Summary
While it’s still some ways off,Monster Hunter Wildsis confirmed to be on its way. This will be the firstMonster Hunterinstallment launching natively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, and fans are excited about the variety of changes and refinements this title will bring. In particular, the more open environments and dense clusters of wild monsters have clued trailer viewers in on this entry potentially being much different from the series' norm. Complete with a multipurpose mount and the implication of weapon switching,Monster Hunter Wildsshould be worth the wait once 2025 arrives.
Speaking of weapons, fans are already theorizing about how they’ll change in this entry. MainlineMonster Huntertitles have settled on a stable of 14 weapon types sinceMonster Hunter 4launched in 2013, and a decade later, fans are eager to see something new join the roster.Monster Hunter Wildsmay deliver just that, in addition toreworkingMonster Hunter’s existing weapons. There are a lot of directions thatMonster Hunter Wildscould take with introducing weapon classes, but the main thing it needs to focus on is bringing something new to the table.
Retired Monster Hunter Weapons Could Get Another Chance In Wilds
To date, theMonster Hunterfranchise has only employed 18 weapon types, with four lying outside the mainline entries. Medium Bowguns were a one-off experiment inMonster Hunter Tri, while Tonfas and Magnet Spikes wereexclusive toMonster Hunter Frontier, and the Accel Axe was only inMonster Hunter Explore. Returning the Medium Bowgun toMonster Hunter Wilds’ line-up would be interesting, especially if it merged Light and Heavy Bowguns again. The superior customization it offers could serveMonster Hunter Wilds’ potentially longer open-world hunts better than its more specialized brethren.
While the Medium Bowgun brings a compelling twist toMonster Hunter’s ranged gameplay, the excluded melee weapons don’t justify themselves as well. The Accel Axe was designed entirely aroundMonster Hunter Explore’s fast-paced combat, and Magnet Spikes are essentially Switch Axes using a Clutch Claw or Wirebugs to move. Adding these toMonster Hunter Wilds, or even otherMonster Hunter’s likeWorldorRise, would require so many changes to fitMH Wilds’ meta while simultaneously standing out so much that they might as well be made into new weapons. Tonfas, comparatively, would still work inWildsafter streamlining their mechanics, and set a better example for what other new weapon classes ought to strive for.
Monster Hunter Wilds’ Debut Weapons Should Feel Brand-New
Every weapon inMonster Hunterplays distinctly, and serves some kind of role. The Sword and Shield are fast and flexible, Insect Glaives are self-sufficient mobility experts, the Charge Blade builds toward a huge hit, and so on. Introducing Tonfas as a more complex take on fast, close-range weapons like the Dual Blades defines their unique niche, and helps bothMonster Hunter Wildsand future games build movesets around their special attributes.Monster Hunteris able to design weaponsaround almost any concept, so whetherWildsintroduces gauntlets, a whip, a greatshield, or even a weaponized mount, anything can fit as long as it fills a distinct niche.
One of Monster Hunter’s Niches Could Use More Attention In Wilds
One underserved roleMonster Hunter Wildsshould prioritize is the ranged weapons, as they have consisted of Bowguns and Bows for most of the franchise. That was once offset by ranged characters having their own class and equipment, but they lost that uniqueness while being overtaken by melee weapons. IfMonster Hunter Wildsbrings back that melee/ranged split through its weapon switching, giving ranged players more weapon choices would benefit everyone. Any weapons thatMonster Hunter Wildsadds will define the next generation ofMonster Hunter, so it needs to make its choices count.
