Summary
- RealCaptainSteel crafted a life-sized, transforming Switch Axe prop from Monster Hunter with a homemade flamethrower.
- The prop is based on Teostra’s Arx and able to switch between Axe and Blade forms.
- Fellow Monster Hunter fans praised the design accuracy and encouraged more ambitious Monster Hunter cosplay from RealCaptainSteel.
A clever and creative Monster Hunter fan has used their crafting skills to create a real-life physical replica of one of the game’s more complex weapons, the Switch Axe. First introduced in the Wii Monster Hunter title, Monster Hunter Tri, the Switch Axe has made an appearance in nearly every other franchise title since, including the newest entry, Monster Hunter Wilds.
As one of the most popular Capcom series of all time, Monster Hunter and its many entries have influenced entire generations of players over the years. That influence is owed largely to their unique, evocative blend of high-skill combat with an over-the-top aesthetic. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Monster Hunter series’ arsenal of weapons and equipment. Nearly every Monster Hunter weapon is beautifully exaggerated, with animations and weapon designs both synergizing to provide a “hyper-real” sensation, whether a hunter is fighting using a familiar-looking Sword and Shield or wielding a mechanically complex, physically unwieldy tool like a Charge Blade or Insect Glaive.
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One Monster Hunter fan going by RealCaptainSteel has opted to demonstrate that enhanced sense of scale and complexity by creating their own “real” Switch Axe. In a video shared on the Monster Hunter subreddit, RealCaptainSteel demonstrated a life-sized Switch Axe prop, complete with its own transforming parts. The prop even has the ability to pull off Zero Sum Discharge, a key ability for many Monster Hunter World builds using the Switch Axe.
Real-Life Monster Hunter Switch Axe Prop Uses Flamethrower for Zero Sum Discharge
RealCaptainSteel constructed their real-life Monster Hunter Switch Axe prop out of plastic, with the design based on Teostra’s Arx. The Arx is a Switch Axe forged from parts earned when defeating Teostra and Risen Teostra in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak and Monster Hunter World. The multi-sectioned nature of the build allows the prop to transform between its Axe and Blade forms, with its edge whirling around and the shield sliding along the main spine. The weapon’s party piece was a homemade flamethrower that shoots gouts of fire, allowing the wielder to theoretically mimic the in-game Zero Sum Discharge move.
Fellow Monster Hunter fans praised RealCaptainSteel’s build, hailing their ability to capture the weapon’s design and scale. Some joked about the slightly awkward transformation, commenting that the portions of the video where the parts of the prop jam against each other reflect the unrealistic nature of Monster Hunter weapon design. Particular praise was leveled at the flamethrower gimmick, with some fans encouraging RealCaptainSteel to build a full armor set and engage in some truly unforgettable Monster Hunter cosplay someday.
Monster Hunter
Monster Hunter is an action role-playing franchise from Capcom that, as the name suggests, tasks players with tracking down and killing enormous monsters of various species.
The main series games are often big hits with critics, particularly thanks to how enjoyable the games are with friends.