Summary
Monster Hunter Wildsis poised to be the debut of the sixth generation of Capcom’s flagship action RPG series, and it has the opportunity to incorporate new elements inspired by other titles in the publisher’s recent catalog. Following the success ofDragon’s Dogma 2earlier this year, it’s possible that the reception to its open-world design could inform the nextMH’s own direction. With one playstyle in particular bearing some direct similarities between the two franchises, however,Monster Hunter Wildsmight be able to invigorate one of its most unique weapons by looking at what made the Mystic Spearhand Vocation ofDD2so engaging.
Ever since its introduction in 2013’sMH4, the Insect Glaive has remained one of the series’ most original and fully-realized weapon concepts. Not only does it fill the role of a double-sided polearm with extremely high mobility across its moveset, but the titular Kinsect companion associated with the weapon can act as a limited projectile that can buff the player using extracts from monsters. This has created a niche which even anew weapon type inMonster Hunter Wildswould be unlikely to ever share, but the Insect Glaive has also remained relatively unchanged over the years. Now that Capcom has pursued an entirely new dynamic within the same basic style in another game,Wildshas more new references for the future than ever before.
Dragon’s Dogma 2’s Mystic Spearhand Brings Deep Versatility to the Polearm Archetype
Evoking Monster Hunter’s Insect Glaive
Essentially acting as a replacement for the Vocation known asMystic Knight in the originalDragon’s Dogma, the Mystic Spearhand is a newly-introduced option which shares the emphasis on fast movement that was established with the Insect Glaive. This mixed Vocation’s many spinning maneuvers can allow the player to easily mount large enemies and deliver quick slashes to critical points, but the Mystic Spearhand is defined equally by the access to magick it provides.
The Mystic Spearhand’s Complementary Suite of Spells
While players are probably going to be dish out most of their damage with melee attacks, the likes of Dragoun’s Stabbe, a piercing air dash, or conjured Seching Blade projectiles, significantly bolster the potential for more complex gameplay. It might take more skill to effectively utilize a defensive spell likethe Mystic Spearhand’s Mirour Vesturein the midst of fast-paced combat, but these kinds of technical options are fitting for a Vocation that seems intended to reward this sort of intensity and dedication.
What Monster Hunter Wilds’ Insect Glaive Can Learn from the Mystic Spearhand
Wilds’ Potential to Elevate the Status of its Kinsects
MH Worldoffered the greatest potential for using damage-centric Kinsect builds to achieve consistent results compared to theInsect Glaive inMonster Hunter Rise, but this is still a rare way to build a hunter, and requires a relatively deep understanding of the Insect Glaive. While the Insect Glaive should remain based around its fast-hitting strikes for its main source of damage inWilds, incorporating more usage of Kinsect skills in the vein of the Mystic Spearhand’s spells could provide even more synergy. Examples such as Humble Offringe, which levitates objects in the area to hurl at foes, could be repurposed in order to both allow the insect portion of the weapon to have more of an active role apart from extracts, and shine a light on a side of the franchise’s non-melee elements.
Ranged Weapons Are Underrepresented in Monster Hunter
With the Bow and Medium Bowgun being the only additional choices over the years, there haven’t been anynew ranged weapons inMonster Hunterin years. The Insect Glaive is already capable of providing a slightly mixed style of play through limited Kinsect attacks and long-range extract retrieval, but expanding its arsenal to have it lean more heavily into the fantastical capabilities of dynamic combat inMonster Hunter Wilds' seemingly larger open-world.
Monster Hunter Wilds
WHERE TO PLAY
The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next. This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.
