Monster Hunter Wilds restores the classic yet essential mechanic of Affinity, one of the deciding factors of a weapon's critical hit opportunity. As an old hunter or a newcomer to the series, grasping MH wilds affinity can be the difference-maker in your combat efficiency. This guide will deconstruct what MH wilds affinity is, how it influences your hunts, and tactics on how to harness its maximum potential.

What Is Affinity?

Affinity in MH wilds is your critical hit rate percentage. It's a fundamental system because it affects how consistently you can deliver heavy damage, determining your weapon choice and playstyle. MH wilds affinity is expressed as a percentage, showing the chances of landing a critical or weak attack when you hit a monster.

• Positive Affinity (+%): Increases your critical hit rate, which deals extra damage.
• Negative Affinity (-%): Places an emphasis on the likelihood of weak hits, which deal less damage.
• Neutral Affinity (0%): Neither bonus nor damage deduction to damage.

How Does Affinity Work?

Every time you attack, the game calculates a chance for the hit to be critical or weak based on your weapon's affinity value.

• Critical Hits: Occurs when you possess positive affinity, with a further 25% raw damage added to the attack.
• Weak Hits: If you possess negative affinity, reduce the raw damage by 25%. For example, if your weapon in MH wild has 30% MH wild affinity, 30% of your hits will receive 25% additional damage. If your weapon possesses -20% MH wilds affinity, 20% of your hits will receive 25% less damage.

Affinity and Elemental Damage

Affinity in MH wilds primarily affects raw (physical) damage, meaning it does not directly impact elemental damage. If you’re using an elemental-heavy weapon in MH wilds like a Thunder LongSword or a Fire Dual Blades set, boosting Affinity won’t increase the elemental portion of your damage.

How to Increase Affinity in Monster Hunter Wilds

There are multiple ways to boost Affinity and improve your chances of landing critical hits.

Using High-Affinity Weapons

Some weapons naturally possess high MH wilds affinity values. Such weapons sacrifice a bit of raw damage for consistency, where you get consistently high damage throughout a hunt.

Skills That Enhance Affinity

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Depending on certain conditions, some armor skills can enhance affinity in MH wilds. Stacking these skills will provide you with an increase of affinity by up to 100% and guarantee critical hits on every attack. You will see some of the most common ones listed below:

• Critical Eye: Flat increase to affinity.
• Weakness Exploit: Provides affinity when attacking vulnerable spots of monsters.
• Maximum Might: Provides affinity when at maximum stamina.
• Agitator: Provides affinity when the monsters are agitated.
• Latent Power: Provides a temporary increase in affinity when receiving damage or in lengthy battles.

Augmentations and Decorations

Weapons in MH Wilds will likely include an augmentation system allowing hunters to augment their gear. Also, Decorations, especially those with the effect of raising Critical Eye or Weakness Exploit, can enhance Affinity even more.

Weapon Affinity Buffs

Certain buffs can boost affinity in MH wilds temporarily during hunts:

• Demon Mode (Dual Blades): Provides a slight boost to Affinity.
• Affinity Booster: An area that can be deployed and grants increased Affinity to hunters inside.
• Palico Abilities: Palico tools with certain skills may give buffs to Affinity.

When to Use High-Affinity Weapons

Picking high-affinity weapons is ideal if you want stable damage output. This is especially useful for weapons that rely on sustained hits, such as:

• Dual Blades: High attack speed means more chances at critical hits.
• Long Sword: The blend of speed and power greatly values critical hits.
• Insect Glaive: Sustained multi-hits ensure utmost efficiency from high affinity.

Negative Affinity: Do You Need to Worry?

Not always! Some of the strongest tools in Monster Hunter Wilds might have low affinity but more than balance this out in high raw attack. If your weapon in MH wilds does -30% affinity but a substantially increased attack, you may have dealt more overall damage. Additionally, tools like Critical Draw or Punishing Draw always make your first blow a critical hit and operate to limit negative Affinity from being impactful.

Critical Boost and Affinity: A Deadly Combo

The Critical Boost skill increases the bonus damage of critical hits beyond the standard 25%. If your affinity is already high, stacking Critical Boost can turn your weapon into a monster, inflicting maximum damage.

• Level 1: Critical hits are 30% more damaging.
• Level 2: Critical hits are 35% more damaging.
• Level 3: Critical hits are 40% more damaging.

Best Affinity Strategies for Different Gameplays

Your play style alone determines the best affinity strategies. The following are some of the gameplay and best affinity strategies that will be appropriate for them: For Speedrunners

• 100% Max Affinity gives consistent critical hits.
• Weakness Exploit and Critical Boost stack for absurd damage.
• High attack speed weapons (Dual Blades, Long Sword, Bow) benefit the most.

For General Players

• 60-80% Affinity is an acceptable compromise.
• Use Critical Eye, Weakness Exploit, and Agitager for buffs.
• Prioritize Affinity, but don't sacrifice too much raw attack.

  For Power-Hitters (Great Sword, Hammer, Charge Blade)

  ● Prioritize Raw Attack if need be. ● Critical Draw or Focus may be a better choice than high Affinity. ● Having solid-charged attacks go off is more valuable than getting a lot of critical hits.

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FAQs

What Does Affinity Do in Monster Hunter Wilds?

Affinity in MH wilds controls the probability of landing a critical hit. Positive affinity increases damage by 25%, while negative affinity can lead to weak attacks with 25% reduced damage.

How Do I Gain More Affinity in MH Wild?

You can gain affinity using skills like Critical Eye, Weakness Exploit, and Maximum Might, as well as decorations, augments, and buffs like the Affinity Booster.

Is Negative Affinity Ever a Bad Thing?

No! Some high-power guns have negative Affinity but do more raw damage. Skills like Critical Draw or Punishing Draw will also override it, so they are still good choices.

Conclusion

Affinity in MH Wilds is a significant mechanic that controls how often your attacks will be critical hits. Although increased affinity makes damage more consistent, some low or negative Affinity weapons in MH wilds may be viable with sufficient skills and playstyle.

Understanding how to build around affinity skills like Critical Eye, Weakness Exploit, and Critical Boost can significantly enhance your damage. Whether you value raw power or critical attacks, mastery of affinity will help you maximize your hunts and effectively kill even the strongest monsters.