The Hunting Horn is a song-playing blunt weapon that mixes concussive hits and rhythmic melodies to support oneself and allies in Monster Hunter Wilds. See what new actions the Hunting Horn can perform, how to use it, its controls, the best combos to use, some tips, and its pre-launch update in this guide!

Hunting Horn Adjustments (December 19, 2024)

Melody Effect Rebalancing

Due to the strength of the Melody Effects, and their ability to linger after switching to a different weapon, it is likely that most players will be running Hunting Horn as a secondary weapon.

To balance this, the melody effects of the Hunting Horn's buffs on yourself and your party have been decreased. Additionally, the buffs will not last for long if you decide to switch out to a different weapon after applying the buffs.

New Hunting Horn Moves

New Overhead Smash Extension

Input	Action
(After Overhead Smash) + + + + + +	Adds a quick additional slam

To further improve Hunting Horn's punishment on topples and dodged attacks, its Wilds iteration extends the Overhead Smash by repeating the same input. This follow-up attack lets your hunter spin quickly before smashing the Hunting Horn down.

While basic, it can be transitioned into different moves instead of defaulting to a Backwards Strike afterward like with past titles. This leads to more combo paths, additional safety, all the while incentivizing on-the-fly decision-making and creativity.

New Performance Extensions

Unlike the previous iterations, the Wilds interpretation of the Hunting Horn has a sense of fluidity and safety added to its base kit with the new swift Performance extensions after the first one.

These quicker animations emphasize weaving in your performances as punishes to whiffed Monster attacks or extensions to combos!

Perfect Performances Echoes/Encores

Along with the faster doots, you are now rewarded when you precisely input Echos and Encores after the performance. When you perform a frame-perfect encore, your Hunter will glow a tinge of red and deal increased damage!

With this newly added mechanic, the mastery of the Hunting Horn will further increase the divide between rookies and seasoned practitioners!

Echo Bubbles

Input	Action
+ + +	Performs a unique attack or buff depending on the Hunting Horn.

The Echo Bubble, where the Hunter surrounds themselves with a field that enhances their attacks depending on the Hunting Horn in use, is a newly improved version of World's Echo Notes.

As an additional note to consider, you can input up to three notes of your choosing to prepare for a melody while your Hunter is dancing! Furthermore, you can get up to three Echo Bubbles in total.

Special Performances

Input	Action
+ + + + + +	Performs a unique attack or buff depending on the Hunting Horn.

With the addition of Special Performances, each Hunting Horn you craft will have a unique Special Performance that can be used either offensively or defensively to turn the tides of battle. This will further promote build variety as each Hunting Horn can have differing playstyles depending on the Special Performance!

During the open beta of Wilds, the available Special Performance is labelled as "Offset Melody". Using this Special Performance during most monsters' attack animation will disrupt and stagger them!

Focus Strike: Reverb

The Hunting Horn's take on the new Focus mechanic has it slam the head of the Hunting Horn unto a wounded monster then proceeds to do a guitar solo where you can input each of the different notes five times. The key to consistently hitting all five notes is to input each note separately and avoid spamming the button.

In certain situations, you can also pseudo-parry a monster's attack by hitting a monster's wounded spot at the right place just before getting hit. You will reduce the damage you receive for a significant amount during the duration of the guitar solo.

How to Use Hunting Horn

How to Use Hunting Horn
Understand the Note System Compose Melodies for Different Buffs Perform Your Heart Out

Understand the Note System

Input	Note
Note 1	| |
Note 2	| |
Note 3	+ | + | +

The core mechanic that the Hunting Horn uses is its ability to play notes with each of their attacks on the meter found below the Sharpness meter. Each Hunting Horn has their own set of notes, meaning every Hunting Horn is composed of different songs you can play during the hunt!

Compose Melodies for Different Buffs

After understanding how to play notes and stack them up on the meter. Lining up and combining different notes will allow you to perform distinctive songs that provide buffs to you and your allies.

The only universal buff that each Hunting Horn has is the Self Improvement buff, where you get increased movement speed and an innate Mind's Eye.

For reference, you can see the melodies your Hunting Horn can play by checking the top right portion of your screen. Each song has its respective notes that you need to play in order.

Perform Your Heart Out

Input	Action
	Performs an attack and plays the song lined up to activate the buffs associated with it.

After lining up a total of three songs, you can then perform the songs to apply the buffs to you and your allies. You can find your lined-up songs on the right side of your Note Meter. Depending on what move you used last and your directional input, the attack that comes with the performance also changes!

