If you’ve been following the Monster Hunter franchise for years, you know preorder bonuses often come with fun, limited-edition items you can’t get anywhere else months after launch. If you’re planning to pick up the next mainline entry, sorting through the monster hunter wilds preorder bonus offerings early can save you from missing out on exclusive gear you’ll regret skipping later. A lot of players get confused about which rewards come with which edition, whether bonuses transfer across platforms, and how to claim their items once the game launches, so we’ve broken all that down in this no-fluff guide.
What Is Included in the Standard Monster Hunter Wilds Preorder Bonus?
The base preorder bonus applies to every copy of the game reserved before launch, no matter if you buy the standard, deluxe, or collector’s edition. You don’t have to pay extra to unlock these core rewards, which are designed to give you a small quality-of-life boost and unique cosmetic items for your first hunts. The standard pack comes with an exclusive desert-themed Palico and Palamute layered armor set that matches the game’s new open-world biome, so your companions will stand out right from your first hunt. You’ll also get a limited-edition desert explorer portrait frame for your player card, which lets you show off that you picked up the game early to other players in online lobbies. The final standard reward is 5 bonus starter consumable packs that include mega potions, shock traps, and rare carving tools to make your first 10 hours of grinding much smoother. If you preorder a physical copy from a participating local retailer, you may also get extra physical merch like vinyl stickers or a mini wall poster of the game’s flagship monster, but these offers vary by store and region.
Deluxe and Collector’s Edition Exclusive Preorder Perks
If you’re willing to spend extra on a premium edition of the game, you’ll get all the standard preorder rewards plus a long list of extra items made for long-time franchise fans. The deluxe edition is the most popular premium option, as it adds digital content you can use in-game without the high cost of physical collector’s items. All of these extra items are included as part of the deluxe monster hunter wilds preorder bonus pack, so you won’t get them if you buy the deluxe edition after launch, even if you pay the same price for it. All deluxe edition preorders come with the following exclusive perks on top of the standard bonus pack:
- Crystalline Warden Hunter Layered Armor Set (exclusive for 6 months post-launch, no other way to unlock it during that window)
- 100+ page digital art book with never-before-seen concept art for monsters, maps, armor sets, and NPCs
- Official 30-track digital soundtrack featuring the game’s main theme and hunt scores for every new monster
- 3 additional exclusive player card backgrounds and 10 unique title stickers to customize your profile
- 10 extra high-tier consumable packs with max potions, ancient potions, and golden traps to help with mid-game hunts
The collector’s edition includes all the digital rewards from the deluxe edition plus physical items: a 10-inch statue of the new flagship monster, a steelbook case, a printed cloth map of the game’s open world, and a set of enamel pins featuring the new Palico and Palamute armor designs. It’s far more expensive than the standard edition, so it’s only worth picking up if you collect physical Monster Hunter merch. I still kick myself for skipping the Iceborne collector’s edition, so I’m grabbing this one if my budget allows, but most players will be perfectly happy with the standard or deluxe edition.
Cross-Platform Eligibility and Claiming Rules
One of the most common questions we see from players is whether preorder bonuses transfer across platforms if you switch consoles or PC after preordering. The short answer is usually no, but there are a few exceptions. All preorder bonuses are tied to the platform you purchase on by default, so if you preorder a physical PS5 copy, the bonus code will only work for PlayStation accounts, and you won’t be able to redeem it on Steam or Xbox. If you buy a digital cross-play edition directly from the official Capcom store, your bonuses will be available on all platforms linked to your Capcom ID, but that offer only applies to digital purchases made directly through the publisher. If you’re not sure whether your purchase qualifies for the full monster hunter wilds preorder bonus pack, you can check your order confirmation email or reach out to your retailer’s support team to confirm. For digital preorders on platform-specific stores like Steam or the Xbox Store, your rewards will be automatically added to your in-game item box the first time you boot up the game, so you don’t have to enter any code. For physical preorders, you’ll find a paper code inside the game case that you have to redeem on your platform’s store before launching the game. Make sure you redeem that code within 3 months of launch, because it will expire after that point. I’ve seen dozens of players miss out on Rise preorder bonuses because they left their copy sealed for half a year, so don’t make that mistake.
Is Preordering Monster Hunter Wilds Worth It for the Bonus?
At the end of the day, whether the preorder bonus is worth it depends entirely on what you care about as a player. If you already know you’re going to buy the game on launch day, preordering is a no-brainer, because you get the base bonus pack for no extra cost. You’re not paying more, you’re just getting free extra items for committing to buy the game a few weeks early. If you’re on the fence about the game, though, don’t preorder just for the bonuses. All the consumable items from the preorder pack can be earned in-game with a few hours of grinding, and most of the layered armor sets will be added to the in-game premium shop 6 months after launch. The only item that will never be released again is the standard preorder Palico layered armor set, which Capcom has confirmed is exclusive to players who reserve the game before launch. If you love customizing your Palico and showing off rare items to your friends, it’s worth preordering even the cheapest standard edition to lock that set in. If you don’t care about cosmetic items, though, you can wait for reviews and post-launch sales without missing any critical gameplay content. We also recommend preordering from retailers that offer price match guarantees, so if the game drops in price within a month of launch, you’ll get the difference refunded to you automatically. That way you can lock in your preorder bonus without worrying about overpaying if the game goes on sale quickly.
There’s no right or wrong choice when it comes to preordering, but taking the time to understand the monster hunter wilds preorder bonus lineup will help you make a decision that fits your budget and playstyle. If you value exclusive cosmetics, locking in a preorder before launch will get you items you can’t get anywhere else, but if you only care about core gameplay, you can wait to buy the game without losing out on anything important. No matter what you choose, make sure you double-check your retailer’s bonus terms before purchasing, and redeem any physical codes as soon as you get your copy of the game to avoid missing out.