Beginner & New Player Guide for Monster Hunter Wilds

Set in the vast Forbidden Lands, Monster Hunter Wilds comes with new dynamic ecosystems, powerful monsters, and deeper combat mechanics than ever before. If you are new to the series (or even if you have played World or Rise), there is a lot to take in. From choosing your first weapon to understanding armor skills and hunting strategies, this guide will go over everything you need to get started.

The first thing you will do in Monster Hunter Wilds is create your hunter. Character customization is extensive, so take your time, because your hunter’s look will stick with you throughout your journey. And while you can change some of your appearance later on in the game, not everything can be redone easily. The body type you choose can only be changed with a Character Edit Voucher. If you would rather not spend money on it, make sure to pick the one you are comfortable with from the start.

Once you are in the game, your HUD (Heads-Up Display) will give you key info at all times. Here is what to keep an eye on:

• Hunter Rank (HR): This determines your progression in the game. You can check it from the pause menu or at your camp. Higher ranks unlock stronger monsters, better gear, and more quests.
• Party Members (Co-Op): If you are hunting in multiplayer, your teammates’ status will appear on the left side of your screen.
• Health & Stamina Bars: Health depletes from monster attacks, while stamina is used for dodging, running, and special attacks.
• Sharpness Bar: Displayed underneath the stamina bar. If you are using a melee weapon, keep this in check; low sharpness means weaker attacks. Use a Whetstone to restore it.
• Mini-Map: Always visible on-screen, it shows monster locations, gathering spots, and quest markers.
• Ammunition & Coating: Visible for hunters using a range or bow weapon. Keep an eye on the lower-right side of your screen to make sure you use the right ammo/coating for your hunt.
• Items & Quick Bar: Manage your inventory; always carry potions, food, traps, and crafting materials.

Additionally, you will also see other things on your HUD, such as the day/night/weather cycles, monster status, item you have equipped, your current quest, and the number of remaining slinger ammo you have left. Familiarize yourself with the HUD and respective quick-access shortcuts of your controller or keybind so you have an easier time while you are out adventuring.

Monster Hunter Wilds lets you carry two weapons at all times, a first for the series. You can swap between them during hunts, which opens up new combat possibilities.

• Where to Choose Your Weapon: You can select weapons at your camp, smithy, or before a hunt. Test them out in the Training Area to find what works best.
• How to Switch Weapons Mid-Hunt: While mounted on your Seikret, you can swap between your primary and secondary weapon. This allows you to adapt to different monster weaknesses on the go.

With 14 different weapons, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, you can try them all in the Training Area. And keep in mind: You can carry two weapons, allowing you to switch mid-hunt based on the situation.

• Great Sword: Heavy, high-damage weapon with charged attacks.
• Long Sword: Fast, fluid attacks with a spirit gauge that enhances damage.
• Dual Blades: Extremely fast, mobile, and capable of entering Demon Mode for speed boosts.
• Sword and Shield: Balanced mix of attack and defense; allows item use without sheathing.
• Charge Blade: Can switch between sword/shield and axe mode for explosive elemental attacks.
• Switch Axe: Similar to Charge Blade but swaps between axe and sword forms.
• Lance: High defense weapon with powerful counterattacks.
• Gunlance: A lance with explosive shells for high burst damage.
• Hammer: Blunt weapon ideal for stunning monsters with charged attacks.
• Hunting Horn: Provides buffs to yourself and allies while dealing blunt damage.
• Insect Glaive: Allows aerial combat and uses a Kinsect to extract buffs from monsters.
• Bow: A ranged weapon with different arrow coatings for elemental/status effects.
• Light Bowgun: Quick and versatile firearm with special ammo types.
• Heavy Bowgun: Slower than the LBG but deals high damage and has defensive capabilities.

Not all weapons are equally beginner-friendly. Here are three great choices if you are just starting out:

• Sword and Shield: – Great mix of offense and defense, with fast attacks and quick item use.
• Long Sword: – Balanced damage and mobility, with smooth combo attacks.
• Great Sword: – Slow but hits hard and teaches you how to time your attacks properly.

More advanced weapons like the Insect Glaive, Charge Blade, and Bowguns are fun but have an even steeper learning curve.

For a full breakdown of all weapons, check out our Weapon Hub. And if you just want to see the overall rankings of weapons at at-a-glance, check out our Tier List.

Armor is more than just defense in Monster Hunter Wilds: it determines your resistances and combat skills. You can customize your playstyle by equipping armor with skills that provide buffs and various other improvements.

Armor is divided into five slots:

• Headgear (Helm): Grants resistances and buffs.
• Chest Armor (Mail): Provides overall defense.
• Armguards (Vambraces): Often improve weapon-related skills.
• Waist Armor (Coil/Belt): Boosts stamina or elemental defenses.
• Leg Armor (Greaves/Boots): Helps with movement.

Each piece of armor comes with unique skills, so mix and match pieces instead of just wearing full sets.

