Best Exclusive Features In Monster Hunter Games

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Summary

  • New Monster Hunter games introduce unique gameplay mechanics like Shakalaka minions, Clutchclaw, and wirebugs.
  • The Guiding Lands in Iceborne provides endgame content for farming and upgrading gear with specific monsters and materials.
  • Different versions of the game feature distinct mechanics, like the seasonal system in Dos for hunting certain monsters.

Monster Hunter stands out from other role-playing games due to its distinctiveness. Each new entry or expansion introduces unique gameplay features or mechanics that keep the series engaging and thrilling. Upon release of a new game, Monster Hunter also provides fresh and varied playing experiences.

Every fresh game presents its own distinctive method of gameplay, and each one boasts a unique characteristic or mechanism that requires some familiarization or adaptation. These features contribute to maintaining the series engaging, as each game offers a distinct playing style to master.

10.

Shakalaka Minions

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

In Monster Hunter Tri and 3 Ultimate, rather than a Palico companion, you are assisted by two young Shakalaka helpers named Cha-cha and Kayamba. These tiny allies perform similar functions to Palicos, offering support, enhancing your stats, and occasionally hurling bombs or taps at monsters during hunts.

Instead of outfitting them with gear and weapons, you simply dress them up with various masks, each offering unique abilities and skills. One such mask, the Ancient Mask, allows for deep diving to engage the giant Elder Dragon Caedeus. All these masks draw inspiration from the aesthetics of the Shakalaka tribes, a notable group across the series.

9.

The Slinger’s Clutchclaw

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

In Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, they added a new tool called the Clutchclaw to the slinger. It’s quite intriguing as it allows you to grab hold of your target monster. After attaching yourself, you can soften up the body part you’re clinging to, making it easier to inflict damage and causing more harm specifically in that area.

If you grab hold of the monster’s head, you have the opportunity to shove them into a wall, causing them to fall down and making it easier for you to attack while also possibly gaining a valuable reward. However, this tactic doesn’t work when the monster is enraged, and attempting it could put you in harm’s way and drain your stamina. Mastering the Clutchclaw mechanic involves careful positioning and strategic planning to make the most of its benefits.

8.

Leveling The Guiding Lands

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

Just after vanquishing Shara Ishvalda, I found myself gaining access to the Guiding Lands – a sprawling semi-island with elements from every corner of the game map. Each locale within reflects a place I’ve explored in the New World, ranging from vast forest expanses to towering coral highlands and even a Rotten Vale region, which houses the remnants of the ancient Zorah Magdoros.

Most of your monster hunting and resource gathering for advanced levels, particularly in the Guiding Lands, occurs primarily here. By enhancing the various regions within the Guiding Lands, you can attract specific monsters and their tempered counterparts, which yield rare gemstones and materials unique to these areas. This is also where the bulk of your gear upgrading and collection happens.

7.

Jumbo Village’s Seasons

Monster Hunter Dos

In Monster Hunter 2, there was an early implementation of a seasonal system and climate tracking feature that helped you decide the optimal time to hunt specific monsters. This system cycled through three phases: Warm Period, Cold Period, and Breeding Period. This seasonal mechanism wasn’t seen again in the franchise until Monster Hunter World refined it by introducing three weather conditions named Abundance, Fallow, and Inclement.

Each season offers unique benefits and monster encounters. Warm seasons are known for their active predators, whereas cold seasons see a decrease in their population, but provide rarer resources. Breeding seasons result in an abundance of small monsters, with fewer predators around, making it easier to collect field materials such as bones, mine resources, and craft items.

6.

Swimming Under The Sea

Monster Hunter Tri/3 Ultimate

The standout aspect of Monster Hunter Tri and its G/Ultimate expansion is the swimming mechanics, which allow players to engage Leviathans and Piscine Wyverns in their native environment. However, the underwater controls and combat can be quite tricky, and it often feels like the monsters you’re hunting have a distinct advantage and are more agile than you in the water.

Since then, swimming as a comprehensive feature hasn’t been fully reintroduced; however, elements of this mechanic have resurfaced in Monster Hunter World and Wilds. In Monster Hunter Wilds, during the Downpour in the Scarlet Forest, you can dive to navigate specific areas and catch fish simultaneously, but underwater combat has primarily remained a feature of third-generation games.

