Monster Hunter Board Game: Buying Guide & Expansions

The Monster Hunter franchise has captivated fans worldwide, earning both critical acclaim and commercial success across numerous main titles and spin-offs. Its allure lies in its engaging gameplay loop, where players combat formidable monsters to collect loot, subsequently enabling them to upgrade their gear and tackle even more challenging creatures. This captivating cycle is expertly translated into the tabletop format with Monster Hunter World: The Board Game, which comes in various exciting editions. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this thrilling board game adaptation of the beloved video game series.

Featured in this article

### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game: Ancient Forest

0See it at Amazon### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Wildspire Waste

0See it at Amazon### Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Hunter's Arsenal Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Nergigante Expansion

0See it at Steamforged Games### Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Kushala Daora Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Teostra Expansion

0See it at Steamforged Games### Monster Hunter World - Kulu-Ya-Ku

0See it at Gamefound### Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game

0See it at GamefoundIf you're eager to skip the details and see all the available options, feel free to scroll through the items listed here. For those interested in a deeper dive into what each box offers, continue reading to explore the rich content of Monster Hunter World: The Board Game.

Core Boxes

Each core box of Monster Hunter World: The Board Game is a standalone experience, featuring four hunters and four monsters to battle. These boxes can be combined, allowing players to mix and match characters and monsters across different sets. While most components are unique to each set, there is some crossover, and each box includes additional cards specifically for combined play.

Starting with a single core box is recommended for newcomers. If the game sparks your interest, consider expanding your collection with the smaller expansions listed below, or acquire a second core set to deepen your engagement with the series.

The quality across core sets remains consistent, with identical rules and the same engaging gameplay loop. Each set boasts exceptional production quality, featuring towering monster miniatures that enhance the game's immersive scale. The choice between sets often comes down to aesthetic preference or nostalgia tied to specific settings from the video game series.

Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Ancient Forest

### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game: Ancient Forest

0See it at AmazonSet in a lush primeval forest, this box brings to life the vibrant wilderness with green and brown game boards. The monsters here draw inspiration from dinosaurs and tropical creatures, including the lizard-like Great Jagras, the furred and scaled Tobi-Kadachi, the fearsome Anjanath, and the majestic dragon Rathalos. Hunters in this set are equipped with classic weapons like the Great Sword, Sword and Shield, Dual Blades, and Bow.

Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Wildspire Waste

### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Wildspire Waste

0See it at AmazonWildspire Waste transports players to a rugged badlands setting, featuring rocky outcrops, desert, and swamp. The monsters here include the armored Barroth, the monstrous swamp-fish Jyuratodus, the bird-like Pukei-Pukei, and the underground behemoth Diablos. The hunters in this set use unique weapons such as the Charge Blade, Switch Axe, Heavy Bowgun, and Insect Glaive.

Retail Expansions

Expansions initially available through Kickstarter campaigns are now mostly accessible at retail. However, the Nergigante expansion is scarce, and the Teostra expansion is exclusive to Steamforged Games.

Nergigante, Kushala Daora, and Teostra are Elder Dragons, introducing new challenges and quest content to the base game. These expansions also offer a five-star difficulty level and larger miniatures, adding an epic boss fight to your campaign.

While these expansions are enticing, they are pricey and often specific to one core box or another. For instance, Kushala Daora includes crafting weapons compatible with hunters from both Ancient Forest and Wildspire Waste. Therefore, acquiring the second core set might be the most beneficial initial step for expanding your gameplay.

Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Hunter's Arsenal Expansion

### Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Hunter's Arsenal Expansion

0See it at AmazonThis expansion introduces six new hunters, each named after their weapon, ranging from the traditional Light Bowgun and Long Sword to the more exotic Gunlance, Hammer, Lance, and Hunting Horn. This set significantly enhances game variety by offering new characters and upgrade paths, though full utilization requires both core sets.

Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Nergigante Expansion

### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Nergigante Expansion

0See it at Steamforged GamesIf you're looking to add a single dragon to your campaign, Nergigante is an excellent choice. It allows crafting additional weapons for all current characters, including those from core sets and Hunter’s Arsenal. Nergigante's unique design, with its growing spikes, adds a thrilling challenge to your battles.

Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Kushala Daora Expansion

### Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Kushala Daora Expansion

0See it at AmazonKushala Daora, the wind dragon, challenges hunters with powerful storms and boasts the largest miniature in the series, with a foot-wide wingspan. Battling this behemoth requires navigating through fierce winds and tornadoes, adding an extra layer of strategy to your hunts.

Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Teostra Expansion

### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Teostra Expansion

0(SFG Exclusive)See it at Steamforged GamesTeostra, the classic fire dragon, unleashes ranged attacks with blasts and fireballs, making it a formidable foe. This expansion brings a familiar yet challenging monster to your tabletop adventures, exclusive to Steamforged Games.

Exclusive Expansion

Originally a Kickstarter exclusive, the Kulu-Ya-Ku expansion is now available through the Iceborne campaign on Gamefound. Expect a high price if you're looking to purchase it second-hand.

Monster Hunter World - Kulu-Ya-Ku Expansion

### Monster Hunter World - Kulu-Ya-Ku

0See it at GamefoundThis unique monster can wield objects like rocks with its claws, introducing a missile attack and unpredictability to the gameplay. Its design, reminiscent of an ornithomimosaur, fits well within the Ancient Forest setting, yet it's compatible with both core boxes.

Upcoming Content

Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game

### Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game

0See it at GamefoundFollowing the success of the original lineup, Steamforged Games launched a Kickstarter for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. While sharing core mechanics with the original, Iceborne introduces new concepts and is only partially compatible with the initial sets. It features a single core box, Hoarfrost Reach, with four monsters and four hunters, and includes Elder Dragons and a Hunter's Arsenal expansion. Additionally, there are three monster expansions: Absolute Power, Seething Anger, and Overpowering Hunger, each with four new monsters, along with extras unlocked during the campaign.

Although the Kickstarter has ended, you can still order items from the Iceborne range via Gamefound as the game has yet to ship.