Summary
AcrossPokemonandMonster Hunter’s decades-long lifespans, both franchises have built massive global audiences that return to enjoy their monster fighting and capturing time and again. Even the series’ themselves have taken notice of one another’s fame, withMonster Hunter Storiesspin-offs incorporating more turn-based RPG and monster-raising elements. The upcomingMonster Hunter Wildsalso seems to have drawn some inspiration from a recentPokemontitle, though it’s unclear ifMonster Hunter Wildsis directly referencing it or just arrived at the same conclusion.
After players spentMonster Hunter Riseriding Palamutes,Monster Hunter Wildsdecided to introduce a new mount. This appears to be a small bird wyvern able to run on two or four legs, as well as glide through the air. Fans quickly noticed thatMH Wilds’ mount resembledPokemon ScarletandViolet’sboxart legendaries Koraidon and Miraidon, even sharing most of their traversal options when ridden by players. Copying one ofPokemon’s first open-world features is a smart idea for what may beMonster Hunter’s own open-world debut, but perhaps even more interesting is how that opens the door toMH Wildsadapting other legendary Pokemon.
Zacian and Zamazenta
The boxart legendaries forPokemon SwordandShield, Zacian and Zamazenta, would work just as well inMonster HunterasScarletandViolet’s. Specifically, they could be Palamutes again, just specialized in using Longswords or a Canyne-exclusive shield weapon. It’s unknownifMonster Hunter Wildshas retired Palamutes, but they could be worth keeping just to see this obvious crossover.
Lugia
Speaking of obvious crossovers, plenty ofMonster HunterandPokemonfans have already noticed that Lugia looks great in both. Its body shape is ideal forMonster Hunter’s wyverns, and fanart emphasizing Lugia’s scaly hide looks exactly like aMonster Huntercreature. Complete with weather-altering abilities and a tendency to sleep underwater – all traits thatMonster Hunter’s Elder Dragonshave already shown –Pokemon Silver’s mascot legendary could easily be transplanted intoMonster Hunter Wilds.
Xerneas and Yveltal
A lot of boxart legendary Pokemon are ideal forMonster Hunter, but with creatures already similar to some of them, likeMH World’s Zorah Magdarosparalleling Groudon, it would be more interesting to givePokemon XandY’s atypical Xerneas and Yveltal a chance. Xerneas would accompany the moose-like Banbaro as another Large Monster-class deer, and a bird wyvern with Yveltal’s colors would immediately stand out as keyed to the deadly Dragon Element. Their abilities could involve spreading or absorbing bioenergy like Xeno’jiiva, making them idealMonster Hunterstory fuel.
Zarude
Monster Hunteralready has several ape-like creatures, most prominently the recurring Rajang, but the Mythical Pokemon Zarude offers a fresh twist on the concept. Very fewMonster Huntermarks manipulate plant life, withMonster Hunter World’s Leshen crossover fromThe Witcherbeing the most notable example. Zarude would keep the concept believable withinMonster Hunter Wilds’ realistic aesthetic, using the vines around its limbs as whips and rope swings to keep hunters away, and keeping itself in the fight with Jungle Healing.
Stakataka
Edging into the stranger monsters usually found inMonster Hunterside games, the Ultra Beast Stakataka could be adapted with some lateral thinking. AMonster Hunterfoe composed of many small insectoid neopterons, temnocerans, or carapaceons linking their tough shells together is an interesting concept that hasn’t been used yet. Only a single new large temnoceran species, the Rakna-Kadaki, debuted inMonster Hunter’s fifth generation, so Stakataka could become one ofMH Wilds’ standout newcomers.
Deoxys
Not even the mostbizarre monsters lost toMonster Hunter’s historycan justify full-body shapeshifting inMonster Hunter’s relatively grounded setting, butMH Wildswouldn’t need to cross that line to adapt the Mythical DNA Pokemon Deoxys. A monster baking or flash-freezing material onto itself in different shapes could allow it to transition between Deoxys’ Normal, Attack, Defense, and Speed Formes.Monster Hunter Wildscould make a great endgame fight out of the alien Pokemon, just as long as it’s willing to take some creative liberties to get there.
Monster Hunter Wilds
WHERE TO PLAY
The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next. This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.
