If you’ve been scrolling through gaming forums or watching reveal trailers for the next entry in Capcom’s hit hunting franchise, you’ve probably already weighed whether you want to pick up the monster hunter wilds standard edition, or splurge on a higher-priced special or deluxe tier. I’ve been playing Monster Hunter since Freedom Unite on PSP, so I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve wasted extra cash on fancy edition perks I never ended up using. This guide breaks down exactly what you get with the base edition, who it’s best for, and when it’s worth paying more. You won’t find any hype-fueled bias here, just straight facts based on past franchise releases and confirmed details for Wilds so far.
What’s Included in the Monster Hunter Wilds Standard Edition?
The standard edition is the base version of the game, sold at the standard $69.99 price point for new AAA releases across most platforms. Capcom has shared full details of what’s included as of the latest pre-order announcements, and there are no hidden locks on core content for base edition buyers. The full confirmed inclusions are listed below:
- Full base Monster Hunter Wilds game with access to all launch biomes, 30+ huntable monsters, and complete main story campaign
- Standard pre-order bonus: Kamura Village layered armor set for your hunter and Palico, valid for all pre-orders across all editions
- Full access to all free post-launch title updates, including new monsters, maps, and story content released in the first two years post-launch
- Cross-platform multiplayer and cross-save support across all compatible consoles and PC, no extra purchase required
I’ve seen a lot of new fans worry that buying the cheaper edition means they’ll miss out on big parts of the game, but that’s not the case with Capcom’s recent Monster Hunter releases. You don’t have to pay extra for any core gameplay content, from launch hunts to the massive free title updates that drop every few months post-launch. All special edition exclusive content is cosmetic only, so you won’t get stronger weapons, access to exclusive monsters, or faster progression by spending more upfront. The only extra content in higher tiers are things like layered armor sets, emotes, stickers, and physical collectibles like art books or statues.
Who Gets the Most Value Out of the Standard Edition?
For most players, the standard edition is the best possible pick, and there are a few specific groups that will get the most value out of skipping the higher priced tiers. First, if you’re brand new to the Monster Hunter franchise, don’t drop extra cash on a deluxe edition before you know if you even like the gameplay loop. The series has a steep learning curve, and a lot of new players bounce off after the first few hunts, so it’s smarter to test the waters with the cheaper base version first.
Casual players who only hunt a few hours a week will also get far more value from the standard edition. You don’t need 10 extra emotes or a rare layered armor set if you only log on to play with friends once a weekend. If you only care about core hunting gameplay, the standard edition is all you need. For example, my little sister picked up Monster Hunter Rise for the first time last year, bought the standard edition, and put 80 hours into it without ever feeling like she was missing something. She didn’t care about the extra emotes or layered armor that came with the deluxe version, so she saved $20 that she spent on a new controller instead.
Budget-focused players also don’t need to stretch their wallet for extra fluff. The standard edition gives you hundreds of hours of gameplay for the base price, and you can always buy extra cosmetic sets separately later if you find one you really love, instead of paying for a bundle of stuff you’ll never use.
When Should You Skip the Standard Edition for a Higher Tier?
The standard edition isn’t the perfect pick for everyone, and there are a few cases where splurging on a deluxe or collector’s edition makes sense. If you’re a long-time super fan who already has a shelf full of Monster Hunter merchandise, the physical collector’s edition with the monster statue, hardcover art book, and official soundtrack is a solid purchase if you’ll actually display and use those items. I bought the Iceborne master edition for the art book a few years back, and I still flip through it once a month to look at the concept art for new monsters, so it was worth the extra cost for me.
You might also want to upgrade if you’re the type of player who customizes their hunter’s look every single hunt, and you know you’ll use the exclusive layered armor sets, emotes, and stickers that come with the deluxe edition. If you play 10+ hours a week and run lots of public lobbies, those extra customization options can make your hunts a little more fun, and the $20 upgrade fee is pretty reasonable for a handful of permanent cosmetic items.
Never pay extra for a higher tier expecting exclusive gameplay content, though. Capcom has confirmed repeatedly that all gameplay updates, new monsters, maps, and endgame content will be free for all players, no matter which edition they buy. The only extra content you’re paying for is cosmetic or physical collectibles, so don’t fall for marketing hype that tries to frame higher tiers as a way to get ahead in the game.
Common Misconceptions About the Standard Edition Debunked
There’s a lot of misinformation floating around social media about the different editions of Wilds, so I wanted to clear up the most common myths I’ve seen over the past few months. First, a lot of people claim that standard edition players don’t get access to the new desert biome that’s the focus of most of the marketing material. That’s 100% false, all launch biomes and monsters are included with the standard edition, no extra purchase required.
There are no pay-to-win mechanics or locked gameplay content behind higher edition tiers. You won’t get better drop rates, stronger weapons, or access to exclusive quests by paying more. Every player gets the exact same gameplay experience, regardless of which edition they buy. Another common myth is that standard edition players can’t join lobbies with players who own higher tiers. That’s completely false, cross-play works for all players regardless of which edition they purchased, so you can hunt with your friends no matter what version they bought.
Pre-order bonuses for the standard edition are identical to those for higher tiers. The Kamura Village layered armor set that’s advertised as the main pre-order bonus is available for anyone who pre-orders any edition of the game, so you don’t have to pay extra to get that set. The only pre-order bonuses exclusive to higher tiers are extra cosmetic items, not the main advertised pre-order perk.
At the end of the day, picking the right edition of Monster Hunter Wilds comes down to your budget, how much you care about cosmetic extras, and how invested you are in the franchise as a whole. For 90% of players, the monster hunter wilds standard edition is the best possible pick, giving you every bit of core hunting content without the unnecessary extra cost of fluff you'll never use. If you do decide to splurge on a higher tier, just make sure you're paying for something you'll actually use, not just marketing hype that sounds cool on the store page. Happy hunting, and I'll see you out in the Wilds on launch day.