5 Essential Weapons Monster Hunter World 2 Should Retain

Highlights

Monster Hunter Rise benefits from a rich selection of monsters, addressing the earlier games' issues and ensuring a smoother experience for players.

Future Monster Hunter games should maintain the Great Sword and Dual Blades, given their iconic status and distinctive playstyles. In addition, the Light Bowgun offers exceptional versatility in long-range combat, while the Insect Glaive excels in verticality and aerial attacks. Furthermore, the Hunting Horn serves as a valuable option for cooperative play, providing both variety and support.

Since the very beginning, Monster Hunter has always revolved around a strong group of monsters and the weapons used to battle them. In order to address the challenges faced by this formula, Monster Hunter World decided to decrease its initial monster count, allowing for a smoother transition to high-definition graphics. As Monster Hunter World: Iceborne's post-launch support came to an end, there were already a sufficient number of monsters prepared for the next mainline game, Monster Hunter Rise, thus avoiding the problems encountered in MH World. Fans are now confident that the upcoming mainline game will benefit from this preparation.

However, when it comes to the weapons, there has been little change since the release of the Japanese version of Monster Hunter 4 in 2013, with the same 14 weapon families being present in each mainline game. While it is unlikely that any weapon types will be removed completely, there may be an opportunity to temporarily remove certain redundancies in order to rework them for a future title. If the rumored next mainline entry, Monster Hunter World 2, decides to take this approach to streamline gameplay and character progression, it should still retain five specific weapons in order to maintain the essence of the game.

Great Sword

Dual Blades

Great Swords have long been the iconic weapons of the Monster Hunter series, as seen in the box art of the original game. Despite their impracticality in the physical world, these massive blades are intentionally designed to be the heaviest and slowest weapons in any Monster Hunter title. However, their formidable nature also means that mastering them requires a high level of skill. Seasoned hunters are able to wield these swords with such proficiency that they can effortlessly toss their monstrous prey around, appearing as mighty creatures themselves. Given the pivotal role they play in the series' signature weighty combat, it is inconceivable to envision any future Monster Hunter games without the inclusion of Great Swords.

The Dual Blades in Monster Hunter exemplify the epitome of intense combat. Going even beyond the Sword and Shield and Long Sword, the Dual Blades focus predominantly on accumulating momentum until the player becomes a veritable tempest of destruction. In the event that a new iteration of Monster Hunter were to streamline its arsenal, the Dual Blades, alongside the Great Swords, would assuredly retain their status as iconic tools in a hunter's repertoire, catering to the two contrasting styles of melee weaponry.

Light Bowgun

On the subject of iconic weapons, prior to the franchise's inclusion of regular Bows, Bowguns were already established. These anachronistic firearms remain as one of the prominent reminders from the classic days of Monster Hunter, where players were required to craft every consumable item. Unlike Bows, Bowguns utilize limited ammunition, allowing for seamless alteration of attack types while also penalizing mismanagement. Nevertheless, this implies that a skillful Bowgun user, especially one adept at utilizing the maneuverability of Light Bowguns, can flourish both in solo endeavors and cooperative gameplay at any given distance. Such versatility is unparalleled by any other ranged weapon in Monster Hunter.

Insect Glaive

Not all weapons in Monster Hunter have an obvious role on the battlefield. Insect Glaives are a prime example of this, as they were introduced in MH4 to take advantage of the game's new vertical environments and jumping attacks. With the ability to vault into the air at any moment, the Insect Glaives offer a unique playstyle that allows hunters to interact with the enemies and environments in a different way. Additionally, the Insect Glaives come with the ranged Kinsect system, which provides buffs and increases DPS. It would be a loss to the game if these distinctive weapons were to be removed.

Hunting Horn

The Hunting Horns in Monster Hunter are truly one-of-a-kind weapons. These massive clubs not only pack a punch, but also come equipped with special songs that provide buffs for close-range support. While they may have been less useful for solo players in the past, Monster Hunter Rise has made significant improvements to the Hunting Horns, making them even stronger. In addition, the game has introduced new ways to utilize and reap rewards from the active buffs provided by these instruments. As a result, the Hunting Horns have become more viable than ever, and it is highly recommended for players to keep these powerful weapons in their arsenal. By doing so, they can fully experience the diverse gameplay, lighthearted atmosphere, and camaraderie that Monster Hunter is known for. Monster Hunter World is currently available for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.