s a segment of the community that actually hopes the standard Jho stays home so we can get Savage Deviljho instead. For the uninitiated, the Savage variant is a Deviljho that has been driven even more insane by its own Dragon energy. It’s a permanent state of rage.
Given that Monster Hunter Wilds is leaning into "Extreme Weather," a monster that is literally a walking natural disaster fits the vibe perfectly. Imagine a sandstorm so thick you can't see your hand in front of your face, and then the red glow of Savage Deviljho's breath lights up the dust. That's peak Monster Hunter.
Honestly, the "New World" feel of Wilds suggests that we might get a regional variant. Maybe a "Forbidden Deviljho" that has adapted to the lightning-heavy environment? It’s speculation, sure, but Capcom loves a good twist on an old favorite.
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Strategic Prep: Getting Ready for the Pickle
If the rumors are true and Deviljho is stalking the Forbidden Lands, you need to be ready. He isn't like the other monsters. He's a battle of attrition.
- Dung Pods are Non-Negotiable: You don't want to fight a Deviljho and a Rey Dau at the same time. You just don't.
- Tinged and Drugged Meat: Wilds is placing a huge emphasis on the "Pop-up Camp" and "Field Cooking." This likely means the return of the "lure and trap" gameplay that was sidelined in Rise. Deviljho is the only monster that consistently stops to eat meat in the middle of a fight.
- Dragon Resistance: He’s going to hit you with Dragonblight. In Wilds, where your weapon's elemental damage might be key to breaking a monster's "Clash" state, Dragonblight is a run-killer.
The focus on "Focus Mode" in Wilds—the new mechanic that lets you target specific wounds—will be interesting against Jho. His belly has always been his weak point, but it's hard to hit when he's trying to stomp you into a paste. The new wound system might make the fight more manageable for shorter weapons like the Sword and Shield or Dual Blades.
The Verdict on the Forbidden Lands
Right now, the official word is silence. But "no" doesn't mean "never." The Monster Hunter community has a saying: "If there's a forest, there's a Rathalos. If there's a problem, there's a Deviljho."
The sheer scale of the maps in Wilds—which are reportedly three times the size of those in World—begs for a monster that can cover ground. Deviljho is a wanderer. He’s the guy who walks into your house, eats your dinner, and kicks your cat. In a game about the "unpredictability of nature," he is the most unpredictable element Capcom has.
Check the weapon reveal trailers again. Look at the Great Sword footage. There's a brief moment where you can hear a distant, deep roar that doesn't quite match the monsters we've been introduced to. Is it him? Maybe. Or maybe Capcom is just trolling us. They know we want the Pickle.
How to Stay Updated
Keep an eye on the "Digital Events" Capcom schedules every few months. Usually, they reveal one "returning favorite" right before the demo drops. If we don't see him by the time the Monster Hunter Wilds open beta hits, he's likely a post-launch surprise.
Actionable Insights for Hunters:
- Stockpile Raw Meat: Start practicing your timing with drugged and tinged meats in Monster Hunter World or Rise. Wilds is bringing back the importance of environmental interaction.
- Watch the Weather: Pay attention to the "Fallow" state in trailers. If you see monsters fleeing a specific area without an Apex present, something big is moving in the shadows.
- Master the Seikret: Learn how to switch weapons on the fly. You'll want a heavy-hitting weapon for Jho’s head and something fast to escape his massive AOE breath attacks.
- Monitor Official Capcom Socials: Look for the "Monster Hunter 20th Anniversary" announcements. They often drop hints about returning rosters during these celebrations.
The Forbidden Lands are dangerous, but they'll be a lot more iconic once that familiar theme music starts playing and a giant green chin appears over the horizon.