(Image credit: Capcom)
Introduction
Monster Hunter Wilds has redefined the hunting experience with its breathtaking open world, dynamic ecosystems, and challenging monster encounters. As the latest installment in Capcom’s beloved franchise, Wilds introduces revolutionary gameplay mechanics while preserving the core elements that fans have cherished for years.
Whether you’re a veteran hunter or a newcomer to the series, navigating the expansive landscapes and mastering the intricate combat systems can be daunting. This comprehensive guide provides all the essential strategies, monster breakdowns, and multiplayer explanations you need to thrive in the wild new frontier of Monster Hunter.
Getting Started in Monster Hunter Wilds
Understanding the Basics
Monster Hunter Wilds continues the franchise’s tradition of skill-based combat, resource gathering, and equipment crafting. The core gameplay loop involves preparing for hunts, tracking and battling monsters, harvesting materials from defeated creatures, and crafting stronger gear to tackle even more formidable challenges.
What sets Wilds apart from its predecessors is the truly open-world environment, featuring multiple interconnected biomes that exist without loading screens. The dynamic weather system and day-night cycle significantly impact monster behavior and ecosystem interactions, creating a more immersive and unpredictable hunting experience.
Character Creation and Starting Choices
Your adventure begins with a robust character creator that allows for unprecedented customization. While aesthetic choices don’t affect gameplay, your starting weapon selection will significantly impact your early hunting experience:
- Beginner-Friendly Weapons: Sword and Shield, Long Sword, Dual Blades
- Intermediate Weapons: Lance, Hammer, Hunting Horn, Insect Glaive
- Advanced Weapons: Charge Blade, Switch Axe, Gunlance, Heavy Bowgun
Don’t stress too much about your initial selection—you’ll have access to all 14 weapon types after completing the introductory quests.
Early Game Progression Tips
- Complete Tutorial Quests: These missions teach essential mechanics unique to Wilds, including the new traversal systems and environmental interactions.
- Gather Everything: Herbs, honey, mining outcrops, and bone piles are crucial for crafting basic items and early equipment.
- Focus on Armor Skills: Rather than simply choosing the highest defense values, prioritize armor pieces with skills that complement your weapon choice and playstyle.
- Learn Your Weapon’s Wilds Mechanics: Each weapon has received new movesets and mechanics specific to Monster Hunter Wilds. Spend time in the Training Area mastering these additions.
- Utilize the Wildlands Scout: This new companion feature helps identify gathering points, monster tracks, and environmental hazards during expeditions.
Comprehensive Weapon Guides
Monster Hunter Wilds features 14 distinct weapon types, each with unique playstyles, mechanics, and optimal situations. Here’s a breakdown of each weapon’s strengths, key combos, and new Wilds-specific features:
Close-Range Weapons
Sword and Shield
The Sword and Shield retains its reputation as the most versatile weapon, now enhanced with the new “Wild Guard” system. This mechanic allows hunters to perform perfect blocks that empower subsequent attacks with elemental energy.
Key Combos:
- Basic Combo: Triangle → Triangle → Triangle
- Perfect Rush: R2 + Circle (during backstep) → Circle (timed presses)
- Wild Guard Counter: R2 (perfect timing) → Triangle + Circle
Best Used Against: Agile monsters with predictable attack patterns, such as Fleetclaw Spearpouch and Emberback Arzuros.
Dual Blades
Dual Blades excel at delivering rapid hits and elemental damage. The new “Wild Frenzy” state in Wilds increases attack speed and reduces stamina consumption after executing perfect dodges.
Key Combos:
- Demon Mode: R2 (toggle)
- Demon Flurry: Circle (repeatedly during Demon Mode)
- Wild Frenzy Trigger: Triangle + Circle (after perfect dodge)
Best Used Against: Large monsters with exploitable elemental weaknesses, including Thunder Serpent Narwa and Scorching Windcleaver.
Great Sword
The Great Sword continues to deliver massive damage through charged attacks. Wilds introduces the “Wild Charge” system, allowing hunters to store multiple charge levels for devastating combo finishers.
Key Combos:
- Basic Charge: Hold Triangle
- True Charged Slash: Triangle → Triangle → Hold Triangle
- Wild Charge Release: R2 + Triangle (after storing charges)
Best Used Against: Slower monsters with large hitboxes and clear attack windows, such as Tempestail Duraceros and Magma Mogardon.
