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Monster Hunter Wilds

How to Block and Perfect Guard

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Monster Hunter WIlds - How to Block and Perfect Guard

Players can guard to reduce damage against attacks in Monster Hunter Wilds, and even negate damage fully with Perfect Guard. Find out how to guard and block, how to perform Perfect Guards, and how to counterattack here!

List of Contents

How to Guard and Block

Press the Block Button With the Weapon Drawn

Guarding With the Sword and Shield

Melee Weapons
Heavy Bowgun
PC R Button
PlayStation PS4 - R2 Button
Xbox XBOX - Right Trigger
PC
R Button + F Button
PlayStation
PS4 - Triangle Button + PS4 - Circle Button
Xbox
XBOX - Y Button + XBOX - B Button

To guard and block attacks, press and hold the Guard button based on what platform you are playing on. Weapons that can guard will maintain a defensive stance for as long as the button is held.

For the Heavy Bowgun specifically, the hunter will Auto-Guard if the player is not firing and is attacked. However, players can also choose to manually guard with the weapon.

Only Certain Weapons can Guard

All Weapons That Can Guard
Great SwordGreat Sword Sword and ShieldSword & Shield LanceLance
GunlanceGunlance Charge BladeCharge Blade Heavy BowgunHeavy Bowgun

Not all weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds can guard. Outside of weapons that visibly carry a shield, only a handful of other weapons have the ability to block monster attacks. Above is a list of all weapons that can guard.

Charge Blade has Guard Points in its Moves

Guard Point Indicators

The Charge Blade has an exclusive mechanic called Guard Points that are embedded in its attacks. Certain attack animations will bring the weapon's shield in front of the hunter, which counts as a guarding motion, blocking attacks.

Charge Blade Weapon Guide and New Moves

How to Perfect Guard?

Guard Right Before a Monster Attack

By pressing the block input button right before a monster attack hits, it will be considered a Perfect Block. You will know that you have performed a Perfect Guard when your screen flashes and a sound cue plays.

Perfect Guards will still consume Stamina liike a normal Guard does.

Perfect Guard Negates Damage

Perfect Blocks are different from normal Guards in that it fully negates damage unlike normal guards which only partially reduces damage taken. It also negates the downsides of blocking, like the sharpness decrease on Great Swords.

Triggers the Power Clash Mechanic

Additionally, performing a Perfect Guard against certain monster attacks will trigger the new Power Clash mechanic.

The Power Clash puts the hunter and monster in a brief struggle. Winning the struggle will damage and stagger the monster, opening it to further attacks.

Power Clash has a cooldown, so you will have to wait after performing one to perform another.

How to Trigger a Power Clash

You Can Perform Various Actions After a Perfect Guard

Whenever Power Clash is on cooldown, depending on the weapon you have equipped, you can perform a variety of actions after performing a Perfect Guard.

Great Sword

PC
PS5
Xbox
Action
Charged Slash Mouse Left Button(Press and Hold)
Wide Slash Mouse Right Button
Offset Rising Slash
Mouse Left Button+ Mouse Right Button
(Hold)
Action
Charged Slash PS4 - Triangle Button(Press and Hold)
Wide Slash PS4 - Circle Button
Offset Rising Slash
PS4 - Triangle Button + PS4 - Circle Button
(Hold)
Action
Charged Slash XBOX - Y Button(Press and Hold)
Wide Slash XBOX - B Button
Offset Rising Slash
XBOX - Y Button+ XBOX - B Button
(Hold)

Sword and Shield

PC
PS5
XBOX
Action
Counter Slash Mouse Left Button
Lateral Slash Mouse Right Button
Charged Chop
Mouse Left Button + Mouse Right Button
(Hold)
Shield Attack
W Button + Mouse Right Button
Backstep
S Button + Mouse Right Button
Action
Counter Slash PS4 - Triangle Button
Lateral Slash PS4 - Circle Button
Charged Chop
PS4 - Triangle Button + PS4 - Circle Button
(Hold)
Shield Attack
PS4 - Left Stick↑ + PS4 - Circle Button
Backstep
PS4 - Left Stick↓ + PS4 - Circle Button
Action
Counter Slash XBOX - Y Button
Lateral Slash XBOX - B Button
Charged Chop
XBOX - Y Button + XBOX - B Button
(Hold)
Shield Attack
XBOX - Left Stick↑ + XBOX - B Button
Backstep
XBOX - Left Stick↓ + XBOX - B Button

