Demystifying Blast Damage in Monster Hunter World: Go Kaboom or Go Home
You’re swinging a weapon that looks like it came from a volcano. Monsters explode around you. Welcome to Blast in Monster Hunter World (MHW). This is not just elemental damage. Blast is a status ailment with an explosive personality. Let’s explore Blast to transform you into a monster-hunting expert.
Blast Damage: More Than Just Pretty Explosions
First, let’s see how this works. Think of Blast as a hidden countdown for every hit on a monster. Every third hit with a Blast weapon adds time to this timer. You slowly fill a monster-shaped balloon with gunpowder, hit by hit. When this balloon bursts, KABOOM! An explosion rocks the monster.
The displayed Blast damage isn’t exactly what you get. The actual damage is a tenth of that number. Don’t throw away your Blast weapons yet! This number is adjusted by the monster’s Blast resistance. Think of it as armor made to withstand small explosions.
So, what’s the kaboom? When the threshold is crossed, the monster explodes. In Low Rank (LR), you get 100 damage. In High Rank (HR), it increases to 120. This may seem small compared to your weapon’s raw attack, but remember, this damage comes from just hitting monsters.
Let’s clarify the process. Blast activates on every third hit. It’s a rhythm of destruction. Hit, hit, BOOM! This is not just a visual treat; it’s a powerful status ailment. Hitting a monster with Blast builds up this explosive status for big fireworks.
The beauty of Blast lies in its consistency. Blast damage ignores hitzones and monster weak points like raw or elemental damage does. Armor? Blast doesn’t care. It deals its damage even to heavily armored parts where normal attacks may fail. This makes it a reliable choice against tough monsters.
Blast: The Status That Thinks It’s an Element (and Kinda Is)
Here’s a question for you: Is Blast an element or a status? Monster Hunter World calls it a status. Yet, it acts like an additional element. If you use physical damage builds, adding a Blast weapon makes sense, like hot sauce on a good dish.
However, if you’re targeting elemental weaknesses, pure elemental builds often perform better than Blast. Think of it: Blast is an all-rounder, like a Swiss Army knife. Elemental builds are sharp tools, focused and precise for special situations.
In early to mid-game stages, before perfecting elemental sets, Blast weapons excel. They provide stable, reliable extra damage without targeting weaknesses. They’re easy damage dealers in the status realm. Status effects like Blast make hunts more efficient as you gear up and learn the game.
Monster Matchups: Who Gets the Blast Treatment?
Which monsters are perfect for Blast? Mizutsune, the bubble fox wyvern, needs a Blast weapon’s affection. Mizutsune is weak against Blast, making those explosions effective in breaking parts. Want extra goodies? Hit its head, claws, and tail for increased part-breaking rewards and awesome carves.
Rajang, the furious monkey, also dislikes explosions. While Ice weapons defeat him easily, Blast serves as a solid backup. If Ice isn’t your style, try a Blast weapon with a strong non-elemental build against this fierce foe.
Bazelgeuse is a dive-bombing threat. Ironically, he’s not weak to Blast itself and is immune to it as a status. However, he’s vulnerable to Thunder, Dragon, and Ice. While you can’t apply Blast status on Bazelgeuse, letting him be walking danger makes the fight more strategic.
Skills and Items: Boosting Your Boom
Now let’s discuss how to enhance your explosions. Blast Protection skill is helpful for hunters who get closer to explosions. It reduces damage from all explosions, including monster blasts and even your Palico’s barrel bombs. Think of it as protective gear against explosions.
If you get yourself Blastblighted, use Nulberries to cure it quickly. Pop one and the blight disappears fast. Nulberries are essential for removing status ailments and keeping you safe during hunts.
While skills and items might seem from another game, they matter in Monster Hunter too. Skills and items enhancing your weapon’s effectiveness are crucial, whether for increasing attack power or improving Blast. Look for skills that sync with status effects to maximize your explosive potential.
Weaponry of the Kaboom Kind: Blast-tastic Choices
For weapons that explode beautifully, consider the Sinister Gunlance. It stands as a top-tier damage dealer in Monster Hunter Now, showcasing explosive qualities across the franchise. It’s designed for consistent damage over time while unleashing satisfying explosive bursts.
Wyrmstake Blast: Gunlance Goes Nuclear
Let’s delve into Wyrmstake Blast with the Gunlance. This is the special move that elevates Blast power. To load it up, Gunlancers hold L1 and hit Triangle/Y + Circle/B for Wyrmstake Blast needing Slinger ammo. Then shoot the stake into the monster with the Wyrmstake Cannon Combo. This stake acts like a ticking time bomb.
Blast Beyond Monster Hunter: Explosions Everywhere!
Explosions exist beyond Monster Hunter. In Minecraft, Blast Protection protects players effectively. Wearing it on your chestplate proves useful against creepers or TNT encounters. Protecting your chest means survival against explosion damage.
Blast in the Status Family: Abnormal but Awesome
Lastly, let’s place Blast in context within the status ailment family. Abnormal statuses include effects like Sleep, Paralysis, Poison, and Blast itself. Each time you hit with a status weapon, there’s a chance to inflict it.
Blast has unique rules; it inflicts direct damage instead of damage over time like Poison does. Like its siblings, Blast brings tactical depth to hunts, providing more strategies to take down monsters stylishly. So go forth, hunter, embrace the boom and may your hunts be explosively successful!