Mid-Range Weapons
Hammer
The Hammer specializes in dealing blunt damage to monster heads, potentially causing stuns. Wilds adds the “Wild Impact” feature, which creates shockwaves that affect nearby monsters when landing charged attacks.
Key Combos:
- Charge Attacks: Hold R2 + Triangle
- Big Bang Combo: Triangle → Triangle → Triangle → Triangle → Triangle
- Wild Impact Slam: Triangle + Circle (while charging)
Best Used Against: Monsters with vulnerable heads and predictable movements, like Crystal Barroth and Highland Zinogre.
Hunting Horn
The Hunting Horn provides powerful buffs while dealing respectable damage. Monster Hunter Wilds revamps the melody system with “Wild Harmony,” allowing hunters to create environmental effects that enhance team performance.
Key Combos:
- Note Inputs: Triangle, Circle, Triangle + Circle
- Performance: R2 (after inputting notes)
- Wild Harmony Resonance: R2 + Triangle + Circle (with full note gauge)
Best Used Against: Any monster during multiplayer hunts, particularly effective against sound-sensitive creatures like Desert Yian Kut-Ku.
Insect Glaive
The Insect Glaive offers unparalleled aerial mobility and versatility. Wilds introduces “Wild Kinsects,” which can now interact with environmental elements to produce unique effects.
Key Combos:
- Kinsect Extract: L2 + Triangle
- Aerial Vault: R2 + X
- Wild Kinsect Release: L2 + Circle (after gathering environmental essence)
Best Used Against: Flying monsters and creatures with difficult-to-reach weakpoints, such as Storm Astalos and Skyborne Rathian.
Ranged Weapons
Bow
The Bow provides elegant and precise ranged attacks with various coatings for different situations. Wilds adds the “Wild Focus” system, which enhances arrows with environmental energy based on the biome.
Key Combos:
- Rapid Shot: R2
- Dragon Piercer: Hold L2 + Triangle + Circle
- Wild Focus Shot: L2 + R2 (hold in charged state, then release)
Best Used Against: Large monsters with exploitable elemental weaknesses, like Frost Misutsune and Scalding Agnaktor.
Light Bowgun
The Light Bowgun offers mobility and rapid-fire capabilities with various ammunition types. The new “Wild Custom” feature in Wilds allows for on-the-fly modification of ammo properties.
Key Combos:
- Basic Shot: R2
- Wyvernblast: Triangle + Circle
- Wild Custom Mod: Hold L2 + Square (cycles through environmental modifications)
Best Used Against: Fast-moving monsters that require continuous damage, such as Quicksand Barioth and Dune Cephadrome.
Heavy Bowgun
The Heavy Bowgun delivers powerful shots at the cost of mobility. Wilds introduces “Wild Artillery,” which can utilize environmental materials as improvised ammunition with unique effects.
Key Combos:
- Basic Shot: R2
- Wyvernheart/Wyvernsnipe: Triangle + Circle
- Wild Artillery Load: L2 + Square (after gathering environmental materials)
Best Used Against: Large, slow-moving monsters with clear weakpoints, like Behemoth Gravios and Mountain Duramboros.
(Image credit: Capcom)
Complete Monster Encyclopedia and Strategies
Monster Hunter Wilds features over 50 large monsters across various biomes. Here are detailed strategies for some of the most challenging encounters:
Early Game Monsters
Highland Zinogre
This electrified fanged wyvern has adapted to the mountainous regions of Wilds, featuring new lightning-based attacks and increased agility.
Weaknesses: Water (★★★), Ice (★★)
Breakable Parts: Head, Foreleg Claws, Back, Tail
Key Strategies:
- Target the forelegs when Highland Zinogre is charged to temporarily disable its lightning attacks
- Use Water weapons to exploit its primary weakness
- Avoid standing directly in front during its new “Lightning Pounce” attack, which creates multiple aftershock waves
- Break the back to reduce the area of effect of its supercharged state
Recommended Equipment:
- Weapons: Aqua Strikers (Dual Blades), Coral Cannon (Light Bowgun)
- Armor: Alluvial Set (Water Resistance +20)
- Skills: Thunder Resistance, Evade Extender, Wirebug Whisperer
Desert Yian Kut-Ku
This desert-adapted bird wyvern has evolved heat-resistant features and sand-burrowing abilities.
