wild hearts is an action-RPG released by EA that you might not have had on your radar, but yet has the makings of a sleeper hit. It’s the closest we’ve seen a game steal the crown from Monster Hunter while also marking a return for developer Omega Force after the resounding disappointment of Dynasty Warriors 9.
Chances are plenty of Monster Hunter fans will be flocking to Wild Hearts while they wait for the latest game in Capcom’s powerselling series. You’ll find a lot of overlap between the two, from boss fight style hunts to obsessive material grinding.
While the game does a good job of bringing new players into the enchanting world of Azuma, there are a lot of things you need to learn if you want to become a Kemono hunting machine. Here we present a handy list of Wild Hearts tips for beginners to help make the most of those early hours.
Use Dragon Karakuri Generously
If there’s one thing that sets Wild Hearts apart from Monster Hunter, it’s Karakuri. Powered by a mysterious celestial force, these ancient mechanisms can be summoned anywhere and anytime, so don’t be stingy!
There are two types of Karakuri: Basic and Dragon. Basic Karakuri are expendable and combat-focused, while Dragon Karakuri are more permanent base-building structures such as fast travel tents and forges. With the ability to dismantle them at any time, summon Karakuri wherever you can – as you become familiar with the different maps in Wild Hearts, you’ll discover the best places to set up base camps and staging points. control.
Forge more than one weapon of each
Wild Hearts features eight different weapon classes, each with their own moves and upgrade trees. These upgrade trees split immediately, branching off with a whole web of possibilities, offering different damage stats, elemental infusions, and special abilities in exchange for Kemono Coins.
Once you find a weapon class that suits your playstyle, be sure to visit the forge to craft multiple builds. This will allow you to follow different upgrade paths, switching between weapons to gain an advantage over the Kemono you are hunting. Ideally, you should aim to have a weapon of each element type.
Craft your first loadout
Each time you successfully hunt a new Kemono, more crafting options will become available. Using the parts you sculpt from these mythical beasts can be used to forge new weapons and armor which, when combined, create a variety of loadouts that provide different damage, armor, and resistance stats elemental, not to mention the unique passive abilities.
You’ll quickly be overwhelmed with all the gear options available, making it difficult to choose your first loadout. Our advice is to go ahead and ditch your beginner robes by crafting one piece of armor for each of the five slots (head, chest, arms, waist, and feet).
Don’t worry about mismatching armor from different Kemono sets as long as the base defense stat is good. Once you reach Chapter 3, however, you’ll need to start paying more attention to what you’ve equipped.
Disable lock, enable other aids
For a while now, action RPGs have conditioned us to use lock assist. It’s a hallmark of the “soulslike” subgenre that’s also present here, though you shouldn’t feel compelled to use it in Wild Hearts.
Kemono are large creatures and although your attacks will sometimes miss, it will be due to your timing or a change in the monster’s behavior rather than a bad aim. Once you learn the basic combos of a weapon, you will develop a natural sense of the range of attacks and where they will impact. This is an essential skill for those late game hunts and might take longer to master when using lock down.
There are, however, other aids that we recommend. Wild Hearts offers a host of accessibility features for those who need it, as well as an auto assist option that will call for other players to join you whenever you go on a hunt.
Scout first, hunt later
When visiting a new area for the first time, focus on scouting the area instead of diving straight into your next hunt. Azuma’s biomes each have their own ecosphere of unique creatures, minerals, and fauna – your in-game codex will automatically populate as you discover them, which can help you find certain materials more efficiently. arts and crafts.
Additionally, this initial scouting phase should be used to build the Dragon Karakuri infrastructure. Place a hunter’s tent away from your starting point to create a quick and convenient travel point, then summon flying vines, scrolls, and whirlwinds to help you navigate mountainous areas and vast plains.
Just be aware that the number of these you can build will be quite limited until you unlock the various Dragon Pits scattered across each map, upgrading them with crystals earned by completing missions.
Don’t neglect your companion Tsukumo
In Wild Hearts, you are accompanied by an orb-like creature known as Tsukumo. In fact, there are dozens of them hidden around Azuma – make sure you don’t ignore them as they can be a huge help during solo play.
Your cute mechanical partner can help you in a number of ways, distracting Kemono, creating a healing mist, and generating the wire used to power your basic Karakuri. Their influence can be subtle, though you’ll appreciate the helping hand, especially as your Tsukumo becomes more powerful.
To upgrade them, you’ll need Old Cogs which are earned by finding one of the 50 Tsukumo hidden in each region. Upgrades allow you to improve their attack, defense, and support abilities, while increasing your fighter’s maximum Thread capacity.
Break these body parts
There’s more to Kemono battles than just whaling your target: even after hunting the same monster multiple times, you might still run out of the materials needed to craft new gear. Some crafting components can only be obtained by cutting parts of a Kemono. Additionally, there are even rarer materials in Wild Hearts that require a Kemono to be in a rage state when breaking a body part.
As a general rule, you should always aim for the head or tail of a Kemono. Deal enough damage and you’ll see these pieces come loose during battle. Just be sure to interact with them to collect dropped materials.
Don’t hunt on an empty stomach
Wild Hearts features a simple yet effective food system that provides your hunter with a much-needed boost before heading into battle. Food can be accessed at any time with the press of a button – this menu will display the various meats and plants in your inventory and the stat bonuses they provide when consumed.
A satiety gauge keeps you from draining completely and while a balanced diet isn’t necessarily crucial early in the game, you’ll want to start paying close attention to what different types of food do as you go. as you progress. Most will increase your max health while granting at least one other bonus, whether it’s a stat boost or elemental resistance.
Don’t forget to coordinate your meals around the Kemono you’re hunting, and be sure to unlock the Karakuri Dragon’s Drying and Fermentation Stations to improve food quality.
Explore Minato, the hub of the hunter
Minato Village is where you will spend most of your downtime when playing Wild Hearts. Here you will find a number of important characters, vendors, and quest givers who play an important role as you progress through the story.
Naturally, you’ll want to visit Natsume the Blacksmith to forge new weapons and armor, though there are other NPCs you should interact with as well. Kogyoku regularly replenishes a handful of useful items in his store, while Nobumitsu from the Fishermen’s Guild will offer rewards for completing successful-type challenges. Be sure to call Tamakazura once the Minato Bathhouse has been rebuilt, and use the training area behind your house to practice new weapon and Karakuri techniques.
These Wild Hearts beginner tips will help you get started, though you’ll find there’s a lot to learn about this thrilling action RPG. From the diverse array of weapons and advanced crafting to your ever-growing Karakuri arsenal and the Kemono themselves, there’s a rich monster-hunting experience here that will easily satisfy fans of the genre.
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