Summary
A strong stable of monsters alongside the weapons used to hunt them have been atMonster Hunter’s core since the very beginning.Monster Hunter Worldhad to address that formula’s growing pains by drastically decreasing its initial monster count, ensuring they could all be smoothly remade for their big HD debut. By the timeMonster Hunter World: Iceborne’s post-launch support finished, there were more than enough monsters prepared forMonster Hunter Riseto avoidMH World’s issues, and fans are confident that the next mainline game will benefit the same.
That leaves the weapons, which have belonged to the same 14 families in the mainline games since the Japanese 2013 release ofMonster Hunter 4. It’s unlikely that weapon types will be lost at this point, but there are some redundancies in their lineup a future title could temporarily remove to rework. If the next mainline entry,rumored to beMonster Hunter World 2, takes this approach to streamline its gameplay and character progression, it needs to keep five specific weapons in play.
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Great Sword
Ever since the firstMonster Hunter’s box art, Great Swords have stood as the face of the franchise’s eclectic weapons. These humongous blades are specialized to be the heaviest and slowest weapons in anyMonster Huntertitle, even if they make no physical sense. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have a high skill ceiling, and veteran hunters can fling their quarry around like they themselves are massive beasts. As the epitome of the series' trademark weighty combat, it’s impossible to imagine any futureMonster Huntergames leaving Great Swords behind.
Dual Blades
Similarly, the Dual Blades representMonster Hunter’s combat at its most frantic. Beyond even that of the Sword and Shields and Long Swords, theDual Blades are all about building momentumuntil the player is a whirlwind of death. If a newMonster Huntertitle were to streamline its weapon types, Dual Blades and Great Swords would likely remain as both iconic parts of a hunter’s kit and support for the two extreme styles of melee weapons.
Light Bowgun
On the topic of iconic weapons, before the franchise even had regular Bows, it had Bowguns. These anachronistic firearms remain one of the biggest holdouts from classicMonster Hunter’s days of making the player craft every consumable item. Bowguns, unlike Bows, use finite ammunition, allowing them to change attack types on the fly while making mismanagement more punishing. Still, that means a clever Bowgun user, especially with the flexible movement of the Light Bowguns, can thrive in solo or team play at any range, something no otherrangedMonster Hunterweaponcan boast.
Insect Glaive
Not everyMonster Hunterweapon fills an obvious role on the battlefield. Insect Glaives may be the best example of this, having been introduced to emphasizeMH4’s newly vertical environments and jumping attacks by allowing users to vault into the air at any time. Complete with the ranged Kinsect system for buffs and DPS, Insect Glaives are one of the more unique ways of interacting withMonster Hunter’s enemies and environments, and it would be a shame to see them go.
Hunting Horn
Even more unique amongMonster Hunter’s fantastical armaments are the Hunting Horns, massive clubs equipped with buffing songs for up-close support. Their single-player outings have historically been less useful than in hunting parties, butMonster Hunter Risemade Hunting Horns significantly stronger, alongside giving their active buffs more ways and rewards for keeping them all applied. Now more viable than ever, these hard-hitting instruments should stay in players’ hands to emphasizeMonster Hunter’s variety, light-hearted tone, and sense of camaraderie.
Monster Hunter Worldis available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