Weaknesses: Water (★★★), Ice (★★)
Breakable Parts: Beak, Ears, Wings, Tail
Key Strategies:
- Target the large ears to prevent it from detecting hunters while burrowed
- Use Sonic Bombs when it’s underground to force it to surface in a vulnerable state
- Avoid its new “Sand Spout” attack, which creates multiple eruptions in a linear pattern
- Break the beak to reduce the effectiveness of its fire breath attacks
Recommended Equipment:
- Weapons: Aquatic Assault (Sword and Shield), Hydro Horn (Hunting Horn)
- Armor: Dune Walker Set (Heat Cancel skill)
- Skills: Heat Resistance, Quick Sheath, Water Attack
Mid-Game Monsters
Magma Mogardon
This massive elder dragon controls volcanic activity and can manipulate lava to create temporary terrain changes.
Weaknesses: Water (★★★), Ice (★★)
Breakable Parts: Horns, Chest Core, Forelegs, Tail
Key Strategies:
- Target the glowing chest core when exposed to deal massive damage
- Use Water weapons to counter its fire-based attacks
- Break the horns to reduce the area of effect of its lava manipulation
- Utilize the cooling pools in the arena to temporarily disable its magma armor
- Watch for environmental cues before its “Volcanic Resurgence” ultimate attack
Recommended Equipment:
- Weapons: Tidal Cleaver (Great Sword), Tsunami Cannon (Heavy Bowgun)
- Armor: Hydro Guardian Set (Heat Cancel+, Fire Resistance +30)
- Skills: Fire Resistance, Heat Guard, Constitution
Tempestail Duraceros
This massive brute wyvern controls storm elements and uses its electrified tail as both weapon and environmental manipulator.
Weaknesses: Dragon (★★★), Water (★★)
Breakable Parts: Horn, Forearms, Back Plates, Tail
Key Strategies:
- Focus attacks on the tail when it’s charged with electricity to disable its most dangerous attacks
- Use Dragon element weapons to exploit its primary weakness
- Break the back plates to reduce its defensive capabilities
- Watch for environmental cues before its “Tempest Surge” ultimate attack
- Utilize the lightning rods in the arena to safely discharge electricity
Recommended Equipment:
- Weapons: Dragon’s Descent (Lance), Abyssal Edge (Long Sword)
- Armor: Storm Breaker Set (Thunder Resistance +30)
- Skills: Thunder Resistance, Guard Up, Evade Window
End-Game Monsters
Scorching Windcleaver
This elder dragon manipulates both wind and fire, creating devastating combination attacks that can quickly overwhelm unprepared hunters.
Weaknesses: Water (★★★), Ice (★★), Dragon (★★)
Breakable Parts: Horns, Wings, Chest, Tail
Key Strategies:
- Target the chest when it’s glowing to interrupt its ultimate attack charge
- Use Water weapons for maximum elemental damage
- Break the wings to reduce the area of effect of its wind-based attacks
- Coordinate with teammates to utilize the water reservoirs in the arena
- Watch for the distinctive roar that precedes its “Inferno Tempest” ultimate attack
Recommended Equipment:
- Weapons: Abyssal Hydra (Switch Axe), Tidal Punishment (Insect Glaive)
- Armor: Leviathan Soul Set (Fire/Wind Resistance +40)
- Skills: Windproof, Heat Guard, Divine Blessing
Thunder Serpent Narwa – Primal Form
The terrifying evolved form of Thunder Serpent Narwa now controls multiple elemental forces and can reshape the entire arena.
Weaknesses: Dragon (★★★), Water (★)
Breakable Parts: Head, Arms, Electric Organs, Tail
Key Strategies:
- Focus attacks on the electric organs when exposed to disable its most devastating attacks
- Use Dragon element weapons for maximum effectiveness
- Coordinate with teammates to trigger the ancient machinery in the arena
- Save Wirebug charges to escape its “Annihilation Sphere” ultimate attack
- Break the head to reduce the effectiveness of its mind-control attacks on smaller monsters
Recommended Equipment:
- Weapons: Extinction Edge (Charge Blade), Dragon Soul (Bow)
- Armor: Ancient Dragon Set (All Elemental Resistance +20)
- Skills: Dragon Attack, Constitution, Divine Blessing, Wirebug Whisperer
Mastering Multiplayer in Monster Hunter Wilds
Understanding Multiplayer Scaling
Monster Hunter Wilds features dynamic difficulty scaling based on the number of players:
- Solo Hunt: Base monster health and damage
- 2 Players: Approximately 1.6x health, 1.2x damage
- 3 Players: Approximately 2.2x health, 1.4x damage
- 4 Players: Approximately 2.6x health, 1.5x damage
The game adjusts these values in real-time as players join or leave, ensuring balanced challenges regardless of party composition changes.
