Monster Hunter Wildsmay be opening the door for the series' ranged weapons to receive a major resurgence thanks to new mechanics. While ranged weapons have always been valid options, they come with downsides that can make them feel like a more niche choice at times.Monster Hunter Wildscould be on the verge of reversing that if the changes to the gameplay formula are as impactful as they seem. Many weapons will probably see a plethora of new options, butMonster Hunter Wilds' ranged weapons could come out as major winners once the game comes out.
The selection ofweapon types inMonster Hunteris a big part of the series' design. The games give players plenty of weapons to forge, all belonging to one of the game’s 14 weapon classes. Unlike most RPGs, the player can swap between weapons freely between hunts rather than sticking with one for the whole game, although players can choose to do so if they wish. Different weapons will call for different hunting strategies. The available weapon classes include:
Monster Hunter Wilds' Seikrets Could Change The Flow of Ranged Combat
Monster Hunter’s Ranged Weapons Prioritize Distance Over Maneuverability
The bowguns and Bow make upMonster Hunter’s selection of ranged weapons, and their main perks are obvious. They let players keep their distance while dealing damage, hopefully keeping them out of harm’s way. This does come with a downside, though. Despite their long-distance advantage, ranged weapons tend to be some of the least mobile, either slowing or stopping the player when attacking, especially in the case of the Heavy Bowgun. This can be dangerous against a lot of monsters who either have their own ranged attacks, or can react fast enough to land a hit, adding considerable risk to the weapons.
Monster Hunter Wilds' Seikrets Remove Ranged Weapons' Biggest Shortcoming
Monster Hunter Wildscould be removing ranged weapons' biggest weakness.Monster Hunter Wilds' new mount, the Seikret, looks set to bring a new dimension to gameplay. In addition to being very agile when the player is riding them, the Seikret can mounted and dismounted quickly in the middle of a hunt. More importantly, unlike the Palamutes fromMonster Hunter Rise, the player can use their weapon while riding on a Seikret. This includes the ranged weapons, giving players the chance to fire on the move, which could completely change the strategy for ranged weapons, and potentially make them a far more powerful option.
Bows and Bowguns Could See Far More Use in Monster Hunter Wilds
Firing weapons while riding a Seikret could be a game-changing ability. The newmovement options inMonster Hunter Wildsprovided by the Seikrets could practically make a Bow or Bowgun-using player into a mobile turret. While mounted combat will likely limit some parts of the weapon’s moveset, ranged weapons will still keep their advantage of fighting from a distance. By getting good at shooting on the run, players may be able to outmaneuver plenty ofMonster Hunter Wilds' monsters. While it’s too early to say for sure, mounted combat could be one of the biggest improvements to ranged weapons in the series.
It seems thatMonster Hunter Wildscould be very kind to the series' ranged weapons. In addition toMonster Hunter Wilds' weapon-swapping mechanic, being able to fire while riding a Seikret gives Bowguns and Bows some greatly appreciated options. What has been revealed about the new mechanics seems to point towards an emphasis on versatility and maneuverability. Both of these are a major boon for ranged weapons inMonster Hunter. With any luck,Monster Hunter Wildscould lead to the strongest versions of the series' Bows and Bowguns yet.
Monster Hunter Wilds
WHERE TO PLAY
The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next. This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.
