Since Monster Hunter 4, we have had 14 weapon types in the games. It seems that this will remain the case in Monster Hunter Wilds. However, many players are also wishing for new weapons. 2 weapons that you probably won’t see again come from a dead MMO and were damn strong.
Was there an MMORPG for Monster Hunter? In 2007, Monster Hunter Frontier was released in Japan. Initially, it was only available in Japan and on PC, later updates also brought versions for Xbox 360, PS Vita, and PS3. The game was playable only in Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea.
In principle, it was the classic Monster Hunter, just designed as an MMORPG. In Japan, there were even monthly fees. Just like today, you accepted different quests and hunted monsters with up to 4 players. There was no open world like in Monster Hunter Wilds.
The special thing about the game was that some monster versions and weapons were introduced that were not present in the regular series. Seasons and updates regularly provided new content. It ran for quite a long time. The MMO lasted 12 years until it was discontinued in 2019.
The probably most interesting thing that the MMO introduced were 2 new weapon types that have not been seen since, even though they were damn strong: Tonfa and Magnet Spike.
You can find the weapon types from the upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds here: Monster Hunter Wilds: Overview of all 14 weapons
The Tonfa – A fast and blunt weapon
What can the Tonfa do? In 2014, Monster Hunter Frontier G Genuine was released, and the Tonfa came into play with the add-on. Similar to the Dual Blades, you have a weapon in each hand here. The Tonfas are short staff weapons that belong to the faster category. Like with the blades, you could dodge quickly.
There are two modes, one with short sticks and one with long ones. They had their own passive effects. Interestingly, you could also propel yourself into the air with the Tonfas and perform attacks from there, just like with the Insect Glaive.
The star of the weapon is the Dragon Spirit. The Tonfas have a gauge that fills up when you attack and increases your own damage. If you have a high value in this gauge, you can execute the finisher, Dragon Spirit Fierce Attack, at the end of a combo. This causes a delayed explosion after the combo that triggers a different effect depending on which body part of the monster was targeted. (via Monster Hunter Wiki)
Here you can watch Tonfa gameplay by Garrus on YouTube:
What makes the Tonfa so strong? Tonfas are incredibly fast, have good dodging options, and most importantly: they can quickly knock out the monster, effectively stunning it, since they are blunt weapons – just like the Hammer.
The Hammer is a risky and slow weapon, while the Tonfas can simply achieve a knock-out if you hit the head with the Dragon Spirit Fierce Attack. Afterwards, the monster remains knocked out for a certain period of time, regardless of where it receives KO damage.
With other buffs from the finisher, you can additionally obtain significant damage boosts or even regenerate sharpness.
The Magnet Spike – The most incredible weapon in the entire series
What can the Magnet Spike do? In 2018, the update Monster Hunter Frontier Z Zenith was released, bringing a new weapon type: the Magnet Spike. This weapon has two modes. In Slashing Mode, the weapon takes the form of a large scythe. In Impact Mode, it looks like a large club.
When you attack with this weapon, it generates magnetism. Once you reach a certain value, you receive an attack boost. The monster can also be bound in a magnetic field. If you do it right, you can end the binding with a finisher and cause tremendous damage.
The great thing about the finisher is that the monster cannot resist while you perform a quick-time event.
It gets really interesting with the Magnetic Field Gun. You can use it to mark a specific spot on the monster. Afterwards, you can pull yourself to that spot and perform attacks. If you want to flee quickly, you can propel yourself away from that point. This makes the weapon extremely mobile despite its size. (via Monster Hunter Wiki)
You can also see Magnet Spike gameplay again on YouTube by Garrus:
What makes the Magnet Spike so good? The weapon can practically do everything and do it really well. It has fantastic range, enormous mobility, and you can target monster parts with the Magnet Field Gun. And the best part: the weapon deals massive damage.
Additionally, the weapon can block and counter in both forms. The weapon’s attacks are quite fast and while dodging or propelling yourself away from the opponent, you can execute attacks. Even slow animations can be canceled fairly quickly with a dodge move that still deals damage.
If we are to believe the reddit user quick1ez, then the weapon also has very good i-frames, meaning a favorable window during certain animations when you cannot be hit. Furthermore, the weapon deals both cutting damage and blunt damage, making the Hammer, according to quick1ez, redundant.
How likely is it that we will see the two weapons again? It is unlikely that any content from Monster Hunter Frontier will be adapted into the current games. A rare example would be the Lavasioth, which was added to Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. Also, no new weapon types have been added since Monster Hunter 4.
Monster Hunter Wilds has only introduced the 14 known weapon types so far, so it can be assumed that those will also be present in the game. The series likes to try out features and mechanics that we never see again. Swimming from Tri will likely not return either: Monster Hunter Wilds likely won’t bring back a controversial feature, as it would be like developing a game of its own
