Monster Hunter World vs Dauntless Comparison: Which One Should You Play?

The Monster Hunter franchise has been round because the PS2 era, nevertheless it wasn’t till it landed on the PSP that I first gave it a shot. I hated it. After wrestling with the digital camera and the console’s lack of a second analog stick, I received slammed laborious by a Genprey (not a Gendrome), raged on the animation locks, and rapidly determined gathering was going to be an excessive amount of of a time sink. Then, when Monster Hunter Tri landed on the Wii in 2009 and I had an opportunity to check out the sport’s co-op content material, I used to be hooked.
Through the years, the video games would achieve momentum on 3DS and Wii U, however its attraction was drastically restricted on the 2 platforms within the west. Tough motion video games like Darkish Souls and The Surge groomed the opposite facet into challenge-seeking fiends — the kind that might take pleasure in Monster Hunter’s gigantic boss battles.
However that very same western viewers wouldn’t take care of its conventional RPG parts: The grind of crafting and gathering the means to defeat its rising solid of tougher monsters. Phoenix Labs regarded to capitalize on that market hole with Dauntless, a free-to-play Monster Hunter-inspired action-RPG with grand plans to land on each platform aside from your fridge. Regardless of intercepting with Monster Hunter World, Dauntless performed well on release.
However the place we as soon as noticed a sink or swim scenario, the 2 are managing to co-exist due to some alternative monetization variations. They largely goal the identical viewers and share many core concepts. However with one being utterly free and the opposite being graphically beautiful, selecting which to play on a whim is usually a problem. Right here’s how the 2 examine:

Monster Hunter World vs Dauntless – What’s the distinction?

For one factor, Dauntless is a free-to-play sport whereas Monster Hunter World (and its Iceborne enlargement) prices real-world money — however they’re two sides of the identical coin when it boils all the way down to gameplay. The previous could be very a lot impressed by previous entries of the latter, nevertheless it’s value noting that Capcom’s latest providing is kind of completely different from its predecessors, too.
Each titles are action-RPGs all about preventing large monsters in massive arenas. Fairly than slicing by way of a whole bunch of trivial creatures to succeed in a boss battle on the finish of a stage, these two video games make prolonged boss battles the bread and butter of the entire present.
You choose your most popular weapon kind and head right into a closed atmosphere to spend anyplace from 10 to 50 minutes chopping away at one very persistent creature, then carve its conceal, use the spoils to craft new weapons and armor, and transfer onto the following.
Fights in each video games are as a lot about technique as they're about endurance. You possibly can’t simply throw your self at a beast 10x your measurement and anticipate to win by spamming the assault button. Persistence is a necessity. Like a sport of poker or martial arts, figuring out the right way to establish and predict your opponent’s subsequent transfer is vital to claiming the benefit. See the way it strikes, dodge accordingly, and use that opening to chop it down with out shedding your arm within the course of.

Weapons

Dauntless

Dauntless definitely doesn’t have as many weapon sorts as its competitor, nevertheless it additionally hasn’t constructed up a repertoire over 15 years of sequels. Give it time.
Proper now, Dauntless options seven weapon sorts. These can harm monsters in additional methods than one relying on their sub-damage kind (blunt, slashing, pierce); which means some are good for opening wounds, whereas others can smash monster armor aside.
The at present obtainable sorts are as follows:

• Axe
• Aether Strikers (fists)
• Chain Blades
• Hammer
• Ostian Repeaters (twin pistols)
• Sword
• Struggle Pike

All of those sans the Aether Strikers have been obtainable at launch again in 2018, with the opposite being added as just lately as September 2019. There’s no phrase on an eighth weapon kind simply but, but when it may possibly occur as soon as, it may possibly occur once more.
Most of those weapons sound self-explanatory. In any case, how difficult can one sport’s axe be over one other? In actuality, Dauntless has a number of aptitude in the case of its weapon sorts. For one, the hammer can be half gun, permitting its consumer to remain on the offensive even from afar.

Monster Hunter World

Monster Hunter World didn’t convey any new weapons to the franchise, nevertheless it didn’t cull any, both. Each weapon kind launched over its lengthy historical past is right here, making for a whopping 14 alternative ways to combat off big monsters.
We don’t anticipate one other weapon being added to Monster Hunter World. A sequel is most undoubtedly within the works, although, so anticipate to see one thing then (except Hunter Arts from Monster Hunter Generations are added as an alternative).
The next weapons sorts can be found in Monster Hunter World

• Nice Sword
• Lengthy Sword
• Twin Blades
• Bow
• Bowgun
• Heavy Bowgun
• Lance
• Gunlance
• Cost Blade
• Change Axe
• Searching Horn
• Hammer
• Insect Glaive
• Sword & Defend

Monsters

Dauntless

Dauntless likes to be slightly completely different. Fairly than referring to its massive bads as “monsters,” they’re recognized collectively as Behemoths — much like the way you’re a Slayer relatively than a Hunter.
The principle motive for reducing them down is that they sap the Shattered Isles of aether to outlive, and by killing them, stated aether returns to the land, guaranteeing common fauna and flora can exist in concord. You’re like battle-hardened environmentalists.
Dauntless options shut to 2 dozen completely different monsters on the time of writing, with every falling into an elemental sub-category. Many are closely impressed by real-world animals, so anticipate to be preventing off dangerously massive owls, boars, and beetles on high of demons and dinosaurs. As you discover the extra of its world, you’ll come throughout altered variations of acquainted species, creating slightly extra bang in your imaginary F2P buck.

