Monster Hunter Games With The Best Combat, Ranked

One strong aspect of the Monster Hunter series has always been its combat, which has changed since the first installment in the franchise to stay fun. Each new entry introduced improvements, from refined animations to creative mechanics that added depth to fights against iconic beasts and always presented fresh challenges.

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With a range of weapons and playstyles, the franchise cemented its identity by offering increasingly engaging combat. Determining which Monster Hunter provides the best combat depends on aspects like fluid combos, varied moves, and fresh mechanics that shape each encounter. Some titles introduced revolutionary systems, allowing strategic and rewarding hunts.

8

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

A Portable Version Of The Original Game

Action RPG

Fighting

Adventure

Shooter

Systems

Released

March 27, 2008

ESRB

t

As an expansion of Monster Hunter Freedom, originally a port of the franchise’s first PlayStation 2 title, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite arrived on PlayStation Portable to expand upon earlier entries with new content. Alongside fresh monsters, it let players have Felyne companions for the first time, which enriched the hunts.

However, while the first games established the core of Monster Hunter combat and were fun at release, they lacked the polish found in newer installments. Because of that simplicity, these early entries do not rank among the top in the franchise, even though they still offered a sturdy, functional baseline.

7

Monster Hunter Freedom 2

A Major Evolution In Combat With New Weapons And Mechanics

Systems

Released

February 22, 2007

ESRB

T // Blood, Use of Alcohol, Violence

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 marked a significant leap in the franchise’s combat system, building upon its predecessor with refined mechanics and greater depth. The introduction of new weapons like Long Sword, Hunting Horn, Gunlance, and Bow added new variety to battles, allowing hunters to adapt to different playstyles, so, combat became more fluid, with improved animations and better hit detection, enhancing the thrill of each encounter.

The game also introduced Decoration Slots, enabling deeper customization for weapons and armor, giving players more control over their builds. With more responsive controls and refined monster AI, every battle demanded greater precision and strategy. These innovations solidified Monster Hunter Freedom 2 as a defining title, setting the stage for future advancements in the series.

6

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

This Game Brought Some Innovations To The Franchise’s Formula

Systems

Released

April 20, 2010

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Blood, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence

Though it polarized opinions, Monster Hunter 3 introduced underwater combat to the franchise, allowing developers to design unique creatures that thrived beneath the surface. Even if it was a bold step, this innovation received mixed reviews due to challenging controls in submerged environments. Many hunters struggled to adapt to the new dimension of movement.

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Meanwhile, during that same era of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, the Switch Axe emerged and gave hunters a new way to tackle formidable monsters. Even if underwater combat was not a highlight, this entry still offered one of the most exciting combat systems in the franchise, displaying overall solid refinements.

5

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

Game Improved Monster Hunter Combat With New Mechanics

Systems

Released

March 18, 2017

ESRB

t

Serving as a celebration of all previous titles in the franchise, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate was one of the most complete releases, introducing many classic enemies and locations for players to enjoy. However, the biggest innovations lay in the Hunter Arts and Hunter Styles, which allowed extensive customization of characters and their weapons during their hunting.

This innovation resulted in one of the best combat systems in Monster Hunter to date, allowing battles to have considerable variety, as Hunter Styles enabled radical changes to equipment combos. The outcome was one of the most varied and impressive combat experiences ever produced, with creativity never before seen in the series.

4

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Battles Focused On Verticality

Systems

Released

February 13, 2015

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Blood, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence

Among the classic games from Capcom, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate best captured the essence of the franchise, largely due to its atmosphere and, primarily, its combat, which worked well and introduced innovations such as a strong focus on verticality. To handle certain monsters, players could easily climb walls and perform aerial attacks.

This mechanic not only worked well, but also introduced a new dynamism to Monster Hunter combat, resulting in more dynamic hunts with effective controls. The gameplay was refined as weapons underwent changes without losing their identity. By balancing traditional elements with innovations, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate marked a significant milestone in the franchise.

3

Monster Hunter World

Game Revolutionized Monster Hunter Combat And Exploration

Released

January 26, 2018

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence

As one of the most ambitious releases in the franchise, which expanded its audience significantly, Monster Hunter World introduced a revolution in various series mechanics while delivering one of the best combat systems produced by Capcom. Thanks to the innovations, the combat became more fluid with appealing animations that made each weapon more engaging.

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The interconnected environments offered environmental interactions that players could use to their advantage during each hunt, making combat even more dynamic. This evolution continued in Iceborne, which many consider the definitive Monster Hunter experience, as the expansion raised the combat of the Action RPG to a new level by introducing increased difficulty and new combos for each weapon, cementing the game as one of the best in the series.

2

Monster Hunter Rise

Game Introduced Increased Mobility To Series Combat

Released

March 26, 2021

ESRB

T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Violence

As the successor to Monster Hunter World, which already brought many innovations to the series, Monster Hunter Rise had the task of further refining the franchise formula and achieved this in various ways. The introduction of the Wirebug, a mechanic that offers increased vertical mobility during battles, made engagements with monsters more enjoyable by enabling fluid movement during attack sequences.

This new tool allowed players to quickly scale terrains and discover new vantage points to attack creatures, as well as ride them, enabling one monster to attack another. Furthermore, with the DLC Sunbreak, combat was refined and deepened through the Switch Skill Swap, which permits the use of two different fighting styles in a battle and improved the game’s endgame, enhancing the overall combat experience.

1

Monster Hunter Wilds

The Best Combat In Monster Hunter Is In This Game

Released

February 28, 2025

ESRB

T For Teen // Violence, Blood, Crude Humor

Even though many players find the difficulty lower than in other games, Monster Hunter Wilds features the best combat in Monster Hunter. This is because it introduced a major update to all 14 available weapons, incorporating new mechanics and even combos that make each piece of equipment even more distinctive during battles, while also allowing, for the first time, Hunters to carry two different weapons and switch between them during hunts.

In addition to these major updates, Monster Hunter Wilds did not stop there and also introduced Focus Mode, which enables targeted attacks on specific parts of each creature and, if a location is injured, allows exclusive attacks for each new weapon. Finally, the behavior of some creatures was reworked so that monsters even interact with each other and factors such as weather or time affect their behavior.

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