Monster Hunter Wilds is already shaping up to be the most ambitious entry the franchise has seen so far, achieving an even greater level of scale and immersion thanks to its open-world design. With the return of fan favorites and exciting new monsters to face, it's easy to see why the player count in Wilds' open beta broke records for the series. Even though the beta had its share of performance issues and bugs, Capcom has been open about when it comes to delivering the iconic Monster Hunter experience to Wilds​​.

While Monster Hunter Wilds already has its sights set on the future with its first roap being released, there are still plenty of surprises in store to challenge the most daring hunters. While Monster Hunter Wilds will still retain the same core gameplay that made the series so iconic, Capcom is making several improvements to the gameplay format that might take a little getting used to. With how many new players will be ing alongside veterans in Monster Hunter Wilds, there are plenty of common mistakes that are easy to make even for those more experienced with the franchise.

10 Making New Gear Too Often In The Early Game

High-Rank Investments Tend To Last Much Longer

While it can be tempting to craft every shiny new set of armor or make a bunch of build variations for each weapon, it can result in a lot of wasted time and resources early on. With how fast the early game of Monster Hunter entries can tend to fly by, armor customization becomes more of a necessity as hunts start moving into the high-rank half of Monster Hunter Wilds​​​​​​. Given that the same armor for each monster is found in high-rank with drastically higher stat improvements, high-rank armor variants instantly outclass their low-rank counterparts.

Layered armor has also been confirmed to return at launch in Monster Hunter Wilds, letting players hunt in style while also taking advantage of the gender-unlocked armor variety.

This isn't to say that hunters shouldn't experiment with new builds and fighting styles, but it can become much easier when they have better tools to grind out materials later in the game. The jump between different armor ranks can also make a significant difference in making for a worthwhile upgrade, especially compared to skill-based alternatives at the same level. As a result, it's often more time-saving to progress further into the story before investing in some shiny new armor to withstand the greater threats Wilds has in store.

9 Not Stocking Up On Supplies Before Each Hunt

The Right Gear Can Make Or Break A Successful Mission

Although stocking up on supplies between each hunt can seem like a chore at first, an inventory of useful tools is by far one of the easiest ways to gain a powerful edge over any monster. From stocking up on vital healing supplies, removing powerful statuses, or attacking the monster directly with explosives and traps, using items effectively is a core aspect of the Monster Hunter ​​​​​​experience.

It often becomes a habit to quickly stock up using a premade loadout of supplies before each hunt over time, but with Wilds introducing seamless hunting in its open world, it requires more initiative on the hunter's side not to overlook. No matter how prepared someone can feel going into a hunt, without the right supplies for the challenge they'll be at a significant disadvantage. Given that Wilds has already confirmed the return to another snow-themed biome with the Iceshard Cliffs, items like hot drinks will be especially essential to bear the elements of its inhospitable environments.

8 Forgetting To Farm For Valuable Materials

Giving Players The Tools They Need To Survive In The Wilds

With supplies being an essential part of any hunter's toolkit, gathering the materials used to make them in the first place is a necessary aspect of the Monster Hunter gameplay loop. Thankfully, Monster Hunter Wilds has even made collecting materials easier than ever with its updated slinger mechanics, on top of speeding up the already fast-gathering animations in Monster Hunter World​​​​​​. Rather than walking up to every bug, mushroom, or herb, the hunter can launch out their slinger to grab and collect most materials without having to stop or get off their Seikret.

Rather than going out on expeditions for specific materials, it's often easier to keep an eye out and collect them during hunts, with the minimap being a great way to spot them while on the go or planning a route ahead of time.

Fortunately for hunters, Monster Hunter Wilds will likely feature a material farming mechanic that ively gains certain desired materials over time. These material farms are also a great way to spend the abundance of guild points to speed up the process or multiply their farmed rewards, saving hunters valuable time from having to go out and gather materials themselves.

7 Foregoing Their Palico's Powerful Upgrades

Offering An Unexpected Edge For Combat And Farming

Another aspect that's easy to forget in between climactic battles is ensuring to upgrade the hunter's Palico gear right alongside their own, although this aspect is less important for multiplayer-only hunters. While the armor doesn't make as much of a significant difference as it would a hunter's, the right gear can still go a long way toward improving the effectiveness of Monster Hunter Wilds' trusty feline companions. Palico weapons are also a great way to ively apply powerful debuffs during a fight, letting the hunter take advantage of a sleeping or poised monster without needing to use their own supplies.

On top of cat-sized armor and weaponry, Palicos can be equipped with powerful equipment that can range from trapping monsters, dealing massive amounts of damage, and even healing the hunter more reliably. Some Palico gadgets can also significantly increase the amount of materials gained from slaying monsters, making them a powerful tool when it comes to grinding for a high-value weapon or armor set.

6 Ignoring The Multiplayer Aspect Of Wilds

Multiplayer Can Make All The Difference To The Hunting Experience

With Monster Hunter Wilds set to have the highest player count ever for Capcom, the hunting community will be more active than ever before. While Wilds has no problems with playing solo or experiencing the story without the distraction of other players, the Monster Hunter experience comes alive even more when fighting alongside other players. Although the new multiplayer mechanics might be a bit tricky to figure out at first based on their implementation in the beta, Wilds is aiming to provide a more seamless experience when it comes to hunting alongside friends and ing story-related quests.

The Monster Hunter experience comes alive even more when fighting alongside other players.

