How to capture monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds
Here's how to capture a monster (and Endemic Life) in MH Wilds
How do you capture a monster in Monster Hunter Wilds? Capturing rather than killing monsters has been an option in the Monster Hunter series since the very first game over 20 years ago. To capture a monster in Monster Hunter Wilds is a little less straightforward than just hitting it until it dies, but the capture will give you more resources as a reward, so it's well worth doing if you're grinding for materials.
This guide will walk you through exactly how to capture monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds, including a rundown of the various traps and tranquilisers you can use to capture any monster in the game.
In this guide:
- How to capture monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds
- How to craft Traps and Tranq Bombs
- How to trap a monster for capturing
- How to capture Endemic Life
How to capture monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds
To capture a monster in MH Wilds, you need to do these three steps in order:
- Damage the monster until its health is low.
- Lure it into a Shock Trap or Pitfall Trap.
- Use Tranq Bombs on the trapped monster to capture it.
How do you know if a monster's health is low?
Once you're sure the monster's at low health, you need two things to capture it: a trap, and a few tranquilisers. There are multiple options for each:
- Traps: Shock Trap, Pitfall Trap, EZ Shock Trap, EZ Pitfall Trap
- Tranquilisers: Tranq Bomb, Tranq Ammo, Tranq Blade
Note: EZ versions of traps are functionally identical to the non-EZ versions. They're just called EZ because they're given to you for free as supply items during missions.
How to craft Traps and Tranq Bombs
You will need to craft the items you need before you can capture a large monster in Monster Hunter Wilds. Here's how to craft the various types of traps and tranquilisers in the game:
- Shock Trap: 1x Trap Tool, 1x Thunderbug Capacitor
- Trap Tool: Purchase from any Base Camp's Provisions Manager
- Thunderbug Capacitor: Capture Thunderbugs with Capture Net
- Pitfall Trap: 1x Trap Tool, 1x Net
- Trap Tool: Purchase from any Base Camp's Provisions Manager
- Net: Craft from 1x Ivy and 1x Spiderweb
- Tranq Bomb: 1x Sleep Herb, 1x Parashroom
- View our guide on how to craft Tranq Bombs!
- Tranq Ammo: 1x Tranq Bomb, Normal Ammo
- Tranq Blade: 1x Tranq Bomb, Throwing Knife
Which traps/tranqs should you use?
Make sure you craft and carry multiple traps and tranquilisers with you, in case you don't manage to capture the monster with your first try. You can only carry one of each type of Trap with you, but you can also carry Trap Tools during hunts in order to quickly craft more when you need them!
How to trap a monster for capturing
Set up your trap on the ground somewhere nearby; the best time to do it is just as the monster arrives at a new area, because it means they're less likely to immediately fly off somewhere else again.
Then you can either attack the monster to get its attention, or use your Slinger to fire a Luring Pod at them, which is pretty much guaranteed to get their undivided attention.
Stand so that the trap is between you and the monster, and wait for the monster to run into the trap. Once it's ensnared by the trap, use your Tranq Bombs (or other tranquiliser items) on it. If it's on low health, it should very quickly fall asleep. A couple of Tranq Bombs should do the trick, or a handful of shots/slices with the Tranq Ammo or Tranq Blade.
Capturing a monster in this way will generally give you more materials as a reward than if you'd simply killed it, so it's well worth doing if you're specifically after materials from that monster. Certain quests will also require you to capture a monster instead of simply killing it, so make sure you're fully aware of what the quest is asking you to do.
How to capture Endemic Life
You will also need to capture Endemic Life at times in MH Wilds, both for quests and to gather materials for crafting and upgrading weapons and armour.
To capture Endemic Life, you need to use your Capture Net. The Capture Net is an Essential Item given to you when you speak to Jack at the Windward Plains Base Camp in Chapter 1-2: "Village Of Whispering Winds".
Equip your Capture Net either from the Item Bar or the Radial Menu, then hold LT or RMB to aim with it. A rectangular aiming reticle will appear in the centre of your screen. If this rectangle turns orange, it means you're in range of the Endemic Life you're looking at.
Can't find your Capture Net?
Open the in-game menu with
☰ or ESC, and select "Check Pouches" > "Item Pouch". You'll find the Capture Net icon on the left-hand side. If it has a red cross icon in its top-right, that means it's hidden. Click it once to make it visible. Now you can find it in the Item Bar using LB + X/B, or Mouse-Wheel Up/Down.If you want your Capture Net in the Radial Menu:
Hold
LB or CTRL to open the Radial Menu, and use D-Pad or F1-F8 to select the Essential Items group. Then, with the Item Bar button still held, you can use Right Thumbstick or LMB to select the Capture Net. If the Essential Items group isn't there, you can customise your Radial Menu groups by opening the in-game menu with ☰ or ESC, and selecting "Customize Radial Menu".While aiming, tap RT or LMB to fire your Capture Net. If you're in range of the Endemic Life, you will automatically capture it in your Net, supplying you with the materials gained from its capture. You can also use the Capture Net to catch fish, as long as they're close enough to you.
That wraps up this quick guide on how to capture monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds. If you need more help, head to our pages on the best solo weapon, best starting weapon and our primer on all Monster Hunter Wilds weapons. We've also got a guide which explains how to pause if you need a break, and if you haven't checked it out already make sure you read our Monster Hunter Wilds review to find out our verdict on Capcom's RPG.