Monster Hunter Board Game: Buying Guide & Expansions

The Monster Hunter franchise has captivated gamers worldwide with its compelling blend of action and strategy, leading to a vast array of main titles and spinoffs. The secret to its enduring appeal lies in its engaging gameplay loop: players confront colossal and terrifying monsters, gather valuable loot, and use it to enhance their gear, enabling them to tackle even more formidable foes. This addictive cycle is brilliantly translated into the tabletop format with Monster Hunter World: The Board Game. Just like the video game series, the board game comes in various editions, each offering a unique experience. Here’s a guide to help you navigate through this thrilling tabletop adaptation.

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 GamefoundFor those interested in a quick overview, you can scroll through all the items listed here. However, to get a deeper understanding of what each box offers, continue reading.

Core Boxes

The core boxes of Monster Hunter World: The Board Game are standalone games, each featuring four hunters and four monsters. These boxes can be combined, allowing you to mix and match characters and monsters from different sets. While most components are specific to the set's unique hunters and monsters, there's some overlap, and each set includes additional cards for use when combining sets.

Starting with a single core box is advisable, and as you delve deeper into the game, you can expand your collection with smaller expansions or even a second core set if your passion for the series grows.

The quality across the core sets remains consistent, with the same engaging rules and high production values, including impressive monster miniatures that dwarf the hunters. The choice between sets might come down to aesthetic preference or nostalgia for particular settings from the video game.

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 features game boards in vibrant greens and browns. The monsters, inspired by dinosaurs and tropical creatures, include the lizard-like Great Jagras, the furred and scaled Tobi-Kadachi, the fearsome tyrannosaur Anjanath, and the dragon Rathalos. The hunters are equipped with classic weapons: 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 rugged badlands environment with rocky outcrops, deserts, and swamps. The monsters include the armored Barroth, the swamp-fish Jyurados, the bird-like Pukei-Pukei, and the underground behemoth Diablos. The hunters wield more exotic weapons: Charge Blade, Switch Axe, Heavy Bowgun, and Insect Glaive.

Retail Expansions

Alongside the core sets, numerous expansions were available for pre-order during the Kickstarter campaign, many of which are still accessible at retail. However, the Nergigante and Teostra expansions are harder to find, with Teostra being exclusive to Steamforged Games.

Nergigante, Kushala Daora, and Teostra are Elder Dragons, introducing a new type of monster with additional quests and a challenging five-star difficulty level. Their miniatures are significantly larger than those in the core sets, providing an epic boss fight to extend your campaign.

While these expansions add significant content, they are costly and often tailored to specific core sets. For instance, Kushala Daora offers crafting weapons for hunters from both core sets. If you're looking to expand your game, consider acquiring the second core set first.

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 traditional to unique: Light Bowgun, Long Sword, Gunlance, Hammer, Lance, and Hunting Horn. It's an excellent way to add variety to your games, offering new upgrade paths and six different hunters. However, to fully utilize all six, 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 after a single dragon to enhance your campaign, Nergigante is a fantastic choice. It allows crafting additional weapons for all characters from the core sets and the Hunter's Arsenal, and its unique spiny appearance adds a thrilling challenge.

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, brings intense battles with powerful storms and the largest miniature in the range, featuring a wide wingspan. Its ability to create tornadoes adds an extra layer of difficulty 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 fireballs and blasts, making it a formidable opponent in its fiery domain.

Exclusive Expansion

Originally available only during the Kickstarter campaign, the Kulu-Ya-Ku expansion is now accessible through a recent Kickstarter for the Iceborne series.

Monster Hunter World - Kulu-Ya-Ku Expansion

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

0See it at GamefoundThis unique monster can pick up and throw rocks, adding a dynamic missile attack and unpredictable gameplay. Its appearance, reminiscent of an ornithomimosaur, fits well within 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 GamefoundBuilding on 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 original sets for arena games.

Iceborne features one core box, Hoarfrost Reach, with four monsters and four hunters, along with Elder Dragons and a Hunter's Arsenal expansion. Instead of a second core box, three monster expansions offer twelve new monsters: Absolute Power, Seething Anger, and Overpowering Hunger, plus additional content unlocked during the campaign.

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