Wild Hearts

Maul Best Builds and Equipment

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Wild Hearts - Maul Builds

This is a guide to the best builds and equipment for the Maul in Wild Hearts. Learn about the best Mauls and the best skills and armor to use with the Maul from the early game until the end game!

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Best End Game Maul Builds

Blue Oni All-Rounder

Weapon ATK ATK. Type Crit. Rate
Tempest Maul: Blue Oni 1,300 Pummel 0%
Element Element Power
- -
Inherent Skills
Slight of Hand: Fury 10%
Inversion Attack 5% (Base Inherited Skill)
Tunnel Vision 30%
Req. Materials
Lump of Ore x6
Golden Tempest Auric Claw x4
Golden Tempest Celestial Robe x2
Golden Tempest Auric Ruff x1
Recommended Build Path (Inherited Skills)
Weapon Skill
Silica Maul Hawk Eye 5%
(Pure Kemono-Path)
Ishikori-dome Extended Rap 6%
Amber Maul Desperation 15%
(Pure Kemono-Path)
Extended Rap 6%
Final Weapon Output
Tempest Maul: Blue Oni Tunnel Vision 30%
Slight of Hand: Fury 10%
Inversion Attack 5%
Hawk Eye 5%
Desperation 15%
Extended Rap 12%
Armor Skills
Garuda Hat
Fatigue Recovery (Stam Regen) 10%
Deaf Ears
Solar Protection 5%
Draconic Back Guard
Ancient Tree Champion 15%
Hawk Eye 5%
Rude Health 12%
Wayward Brigand Tekko
One Stroke: Fury 17%
Tangle Recovery 33%
Draconic Body Armor
Fusion Master
Battle Spirit 10%
Rude Health 12%
Wayward Brigand Boots
Grab Master 6%
Resurrection
Tangle Recovery 33%
Skills
Tunnel Vision 30% | Hawk Eye 10%
Slight of Hand: Fury 10% | Inversion Attack 5%
Desperation 15% | Extended Rap 12%
Fatigue Recovery 10% | Deaf Ears
Solar Protection 5% | Rude Health 24%
Tangle Recovery 66% | One Stroke: Fury 17%
Battle Spirit 10% | Grab Master 6%
Resurrection
Recommended Talisman Skills Hawk Eye
Desperation
Pummel Boost
Build Merits This build prioritizes maximizing the Maul's raw damage output and providing players with a well-rounded set for dealing with Chapter 5's Volatile and Deeply Volatile Kemono.

The Tempest Maul: Blue Oni is one of the best raw Mauls in the game, featuring 1,300 base damage and solid damage skills like Tunnel Vision and Slight of Hand: Fury. Following our recommended build path further increases the weapon's damage output with Hawk Eye, Desperation, and Extended Rap.

Mixing the Garuda, Wayward Brigand, and Draconic sets, and using their Kemono-Path modifications, provides the build with potent utility skills, like Deaf Ears, Resurrection, and Rude Health, while contributing to the Maul's damage output with Hawk Eye, One Stroke: Fury, and Battle Spirit.

To round the build out, we recommend using Talismans with damage-boosting skills like Hawk Eye, Desperation, and Pummel Boost to increase your damage output with the Maul.

Best Mid Game Maul Builds

Rashomon Sable Mara Set

Weapon ATK ATK. Type Crit. Rate
Wrack Maul: Rashо̄mon 856 Pummel 0%
Element Element Power
Earth 560
Inherent Skills
Karakuri Coordination: Fury 10%
Extended Rap 15%
Helve Extension Training (Base Inherited Skill)
Req. Materials
Giant Kemono Slack x5
Lump of Ore x2
Cobalt Lavaback Liquid Rock x2
Cobalt Lavaback Bristle x1
Recommended Build Path (Inherited Skills)
Weapon Skill
Herbal Maul Surprise Attack 40%
Wrack Maul: Balsam Shockwave 10%
Samsara Maul Slight of Hand: Fury 6%
Silica Maul Hawk Eye 5%
(Pure Kemono-Path)
Final Weapon Output
Wrack Maul: Rashо̄mon Extended Rap 15%
Karakuri Coordination: Fury 10%
Helve Extension Training
Hawk Eye 5%
Surprise Attack 40%
Shockwave 10%
Slight of Hand: Fury 6%
Armor Skills
Sable Mara Mengu
Lunar Protection 5%
Deaf Ears
Sable Mara Body Armor
Poison Recovery 33%
Provocation 33%
Blackout Recovery 33%
Sable Mara Tekko
Poison Recovery 33%
Rally: Ironclad 5%
Blackout Recovery 33%
Sable Mara Kusazuri
Provocation 33%
Fusion Art: Fury 12%
Sable Mara Sune-ate
Provocation 33%
Sprint Master
Blackout Recovery 33%
Skills
Extended Rap 15% | Karakuri Coordination: Fury 10%
Helve Extension Training | Surprise Attack 40%
Hawk Eye 5% | Shockwave 10%
Slight of Hand: Fury 6% | Sprint Master
Deaf Ears | Lunar Protection 5%
Poison Recovery 66% | Blackout Recovery 99%
Provocation 99% | Fusion Art: Fury 12%
Recommended Talisman Skills Hawk Eye
Battle Spirit
One Strike: Fury
Build Merits This build provides a balanced gear set for tackling the Emberplume and Golden Tempest. It also acts as a solid set for taking on the Celestial Dragon.

