The Defense stat reduces the damage that you take in Monster Hunter Wilds. Read on to learn how defense works, the calculations for defense, how to raise defense, and whether you should go for HP or Defense!

What is Defense?

Reduces the Damage Monsters Deal

As with other games, Defense decreases the damage monsters deal to you. The higher your defense, the less raw damage you receive.

For example, if you do not have any armor equipped, you will be at 1 Defense. After plugging it into the equation, you will basically receive an attack's full damage. If, instead, you had 80 Defense, then you will only receive 0.50, or half the attack's damage.

Based on the formula, it can be said that every 80 defense raises the denominator for % damage received by 1. That is to say, 80 Defense cuts damage to 1/2, 160 Defense cuts damage to 1/3, and so on and so forth.

Elemental Damage Reduction is Computed Separately

It is important to note however, that if an attack has Elemental Properties, then your Elemental Resistance will be included into the damage reduction calculation.

What Does Elemental Resistance Do?

What Affects Defense?

Food Buffs Can Increase Defense

By eating food in your camp, specifically those with Fish as the main Ration, you will be able to get a Defense buff that can last for up to 50 minutes.

Additionally, unlike in previous games, food buffs now remain even after fainting.

How to Cook and Eat Meals

Specific Armor Skills Can Buff Attack

Some Armor Skills, such as Defense Boost can also increase your Defense.

List of All Skills

Certain Items Increase Defense

Items like the Armorskin, Mega Armorskin, or Hardshell Powder can increase your defense upon use. This defense increase is temporary. These items can be crafted using the key ingredient Adamant Seed.

There are also items like the Armorcharm and the Armortalon from previous games that can increase your attack just by having it in your inventory. Although these items are currently not in Open Beta 2, they are expected to make a return in the full game.

List of All Items and Materials

Armor Ammo Provides Defense Buffs

The Armor Ammo is a special ammo for both the Light and Heavy Bowgun that can buff you and your team's Defense. Unlike in previous game, where you had to shoot other hunters with the Armor Ammo to buff them, you now only have to shoot the ground, with the Armor Ammo buffing everyone standing near where it landed.

Upgrading Armor Increases Defense

By using items such as Armor Spheres, you will be able to increase your Armor's Defense (up to a cap). This is a great way to increase your Defense if you don't have the materials yet for better armor.

If you do have the materials, however, then crafting better armor or even High-Rank versions of your armor will also increase your defense.

List of Armor and Armor Sets

Defense vs HP: Which is Better?

Defense is a Priority

Defense is the priority when it comes to survivability, as an increase in Defense increases your Effective Health, or how many times you can get hit before fainting. It is also more cost effective compared to just increasing your HP.

For example, if a monster deals 25 damage per attack, then at 100 HP (the base amount) you will faint on the fourth hit. Increasing your HP to 150 using Armor Skills will make you faint after 6 hits, while increasing your Defense to 80 and halving the damage you take (while still at 100 HP) will make you faint after 8 hits.

HP Can Be Improved By Eating

Additionally, you can increase your HP for free by partaking in meals. Eating brings your Max HP to 150 Health, the soft cap before Armor Skills take effect.

As such, it is ideal to increase your Defense as much as possible, then just eat before hunting for the HP increase.

How to Heal and Increase HP

Monster Hunter Wilds Related Guides

Tips and Tricks

All Tips and Tricks Guides