Monster Hunter Wilds: Insect Glaive Guide - Extracts, Air Combos & New Mechanics
This article is based on official information released on August 7, 2024, before the launch of 'Monster Hunter Wilds'. The content may change significantly after the game's release. Motion values and various numerical data will be updated based on actual measurements after launch.
Running across the land, soaring through the sky. The unique weapon "Insect Glaive", which overwhelms monsters with a Kinsect, is confirmed to return in the latest title, 'Monster Hunter Wilds'! How will this weapon, boasting one of the series' most stylish playstyles, evolve in the vast fields? This article reviews the basic operations from previous titles like 'MHW' and 'MHRise' and speculates on new elements discernable from the released footage. We provide a comprehensive guide to the fundamentals and future of Insect Glaive users in preparation for the upcoming hunting season in 2025.
Insect Glaive Basics and the Extract System
The most crucial aspect of the Insect Glaive is the presence of your partner "Kinsect" and the "extracts" that serve as a source of self-enhancement. By launching your Kinsect at a monster and collecting extracts from specific body parts, you can empower your hunter. This extract management is the first step for any Insect Glaive user and the biggest key to determining hunting efficiency.
Effects of 3 Extract Colors and Collection Priority
There are three types of extracts: "Red", "White", and "Yellow (Orange)". Each has a different effect, and combining multiple colors provides even more powerful benefits. First, learn the effects of each color and aim to maintain a 3-color enhanced state at all times during combat.
- Red Extract: Enhances attack motions, changing and increasing combos. This is the highest priority extract to collect, mainly obtainable from parts that govern attack, such as a monster's head or forelegs.
- White Extract: Enhances movement speed and jump height (vault). Significantly improves mobility, making it extremely important for aerial combat and positioning. Mainly obtainable from parts that govern movement, such as wings or legs.
- Yellow Extract: Grants a super armor effect that makes you less likely to flinch from attacks. Mainly obtainable from hard parts such as the torso or tail.
By collecting all three colors, you achieve a "3-color enhancement" state, gaining very powerful benefits such as increased attack and defense, constant super armor, and improved status ailment resistance. During a hunt, the basic flow is to first secure Red Extract to boost offensive capabilities, then collect White and Yellow Extracts to aim for 3-color enhancement.
Key Insect Glaive Actions and Combos (Speculation)
Official footage of 'Monster Hunter Wilds' confirmed many familiar actions from previous titles. Here, we'll discuss the basic ground and aerial combat playstyles and combos based on these, including their potential in the new game.
Ground Playstyle: A Stable Damage Source
While aerial combat is an appealing aspect of the Insect Glaive, ground combos generally offer better damage efficiency. During large openings, such as when a monster is downed, be sure to actively unleash attacks from the ground.
Basic Combos for Beginners
- Collect Red Extract with Kinsect Recall Order: First, prioritize collecting Red Extract to enhance your attack motions.
- Initiate Combo with Consecutive Upward Slashes: Approach the monster and connect "Consecutive Upward Slashes" into "Sweeping Slash" or "Reaching Roundslash". In a Red Extract enhanced state, these combos become smoother and more powerful.
- Prioritize Extract Maintenance: The duration of extract effects is finite. Between combos, recall your Kinsect or use Recall Order to enable automatic attacks, striving to always maintain your 3-color enhancement.
Aerial Playstyle: Leveraging Mobility and Mounts
The true essence of the Insect Glaive is its aerial techniques. You can launch yourself into the air with "Vault" and attack from above. While aerial attacks often yield lower damage efficiency than ground attacks, their greatest strengths are the safety of attacking while evading a monster's moves and the ability to initiate mounts.
Nimble aerial actions are also confirmed in 'Wilds' footage, so the playstyle of freely soaring through the air, even on flat ground without ledges, will likely remain. The importance of strategies like aerial ambushes and disengagements may especially increase in the seamless fields introduced in this game.
