The Insect Glaive in Monster Hunter World is a unique and dynamic weapon, offering unparalleled mobility and the ability to control a Kinsect to extract buffs from monsters. Mastering this weapon requires understanding its core mechanics, combos, and optimal strategies. This guide will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively wield the Insect Glaive on PC.
Understanding The Insect Glaive’s Core Mechanics
The Insect Glaive revolves around two primary components: the glaive itself and the Kinsect. The glaive is your primary weapon for dealing damage, while the Kinsect is a valuable tool for extracting essences from monsters and providing buffs to your hunter.
Kinsect Management: Extracting Essences
The core of the Insect Glaive gameplay lies in using your Kinsect to extract essences from monsters. These essences provide powerful buffs that significantly enhance your combat capabilities. The three primary essences are:
- Red Essence: Increases attack power and modifies your attack combos, making them faster and more powerful. This is generally considered the most important essence to maintain.
- White Essence: Increases movement speed and jump height. This enhances your mobility and allows you to perform aerial attacks more effectively.
- Orange Essence: Provides defense and earplugs (reduces the effect of roars). This essence enhances your survivability and allows you to maintain your offensive pressure.
Some Kinsects can also extract a fourth essence, Green Essence, which provides a small amount of healing over time. While not as crucial as the other essences, it can contribute to your overall sustainability during hunts.
To extract essences, you must aim and send your Kinsect towards specific monster parts. Different monster parts yield different essences. Experimentation is key to learning which parts provide the desired buffs. Typically:
- Head = Red Essence
- Wings/Legs = White Essence
- Body = Orange Essence
The mark target mechanic is incredibly useful. By aiming and pressing the appropriate button (typically assigned to your Kinsect send/recall command with the Ctrl key held down), you can mark a monster part. This will cause your Kinsect to automatically attack the marked location, making essence extraction much easier and more consistent.
Kinsect Types And Abilities
Kinsects come in a variety of types, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. They differ in terms of:
- Speed: Determines how quickly the Kinsect travels to and from the monster. Faster Kinsects are generally preferred for their efficiency.
- Power: Affects the Kinsect’s attack damage. While Kinsect damage is generally secondary to your own attacks, it can still contribute to overall DPS.
- Heal: Determines the amount of healing provided by Green Essence (if the Kinsect has it).
- Element: Kinsects can inflict elemental damage (Fire, Water, Thunder, Ice, Dragon) or status effects (Poison, Paralysis, Sleep, Blast). Matching the Kinsect’s element to the monster’s weakness can be advantageous.
Furthermore, Kinsects have different Dust Effects. When they attack, they leave a cloud of dust that explodes when hit by your glaive, dealing extra damage and potentially inflicting a status effect. Common dust effects include:
- Poison: Inflicts poison on the monster.
- Paralysis: Paralyzes the monster, leaving it vulnerable to attack.
- Heal: Creates a healing cloud that restores health to you and your teammates.
- Blast: Deals explosive damage.
Buff Duration And Management
Essences extracted by your Kinsect have a limited duration. The duration varies depending on the Kinsect and the monster from which the essence was extracted. You can monitor the duration of your buffs through the icons displayed on your HUD.
It’s crucial to re-extract essences regularly to maintain your buffs. Prioritize maintaining Red Essence, as it significantly boosts your attack power and modifies your combos. White Essence is also important for mobility, especially for aerial combat. Orange Essence can be situationally useful, particularly when facing monsters with frequent roars.
Combining all three essences (Red, White, and Orange) grants a triple buff. This provides an even greater boost to your stats and extends the duration of all your buffs. Aim to achieve and maintain the triple buff whenever possible.
Combat Techniques And Combos
The Insect Glaive offers a versatile range of ground and aerial attacks. Mastering these techniques is crucial for maximizing your damage output and controlling the flow of combat.
Ground Combos
The Insect Glaive has several effective ground combos that can be used to deal consistent damage. The specific combos you use will depend on your playstyle and the situation, but some common and effective options include:
- (X) > (X) > (X): A basic combo that deals consistent damage.
- (X) > (A) > (X): Incorporates a thrust attack that can be useful for reaching specific monster parts.
