The Tool Desk
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What “best in the air” means in the Ascendance previews
The available footage descriptions show ways to get airborne, evade in the air, follow up, or regain contact with a monster. They do not establish a complete aerial damage loop for any weapon. A launch by itself, for example, does not show how often an attack can be repeated or how much damage it deals.
The comparison below is based on an editorial preview of Capcom’s Tokyo Game Show 2026 footage. It describes previewed actions, not measured combat results. The preview does not provide motion values, damage multipliers, comparative uptime, or tested hunt results.
| Weapon | Previewed aerial role | What it suggests | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammer | Boosted Soaring Hammer launches the hunter into a plunging smash. | The clearest directly described launch-into-aerial-attack example in this group. | Damage, repeatability, or superiority over another weapon; not stated in the preview. |
| Dual Blades | Demon Boost Mode adds the airborne Galeforce Evade. | An aerial evasion option while powered up. | An aerial damage loop or comparative damage; not stated in the preview. |
| Switch Axe | Ambush Aerial Slash returns the hunter to the monster after a Boost Element Discharge Dash closes onto wounds for Zero Sum Discharge. | A way to re-engage and maintain contact after moving into an attack. | Comparative uptime or damage; not stated in the preview. |
| Gunlance | Boosted Assault Dash has a follow-up chain that includes Assault Drake Auger; another preview describes an uppercut leading into a forward aerial divebomb. | An aerial follow-up within a boosted approach sequence. | A sustained airborne playstyle or a damage advantage; not established by the footage descriptions. |
| Insect Glaive | Rising Leaping Strike launches the hunter upward after Descending Slash by consuming red extract. | A clear upward-launch option for a weapon already associated with aerial combat. | A damage advantage; the preview says its presentation emphasized ground combat and underrepresented its aerial identity. |
How the five options differ
Hammer: the most direct launch into a strike
Boosted Soaring Hammer is the most straightforward match for a hunter looking for an action that visibly begins with a launch and ends in an aerial plunge. That makes Hammer the clearest example of a previewed aerial attack here, but the description gives no basis for calling it the strongest.
#1 Best Overall
- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Players can also now ride atop the Seikret, an agile new mount enabling hunters to traverse difficult terrain, perform actions like sharpening weapons on the move, and switch between two weapons while out on hunts!
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
Dual Blades: airborne movement, not demonstrated aerial damage
Galeforce Evade is described as an airborne evade added to Demon Boost Mode. That is evidence of an aerial movement tool, not evidence that Dual Blades can stay airborne for long or deal more damage there.
Switch Axe: prioritize getting back to the target
Ambush Aerial Slash is notable for re-engagement: after a boosted dash closes on wounds for Zero Sum Discharge, the hunter can return directly to the monster. The preview supports a contact-maintenance role, but does not quantify how reliable or damaging that sequence is in a hunt.
Gunlance: a follow-up within a sequence
The described Gunlance actions connect a boosted dash with follow-ups, including Assault Drake Auger. A separate preview describes an uppercut leading into a forward aerial divebomb. That points to an aerial attack sequence, not a proven loop of sustained airborne combat.
Insect Glaive: promising aerial identity, incomplete emphasis
Rising Leaping Strike launches the hunter upward after Descending Slash by spending red extract. Insect Glaive is therefore an obvious weapon to watch for aerial play, but the preview’s ground-focused presentation does not show that it has a damage edge over the other options.
Rank #3
- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
- Crossplay Multiplayer – Alongside the option to enjoy the story of Monster Hunter Wilds solo, hunters can join up to three other players across any platform to explore the world together and take on the game’s challenges as a hunting party or receive aid from notable story characters as Support Hunter NPCs.
Boost Action context: a limited window, not a weapon ranking
Capcom’s Tokyo Game Show hands-on description presents Boost Action as weapon-specific attacks and empowered actions that last for a limited time. The Boost gauge fills over time and with landed strikes; destroying wounds with Focus Strike while Boost is active recharges the draining gauge. These mechanics are preview details and may change before release.
That gauge behavior matters when thinking about whether a move can fit into an effective sequence: a single aerial attack and a repeatable sequence that sustains contact are different things. The preview descriptions do not supply enough information to compare these weapons’ final Boost windows, aerial uptime, or damage.
Ascendance release status and entry requirements
Capcom has announced Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance as paid expansion content scheduled for 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It is not yet available. A Capcom USA-authored PlayStation Blog preview says the expansion adds a story, areas, monsters, actions, and Master Rank, and that the Boost Bracer enables abilities through the Hunter’s Slinger while temporarily enhancing combat capabilities across all 14 weapon types.
- The Monster Hunter Wilds base game is required.
- The announced requirement to start the story and enter Master Rank at launch is Hunter Rank 40 and completion of “Awaking From a Dream.”
What would make a real aerial ranking possible?
A defensible ranking would need more than footage of a move launching or returning the hunter. It would require final move details and repeatable gameplay evidence, including damage values or motion values, how reliably each weapon can maintain contact, and how much of its limited Boost window can be used for aerial follow-ups. Those comparisons are not established by the cited previews.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
- Crossplay Multiplayer – Alongside the option to enjoy the story of Monster Hunter Wilds solo, hunters can join up to three other players across any platform to explore the world together and take on the game’s challenges as a hunting party or receive aid from notable story characters as Support Hunter NPCs.
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