Monster Hunter Wilds’ Focus Mode Has a Lot of Moving Parts to Consider

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 2, 2024 4 Views 6 Min Read
Monster Hunter Wilds' Focus Mode Has a Lot of Moving Parts to Consider



As hype has built throughout months of promotion and a playable beta, it’s become clear that Capcom is confident about the core appeal to the gameplay of Monster Hunter Wilds. Among several innovations, the addition of Focus Mode stands out as a prominent effort to introduce a blend of technical and flashy elements to combat alike. While the ability to aim at specific parts of a monster can essentially redefine the slower weapons of the series, this experimental Monster Hunter Wilds feature has also been shown to impact the rest of the available options through its broader uses.




On top of being able to more precisely aim attacks, every weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds receives a new Focus Strike. These unique skills serve to directly target a monster’s Wound, a new mechanic that can be triggered by repeatedly hitting the same area within Focus Mode. In what is likely to become a major component of typical hunting, a Wound can be destroyed for a burst of damage which rewards usage of the new mode regardless of the weapon being used.

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Bringing New Layers of Positioning to Monster Hunter’s More Simplistic Heavy Weaponry

Diversity in Movesets Apart From Powerful Gimmicks

The dynamic of actions like building up gauges to change states with the Switch Axe have been more nuanced takes on melee combat since inception, but now players can use Monster Hunter Wilds’ Focus Mode on the likes of the Greatsword or Hammer as well to achieve a greater degree of control and inflict Wounds. Even when it comes to those more complex weapons, their Focus Strikes add some depth to their kits by being the only path to Savage Axe mode for Charge Blade and providing an Elemental Discharge Finisher based on the Phial type of given Switch Axe.


Other Focus Strike attacks in Monster Hunter Wilds include:

  • Greatsword: Perforate – Dragging slash that can hit multiple Wounds
  • Hunting Horn: Reverb – Slamming attack that allows five notes to be played
  • Lance: Victory Thrust – Shield bash that can lead into a charge attack
  • Gunlance: Drake Auger – Drilling attack that launches a Wyrmstake shot

Focus Mode is Deepening the Potential for Technical Play Among Monster Hunter Wilds’ Entire Arsenal

Greater Degrees of Control Over Evasion for Fast Weapons

Quicker, high DPS options like Dual Blades or Sword and Shield in Monster Hunter already thrive on agility, but Focus Mode is able to complement them by adding more precision to their chaotic flurries. Using the feature allows players to reposition themselves during combos like the Dual Blades’ Demon Flurry while still facing the target, making for a more fluid form of defense. In terms of expanded offense, there are skills like Dual Blades’ Focus Strike, Turning Tide, basically just a new take on the classic midair Heavenly Blade Dance attack which also now targets specific Wounds. Similarly, the Insect Glaive’s Leaping Strike sees the player aiming directly at a Wound while also collecting an extract, condensing the gameplay of the weapon while once again offering more mobility.


Ranged Weapons Have Already Set the Tone for Focus Mode

Due to already having aiming as part of their default controls, the Bowguns have instead been fitted with simpler Focus Blast attacks that are intended to strike at Wounds. The Bow, on the other hand, takes full advantage of this feature through synergy with its new Tracer shots. Through Focus Fire: Hailstorm, Bow users can send out a barrage of arrows that home in on a monster with a Wound or Tracer shot embedded in them, making it one of the most changed weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds.

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