If you’re picking up PS5 Monster Hunter Wilds for the first time, or coming back to the franchise after a break from Rise or World, you’re probably eager to jump straight into the vast new open zones and track down never-before-seen monsters. The PS5’s hardware makes this the smoothest Monster Hunter experience to date, with fast load times, crisp 4K visuals, and adaptive trigger support that makes every swing of your greatsword feel weighty and impactful. But it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the new systems, craftable gear, and aggressive monsters that can take out a new hunter in two hits if you’re not paying attention. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to get a running start, avoid common mistakes, and have more successful hunts right out of the gate.
Optimal PS5 Monster Hunter Wilds Settings for Smooth Gameplay
First thing you should do before starting your first hunt is tweak your display settings to match your play style. The PS5 version of the game comes with three core display modes, and picking the right one can make a huge difference in how responsive your controls feel, especially during fast-paced fights against agile monsters like the new Raptorial Bird Wyverns. Performance mode is the best pick for 90% of players, as it locks in a steady 60fps with dynamic 4K resolution that rarely dips even during large-scale turf wars or multiplayer hunts with four players. If you’re playing on a high-end OLED TV and prioritize visuals over frame rate, Quality mode offers native 4K at 30fps, but you’ll notice a slight input lag that can make dodging roars and fast attacks much harder. Adaptive trigger and haptic feedback settings are worth leaving enabled, too – the tension you feel when pulling back a bowstring or blocking a monster’s charge with a lance adds a level of immersion you won’t get on any other platform. You won’t find this level of immersion in any other version, so PS5 Monster Hunter Wilds is easily the best way to experience the game if you have the console. Don’t forget to turn off motion controls unless you actively prefer them for aiming light bowgun shots or bow draws, as they can cause accidental inputs during tense fights.
Beginner-Friendly Weapon Picks to Win Your First Hunts
One of the biggest mistakes new players make is picking a complicated weapon like the switch axe or charge blade for their first hunt, then getting frustrated when they can’t pull off combos or block incoming attacks. Monster Hunter Wilds has 14 weapon types total, each with completely unique move sets, so you don’t have to force yourself to use a weapon that doesn’t fit your play style. Longsword is a fantastic starting pick for new PS5 players – it has fast, fluid combos, a long reach that lets you stay just out of a monster’s attack range, and a spirit gauge system that rewards well-timed dodges with huge damage boosts. If you’re used to older Monster Hunter games, you’ll be shocked at how responsive every weapon feels here, with zero input lag between pressing a button and seeing your attack land. If you prefer to play a support role in co-op hunts, the hunting horn is easier to use than ever in Wilds, with simplified song inputs that let you buff your team’s attack, defense, and stamina without fumbling through complicated note combinations. For players who like to stay back and deal damage from a distance, the light bowgun has minimal recoil in Wilds, and the PS5’s adaptive triggers make it easy to tell when you’re loading a high-powered ammo type without looking down at your UI. You can test every weapon for free in the training area at your base camp before heading out on a hunt, so don’t be afraid to experiment until you find one that clicks.
Essential Pre-Hunt Prep Steps You Should Never Skip
A lot of new hunters skip pre-hunt prep and end up running back to camp halfway through a fight because they ran out of potions, or forgot to bring a trap to capture a monster for extra rewards. Spending 2 minutes getting ready before you leave camp will save you 20 minutes of frustration later, and it’s a habit that will pay off even when you’re taking on high-rank endgame monsters. The PS5’s quick resume feature also lets you jump between hunt prep and the training area in seconds, so you don’t have to sit through long load times to test new gear combinations. These are the non-negotiable items you should pack in your item pouch for every hunt:
- At least 10 mega potions and 5 max potions for emergency healing when you take heavy damage
- 2 shock traps and 2 pitfall traps, plus tranq bombs to capture monsters instead of killing them for 20% more loot
- 5 dash juice to keep your stamina full for extended dodges and weapon combos
- A stack of whetstones to keep your sharpness high, as blunt weapons deal 30% less damage and bounce off monster hides
- 3 antidotes and 3 herbal remedies to counteract poison and blight status effects common in early-game zones
You should also take 30 seconds to eat a meal at the camp canteen before you leave, as meal buffs can give you extra defense, attack power, or even a free extra life if you get taken down by a monster. If you’re hunting a specific monster for the first time, check your monster guide to see what element it’s weak to, and slot the right elemental damage deco into your weapon before you head out. Even a 10% elemental damage boost can cut your hunt time by a full 5 minutes, so it’s always worth the extra effort.
How to Co-Op Hunt Smoothly With Other PS5 Players
One of the best parts of PS5 Monster Hunter Wilds is how easy it is to team up with friends or random players to take on tough monsters you can’t beat solo. The cross-play feature works seamlessly with PS5 players, so you don’t have to worry about matching with players on other platforms if you don’t want to. Always make sure your gear is upgraded to the appropriate rank before joining a public hunt – showing up to a high-rank hunt with low-rank gear makes the fight harder for everyone on your team, and most veteran players will kick you from the lobby immediately. If you’re new to co-op, stick to support roles first: carry extra lifepowder to heal the whole team when someone takes heavy damage, or use a hunting horn to buff everyone’s stats before the fight starts. Don’t spam flash bombs when a monster is flying, either – they can blind your teammates if you use them at the wrong time, and cause them to take avoidable damage. If you’re playing with friends, you can use the PS5’s built-in voice chat to coordinate attacks, but public lobbies usually rely on the in-game sticker system to communicate, so take a minute to familiarize yourself with the most common stickers like “I need healing” or “Time to capture” before you join a random lobby.
At the end of the day, PS5 Monster Hunter Wilds is all about having fun, so don’t stress if you fail a hunt a few times before you get the hang of a monster’s attack patterns. Even veteran players cart multiple times when they’re facing a new monster for the first time, and every failed hunt teaches you something new about how to dodge attacks and exploit weak points. Take the time to experiment with different weapons, explore the massive open zones to find hidden collectibles and rare crafting materials, and team up with other players to take on the biggest, baddest monsters the game has to offer. Before you know it, you’ll be a seasoned hunter racking up rare drops and helping new players get their own start in the world of Wilds.