Mastering Focus Mode in Monster Hunter Wilds: A Guide

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Each game in the Monster Hunter series brings something special to the table that sets it apart from the others. For instance, Generations features Hunter Arts, World emphasizes tracking monsters, and Rise introduces Wirebugs. In Monster Hunter Wilds, a wealth of new features is unveiled, but the most significant change affecting combat is the addition of Focus Mode.

Focus Mode introduces a fresh way to aim your weapons. It mainly impacts melee weapons but also offers some advantages for ranged ones. It’s tied into the new Wounds system, enabling unique attacks that are accessible only in Focus Mode. Let’s take a deeper look at this system.

What Is Focus Mode?

Before Wilds, the only weapons with the ability to aim freely were Bowguns and the Bow. Melee weapons relied on positioning to dictate attack direction. While that aspect remains, Focus Mode allows you to change your aim effortlessly, which means fewer missed attacks and more precise hits.

This flexibility lets you adjust your strikes even after they’ve started, which is particularly useful when dealing with fast-moving monsters. It provides a safety net for those times when you miss the mark, allowing you to maintain an attack combo while staying focused on your target.

Wounds become visible in red when using Focus Mode, making it easier to spot them during combat.

Focus Mode also includes unique attacks associated with each weapon. Generally, these attacks do minimal damage and are primarily used for targeting wounds. However, their true potential shines when you can take advantage of wounds. Not only do these attacks eliminate wounds, but they also grant various unique effects depending on the weapon type.

How To Use Focus Mode

By default, you activate Focus Mode using LT/L2, which you need to hold down. This button can be remapped in the settings, or you can set it to toggle mode for ease of use. This is especially helpful for ranged weapons where aiming is a constant requirement.

This toggle can be customized separately for melee and ranged weapons.

The Focus Attack uses the same button across all weapons, although follow-up attacks may differ. You can unleash Focus Attacks anytime, but you’ll need to strike either a wound or a weak point, which becomes available with certain attacks. While these attacks are immensely powerful, they completely destroy the targeted wound. Wounds serve as weak points, so eliminating them essentially means removing a weak point in exchange for a substantial damage boost.

Every Weapon And Its Focus Attack

The real essence of Focus Mode lies in the diverse attacks it enables for every weapon. Here’s a complete list:

Weapon	Attack Name	Effect
Great Sword	Focus Slash: Perforate	Drag your weapon across the monster to inflict damage on multiple parts. It can be terminated early by pressing RB/R1.
Long Sword	Focus Strike: Unbound Thrust	Stab a monster’s wound and position for maximum damage on multiple targets. Each wound destroyed increases your Spirit Gauge Level.
Sword And Shield	Focus Strike: Vital Stab	A wound-destroying attack that can be followed by a Falling Slash or Upswing Bash using Y/Triangle and B/Circle respectively.
Dual Blades	Focus Strike: Turning Tide	Strike a wound to initiate a Midair Spinning Blade Dance that can damage other wounds in its path.
Hammer	Focus Blow: Earthquake	Hold RT/R2 after hitting a wound to charge for a powerful spin attack, causing damage across a wide area.
Hunting Horn	Focus Strike: Reverb	After striking a wound, you can play any five notes before the attack concludes. Play them in time for a bonus attack at the end.
Lance	Focus Strike: Victory Thrust	Strike a monster’s wound to hit it with your shield, with the option to end the attack early by pressing RB/R1.
Gunlance	Focus Strike: Drake Auger	Hit a monster’s wound to perform a drilling attack that concludes with a Wyrnstake Cannon. This can also be terminated early by pressing RB/R1.
Switch Axe	Focus Assault: Morph Combination	Strike a wound to perform a combo that wraps up with a Power Axe Finisher. Press RT/R2 mid-attack for an Element Discharge Finisher instead.
Charge Blade	Focus Slash: Double Rend	Slash with your sword before switching to the Axe for an extra hit on the enemy, activating Power Axe Mode.
Insect Glaive	Focus Thrust: Leaping Strike	After attacking, your Kinsect will spear the monster and gather extracts on its way, fully powering you up.
Light Bowgun	Focus Blast: Eagle Strike Shot	Hold RB/R2 while aiming to fire a powerful shot that targets wounds. Longer charging increases the blast’s power and range.
Heavy Bowgun	Focus Blast: Wyvern Howl Shot	Press RB/R2 to unleash a shot that destroys wounds, with an option to hold for a more potent attack by expending Ignition Gauge.
Bow	Hailstorm	While aiming, hold RB/R2 to lock onto any Tracers or Fuse arrows embedded in the monster and exposed weak points. This can be charged up to three levels, launching multiple arrows for each target.

Some Focus Attacks feature additional functionalities beyond what’s listed. For example, during the Charge Blade’s Focus Attack, you can aim the slicing strike by activating Focus Mode. This allows you to retain some control during Focus Attacks instead of being completely immersed in a cinematic sequence, ensuring you’re always in command.