Unlike typical RPGs, skills in Monster Hunter are not tied to leveling up; they come from your armor and charms. Here are some important ones:

Offensive Skills (Boost Attack & Damage)

• Attack Boost: Increases raw attack power.
• Critical Eye: Improves critical hit chance.
• Weakness Exploit: Boosts damage when hitting weak spots.
• Focus: Reduces charge time for weapons like Great Sword and Charge Blade.

Defensive Skills (Improve Survivability)

• Health Boost: Increases max HP.
• Defense Boost: Raises overall defense.
• Divine Blessing: Occasionally reduces damage taken.
• Earplugs: Prevents monster roars from interrupting you.

Elemental & Status Resistance Skills

• Elemental Resistances: Reduces fire, water, thunder, ice, or dragon damage.
• Blight Resistance: Reduces or negates elemental blights.
• Poison/Paralysis/Stun Resistance: Lowers or nullifies monster-inflicted status effects.

Utility & Stamina Management Skills

• Evade Extender: Increases dodge roll distance.
• Marathon Runner: Slows stamina depletion when sprinting.
• Stamina Surge: Increases stamina regeneration speed.
• Recovery Up: Enhances healing from potions.

Knowing which skills benefit your weapon is very important! If you are using a Great Sword, for example, you will want Focus (charge speed) and Attack Boost. Experiment with different armor sets to find a balance between offense, defense, and utility.

For more details, check out our Armor Hub.

Your Palico is a feline companion that fights alongside you and supports you in battle.

Palico Roles:

• Combat Support: Draws monster attention and deals damage.
• Healing & Buffs: Provides healing effects and buffs.
• Item Gathering: Collects useful resources from the environment.

You can also customize your Palico’s appearance, equipment, and even its voice!

If you want to learn more details regarding your Palico companion, make sure to head over to our Palico Guide!

Monster Hunter is about hunting AND gathering. You need both for crafting potions, upgrading weapons, or setting traps. Gathering materials is just as important as slaying monsters. Collect items from monsters and the environment to make weapons, armor, and consumables.

• Herbs & Honey: Used to craft potions & antidotes and boost their effects.
• Ores, Crystals, and Bones: Needed for forging and upgrading weapons & gear.
• Monster Parts: Carved from slain monsters, used to craft armor and weapons.

Gathering spots are marked on your mini-map. You can also set waypoints so your Seikret mount takes you straight there. Most materials can be found in different regions, so keep an eye on resource nodes, bone piles, and endemic life while exploring.

For additional info, read through our comprehensive Crafting Guide.

Your Seikret is more than just a ride:

• It auto-travels to your next target.
• You can swap weapons while mounted.
• It lets you gather materials and attack without dismounting.

Learn more in our Seikret Guide.

Hunting in Monster Hunter Wilds is about timing, positioning, and knowing your enemy. Here is what to focus on:

• Study Monster Behavior: Watch for attack patterns and weak points.
• Use the Environment: Lure monsters into traps, falling rocks, or quicksand.
• Exploit Weaknesses: Check your Hunter’s Notes to find what elemental damage works best.
• Set Traps & Capture: Capturing monsters instead of slaying them gives extra rewards.

Before starting a hunt, you always want to make sure to be prepared! Camps let you:

• Eat a meal to boost HP, stamina, and get buffs.
• Check your equipment to make sure your weapon is sharpened and your armor is upgraded.
• Stock up on potions, traps, and antidotes.
• Fast Travel between discovered locations.
• Join a party if needed - Multiplayer hunts can be easier and more rewarding.

For camp customization, see our Pop-up Camps Guide.

Let’s go over the basics one more time:

• Track Monsters using footprints, markings, and sound.
• Analyze Behavior: Look for enraged states, weak points, and attack patterns.
• Use the Environment: Rockfalls, traps, and weather can help in battles.
• Capture vs. Kill: Capturing monsters yields better rewards.

Read our Monster Hub for every detail and expert strategies.

Your Hunter Rank (HR) determines the quests you can access and your overall progress. You can check your HR in the Pause Menu, Quest Menu, or Guild Card.

• Complete main story quests.
• Hunt tougher monsters.
• Join multiplayer hunts for bonus HR gains.
• Break Hunter Rank caps through special quests.

Some monsters, especially larger ones, can be easier to defeat when playing in a party. However, it is not very easy to join others or open up a party for friends to jump in. Especially for new players, this process is a bit confusing at first. So here is a quick breakdown:

• You can join Lobbies or create private sessions.
• Use the Rescue Signal (SOS) to call for help.
• Team Synergy: Each weapon complements different playstyles.

See our Co-Op Guide for full details.

Monster Hunter Wilds has plenty more mechanics, and the best way to improve is through practice. However, with all this information, you should have a strong foundation to start your journey.

If you are more of a visual learner, Capcom has also released an official Beginner Guide video, which you can watch here:

Monster Hunter Wilds is all about preparation, learning monster behavior, and improving your skills rather than just stats. So keep practicing, experiment with different weapons, and most importantly: have fun on the hunt!