Monster Hunter Wilds guide: all the monster strategies and multiplayer explainers you need

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Get prepped for Low Rank, High Rank, and beyond.

Monster Hunter Wilds' blacksmith Gemma
(Image credit: Capcom)
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Gather round and grab a bite of our fresh-from-the-grill Monster Hunter Wilds guide. Every hunter worth their salted steak knows to do a little preparation before the fight, and we've rounded up everything we learned from a collective hundreds of hours playing ahead of launch to send you off buffed and geared up.

Any series that's been around 20 years is bound to get into the weeds, but Monster Hunter is no small fry of inscrutable systems—this is one of the big'uns. There's a lot to know about weapons, gear, the clunky multiplayer system, and more as you pack your seikret's saddlebags for the Forbidden Lands.

Monster Hunter Wilds basics

In Monster Hunter Wilds, a hunter triumphantly holds aloft a slab of perfectly-grilled steak.

(Image credit: Capcom)
Gearing up

Here's just the quick tips on how to get started in Monster Hunter Wilds, from gameplay to cross-play, to the beta rewards you may be able to claim.

Monster Hunter Wilds tips: Get our 7 starter tips for both new hunters and veterans looking to reorient themselves on a new hunt

Monster Hunter Wilds multiplayer: Learn your lobbies from your SOS flares and how to link up with friends for a hunt

Monster Hunter Wilds best PC settings: How to get the best out of your specs

Monster Hunter Wilds roadmap: Find out what's planned for title updates after launch

Monster Hunter Wilds beta rewards: Which beta rewards carry over to the full launch

Systems to know

Monster Hunter is always dense with partially explained systems, so get up to speed on how things work with these guides to the basics.

MH Wilds: Cooking: How to rustle up grub on the go or back at the camp

MH Wilds: Pop up camps: Take a break in the field with your camp away from camp

MH Wilds: Change time or season: Control your conditions to find the monsters or critters you need

MH Wilds: Change appearance: If you need a new hairstyle or a Palico redo, you can do that

MH Wilds: Palico upgrades: Buff your cat companion with new battle abilities

MH Wilds: Seikret customization: Deck out your ride with cooler cosmetics

Monster guides

Monster Hunter Wilds' Rey Dau

(Image credit: Capcom)
Monster Mash

Get the field guide for taking down the monsters you'll need to fight throughout the campaign.

Monster Hunter Wilds monster list: All the new and returning monsters confirmed for Wilds

MH Wilds Chatacabra guide: Don't get a tongue lashing from the big amphibian

MH Wilds Doshaguma guide: How to dominate the pack of shaggy beasts

MH Wilds Rey Dau guide: How to evade getting struck by the lightning wyvern

MH Wilds: Ajarakan guide: One smoldering ape

MH Wilds Lala Barina guide: The awful arachnid

MH Wilds: Black Flame guide: All lit up

MH Wilds Gypceros guide: Take down the poison-spitting big bird

MH Wilds Arkveld guide: Beat the clock to kill the legendary white wyvern

MH Wilds Jin Dahaad guide: Overpowering force

Monster Hunter Wilds weapons and armor

A female Hunter wields a giant, bagpipe-shaped Hunting Horn.

(Image credit: Capcom)
Best weapon builds

Your weapon is the heart of your build, so get our tips on how to pick the right kit and upgrade it as you play.

MH Wilds Long Sword builds: Samurai style

MH Wilds Switch Axe builds: The double-duty axe

MH Wilds Sword and Shield builds: A classic kit

MH Wilds Charge Blade builds: Sword and shield, but harder

MH Wilds Gunlance builds: The triple-threat shoot, stab, and shield

MH Wilds Dual Blades builds: For high mobility hack and slash

MH Wilds Great Sword builds: Big sword strats

MH Wilds Bow builds: Step and shoot

MH Wilds Light Bowgun builds: Ranged and dangerous

MH Wilds Heavy Bowgun builds: The heavy artillery

MH Wilds Hammer builds: For smashing instead of slashing

MH Wilds Lance builds: Carry (the biggest) stick

MH Wilds Hunting Horn builds: For those who doot

MH Wilds Insect Glaive builds: The killer from above

Armor up

Gear and fashion combine in our armor guides where we'll go over how to upgrade your stats and lock in your look.

MH Wilds: Best armor: The best sets to craft

MH Wilds: Secret armor sets: High Rank threads

MH Wilds: Armor spheres: Reinforce your gear

MH Wilds: Layered armor: Unlocking fashion and dyes

MH Wilds: Armorcharm and Powercharm: High rank buffs

MH Wilds: Artian weapons: Endgame equipment

Monster Hunter Wilds resources and collectibles

Monster Hunter Wilds - Where to find light crystals

(Image credit: Capcom)
Ore and more

When it comes time for collecting resources for upgrades, get the locations of the ores and parts you'll need.

MH Wilds: Lightcrystal: Frozen stones

MH Wilds: Firestone: Fiery stones

MH Wilds: Sharp fang: Pulling monster teeth

MH Wilds: Aqua sac: Get your water weapon materials

MH Wilds: Monster fluid: Extract the juice

MH Wilds: Novacrystal: A rare ore

MH Wilds: Fucium ore: High rank rocks

MH Wilds: Gracium: Nice ice

MH Wilds: Ancient wyvern coin: Fund your item trades

Endemic life

Get the field notes on tracking down the bugs, lizards, fish, and all the other creatures you'll need to complete those endemic life quets.

MH Wilds: Dapperwing: Bird spotting

MH Wilds: Tracktail lizard: Sandy sorts

MH Wilds: Goldenfish: Cave dweller catch

MH Wilds: Speartuna Fin: The pointiest fish

MH Wilds: Whopper: The fish, not the burger

MH Wilds: Gravid Bowfin: A rare fish spawn

MH Wilds: Ember Ruffizard: Lava lizard locale

MH Wilds: Rime beetle: A snowy beetle

MH Wilds: Gillopod: Camouflage creatures

MH Wilds: Sandstar: A tricky nocturnal catch

MH Wilds: Grand Escunite: The final fish

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Lauren Morton
Lauren Morton
Associate Editor

Lauren has been writing for PC Gamer since she went hunting for the cryptid Dark Souls fashion police in 2017. She accepted her role as Associate Editor in 2021, now serving as self-appointed chief cozy games and farmlife sim enjoyer. Her career originally began in game development and she remains fascinated by how games tick in the modding and speedrunning scenes. She likes long fantasy books, longer RPGs, can't stop playing co-op survival crafting games, and has spent a number of hours she refuses to count building houses in The Sims games for over 20 years.

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