A monstrous shadow slithers through the Oilspring Basin, leaving only scorched earth and terrified prey in its wake. In Monster Hunter Wilds, tracking down the elusive Black Flame-known to veterans as Nu Udra-becomes your most cryptic challenge yet, with nothing but fleeting glimpses of writhing tentacles and a trail of mysterious clues to guide your hunt through the game’s most dangerous depths. Are you ready to follow the signs and confront the apex predator that even the fiercest monsters fear?
So far in Wilds, you’ve only had to hop on your Seikret and ride to be taken directly to the monster for a story mission. But to find the Black Flame, you’ll have to pull from a gameplay loop from previous Monster Hunter titles: You’ll need to search for signs of the Black Flame’s passage to pick up its scent and track it. In this Monster Hunter Wilds guide, we’ll show you how to find the “Black Flame” monster.
How to find the Black Flame in Monster Hunter Wilds
To find the Black Flame monster in Monster Hunter Wilds, begin the “Long Forgotten Flame” quest, which appears near the end of the second chapter. Unlike previous hunts, the Black Flame does not have a direct waypoint. Start by preparing your gear-bring plenty of healing items and equip Fire Resistant armor. From your base in the Oilwell Basin, head to Area 7 on the map, which is north of the hub area. There, look for clues such as tar excretions, half-digested food, or oilmucus on the ground; these will be highlighted by your scoutflies. Investigate these clues to trigger your scoutflies to track the monster, which will then appear on your map. Set a waypoint to the Black Flame’s location-usually found in Area 15, deep in the lower part of the Basin-and use your mount to travel directly to it for the ensuing boss fight.
Once you’ve finished preparing for this fight, head down the ramp to the right of the Everforge. Pay attention to what your green glowing scoutflies detect. In the list of discoverable items that appears on the left side of your screen, you’ll start to see things that seem more like evidence of a large beast’s passage. We found “half-digested food” in Area 7 of the map, which can be investigated with the B button. That’s your first clue.
Moving on farther down the path and deeper in to the basin, we found “tar excretions,” the next piece of the investigation. After scooping those up, the monster icon and distance counter appeared on-screen, allowing our Seikret to follow the scoutfly trail directly down to the bottom of the fiery basin. (The Black Flame appeared in Area 14, but that seems to vary from person to person.)
Before you rush in, make sure to note the route down to the Black Flame is full of useful items for this this particular fight. Grab some Watermoss, which converts into Puddle Pod projectiles for your slinger. And Chillshrooms will auto-craft into Cold Drink, which can help prevent extra stamina loss in the extra-hot climate.
How to beat the Black Flame in Monster Hunter Wilds
To beat the Black Flame (Nu Udra) in Monster Hunter Wilds, preparation is crucial. Equip yourself with armor that has high fire resistance-Ajarakan armor is a strong choice-and bring plenty of healing items, Cool Drinks to counteract the heat, and Nulberries to cure fireblight. The Black Flame is especially weak to water-based attacks, with its mouth being the most vulnerable spot, though this can be difficult to target consistently. Focus on using water-elemental weapons and Puddle Pods, which you can craft from Watermoss found in the area. If you struggle to hit the mouth, attacking the arms is effective, as they are breakable and can help create openings. Shock Traps and Pitfall Traps work well to immobilize the monster, giving you more opportunities to deal damage. Watch for its fiery enraged state, when its attacks become more dangerous and it starts hurling fiery bombs-evade these and use Cool Drinks to mitigate the burning status. By preparing properly and exploiting its elemental weaknesses, you can overcome the Black Flame’s challenging moveset and emerge victorious.
You never learn the real monster name of the Black Flame until after you kill it and speak to the villagers at Azuz. Even its parts during the first carve appear as “??? scale.” But it’s actually the Nu Udra, the apex predator of the Oilspring Basin.
This fire-spewing squid monster can be a challenging fight, and we actually have a full guide on its weaknesses (hint: it hates water!) and the patterns of attacks, as well as what parts it drops. Check out our full Nu Udra guide for all the combat tips. After defeating Nu Udra, you’ll progress to Hunter Rank 5.
What secret clues lead to finding the Black Flame in Wilds
Secret Clues to Finding the Black Flame in Monster Hunter Wilds
Key Environmental Clues:
-
Tar Excretions/Oilmucus: The primary clue to the Black Flame’s whereabouts is a patch of tar excretions found on the ground in Area 7 of the Oilwell Basin. Examining this substance, identified as Oilmucus, signals that you are on the right track to finding the monster.
-
Half-Digested Food: In some playthroughs, players report discovering “half-digested food” in Area 7, which can also be investigated as a sign of the Black Flame’s presence.
How the Clues Work:
-
Once you interact with either the tar excretions or half-digested food, your scoutflies will react and start tracking the monster, updating your map with a marker labeled as “???”.
-
After picking up the clue, set a waypoint on the new marker and mount your Seikret. This will guide you directly to Area 15, where the Black Flame is hiding and ready for battle.
Additional Hints:
-
The quest does not provide a direct marker initially, requiring you to rely on environmental investigation and your scoutflies to proceed.
-
Setting up a camp in Area 9 is recommended for preparation and as a checkpoint before facing the Black Flame in Area 15.
Summary Table of Clues and Actions
| Clue Location | Clue Type | Action to Take | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area 7 | Tar Excretions/Oilmucus | Examine the clue | Scoutflies track Black Flame |
| Area 7 | Half-Digested Food | Investigate with B button | Scoutflies update monster marker |
| Area 15 | – | Follow scoutflies/waypoint | Encounter Black Flame |
These clues are essential for progressing the “Long Forgotten Flame” quest and unlocking the battle with the Black Flame monster.
What specific clues like tar excretions reveal the Black Flame’s location
Specific Clues That Reveal the Black Flame’s Location
Several environmental clues in Monster Hunter Wilds directly lead to the Black Flame’s hiding spot:
-
Tar Excretions (Oilmucus): In Area 7 of the Oilspring Basin, you’ll find black tar excretions on the ground. These appear as a puddle that glows when your scoutflies approach. Examining this clue identifies it as Oilmucus belonging to the mysterious “???” monster-the Black Flame.
-
Half-Digested Food: In some playthroughs, instead of tar excretions, you may encounter “half-digested food” in Area 7. This item can be investigated and serves the same purpose as the tar excretions: it’s a sign of the Black Flame’s recent presence.
-
Scoutfly Reaction: Your scoutflies will highlight these clues and add them to your on-screen item list. Once you examine either clue, your scoutflies will update your map with a marker for the Black Flame, allowing you to set a waypoint and follow the trail to its lair, typically in Area 15.
These clues are randomized between tar excretions and half-digested food, but both reliably trigger the next step in tracking down the Black Flame.
