There are plenty of nuances involved when it comes to weapon behavior inMonster Hunter Wilds, and not all of them are obvious at first. For example, while ranged weapons may not seem as complex as melee weapons, they do have a number of things that make them just as interesting, like Critical Range.

Critical Range plays a huge role in how well a ranged weapon performs. If you’re using something like aBow inMH Wilds, you’ll need to understand what Critical Range is and how you can take advantage of it if you want to deal as much damage as possible. Here’s a brief overview of how this works and how it can affect your playstyle.

Monster Hunter Wilds Tag Page Cover Art

What is Critical Range in Monster Hunter Wilds?

Critical Range (also referred to as Critical Distance) inMH Wildsrefers tothe distance at which your ranged attacks deal full damage. Think of it as a sweet spot between you and your target. Even the best builds forweapons like the Heavy Bowgunneed to take Critical Range into consideration.

You’ll know if you’re within Critical Range if you look at your crosshair. If the ring surrounding your center dot turns gold, then you’re within optimal range.

Monster Hunter Wilds Press Image 1

However, keep in mindCritical Range is not equal to maximum range. A weapon’s Critical Range distance varies depending on ammo or coating you’re using. For example:

With all this in mind, players should always strive to stay within their weapon’s Critical Range distance. This may seem counter-intuitive at times, especially considering the irony of using a ranged weapon within licking distance of a monster, but it’s worth noting thatcoatings and ammunition designed for close quarters typically deal more damage.

Monster Hunter Wilds Press Image 2

Players can extend their Critical Range by using theBallistics skill.Some weapons have this skill built into them, though players can also use Precise Jewels to get it. This is a good weapon skill to have as a general quality of life improvement, though it’s often better to just learn a weapon’s optimal range so players canuse other armor skillsfor their decoration slots.

Monster Hunter Wilds Press Image 3

Monster Hunter Wilds Press Image 4

Monster Hunter Wilds Press Image 5

Monster Hunter Wilds Press Image 6

Monster Hunter Wilds Press Image 7

Monster Hunter Wilds Press Image 8

Monster Hunter Wilds Press Image 9