Capcom has made concerted efforts to make Monster Hunter a more inclusive franchise, and this effort has paid off with the release of Monster Hunter Wilds. The series is more accessible than ever for newcomers, meaning that Monster Hunter Wilds is the perfect entry point, but the challenge of past titles is still somewhat present.
For players who are new to the series, there are some cardinal sins that series veterans have already learned through trial and error. Yet, with the added mechanics and Monster Hunter Wilds’ introduction of new monsters, even seasoned hunters may still have something new to learn.
Monster Hunter Wilds: Where Is The Training Area?
The Training Area in Monster Hunter Wilds is a great place to test out new weapons and builds; here's where to find it and how to customize it.
Monster Hunter Wilds' Seikret Can't Be Treated Like a Standard Mount
Monster Hunter Wilds Players Shouldn't Disregard the Seikret’s Combat Potential
The Seikret is a new addition to Monster Hunter Wilds, acting as the player’s mount. Indeed, players of past games in the series may draw comparisons between the Seikret and Monster Hunter Rise’s Palamute. In the middle of a hunt, players will have to rely on themselves, teammates, and their Palico companions to deal damage to monsters. However, when mounted on the Seikret in Wilds, players can freely use their weapon to attack while moving, which is ideal for dealing damage to evading monsters or staying mobile as a ranged weapon user.
Though these Bird Wyverns are unable to attack, they have incredible utility when on hunts. Monster Hunter Wild’s Seikret shines in a supportive role, giving players the option to move around freely as they eat, drink potions, or sharpen their weapons. Players should not forget to call them when knocked to the ground, too. With one whistle, the Seikret can carry grounded hunters to safety, saving them from oncoming attacks.
Moreover, Monster Hunter Wilds allows players to carry two weapons when out on hunts or expeditions. Long gone are the days when hunters needed to consider the best tool for specific monsters and drops, as players can access their secondary weapon at any time when mounting their Seikret. Where the issue lies, though, is forgetting to switch in combat when an opportunity presents itself.
This sin may be more apt for Monster Hunter experts who are used to only using the weapon they have equipped. Switching out weapons isn’t essential for every hunt, but players who don’t may not be making the most use of their equipment. This is especially true for players who main Monster Hunter's Hunting Horn; by not taking two Hunting Horns with different abilities, players are potentially missing out on a whole weapon’s worth of additional buffs. Considering which tool is right at any given moment could be the difference between quicker quest completion and failure.
Monster Hunter Wilds' Seikret Feels Like a One-Way Road
After Monster Hunter Wilds' Seikret has proven to be one of its most useful features, future games in the series may find it hard to go back on it.
Dismissing Monster Hunter Wilds' Focus Mode is a Big Mistake
Mistaking Monster Hunter's Weapons as Homogeneous or Familiar is Wrong
Monster Hunter has always been home to a diverse range of monsters of different sizes. From the returning Congalala to Monster Hunter’s massive newcomer Jin Dahaad, it can be easy for players to try attacking from any available angle, as they may be accustomed to. That said, this is not ideal, as there are certain areas that players should focus on depending on their weapon type, guaranteeing maximum damage and more drops.
Every hunter has a specific role to play when slaying or capturing these beasts. Typically, Blunt weapon users will want to target a monster’s head because of their knockout properties. Meanwhile, Sever weapons in Monster Hunter can cut off monster tails. For solo hunters, taking one of each weapon type is now possible in Monster Hunter Wilds, leaving no parts uncarved.
The biggest mistake, though, is to treat all monsters the same in this regard. Unaware hunters using the Hammer may want to target the head of every monster they face, but might not know that they can break the Quematrice’s tail without needing a Sever weapon. New players especially need to make sure that they check the Large Monster Field Guide before they embark on a hunt, as this shows breakable and severable areas, as well as identifying any Monster Hunter monster’s specific weakness.
Monster Hunter Wilds Players Would Be Remiss Not to Acknowledge Wounds
Once in position and knowing which parts to target, players are free to unleash a relentless combo of attacks against monsters. After some time, players may notice a red spot appearing on that area of the monster. Continuing to focus damage on this area results in the monster bleeding, as well as the damage numbers changing from a bright yellow to a darker orange. This is Monster Hunter Wilds’ new Wound mechanic, which rewards players for attacking the same areas continuously.
To truly take advantage of these rewards, hunters must use the Focus Mode to perform a Focus Strike, granting certain weapon-specific bonuses, stunning the monster, and closing the Wound in the process.
Some weapons are much better at exploiting these Wounds than others, which is something that can be overlooked in multiplayer. Rather than targeting all Wounds immediately, it’s best to strategize and choose the party member best for the job. Dual Blades users benefit most from attacking Wounds, so it is best to leave the damage to them while other players break and sever parts.
The new mechanics introduced in Monster Hunter Wilds mean there’s a lot to learn for novices and experts alike. Some players may not want to engage with these systems or may forget about them entirely, but this only makes the hunt that much harder. This installment is the most accessible in the series thus far, garnering record-breaking sales for Capcom, and this is mostly because of the added features like the Seikret, weapon swapping, and Wounds. By engaging with these systems, players can expect to raise their Hunter Rank very quickly and avoid pitfalls that others may fall into.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 89 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- RE Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes, all platforms
- Cross Save
- No
- Franchise
- Monster Hunter
- Number of Players
- 1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- February 28, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- February 28, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- February 28, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
