Monster Hunter developers face a significant challenge: creating new weapon types for the series. This article delves into the complexities of weapon balancing and reveals details about the upcoming MH Wilds x MH Now collaboration event.

Monster Hunter Wilds Developers Weigh In on a Potential 15th Weapon Type

A Fifteenth Weapon Type Remains a Possibility

For over a decade, Monster Hunter (MH) players have wielded the same fourteen weapon types, the last addition being the Insect Glaive in Monster Hunter 4. In a February 16, 2025 interview with PCGamesN, Monster Hunter Wilds Director Yuya Tokuda discussed the possibility of introducing a new weapon. While the team is interested, the decision hasn't been finalized for recent titles. Tokuda explained, "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."

The difficulty lies in creating a weapon that doesn't overly overlap with existing options. Tokuda elaborated: "With each title, we adjust all weapon types, introducing new concepts and refining their relationships to feel fresh. We add new combos and moves. The resources and time required for this have, since the last weapon addition, been better allocated to improving the existing lineup rather than adding another."

Capcom's Approach to Weapon Refinement in Monster Hunter Wilds

Capcom continues to innovate, enhancing weapons for MH Wilds with features like Focus Mode and Power Clash. While incorporating community feedback from the beta, Tokuda emphasized a commitment to preserving the core feel of each weapon: "We don’t want to change anything so drastically that it doesn’t feel like that weapon anymore."

Weapon balancing across titles is a meticulous process. Tokuda explained their approach: "We have a concept for each title: ‘This is how the Insect Glaive will feel, this is how the Great Sword will feel.’ This is just a concept; design and testing are crucial, but ultimately, player experience determines if the concept matches reality."

Balancing MH Wilds' weapons presented unique challenges, particularly considering Iceborne's additions to existing weapons' advanced moves and abilities. Tokuda stated, "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." However, MH Wilds aims for a fresh start, with a complete overhaul of weapon mechanics. Tokuda stressed, "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 [to 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

Monster Hunter Now's collaboration event with MH Wilds enters Phase 2 on February 28, 2025, to celebrate the upcoming release. This phase introduces the Chatacabra, twelve Hope weapons from MH Wilds, and two new layered armors: a Hope armor style and a Seikret mount-themed armor.

MH Now players can earn vouchers for MH Wilds items (Mega Potion, Dust of Life, Energy Drink, Well-done Steak, and Dash Juice) by completing limited-time quests, redeemable on any platform.

In an February 18, 2025 press briefing for Season 5, Niantic Senior Producer Sakae Osumi hinted at future collaborations: "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 launches February 28, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.