Joining and Hosting Hunts
Wilds offers several ways to engage in multiplayer:
- Expedition Join: Drop into another player’s open-world session seamlessly
- Quest Board: Join specific quest types through the gathering hub
- SOS Flare: Signal for help during an ongoing quest
- Squad Hunts: Organize private sessions with registered friends
The new “Wild Convergence” system allows players to join hunts in progress without disrupting the active hunters, appearing at designated landing zones rather than camps.
Multiplayer Etiquette
Successful group hunts rely on cooperation and courtesy:
- Respect Weapon Positioning:
- Blunt weapons should prioritize the head
- Cutting weapons focus on tails and wings
- Ranged weapons target difficult-to-reach weakpoints
- Mind Your Attacks: Some weapons, particularly Long Sword and Hammer, have wide swings that can interrupt teammates. Use flinch-free skills or position carefully.
- Share Resources: The supply box contains items for everyone—take only your share.
- Coordinate Status Effects: Don’t waste multiple status weapons triggering the same effect simultaneously.
- Communicate: Use auto-translated shoutouts, stickers, or voice chat to coordinate strategies.
Specialized Multiplayer Builds
Support Hunter
Focus on keeping teammates alive and monsters vulnerable:
Recommended Weapons: Hunting Horn, Sword and Shield, Light Bowgun Key Skills: Wide-Range, Free Meal, Speed Eating, Mushroomancer Strategy: Provide healing, buffs, and status support while still contributing damage
Tank Hunter
Draw monster aggression and absorb damage:
Recommended Weapons: Lance, Gunlance, Charge Blade Key Skills: Guard, Guard Up, Offensive Guard, Diversion Strategy: Maintain defensive positioning while countering monster attacks
DPS Hunter
Focus purely on maximizing damage output:
Recommended Weapons: Long Sword, Dual Blades, Bow, Heavy Bowgun Key Skills: Attack Boost, Critical Eye, Weakness Exploit, Agitator Strategy: Target monster weakpoints while avoiding attacks through positioning
Crowd Control Hunter
Keep monsters immobilized and vulnerable:
Recommended Weapons: Hammer, Hunting Horn, Sticky Ammo Bowguns Key Skills: Slugger, Stamina Thief, Status Attack, Partbreaker Strategy: Focus on stunning, exhausting, and creating openings for teammates
Advanced Hunting Techniques
Understanding Hitzone Values
Monster Hunter Wilds features a sophisticated damage system based on hitzone values (HZV). Each part of a monster has different vulnerabilities to various damage types:
- Cut: Slicing damage from bladed weapons
- Impact: Blunt damage from hammers and hunting horns
- Shot: Projectile damage from ranged weapons
- Fire/Water/Thunder/Ice/Dragon: Elemental damage types
Learning these values for each monster is crucial for optimizing damage output. The in-game Hunter’s Notes provide this information after sufficient research levels.
Mastering the Wilds Movement System
Building upon the wirebugs from previous games, Monster Hunter Wilds introduces the “Wild Traverse” system, which combines grappling, gliding, and climbing into a fluid movement experience:
- Wild Grapple: Target specific environmental points or monster parts for strategic repositioning
- Wild Glide: Deploy a wingsuit-like apparatus for covering large distances quickly
- Wild Climb: Scale surfaces with greater freedom than previous games
Mastering these movement options is essential for both combat effectiveness and efficient exploration.
Environmental Interaction
Monster Hunter Wilds features the most interactive environments in the series’ history:
- Terrain Manipulation: Some weapons and tools can alter the landscape temporarily
- Elemental Interactions: Environmental elements react dynamically to both hunter and monster attacks
- Wildlife Utilization: Small creatures can be captured and deployed strategically
- Endemic Life Buffs: Unique creatures provide temporary bonuses when captured
Learning to leverage these environmental factors can significantly impact hunt outcomes.
Understanding and Exploiting Monster Behaviors
Monsters in Wilds display more complex behaviors than ever before:
- Ecosystem Interactions: Monsters interact with each other based on territorial disputes and predator-prey relationships
- Adaptive Strategies: Monsters change tactics based on hunter weapons and attack patterns
- Environmental Adaptation: Creature behaviors change based on weather, time of day, and terrain
- Weakness States: All monsters have specific conditions that create vulnerability windows
Studying these patterns through observation and the Hunter’s Notes is key to efficient hunting.
