Monster Hunter Wilds: Priority of Critical & Attack Skills, Predicted DPS Ranks
※This article contains information as of the game's unreleased status (Release Date: February 28, 2025). The content includes predictions based on past Monster Hunter series titles. After the game's release, we will update the information based on the actual specifications.
Hunters worldwide are eagerly anticipating the release of Monster Hunter Wilds (MHWs) on February 28, 2025, with its vast fields, changing environments, and unseen large monsters. The greatest factor influencing a hunter's strength is their "skill configuration." In particular, the priority of "damage skills," which significantly impact large monster clear times, is a point of concern for everyone. This article thoroughly analyzes trends from past series and boldly predicts and explains, in a ranking format, the damage efficiency and priority of the damage skills likely to be rampant in Monster Hunter Wilds, especially between "critical" and "attack" type skills!
What will Monster Hunter Wilds' Damage Skills Be Like? Reflecting on Series Trends
Damage skills in the Monster Hunter series are broadly categorized into two types: "Attack Boost skills," which directly increase a weapon's base attack power, and "Critical skills," which enhance critical hit occurrence rate and damage. In previous series, combining these two types of skills in a balanced and efficient manner has been key to achieving the strongest builds.
In titles since Monster Hunter: World, the dominant configuration has focused on approaching 100% critical hit rate and maximizing critical damage multiplier. This is because increasing the critical damage multiplier tended to result in a greater final damage increase than slightly raising base attack power. It is highly probable that this basic principle will be carried over into Monster Hunter Wilds. However, with the addition of new actions and systems, it is also entirely possible that specific skills could become even more important than in previous titles.
Fundamentals of Critical Skills
Critical skills primarily consist of the following three:
- Critical Eye: A skill that directly increases critical hit rate. Typically increases by around 40% at max skill Lv (verify current patch).
- Weakness Exploit: A skill that significantly increases critical hit rate when attacking a large monster's weak spots. It is highly efficient and adopted in almost all builds.
- Critical Boost: A skill that increases the damage multiplier for critical hits. Normally, critical damage is 1.25x, and this skill can raise it to a maximum of 1.4x.
The recent meta involves combining these skills to adjust the critical hit rate to 100% when attacking weak spots, and then maximizing the impact of those hits with "Critical Boost."
Fundamentals of Attack Boost Skills
This refers to a group of skills that boost the "Attack Power" value displayed in a weapon's stats.
- Attack Boost: The most basic skill that increases base attack power depending on skill Lv (verify current patch). At higher skill Lv, it may also apply a multiplier to attack power.
- Agitator: Increases attack power and critical hit rate when a large monster becomes enraged. Since large monsters frequently become enraged, it activates often and is powerful.
- Peak Performance: A skill that increases attack power when health is full. While it demands player skill to maintain, its effect is high.
These skills play an important role in consistently boosting damage for non-critical attacks or when the critical hit rate does not reach 100%.
[Based on Past Titles] Ranking of High-Priority Damage Skills (Prediction)
Now, based on data from past titles, we will predict the priority of damage skills for Monster Hunter Wilds in a ranking format. Let's start with the most crucial skills that are likely to define the meta.
1st Place: Weakness Exploit
This skill will likely establish an unshakeable position in Monster Hunter Wilds as well. Its exceptional efficiency, boosting critical hit rate by up to 50% with minimal skill points, is unmatched. It perfectly aligns with the fundamental Monster Hunter action of "targeting weak spots," making builds that don't include it difficult to imagine, except for very specialized cases.
2nd Place: Critical Boost
An essential skill for explosively increasing damage after raising the critical hit rate. Even with a 100% critical hit rate, damage growth will plateau without this skill. It is an indispensable combo piece, converting the critical hit rate secured by skills like "Weakness Exploit" into damage.
3rd Place: Critical Eye
This is the most crucial skill for filling the remaining gap to 100% critical hit rate that "Weakness Exploit" alone cannot achieve. While it depends on the weapon's base critical hit rate, the golden pattern is to aim for 100% with "Weakness Exploit" skill Lv 3 (50%), "Critical Eye" skill Lv 7 (40%), and then weapon critical (10%) or other supplementary skills. It forms the foundation for consistent damage output.
