wild hearts stands out from similar action RPGs thanks to its intriguing Karakuri. These magical devices will not only help hunt Kemono, but they can also be used to quickly navigate Azuma’s many varied landscapes and even create self-sustaining colonies.
The Karakuri system has nuances of Fortnite and Death Stranding as you summon structures from scratch, some consumable and some more permanent, all of which can be used by other players. If you’re migrating from Monster Hunter, the Karakuri might seem like a gimmick at first, though using them becomes a core part of Wild Hearts, with the system having a really nice depth to it.
This guide will explain how the different types of Karakuri work, how to get moreand which ones you should aim to unlock first.
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What are the basic Karakuri in Wild Hearts?
Wild Hearts Karakuri comes in three different variations: Basic, Fusion, and Dragon. Where the latter are more permanent and used primarily in base building, the former two are consumable and combat-focused.
Basic Karakuri – such as the Crate, Spring, and Glider – can be deployed at any time on the fly using a quick combination of button presses.
Note that you can only equip four at a time, though you can easily deactivate them by visiting a nearby forge.
There are six base Karakuri types in total – starting with the crate, you’ll unlock more as you progress through the story. Here’s what they do:
Crate (costs 1 Thread): A box that can be stacked in towers of three to reach inaccessible areas. Hunters can jump from these to unleash a devastating aerial attack.
Spring (costs 2 sons): A jump ramp that can quickly knock hunters horizontally. Great for evading wide area of effect Kemono attacks. Some weapons also have Spring-enhanced attacks.
Glider (costs 3 Thread): A hand-held helicopter-like device that propels fighters into the air and then slowly descends. Ideal for navigating vertical structures.
Torch (costs 1 wire): A blaze that will unleash a fiery attack when hunters walk nearby. The added fire element can be useful against certain types of Kemono. Flame attacks can also open areas of the map covered in vines.
Stake (costs 2 Thread): A grappling hook attached to a small platform that hunters can stand on, closing the distance to their target.
Celestial Anchor (costs 3 threads): This device locks onto hunters, creating a tether that pulls them to where the anchor is placed. This allows for flashy evasive maneuvers that can even be performed in the air. Incredibly useful although it will take time to master.
It should be noted that you cannot generate an endless arsenal of basic Karakuri. Each time you summon one, it will consume Thread, a resource that can be mined from various nodes around each map, highlighted by your Hunter Vision.
When soloing, your Tsukumo will aid you by occasionally digging up small caches of Thread and as you progress through the game you will also increase your maximum Thread capacity. Basic Karakuri are also fragile and can easily be destroyed by Kemono’s attacks.
What is Fusion Karakuri in Wild Hearts?
Basic Karakuri can be useful on their own, but take on a whole new dimension once you figure out how to merge them. For example, summoning six crates in a formation will create a bulwark that can counter a charging Kemono, stun them, or even throw them on their backs.
The Fusion Karakuri you have will depend on the four basic Karakuri you have equipped at the same time. While you can get a glimpse of what each Fusion does by browsing Karakuri’s dense upgrade menu, each requires a “wake-up” before you can use them in battle.
These awakenings may seem random but only occur in certain scenarios – for example, in the face of an impending Kingtusk charge. If you manage to pull off the combination of button prompts that appear on screen, you will unlock this Fusion to use whenever you want.
While some merges are fairly simple, requiring a few button presses, or multiple presses of the same button, others can be tricky to remember. Fortunately, a list of button combinations will appear in the upper right corner of the screen when accessing the Karakuri menu.
Here is an overview of Fusion Karakuri available in Wild Hearts:
- Rampart: A strong wall that can counter Kemono charges
- Fireworks: Triggers an explosion that can stun the kemono
- Healing mist: Slowly restores health to nearby hunters
- Book : A giant hammer attack that can stun Kemono
- Elemental Lantern: Nullifies Kemono’s elemental attacks
- Protective wall: A Stronger, But Smaller Rampart
- Repeating crossbow: Automatically attacks nearby Kemono
- Star Bomb: Explodes after a few seconds, dealing heavy damage
- Chain trap: Catch Kemono and hold them in place for a short time
- Healing Spray: Heals nearby hunters and cures status ailments
- Pile driver: Unleashes a devastating attack by catching a Kemono
- Harpoon: Fire giant bolts for heavy damage
- Celestial Shield: An even stronger version of the Bulwark
- Celestial Cannon: More powerful version of the repeating crossbow
What are Karakuri Dragons in Wild Hearts?
