The most insane weapon in Monster Hunter just got even crazier in Monster Hunter Wilds’ latest trailer

The most insane weapon in Monster Hunter just got even crazier in Monster Hunter Wilds' latest trailer

What you need to know

  • The 11th weapon overview trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds, the next upcoming entry in Capcom’s Monster Hunter franchise, has gone live.
  • This trailer provides a preview of the Switch Axe, a weapon that has the unique ability to transform from a long-reaching axe to a great sword that causes explosions every time it hits enemies.
  • Monster Hunter Wilds will be released on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam, and it currently has a tentative release date of 2025.

As a seasoned Monster Hunter veteran with countless hours spent decimating beasts both great and small, I must say that the latest weapon overview trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds has me absolutely giddy with excitement! The Switch Axe, this wild creation that transforms into an explosive powerhouse, is right up my alley.


For the past fortnight, Capcom has been publishing daily trailers showcasing an array of exciting weapons that players can use in the much-anticipated action-hunting game, Monster Hunter Wilds. We’ve just reached the eleventh installment of the weapon overview trailer series for Monster Hunter Wilds, and this one offers a sneak peek at one of the game’s more unusual weapon types – the Switch Axe.

The Switch Axe is a versatile weapon that can transition between two modes, each with its distinct set of attacks and mechanics to grasp for effective use against monsters. Unlike the Charge Blade, which provides a variety of offensive and defensive strategies, the Switch Axe primarily focuses on raw offense, coupled with a few agile evasive moves.

In the initial setting of Switch Mode, known as Axe Mode, you gain the ability to assault enemies using an enormous battle axe. This axe has such an extended range that it can strike airborne foes as well. The Axe Mode’s offensive tactics involve swinging the weapon wildly and executing unique evasive maneuvers. These moves allow you to dodge incoming attacks during combos, making it seem like you’re skillfully dodging in mid-combat.

As a researcher studying this game, I’ve discovered an intriguing mechanic: each time I strike an enemy while in Axe Mode, my weapon accumulates energy for a unique gauge known as a Phial. Once the Phial reaches a certain level, I can then transition my weapon into its most potent form – Sword Mode.

The most insane weapon in Monster Hunter just got even crazier in Monster Hunter Wilds' latest trailer

The Switch Axe morphs into a giant sword in Sword Mode, sacrificing all agility for increased power, enabling rapid and powerful melee attacks using Phial energy. Moreover, it allows you to execute its powerful finisher move, ‘Elemental Discharge’, where an immense burst of energy is released, potentially dealing heavy damage to any monsters within the blast radius.

Engaging an attack while you’re in Sword Mode simultaneously fills a unique meter related to the Phial meter. This meter is exclusive to Sword Mode attacks and when it’s fully charged, it triggers the ‘Amped State’ for the Switch Axe.

When the Sword Mode in Switch Mode is overwhelmed with excessive energy, it results in small, explosive releases of Elemental Energy each time an enemy is struck. This state, known as Amped State, not only intensifies the power of Sword Mode’s attacks but also transforms the Elemental Discharge attack into a new one called Zero Sum Discharge.

The most insane weapon in Monster Hunter just got even crazier in Monster Hunter Wilds' latest trailer

Instead of firing an Elemental Discharge from a stationary position like normal, the Zero Sum Discharge has you thrust the Switch Axe into a monster, releasing the attack internally to obliterate its internal organs with continuous explosions. But be aware that executing this move will drain the Phial completely and cause the weapon to switch back to Axe Mode.

As a seasoned video game aficionado with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the strategy you’ve outlined for using the Switch Axe weapon is both intriguing and effective. Building up Phial energy in Axe Mode to unleash devastating Elemental Discharges while switching to Sword Mode for the Amped State seems like a potent combination.

In Monster Hunter World, the Switch Axe is set to receive fresh attacks and reintroduce a valuable technique it mastered in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak expansion. Here’s what we know about the new abilities and gameplay adjustments, based on the released trailer:

  • A new combo finisher in Axe Mode attack where you swing the weapon upwards to targets high up.
  • A new Focus Strike where you swing the weapon in Axe Mode to brutally eviscerate a monster’s weak spot or wound, and then transform into Sword Mode to finish them off a quick Elemental Discharge.
  • The counter technique from Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak where you go into a stance in Sword Mode which, if performed at the right time, will parry a monster’s attack and let you counter-attack with a swift melee combo.
  • A charge attack where you run to a monster and perform a double wide-swing attack in Axe Mode.
  • The explosions you unleash while Sword Mode’s in Amped State have been powered up so that they’re bigger and deal more impact damage to a monster.

Switch up your hunting techniques with the Switch Axe

The most insane weapon in Monster Hunter just got even crazier in Monster Hunter Wilds' latest trailer

Among my cherished weapons in Monster Hunter, I also adore the Switch Axe, which shares the spotlight with Charge Blade and Gunlance. The allure lies in its mind-blowing concept – it resembles a colossal Swiss Army Knife that detonates upon impact! Isn’t that simply thrilling?

Mastering the intricate mechanics and versatile move-sets of the Switch Axe might initially prove challenging, but once conquered, it offers an exhilarating gaming experience. The Switch Axe’s attacks are captivating and rewarding to execute, its evasion techniques aid in dodging enemy assaults while maintaining offensive momentum, and its design is among the most impressive across the entire series.

I’m eagerly anticipating the unveiling of additional skills that the Switch Axe and the other thirteen weapon types in Monster Hunter Wilds will acquire once their Xbox or PC version launches in 2025.

The upcoming game, Monster Hunter Wilds – a follow-up to one of Capcom’s highly acclaimed Xbox games and PC games, Monster Hunter World, is slated for release in 2025 on platforms including Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and personal computers via Steam.

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2024-08-15 14:15