Monster Hunter Wilds has introduced new and exciting mechanics to the beloved franchise, enhancing the way players engage with their equipment. Crafting powerful weapons, strategically adding decorations, upgrading talismans, and carrying secondary weapons are some of the key features players can utilize to tackle tougher monsters.
One of the standout features of Monster Hunter Wilds is the Artian weapons, which offer players flexibility like never before. Following the defeat of their first Tempered monster, players gain access to crafting these unique weapons. Artian weapons allow for customization; as one report emphasizes, "Artian Weapons are craftable weapons... you can choose how much damage it does, how much Affinity it has, and what type of elemental damage it deals." This modular approach means players can tailor their weapons to fit their preferred playstyle, deciding how they deal damage and their elemental properties.
To craft Artian weapons, players need to gather Weapon Shards—Blades, Discs, and Tubes—by hunting Tempered monsters. At Gemma's Smithy, players can choose to forge their desired weapon by selecting the types and amount of parts they want to use. The crafting process requires careful consideration of elemental types and infusion effects, as the resulting weapon's effectiveness will be influenced by the parts selected. This innovative option means every Artian weapon can be unique to the player who wields it.
Once equipped, all Artian weapons begin at Rarity 6. Higher-rarity weapons become available later, incentivizing continued Monster hunting as players explore the expansive world of Wilds. They also have the option to reinforce their Artian weapons using rare ores like Oricalcite, which can be obtained from the Everforge. Reinforcing offers players additional enhancements to their weapon stats: "as you Reinforce your Artian Weapon, it will randomly get bonuses to its Attack, Affinity, Sharpness, Element, or Defense stats." This aspect of weapon management encourages players to engage deeply with the crafting systems.
Moving beyond weapons, players can also significantly boost their armor and weapon performance through decorations. Decorations are small enhancements added to gear to yield either minor or major stat boosts, facilitating greater survivability and effectiveness against larger monsters. Players can start collecting and applying these once they complete the main quest 'The Faithful Keepers' around Chapter 3. To apply decorations, players can consult Gemma and choose the 'Change Equipment' option on the Smithy menu. The prompt instructs players to navigate to 'Edit Decorations' to commence the process.
When it’s time to apply decorations, individuals must carefully select the appropriate piece of equipment and choose which slot they want to use for the decoration. Confirming this action locks the decoration to the armor or weapon, giving players more power to strategize for battles against powerful foes. Lots of players find decorations indispensable, as they can greatly manage effectiveness across different fights.
Not to be left out of the mix, talismans serve as another layer of character enhancement. Talismans, unlocked early on during Chapter 2's main quests, provide players with buffs to specific stats like recovery rates or attack damage. It’s highly advantageous for players to dedicate time to upgrading these accessories, especially as they prepare for more challenging encounters.
Upgrading talismans relies on visiting Gemma at the Smithy and selecting the 'Forge/Upgrade Talisman' option. Here, players can explore existing talismans, checking material requirements and upgrade costs for each. Players are then able to confirm if they have the necessary materials before proceeding with the upgrade. This simple yet detailed process ensures players are not just crafting and equipping, but are also continuously improving their gear for the battles to come.
Lastly, Monster Hunter Wilds has introduced secondary weapons for players to carry, offering diverse combat strategies during hunts. Equipped at the Smithy, players can select their secondary weapon from the 'Change Equipment' menu. To switch from their primary weapon to the secondary one mid-battle, players will need to mount their Seikret first. They must manage to press right on the D-pad (for controller users) or the 'X' key for those using keyboard and mouse setups. This change introduces new dynamics to combat but also requires players to familiarize themselves with timing as they may face interruptions if hit during the switch.
All these features culminate to create a more complex and engaging gameplay experience within Monster Hunter Wilds. The blend of crafting, upgrading, and strategic planning reflects the essence of the franchise, allowing adventurers to become more formidable hunter as they face and conquer increasingly challenging foes.