Coordination with the New "Focus Mode"
The "Focus Mode", a highlight system of 'Wilds'. This mode, which allows for more precise attacks by targeting a monster's weak points, might significantly change the Insect Glaive's playstyle. For instance, it's conceivable that the Kinsect could automatically go to collect extracts from a marked part in Focus Mode, or that aerial attacks on a marked weak point could gain increased power. This could enable more strategic extract management and weak point attacks than ever before.
Action & Combo List (Based on Previous Titles' Speculation)
Below is a table summarizing actions expected to be implemented in 'Wilds', based on key Insect Glaive actions from previous titles. Commands are examples assuming a PlayStation®5 controller and may differ in the actual retail version.
| Action Name | Command (Speculation) | Description / Wilds Speculation |
|---|---|---|
| Recall Order | L2 + R2 | Marks the target part for the Kinsect. It might coordinate with Focus Mode to enable automatic attacks on weak points or add special effects. |
| Consecutive Upward Slashes | △ → △ | A basic combo initiation move. Hit count increases with Red Extract enhancement. |
| Sweeping Slash | ◯ | An attack that covers a wide area. Effective for linking combos or hitting multiple small monsters. |
| Reaching Roundslash | Left Stick + ◯ during a continuous combo | A high-power move used to finish combos, involving a large movement while slashing. |
| Vault | R2 + × | Uses the staff to jump high in place. A crucial action for initiating aerial combos. |
| Aerial Attack | ◯ in the air | The main aerial attack. Can extend airborne time by performing it consecutively. |
| Aerial Dodge | × in the air | Quickly moves in the air to evade monster attacks. Essential for repositioning as well. |
| Unnamed New Action (Focus Mode related?) | Unknown | While the name "Focus Strike" is unconfirmed, there's a high possibility of counter-attacks or high-power single strikes that can be activated during Focus Mode. It might be implemented as a special action that consumes a gauge, similar to 'Rise's Wirebug Arts. |
Advanced Playstyles and Applied Techniques (Speculation)
Once you're familiar with the basic controls, learn advanced techniques to master the Insect Glaive. These tactics were effective in previous titles and are expected to perform similarly in 'Wilds'.
- Utilizing Kinsect Dust: Some Kinsects disperse dust clouds upon attacking (e.g., healing, blast). By marking a monster with a Recall Order to have the Kinsect attack automatically, and then detonating the generated dust clouds with your own attacks, you can gain benefits such as additional damage or recovery.
- Existence of Descending Thrust (Diving Wyvern) type Finishing Moves: Finishing moves that dive from the air to the ground, dealing massive damage, like "Descending Thrust" from 'MHW:IB' or "Diving Wyvern" from 'MHR:SB', are highly likely to be implemented in 'Wilds'. Incorporating them at the end of an aerial combo could be a trump card for unleashing immense damage.
- Anticipating Extract Duration: By predicting when the 3-color enhancement will expire and sending out your Kinsect to collect the next extract just before it does, you can maintain your enhanced state without interruption during combat.
- Precise Extract Collection with Focus Mode: If Focus Mode allows you to precisely guide your Kinsect to a targeted body part, you could accurately collect desired extracts even during chaotic battles. This might lower the difficulty of extract management, allowing you to concentrate more on attacking.
Summary
The Insect Glaive in 'Monster Hunter Wilds' has the potential to evolve into a more strategic and profound weapon through the new "Focus Mode" system, while inheriting its core elements: Kinsect-based extract enhancement and three-dimensional action that freely moves between ground and air.
First and foremost, it's crucial to thoroughly master the basics of collecting the three extracts with your Kinsect and maintaining your self-enhancement. Then, depending on the situation, switch between ground and aerial combos to overwhelm monsters. Aim to be an Insect Glaive user who dances more freely and gracefully than anyone else across the vast fields of 'Wilds', and prepare for the upcoming hunts! After the release, articles with more detailed builds and confirmed playstyles will also be updated. Please look forward to them!