- (Ctrl + Right Click) > (Left Click): Send Kinsect for extract then return and attack.
- (R) > (X): Vault into the air and attack.
These combos are a starting point. Experiment with different button combinations to discover what works best for you.
Aerial Combat
The Insect Glaive excels in aerial combat. You can use the vault to jump into the air and perform a variety of attacks. Aerial attacks are useful for:
- Mounting Monsters: Landing aerial attacks on a monster’s back can eventually lead to a mount, allowing you to deal significant damage while the monster is incapacitated.
- Dodging Attacks: Aerial attacks can be used to evade incoming attacks.
- Reaching Weak Points: Aerial attacks allow you to target specific weak points that might be difficult to reach from the ground.
The primary aerial attacks are:
- (X): An aerial thrust attack.
- (A): An aerial spinning attack that hits multiple times.
To vault, press (R). You can then chain aerial attacks together. Experiment with different combinations of aerial attacks to find what works best for you.
Kinsect Attack
You can directly control your Kinsect to attack monsters. This is done by aiming and pressing the appropriate button (typically assigned to your Kinsect send/recall command with the Ctrl key held down). This is useful for:
- Dealing extra damage
- Applying status effects
- Reaching distant targets
The Kinsect’s attack power is generally lower than your own, but it can still contribute to overall damage. Using the Kinsect to apply status effects, such as poison or paralysis, can be a valuable strategy.
Optimal Equipment And Skills
Selecting the right equipment and skills is essential for maximizing the Insect Glaive’s effectiveness.
Weapon Selection
When choosing an Insect Glaive, consider the following factors:
- Raw Attack: Higher raw attack generally translates to more damage.
- Element/Status: Choose an element or status effect that the monster is weak to.
- Sharpness: Higher sharpness levels reduce the likelihood of your weapon bouncing off the monster.
- Kinsect Bonuses: Some Insect Glaives offer bonuses to the Kinsect’s speed, power, or healing.
Armor Skills
Several armor skills are particularly beneficial for Insect Glaive users:
- Critical Eye: Increases your affinity (critical hit chance).
- Weakness Exploit: Increases your affinity when hitting weak points.
- Critical Boost: Increases the damage dealt by critical hits.
- Attack Boost: Increases your attack power.
- Power Prolonger: Extends the duration of your buffs, which is essential for maintaining the triple buff.
- Constitution: Reduces stamina consumption, which is beneficial for aerial combat.
- Evade Window: Increases the invincibility frames during dodges, improving your survivability.
Prioritize skills that enhance your damage output, survivability, and buff uptime. Experiment with different armor sets to find a combination that suits your playstyle.
Advanced Techniques And Tips
Beyond the basic mechanics and combos, there are several advanced techniques that can further enhance your Insect Glaive skills.
Kinsect Charge
You can charge your Kinsect to boost its power and speed. To charge your Kinsect, use a slinger ammo. The effect depends on the slinger ammo used.
Mastering Aerial Positioning
Accurate aerial positioning is crucial for landing attacks and mounting monsters effectively. Practice adjusting your position in the air to target specific weak points.
Utilizing The Environment
Take advantage of the environment to enhance your aerial attacks. Jump off ledges or use slopes to gain extra height and momentum.
Strategic Essence Extraction
Plan your essence extraction strategy based on the monster’s movements and attack patterns. Identify the optimal times to extract essences and avoid getting hit while doing so.
Practice And Experimentation
The best way to master the Insect Glaive is through practice and experimentation. Try different combos, Kinsect types, and equipment combinations to find what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to experiment and develop your own unique playstyle.
The Insect Glaive is a rewarding weapon that offers a unique and engaging gameplay experience. By understanding its core mechanics, mastering its combos, and utilizing optimal equipment and skills, you can become a formidable hunter in Monster Hunter World PC.
What Are The Key Strengths Of The Insect Glaive In Monster Hunter World PC?
The Insect Glaive shines in its unparalleled mobility and aerial capabilities. The ability to vault into the air and perform attacks from above allows hunters to evade monster attacks and target specific body parts with ease. Its unique Kinsect system also provides buffs, enhancing attack power, defense, or speed depending on the extract collected. This allows for a versatile playstyle that can adapt to different monsters and situations.
