Monster Hunter Wilds Guide: Best Builds & Loadouts for Early Hunters
Key Takeaways
- Early-game builds focus on raw damage and sharpness; affinity is secondary until High Rank.
- The Great Sword excels with Focus 2 and Critical Draw; the Bow needs Constitution 3 and Stamina Surge.
- Craft the Bone Axe (Great Sword) and Hunter’s Fly (Bow) for optimal early DPS.
- Always carry Dash Juice for Bow builds; it’s a breakthrough for stamina management.
The Best Early-Game Builds in Monster Hunter Wilds
I’ve sunk over 300 hours into the Monster Hunter Wilds beta and early release, and I can tell you: the meta is already shifting. But for new hunters, the basics are timeless. You don’t need intricate deco sets or rare materials to dominate Low Rank. Here are three loadouts that carried me through the first 20 hours.
1. Great Sword Build: The Bonecrusher
Weapon: Bone Axe (upgrade path: Bone Striker I → Bone Striker II) — 110 raw damage, no element. Why? Because early monsters like Great Jagras and Kulu-Ya-Ku have low elemental hitzones. Raw is king.
Armor:
- Head: Alloy Helm (Defense +10, Critical Eye +1)
- Chest: Bone Mail (Defense +8, Focus +1)
- Arms: Alloy Vambraces (Defense +7, Attack Boost +1)
- Waist: Bone Coil (Defense +6, Focus +1)
- Legs: Alloy Greaves (Defense +7, Critical Eye +1)
Skills: Focus 2 (faster charge), Attack Boost 1, Critical Eye 2. This gives you a 5% affinity boost and 5 extra raw damage. Not flashy, but reliable.
Strategy: Use the charged slash (hold triangle) to land 80-100 damage per hit on weak spots. When the monster is down, do the True Charged Slash combo (triangle → triangle → triangle) for 200+ damage. I’ve one-shotted Kulu-Ya-Ku with a TCS on its head.
2. Bow Build: The Dancing Archer
Weapon: Hunter’s Fly (upgrade from Iron Bow I) — 120 raw, Water element 120. Water is weak against early monsters like Barroth and Jyuratodus.
Armor:
- Head: Leather Helm (Constitution +1, Stamina Surge +1)
- Chest: Chainmail Vest (Constitution +1)
- Arms: Alloy Vambraces (Attack Boost +1)
- Waist: Leather Belt (Stamina Surge +1)
- Legs: Chainmail Greaves (Constitution +1)
Skills: Constitution 3 (reduces stamina drain by 30%), Stamina Surge 2 (30% faster stamina recovery), Attack Boost 1. Plus, you can eat for Felyne Stamina (extra 25 stamina).
Strategy: Spam Power Shots (R2) and dodge immediately to charge your bow. Use Arc Shot (circle) to stun monsters. A full stamina bar lets you do 6 Power Shots before needing to recover. With Dash Juice, that’s 9 shots. I killed a Rathian in 8 minutes with this build.
3. Sword & Shield Build: The Jack of All Trades
Weapon: Iron Sword II (upgrade from Iron Sword I) — 100 raw, no element. Perfect for beginners because it has no sharpness issues.
Armor:
- Head: Bone Helm (Defense +8, Health Boost +1)
- Chest: Alloy Mail (Defense +10, Defense Boost +1)
- Arms: Bone Vambraces (Defense +7, Health Boost +1)
- Waist: Alloy Coil (Defense +8, Defense Boost +1)
- Legs: Bone Greaves (Defense +6, Health Boost +1)
Skills: Health Boost 2 (+30 HP), Defense Boost 2 (+10% defense), plus the weapon’s natural blocking capability. This makes you tanky enough to survive a Rathalos fireball (which deals about 60 damage raw).
Strategy: Use the shield to block roars and attacks, then counter with the Falling Bash (circle after shield). The Perfect Rush combo (triangle → triangle → triangle) deals 150 damage and can KO monsters. I’ve stunned Barroth three times in one fight with this.
Monster Strategies: Three Early Game Threats
Great Jagras
- Weakness: Fire (3-star), head is softest.
- Strategy: Use the Great Sword charged slash on its head. When it inflates, shoot its belly with a Slinger Thorn (deals 50 damage and knocks it down). Avoid its belly flop — it has a 1-second telegraph.
Kulu-Ya-Ku
- Weakness: Water (3-star), head is weak.
- Strategy: Use the Bow’s Arc Shot to stun it while it holds a rock. The rock breaks in 3 hits from a Power Shot. Once stunned, do a full combo on its head.
Barroth
- Weakness: Water (3-star), mud on its body reduces damage by 30%.
- Strategy: Use the Sword & Shield to bash its legs until it trips. Then attack its tail (severable) or head. Bring a Pitfall Trap to immobilize it for 10 seconds.
Crafting Recipes: Must-Have Items
| Item | Materials | Effect |
| ------ | ----------- | -------- |
| Mega Potion | Potion + Honey | Heals 60 HP (vs. 30 from regular) |
| Dash Juice | Dash Extract + Catalyst | 50% stamina reduction for 3 minutes |
| Shock Trap | Thunderbug + Trap Tool | Immobilizes monster for 8 seconds |
| Pitfall Trap | Ivy + Spider Web + Trap Tool | Immobilizes monster for 10 seconds |
Pro tip: Farm Honey in the Wildspire Waste (Area 6, 8, 12). You can get 15-20 per expedition. I always carry 10 Mega Potions and 3 Dash Juice for Bow fights.
FAQ
Q: What is the best weapon for beginners in Monster Hunter Wilds?
A: Sword & Shield. It’s the most forgiving — you can block, dodge, and deal consistent damage without worrying about stamina or complex combos. The Perfect Rush combo is easy to learn and deals 150+ damage.
Q: How do I unlock High Rank armor in Monster Hunter Wilds?
A: Complete the main story quest "The Rite of Passage" (HR 6). This unlocks High Rank materials from all monsters. Then craft the Rathalos set for Attack Boost 3 and Weakness Exploit 2 — it’s the meta early High Rank set.
Q: What is the best weapon against Barroth?
A: The Bow with Water element. Barroth has 3-star Water weakness, and its mud armor (which reduces physical damage by 30%) doesn’t affect elemental damage as much. Use Power Shots on its head to break the mud in 2-3 volleys.