Armour in Monster Hunter Wilds comes to the aid of hunters especially for a tougher hunt right after finishing the campaign. In mastering evasive manoeuvres, you will rely less on heavy armour. However, most players benefit from some strong defensive armour to endure tougher attacks from monsters.
Unlocking Rarity 8 Armour Sets
The current highest-level armor in Monster Hunter Wilds is Rarity 8. Players will be able to craft and use these armor sets when they reach Chapter 6 of the main campaign. Once this milestone is achieved, Gemma—your blacksmith in the game—will offer five different Rarity 8 armour sets for forging. All of the sets below have great defensive stats and unique skills, appealing to a range of playstyles.
Overview of Rarity 8 Armour Sets
Each Rarity 8 set offers distinct advantages.
- Arkveld α (Alpha) is a great option for hunters that want to amp up their elemental powers and take advantage of monster weaknesses. Moreover, you can increase your speed and aggression as well.
- The Arkveld β features extra decoration slots compared to its alpha equivalent, which allows for customisation of your skills. However, the boosts to your core skills are slightly less.
- Guardian Arkvald Alpha is designed to maximize damage against monsters that have already been wounded. It rewards aggressive use and focus.
- The Guardian Arkveld Beta model, however, trades off some of its skill potency for greater customisation via decorations.
- Guild Ace α (Alpha) is a good choice for players who prefer a tactical strategy. It has certain bonuses, with decent elemental defence, improved evasion and status resistance, plus bonus for full health.
Selecting the Right Armour for Your Playstyle
Selecting the best armour set will depend on what each hunter prefers to do. Usually, the ones that like to go close and personal, like the Dual Blades users, get the most from an Arkveld set. On the other hand, ranged weapons or survivability and strategical players generally go to the Guild Ace set because it rewards dodging and status dealing carefully.
Forging and Upgrading Rarity 8 Armour
After unlocking Rarity 8 sets, players can use certain monster materials to build them at Gemma’s forge. Every set can be further upgraded with Armour Spheres. You can complete missions or forge at the Everforge to earn these spheres. By upgrading, the defence rating of each piece is raised, to a maximum value of 12. This greatly improves survivability during late-game hunts.
Customising Armour with Decorations
Certain sets, mainly the Beta ones, allow for more decorations. These slots enable hunters to modify their skill loadouts according to their weapons and preferences. With the right decorations, it can greatly help you in tough fights.
Future Updates and Visual Customisation
These Rarity 8 sets are currently the best defence in the game. However, future updates may add new monsters, new gear, and Master Rank upgrades. If you’re looking to change the look of your armour but don’t want to lose its stats, you can in-game, most of the time.
Preparation for Endgame Content
Having Rarity 8 armour allows you to face the most powerful Monster Hunter Wilds monsters. As new contents come in, hunters will be on the lookout for stronger equipment to further enhance their hunting capabilities.
Check out our Monster Hunter Wilds review.