5.

Hunting Styles And Arts

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

In Monster Hunter Generations, four distinct methods for hunting monsters were introduced, referred to as Hunting Styles. These are combat strategies that your hunter can employ when battling monsters. Additionally, there are the Hunter Arts, powerful moves you can unleash once your Arts Gauge is full. The diverse Hunting Styles make each weapon feel unique and exciting, encouraging players to experiment with their weapon and armor combinations.

The initial hunting methods you encounter are Guild Style, Striker Style, Aerial Style, and Adept Style, each offering unique approaches to the hunt, ranging from conventional play to high-jumping assaults. In Generations Ultimate, Valor Style and Alchemist Style are introduced as additional techniques. Valor Style is particularly effective for setting up defensive counters and amassing powerful attacks.

In a simpler and more conversational style: The first hunting methods you meet are Guild, Striker, Aerial, and Adept styles. Each one provides a unique way to hunt, from basic play to jumping strikes. In Generations Ultimate, we also get the Valor Style and Alchemist Style. Valor is great for setting up counters and building strong attacks.

4.

Palamute Companions

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

In Monster Hunter Rises, a fresh companion is introduced for your hunting expeditions – this time, it’s a Palamute, which is similar to your Palico but has canine characteristics. During hunts, these creatures can engage in combat with monsters and aid the team using special equipment. Additionally, you can mount them for battle and outfit them with armor from slain monsters, just like you would with Palicos.

In Monster Hunter Rise, Palamutes are fantastic transportation across expansive terrains. Their tools or weapons serve effectively in inflicting additional damage on monsters, ranging from a jaw attachment that clings to the monsters, to a Gatling gun carried on their backs.

3.

Wirebugs And Silkbinding Attacks

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

In Monster Hunter Rise and its expansion, the primary action/battle mechanic involves utilizing your wirebugs for navigating or striking monsters with unique abilities. With each Silkbind attack, a hidden meter gets activated in the fight, making monsters susceptible to Wyvern Ride. During Wyvern Ride, you can momentarily command monsters and guide them towards other monsters or slam them into walls, causing extra damage.

In Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, the Silkbind attacks resemble the Hunter Arts as they serve as unique, powerful moves. To execute these abilities, you’ll need to press specific buttons when certain gauges are filled. The visuals of many attacks mirror those from Generations Ultimate, further emphasizing the similarities. What sets Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak apart is the introduction of the ability to switch between two loadouts of Silkbind skills, offering greater flexibility in crafting your special hunting strategies.

2.

Knocking Out The Frenzy With Wystones

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

In Monster Hunter 4, a new element called the Frenzy Virus appears, pitting you against terrifying monsters infected with this condition. These creatures were formidable adversaries initially, but in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, certain infected monsters managed to survive long enough to conquer the virus and transform into even more dangerous threats known as Apex Monsters. Apex monsters are incredibly tough, almost invulnerable, and they possess the ability to spread the Frenzy Virus from their bodies, much like Gore and Shagaru Magala do.

Wystones serve the purpose of enhancing your hunter’s offensive and defensive capabilities against formidable Apex Monsters. By equipping different Wystones, you can temporarily stun these monsters and deal substantial damage. Given their immense resilience, defeating Apex Monsters becomes nearly impossible without using these items. Moreover, it’s immensely satisfying to knock these challenging monsters out of their Apex state by employing Wystones.

1.

Building Up Your Pokke Farm

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but reminisce about the delightful aspect of the Monster Hunter series that has always captivated me – the farms and special spots where you can gather items without the need for endless exploration. Among all these, none have left such an indelible impression on me as the Pokke Farm in Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. To this very day, it stands out as the most remarkable farm in the entire series, masterfully mirroring the vibrant, interconnected life of a bustling village community complete with flourishing farmland.

In the village, you have a small area dedicated exclusively to nurturing your crops. You’ll find spots for honey collection, three mining stations, and a cave rich with mysterious materials from an enormous sword. There’s also Felyne Trenya, ready for adventure, who can be sent to specific locations to fetch additional items. While many of these farming ‘features’ are common in other games, the farming aspect itself is quite unique here, as only Pokke Farm in Freedom Unite offers this level of detail.

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2025-03-14 18:47