Multiplayer can also be a great way to overcome frustrating gameplay barriers, as advice or assistance from online hunters is a great way to overcome the late-game challenges Monster Hunter Wilds' will provide. The 100-player lobbies in Wilds will also provide a much easier time to meet and connect with other players, seamlessly interacting with other hunters in between hunts at the various gathering hubs scattered across each region.

5 Forgetting To Practice Wilds' New Weapon Moves

Monster Hunting Movesets Continue To Evolve Over Time In Wilds

One problem that affects both veteran and beginner hunters alike is not taking advantage of Monster Hunter Wilds' incredibly helpful training room and weapon tutorials. Given that Wilds is reworking and even adding new moves to all fourteen weapons from the franchise, the extra few minutes spent practicing can shave hours off of hunts in the long run.

The training room is also a handy way to experiment with new combos and mechanics debuting in Wilds.

While the training dummy was absent in the first beta, it's making a return in the full release, as Monster Hunter Wilds will offer more customization when it comes to practicing against monster attacks and defense types. The training room is also a handy way to experiment with new combos and mechanics debuting in Wilds, especially when it comes to the countering and clashing moves that have been added to several weapons.

4 Not Utilizing The Environment To Defeat Powerful Monsters

Making Quick Work Of Even The Largest Apex Monsters

Although it can certainly be tempting to battle powerful Elder Dragons and the like with nothing but brute strength, many of Monster Hunter Wilds' various encounters have been designed around interacting with the game world and its hazards. From collapsing crystals, falling boulders, and even unleashing tidal waves, each region in Wilds has its own unique ways of utilizing the environment against its inhabitants. With how downright terrifying some of Wilds' late-game monsters are bound to be, from catastrophe-inducing Elder Dragons to its suspiciously named title monster, environmental hazards can make a world of difference to the success of a hunt.

Even monsters themselves can make use of the environment when fighting hunters, with Balahara creating sand traps to suck in prey or Rey Dau summoning lightning storms to empower its already electrified attacks. Given the monsters themselves already take advantage of Monster Hunter Wilds' environmental mechanics, it's only fair that hunters do the same, helping to even the playing field against their powerful opponents.

3 Not Knowing When To Run Away From A Fight

Not Every Battle Can Be Won With An Aggressive Playstyle

Monster Hunter Wilds' addition of clashing mechanics and the wound system rewards a much more aggressive playstyle than previous entries, being able to stagger and completely deflect attacks with well-timed moves. While it can be tempting to ignore a monster's incoming attack to finish off a high-damage-dealing combo, knowing when to commit to an attack or reposition is the mark of a veteran hunter. While Wilds' hitbox improvements will prevent unfair damage from monsters, it also means there's potentially less room for error when it comes to evading barrages of deadly attacks from monsters like Arkveld.

The Dive-Evade ability can be activated by simply running away from a monster and rolling while not holding a weapon.

Although most attacks can be dodged or blocked with varying levels of ease, some attacks from stronger monsters are best avoided by sheathing the hunter's weapon and making use of a well-timed dive-evade. The dive-evade itself is one of the most useful mechanics in Monster Hunter, granting the hunter complete invulnerability for around three seconds in length. Sometimes it's even better to make use of a well-timed Flash Pod or utilize the hunter's Ghille Mantle to slip away for a time, whether it's to heal up and sharpen or return to camp to restock on low supplies.

2 Ignoring The Advantage Of Powerful Status Effects

The Right Items Can Quickly Turn The Tide Of Battle

While taking the time out of a hunt to set down poisonous food or swap out a status-inducing weapon can be hard to justify at first, its effects on the damage output of a hunt can offer surprisingly worthwhile rewards. From poisoning monsters, paralyzing them, or putting them to sleep, there are plenty of ways to speed up a battle without simply upgrading the hunters' weaponry. Even without bringing supplies or crafting weapons to inflict status effects, each region of the Wilds is filled with various status-effect toads and materials just waiting to be unleashed upon any nearby monsters.

Equipping a Palico with a sleep or paralysis weapon is also a great way to apply consistent debuffs without much effort on behalf of the hunter.

Once a monster has been put to sleep, it's the perfect time to spend sharpening weapons, using healing items, and setting down some explosive Barrel Bomb for some extra damage. The best way to wake up a sleeping monster is with a hit from a powerful single-strike attack like a fully charged Greatsword swing or Gunlance explosion, due to the sleeping damage modifier. Hunters will need to be careful, however, as even the smallest amount of damage will wake up a monster instantly, often causing frustration for their teammates.

1 Forgetting To Eat A Proper Meal Before Hunting

Offering Powerful Buffs With Lasting Benefits

By far the most common and impactful mistake that can plague both new and veteran hunters alike, is simply forgetting to make a healthy meal before going out to hunt. Not only does a well-cooked meal boost the hunter's maximum health and stamina gauges, but it also provides some valuable buffs depending on the materials used. While the recommended meal choice is often the most optimal, providing strong attack or defense buffs, some fights can be made much less frustrating with resistance against specific status effects or elemental hazards.

Experimenting with ingredients can unlock new recipes, ranging from increasing attack damage, defense, elemental resistance, faster sharpening, mounting speed, and even offering an extra life.

Monster Hunter Wilds even makes eating less intrusive than ever by incorporating meal-making into the portable grill station, which was previously only ever used to prepare steaks. Rather than having to fast-travel back to a temporary camp or gathering hub, hunters can simply eat on the go as they need to in Wilds, being especially handy if their buffs run out in the middle of a hunt. With Monster Hunter Wilds' aim to streamline the hunting experience, it can be easy to forget common mistakes along the way, making for practices to turn into habits as early as possible.