How to mount in Monster Hunter Wilds

To mount in Monster Hunter Wilds is a subtle system wherein players can climb on monsters' backs and stab at them accordingly. This isn't just a way to flex - clambering onto a creature's back in Monster Hunter Wilds is a means to carve at specific places and open wounds you can focus strike for massive damage. Still, the actual way it works isn't especially well explained at any point, so I've tested it myself and will lay out how to mount in MH Wilds below, to climb on monsters and do major damage while doing what you can not to get thrown off.

Monster Hunter Wilds mount mechanics explained

To mount a monster in MH Wilds, you need to leap onto its back from an elevated position while hitting it with a jump attack with any of the Monster Hunter Wilds weapons. However, there's an invisible meter attached to each monster that builds up to this ability, so you can't do it over and over. If that meter isn't full, jump attacks will simply be that.

This element isn't tutorialized in-game, but as far as the community understands it right now, you build up the meter for mounting in MH Wilds by hitting the enemy with the same kind of jump attacks that would allow you to mount it. And yes, this applies to all the enemies on the Monster Hunter Wilds monster list.

Simple enough, but it does build slowly though - don't expect to mount the same monster more than twice in a single hunt. It also goes without saying that melee-focused players using weapons like the Monster Hunter Wilds Long Sword will likely land these special attacks more often.

Mounting explained

Once you're on a monster and mounting it in MH Wilds, things get a little complicated. Here's how it works:

• You can reposition yourself along its body with the analog stick to move around.
• You can perform light and heavy knife attacks on the section of the body you're holding onto with Circle and Triangle (PS5), or B and Y (Xbox).
• You can also hit it with your equipped weapon using R1/RB.
• If the monster tries to shake you off, the screen will darken. Press R2/RT to brace yourself and hold on, or move quickly to a new section of body. Either should let you hold on.
• Once you've damaged a section of the monster's body for long enough, it will open a wound. Hit the wounded area with either a Weapon Attack or Heavy Knife Attack to do massive damage with a finisher and dismount.

One thing I've personally noticed is that there really isn't much need to use a knife attack - just rely on the weapon and your R1/RB strikes, they're more powerful. This is also a good time for any other players to attack - the monster can still hurt them as it thrashes around, but it won't be doing any major moves while it's mounted.

Want to learn more gameplay essentials? Discover how to capture in Monster Hunter Wilds, or find out how to get the very best Monster Hunter Wilds armor!

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