Monster Hunter Wilds All Monster Weaknesses Chart 2026

Using the right element in Monster Hunter Wilds is not a minor optimisation — it is the difference between a clean 12-minute hunt and a 30-minute attrition fight. Against a primary weakness, elemental damage applies a significant multiplier on top of your raw damage. Against a resistant monster, you are leaving that bonus on the table entirely. This chart covers every large monster in the base game plus Title Update 1: elemental ratings, status vulnerabilities, and body-part hitzone priorities for the monsters that matter most in High Rank.

Bookmark this page. It is the reference you will return to every time you build a new weapon set or hit a progress wall. Before diving in, new players should read our Monster Hunter Wilds beginner's guide for core game-loop context.

How to Read the Weakness Chart

Monster Hunter Wilds uses a three-tier star system across both Hunter's Notes and this chart. Understanding what each tier actually means in practice is essential before using the data:

• ★★★ (3 stars — Primary Weakness): The element deals a major damage multiplier on top of base weapon damage. Always prioritise this element when it is available. A 3-star weakness can be worth 10–20% extra DPS on a typical hunt.
• ★★ (2 stars — Secondary Weakness): Solid damage bonus. Worth building for if you do not have the primary element ready, particularly against Elder Dragons where the gap between tiers is smaller.
• ★ (1 star — Minor Weakness): Marginal bonus. Not worth crafting specifically unless you are already using that element for another monster in the same session.
• — (Neutral / Resistant): No elemental bonus, or the monster actively resists the element. Using these weapons deals raw damage only — consider a raw damage build instead.

All data below is sourced from in-game Hunter's Notes. For each monster, the Notes tab in the Hunting Log shows the exact star rating per element after you have encountered it at least once. Always verify High Rank variant data in-game — some returning monsters have adjusted weaknesses in their High Rank versions in Wilds.

For build optimisation, our Monster Hunter Wilds tips and tricks guide covers which weapon types pair best with elemental play.

Complete Monster Weakness Chart — All Elements

Monsters are listed in approximate story encounter order. New MHW-original monsters appear first, followed by returning monsters.

Status Effect Vulnerability Chart

Status effects are separate from elemental damage and apply via buildup from status weapons, coatings, or ammo. A ★★★ rating means the monster hits the status threshold quickly and you will see the effect proc multiple times per hunt. A — means the monster is largely immune or the buildup is so slow it is not worth attempting.

Key status notes: Rompopolo is immune to Poison (it produces acid naturally). Rey Dau is immune to Paralysis (its thunder field interferes with the paralysis mechanism). Elder Dragons as a category show reduced status susceptibility across the board — Arkveld, Nu Udra, Jin Dahaad, Zoh Shia, and Gore Magala all have — or ★ for Paralysis, making status weapon investment less efficient against them compared to elemental matchup focus.

Body-Part Hitzone Values: Where to Strike Key Monsters

Elemental damage is multiplied by both the star weakness rating and the hitzone value of the specific body part you hit. A 3-star Ice weakness on the tail of a monster with a low-hitzone tail delivers less damage than that same weapon hitting the head with its higher hitzone. Prioritising high-hitzone parts is what separates efficient hunters from those who technically have the right element but still hunt slowly.

Hitzone values are expressed as percentages internally (100 = full damage, 0 = no damage). The table below uses qualitative tiers based on in-game Hunter's Notes data. ★★★ = optimal target, ★★ = secondary target, ★ = acceptable, — = avoid.

The general rule across all monsters: head is the highest-value target unless stated otherwise. The Wounds system in Wilds means creating a wound on any body part temporarily increases its hitzone significantly — always aim to wound and then land your highest-damage combos in the wound window. See our Monster Hunter Wilds PC performance guide for hardware optimisation to ensure you have the frames to land those precision windows.

Element vs Raw Damage: What Beginners Actually Need to Know

The element vs raw debate is one of the longest-running in Monster Hunter, and Wilds changes the balance compared to older titles. Here is the practical answer without the theory-crafting complexity.

When element beats raw

Element wins against monsters with a clear 3-star primary weakness when you can consistently hit the highest-hitzone body parts. The damage formula multiplies your elemental stat by the hitzone percentage and the weakness star modifier. A Chatacabra has 3-star Water weakness and its head hitzone is very high — a Water weapon hitting the head deals meaningfully more total damage than a raw weapon of equivalent tier at those spots. For mid-game monsters from Balahara onward, element is the correct default choice when you have access to a matching 3-star weakness weapon.

When raw beats element

Raw wins in three situations:

• You do not have the matching element weapon at the same upgrade tier. A maxed raw weapon beats a partially upgraded elemental weapon even on a 3-star weakness target. Element bonuses are multiplicative on the elemental portion of your damage only — they do not boost your raw base damage. Never under-upgrade a weapon to match element.
• The monster has no 3-star weakness or you cannot consistently hit the high-hitzone part. Elder Dragons often spread weaknesses across 2-star tiers rather than concentrating them at 3-star. Against Arkveld, for example, Ice is 3-star but only on the head and crystal limbs — if you spend the hunt hitting the body, raw does more damage.
• Early game before elemental upgrade paths open up. The first third of the story is fastest with a strong raw weapon you can keep upgrading. Do not delay story progression hunting materials for elemental branches you will outgrow within a few quests.