The Wrack Maul: Rashо̄mon offers heavy raw and Earth damage, which targets the Emberplume and Golden Tempest's major elemental weakness, and potent offensive skills like Karakuri Coordination: Fury and Extended Rap. In addition, our recommended upgrade path enhances the weapon's damage output even further with Surprise Attack, Hawk Eye, and Shockwave.

The Sable Mara set from the Mighty Fumebeak provides high Fire and Wind resistance alongside potent utility skills, like Deaf Ears, Lunar Protection, Fusion Art: Fury, and Blackout Recovery, improving your survivability against the hard-hitting Emberplume, Golden Tempest, and Celestial Dragon.

To round the build out, we recommend using Talismans with damage-boosting skills like Hawk Eye, Battle Spirit, and One Strike: Fury to increase your damage output with the Maul even more.

Anti-Amaterasu Winter Camellia

Weapon ATK ATK. Type Crit. Rate
Winter Camellia Maul 743 Pummel 0%
Element Element Power
- -
Inherent Skills
Strong Arm: Remedy +100
Grab Master 13%
One Stroke: Critical 30% (Base Inherited Skill)
Req. Materials
Giant Kemono Petal x5
Ripclaw Corona Spray x4
Sharp Ripclaw Talon x4
Large Piece of Ore x2
Recommended Build Path (Inherited Skills)
Weapon Skill
Wrack Maul: Balsam Shockwave 10%
Yashima Maul Destruction Art 15%
Ember Maul Extended Rap 4%
Icy Crescent Maul Savage +6
Final Weapon Output
Winter Camellia Maul Strong Arm: Remedy +100
Grab Master 13%
One Stroke: Critical 30%
Shockwave 10%
Destruction Art 15%
Extended Rap 4%
Savage +6
Armor Skills
Great Juniper Headgear
Nostrum Water
Strong Arm: Water +3
Great Juniper Body Armor
Health Boost +5
Health Boost +5
Tangle Recovery 33%
Great Juniper Gauntlets
Health Boost +5
Strong Arm: Remedy +33
Great Juniper Field Hakama
Strong Arm: Remedy +33
Fusion Master
Great Juniper Sune-ate
Health Boost +5
Savage +3
Skills
Strong Arm: Remedy +166 | Grab Master 13%
One Stroke: Critical 30% | Shockwave 10%
Destruction Art 15% | Extended Rap 4%
Savage +9 | Strong Arm: Water +3
Nostrum Water | Health Boost +15
Tangle Recovery 33% | Strong Arm: Thread +6
Fusion Master | Strong Arm: Remedy +66
Recommended Talisman Skills Fog Fall
Verve
Wood Resilience
Build Merits This build provides a solid gear set for the first fight against Amaterasu while also being an excellent set for taking on the Mighty Wood and Mighty Water Kemono of Chapter 3.

The Winter Camellia Maul provides heavy raw damage against mid-game Kemono and features strong offensive and utility skills like One Stroke: Critical and Strong Arm: Remedy. In addition, following our recommended upgrade path boosts the weapon's damage output even further with skills like Extended Rap, Shockwave, and Savage.

The Great Juniper set from the Mighty Kingtusk provides high Wood and Entangle resistance alongside potent Human-Path utility skills, like Nostrum Water and Fusion Master, improving your survivability greatly against the Amaterasu and other Mighty Kemono. This armor set also boosts the Winter Camellia Maul's Strong Arm: Remedy and Savage skills, making them a great pair.

To round the build out, we recommend using Talismans with Fog Fall, Verve, and Wood Resilience to improve your survivability and damage output against the Amaterasu.

