Monster Hunter Wilds combat overview: Focus Mode, weapon states, and more explained

Capcom recently released a string of videos alongside an updated description on the official Monster Hunter Wilds website. The videos go over some of the basic combat mechanics that you can expect to see in the next generation of Monster Hunter games. They also came with a brief overlook of the Great Sword, which seems to have received a slight overhaul compared to its appearance in the last two Monster Hunter titles.

Judging from the short gameplay trailers, it seems Monster Hunter Wilds retains a majority of the combat mechanics from Monster Hunter World and also Rise, but iterates upon them, making them much more newcomer-friendly. The biggest new reveal is that of the "Focus Mode," which gives you more control over attacks, among a few other things.

Here's a rundown of everything you need to know about Monster Hunter Wilds' combat system, including the Focus Mode, weapon states, and more.

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Monster Hunter Wilds' combat basics explained

Focus Mode and Focus Strike

The combat system in Monster Hunter Wilds seems to retain most of what worked in Monster Hunter World as well as Rise, with some minor tweaks. The animations seem to be almost identical to those in World, at least based on the most recent gameplay footage. The Great Sword's moveset seems unchanged, with the only major new addition being the Focus Mode.

The Focus Mode essentially gives you much more control over your attacks, and also a reticle to more precisely aim at specific weak points on monsters. It also aids in directing your attack or guard in a specific direction without having to manually turn.

Basically, if you engage the Focus Mode and aim the camera directly in the opposite direction, you can press attack and the Hunter will land the hit in the direction of the reticle. This is a very welcome change, especially for newcomers. Additionally, the Focus Mode also comes with Focus Strike, which is a special attack that every weapon has access to.

The Focus Strike is basically a short burst of powerful attack that you can use to deal a ton of damage to monsters, or use it as a way to wound or stagger them.

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Weapon states and the Slinger

Weapon states make a return in Monster Hunter Wilds, and much like the previous entries, will play a crucial role in combat. The weapon state essentially defines whether you have your weapon sheathed or unsheathed, with each having its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Naturally, if your weapon is sheathed, you won't be able to attack.

However, in the sheathed state, your movement isn't compromised and you can also heal or use potions. Whereas, in the unsheathed (drawn) state, your movement is severely limited. With your weapon drawn, you can only dodge attacks by rolling, and if you want to heal, you will have to use the sheathed state.

Additionally, the Slinger from Monster Hunter World is making a return as well. Its function in Monster Hunter Wilds seems to be the same as it was in the previous title. However, this time around, you can also collect resources in the wild using the Slinger, which is a great new addition.

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This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of Monster Hunter Wilds' combat system. Over the next few months, until the scheduled 2025 release, Capcom will be revealing more information on the game as well as its many returning and new features.