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Monster Hunter as a series has had a pretty firm idea of what it’s meant to be from the very first game. As such, every game since has introduced some small incremental changes, and some major changes to make each game distinct. In the case ofMonster Hunter Wilds, it was the introduction of its dynamic weather system.
This system has a dramatic effect on the world not just visually, but in terms of the gameplay opportunities that open up to you. It’s a deep system, but it takes a while to unlock its full depth. Here’s everything you need to know about it, and what effects it has in each region of the game.
What Does The Weather Affect?
The most obvious impact of the weather are the visuals. This can be the rolling sandstorm and lightning strikes of the Windward Plains, the blood-red rivers of the Scarlet Forest, or the thickening oilsilt of the Oilwell Basin. These add enough of a difference to the experience of travel, but the monsters anditems available change, too.
For one,the Apex monster of each region is much more likely to appear during the Inclemency, while materials and certain forms of endemic life are much more prevalent during the Plenty. The Fallow then stands as a kind of default weather state, with few of the benefits of the Plenty, but none of the downsides of the Inclemency.
If you are searching for specific materials,you’re best to go searching during the Plenty. If you want to hunt Apex monsters, then you’ll need the Inclemency.
Does The Weather Change Dynamically?
Throughout the majority of the Low Rank story,you actually don’t have any control over the weather. Even dynamic time-of-day is locked for the first few hours of the story. Once you reach High Rank, outside of a few story-related exceptions, the weather can be changed at will in your tent, and will also change dynamically itself as time passes.
In some regions, such as the Windward Plains,you’re able to see the sandstorm approaching from the desertbefore it rolls across the whole region.
Resting at a tent, be it back at Base Camp or at any Pop-Up Camp, will let you spend 300 Guild Points to change the time-of-day and weather to whatever you want. However,it will change completely dynamically as well without ever halting you. The Fallow can shift to an Inclemency before welcoming the Plenty all without you ever having to hit a loading screen.
There’sno distinct benefit to waiting for the weather to change dynamicallyversus just changing it at camp, though it is a very nice and impressive visual effect.
Every Region And Its Weather Type
Each of Monster Hunter Wilds' five regions each has a unique set of weather systems. All of them share the Fallow and Plenty, whileeach has their own unique Inclemency. That said, even the Fallow and Plenty are quite distinct in each region, even if they follow a similar naming conventional. Now let’s check out each region in detail.
Every image below istaken at the same location at the same time-of-day.
Windward Plains
The Windward Plains is the first region you will encounter in the game, and hassome of the most distinct visual changes of any regionthrough its various weather conditions.
Lightning will highlight the area it’s going to strike for a brief periodbefore actually hitting, letting you lure enemies towards it.
Scarlet Forest
The Scarlet Forest has a strong visual identity that is dramatically altered by the weather systems, andeven has effects on various monster battles.
Certain forms of endemic life willswim in the raised riversduring the Downpour.
Uth Duna is most likely to appear during the Downpour, but can also appear in other weather conditions. In the Fallow and Plenty,Uth Duna cannot create Tidal Waves, making the fight flow entirely differently.
Oilwell Basin
The Oilwell Basin is one of the most visually unique areas in the game, andits Fallow season is already quite a bit more hostilethan other regions. Its weather conditions will even require you to consume Cold Drinks just to top your health constantly draining.
The Oilwell Basin presents some of themost prominent gameplay changeswhen it comes to its changing weathers, so ensure you’re a bit more prepared than usual when setting out here.
Iceshard Cliffs
The Iceshard Cliffs are a very narrow area filled with tight corners and areas where it is very easy to fall. It also hassome of the least distinctive changesbetween each type of weather.
During the Frostwinds,there is a chance for Jin Dahaad to appearin certain areas of the Iceshard Cliffs. You can’t hunt them here, but you can still attack them.
Ruins Of Wyveria
The Ruins of Wyveria is a slightly different area. It is compact, but almost every monster can appear here, and it isthe only place with Guardian monsters. Its weather changes are the least visually distinctive, and feature only a small number of gameplay changes as well.
Wyveria is the only region withunique names for all three weather conditions.
There are cocoons in the lower sections of Wyveria that Guardian Monsters can be born from. This happensmore frequently during the Wyvern’s Wakeningweather condition.
