Focus Mode is a brand-new mechanic inMonster Hunter Wilds, giving you new ways to target a monster’s wounds with flashy attacks. By entering Focus Mode, you can carefully observe a target’s weak points before striking where it is vulnerable. Every weapon has a unique Focus Mode attack that plays into its strengths, dealing heavy damage and making it easier to access certain abilities.
DespiteMonster Hunter Wildsbeing a sequel toWorld, Focus Mode is a never-before-seen feature exclusive to the newest title. As a result, some familiar weapon features are locked to different inputs than before, which may confuse veteran hunters of the series.Don’t forget to go into the in-game guides for your favorite weapon to see what’s changedwith the addition of Focus Mode attacks.
How To Perform Focus Mode Attacks In Monster Hunter Wilds
Create Wounds And Unleash Special Strikes
Youcan only perform Focus Mode attacks after you have created a wound on a monsterafter powerful strikes with your weapon. Wounds are significant injuries inflicted on a monster, usually from charged strikes or a weapon’s stronger techniques. Depending on themonster inMonster Hunter Wilds, some injuries are easy to see on its body, while others have thick fur or scales that make wounds hard to spot.
Monster Hunter Wilds Review: Heading In A Bold New Direction, With One Or Two Missteps
Monster Hunter Wilds is a lushly beautiful and ceaselessly thrilling entry in the series, but its performance and on-rails story can be distracting.
By pressing L2, you enter Focus Modewith any weapon in the game. From here, you may see glowing red points across a monster’s body, indicating where wounds have been opened up throughout a hunt. You could have created some wounds, while others may have originated from an ally’s strikes if you are with multiple players during a hunt.
Some weapons can enter Focus Mode to easily aim attacks that have a hard time hitting targets. For example, the True Charge Slash attack of the Greatsword can be aimed by using Focus Mode to rotate the position of your character.
When you enter Focus Mode,your attacks deal more damage when you attack woundson a monster. Ambitious hunters looking tomake battles easy inMonster Hunter Wildscan follow up their assault on a wound with a powerfulFocus Strikeby pressing R1 while in Focus Mode. Every weapon has a unique Focus Strike option, as seen in the tables below:
Focus Strike Description
Greatsword
Do a sweeping slash that drags across a monster. Hitting an open wound will destroy it and stun the monster. From this attack, you can start charging a True Charged Slash.
Dual Blades
Perform a leaping overhead strike. Landing this move on a wound will do another fast slashing attack that destroys open wounds for additional damage.
Longsword
Raise the weapon over your head before doing a fast overhead thrusting strike. Hitting a wound will do another follow-up series of slashes that destroy wounds.
Sword & Shield
Do a small stabbing attack that causes you to latch onto a monster if you hit an open wound. By pressing an attack input after this Focus Strike, you can do a follow-up uppercut or a downward strike.
Hammer
Perform a spinning attack that slams into the ground. Hitting an open wound will accumulate any charges kept on the weapon. By pressing and holding R2 after this Focus Strike, you can start charging into a Mighty Charge attack.
Hunting Horn
Do a short stab with your weapon. Hitting an open wound will begin a solo performance that allows you to input five different notes for unique effects.
Lance
Perform an upward shield bash to possibly stun a monster. Hitting an open wound will charge an attack that can hit multiple times.
Gunlance
Do a drilling attack that can open and destroy wounds. If you want, this Focus Strike can also release a Wyrmstake for extra effects.
Switch Axe
Unleash a forward slash that transitions into a faster Wild Swing if it hits an open wound. During this Focus Strike, you can press R2 for either a Power Axe Finisher in Axe mode or a smaller Elemental Discharge Finisher in Sword mode.
Charge Blade
Do a two-hitting slash attack in Sword/Shield form. Hitting an open wound will transform your weapon into Savage Axe Mode. By pressing both attack buttons after this move, you can immediately combo into a Super Amped Elemental Discharge (SAED).
Insect Glaive
Perform a leaping thrust forward followed by a kick back attack. Hitting an open wound will shoot out your Kinsect and deal damage, giving you all three unique weapon resources when it returns.
Bow
Shoot a series of arrows that track your target’s wounds and any attached Tracer arrows. This attack is followed up by a Dragon Piercer attack.
Light Bowgun
Shoot out a grenade that targets open wounds. By holding R1, you can charge this shot to deal more damage.
Heavy Bowgun
Shoot a small missile that explodes after a short delay, dealing piercing damage and opening wounds. During Ignition Mode, hold down R1 after this Focus Strike to charge up a Wyvern Howl Shot and consume some of your Gauge.
Maximizing your use of Focus Mode and Focus Strikes will help you break monster parts more often, giving you extra materials to collect. Every Focus Mode attack you use inMonster Hunter Wildswill make hunts easier by creating weak points on monsters for you and your allies to target with unique, powerful attacks.
