In Monster Hunter Wilds, it is now possible for the first time to combine armor without the so-called “genderlock”. A monster now receives armor sets that showcase the full potential of this change and prove why this change was long overdue.
What is genderlock? Genderlock refers to the restriction of equipment parts or hairstyles to the gender of the character model. So if you play a female character, you can only use the female design elements and vice versa.
This severely limits the freedom for many fashion enthusiasts, as individual parts or armor pieces are often just right for their character. They may be present in the game, but not usable.
In previous parts of Monster Hunter, it was at least possible to freely choose hairstyles without genderlock restrictions. However, with Monster Hunter Wilds, it is possible for the first time to combine armor pieces without this limitation.
This not only offers completely new possibilities to create the perfect outfit but also special potentials for the design of individual armor sets.
Zoh Shia’s armor sets showcase the full potential
With the first major Title Update, the final boss Zoh Shia will be huntable again. Until now, it was only possible to defeat him within the story or to join others during the emergency signal.
If you defeated him in the story, there were general guardian materials available. He did not have an individual armor or fitting weapons until now. This will change on April 4, 2025, with TU1. For then, Zoh Shia will return in the form of event quests and will finally bring three of his own armor sets and numerous weapons.
His armors demonstrate what is possible with the lifting of the genderlock: For in his fight, Zoh Shia not only stands out with his iconic attacks but also undergoes an epic transformation. During this, he gradually transforms his white guardian feathers into demonic black body parts.
Exactly this transformation is captured by the designs of his armors:
Thus, the male variant has a demonic upper body and guardian trousers, while the female has guardian tops and a demonic bottom. With the lifting of the genderlock, it is possible to assemble a complete guardian outfit or a complete demonic outfit.
This possibility is only possible due to the lifting of the genderlock. Previously, players would have had to live with their respective “gender variant”.
Thus, not only does it provide a paradise for all fashion hunters, but also, as the example of Zoh Shia shows, an additional opportunity to capture the uniqueness of the monsters in their gear.
The decision to lift the genderlock and give all hunters the opportunity to play around with all available armor pieces for their outfits makes the armor system of Monster Hunter Wilds the best in the entire series.
In line with this, on March 31, 2025, an open letter from Yuya Tokuda, the head of Monster Hunter Wilds, was published. In it, he announced that you will soon be able to adapt your weapons to your outfits as well: The best weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds are also the ugliest, but that will soon change
If you are now eager to play around with all kinds of parts, we have put together an overview for you. There you will find all the currently available armors in the game as well as the materials you need for them: Monster Hunter Wilds: All high-rank armor sets at a glance
