Monster Hunter Wilds Developers Considering Adding A New Weapon Type
15th Weapon Type Not Off The Table
The Monster Hunter series, a staple in action RPG gaming, has long been celebrated for its diverse arsenal of weapons. However, the lineup has remained unchanged since the introduction of the Insect Glaive in Monster Hunter 4 over a decade ago. In a recent interview with PCGamesN on February 16, 2025, Monster Hunter Wilds Director Yuya Tokuda discussed the potential addition of a new weapon type to the series.
Monster Hunter Wilds will offer players a choice of 14 weapon types, a selection that has not evolved since Monster Hunter 4. Tokuda expressed the development team's ongoing interest in introducing a new weapon, stating, "It’s not off the table for any particular reason, it’s just that we never really decided that we wanted to for the recent titles." He highlighted the challenge in designing a new weapon that complements the existing lineup without overlapping functionalities. "With each title, we always adjust all the weapon types and perhaps introduce new concepts to them and their interactions with each other to keep them feeling fresh. We also add new depth with new combos and moves. The resources and time required for these adjustments have, in every case since the last weapon was added, been deemed better spent on enhancing the entire lineup rather than adding a new weapon."
Capcom On Tweaking Weapons For Monster Hunter Wilds
Capcom's commitment to innovation is evident in their approach to Monster Hunter Wilds. The team has introduced new mechanics like Focus Mode and Power Clash to refine the gameplay experience. Tokuda emphasized the importance of balancing innovation with maintaining the core identity of each weapon, stating, "We don’t want to change anything so drastically that it doesn’t feel like that weapon anymore."
Discussing the weapon balancing process, Tokuda explained, "We have a concept in mind for each title where we think, ‘This is how the Insect Glaive will feel, this is how the Great Sword will feel.’ That’s just a concept, though – you can design it and test it, but it’s really only when the players get it in their hands that you can see if the concept matches the reality and they’re having the experience you thought they would have."
Regarding specific adjustments for Monster Hunter Wilds, Tokuda noted the challenges following Iceborne, an expansion that added significant complexity to weapon mechanics. "With the weapons in Wilds, one particularly difficult balancing decision was with the predecessor title being Iceborne, a lot of things were added to each weapon’s upper echelons of moves and abilities, because it was an expansion and was adding in the master rank difficulty level. People who were playing a given weapon in Iceborne were assumed to have mastered the basics and it was going beyond that with adding new combos and moves and abilities."
Monster Hunter Wilds aims to be a fresh start, with Tokuda carefully considering each weapon's role in the new game. "That was something that I took a lot of care to decide – not just to keep things because players liked it in the last game, but [ask if] it actually fits in with my concept for the play feel of this game."
Monster Hunter Now x Monster Hunter Wilds Collaboration Event Phase 2
The collaboration between Monster Hunter Now and Monster Hunter Wilds continues with the announcement of Phase 2 of their event, set to kick off on February 28, 2025. This event will introduce Chatacabra to Monster Hunter Now and offer players the chance to acquire 12 Hope weapons from Monster Hunter Wilds. Additionally, two new layered armors – the Hope armor style and a Seikret mount-themed armor – will be available.
Players of Monster Hunter Now can also earn vouchers for Monster Hunter Wilds items by completing limited-time quests, including Mega Potion, Dust of Life, Energy Drink, Well-done Steak, and Dash Juice. These vouchers can be redeemed on any platform where Monster Hunter Wilds is played.
During a press briefing for Season 5 on February 18, 2025, Niantic Senior Producer Sakae Osumi expressed enthusiasm for future collaborations, stating, "This is the beginning of the collaboration between Monster Hunter Wilds and Monster Hunter Now, and we are planning to do more down the road. I would like to get more monsters from Wilds. We will work on it closely with Capcom."
Monster Hunter Wilds is set to launch on February 28, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for the latest updates on this highly anticipated title by checking out our dedicated article below!