Lance

PC
PS5
XBOX
Action
Return Thrust Mouse Left Button
Payback Thrust Mouse Right Button
Follow-Up Dash Attack
Mouse Left Button + Mouse Right Button
Guard Dash
R Button + W Button + Mouse Left Button
Action
Return Thrust PS4 - Triangle Button
Payback Thrust PS4 - Circle Button
Follow-Up Dash Atttack
PS4 - Triangle Button + PS4 - Circle Button
Guard Dash
PS4 - R2 Button + PS4 - Left Stick↑ + PS4 - Triangle Button
Action
Return Thrust XBOX - Y Button
Payback Thrust XBOX - B Button
Follow-Up Dash Attack
XBOX - Y Button + XBOX - B Button
Guard Dash
XBOX - Right Trigger + XBOX - Left Stick↑ + XBOX - Y Button

Gunlance

PC
PS5
XBOX
Action
Overhead Smash
Mouse Left Button
Shelling or Charged Shelling
Mouse Right Button or Mouse Right Button(Hold)
Wyvern's Fire
R Button + Mouse Left Button + Mouse Right Button
Action
Overhead Smash PS4 - Triangle Button
Charged Shelling
PS4 - Circle Button or PS4 - Circle Button(Hold)
Wyvern's Fire
PS4 - R2 Button + PS4 - Triangle Button + PS4 - Circle Button
Action
Overhead Smash XBOX - Y Button
Charged Shelling
XBOX - B Button or XBOX - B Button(Hold)
Wyvern's Fire
XBOX - Right Trigger + XBOX - Y Button + XBOX - B Button

Charge Blade

PC
PS5
XBOX
Action
Savage Axe Slash Mouse Left Button
Axe: Amped Element Discharge
Mouse Left Button + Mouse Right Button
Action
Savage Axe Slash PS4 - Triangle Button
Axe: Amped Element Discharge
PS4 - Triangle Button + PS4 - Circle Button
Action
Savage Axe Slash XBOX - Y Button
Axe: Amped Element Discharge
XBOX - Y Button + XBOX - B Button

Heavy Bowgun

PC
PS5
XBOX
Action
Fire or Wyvernheart Ignition Mouse Left Button
Focus Blast: Wyvern Howl Shot
Mouse Right Button + Shift
Reload R Button
Wyverncounter Ignition If in Ignition Mode
R Button(Can be charged)
Sidestep Space Button
Action
Fire or Wyvernheart Ignition PS4 - R2 Button
Focus Blast: Wyvern Howl Shot
PS4 - L2 Button + PS4 - R1 Button
Reload PS4 - Triangle Button
Wyverncounter Ignition If in Ignition Mode
R Button(Can be charged)
Sidestep PS4 - X Button
Action
Fire or Wyvernheart Ignition XBOX - Right Trigger
Focus Blast: Wyvern Howl Shot
XBOX - Left Trigger + XBOX - Right Bumper
Reload XBOX - Y Button
Wyverncounter Ignition If in Ignition Mode
R Button(Can be charged)
Sidestep XBOX - A Button

Monster Hunter Wilds Related Guides

Game Mechanics

Game Mechanics

All Game Mechanics Guides

Hunting Mechanics
Quest Rewards Starting Quests Climate Effects
Weather System Health Stamina
Fainting Penalty Seikret Pop-up Camps
Fast Travel Climbing Walls Crafting Items
Supply Items Slinger SOS Flare
Hunting Assistants Sharpening Weapons Forge Weapons and Armor
Switching Weapons Starting Monster Fights Setting Traps
Capturing Monsters Mounting Monsters Tracking Monsters
Sneak Attack Separate Monster Herds Stunning Monsters
Dodging Attacks Status Effects Poison Status
Fireblight Status Waterblight Status Thunderblight Status
Iceblight Status Blastblight Status Paralysis Status
Sleep Status Exhaust Status Frenzy Status
Bubbleblight Status Underwater Combat -
Weapon and Armor Mechanics
Stats Explained Attack Stat Defense Stat
Elemental Resistance Weapon Sharpness Affinity
Damage Formula Damage Number Colors Elemental Damage
Dragon Element Motion Values Hitzone Values
Critical Distance Offset Attacks Wounding Mechanic
Focus Mode and Strike Power Clash Super and Hyper Armor
Block and Perfect Guard Hunting Horn Songs Bowgun Mods
Gunlance Shelling Bowgun Special Ammo Phial Types
Blunt, Sever, and Shot - -
Facilities
Material Retrieval Item Trading Smelting
Melding Pot Support Ship Bounties and Research Help

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