The practical recommendation

Build a strong raw weapon first for story progression. Once you reach High Rank and start farming specific monsters for armour sets, build the element weapon that matches each monster's primary weakness. By the time you are hunting Arkveld for its armour, you should have an Ice weapon at maximum High Rank upgrade — the investment pays off in faster clears and better material rates from wound breaks.

Quick Reference: Element to Build by Monster Type

If you are trying to cover the roster efficiently without building a full elemental set for every monster, prioritise these elements in order:

1. Water — Covers Chatacabra, Quematrice, Ajarakan, Balahara (secondary), Jin Dahaad, Gravios, Rathalos (secondary), Rathian (secondary). Water is the single most useful element investment in Wilds base roster.
2. Fire — Covers Lala Barina, Rompopolo, Uth Duna, Xu Wu, Blangonga, Gypceros, Mizutsune, Nu Udra, Lagiacrus. Especially strong in High Rank where Ice/cold monsters appear.
3. Thunder — Covers Balahara, Congalala, Gore Magala, Guardian Arkveld, Mizutsune (secondary), Rey Dau (secondary), Lala Barina (secondary). Strong coverage for mid-game spikes.
4. Ice — Covers Doshaguma, Arkveld (primary), Hirabami, Nerscylla, Gravios (secondary). Arkveld alone makes Ice mandatory for the endgame.
5. Dragon — Covers Rathalos, Rathian, Zoh Shia. Narrower coverage than the others but critical for Rath-pair hunts and the final boss.

How to Check Weaknesses In-Game

You do not need this chart once you have hunted a monster once. Monster Hunter Wilds stores all weakness and hitzone data in the Hunter's Notes after your first encounter:

1. Open the Main Menu — accessible from the Hunter HQ or during a quest via the pause menu.
2. Select Hunting Log → Hunter's Notes.
3. Find the monster by name or use the filter by monster type.
4. The Weakness tab shows the full elemental and status star chart.
5. The Hitzone tab shows the body-part breakdown with numerical values after you have inflicted wounds or broken parts in previous hunts.

The hitzone tab populates progressively as you break parts. A monster you have only fought once will show limited body-part data. Run two or three hunts on any target you plan to farm and the hitzone data becomes complete, letting you optimise your attack targeting precisely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best element in Monster Hunter Wilds overall?

Water covers the most monsters in the base game roster — Chatacabra, Quematrice, Ajarakan, Jin Dahaad, Gravios, and the Rath pair all have Water as a 2-star or 3-star weakness. If you are building a single elemental weapon to carry you through the story, Water is the highest-value choice. Fire is the second strongest investment for High Rank coverage.

Is Arkveld weak to Ice?

Yes. Arkveld has a 3-star Ice primary weakness, making Ice the mandatory element for the final-boss endgame farming loop. Guardian Arkveld shifts to Thunder as the primary (3 stars) with Ice dropping to 2 stars — if you are grinding Guardian Arkveld post-campaign, update your weapon to Thunder.

What are Rathalos and Rathian weak to?

Both are weak to Dragon at 3 stars in Monster Hunter Wilds, with Ice, Thunder, and Water all at 2 stars. Dragon is the correct element for serious Rath-pair farming, but all four elements provide a damage bonus if you do not have Dragon weapon access yet. Blast status is also effective against both for bonus part-break damage.

Do status effects work on Elder Dragons?

Partially. Elder Dragons in Wilds have reduced status susceptibility across the board. Poison and Sleep deliver 1-star effectiveness at best against Arkveld, Nu Udra, Jin Dahaad, and Zoh Shia. Paralysis is a flat immunity for most Elder Dragons in the base roster. Blast remains the most viable status against Elder Dragons at 2-star effectiveness and is worth considering if you are using a Blast-infused weapon that is also competitive on raw damage.

What is the difference between element and status in Monster Hunter Wilds?

Elemental damage (Fire, Water, Thunder, Ice, Dragon) applies on every hit as a bonus to your raw damage, multiplied by the monster's weakness rating and the hitzone value of the body part you hit. Status effects (Poison, Sleep, Paralysis, Blast) build up from repeated hits and trigger a one-time effect when the threshold is reached — then reset with an increased second threshold. Elemental is passive and continuous; status is active and requires threshold management. Both can be on the same weapon via elemental status combinations, though typically a weapon is optimised for one or the other.

Why does my elemental weapon feel weak against some monsters?

Two most common reasons: First, you are hitting a low-hitzone body part — the element multiplier applies to the hitzone value, so hitting a heavily armoured back or leg with a high elemental weapon yields less bonus than hitting the head. Second, the monster may have a 1-star or neutral rating for your element despite the weapon appearing strong. Check Hunter's Notes after your first encounter to confirm the matchup.

New to the game? Our Monster Hunter Wilds beginner’s guide covers the full gameplay loop, all 14 weapons, armour skills, and essential tips before your first hunt.

Sources

1. Capcom. Monster Hunter Wilds — Official Game Site. Capcom Co., Ltd. 2025.
2. Capcom. Monster Hunter Wilds. Steam Store — In-game Hunter's Notes reference. 2025.
3. Monster Hunter Wiki. Monster Hunter Wilds — Monster Weakness Data. Fandom Community Wiki. 2025.