Become zombified in the event quest ‘Return of the Bioweapon’
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne and Resident Evil 2 have entered an unholy union, and I’m extremely here for it. It’s a gift. The limited-time in-game event runs until December 5, 2019 for Master Rank players who are MR20 or higher and can hold their own against an extra-nasty Blackveil Vaal Hazak.
Along with a zombie-themed event quest and a chance to dress up like Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield, Iceborne players can also spruce up their rooms with a classic typewriter and item box.
Heck, you can even throw on soothing Resident Evil Save Room music.
First things first, though: that event quest. It’s called RE: Return of the Bioweapon. Your initial instinct might be to bulk up on effluvia countermeasures but, as the intro screen warns, there’s a twist.
“In this quest, instead of being afflicted with effluvium, you’ll become zombified if you’re hit by an effluvium-based attack. This also means that effluvium-resistant skills are neglected.”
Zombification has pros and cons. In this state, you won’t react to damage, your health will auto-recover in areas with effluvium, and you’ll be immune to acid pools. That’s all well and good. But while you’re a zombie, you’ll also shamble around, lose the dodge/evade ability, and most items can’t be used.
To un-zombify yourself, you’ll want to use Green Herbs – not to be confused with the normal green-colored herbs – which have sprung up throughout Rotten Vale. In a nice little extra nod, you can scrounge for Red Herbs and combine them with Green Herbs for a more potent recovery item.
The fight against Blackveil Vaal Hazak is otherwise business as usual. In other words: don’t be afraid to leap. I’d advise bringing a Cleanser Booster along to make life easy when he starts getting spammy.
In exchange for beating Return of the Bioweapon, you’ll earn a new type of crafting item, the S.T.A.R.S. Badge, which you can use to make the fancy new Resident Evil 2-themed gear.
Be sure to chat up the Housekeeper back in Seliana afterward. You’ll get two zombie gestures and a pair of delivery quests: Type to Save Your Life and Good Ol’ Item Box. You can then turn these quests in at the Resource Center – they require one S.T.A.R.S. Badge each – to get a typewriter and item box for your room. You should! There are home decorations like blood-soaked rugs and a Mr. Raccoon doll, too.
If you’re into pendants (who isn’t?), you can spend your S.T.A.R.S. Badges to craft pendants that resemble the R.P.D. badge, the Umbrella logo, and Tofu. It wiggles. I mean it really, truly wiggles. I love it!
Lastly, the crossover includes Resident Evil 2 armor sets. They’re a bit too uncanny for me, but if you appreciate the novelty, here’s what you’ll need to craft the Leon and Claire outfits in Iceborne:
Leon α+
- S.T.A.R.S. Badge (x6)
- Pure Dragon Blood (x3)
- Shadowpierce Fang (x2)
- Deathweaver Membrane (x2)
Claire α+
- S.T.A.R.S. Badge (x6)
- Pure Dragon Blood (x3)
- Vaal Hazak Fellwing (x2)
- Deathweaver Membrane (x2)
The unsettling Mr. X costume for the handler is a paid add-on. Its usage should be outlawed.
