If you’re gearing up to explore the new open-world deserts and jungles of Monster Hunter Wilds, you’ve likely seen the option to pick up the monster hunter wilds deluxe pack alongside the standard base game. It’s easy to feel confused about whether the extra $20 price tag is worth the investment, especially if you’re on a tight budget or don’t usually care about extra cosmetic content. I’ve put hundreds of hours into every mainline Monster Hunter title since World launched, and I’ve bought my fair share of deluxe editions to know which add-ons are worth splurging on and which you can safely skip. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to make the right call for your playstyle.
What Exactly Comes in the Monster Hunter Wilds Deluxe Pack?
Unlike some premium game packs that lock gameplay content behind a paywall, the Monster Hunter Wilds Deluxe Pack only includes cosmetic and bonus digital content that doesn’t impact your in-game performance. All core hunt content, weapons, armor, monsters, and post-launch story updates are available to every player who owns the base game, no extra purchase required. The full list of deluxe-exclusive content is as follows:
- Exclusive "Wanderer" layered armor set for your hunter, with mix-and-match parts that work with all armor types and don’t interfere with your equipped gear’s stats
- 3 unique Palamute layered armor sets, including a desert nomad design and a fluffy wool variant that fits perfectly with cold-region hunting vibes
- 2 Palico layered armor sets, one themed after a traveling merchant and another with tiny canteen and first-aid kit accessories for your support cat
- 10 exclusive gesture packs, including a campfire cooking emote, a monster wave greeting, and a victory cheer that plays a unique sound effect when used
- Custom character customization pieces, 5 new hairstyles and 3 face paint designs only available in the deluxe pack
- 70+ page digital art book with concept art for cut monsters, unused location designs, and early gear sketches that never made it to the final base game
- Official digital soundtrack with 42 tracks, including bonus unreleased battle themes for endgame monsters that don’t play during standard hunts
None of the deluxe pack content gives you gameplay advantages over players who own the base game. You won’t get higher stats, early access to new monsters, or exclusive weapons that make hunts easier. Every piece of content in the pack is purely for customization or extra fan-focused content, which is an important detail to keep in mind when making your purchase decision.
Who Should Buy the Deluxe Pack?
The deluxe pack isn’t for everyone, but it’s a great pick for specific types of players. First, if you’re a long-time Monster Hunter fan who spends hours customizing your hunter and companion looks between hunts, this pack will give you tons of new options to play with from day one. I still use the layered armor from the Monster Hunter Rise deluxe pack three years after launch, so for players who care about aesthetics, the extra cost pays for itself pretty quickly.
Content creators and streamers will also get a lot of value out of the pack. The exclusive gestures and armor sets help you stand out from other creators covering the game at launch, and the unique emotes are great for keeping streams entertaining during down time between hunts. If you regularly play with a group of friends, the gestures are also a lot of fun to mess around with at camp or after taking down a tough monster.
If you only play Monster Hunter for the core hunt loop and don’t care about customization, you can skip this pack entirely. You won’t miss any of the game’s main content, and you can put that extra $20 toward the first post-launch expansion whenever it releases. It’s also not a great pick if you’re only planning to play the game for 10 or 20 hours to test it out, as you won’t get enough use out of the cosmetic content to justify the cost.
How Does the Deluxe Pack Compare to Other Purchase Options?
Capcom offers three main purchase tiers for Monster Hunter Wilds, so it’s worth comparing all of them to find the best fit for your budget. The base game is the cheapest option, and it includes all core hunting content, full online co-op access, and all free post-launch title updates. It’s the best pick for casual players or anyone who is new to the Monster Hunter franchise and isn’t sure how much time they’ll put into the game.
The deluxe pack sits in the middle tier, costing $20 more than the base game and including all the extra content we listed earlier. Pre-order bonuses are separate from deluxe pack content, so you can get the limited-edition pre-order armor and item packs even if you buy the base game, as long as you complete your purchase before the official launch date. You can also buy the deluxe upgrade separately after purchasing the base game, so if you’re on the fence, you can play for 10 or 20 hours first and decide if you want the extra cosmetics later.
The top-tier physical collector’s edition costs $100 more than the base game, and it includes all deluxe pack content plus physical items like a 10-inch monster statue, steelbook case, sticker set, and physical art book. The deluxe pack is the best mid-tier option for players who want extra digital content without paying for physical items they might not use. Most players don’t need the collector’s edition unless you’re a diehard fan who collects physical game merchandise.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying the Deluxe Pack
One of the most common mistakes players make is buying the deluxe pack just for the art book and soundtrack. Both of these items usually get released separately a few months after launch for around $10 each, so if you don’t care about the layered armor and gestures, you can save $10 by buying those items separately later when they go on sale. A lot of players don’t realize this, and end up paying extra for content they could have gotten cheaper on its own.
Another mistake is assuming the deluxe pack content is time-limited. Unlike pre-order bonuses, you can buy the deluxe pack or upgrade at any point after launch, and you’ll still get all the same content. You don’t have to buy it on launch day to get access to the exclusive armor or gestures, so you can wait for a sale if you’re not in a rush to get the extra content.
Make sure you’re buying the deluxe pack for the right platform. The deluxe upgrade is not cross-platform, so if you buy the deluxe pack for PlayStation, you can’t access it on PC or Xbox even if you own the base game on both platforms. I made this mistake with the Monster Hunter Sunbreak deluxe pack a few years ago, buying it for Switch first then switching to PC a month later, and I had to repurchase the upgrade all over again. Double check your platform selection before checking out to avoid wasting money.
At the end of the day, the monster hunter wilds deluxe pack is a solid purchase for players who value customization and extra fan-focused content, but it’s far from a necessary buy for everyone. If you know you’ll spend dozens of hours tweaking your hunter’s look or messing around with emotes with your hunting party, it’s well worth the extra $20. If you’re just here to hunt big monsters and don’t care what your character looks like, stick to the base game and put that extra money toward post-launch DLC instead. No matter which option you pick, you’ll still get the same core, addictive Monster Hunter hunt loop that fans have loved for decades.