Monster Hunter Wilds Guide: Mastering the Draw Attack Technique

With years of development and intricate mechanics borrowed from its predecessors, Monster Hunter Wilds presents a complex gaming experience enriched with unique interactions and hidden techniques. While these elements enhance the game’s allure, they may pose challenges for newcomers trying to familiarize themselves with the intricate gameplay mechanics.

Among these mechanics is the Draw Attack, a specific type of attack that triggers interactions with certain skills associated with weapons and armor sets. Understanding how to execute a Draw Attack can significantly elevate a player’s effectiveness in combat. Below, we delve into the workings of this mechanic.

Understanding Draw Attacks in Monster Hunter Wilds

Performing a special sheathe draw attack with a long sword in Monster Hunter Wilds

A Draw Attack occurs when a player performs an attack immediately after unsheathing their weapon. This can happen in two primary ways:

General Draw Attack: Any weapon can execute a Draw Attack simply by being sheathed—either before or during combat. To perform it, players must sheathe their weapon and then utilize the attack button to initiate an attack. Notably:
- Dismount Attack: Jumping off your Seikret to strike a monster counts as a Draw Attack if your weapon is not drawn beforehand.
- Riding Attack: Unlike Dismount Attacks, attacks made while riding a Seikret do not qualify as Draw Attacks for skill interaction.
- Sneak Attack: Despite being stealthy and starting from a sheathed position, this type of attack does not constitute a Draw Attack and fails to provide any relevant bonuses.
Special Sheathe Mechanic: The Long Sword features a unique mechanic called Special Sheathe, which allows the Hunter to draw their sword in a specialized manner (Iai Slash or Iai Spirit Slash).Both techniques effectively qualify as Draw Attacks.

While it may seem logical that a bow attack, which requires drawing the bowstring, would qualify as a Draw Attack, only the very first attack after unsheathing the bow counts as such. Generally, just the initial strike following weapon unsheathing is recognized as a Draw Attack. There are exceptions; for some weapons, the first few attacks—ranging from two to five—may still be designated as Draw Attacks if they stem from a connected combo, such as the Lance’s Dash Attack. This mechanic allows players to apply skill bonuses to multiple strikes in succession rather than just the first hit.

To enhance your Draw Attack accuracy, consider disabling the Auto-Sheathing feature in the Start Menu under Controls. This setting can restrict your ability to control your weaponry effectively when not in active combat.

Top Draw Attack Skills in Monster Hunter Wilds

Critical Draw skill description in Monster Hunter Wilds

In Monster Hunter Wilds, only three skills specifically interact with the Draw Attack mechanic:

Skill	Description	Effect
Critical Draw	Enhances affinity for draw attacks (not effective while riding).	Level 1: Affinity +50% Level 2: Affinity +75% Level 3: Affinity +100%
Punishing Draw	Adds stun effects to draw attacks, with an increase in attack power (not effective while riding).	Level 1: Small stun damage, Attack +3. Level 2: Medium stun damage, Attack +5. Level 3: Large stun damage, Attack +7.
Quick Sheathe	Improves weapon sheathing speed.	Level 1: Slightly increases sheathing speed. Level 2: Increases sheathing speed. Level 3: Greatly increases sheathing speed.

For players focusing on a Draw Attack build, the Great Sword and Long Sword are highly recommended weapons, as they enhance the effectiveness of this invaluable mechanic.

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