Ever get the feeling that Monster Hunter Wilds’ Wound mechanic is too overpowered? You’re not alone. Many players believe that this new gameplay feature is so broken that it allows monsters to be shredded within minutes.
This might not seem like a real issue, as the game encourages the Focus System, but it makes hunts feel trivial due to how easily monsters flinch and stagger with minimal effort. Each of the game’s 14 weapons can exploit this mechanic, and while some, like the Gunlance, require more effort, others only need a simple press of the R1 button (on PlayStation 5).
Before diving into the details, let’s explain how the Wound System works.
How Wounds Work
Monster Hunter Wilds’ new Wound System allows players to target a monster's weak point by repeatedly striking the same body part. By entering Focus Mode, hunters gain a heightened state that enables better camera control and highlights the monster's exposed part in red. This signals that the area is primed for a Focus Attack.
Once the wound is inflicted, the monster becomes temporarily immobilized and, in some cases, even knocked down. Accumulating multiple wounds often leaves the monster completely helpless for the duration of the hunt.
This is problematic, and Capcom should consider adjusting the monster’s resistance to balance the gameplay.
Trivial Fights
As mentioned, this mechanic makes fights feel too easy, as players can simply target exposed parts. This is especially evident in multiplayer mode, where three other hunters can collectively exploit the monster’s weaknesses.
The result is a relentless beatdown that strips the monster of any real threat, as it spends most of the fight recovering from internal injuries caused by Focus Attacks. Even challenging monsters like Tempered Gore Magala and Arkveld become laughably easy when a teammate is equipped with the Flayer skill.
The Flayer Skill
This is, by far, the most broken skill in the game. The Flayer Skill increases damage to wounded areas during a Focus Attack and makes it easier to inflict wounds. Equipping the Flayer Decoration Slot to your armor accelerates fights, making it the go-to build for speedrunners who thrive on quick hunts.
Boosting the Flayer Skill to Level 5 makes hunters exceptionally dangerous, as wounding monsters becomes effortless. Certain armor sets, like the Guardian Arkveld Equipment, come with the Flayer skill, making them not only visually impressive but also overpowered.
The Prime Focus
Of course, this doesn’t mean every hunter should exclusively focus on the Flayer Skill. Damage-boosting options like Attack Boost Decorations and Weakness Exploit still play a role. However, when dealing simultaneous damage with fast weapons like Sword & Shield, an immobilized monster is as good as dead.
This design choice from Capcom, while welcoming to new players seeking a power fantasy, ultimately disadvantages the monsters and shortens the duration of fights.
What’s the Fix?
Apparently, nothing—for now. Capcom is aware of the situation, and players are relishing the satisfaction of landing Focus Attacks on a monster’s weak points. Until the inevitable nerf in future Title Updates, hunters should enjoy this mechanic while it lasts.
At least it’s not as bad as the Clutch Claw.