Wild Hearts is Omega Force's answer to the monolith franchise Monster Hunter. It's got giant monsters (kemono) to kill, materials to collect, and weapons and armor to create. However, Wild Hearts also brings Fortnite-esque building abilities to help you in the fight. That's something new to the gameplay, with persistent locations where other players can see and use what you've built.
Still, both games have a whole arsenal of weapons to choose from, and here's how to get them. In addition, click here for a general beginner's guide in Wild Hearts.
Unlocking More Weapons for Wild Hearts
At the beginning of the game, you'll start with a choice of five weapons:
- Karakuri Katana
- Nodachi (greatsword)
- Bow
- Maul
- Bladed Wagasa (an umbrella)
It's fun to try out new weapons to find which one clicks with your play style, and that's not all of the ones offered by the game. There are three more you can unlock:
- Hand Cannon
- Claw Blade
- Karakuri Staff
These three weapons will be available once you've done the game's first chapter. It includes the following missions:
- Going to Minato after the tutorial
- Activate the Dragon Pit on Natsukodachi Island
- Fight the Earthbreaker Kemono
- Speak to Toga-Hime
Doing all that opens the forge in Minato, where you can speak to Natsume to craft these three weapons. You'll need a core stone and some gold to build each one.
Weapon Details
Here are more details about these armaments and their advantages and disadvantages. It can help you choose which ones are more likely to suit your play style.
Karakuri Katana
This is the most basic weapon. It can be described as a jack-of-all-trades sword. With it, you can deal quick strikes with light attacks, and heavy attacks are potent but make you vulnerable. It has an 'unbound' state that turns it into something like a whip-sword, amplifying and strengthening its attacks.
It sits in the middle ground between the Claw Blade and the Nodachi regarding speed and power. This makes it an excellent weapon for solo play, as it has no glaring weaknesses and is serviceable enough for fighting.
Nodachi
The larger cousin of the above specializes in heavy slicing blows, trading speed for power. The greatsword equivalent is perfect for players who can capitalize on the enemy's vulnerable moments. Hauling around a colossal sword impacts your movement, so you're not as mobile, making avoiding some attacks challenging. The Nodachi also offers specific stances to accommodate some playstyles.
In summary, you'll be doing significant damage with the Nodachi if you can open up the opportunity to do so. Otherwise, you must deal with the speed penalty and compensate for your slow swing speed. This weapon could require some tactical thinking and timing ability.
Bow
It's the first ranged offering of the game. With it, you can keep a distance from the kemono, shooting at it with your arrows. The Bow has two firing modes, Haya (horizontal) and Otoya (vertical). When using Haya, shots will lodge into the enemy's body. You can then use Otoya to resonate with those lodged projectiles to deal additional damage.
This is a lighter and more mobile ranged option, though it might not reach the damage output of the cannon. Still, players who don't like getting up close and personal can use this and snipe from afar.
Maul
If you thought the Nodachi was heavy, this hammer trumps it. It is the most weighty of all melee weapons in the game, making its severe attacks devastating. You can even adjust the handle's length, changing its reach and combo path. The ability also lets you access a special spinning move, which can crush your enemy.
It has the same feel as the Nodachi, being a slow but damaging weapon. You'll need to be creative in using its adjustable handle length and special attacks.
Bladed Wagasa
The most unique weapon of the game is a sharp-edged, pointy umbrella. You read that right, an umbrella. It's a fast weapon whose combos can launch you in the air, transitioning into an aerial combo. Also, its most unique feature is the ability to parry kemono attacks, which makes it somewhat of a shield. Its unique ability is a Renmai gauge you fill to enhance your damage.
You'll undoubtedly get points for flair if you use this weapon, though it could be challenging as not many games have it as an option. Still, it shouldn't be that hard.
Hand Cannon
It's the second ranged option for Wild Hearts. Less mobile than the Bow, it relies on Ki Bases to fill its Charge Gauge. Players must manage that gauge and their positioning for the highest damage output. That's not even taking into account having to dodge attacks!
Using this weapon will give you many things to think about. Where you are, what the Kemono is doing, and how filled your Charge Gauge is will all clamor for your attention. It's an excellent weapon for overthinkers and those good at multitasking.
Claw Blade
The Claw Blade is the fastest weapon in the game. Its quick combos transition into aerial combos. If you fill its Claw Gauge, you can activate a special grapple attack for even more airborne attacks. It's a mobile and agile weapon for those who like zipping around the battlefield.
Its quick attacks only do minor damage when taken individually. However, when you string them into a combo, it quickly stacks up to big numbers. Don't get too into racking up your hits, though, because inattention can get you hit. Pay a little attention to what the kemono is doing so you can avoid its attacks.
Karakuri Staff
The Karakuri Staff is another unique weapon in the game. Its gimmick is transformation, and it has five forms:
- Staff
- Twin Fang (tonfa)
- War Pike
- Giant Shuriken
- Juggernaut Blade
Transforming it in the middle of the combo increases the damage of the following form if you land the attack that changes it. You'll want to cycle through the states rather than staying on one. That makes it a versatile weapon, and you get to experience different kinds of styles.
It can be jarring when you transform the staff. Still, the fast and fluid attacks can be a joy to execute, especially when you do it well. If you want something out of the norm, try this weapon.
More to Come
These are only some of the weapons in the game. Omega Force will add to this arsenal eventually. Considering their penchant for unusual arms, we can expect more weird, wacky, or cool ones to come! They're sparse on the ranged options, too. More of those would be nice.
Have Fun With Your Chosen Weapon!
Even though you've read all their descriptions, there's nothing like experiencing them yourself. The most you could do after reading this is to narrow down which weapons you'd like to try. Enjoy the selection and practice, and take down those kemono with your chosen armament!
