If you’ve spent any time playing Monster Hunter Wilds, you might have encountered the elusive Latent Power skill, one of the most sought-after and powerful armor and jewel bonuses in the game. However, its in-game description leaves much to be desired, leaving players scrambling to figure out how exactly this mechanic works. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Latent Power in Monster Hunter Wilds—from how it works, how to activate it, and tips on maximizing its effectiveness during hunts.
What is Latent Power?
Latent Power is a skill that temporarily boosts your affinity (critical hit chance) and reduces stamina loss under specific conditions. Its effects make it a versatile skill for many playstyles, especially for hunters who engage in long battles or use stamina-draining weapons.
Latent Power Effects at a Glance
Latent Power's effects scale with its level, giving you increasingly powerful bonuses as you rank it up. Here's a breakdown of what each level provides:
- Level 1: +10% Affinity, -10% Stamina Cost
- Level 2: +20% Affinity, -20% Stamina Cost
- Level 3: +30% Affinity, -30% Stamina Cost
- Level 4: +40% Affinity, -40% Stamina Cost
- Level 5: +50% Affinity, -50% Stamina Cost
These bonuses are significant, especially the affinity boost, which can dramatically increase your critical hit chance. The stamina reduction is also incredibly valuable for stamina-hungry weapons like the Bow or Dual Blades.
How to Activate Latent Power
This is where it gets tricky for many players. The game doesn't give you detailed information about how to trigger Latent Power, so understanding the conditions requires some exploration and experimentation. Fortunately, after extensive community testing and data mining, we now have the answers.
Activation Conditions for Latent Power
There are two ways to activate Latent Power during a hunt:
Take 180 Damage: The first condition requires you to take a total of 180 damage during the hunt. This is just over a full health bar of damage (assuming you’ve eaten and are at full health). Once this threshold is reached, Latent Power activates automatically and provides the buffs for 120 seconds.
Fight a Monster for More Than 5 Minutes: The second condition is time-based. You need to engage in combat with a monster for at least 5 minutes (300 seconds). Once this duration is met, Latent Power activates and gives you the bonuses for the next 120 seconds.
Once activated, the effect lasts for 2 minutes (120 seconds). However, after it expires, you'll need to either wait for another 5 minutes of combat or take another 180 damage to reactivate the effect. Notably, damage taken while the effect is active does not contribute to reactivation.
Does Latent Power Have a Cooldown?
Yes, once Latent Power's 120-second effect expires, you'll need to wait for 5 minutes of combat or take another 180 damage to reactivate it. This cooldown period is a crucial factor to consider when strategizing your hunts, as it impacts how often you can use Latent Power's buffs.
How to Maximize Latent Power’s Effectiveness
Choose the Right Weapon
Latent Power is especially useful for stamina-draining weapons like Bow, Dual Blades, and Sword & Shield. These weapons consume a lot of stamina, and having the stamina reduction from Latent Power helps you keep up your offensive pressure without worrying about running out of stamina.
Consider Your Playstyle
This skill benefits players who are not afraid to take damage, making it ideal for hunters who play aggressively and take hits during the fight. If you’re a more defensive player who avoids damage at all costs, Latent Power might not be the best skill for you, as its activation requires you to either take damage or engage in longer fights.
Pairing Latent Power with Other Skills
Latent Power works well with other skills that increase critical hit chance or damage output, such as Weakness Exploit and Critical Boost. Combining these skills with Latent Power’s affinity bonus can lead to devastating damage output. Keep in mind that Latent Power also reduces stamina loss, which is an added bonus for stamina-hungry weapons and long fights.
Armor and Jewels That Work Well With Latent Power
While Latent Power can be activated with the right conditions, certain armor sets and jewels can help you increase the uptime and effectiveness of this skill.
Rey Dau Armor Set: If you equip two or more pieces from the Rey Dau armor set, you'll gain a bonus that extends the duration of Latent Power. This can give you even more time to benefit from its affinity and stamina reduction buffs.
- Two Pieces Equipped: Extends Latent Power's effect by 30 seconds.
- Four Pieces Equipped: Extends the effect by up to 90 seconds.
Having additional time with Latent Power active means you can deal more damage and conserve stamina for longer periods, making it even more powerful.
Community Support and Further Assistance
While we've covered the basics of how Latent Power works, there are still many nuances to mastering it, especially with how it interacts with other skills, weapons, and monsters. The Monster Hunter community on platforms like Reddit is an excellent resource for further assistance and advice.
Feel free to visit the Monster Hunter Reddit Community for tips, tricks, and discussions on Latent Power. Many players share their experiences, strategies, and builds that can help you make the most of this powerful skill.
Conclusion
Latent Power is a skill that can significantly improve your combat effectiveness in Monster Hunter Wilds—especially if you're using stamina-draining weapons or looking to increase your critical hit chances. While the activation conditions aren’t immediately clear from the in-game description, once you understand how to trigger it, you can incorporate it into your hunting strategy for great results.
Whether you’re looking to maximize your damage output or reduce stamina consumption, Latent Power is a versatile and powerful skill for the right playstyle. Just remember to engage with the community for further tips and adjustments based on your personal preferences and hunting needs!
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In Monster Hunter Wilds, you can now re-battle Zoh Shia anytime by using Distress Flares. This new feature allows players to challenge the fearsome monster repeatedly, offering an exciting opportunity for hunters seeking to test their skills. Learn more about this mechanic and how it enhances your gameplay in our detailed guide on the Zoh Shia Rematch.
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