4th Place: Attack Boost
If you've assembled critical-type skills and seek even more damage, this is the skill. The "Attack Power +α%" bonus activated at skill Lv 4 is particularly powerful, making reaching skill Lv 4 an initial goal. Ultimately, aiming for skill Lv 7 to boost base attack power directly will also indirectly improve critical damage.
5th Place: Agitator / Weapon-Specific Skills
For 5th place, multiple candidates are conceivable. "Agitator" is highly versatile and powerful, offering significant enhancements when large monsters are enraged. On the other hand, if new weapon-specific skills or new skills that enhance particular attack actions appear in Monster Hunter Wilds, they could certainly take precedence. For instance, "Focus," which strengthens charged attacks, or "Guard," which increases attack opportunities by improving guard capabilities, could also be important as indirect damage skills.
[Bold Prediction] MHWs Staple Damage Skills List and Evaluation
Here, we have summarized a list of the effects and evaluations of major damage skills expected to appear in Monster Hunter Wilds, based on their performance in past titles.
※Note: All skill names, effects, and values below are predictive values referenced from past titles (e.g., MHW:IB, MHR:SB). Actual product specifications may differ.
| Skill Name | Max Lv (Predicted) | Main Effect (Predicted) | Recommended Lv | Evaluation (Predicted) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weakness Exploit | 3 | When attacking effective parts, critical hit rate +15/30/50% | 3 | S+ |
| Critical Boost | 3 | Critical attack damage multiplier becomes 1.3/1.35/1.4x | 3 | S |
| Critical Eye | 7 | Critical hit rate +5/10/15/20/25/30/40% | 7 (Target) | S |
| Attack Boost | 7 | Base attack power +3/6/9/12/15/18/21, Attack Power 1.05/1.06/1.08/1.1x at skill Lv 4 and above | 4 or 7 | A+ |
| Agitator | 5 or 7 | When large monster is enraged, attack power +α, critical hit rate +β% | Max | A |
| Peak Performance | 3 | When health is max, base attack power +5/10/20 | 3 | B+ |
Evaluation Basis and Compatibility for Each Skill
- Weakness Exploit (S+):
Outstanding cost-performance. The effect of +50% critical hit rate with 3 slots is something other skills simply cannot replicate. It is essential for almost all physical weapon builds, hence the top S+ evaluation. - Critical Boost (S):
Simply raising the critical hit rate is meaningless; a build is only complete when this skill converts that rate into damage. It is the core of any 100% critical hit rate build, making its S evaluation unshakeable. - Critical Eye (S):
The most stable means to achieve a 100% critical hit rate. The required skill Lv (verify current patch) varies depending on the weapon and other skills, but it's an S-ranked skill supporting the foundation of a build. - Attack Boost (A+):
The potential for further damage increase after stacking critical-type skills. The benefit is particularly significant for weapon types with low base attack power, making it essential for pursuing ultimate damage. Efficiently, the first goal is to reach skill Lv 4 for its multiplier bonus. - Agitator (A):
During combat with large monsters, they are often enraged for the majority of the time, making this a powerful skill that is virtually always active. Its ability to boost both attack power and critical hit rate is excellent, making it highly versatile. - Peak Performance (B+):
While its effect is powerful, it requires maintaining full health, making it difficult to sustain for players prone to taking hits or in environments with passive damage. Therefore, its evaluation is slightly lowered to B+. It pairs well with weapon types that allow for less risky positioning, such as bows and bowguns.
Summary
In this article, we boldly predicted the priority and strength of damage skills in Monster Hunter Wilds based on trends from past series. In conclusion, it is highly probable that, similar to previous series, the optimal solution for many weapon types will be a configuration centered around "Weakness Exploit," "Critical Boost," and "Critical Eye" to aim for a 100% critical hit rate, and then maximizing the "Attack Boost" skill with any remaining slots.
Of course, there is a distinct possibility that Monster Hunter Wilds could introduce an entirely new skill system, or significantly alter the effects of existing skills. If skills that interact with new environmental systems or enhance new actions emerge, the conventional wisdom of builds might be overturned.
Game Rack plans to verify skill data as quickly as possible after the release of Monster Hunter Wilds and deliver articles on the strongest skill rankings and recommended builds for each weapon type, based on accurate information. Stay tuned for further updates!
