An Introduction to the Weapons of WILD HEARTS™

While mastering Karakuri will elevate a Hunter’s edge in combat with the Kemono, a Hunter must also have a firm grasp on how to handle the weapons they carry with them to the hunt.

Stamina, Attack Types, and Upgrades

Each weapon has multiple combo strings, made up of two types of standard attacks and Special Attacks. Attacks 1 are the most basic attacks for a given weapon, essential for any combat situation. Attacks 2 range from high-power attacks to support actions, depending on the weapon. Special Attacks are unique to each weapon, and can vary from switching stances to extending or empowering combos. Special Attacks can be critical to the success or failure of a hunt. 

Before we talk more about weapons, let’s first talk about Stamina. Stamina is used for Special Attacks and dodging. It will be critical to your survival to balance your Stamina usage between attacking and evading Kemono attacks.

Your arsenal of weapons can be upgraded in a range of ways to further differentiate your hunting style from other Hunters. Each weapon can be crafted as many times as desired and then upgraded individually. Weapons are mainly upgraded based upon an element, or the lack thereof. Weapons with elemental attributes will have enhanced effectiveness against different Kemono, while weapons without an element will have higher overall power. To craft a weapon, Hunters must gather materials from the Kemono and the land itself.

Now that you know how to attack, let’s look at the weapons themselves!

Karakuri Katana

A mid-weight, short-range weapon that's well balanced and easy to handle. The Karakuri Katana offers a bountiful variety of offensive moves. Attack 1 button unleashes lightning-fast, unassailable strikes, Attack 2 is used for high-power but vulnerable moves, and Special Attacks are used to create powerful and long chained attacks at the cost of consuming a great deal of stamina.

When the weapon gauge is full, you’re able to enter an unleashed state in which all attacks are enhanced. Jumping off of three crates stacked vertically while using the unleashed state is one of the most powerful attacks in the game.

Nodachi

A heavyweight, close-range weapon, the Nodachi is slow & measured, and deals huge damage while remaining easy to handle. Pressing the Attack 1 button unleashes high-power, upward-aiming strikes, while Attack 2 triggers slicing attacks performed while running or spinning around. Its special lai attacks are a unique feature unleashed after accumulating energy for your weapon gauge. 

To accumulate energy, you will hold down your Special Attack button. The performance of the Iai will change depending on how full the gauge is; the Iai attack unleashed when the gauge is fully filled is one of the most powerful attacks in the game.

Special Attack while standing still: Iai stance in which you can't move but the weapon gauge builds up quickly.

Special Attack while moving: Iai stance with slow weapon gauge accumulation but fast movement speed.

Press Special Attack twice: Unleashes chained Iai attacks by consuming a large amount of stamina.

Additionally, interacting with a crate or a spring karakuri while charging with the Special Attack will trigger a unique powerful Iai attack.

Bow

The Bow is a long-range weapon that requires great finesse and offers great maneuverability. The Bow has two main stances, in which you hold the Bow either horizontally or vertically. The Attack 1 command will switch between said stances, the Attack 2 command will strengthen your weapon, and the Special Attack command is used to shoot.

Arrows fired while holding the Bow horizontally are called "haya" and lodge themselves in the Kemono. Arrows fired while holding the bow vertically are called "otoya" and resonate with haya arrows, inflicting additional damage. The resonance damage will depend on the power of the otoya arrows shot.

Pressing the Attack 2 command allows you to use Stamina to temporarily strengthen the Bow. While holding the bow horizontally, pressing the Attack 2 command once triggers erratic shooting, while pressing it twice triggers Arrow Rain. While holding the bow vertically, pressing the Attack 2 command once changes the arrow into a piercing arrow with a multi-stage hit; pressing it twice triggers an arrow with extremely high resonance damage. 

Holding down the Special Attack command will trigger continuous fire when you hold the Bow horizontally and will allow you to charge a shot when you hold the Bow vertically.

Dodging also functions differently when using the Bow. Press the dodge command once to sidestep and twice for a roll. Pressing the Special Attack command while rolling will also trigger a unique attack.

