Capcom forgot to buff one of the worst and least popular weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds, but the rest of the Title Update 2 balance changes sound pretty good

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Title Update 2 for Monster Hunter Wilds has officially been unveiled, although a PlayStation leak had previously hinted at its arrival. The update brings several adjustments to weapon balance and includes two new monsters – Lagiacrus and Seregios. Additionally, there’s an enhanced Arch-tempered version of Uth Duna in store for us.

After numerous powerful tactics and strikes were weakened (or “nerfed”), and certain gaps in other skill sets were addressed, I’m finding myself restless, much like John Travolta in “Pulp Fiction”, questioning the whereabouts of my spear enhancements.

Initially diving into the latest updates, it’s safe to say that this patch is largely beneficial. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think the Long Sword required an enhancement, but the tweaks made to its normal and spirit combos are designed to make gameplay with this weapon more diverse and less dependent on the current optimal combo.

The positioning of the double blades will be adjusted; this weapon will become more reactive and agile following these modifications. Now, after dodging, Demon Mode enables quick changes in direction, movement speed is increased during Demon Mode, and basic moves and combos have been strengthened to compensate for minor adjustments made elsewhere. The reduction in the raw power of Demon Boost Mode and its shift towards more elemental scaling particularly catches my attention, as elemental damage is greatly lacking in the Wilds and dual blades are one of the few effective ways to apply it.

In the game, the combination of sword and shield, which is among the best weapons, has seen some changes. Initially, Capcom erroneously stated that it was receiving a boost, causing quite a stir. However, they’ve actually reduced the invulnerability period during the Sliding Swipe move (which wasn’t a buff as initially announced). Additionally, spamming Guard Slash will become more challenging. Some motion values have also been decreased, and I welcome this adjustment because the weapon is currently overpowered.

As an ardent enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the innovative updates on the Hunting Horn! The Focus Strikes have amped up the power of soundwaves, and several tunes and melodies have been polished for a more enjoyable experience. On the other hand, the Switch Axe is in line for control enhancements, damage and elemental scaling boosts, and some thoughtful tweaks to the Switch Gauge. What truly excites me is that the Charge Blade now offers multiple viable playstyles! The underwhelming phial explosions are getting a significant upgrade, while the Savage Axe takes a step back, making room for the much-anticipated guard point into Savage Axe maneuver, which promises to be game-changing.

The hammer appears to have emerged as the top contender in the patch. It now boasts new offset attacks on Charged Upswing and Mighty Charge Upswing maneuvers, a fresh special follow-up move for its offsets, charge levels will rise quicker following a dodge into a Charge Step, the Big Bang combo damage is being boosted, and the hitboxes have been tweaked to potentially enhance landing accuracy. In other words, today seems like an excellent day for some good old hammering!

In the game Wilds, several weapons such as the Great Sword (often referred to as the non-exceptional sword), light and heavy Bowguns, bow, insect glaive, and gunlance have undergone minimal adjustments, which is not surprising given their current state. However, it appears that the Bowguns could use some enhancement, with the heavy Bowgun receiving a slight boost in Ignition Gauge generation from spread ammo. The other weapons are already well-balanced, but there’s room for improvement in the insect glaive camera and aiming system. Despite noticeable power differences among certain weapons, all of them in Wilds feel satisfying to use.

This discussion leads us to the Lance, a weapon rarely favored in Monster Hunter due to its consistent unpopularity. Since the release of Wilds, it has struggled significantly during speedrun clears, and recent super-bosses have particularly nullified its effectiveness with area-of-effect attacks that render it nearly useless. Instead of significant buffs, Lance received some improvements in the quality of Focus strikes, but that’s about it. It’s a bit underwhelming considering other weapons have been given offset counters.

In the Wilds, the long sword – one of the top-tier weapons – received a significant boost, while the lance saw minimal improvement. Indeed, it seems that the lance users are living up to their reputation as they endure while other weapons enhance their best moves. Despite my fondness for the lance’s updated abilities, I find myself drawn to power and the hunt times aren’t going to speed up on their own. As a result, I may have to become proficient with both greatswords and hammers to keep up.

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2025-06-27 18:13