Ember Maul Bandit Set

Weapon ATK ATK. Type Crit. Rate
Ember Maul 340 Pummel 0%
Element Element Power
Fire 240
Inherent Skills
Leeway 4%
Extended Rap 4% (Base Inherited Skill)
Req. Materials
Ore x10
Cobalt Lavaback Fang x2
Cobalt Lavaback Hide x2
Recommended Build Path (Inherited Skills)
Weapon Skill
Yashima Maul Destruction Art 15%
Ripple Maul 3 Fire Wilt 5%
Wrack Maul: Rhododendron 2 Tiger's Den 5%
(Pure Kemono-Path)
Final Weapon Output
Ember Maul Leeway 4%
Extended Rap 4%
Destruction Art 15%
Fire Wilt 5%
Tiger's Den 5%
Armor Skills
Bandit Mengu
Grab Master 4%
Bridge Burning 10%
Bandit Uwagi
Resurrection
Freezing Recovery 22%
Bandit Tekko
One Stroke: Fury 11%
Bandit Loincloth
Core Boost 10%
Freezing Recovery 22%
Bandit Boots
Grab Master 4%
Skills
Leeway 4% | Extended Rap 4%
Destruction Art 15% | Fire Wilt 5%
Tiger's Den 5% | Grab Master 8%
Bridge Burning 10% | Freezing Recovery 44%
Resurrection | One Stroke: Fury 11%
Core Boost 10%
Recommended Talisman Skills Flame Wielder
Battle Spirit
Water Resilience
Build Merits This build is primarily designed for taking down the Deathstalker near the end of Chapter 2 while remaining a solid starter set when taking on the Mighty Kemono of Chapter 3.

The Ember Maul is the strongest Fire-based Maul at this point in the game, making it an excellent pick for fighting against the Deathstalker. In addition, it also features solid Inherent and Inherited skills from its upgrade paths, like Destruction Art, Fire Wilt, and Tiger's Den.

The Bandit set provides high Water resistance and Freezing Recovery, letting you have an easier time dealing with the Deathstalker's icy attacks. In addition, modifying the set toward the Kemono-Path gives you access to potent offensive and defensive skills, like Resurrection and Bridge Burning.

To round out the build, we recommend using Talismans with Flame Wielder, Battle Spirit, and Water Resilience to improve your survivability and damage output against the Deathstalker and other Water Kemono.

Crystal Crusher Akikure Veteran

Weapon ATK ATK. Type Crit. Rate
Crystal Crusher 468 Slash 10%
Element Element Power
- -
Inherent Skills
Critical Chain 8% (Base Inherited Skill)
One Stroke: Fury 15% (Kemono-Path)
Req. Materials
Corestone x6
Goldshard Tail x3
Goldshard Claw x2
Goldshard Spine x3
Recommended Build Path (Inherited Skills)
Weapon Skill
Herbal Maul Surprise Attack 40%
Karakuri Coordination: Fury 4%
Final Weapon Output
Crystal Crusher One Stroke: Fury 15%
Critical Chain 8%
Surprise Attack 40%
Karakuri Coordination: Fury 4%
Armor Skills
Veteran Helmet
Bare Thread 6%
Veteran Armor
Bare Thread 6%
Fatigue Resilience 13%
Veteran Tekko
Dodge Master (Armor) 17%
Veteran Kusazuri
Fatigue Resilience 13%
Poison Recovery 22%
Veteran Sune-ate
Dodge Master (Armor) 17%
Skills
One Stroke: Fury 15% | Critical Chain 8%
Surprise Attack 40% | Karakuri Coordination: Fury 4%
Bare Thread 12% | Fatigue Resilience 26%
Dodge Master 34% | Poison Recovery 22%
Recommended Talisman Skills Health Boost
Poison Recovery
Wind Resilience
Build Merits This build provides players with a solid set of gear for dealing with the Fumebeak while remaining effective against the rest of the Akikure Canyon kemono.

The Crystal Crusher provides high raw Slash damage, a 10% critical rate, and solid offensive skills like Critical Chain. In addition, Surprise Attack and Karakuri Coordination: Fury, inherited from the Herbal Maul, boost the weapon's damage even further.

The Veteran set provides excellent resistances against the Sporetail, Goldshard, and Fumebeak, while also featuring solid utility skills like Bare Thread and Dodge Master. In addition, we also recommend modifying this armor set toward the Kemono-Path to activate the Crystal Crusher's One Stroke: Fury.

To round the build out, we recommend equipping Talismans with Health Boost, Poison Recovery, and Wind Resilience to further enhance your survivability against the Fumebeak.

