New weapons in Wild Hearts can completely change your playstyle-but finding and mastering them isn’t always straightforward. Here’s how to access hidden arsenals fast and choose the weapon that truly matches your rhythm in battle.
Wild Hearts weapons list
Wild Hearts features eight distinct weapon types, each offering a unique combat style and skill ceiling. The choices range from fast, agile blades ideal for quick strikes to heavy weapons focused on raw power and precision. Players can experiment with weapons like the Karakuri Katana, Nodachi, Bow, Bladed Wagasa, Maul, and others, each supporting different playstyles and elemental builds. Mastering weapon timing, combos, and synergy with Karakuri tools is key to finding the setup that matches your preferred approach to combat.
Before we get into how to unlocking new weapons and our picks for the best weapons for you, here is the full list of weapons in Wild Hearts:
- Karakuri Katana
- Nodachi (Greatsword) – first available
- Bow – first available
- Maul (Hammer) – first available
- Bladed Wagasa (Bladed Umbrella) – first available
- Hand Cannon – unlocked from chapter two, “Ancient Technology”
- Claw Blade (Dual Blades) – unlocked from chapter two, “Ancient Technology”
- Karakuri Staff – unlocked from chapter two, “Ancient Technology”
How to unlock new weapons in Wild Hearts
New weapons become available as you progress through the story and complete specific quests tied to each chapter. Crafting them requires gathering materials from large Kemono and upgrading your forge. Some weapons also appear after defeating certain monsters for the first time, so exploring different regions and tackling side missions can help you expand your arsenal faster.
There are a total of five weapons that are immediately available to the player upon starting Wild Hearts. Outside of the prologue of the game, wherein you’re forced to use the Karakuri Katana, you can pick from any of them as soon as you are able to construct a Field Forge.
How do you unlock a Field Forge in Wild Hearts?
The weapons you can craft immediately are the Karakuri Katana, Nodachi (Greatsword), Bow, Maul (Hammer), and Bladed Wagasa (Bladed Umbrella).
Players can unlock the Field Forge by following the main scenario quest line and defeating the Ragetail. While Natsume will be with you at the Giant Tree Trunk Camp in chapter one, “Azuma Land of the East,” she is not required to be around for you to forge any weapons or armor. So don’t be afraid to build Field Forges at any of your other camps once you get to building them, as they will allow you to freely create and upgrade any of your weapons and armor without needing to head back to the hub town of Minato.
Progressing the main story will net you an additional three weapons. However, these only become available after defeating the Earthshaker at the end of chapter one. Don’t worry about grinding gear to that point, as the Earthshaker fight will primarily focus on you using one of Natsume’s Hand Cannons to prime you for handling these new weapons – and it’s a relatively easy fight to boot. So if you want to rush through the main storyto unlock the three extra weapons, you won’t have too much of a problem.
After beating the Earthshaker, and starting chapter two, “Ancient Technology,” you can craft three new weapons: the Hand Cannon, Claw Blade (Dual Blades), and Karakuri Staff.
What is the best weapon for you in Wild Hearts?
Your best weapon in Wild Hearts depends on your playstyle and preferred combat rhythm. The Karakuri Katana offers balanced speed and power, making it a solid choice for newcomers. Players who enjoy agile movement may favor the Nodachi or Claw Blade, which focus on precision and mobility. Those who prefer heavy-hitting strikes can rely on the Maul or Cannon for devastating damage. Experimenting with different options helps you find the weapon that suits your timing, strategy, and comfort in battle.
In terms of playstyle, the Karakuri Katana, Nodachi, Bow, and Maul are fairly straightforward. Using them in tandem with the Crate and Spring Karakuri yields the best results, and allows you to have more dynamic movements and attacks with the Nodachi, Maul, and Katana specifically. So make sure to incorporate the use of these Basic Karakuri into your combos, or when the situation presents itself.
The Bladed Wagasa, on the other hand, is perhaps the most complex of the starting weapons. This umbrella relies on players to parry enemy attacks to build the weapon’s special meter. With high mobility and penetration, the Bladed Wagasa is a great weapon if you dedicate the time to understanding enemy attack patterns to perfect parry even the deadliest of Kemono attacks.
Later in the game, the Hand Cannon focuses on building a meter and to unleash devastating damage once it’s on the verge of overheating. Like the Bow, it’s fairly straightforward and great for those looking to deal massive damage from afar.