Monster Hunter World

Over in Astera, monsters new and outdated thrive in what’s generally known as “The New World.” Whereas no person would say they play Monster Hunter for the story, World is a full-blown sequel, with lots of its characters referencing the lives they'd earlier than boarding the expedition to the continent featured within the sport. They’re accustomed to monsters coming back from previous video games, whereas excited on the prospect of taking up beasts discovered solely on this new locale.
Monster Hunter World, as of its Iceborne enlargement, consists of effectively over 40 distinctive monsters to tackle, with sub-species and “Tempered” variations arguably amounting to much more.
Whereas that will seem to be so much, it’s nonetheless round a 3rd lower than the earlier sport within the sequence. Capcom nonetheless has loads of monsters left to drag from its again catalog to rapidly develop Monster Hunter World sooner or later, whereas every extra monster in Dauntless will no-doubt be created from scratch, probably creating a bigger hole between high-profile releases.

Fight

Dauntless

With seven weapon sorts to select from, Slayers in Dauntless have fairly a number of methods to tackle their targets. Most weapons require customers to stand up shut and private, however there are a number of ranged choices obtainable for many who favor are possibly extra used to shooters than motion video games. Every weapon performs very in another way, nevertheless it in the end boils all the way down to understanding its combos and the right way to effectively weave assaults collectively.
Whether or not you go it alone or with pals, the concept stays the identical — you harm a monster till it drops. However it isn’t as clear-cut as merely wailing in your goal and ready for it to surrender the ghost. On high of dealing common harm, weapons are able to dealing slashing, piercing, and blunt harm on high. These gained’t deplete a goal’s invisible HP bar like uncooked harm, however as an alternative, construct as much as finally break or wound a particular physique half – the top end result relying on the precise harm kind. Deliver the suitable elementally-attuned weapon for bonus harm, too.
Technique comes into the equation right here. Dealing the correct of harm to a particular physique half can render it unusable, not solely decreasing the specter of a monster’s strongest assaults, but in addition generally inflicting it to drop particular loot. This creates most popular weapons for a most popular play-style. For instance, if you end up focusing on a monster’s head so much, blunt harm can knock a monster over. In case you have a tendency to remain round again, slashing harm to the leg can open up wounds for different gamers to bully, and even take away issues like tails and horns.
Throughout battle, monsters can (and can) enter an Enraged state. It’s right here after they’ll usually velocity up their assaults, making it all of the extra necessary to learn their strikes and act accordingly. It turns into far tougher to assault mercilessly in these states, so that you’ll have to make every transfer depend and profit from each obtainable window.
Dauntless additionally ups the ante by including the Aether Charged state on high of this. There’s a extra noticeable beauty distinction when a monster enters its Aether Charged state: one instance of that is when the Embermane beneficial properties its signature fiery fur and generally runs away to launch fireballs from a distance.

Monster Hunter World

Monster Hunter World is an analogous beast. In any case, how completely different are you able to make whacking a monster to dying? With greater than double the weapon sorts, Monster Hunter World definitely has Dauntless beat in the case of complete assault combos, however each have some very distinctive instruments to get the job performed.
In Monster Hunter World, the atmosphere is a weapon in itself. Not solely are you able to drop a bag of boulders in your prey, however you may as well climb vines, slide down slopes, and dive off cliffs and branches. It provides a component of verticality to your assaults. These can be utilized to mount monsters to get some free hits in, steer them towards traps and hazards, and create openings by knocking them down.
Objects play a significant half within the operation, too. Potions will high up misplaced HP, positive, however bombs, traps, and stat-boosting edibles can boost any technique and successfully cancel out a monster’s mood in a pinch. With sufficient preparation, you'll be able to even seize a monster to finish a quest early by inserting a entice and peppering injured prey with tranquilizers. In fact, monsters enrage right here, too. Belief me, you’ll know after they do.
On high of all that, Monster Hunter World retains various weapon sorts and standing afflictions borrowed by Dauntless. Blunt weapons can crush physique elements and knock creatures out, whereas sharp weapons can reduce off hazardous limbs. Each weapon sorts work in tandem to cowl weaknesses, and a part of a profitable technique is figuring out which a part of a monster is vulnerable to every weapon kind and ingredient. Standing afflictions like Paralysis and Blast construct up over time for devastating outcomes, as effectively. It’s all within the particulars.

