Weapon Tree Progression — Monster Hunter: World Guide

Weapon Tree Progression — Monster Hunter: World Guide

Navigating the weapon trees in Monster Hunter: World is a core part of progression. Each of the 14 weapon types has its own intricate tree, branching out to numerous upgrades and variations. Understanding how to follow these paths is key to unlocking your weapon's full potential.

From basic iron to powerful Elder Dragon creations, each weapon upgrade requires specific monster materials and Zenny. This guide will illuminate the general principles of weapon tree progression, helping you make informed decisions about which upgrades to pursue for your chosen weapon type.

Understanding Weapon Trees

Weapon trees are visual representations of all the upgradeable versions of a particular weapon type. They typically start with a basic, low-rank weapon and branch out into different paths, often leading to weapons with:

• Higher Attack Power: The most common upgrade, increasing your raw damage output.
• Different Elemental or Status Effects: Some branches specialize in adding Fire, Water, Thunder, Ice, or Dragon elemental damage, or status effects like Poison, Paralysis, Sleep, or Blast.
• Improved Sharpness: For melee weapons, sharpness determines how long you can attack before bouncing off a monster's hide. Higher sharpness levels (Blue, White, Purple) are crucial for consistent damage.
• Different Affinity: Affinity is your weapon's critical hit chance. A higher affinity means more frequent critical hits, which deal bonus damage.
• Unique Slots: Some endgame weapons may have slots for Decorations, allowing for further customization of skills.

General Progression Path

The typical weapon tree progression follows this pattern:

1. Initial Crafting: You'll start by crafting the most basic version of your chosen weapon type, usually from common ores or monster parts.
2. Branching Paths: As you upgrade, the tree will often split. One path might focus on raw damage, while another might emphasize elemental damage or status effects.
3. Monster-Specific Branches: Many branches are tied to specific monsters. To craft a powerful weapon, you'll often need to hunt and gather materials from a particular monster multiple times.
4. High Rank and Master Rank Upgrades: As you progress through the game's ranks, new tiers of weapons become available, requiring rarer materials and offering significantly higher stats.
5. Unique/Elder Dragon Weapons: The final branches of many trees lead to exceptionally powerful weapons crafted from Elder Dragon materials or unique monster parts, often featuring high stats and potent effects.

Key Considerations When Choosing Upgrades

• Your Playstyle: Do you prefer raw damage, elemental attacks, or inflicting status effects? Choose a weapon path that complements your preferred combat style.
• Monster Weaknesses: Always consider the monsters you'll be fighting. Having a diverse arsenal of elemental weapons can make challenging hunts much easier.
• Sharpness Levels: For melee weapons, prioritize sharpness. A weapon with high raw attack but poor sharpness can be less effective than a slightly weaker weapon with excellent sharpness.
• Resource Availability: Sometimes, the best weapon might be one you can't craft yet due to a lack of materials. Prioritize upgrades that are within your current reach while working towards your ultimate goal.
• Decoration Slots: In the endgame, weapons with Decoration slots offer immense flexibility for tailoring your skills.

Example: Long Sword Progression

A simplified example of a Long Sword tree might look like this:

• Iron Sword I (Basic) -> Iron Sword II
• Bone Sword I (Alternative path) -> Bone Sword II
• From Iron Sword II: -> Wyvern's Claw (Fire element)
• From Bone Sword II: -> Jagras Hackclaw (Poison element)
• Further upgrades from these would lead to more powerful versions, eventually culminating in weapons like the Wyvern Lovers (Rathalos) or Divine Ire (Nergigante).

Each weapon type has its own unique set of branches and specializations. The key is to explore the trees, understand the requirements, and choose the path that best suits your needs for the challenges ahead.