Sharpening is a form of resource management in Monster Hunter Wilds where you help your equipped weapon retain its effectiveness throughout a hunt. This mechanic is exclusive to the melee weapons in the RPG as they keep losing sharpness the longer you keep attacking the monster.
Sharpness goes down gradually with each strike and after a certain threshold, the weapon will start doing less damage and will at times bounce off a monster’s harder parts.
This will make applying and breaking wounds significantly harder as the hunt progresses and your weapon has lost a considerable amount of its edge. So if you are looking to learn more about the weapon sharpening mechanic in Monster Hunter Wilds, then the guide below will help you out.
How to sharpen weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds
You sharpen weapons with the help of the Whetstone. The item is a staple part of your inventory and will always be available either through the Radial Menu or from the Fixed Item lists and shortcuts. Here are some of the ways by which you will be able to select and use the Whetstone in Monster Hunter Wils.
1) From the Fixed Items list
On the right bottom corner of your screen, you will see a list of all the items that are fixed to your hunter. These will include the ones you have added to the inventory as well as the ones that are a staple to it.
You will need to scroll through the current item list by pressing L1+Square/Circle (on the PS5). Once you spot the Whetstone, stop scrolling and then use it by tapping Square.
Alternatively, you hold L1 and then press the touchpad to expand the shortcuts. Here you will need to select the Whetstone icon and then press R3 to start the sharpening process.
2) Use the Radial Menu
Another way of using the Whetstone is through the Radial menu. You can tap and hold L1 and then toggle the right analog stick to bring up the dial. Then press the Down button on the D-pad and you will gain access to the Fixed Items category.
Now use the Right Analog stick again to select the Whetstone and use it.
Why should you sharpen your weapon during a hunt in Monster Hunter Wilds?
The more you use a melee weapon on a monster the duller will it get as it consistently loses a bit of its sharpness with each hit. This will make them lose their damage after a particular threshold and can even bounce off a monster part that has armor or a thick hide.
So to be efficient with your hunts you will need to keep an eye on the Sharpness gauge located on the top left corner of your screen just below the Health and Stamina bar.
As it starts to deplete and turns yellow, you will want to sharpen the weapon right away. However, do keep in mind, that when the sharpening animation starts you will be required to stay in place. This will often leave you vulnerable to attacks.
So the best time to sharpen your weapon will be when the monster is changing location and is giving you enough room to invest some time in resource management.
Sharpening tips, tricks, and features in Monster Hunter Wilds
1) Weapon sharpness recovery is based on animation
When you start to sharpen a weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds you will see your character going for a stroking animation. Each stroke will restore a small portion of the blade sharpens and going through the entire animation will completely restore all sharpness.
However, if you are canceling the animation by either dodging or getting hit by a monster, the recovered sharpness will be till the last animation point. So the duller a blade the more strokes are required to completely help it get its edge back.
2) You can cancel sharpening animation by dodging
If you see that you are going to be attacked by a monster while you are in the middle of your sharpening animation, then you can quickly dodge to cancel it. This will, however, sharpen your weapon to the point of the final animation.
3) You can sharpen weapons while mounted
A cool feature that has made its way to Monster Hunter Wilds is the ability to sharpen your blade while you are mounted on a Seikret. This will let you stay mobile during a hunt and allow you to not get stuck in animation when the monster is looking to hit you with its attacks.
