Summary
Monster Hunter Wildsis well on its way, with August 2024 fulfilling its promise of summer info with interest. The next installment of Capcom’sMonster Hunterfranchise promises to bring it into its sixth generation, marking a great shake-up after years spent withMH WorldandRise. An open world looks likeMonster Hunter Wilds’ next destination, though with typical area design sensibilities still intact. All the extra space is being used to makeWilds’ new monstrous ecosystem feel as real as possible, and players will have a proportionately huge number of options for interacting with it.
In the lead-up to the first publicMonster Hunter Wildsdemo available at Gamescom 2024, Capcom has begun releasing trailers breaking down the game’s mechanics and armory. Great Sword and Heavy Bowgun were the first two weapons covered, following up their prominence in prior trailers.MH Wilds’ Focus Mode,which is reminiscent of anMHspin-off, the returning Slinger, and the new Seikret mount, also got some time in the spotlight, but it seems that the countdown until Gamescom Opening Night Live will consist of weapon trailers. WithMonster Hunter Wilds’ combat tools in the spotlight, a clearer picture of the game’s preferred hunting build is also forming.
Monster Hunter Wilds Has Big Weapon Changes In Store
A mixture of new and old elements appears in every part ofMonster Hunter Wilds’ gameplay, from the presence of a primary village that’s directly connected to a hunting map, to the need to break up some monster herds before a standard hunt can occur. One of the most subtle instances of this involves the very weapons every hunter is carrying around, and that doesn’t just meanWilds' latest round of weapon rebalancing. Thanks to Seikret, hunters can dynamically switch between two separate weapons for the first time in the series, and Capcom has already laid out how it expects this system to be used.
Monster Hunter’s Blademasters and Gunners Can Finally Unite
Monster Hunterhas classically featured a split between melee and ranged weapon users, with the two groups feeling almost like they’re from different games. Equipment once separated up-close Blademasters and ranged Gunners, and modernMonster Huntertitles still have significantly different buildsfor each weapon group. While the changes haven’t been revealed yet,Monster Hunter Wildsis reworking its equipment system to accommodate having two potentially different weapons on each hunt, and the main idea driving it seems to be enabling every player to shoot and slash when each would be most convenient.
Monster Hunter Wilds Is Encouraging Up-Close and Distanced Weapon Pairings
With the ability to swap between two weapon types,MH Wilds’ optimal play will probably be to partner a melee weapon like a Great Sword or Hammer with a ranged weapon like a Bow or Bowgun. This likely won’t be required, and players seem free to make builds that use two of the same weapon that are specialized for different damage types. However,Monster Hunter Wilds’ structural changes to hunts and exploration mean that players will often be stuck out in the field for extended periods, and they need to be prepared for whateverMH Wilds’ dynamic weatherand monster behaviors throw at them.
When To Switch Between Melee and Ranged In MH Wilds
Players can swap to a ranged weapon during chases or retreats, which are more involved inMH Wildsthan in previous entries. Bows and Bowguns can be used to create specific wounds, or reach ones in inconvenient places, while melee attacks keep up a battle’s pace. Switching to one ofMonster Hunter Wilds' ranged weaponswould also keep players safe when another monster shows up alongside hostile weather, increasing the likelihood that targets will take damage from several sources at once.Monster Hunter Wildswill probably have lots of times when players are thankful to have a second weapon with them, owing to it being made with the widest range of weapons in mind.
