Okay Monster Hunter fans, let’s talk weapons. Specifically, let’s talk about the three weapons that have eluded the main line games for now: the Tonfa, the Magnet Spike, and the Accel Axe. With the inclusion of Akuma in Wilds as a pseudo-weapon, a lot of people have been theorizing on whether or not these can come back, and I have some thoughts.
Speaking of Akuma, his inclusion basically removes any possibility for the Tonfa to show up, at least in my eyes. The Tonfa, while honestly really goddamn cool, just don’t have a place in modern Monster Hunter. And it’s not a design thing, but rather a function thing; the Tonfa’s ability to invert damage zones (strong to impact>weak to impact, weak to slash>strong to slash) would be too problematic. Between that and how Akuma fills that “hand-to-hand” aesthetic, I just don’t see them adding it to the game, although if they did, it’d probably be a Gemma invention.
The Magnet Spike has a very similar issue to the Tonfa in that its functionality, while cool, just wouldn’t be balanced in modern Monster Hunter. Frontier was a completely different beast which allowed for the Magnet Spike to do way too much, but still give the illusion of being balanced. But between its rather uniquely effective form of mobility and its capability to deal both slash and impact damage, it can just accomplish too much. That being said, another weapon with the raw complexity of the Charge Blade would be nice, and of the three weapons I’m talking about here today, this is by far the one I want to be ported over the most. It just feels like something Werner would cook up.
And now, finally, the most realistic choice for a potential new weapon: the Accel Axe. Now, while this thing’s first and only appearance was in a mobile title, it’s got a lot going for it: It’s purely slash damage, it’s got a unique “burst damage” play style somewhere between the Greatsword, Hammer, SwAxe, and Charge Blade, and it’s a big friggin axe with a big friggin rocket booster on it. Aesthetically and functionally, it fits rather well into modern Monster Hunter, and with the raw advancement in tech we’ve seen in Wilds, I could totally see Gemma and Werner collaborating to make one of these.
Final thoughts: I want all of these to show up at some point. I know it’s an unrealistic desire, but screw it. Capcom has already shown they’re listening to their fans; Title Update 2 has been some damn good eating for Tri diehards like myself. If they’re willing to give Lagiacrus an underwater section of its fight, who really knows what they’ve got planned.