How to capture in Monster Hunter Wilds and use traps

To capture in Monster Hunter Wilds with traps is a system that isn't explained until the later stages of the game, but you can still actually trap and capture monsters to take them alive from the very start (with a few exceptions). It's one of those Monster Hunter Wilds mechanics that isn't particularly well explained, but it does mean you can bring beasts in alive for a chance at greater rewards and drops than you would normally get. With that in mind, I'll explain how capturing monsters in MH Wilds works below, how traps function, and what you need to do once the monster is in the trap.

How to use traps to capture monsters in MH Wilds

To capture a monster alive with a trap in MH Wilds, you need to do the following:

1. Lower the monster's health significantly with any of the Monster Hunter Wilds weapons, to the point where NPC followers will shout "nearly there" or similar phrases (about 10% of the monster's max health).
2. Deploy either a Pitfall Trap or Shock Trap.
3. Once the trap is ready, lure the monster to stand on it and trigger it.
4. While the monster is stuck in the trap, quickly run over and use a Tranq Bomb or other sleep-inducing device.
5. If the monster's health is low enough, it should fall asleep in the trap. This will instantly register it as captured. If it's the last target of the hunt, the mission will immediately end (and no, you can't carve it while it's alive).

Obviously there are a few things to keep in mind here, most importantly being that some monsters cannot be trapped, like Jin Dahaad (largely because they're too, well, large). We include info on which monsters can and can't be captured in our page on the Monster Hunter Wilds weaknesses of every monster in the game!

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You can tell which monsters you can and can't capture by the phrasing of the mission objective: if it says to HUNT the monster, you can capture it. If it says to SLAY the monster, you can't. Also, though it doesn't tutorialize the way in which you capture monsters until the endgame, you can capture monsters before that point.

If you're struggling, here are some tips for capturing monsters in MH Wilds as a rule.

• Some monsters are immune to either the Pitfall Trap or Shock Trap. If it's immune to one, you'll need to use the other. Make sure you have both on you, or check their resistances in the field manual.
• There're various ways to put monsters to sleep, and all of them work, but the Tranq Bomb is the most reliable and easy to use, as well as working for every build and character type. You can also fire Sleep ammo from weapons like the Monster Hunter Wilds Heavy Bowgun.
• To get the monster to stand on the trap, a Luring Pod or other device will help, though most times you can just put it in its rampaging path.
• If the monster leaves the area without standing on the trap, make sure you retrieve it before you move on.
• You may need to use more than one Tranq Bomb to knock out the monster.
• The dialogue from allies to mark a weakened monster is only one way to tell they're close - they'll also limp more frequently, a visual indicator of low health. This sign isn't a guarantee, but it does bode well. Some monsters will also return to their nest when at low health (such as the Rathian in the Scarlet Forest returning to a treetop full of Wyvern eggs).

Should you kill or capture monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds?

Capturing and killing monsters in Monster Hunter each change the percentage of drops for each monster - so depending on whether you kill or capture them, certain drops will be more or less common, or may not even be possible at all. The numbers vary depending on the monster, but the ultimate reality is this: capturing generally offers a better chance at rare items, though it varies from monster to monster, so for the best odds you should work your way through the Monster Hunter Wilds monster List we've laid out and try to both slay and capture every one at least once. Again, the Field Guide will show the percentages involved on drops, so you can make an educated choice.

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