Bladed Wagasa

Wagasa is the only weapon in the game that can be used to parry Kemono attacks. It is a lightweight, close-range weapon. You can use very quick attacks that can be chained into fast-paced combos with the Attack 1 button, high-penetration attacks that can transition into airborne moves with the Attack 2 button, and parry moves that consume Stamina to fend off all manner of attacks with the Special Attack button.

Successfully landing an attack or parrying a Kemono attack will build up the "Renmai" gauge. At certain thresholds, you’ll deal more damage as you build your Renmai gauge.

Canon

A heavy, long-range weapon whose operation is centered around controlling two gauges: the charge gauge, showing the amount of Celestial Thread stored in the cannon; and the heat gauge, showing its temperature. Fire shots with the Special Attack command (or hold down to continuously fire)—but keep a close eye on those gauges!

Continuously firing from the Canon will quickly deplete your charge gauge. Replenish your charge gauge by standing on top of a base, which can be done by pressing the Attack 1 command (which places a base on the ground). Alternatively, shoot a base at your target by using the Attack 2 command while holding down the Special Attack command. 

As you continue to shoot, the heat gauge will rise. Once the heat gauge is full, the Canon will become overheated and it will become inoperable for a short while.

The heat gauge can be lowered by shooting out the base with the Attack 2 command and using Karakuri combos, but it will also decrease over time. If you shoot out the base just before the Canon overheats, you'll trigger an extra powerful attack as well as set up an enhanced version of the base. 

You can use the Attack 2 command while holding the Special Attack button on top of the enhanced base to pull in more Celestial Thread, and then press the Attack 2 command again to unleash an especially powerful concentrated attack.

Clawblade

A lightweight weapon that specializes in quick movement and aerial combat. The Clawblade revolves around its swift Attack 1 actions, which leave few openings, along with Attack 2 actions that allow Hunters to adjust their position in order to build powerful combos.

When a Kemono is struck with the claw, you will build up a claw gauge. Pressing the Special Attack command allows you to pierce the target with your claw, using it like a grappling hook and giving you the ability to attack in the air as long as your claw gauge lasts.

Landing attacks while the claw’s wire is attached will further increase the power of aerial attacks.

While airborne, dodging allows you to rotate and the Special Attack command allows you to lunge at the Kemono.

Karakuri Staff

The Karakuri Staff is a medium-weight, universal weapon that can mutate between five different forms. It offers close-range attacks with the Attack 1 command, mutation-specific attacks with the Attacks 2 command, and weapon-shifting Special Attacks.

The Special Attack command is used to toggle between the long staff, twin fang, war pike, and giant shuriken mutations. Special + Attack 2 commands pressed simultaneously will transform the Karakuri Staff into its most powerful mutation, the giant sword.

Transformation attacks are triggered by pressing the special command immediately after Attack 1 or Attack 2 combos. Successfully landing a transformation attack will increase the Karakuri Staff’s transformation level. Increasing the transformation level will both increase the power of each form and markedly enhance the performance of the giant sword form.

Maul

The heftiest of the bunch, the Maul offers incredible power and diverse combos. It features maximum-impact Attack 1 blows, high-mobility Attack 2 strikes, and Special Attacks that destroy nearby Kemono and Karakuri at the cost of Stamina.

Pressing the Special Attack command after an Attack 1 or Attack 2 will extend the handle of the Maul, increasing its performance and opening up new combo paths.

When the Special Attack is unleashed on its own, it becomes a spinning attack. As mentioned, this will damage Kemono and Karakuri alike.

Experiment, refine and master one or all of these weapons. Which will you choose?

Stay tuned for more WILD HEARTS™ blogs coming soon. Next time we’ll share more about the wondrous helpers – the Tsukumo!

WILD HEARTS™ is now available* on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via the EA app, Steam and Epic. Buy Now and tame a world gone wild.

*Conditions and restrictions apply. See https://www.ea.com/games/wild-hearts/wild-hearts/disclaimers for details.