The Monster Hunter franchise has carved out a legendary status, celebrated for its captivating gameplay loop where players hunt colossal monsters to gather loot, which in turn, enables them to upgrade their gear and tackle even more formidable foes. This engaging cycle is beautifully adapted into the tabletop realm with Monster Hunter World: The Board Game. Much like its video game counterpart, the board game offers various editions and expansions, each adding unique elements to the experience. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate through the different offerings and find the perfect fit for your gaming table.
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Monster Hunter World: The Board Game: Ancient Forest
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Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Wildspire Waste
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Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Hunter's Arsenal Expansion
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Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Nergigante Expansion
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Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Kushala Daora Expansion
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Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Teostra Expansion
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Monster Hunter World - Kulu-Ya-Ku
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Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game
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If you prefer to skip the details, you can quickly browse through all the items listed in this article. However, if you're curious about what each box contains and the unique experiences they offer, keep reading.
Core Boxes
Each core box of Monster Hunter World: The Board Game is a standalone experience, complete with four hunters and four monsters to battle. These sets can also be combined, allowing for a mix-and-match approach to characters and monsters across different sets. While the majority of components are specific to each set, there is some overlap, and each box includes extra cards for combining with other sets.
Starting with a single core box is advisable for newcomers. If the game captures your interest, you can then explore the smaller expansions or consider purchasing a second core set to deepen your experience. Both core sets boast the same high-quality production, featuring the same rules and addictive gameplay loop. The difference lies in the thematic setting and the aesthetic appeal of the monsters and environments, so choose the one that resonates with your preferences or evokes fond memories from the video game series.
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Ancient Forest
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game: Ancient Forest
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Set in a lush, primeval forest, this box transports players into a world reminiscent of dinosaur and tropical animal habitats. You'll encounter the lizard-like Great Jagras, the furred and scaled Tobi-Kadachi, the fearsome tyrannosaur Anjanath, and the majestic dragon Rathalos. The hunters in this set are equipped with classic weapons like the Great Sword, Sword and Shield, Dual Blades, and Bow, ready to take on these formidable creatures.
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Wildspire Waste
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Wildspire Waste
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The Wildspire Waste core box introduces a more rugged environment, combining rocky outcrops, desert, and swamp. The monsters here include the heavily-armored Barroth, the monstrous swamp-fish Jyuratodus, the bird-like Pukei-Pukei, and the underground behemoth Diablos, which bears a striking resemblance to its namesake. The hunters in this set wield more exotic weapons like the Charge Blade, Switch Axe, Heavy Bowgun, and Insect Glaive, adding a unique twist to the gameplay.
Retail Expansions
Following the game's successful Kickstarter campaign, a variety of expansions were offered for pre-order, most of which are still available at retail. However, the Nergigante expansion is notably scarce, while the Teostra expansion is exclusive to Steamforged Games.
These expansions introduce Elder Dragons, a new type of monster with additional quest content and a five-star difficulty level that surpasses the base game's challenges. Each Elder Dragon comes with a larger miniature, adding an epic boss fight to your campaign. However, these expansions are pricey, and some features are specific to one core box or the other, which might influence your decision to invest in a second core set first.
Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Hunter's Arsenal Expansion
Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Hunter's Arsenal Expansion
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This expansion adds six new hunters, each identified by their weapon, ranging from the traditional Light Bowgun and Long Sword to the more unusual Gunlance, Hammer, Lance, and Hunting Horn. Offering the greatest variety for your gameplay, this set provides six new upgrade paths and significantly enhances the game's replayability. However, to fully utilize all six hunters, you'll need both core sets.
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Nergigante Expansion
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Nergigante Expansion
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If you're looking to add a single dragon to your campaign, the Nergigante expansion is an excellent choice. It allows for crafting additional weapons for all available characters, including those from the core sets and the Hunter's Arsenal. The spiny Nergigante, with its unique ability to grow spikes wherever it's damaged, adds a thrilling challenge to your hunts.
Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Kushala Daora Expansion
Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Kushala Daora Expansion
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Kushala Daora, the wind dragon, brings intense battles with its powerful storms and the largest miniature in the range, boasting a foot-wide wingspan. Fighting this behemoth not only involves direct combat but also navigating through strong winds and tornado blasts, making it an exceptionally challenging and immersive experience.
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Teostra Expansion
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Teostra Expansion
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Teostra, the classic fire dragon, is familiar to many fans and feared for its fiery assaults. This expansion introduces ranged punishment through blasts and fireballs, making it a formidable adversary that requires strategic planning to overcome.
Exclusive Expansion
Initially exclusive to the game's Kickstarter campaign, the Kulu-Ya-Ku expansion is now available through a subsequent campaign for the Iceborne iteration. Expect to pay a premium if purchasing second-hand.
Monster Hunter World - Kulu-Ya-Ku Expansion
Monster Hunter World - Kulu-Ya-Ku
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The Kulu-Ya-Ku, with its ability to pick up and throw objects, adds an unpredictable element to your hunts. Mechanically, this introduces a missile attack and the strategic challenge of positioning to maximize damage. Its ornithomimid-like appearance fits seamlessly into the Ancient Forest environment but can be used with either core box.
Upcoming Content
Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game
Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game
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Building on the success of the original, Steamforged Games launched a Kickstarter for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, featuring new concepts while retaining the core mechanics. Although partially compatible with the original boxes for arena games, campaigns are not transferable between settings.
The Iceborne core box, Hoarfrost Reach, introduces four new monsters and hunters. Alongside this, there are expansions for Elder Dragons and a Hunter's Arsenal, as well as three additional monster packs: Absolute Power, Seething Anger, and Overpowering Hunger, all enriched with stretch goals unlocked during the campaign. While the campaign has concluded, you can still place orders for these items through Gamefound.
