In Monster Hunter Wilds, while you will be doing a lot of hunting, you can capture the beasts that roam the world and not just defeat them. Almost all large creatures in the game can be subdued and taken, except for Zoh Shia. This method allows the hunts to be completed faster, which is particularly useful if you’ve had a few too many failures.
Understanding Capture Mechanics
A problem with Monster Hunter Wilds is the tutorials do not help much. You do not learn about capturing until deep in the campaign and it is then only high-rank hunts. Even at that point, players are introduced to only a single method, which is lacking. This guide will explore different how-to-take-monster strategies that allow players to swiftly capture their quarry and complete hunts faster.
Basic Requirements for Capturing Monsters
There are some conditions that need to be fulfilled to capture a monster in the game.
1. The monster’s health must be low enough to trigger a skull icon on the mini-map.
2. They must be caught in a crafted trap, such as a Pitfall or Shock trap.
3. The creature should be tranquilized using two Tranq items.
If you miss the skull icon or forget to glance to the mini-map, listen out for your Palico or fellow hunters, who will indicate when a monster is on its last legs. That’s your signal to proceed with a capture.
Method 1: Employing Traps Before Tranq Bombs
Following the steps outlined here is basically the way to capture targets. Once they are weakened, lure them into a trap you have made, and hit it with two Tranq bombs. Winning will take the player directly to an end of hunt cutscene. The method taught by the game is the standard approach and while it’s not the most flawed thing, it does have some faults. So by using traps repeatedly, monsters build up their resistance to it. This can be handy if Support Hunter NPCs and Palicos do not go getting carried away with their traps though. When you plan to trap a monster, it’s a good idea to not trap or disable the Support Hunter option and let your team know that you plan on trapping.
Method 2: Tranq Bombs First, Traps Second
Interestingly, tranquillising and trapping can happen in either order. A good way to go about it is to weaken the monster, use two Tranq Bombs for it to sleep, and then seal it in a trap from your crafting. The method allows the hunt to come to a fast finish when the trap is sprung. Sometimes, you need to get into position to lure a monster back into a trap. This is often easier than rummaging through your inventory to find Tranq Bombs. This is particularly true for monsters that are threatened. Do not try this when the creature is about to move. Either lure-pod them or wait until they settle at a new area.
Alternatives: Tranq Blades and Ammo
One of the biggest downsides to Tranq Bombs is their inexactness—the hunter just tosses it at their foot, which can be bad with agile targets. Fortunately, you can shoot enemies down as there’s cheesing option. Tranq Blades are like throwing knives while Tranq Ammo is for use with the Bowgun. Like bombs, two hits are necessary for a capture. These alternatives can be used on equipped bombs and will provide the versatility that is missing. The tranq ammo is good because it frees up some space in the inventory for the Bowgun.