Furthermore, the Insect Glaive’s fluid ground combos make it a formidable weapon even without relying solely on aerial combat. The ability to quickly transition between ground and air attacks provides a dynamic and engaging experience. By mastering both aspects of the weapon, hunters can maximize their damage output and maintain constant pressure on monsters.
How Does The Kinsect Extract System Work, And What Are Its Benefits?
The Kinsect extract system revolves around sending your Kinsect to gather essence from different parts of a monster. Red extract boosts your attack power, white extract increases your movement and vaulting speed, and orange extract enhances your defense. Collecting all three extracts, or ideally red, white, and a secondary color, triggers a powerful buff that significantly improves your overall combat effectiveness.
Different Kinsect types can influence the strength and duration of these buffs, as well as the Kinsect’s attack patterns and elemental properties. Experimenting with various Kinsect builds is crucial for finding a setup that complements your preferred playstyle and the specific monster you are hunting. Regularly recalling and redeploying your Kinsect to refresh extracts is key to maintaining optimal performance.
What Are Some Recommended Skills For An Insect Glaive Build In Monster Hunter World PC?
Critical Eye and Weakness Exploit are excellent choices for increasing your damage output, as they significantly boost your affinity (critical hit chance). Attack Boost also provides a direct increase to your attack power, further enhancing your damage potential. These skills are fundamental for most damage-focused Insect Glaive builds.
Evade Window and Evade Extender can improve your survivability and mobility, allowing you to more easily dodge monster attacks and reposition yourself effectively. Power Prolonger extends the duration of your Kinsect extract buffs, reducing the need for frequent recalls and maintaining a consistent damage output. These skills enhance the overall fluidity and safety of your gameplay.
What Are The Best Kinsect Types For Different Playstyles?
For a more aggressive, damage-focused playstyle, the Assist type Kinsect is highly recommended. These Kinsects attack automatically alongside your weapon, adding extra damage and flinch potential. They also tend to have higher power stats, resulting in more effective attacks.
Alternatively, for a more supportive or defensive playstyle, the Speed type Kinsect can be a great choice. Their fast recall and deployment speed make it easier to maintain extract buffs, and their ability to inflict status ailments like paralysis or poison can be incredibly useful for crowd control and weakening monsters. The choice depends on personal preference and team composition.
What Are Some Effective Insect Glaive Combos For Both Ground And Aerial Combat?
On the ground, the basic combo of Circle/B (depending on your controller) into Triangle/Y provides a good balance of damage and mobility. Following this with another Circle/B attack allows you to quickly vault into the air. This is a great way to initiate aerial attacks and reposition yourself.
In the air, the Triangle/Y attack is your primary damage dealer. After vaulting, continue pressing Triangle/Y for a series of aerial strikes. You can also use Circle/B to perform a downward thrust, which can be effective for targeting specific monster parts or escaping from the air quickly. Mixing ground and aerial combos is crucial for maximizing your damage output.
How Do I Effectively Target Specific Monster Parts With The Insect Glaive?
Utilize your Kinsect to target distant or difficult-to-reach parts. Aim your Kinsect carefully using the aiming reticle before sending it out. Pay attention to the monster’s movements and adjust your aim accordingly to ensure the Kinsect hits the desired spot. Marking the monster with your Kinsect can also help it automatically target the correct area.
In aerial combat, use the downward thrust (Circle/B) to precisely target specific body parts. Position yourself strategically above the monster and adjust your trajectory before initiating the thrust. Practicing your aerial positioning and timing is essential for consistently hitting the desired targets and breaking parts efficiently.
What Are Some Common Mistakes To Avoid When Using The Insect Glaive?
Relying solely on aerial combat is a common mistake. While the Insect Glaive excels in the air, neglecting ground combos can significantly reduce your overall damage output. Mastering both ground and air attacks is crucial for maximizing your effectiveness. Over-reliance on vaults can also leave you vulnerable to attacks.
Forgetting to maintain your Kinsect extracts is another frequent error. Failing to regularly refresh your buffs will severely diminish your damage and survivability. Make it a habit to recall and redeploy your Kinsect frequently to ensure you always have active buffs. Ignoring monster patterns and blindly attacking is also a recipe for disaster.