While performing, you can use either Performance Beats or Encore depending on what you want to achieve!

Move Input	Use
Performance Echo + + +	Use this to play another song on the list.
Encore | |	Use this if you want to perform only one song but immediately perform it again for increased buffs.

Hunting Horn Controls

Basic Controls

Action	PC	PS5	Xbox
Left Swing
Right Swing
Flourish	+	+	+
Backwards Strike	+	+	+
Overhead Smash	+ +	+ +	+ +
Hilt Stab (Only after an attack)	+ Any Attack Input	(Back) + Any Attack Input	(Back) + Any Attack Input
Perform
Performance Beat	After Performing	After Performing	After Performing
Encore	After Performing +	After Performing +	After Performing +
Echo Bubble	+	+	+
Special Performance	+ +	+ +	+ +
Focus Strike: Reverb	+	+	+

Hunting Horn Best Combos

Poke Combos

Platform	Combo Input
PC	( + ) → or ( + )
PS5	( + ) → or ( + )
Xbox	( + ) → or ( + )

If you are facing a monster known for its speed and relatively quick attacks that leave little-to-no windows to punish, use either of these attacks to sneak in some damage.

Punish Combos

Platform	Combo Input
PC	( + + ) → ( + + )
PC	( + + ) → ( + + )
PC	( + + ) → ( + + )

Whenever a monster uses a long-winded attack that results in them recovering for a while, use this combo to punish them.

Quick Basic Note Stack Combo

Platform	Combo Input
PC	( + ) → ( + ▶︎ ) → ( + Any Attack Input)
PS5	( + ) → (+ ▶︎ ) → ( Back + Any Attack Input)
Xbox	( + ) → ( + ▶︎ ) → ( Back (Back) + Any Attack Input)

Note: ▶︎ means while in transition to Flourish's second attack.

To efficiently stack up your basic notes and set up future songs, use this combo with the hilt stab as it expends the least amount of time possible to stack notes.

Echo Wave Combo

Platform	Combo Input
PC	( + ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ ) → ( + ) → ( + ▶︎ ) → ▶︎ ▶︎ + )
PS5	( + ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ ) → ( + ) → (+ ▶︎ ) → ▶︎ ▶︎ ( + )
Xbox	( + ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎ ) → ( + ) → ( + ▶︎ ) → ▶︎ ▶︎ ( + )

The point of this combo is to fully utilize Echo Bubbles and Echo Wave to deal as much damage to a downed monster as possible.

Basic Toppled Combo

Platform	Combo Input
PC	→ → Repeatedly
PS5	→ → Repeatedly
Xbox	→ → Repeatedly

As an alternative where you cannot easily access Echo Waves, you can instead opt to cycle triangle and circle to do the basic infinite combo.

Hunting Horn Tips

How to Use Hunting Horn
Always Keep Self Improvement Active Maximize Flourish Effectiveness Utilize Spacing Appropriately Make Use of Hilt Stabs

Always Keep Self Improvement Active

As a general rule while playing Hunting Horn, make it a habit to always keep Self Improvement active. For the most part, it should be in your best interest to integrate Left Swing or Hilt Stab between your combos to actively line up Self Improvement!

Maximize Flourish Effectiveness

Flourish allows you to sneak in one extra note input of your choice on its second attack. When the Hunting Horn is swung upwards for its second attack, press whatever note you want and it should appear on the Note Meter.

As an additional tip, you can cancel the first instance of the attack by dodging If you feel like you are about to get hit by the monster!

Utilize Spacing Appropriately

The best asset of a Hunting Horn is not solely due to the buffs it provides, but its mobile nature that allows you to reposition quickly and punish accordingly! Always exploit this asset and you will see a quick improvement in your hunts with the Hunting Horn.

Make Use of Hilt Stabs

While the Hilt Stab deals miniscule amounts of damage, it more than makes up for the utility it provides during a hunt! A long-time user of Hunting Horn makes use of this underrated move in a variety of ways:

• Play any notes in a fast manner as an extension.
• Helps to line yourself up to monsters when out of position.
• Used to unconventionally sever monster parts since it deals slashing damage.

Monster Hunter Wilds Related Guides

All Weapons and Guides

All Weapon Guides

All Weapon Types
Great Sword		Long Sword		Sword & Shield
Dual Blades		Hammer		Hunting Horn
Lance		Gunlance		Switch Axe
Charge Blade		Insect Glaive		Light Bowgun
Heavy Bowgun			Bow