Monster Hunter Wilds Offset Attacks, Explained

Everything you need to know about the new Offset attacks in Monster Hunter Wilds, including their use cases, combos, and more.

Offset attacks are essentially the new weapon combos introduced in Monster Hunter Wilds. Much like the Power Clash and Focus Strike, offset attacks are a way to counter a monster’s attack, albeit with some key differences. Unlike the Power Clash and Focus Strike, offset attacks don’t let you transition to the most damaging combo for a weapon type. Instead, the ability allows you to follow up the offset strike with another attack, which can then be charged into a different combo.

Pulling off an offset attack isn’t particularly easy, but doing so pays off in spades. Not only are you able to deal damage to the monster, but triggering an offset also staggers them.

However, much like the Power Clash, offset attacks come with a fair few limitations. Here’s everything you need to know about the offset attacks in Monster Hunter Wilds.

What Is Offset Attack in Monster Hunter Wilds?

Offset attacks in Monster Hunter are special combos that allow you to parry an incoming attack and immediately retaliate with another attack. Pulling off an offset attack requires proper timing. However, if you pull it off successfully, you get a brief window to deal a ton of damage to the monster and even follow up with a charged combo. Unfortunately, offset attacks aren’t available for all weapon types.

So far, based on the Open Beta Test for Monster Hunter Wilds, we know that offset attacks are only available primarily to melee weapons, specifically the heavier ones. For Bows, Light Bowguns, or even the Insect Glaive, there are no offset attacks, at least in the Beta version.

Here are all the weapons that have access to offset attacks in MH Wilds:

Great Sword
Switch Axe
Hammer
Hunting Horn
Heavy Bowgun

How To Do Offset Attacks in Monster Hunter Wilds?

Here’s how to perform the offset attack for these weapon types:

Great Sword

For the Great Sword, pulling off an offset attack is all about timing. By pressing and holding Y+B, you enter the offset stance. Much like the Charged Slash, the Great Sword’s offset attack can be charged up to three levels. If you let go of Y+B right as a monster’s attack hits you, you get a successful offset, which you can follow up by pressing Y. After the offset attack, you can do a follow-up Charged Slash, which can then be finished with a TCS. Here are the inputs for the Great Sword’s offset attack:

Combos	Button Combinations (PlayStation/Xbox)
Offset Attack	Hold-Triangle+Circle > Triangle/ Hold-Y+B > Y

Switch Axe

For the Switch Axe, you need to be in the Axe Mode to perform the offset attack. Much like in the case of the Great Sword, pressing and holding Y+B and letting go right before a monster’s attack lands initiates an offset attack. After a successful offset, you can press Y or B to follow up with a regular attack and an Axe Mode finisher. Here are the inputs for the Switch Axe’s offset attack:

Combos	Button Combinations (PlayStation/Xbox)
Offset Attack	Triangle+Circle/Y+B

Hammer

The Hammer’s offset attack is the easiest to pull off. You can do an offset attack as part of the weapon’s regular combo chain. The Overhead Smash combo’s finisher by default is an offset attack, i.e., Upswing. However, to land a successful Upswing and offset, you must time the Overhead Smash combo perfectly. Failing to do so will result in the offset not triggering, regardless of whether you can land an Upswing. Here are the inputs for the Hammer’s offset attacks in Monster Hunter Wilds:

Combos	Button Combinations (PlayStation/Xbox)
Offset Attack	Triangle > Triangle > Triangle/Y > Y > Y

Hunting Horn

In the case of the Hunting Horn, you have a dedicated Offset Melody. You can perform this note after a Backward Strike > Right Swing > Backward Strike > Left Swing combo. Once you have the Offset Melody available, press Y+B+RT to do an offset attack, right before a monster’s attack hits you. You do need to stack the Offset Melody before you can perform an offset attack. Here are the inputs for the Hunting Horn’s offset attack.

Combos	Button Combinations (PlayStation/Xbox)
Offset Attack	Triangle+Circle > Circle > Triangle+Circle > Triangle > Triangle+Circle+R2/Y+B > B > Y+B > Y > Y+B+RT

Heavy Bowgun

To perform the Heavy Bowgun’s offset attack, you need to be in the Ignition Mode. While in Ignition Mode, holding LT+B will let you charge the offset attack. There’s no need to fully charge the offset attack before you land it. However, doing so will result in significantly more damage and occasional topple. Here are the inputs for the Heavy Bowgun’s offset combo:

Combos	Button Combinations (PlayStation/Xbox)
Offset Attack	Hold-L2+Circle (in Ignition Mode)/Hold-LT+B (in Ignition Mode)

Do note that this is an in-progress article. We will update this guide as we gather more information on offset attacks for other weapon types in Monster Hunter Wilds.

We provide the latest news and create guides for Monster Hunter Wilds or MH Wilds. Meanwhile, you can check out the following Monster Hunter articles or catch us playing games on Twitch and YouTube:

Monster Hunter Wilds Offset Attacks, Explained

What Is Offset Attack in Monster Hunter Wilds?