Unveiling Monster Hunter Wilds' Innovative Weapon Crafting and Relic Acquisition System

Monster Hunter Wilds: A Focus on Starting Equipment

Many Monster Hunter players cite crafting equipment from hunted monsters as a key source of enjoyment. The satisfaction of a complete armor set and matching weapon, earned through persistent hunting, is a series staple. This equipment design philosophy – harnessing monster power through crafted gear – has been central to the series since its inception. Players overcome powerful beasts, then incorporate their abilities to become even stronger.

In an IGN interview, Executive Director and Art Director Kaname Fujioka discussed this design concept: "While the range of our designs has now grown broader, we used to be very conscious of the kind of idea that if you're wearing Rathalos' equipment, you'll look like Rathalos." Wilds introduces new monsters and their unique equipment, such as Rompopolo's plague doctor-esque head armor.

However, the developers emphasize the significance of the starting equipment. Fujioka states, "I designed the starting weapons for all 14 weapon types from scratch…Until now, players would begin the game as a new hunter, and so they would tend to start with truly primitive and simple weapons. But as the protagonist is a chosen hunter in this game, it actually wouldn't feel right for them to be carrying a plain weapon. I wanted to make it feel like you're a bit of a star, even when you're only carrying starting equipment."

Director Yuya Tokuda adds, “Incidentally, weapon designs in Monster Hunter: World generally retained a certain form, but they featured a customized appearance based on which monster materials were used. However, in Wilds, each weapon has its own unique design.” This reflects the narrative: the player is an experienced hunter tasked with investigating the Forbidden Lands. The starting armor, the "Hope" series, is equally detailed and story-aligned.

The Hope set, a deep emerald green hooded long coat, presented unique design challenges. Fujioka explains, "We've actually given more attention to the Hope series than any other equipment in this game…I wanted to see if we could make a single flowing hooded coat. We made that happen in this game by investing a lot of in-game resources into it." While encouraging exploration of diverse equipment, the Hope set offers stylish, understated quality.

The considerable effort invested in the 14 starting weapons and the Hope armor aims to establish the player character as a seasoned, impressive hunter from the outset. The game's attention to detail in this initial equipment is noteworthy.