Development and Upgrading Tools

Dauntless

Armor and weapons are on the forefront of development in Dauntless, however every might be imbued with “perks” that add fight modifiers when stacked. Each are crafted utilizing supplies dropped by monsters. Gear might be crafted with particular perks already included, however gamers can discover and create Cells that may be positioned into empty slots on gear so as to add particular perks.
On high of this, each slayer can take one in every of eight lanterns into battle. You possibly can set off a lantern’s major capacity with a faucet, or maintain the button of a completely charged lantern to set off a secondary impact. These fluctuate wildly relying on the lantern however most embody a buff, like a defend or assault price improve, or a brand new assault like a fireball or bomb.
Development works by defeating every island’s monsters. Clear the set, and also you’ll transfer onto the following. The Shattered Isles comprises round 5 completely different searching grounds, and also you’ll go to every in sequence as you clear the objectives of the final.
When you’re by way of with that, Heroic fights await because the true take a look at of your capacity. Right here, it’ll be much less about armor and weapons seeing you thru, however your capacity to keep away from harm utterly and maximize time spent attacking. Then there’s Escalation; a brute gauntlet of battles able to push you to the brink that’s solely going to get more durable with the Blaze Escalation.

Monster Hunter World

Monster Hunter World makes use of a really related system. You gained’t stage up and assign stat factors, however as an alternative, work to craft higher weapons and equipment utilizing the supplies of beforehand defeated monsters. Every weapon kind has dozens of variants with many following a laborious improve tree to finally turn into one thing virtually utterly completely different. Whereas not completely essential, having a weapon of every ingredient will imply you’re all the time capable of deal excessive harm to a goal.
Armor usually consists of passive expertise that activate below sure situations, which means armor units might be combine and matched to create particular builds — like one that may ship your vital price by way of the roof for … sliding down a hill. Talismans might be worn and augments might be slotted into gear to strengthen expertise and even add new ones.
Monsters develop an increasing number of highly effective as you improve your Hunter Rank and progress by way of Low, Excessive, and Grasp Rank difficulties. Monster sub-species combine assault patterns up a bit, whereas Tempered and Arch-Tempered variants additional scale monster harm and HP to make correctly upgraded gear all of the extra necessary. And, as sure improve supplies could solely drop by breaking particular physique elements, tweaking your technique to goal for a tail, wing, or claw, can usually be like preventing a brand new monster totally.
Whenever you’re not pushing forward with story content material or beating up the identical monster for an armor set, facet quests can unlock different helpful options — like extra elements for stat-boosting meals, or extra environment friendly methods to farm supplies wanted to make the gadgets you convey with you on the hunt.
Except you’re taking part in very casually, gadgets will run dry; and also you’re solely half the hunter with out them. Going out to collect elements for potions and bombs is simply as necessary and upgrading your armor.

Which one do you have to play?

When it boils all the way down to it, Monster Hunter World and Dauntless are two very related, but very completely different, video video games. Dauntless actually lends itself to the Fortnite fandom; it’s colourful for one factor, nevertheless it’s a service sport at coronary heart. It’s designed to suck you in and never let go. Fortunately, which means it shouldn’t take greater than a single sitting to gauge whether or not or not it’s for you. And higher but, it gained’t price you a penny to determine that out.
In case you’re the kind who likes clear-cut objectives to fashionable cosmetics, there’s a Season Move in place identical to each different pseudo-MMO at present on the market, so there’s all the time one thing to work in the direction of. Undecided for those who want a brand new weapon but? Simply smack one thing up and get a pleasant outfit. Straightforward.
The place Dauntless actually differentiates itself over the competitors is the shortage of fluff between the great things. Fairly than get slowed down prep, as long as you refill your potions, you'll be able to choose a mission and get caught in. You gained’t should navigate the entire of the Amazon Rainforest to search out your goal, both. It’s a real choose up and play expertise — bolstered by the flexibility to play on the go thanks to the Nintendo Switch. They’re nonetheless planning a full-blown cellular port, too.
After which there’s Monster Hunter World. We’re fortunate Capcom lastly determined to simplify the sequence’ extra hardcore parts. After 1000's of hours of the older video games, I’m nonetheless all the time studying one thing new simply on account of how needlessly cryptic the sequence might be.
Capcom’s 45-million promoting blockbuster is extra difficult than Dauntless, however it may be comparatively effectively understood by the point you attain the bottom sport’s midsection.
You’ll get misplaced in its environments as a rule, and small and enormous creatures interrupting your hunts could make for a fairly aggravating time; however for those who’re coming from one thing like Darkish Souls, Nioh, or Bloodborne, you’ve already been conditioned to this type of preventing. It takes a while to clamber your approach to the highest, however what awaits is a satisfying sport you'll be able to dip out and in of with out fear.
Monster Hunter World is for the fashionable action-RPG veterans and people who don’t wish to be pressured into “maintaining”, whereas Dauntless is way extra suited to these particularly searching for their subsequent obsession.

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