Mechanics12 min read

Monster Hunter Wilds Weakness Guide 2026: Complete Element & Hitzone Chart

Master monster weaknesses in MH Wilds with our comprehensive guide. Learn elemental matchups, hitzone values, status thresholds, and optimal damage strategies for every monster.

Published January 26, 2026• Verified by WildsBuilder Team

Monster Hunter Wilds monster weakness chart and elemental matchups

Compiled by the WildsBuilder team from extensive in-game testing and datamining. Last updated January 2026 covering all monsters through Title Update 3.

Understanding monster weaknesses is fundamental to optimizing your damage output in Monster Hunter Wilds. This comprehensive MH Wilds weakness guide covers elemental matchups, hitzone values, and status thresholds for every monster in the game.

Our team has verified all values through in-game damage testing, cross-referenced with community datamining efforts. This data forms the foundation of our Build Planner's damage calculator.

Understanding the Weakness System

Elemental Weaknesses

Every monster in Monster Hunter Wilds has varying resistances to the five elements:

Hitzone Values

Hitzone values determine how much damage a body part takes. Values are expressed as percentages:

65+ - Excellent weakspot (yellow damage numbers)

45-64 - Good hitzone (white damage numbers)

25-44 - Moderate hitzone (reduced damage)

Below 25 - Hardened zone (bounce risk for melee)

Monster Weakness Quick Reference

Large Monsters

Elder Dragons

Elder Dragons require special consideration due to their unique mechanics:

Key Points:

Higher overall health pools

Often have enraged phases with different hitzones

Some have elemental auras affecting approach

The Wound System Interaction

Wounded parts receive +20% damage from all attacks. This stacks with hitzone values:

Example: A 65 hitzone becomes effectively 78 when wounded.

Status Effect Thresholds

Understanding status thresholds helps with strategic application:

Tips for Status Application

Paralysis - Best applied when team is ready to capitalize

Sleep - Always wait for bomb setup before waking

Poison - Excellent passive damage, apply early

Blast - Consistent extra damage throughout fight

Optimizing Damage with Weakness Knowledge

Pre-Hunt Preparation

Before every hunt:

Check monster weakness in Hunter's Notes

Select matching elemental weapon (for Bow/DB/SnS)

Or bring raw damage with Wound Exploit (for GS/Hammer/LS)

Pack appropriate items (Flash pods for flyers, etc.)

In-Hunt Targeting

Focus your attacks on:

Weakest hitzones - Usually head or tail

Wounded parts - +20% damage bonus

Broken parts - Often reveals new weakzones

Focus Mode Targeting

Focus Mode highlights weak points with visual indicators:

Yellow glow - Excellent hitzone

Orange glow - Good hitzone

No glow - Poor hitzone

Use this information to adjust your targeting in real-time.

Conclusion

Mastering monster weaknesses transforms your hunting efficiency. Match your element, target weak hitzones, and exploit the wound system for maximum damage output.

Ready to optimize your elemental builds? Use our Build Planner to create element-specific loadouts. The damage calculator factors in monster hitzones and elemental weaknesses.

Hunt smart, hunt fast!

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Put this knowledge into practice with our free Monster Hunter Wilds build planner.

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WildsBuilder Team

Monster Hunter Experts

The WildsBuilder team consists of veteran Monster Hunter players with over 5,000+ combined hours across the series. We specialize in build optimization, damage calculation, and helping hunters of all skill levels master the game. Our content is verified through extensive in-game testing and community feedback.