On the other hand, the Claw Blades are a high risk high reward weapon, similar to the Bladed Wagasa, but don’t have the same skill curve. Efficient at taking down flying enemies like the Fumebeak, the Claw Blades allow for players to attach themselves to any part of a Kemono and dash forward, even while in the air, to deal bits of accumulated burst damage that finishes with a massive strike that can do upward of 300 damage. However, maneuvering while attached to a Kemono can sometimes be difficult, and may result in you taking unexpected damage if you charge into a Kemono as it’s attacking.
Finally, the Karakuri Staff is a weapon that can transform based on combo inputs. Depending on when you transform the weapon, it can change into a pair of Tonfa, a Naginata, a Bowstaff, and a Shuriken. Each of these transformations have their own unique combos, and the Karakuri Staff is best utilized when you understand when to transform your weapon into one of its several forms.
Ultimately, all weapons in Wild Hearts work perfectly well against any of the Kemono you will encounter. With the option to switch your weapon at any Field Forge, you can test them out at any point during a mission. (We recommend the claw blades, which can deal massive damage with every hit when upgraded.) So don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best for you.
Also know that upgrading your weapon doesn’t need to be a permanent choice. Wild Heart‘s weapon upgrade tree may seem intimidating at first, but you can always refund all materials used to upgrade and branch out into one of its several paths at the cost of gold.
Karakuri Staff combos and mutations guide
The Karakuri Staff in Wild Hearts mutates between five forms-Staff, Twin Fang/Dual Blades, Giant Shuriken, War Pike/Polearm, and Juggernaut Blade-for dynamic combos that build a mutation gauge for high-damage finishers.
Core Mechanics
Light Attacks (Square/X) deliver quick chains of 1-3 hits per form, ending in a flash that boosts the gauge if you mutate immediately with Special Attack (R2/RT).
Heavy Attacks (Triangle/Y) unleash form-specific power moves, like lunges or slams, also priming mutations.
The gauge fills across four bars; at max, unleash Juggernaut Blade (R2/RT + Triangle/Y) for escalating slashes, amplified by aerial Karakuri like Crates.
Mutation Forms
Each form cycles in order via Special Attack, blending seamlessly in combos.
| Form | Style | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Long Staff | Mid-speed melee | Balanced close-range pressure |
| Twin Fang | Rapid jumps/strikes | Mobility, aerial weak spots |
| Giant Shuriken | Heavy, versatile | Ranged/melee with elements |
| War Pike | Lunges/swings | Poke and reposition |
| Juggernaut Blade | Massive charged slashes | Gauge-full finisher only |
Key Combos
Chain Light → flash → mutate → Heavy → mutate for gauge ramp-up.
Example: Staff Light chain (3 hits) → mutate to Twin Fang → Heavy jump → mutate to Shuriken → Heavy throw → max gauge → Juggernaut aerial off Crate.
Pro tip: Prioritize Twin Fang or Staff for speed/damage blend; sync with Basic Karakuri for 2x output on weak spots.
Best Karakuri Staff builds and armor sets
Top Karakuri Staff builds focus on boosting Juggernaut Blade damage, mutation uptime, and survivability through raw attack skills like Savage, elemental amps, and Karakuri synergy.
Recommended Early Build
This setup suits Akikure Canyon foes, emphasizing raw output and utility.
| Component | Item | Key Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Ripple Karakuri Staff 2 | Water Wilt 5%, Slight of Hand: Fury 4%, Savage +2, Strong Arm: Spirit 4%, Threadphile +1 |
| Helmet | Ninja Mengu | Fleet Foot 2%, Blaze Recovery 22% |
| Chest | Ninja Uwagi | Verve 2% |
| Arms | Roaming Bard Tekko | Savage +1 |
| Waist | Young Samurai Haidate | Health Boost +3 |
| Legs | Basara Sune-ate | Savage +1 |
Talismans: Savage, Karakuri Coordination: Fury, Karakuri Coordination: Remedy for extra damage post-Karakuri and healing.
Top Skills Priority
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Mountain Felling Giant Blade: Boosts Juggernaut Blade.
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Kaleidoscope: Extends mutation timer.
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Savage: Flat raw damage increase.
Early armors like Fresh Fern, Young Samurai, or Roaming Bard provide solid defense while skill farming.
