Ultimate Hammer Guide for Monster Hunter Wilds: Combos & Tips

Among the various weapon options in Monster Hunter Wilds, the Hammer stands out for its ease of use. While there are many customization options available in Monster Hunter, your weapon choice is the most significant factor affecting your gameplay style. Opting for the Hammer means you will experience slower but more deliberate swings wielding an exceptionally strong weapon. You can perform simple attack combinations or pause to charge your weapon for increased damage, incorporating the new focus mode introduced in MH Wilds to inflict serious wounds.

The key concept behind the Hammer is that you trade speed and agility for immense damage and user-friendliness. It consistently ranks as one of the highest-damage weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds. While it doesn’t offer as much mobility as lighter weapons or the advanced skills needed for complex weapons like the Insect Glaive, it’s very beginner-friendly, making it an ideal choice for newcomers. Its straightforward mechanics allow you to concentrate on dodging while delivering impactful damage through simple combos.

Top Hammer Combos

Basic Combo

For your basic Hammer combo, simply press Triangle/Y three times. This action executes two Overhead Slashes followed by a powerful upward swing for significant damage. This combo should be your go-to move whenever you find a brief opportunity—just spam Triangle/Y!

The final strike in your basic Hammer combo serves as an Offset Attack, a new feature in Wilds. Each large monster has a hidden Offset meter; when you interrupt their attacks with your combo attacks, you’ll fill this meter. Once filled, the monster becomes staggered for a short period. However, timing is crucial—miss your window, and you might take a heavy hit from the monster. Head over to the Training Area and chat with the Felyne to activate the practice dummy’s attack mode. This way, you can refine your timing before taking your skills to the field.

Big Bang Combo

One of the most formidable moves available to Hammer users is the Big Bang; however, it has a specific requirement that makes it challenging to execute. To trigger the Big Bang Finisher, you must complete a short combo and ensure every attack in the sequence lands successfully. This means you will need to hit Circle/B five times consecutively to activate the finisher.

Charge Combos

You can charge your Hammer by holding R2/RT. While charging will drain your Stamina, it also boosts the power of your attacks. Feel free to experiment by chaining various moves during your charge. There are three charge levels, each unlocking new stat bonuses, with the third level granting access to an additional attack.

Upon reaching charge level three, you can execute a Mighty Charge Slam by pressing Triangle + Circle/Y + B. This represents the ultimate move within your charge combo.

Spinning Bludgeon

After nearly any attack with the Hammer, you can press Triangle + Circle/Y + B to initiate a Spinning Bludgeon. This spinning move allows you to deliver continuous attacks, with your next strike becoming progressively stronger the longer you spin. You can perform a total of five rotations and then transition into one of three different follow-up moves, depending on when you choose to attack. Practice this move in the Training Area to master your timing.

Complete List of Hammer Moves & Their Functions

Triangle/Y Is Your Primary Attack

As with most Monster Hunter weapons, Triangle/Y is your Hammer’s basic attack. You can spam this for moderate damage or combine it with a variety of additional moves for greater damage potential.

Circle/B Initiates Your Big Bang Combo

Unlike other weapon types, Circle/B does not function primarily as a distance-closer; rather, it kicks off your Big Bang combo while wielding the Hammer. Remember that you must connect each Big Bang attack to reach the finisher.

R2/RT To Charge & Close Gaps

While R2/RT allows you to charge your Hammer, it can also be used to execute some helpful distance-closing maneuvers. By combining the left stick with various charged attacks, you can close in on targets while striking; following these with additional Triangle/Y attacks sends you rushing forward even more.

L2/LT Activates Focus Mode

Similar to other weapons, pressing L2/LT enables Focus Mode, allowing you to deal considerable damage to specific monster parts. Using your Triangle/Y or Circle/B attacks in this mode mainly alters their timing, but you can also execute an ultimate Focus Mode attack by pressing L2 + R1/LT + RB for instant wound destruction.

Triangle + Circle/Y + B To Activate Spinning Bludgeon

Lastly, Triangle + Circle/Y + B brings your Spinning Bludgeon into play, but only after a preceding attack. This move is critical to practice; watch the combo indicators in the upper right corner to learn which attacks can flow into the Spinning Bludgeon and which can follow it. You want to avoid getting stuck in an endless spin!

Strategies for Hammer Builds

Crafting Your Ideal Hammer

As you embark on your journey with the Hammer, crafting the Bone Bludgeon should be your first objective. This weapon belongs to Monster Hunter Wilds‘ Bone Tree, which means it’s a powerful, easily upgraded weapon that can be crafted using readily available materials. Always check Bonepiles for materials to improve your crafting.

Later in the game, the G Exultant Bedivere emerges as the top-damage Hammer you’ll be able to create before advancing to Artifact Weapons. As a level in the Guardian Doshaguma Tree, you’ll need to progress through a series of increasingly powerful Hammers to gather sufficient materials for this weapon. The following chart illustrates the upgrade path you’ll need to take to unlock it.

As expected, you’ll need to farm quite a few Guardian monsters for the materials required for your ultimate Hammer upgrade. However, the damage potential will make your efforts worthwhile once you achieve it.

Best Practices for Using Your Hammer

Most of the time, your basic Hammer combo will be sufficient. This combination works great for quick openings and is simple to execute, even if you need to dodge at a moment’s notice. If the monster creates distance, take advantage of that time to charge your weapon before re-engaging. When you have more time available, consider transitioning into a Spinning Bludgeon.

Utilize Offset or Focus Attacks to inflict damage, ultimately knocking down the monster. Once it’s down, take the opportunity to unleash your Big Bang Attacks, as you are almost guaranteed to connect every move while the monster is immobilized. The same strategy applies when trapping the monster—you’ll have ample time to execute your Big Bang Finisher while it’s unable to escape.

Overall, the Hammer is a fantastic option for players and beginners alike. It’s user-friendly and while it may not have the intricate mechanics of something like the Charge Blade, it remains incredibly enjoyable. If you’re just getting started with your adventure in Monster Hunter Wilds, the Hammer is a fantastic choice to start with.