When you ask players what excites them most about the Monster Hunter franchise, many will point to the thrill of creating new gear from materials collected during their hunts. Every hunter knows the satisfaction of finally completing a full armor set and matching weapon after repeatedly tracking the same monster.

Since the earliest entries in the series, Monster Hunter equipment has followed a core concept: defeat legendary beasts and harness their strength by crafting gear from their remains. Players overcome mighty monsters through their own skill, then adopt those creatures' unique abilities to become even more powerful.

In an IGN interview, Monster Hunter Wilds Executive Director and Art Director Kaname Fujioka discusses the philosophy behind the series' equipment design. "Although our design scope has expanded over time, we initially adhered to the concept that wearing Rathalos armor should make you resemble Rathalos." The upcoming title introduces several new monsters, each contributing vibrant gear designs. Take Rompopolo, for instance—a monster inspired by the mad scientist archetype—which features distinctive head armor modeled after a plague doctor's mask. You can see the full armor set in the hunt footage below.

Among all these striking monster-themed sets, the developers emphasize that players should pay particular attention to the various starter pieces their hunter begins the adventure wearing.

"I personally redesigned the starting weapons for all 14 weapon categories from the ground up," Fujioka reveals. "To my recollection, this is the first time I've undertaken such a task. In previous games, players started as novice hunters, so it made sense for them to wield rudimentary, simple weapons. However, since your character in Wilds is an accomplished hunter chosen for a special mission, equipping plain gear wouldn't feel appropriate. I wanted even your initial equipment to convey a sense of prestige, as if you're already a recognized expert."

Monster Hunter Wilds Director Yuya Tokuda adds, "It's worth noting that weapon designs in Monster Hunter: World generally maintained a consistent silhouette but incorporated customizations based on the monster materials used. In Wilds, however, every weapon features a completely distinct visual design."

These starting weapons were conceived to reflect your character's background as a seasoned hunter selected to explore the Forbidden Lands. Tokuda notes that the starting armor similarly benefits from meticulous creative attention to align with the narrative.

"The initial armor in this game is named the Hope series," he explains. "Its design is so sleek and compelling that I believe players could confidently use it through the entire game without it ever seeming out of place."

Crafted in a rich emerald green, the complete Hope set forms a unified hooded long coat ensemble. Fujioka elaborates that achieving this cohesive look presented unique challenges, as each individual piece needed to function independently while contributing to a seamless overall appearance.

"We've actually devoted more attention to the Hope series than to any other equipment in the game," Fujioka admits. "Earlier titles featured separate upper and lower body armor pieces, and technical constraints prevented us from rendering them as a continuous garment like a coat. Due to gameplay systems and asset management, we previously had to treat each component as an independent element. This time, I was determined to realize a flowing, unified hooded coat design. We accomplished this by dedicating substantial development resources to the concept. Naturally, players will discover numerous equipment variations as they progress, and we encourage experimentation with different weapons. That's why we aimed for the Hope series to project an understated elegance—visually distinctive without being overwhelmingly flashy."

Beginning your journey with gear that has received such thoughtful creative investment is a rare privilege. These 14 starting weapons and the Hope armor series have been meticulously designed to embody the appearance of equipment worthy of an elite hunter. We eagerly anticipate examining every intricate detail when the game releases.