Saikrii
With the Palamute, there was already a loyal mount by your side in Monster Hunter Rise. However, the Saikrii in Monster Hunter Wilds brings a whole new set of fresh features that distinctly set it apart from its predecessor.
The Saikrii has a saddlebag in which you can not only store additional items. Additionally, the bag fills over time with more useful items by itself, which can even be suitable for your current hunt.
While you are in the saddle, you can either steer manually or simply let the autopilot carry you to your desired location. You can also use items while riding, for instance, healing yourself or sharpening your weapon.
Saikrii will also assist you in combat, allowing you to attack from its back. It can automatically evade certain monster attacks, providing you with additional protection.
Weapon Switch
An additional feature that significantly distinguishes Monster Hunter Wilds from its predecessors is related to the Saikrii. It features a holster on its saddle where you can carry a second weapon.
This means that, once you set out from your camp, you can seamlessly switch between both weapons without needing to access a chest again. This opens up many additional possibilities that can fundamentally change the gameplay.
With this feature, you can switch between a melee and a ranged weapon while on the go, or take along appropriate weapons as counters for various monsters you wish to hunt in succession. Or you can buff yourself with the hunting horn and then switch it out for your favorite weapon while retaining the buffs.
Especially considering that monsters may have different stats depending on the weather conditions in their area, it might also be wise to experiment with different weapon stats.
Focus Mode and Wounds
Another feature that accompanies the weapons is the new focus mode. As the name suggests, it allows you to use your attacks and blocking abilities more focused. This makes it easier to target monster weak points and inflict wounds on them.
By targeting certain spots more frequently, you inflict wounds on your opponents, on which you can then cause increased damage. If you destroy the wound, you can further increase the damage.
In focus mode, weak points and wounds are visually highlighted, which is likely to make the combination of both a significant part of the gameplay in Monster Hunter Wilds.
On page 3, the focus will shift to monster herds, support hunters, and the arachnophobia mode.