Finally, we have the Karakuri Dragon. They come in all shapes and sizes, from decorative panels and lanterns to various workstations, from the Flying Vine launcher to the zip line.
Once you’ve unlocked a Karakuri Dragon, you can place it just about anywhere in Azuma as long as it’s safe and unobstructed by an NPC or existing structures. Unlike Basic Karakuri, there is no wire cost to worry about, although there are always limits on how many you can place in a particular region.
As you explore each map, you’ll notice strange pools of energy surrounded by a swirl of red tendrils. By collecting crystals and interacting with these Dragon Pits, you can increase the limit on how many Karakuri Dragons you can summon in your current region. While it’s easy to get carried away between Kemono hunts, we recommend taking the time to explore, unlock, and upgrade these Dragon Pits.
Each Karakuri Dragon has its own function, some of which are purely decorative. You will immediately have access to essentials such as the Hunter’s Tent which creates a fast travel point and the Campfire used to play online and upgrade your Tsukumo.
Here is a list of the different Karakuri Dragon types and what they do:
- Campfire : Access online multiplayer and upgrade Tsukumo
- Hunter’s Tent: Change the time of day and restore health
- Field Forge: Craft weapons and armor, change your equipment
- Drying rack: Improve the quality of food products
- Hunting tower: Highlight nearby Kemono, can be upgraded to find hidden Tsukumo and other collectibles
- Flying Vine: Create a zip line between two points
- Sign: Decorative
- Ornamental lantern: Decorative
- Paddle shovel: Collect fish over time
- Box of ingredients: Used to store food
- Training Bear: Practice weapon techniques and tutorials
- Whirlwind of Wind: Raises hunters into the air, ideal for accessing hard-to-reach places
- Launcher: Basic Catapult Hunters and Karakuri
- Marinade jar: Improve the quality of food products
- Wind Chime: Decorative
- Tsukumo Ore Shrine: Collects minerals over time
- Small desk : Decorative
- Bench: Decorative
- Fauna cage: Collect materials over time
- Fermentation barrel: Improves food quality
- Improved Flying Vine: Create a zip line that can also damage Kemono
- Mirror: Change your hunter’s appearance (Minato only)
- Common Ingredient Chest: Used to store food
- Roll: Spawns a wheel-like vehicle, allowing rapid transport
- Tsukumo Celestial Camp: Recharge your hunter wire
- Beach umbrella: Decorative
- Smoking: Improves food quality
- Hunter’s bath: Decorative
- Tsukumo Food Shrine: Collect food over time
- Wildlife enclosure: Collecting small creature parts over time
- Vermillion fermentation barrel: Improves food quality
- Vermilion Picking Jar: Improves food quality
- Vermilion Wind Chime: Decorative
- Tanuki Statue: Decorative
- Ornamental footbridge: Decorative
How to Unlock More Karakuri Dragon in Wild Hearts
The Karakuri menu in Wild Hearts features a branching path of upgrades that you can unlock by spending Kemono Orbs. The further you progress through this upgrade tree, the more advanced and expensive they become, with options to upgrade your existing Karakuri as well.
If you’re going through the main story missions, you probably won’t have enough Kemono Orbs to unlock some of the more desirable upgrades. For example, once you reach Chapter 3, the Tsukumo Ore Shrine and Fauna are essential as they passively generate hard-to-find materials needed to craft better weapons and armor.
As a result, you’ll need to grind for Kemono’s orbs by performing hunts and breaking Kemono’s body parts. The quickest way to do this is to use the Campfire or Hunter’s Gates to find multiplayer sessions, hunting harder Kemono for bigger Orb payouts.
The Karakuri system comes with a small learning curve, but is a nice addition to the monster hunting genre. It will be interesting to see what kinds of combinations the community of Wild Hearts players will come up with.
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