How to Power Clash in Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds introduces a plethora of new moves and mechanics to the Monster Hunter franchise, giving long-time fans brand-new tools to take down fearsome monsters. One of these combat maneuvers is called Power Clash.

Power Clashes are special attacks that can only be performed by certain weapon types and can get a confirmed stagger on a large monster if successful. Here is how they work.

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How to Perform A Power Clash

Power Clashes are special quick time events that can lock the Hunter and the monster in a one-on-one duel. Power Clashes only trigger after an invisible Power Clash meter is filled by Guarding or Perfect Guarding monster melee attacks a certain number of times. After this invisible meter is filled, Hunters can trigger a Power Clash with the monster by Perfect Guarding a specific attack.

Both Guards and Perfect Guards will fill the invisible Power Clash meter, though Perfect Guards will do so more quickly.

Only certain attacks by certain monsters can trigger a Power Clash. These are very specific, and usually only one per monster. The Chatacabra, for example, lifts its entire body up and smashes its left arm against the Hunter in a mighty blow. If this attack is Perfect Guarded against, it will result in a Power Clash, but only if the invisible Power Clash meter was filled by successful Guards and Perfect Guards beforehand.

Some monsters don’t have an attack that can Power Clashed with, meaning you can never Power Clash with them.

Once locked in a Power Clash, Hunters will have to mash the attack button repeatedly, similar to a quick time event. If they succeed, the monster will be knocked back and fully staggered. If they fail, they themselves will be knocked prone, and the monster will remain unaffected. Power Clashes do deal damage, but their main purpose is to trigger a confirmed stagger.

Since Power Clashes force the monster and the Hunter into a locked duel, it prevents the monster from moving or attacking for the duration. This is very useful in multiplayer, where co-op partners can wail on the monster during a Power Clash without worrying about it attacking back or moving away.

Blocking ranged attacks doesn’t fill up the invisible Power Clash meter.

How to Power Clash Multiple Times

Once a Power Clash is initiated for the first time, the second time will be much harder to trigger. This is because the invisible Power Clash meter will take a lot more Guards and Perfect Guards to fill up the second time around. It can take up to five times as many Guards and Perfect Guards to trigger a second Power Clash compared to the first Power Clash, though this value can change depending on the monster.

Offset attacks are not Power Clashes. These are two different mechanics that follow different rules.

How to Guard and Perfect Guard

Hunters can perform a Guard by pressing and holding R (PC), R2 (PlayStation), or RT (Xbox). To Perfect Guard, use the Guard key just before the enemy attack lands.

Of the 14 total weapons in MH Wilds, only six can Guard. They are: Great Sword, Sword & Shield, Lance, Gunlance, Charge Blade, Heavy Bowgun. Only these six weapons can be used to Power Clash.