Monster Hunter Board Game: Buying Guide & Expansions

The Monster Hunter franchise has captivated gamers worldwide, earning both critical acclaim and commercial success across numerous main titles and spinoffs. Its allure lies in the addictive gameplay loop where players battle colossal and fearsome monsters to obtain valuable loot, which in turn, enables them to acquire superior gear and take on even more formidable beasts. This engaging cycle is seamlessly adapted into the tabletop realm with Monster Hunter World: The Board Game. Much like the video game series, the board game comes in various editions, each offering unique experiences. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this thrilling video game-inspired board game.

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 prefer to skip the details and view all the products at a glance, feel free to scroll through the items listed here. For those interested in a deeper dive into what each box contains and the available options, continue reading for a detailed breakdown.

Core Boxes

The core boxes of Monster Hunter World: The Board Game are standalone games, each including four hunters and four monsters for them to hunt. These boxes can be combined, allowing players to mix and match characters and their prey across different sets. While most components are unique to each set, there is some overlap, and each box includes extra cards used only when combined with another core box.

Starting with a single core box is recommended, and if you find yourself hooked, you can then add smaller expansions or consider purchasing a second core set to further enhance your gaming experience.

The quality across the core sets is consistent, featuring the same ruleset, engaging gameplay loop, and high production values, including large monster miniatures that dwarf the hunters, creating an impressive sense of scale. However, each set has a distinct aesthetic, so your choice should be guided by which theme appeals to you most or which aligns with your favorite memories 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 primeval forest, this box features lush green and brown game boards, and the monsters are inspired by dinosaurs and tropical animals. You'll encounter the lizard-like Great Jagras, the furred and scaled Tobi-Kadachi, the fearsome Anjanath, and the majestic dragon Rathalos. The hunters come 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 AmazonThis set transports players to a badlands environment, complete with rocky outcrops, desert, and swamp areas. The included monsters are the heavily armored Barroth, the monstrous swamp-fish Jyuratodus, the bird-like Pukei-Pukei, and the subterranean behemoth Diablos, reminiscent of its demonic namesake. The hunters in this set wield unique weapons like the Charge Blade, Switch Axe, Heavy Bowgun, and Insect Glaive.

Retail Expansions

Following the Kickstarter campaign, several expansions became available for pre-order and are now accessible at retail. However, the Nergigante expansion is scarce, while Teostra is exclusive to Steamforged Games and can be purchased directly from their website.

Nergigante, Kushala Daora, and Teostra are Elder Dragons, introducing a new type of monster to hunt. These expansions include additional quest content and a challenging five-star difficulty level, along with larger miniatures that dwarf those in the core boxes, offering an epic boss fight to extend your campaign.

While these expansions enhance the base game, they come at a premium and some features are specific to one core box or the other. For instance, the Kushala Daora expansion includes crafting weapons tailored to hunters from different core sets. Therefore, acquiring a second core set might be the best initial step for expanding your game content.

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 distinctive weapon, ranging from the traditional Light Bowgun and Long Sword to the more unusual Gunlance, Hammer, Lance, and Hunting Horn. For players seeking to diversify their gameplay, this box is a cost-effective choice, offering six new characters and upgrade paths. However, to fully utilize all six hunters, you'll need 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 a great choice. It enables crafting of additional weapons for all available characters, including those from the core sets and the Hunter's Arsenal. Nergigante's unique feature is its ability to grow spikes wherever it's damaged, adding a thrilling challenge to the hunt.

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 wingspan over a foot wide. Battling this behemoth involves navigating through strong winds and tornadoes, making it a formidable opponent.

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, is familiar to fans of the series. Known for its fiery blasts and fireballs, it poses a significant ranged threat to any hunter daring enough to challenge its lair.

Exclusive Expansion

Originally exclusive to the Kickstarter campaign, the Kulu-Ya-Ku expansion is now available through a subsequent Kickstarter for the Iceborne boxes. Be prepared to pay a premium for second-hand copies.

Monster Hunter World - Kulu-Ya-Ku Expansion

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

0See it at GamefoundThis expansion features the unique Kulu-Ya-Ku, which can pick up and throw objects like rocks, adding a missile attack and unpredictability to your hunts. Resembling an ornithomimosaur, it fits well in the Ancient Forest but can be used with either core box.

Upcoming Content

Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game

### Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game

0See it at GamefoundFollowing the success of the initial lineup, Steamforged Games launched a Kickstarter for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. While sharing the same core mechanics, Iceborne introduces new concepts and is only partially compatible with the original boxes. You can transfer monsters and hunters for arena games but not for full campaigns.

Iceborne features a single core box, Hoarfrost Reach, with four new monsters and four new hunters. Similar to the original, it includes Elder Dragons and a Hunter's Arsenal expansion. Instead of a second core box, there are three monster expansions: Absolute Power, Seething Anger, and Overpowering Hunger, each adding four new monsters, along with additional content unlocked during the campaign.

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