Gear Progression and Endgame Content
Early to Mid-Game Progression
Focus on these equipment paths for efficient progression:
- Bone Path: Accessible early, provides solid attack values
- Ore Path: Offers better sharpness and slots, but slightly lower attack
- Monster-Specific Paths: Target key early monsters like Highland Zinogre for elemental advantages
Prioritize completing armor sets with beneficial skill combinations over mixed sets until reaching High Rank.
High Rank Optimization
At High Rank, consider these approaches:
- Mixed Set Building: Combine armor pieces from different monsters to maximize skill efficiency
- Decoration Farming: Focus on quests that reward rare decorations for skill customization
- Weapon Branching: Develop multiple weapon types for different monster matchups
The Armor Skill system becomes increasingly important at this stage, with combinations like Weakness Exploit, Critical Boost, and Attack Boost forming the core of most damage-focused builds.
Endgame Activities
Monster Hunter Wilds offers diverse endgame content:
- Anomaly Quests: Face powered-up monsters with unique mechanics and rewards
- Wild Convergence: Special multiplayer raids against superbosses
- Investigation System: Procedurally generated hunts with randomized conditions and rewards
- Arena Challenges: Test your skills in time trials with preset equipment
These activities provide the materials needed for the final tier of equipment augmentation and customization.
Augmentation System
The revamped augmentation system allows for unprecedented equipment customization:
- Stat Augments: Enhance base damage, affinity, or elemental properties
- Skill Augments: Add or upgrade armor skills directly on equipment
- Aesthetic Augments: Modify the appearance of weapons and armor without altering stats
- Special Augments: Unlock unique properties or attacks for specific weapon types
Mastering this system is essential for creating truly optimized builds capable of tackling the most challenging content.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Gameplay Questions
Q: How do I unlock High Rank quests?
A: Complete the “Convergence of Fates” urgent quest after finishing all 6★ village quests or reaching Hunter Rank 4 in the Gathering Hub.
Q: What’s the fastest way to increase Hunter Rank?
A: Focus on completing Hub quests, particularly multi-monster hunts that offer increased rank points.
Q: How does weapon sharpness work in Wilds?
A: Sharpness affects both damage output and the ability to penetrate monster hides. The new sharpness levels in Wilds are: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, White, Purple, and the new Prismatic tier.
Monster-Specific Questions
Q: How do I break Magma Mogardon’s chest core?
A: The core becomes vulnerable only after forcing Mogardon into a cooldown state by using Water weapons or utilizing the cooling pools in the arena.
Q: What’s the best strategy for capturing Thunder Serpent Narwa?
A: Elder Dragons, including Narwa, cannot be captured—they must be slain.
Q: How do I stop Highland Zinogre’s charge?
A: Deal sufficient damage to its forelegs while it’s in a charged state, or use a Flash Pod to temporarily disable it.
Multiplayer Questions
Q: Why can’t my friends join my specific quest?
A: Story quests must be completed individually before players can join others’ hunts. Additionally, players must meet the minimum Hunter Rank requirement for the quest.
Q: How do I prevent being interrupted by other players’ attacks?
A: Incorporate the Flinch Free skill into your build (level 1 prevents most interruptions).
Q: What’s the best way to coordinate with random players?
A: Use the automatic message system to set up predefined communications, or create custom shoutouts for common situations.
Conclusion
Monster Hunter Wilds represents the pinnacle of the franchise’s evolution, combining accessible mechanics for newcomers with deep systems that veterans will appreciate. By mastering the strategies outlined in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to face any challenge the game throws your way.
Remember that Monster Hunter has always been about the journey as much as the destination. Take time to appreciate the breathtaking environments, intricate monster designs, and satisfying combat system that make Wilds a standout gaming experience.
Whether you’re hunting solo or with friends, each encounter offers an opportunity to improve your skills and deepen your understanding of this richly detailed world. Happy hunting!
Updates and Additional Resources
This guide will be updated regularly as new content is released for Monster Hunter Wilds. Check back for information on:
- Upcoming DLC monsters and equipment
- Seasonal event quests and rewards
- Balance changes and meta shifts
- Community-discovered strategies and techniques
For more specific information and build guides, consider exploring our weapon-specific companion guides and monster databases.
