Capcom’s hugely successful Monster Hunter: World is filled to the brim with thriving ecosystems. It’s an addictive game that invites you to completely invest in grinding to get the perfect weapon or armor. But the game launched just over a year ago, and the story wasn’t exactly the great American novel. The Zorah Magdaros storyline fizzles away at the halfway point, and before you know it, the end is upon you. There have been festivals to introduce new quests, but now we’re receiving an update that will grant us a brand new location, and plenty of new features! Here’s the rundown on everything we know about the Iceborne expansion.

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A Whole New World

The new location is called “Hoarfrost Reach," which is evidently going to be the largest area yet. Given the update's straightforward name, there is definitely an emphasis on the cold. The local monsters have features which are designed to combat it, and you will have to follow suit. Just like the Elder’s Recess lava requires Cold Drinks, you’re going to need Hot Drinks and the Hot Peppers to make them. Otherwise, be on the lookout for naturally-formed hot springs. After completing the end of the game's story, this location will allow you to continue new events that follow. The expansion will also make changes to existing areas. Recall the first time the Bazelgeuse just started wrecking house, everywhere.

Returning Favorites

To start with, the Popo is adorable, and somewhat reminiscent of Appa in Avatar: The Last Airbender. These herbivores are famously docile, but apparently the males protect their young. If you didn’t have enough of diseased bats with the Paolumu, the Nargacuga is back! Preferring dark places, it also resembles a panther, and its signature tail is going to be exciting to see in action with the impressive graphics Monster Hunter: World has established. Then, of course, there is Tigrex. It’s a fan favorite, due to his known aggression and raw strength, despite bearing no element. These three monsters were all introduced in the second generation of Monster Hunter, a popular entry, and Tigrex was one of the first major threats.

New Monsters

Monster Hunter: World always populates its locations with loads of endemic life, which bolster the immersion of the game. Many of which can also be claimed as pets! It’ll be exciting to see what’s new out there for your room. But there’s some new stars on the red carpet. Beotodus appears to be the Jyuratodus of the new location, and can cut through frozen soil. Banbaro is similar to a Duramboros, from the third generation. Apparently, it uses antlers to throw things around. Then, there’s a brand new Elder Dragon—Velkhana. It appears to simply be a jacked Legiana, but Capcom promises there will be a twist on its icy powers.

Raider Rides

One of the more satisfying features of a hunt is the ability to mount the enemy, and poking them until they topple to the ground. Moving around its torso, and using the grappling hook to swing back on, when the monster bucks you off. Now, feel free to jump on the back of a monster for a leisurely ride! Apparently, you can direct an available monster to follow tracks, or even to carry you towards a specified destination. This should prove useful, since fast travel can only fly you between camps. You will also be able to grab items, and even shoot your slinger during the ride.

Master Rank

Monster Hunter doesn’t really require players to level up. Hunter Rank has only been necessary to move the story along, but the true grind has been the pursuit of new armor. So that you can survive stronger monsters. Then, killing dozens of them, in order to survive even stronger monsters. Well, get ready to do it all over again. Just like the first time you hit High Rank, there is another rank to grind, which of course adds countless hours of gameplay for those who’ve become bored with Elder Dragons. Essentially, this new rank is the equivalent of the classic G-Rank, in older installments.

Clutch Claw

Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how perfect your jump is—you won't get the mount. Even if you climbed upwards for minutes before leaping, and timed your strike with supreme accuracy. With the Clutch Claw, you will be allowed to create combos with any other weapon, and it allows you to latch onto the target. In fact, it can even be used to steer the monster around. This can be very effective, or potentially disastrous, if you have fellow hunters with you that have no idea which way you’re going to swing the animal. Given its innate abilities, the Clutch Claw will improve the pace of the game, as you will be able to keep up with fleeing monsters.

Flinch Shot

Sometimes, the slinger isn’t always the most useful tool. Stone and Redpit never did much for anyone, and Brightmoss never seems to blind the monster quite like you would prefer, no matter how many times you hit them square in the face. Not to mention the volatile effect of Flash Pods, which seem to work at strange times, then fail when it should obviously work. Maybe someone can resolve this with a mod. In any case, the new Flinch Shot will allow you to fire all of your ammo at once, which can even allow you to lure the monster right into a trap.

View Mode

This new mode will give players the freedom to wield a camera. It may not seem like a big deal, but it isn’t just a selfie stick. It will also allow players the opportunity to really absorb the artistry of their surroundings, and given that this is the largest area yet, there will be plenty of vistas to soak in. This is a feature that’s used heavily in Assassins Creed, a series that’s hinged on people’s fascination with the expansive setting. This is a welcome addition to Monster Hunter, since cooperative gamers have always enjoyed making memories together.

Seliana

Let’s face it, Astera's tiered structure isn’t exactly a welcome layout. However, Hoarfrost Reach will establish a new headquarters called Seliana. Fortunately, Capcom promises that they focused on accessibility with its design. Easy accessibility is a crucial function, given that you’re very likely going to spend more time preparing for a hunt than actually killing anything. Capcom mentions that the housekeeper has a booth just outside your room now, but hopefully that’s an additional presence. The new base will also feature plenty of facilities, such as the Ecological Research Center. This is very useful when investigating new monsters, so you won’t have to go back to Astera to update the new info that determines how you approach your next hunt.

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Steamworks

It seems that Seliana is powered by the area’s geothermal energy, and will consequently require fuel in order to create steam. This new feature is called “Steamworks” and it’s a very interesting dynamic that will ultimately add to the immersive feel of the environment. It will also allow you to acquire new rewards in exchange for items and ore, although it will automatically fill after quests—much like a harvest, or the progression of Tailraider Safaris and Argosy visits. You can even get fuel points from a new mini-game, where you will need to guess button combos to win rewards. Monster Hunter hasn’t offered something like this before; at least, not outside of lugging your poogie around in search of hidden clothes.

NEXT: Monster Hunter: World's Iceborne Expansion Arrives In September