In Monster Hunter Wilds, you can not only defeat your opponents but also capture them. We will explain the advantages of this, how you can catch them, and how to ensure that you do not accidentally knock them out.
These are the advantages of capturing: Unlike defeating, when you capture a monster, you get more and often rarer items from them. Additionally, this shortens the hunting time since you only need to weaken the monsters and not defeat them.
But beware: Some rare materials can only be obtained by defeating the monsters. These items are excluded when capturing, so you cannot completely avoid defeating them.
To successfully capture your target monster, we will explain what you should pay attention to.
How to Successfully Capture Monsters
To successfully capture a monster and not accidentally knock it out, you should follow these steps and tips:
Craft and Prepare Items
To capture a monster, you should have the following items on hand:
- A shock trap or pitfall
- Sedative bombs / tranquilizer blades / tranquilizer ammo if you are playing with a bowgun
You can craft these items yourself. You can find the materials in the areas. For the traps, you need trap tools, which you can buy for 200 Zennys each at the supply depot:
To craft, go to your tent and then select the “Crafting List” option. There you will find all the items you need for capturing on page 6:
For crafting, you need the following materials:
- Pitfall: trap tool, net (spider web + ivy)
- Shock trap: trap tool, thunderbug capacitor
- Sedative bomb: sleep herb, paralysis mushroom
- Tranquilizer ammo: sedative bomb, normal ammo
- Tranquilizer blade: sedative bomb, throwing knife
It’s best to place the items in your pouch right next to each other or use your pie menu because once you lure the monster into the trap, everything needs to happen quickly, or you risk missing your chance.
This is particularly frustrating since you can only carry one of each trap type in your pouch. Once they are used, you need to return to a camp and restock your supplies. If you placed a trap incorrectly, you can easily pick it back up.
Weaken the Monster and Find the Right Moment
If you want to capture a beast instead of defeating it, you first need to weaken it. You do this by hitting it firmly. When the monster is ready for capture, a small skull icon will appear on the map over the monster:
Are there any further hints? Additionally, your Palico or the support hunters, if you have any with you, will give you calls and hints as soon as a monster is ready to be captured. So, you should listen carefully and pay attention to statements like “Almost done” and similar, then take a look at the minimap.
The monster usually retreats to its nest shortly before its demise. At this point, it often looks quite battered and limps. If you pay attention to all these indicators, you should not miss the right time.
Properly Use Traps and Bombs
When you are ready to capture the monster, you need to set a trap and lure the monster into it. Often, it is enough to place it and stand behind it; the monsters will eventually come on their own if they are aggressive towards you.
If the animal has retreated to its nest, it will often sink into a short slumber. You can then take advantage of this for your plan.
Once the monster is in the trap, you need to calm it down with sedative bombs, tranquilizer ammo, or tranquilizer blades. Usually, 2 of the respective items are enough to safely capture the monster, provided you hit it.
If you do everything correctly, you will successfully capture your prey and the hunt will be over. You do not need to do anything else and will receive a shortened end timer for your quest of 20 seconds. After that, you will see the usual screen with the materials you have received.
Things to Keep in Mind
What should I do with hovering or flying monsters?
Since traps are placed on the ground, you usually face a problem with such monsters. However, you can often solve this by knocking down the monsters above your placed trap with a thunder capsule. Alternatively, you can wait until the monster starts a phase on the ground and place the trap in its path then.
Does it matter which trap I use?
No, not every trap works on every monster, and not every monster can be captured. For example, Rey Dau is immune to shock traps and Jin Dahaad cannot be captured at all. However, for many other monsters, you can choose freely.
If you are looking for more tips and tricks that can help you in your life as a monster hunter, you can check out our guide overview. There you will find plenty of current assistance and overviews: Monster Hunter Wilds: All Guides, Beginner Tips, and Information Overview