Best Early Game Maul Builds

Ripple Natsukodachi Hunter

Weapon ATK ATK. Type Crit. Rate
Ripple Maul 2 360 Pummel -10%
Element Element Power
- -
Inherent Skills
Slight of Hand: Fury 4% (Base Inherited Skill)
Water Wilt 5% (Base Inherited Skill)
Leeway 4%
Req. Materials
Corestone x10
Small Kemono Carapace x3
Gritdog Iron Nugget x2
Gritdog Claw x3
Armor Skills
Roaming Bard Mengu
Recovery Boost 15%
Roaming Bard Uwagi
Presence of Mind 4%
Roaming Bard Tekko
Savage +1
Grithide Loincloth
Core Boost 10%
Grithide Tabi
Strong Swimmer
Resurrection
Skills
Recovery Boost 15% | Presence of Mind 4% (Kemono Path)
Nimble-Fingered 25% | Double Strike 4%
Savage +1 | Core Boost 10%
Resurrection (Pure Kemono-Path)
Strong Swimmer (Pure Human-Path)
Recommended Talisman Skills Health Boost
Ironclad
Fire Resilience
Build Merits This build provides players with a solid set of gear for dealing with the Lavaback while remaining effective against the rest of the Natsukodachi Isle kemono.

Despite its 10% negative crit rate, the Ripple Maul 2 is one of the strongest raw Nodachi at this point in the game with its 360 base attack. The weapon's Leeway and Slight of Hand: Fury skills also provide decent quality of life and offensive power for the Maul.

The mix of Roaming Bard and Grithide sets provides high Fire resistance while keeping its Water, Wind, and Earth resistances above zero, making it a great set for tackling the entirety of Natsukodachi Isle. In addition, modifying your armor set toward the Pure Kemono-Path gives you access to the Resurrection skill, which is incredibly handy for giving you a second chance in a pinch.

To round the build out, we recommend equipping Talismans with Health Boost, Ironclad, and Fire Resilience to further enhance your survivability against the Lavaback.

Creeping Vine All-Rounder

Weapon ATK ATK. Type Crit. Rate
Creeping Vine Maul 198 Pummel 0%
Element Element Power
Wood 40
Inherent Skills
Final Blow 13%
Strong Arm: Spirit 4% (Base Inherited Skill)
Req. Materials
Kingtusk Hide x1
Kingtusk Ivory x1
Corestone x4
Recommended Build Path (Inherited Skills)
Weapon Skill
First Bloom Maul Savage +4
Final Weapon Output
Creeping Vine Nodachi Final Blow 13%
Strong Arm: Spirit 4%
Savage +4
Armor Skills
Basara Helm
Nostrum Water
Basara Body Armor
Strong Arm: Thread +4
Basara Gauntlets
Strong Arm: Remedy +22
Basara Field Hakama
Strong Arm: Remedy +22
Basara Sune-ate
Savage +1
Skills
Final Blow 13% | Strong Arm: Spirit 4%
Strong Arm: Thread +4 | Nostrum Water (Pure Human-Path)
Savage +5 | Strong Arm: Remedy +44 (Human-Path)
Recommended Talisman Skills Health Boost
Wood Boost
Ukemi Art
Build Merits This build focuses on giving players a strong set of gear for dealing with the Wood-based kemono in Harugasumi Way while still remaining effective against the Spineglider, Gritdog, and Dreadclaw in Natsukodachi Isle.

The Creeping Vine Maul offers adequate raw and Wood elemental damage while also providing extra damage potential with its Final Blow and Strong Arm: Spirit skills.

The Basara Armor Set, obtained from the Kingtusk, provides a solid spread of elemental resistances for dealing with Chapter 1's first few kemono and also offers plenty of survivability skills like Strong Arm: Remedy and Strong Arm: Thread.

To round the build out, we recommend equipping Talismans with Health Boost, Wood Boost, and Ukemi Art to further enhance your early survivability and damage output.

Best Skills for Maul

Best Skills Explanation
Extended Rap
★★★
With the Maul relying primarily on extended attacks for its most damaging combos, having a skill that directly increases these moves' damage output is always excellent to have.
Tunnel Vision
★★★
This skill makes the Maul's extension timing much tighter but greatly improves the weapon's damage output for a short while.
Shockwave
★★
This skill allows the Maul's extended attacks to knock out Kemono much easier, allowing hunters to target monsters' weak points and land the weapon's most damaging combos more often.
Surprise Attack
★★
This skill boosts the amount of damage you deal before a Kemono roars and begins attacking. Combine this skill with a Chain Trap and the Maul's high-damage combos at the start of the hunt for massive damage!
Desperation
★★
This skill provides a potent damage increase at the cost of your defense, making it a high-risk, high-reward damage skill for every weapon.
Hawk Eye
★★
This skill provides a potent damage increase when hitting a Kemono's weak spots, making it a solid damage skill for every weapon.
One Stroke: Fury
★★
The Maul breaks parts often with its high-damage blows, so a skill that increases damage on part breaks is always great to have.
Karakuri Coordination: Fury
The Maul often uses basic Karakuri attacks for combos and animation canceling. Having a skill that boosts the damage of these moves is always great to have.
Slight of Hand: Fury
Similar to Karakuri Coordination: Fury, providing the Maul with damage boosts after creating basic and fusion Karakuri is always beneficial.

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