Monster Hunter Board Game: Buying Guide & Expansions

The Monster Hunter franchise has captivated gamers worldwide with its compelling gameplay loop, where players battle fearsome monsters to earn loot, which in turn allows them to acquire superior gear and take on even more challenging creatures. This engaging cycle is seamlessly translated into the tabletop realm with Monster Hunter World: The Board Game. Much like its video game counterpart, the board game comes in various editions, each offering a unique experience. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the different offerings and find the perfect fit for your gaming needs.

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 looking for a quick overview, you can scroll through all the items listed in this article. For a deeper dive into what each box offers, continue reading.

Core Boxes

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

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

The quality across the core sets is consistent, with the same ruleset, engaging gameplay loop, and high production values, including impressive monster miniatures that dwarf the hunters. The choice between sets often comes down to aesthetic preference or nostalgia tied to 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 features game boards in shades of green and brown, with monsters inspired by dinosaurs and tropical creatures. You'll encounter the lizard-like Great Jagras, the furred and scaled Tobi-Kadachi, the fearsome Anjanath, and the majestic dragon Rathalos. The 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 AmazonThis set transports you to a rugged badlands environment, complete with rocky outcrops, desert, and swamp. The monsters here include the heavily-armored Barroth, the monstrous swamp-fish Jyuratodus, the bird-like Pukei-Pukei, and the underground behemoth Diablos. The hunters wield more exotic weapons such as the Charge Blade, Switch Axe, Heavy Bowgun, and Insect Glaive.

Retail Expansions

Following the Kickstarter campaign, several expansions became available for pre-order, many of which are still 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 a new type of monster with additional quest content and a challenging five-star difficulty level. These expansions also feature larger miniatures, adding an epic boss fight to your campaign.

While these expansions enhance the base game, they are pricey and often designed to work with specific core boxes. For example, Kushala Daora includes crafting weapons tailored to hunters from both the Ancient Forest and Wildspire Waste sets. Therefore, acquiring a second core set might be a more versatile option for expanding your game.

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 unique weapon, ranging from the traditional Light Bowgun and Long Sword to the more unusual Gunlance, Hammer, Lance, and Hunting Horn. This set significantly enhances gameplay variety, offering new upgrade paths and characters. 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 an excellent choice. It allows you to craft additional weapons for all available characters, including those from the core sets and the Hunter's Arsenal. Nergigante's unique design, with its growing spikes, adds a thrilling challenge to your hunts.

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 powerful storms into play, challenging hunters with its massive wingspan and tornado blasts. This expansion not only increases the difficulty but also adds a dynamic environmental element to your battles.

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 foe. This expansion is exclusive to Steamforged Games, adding a familiar yet challenging monster to your collection.

Exclusive Expansion

Originally available only through the game's Kickstarter campaign, the Kulu-Ya-Ku expansion is now accessible through the Iceborne Kickstarter campaign. Expect to pay a premium for second-hand copies.

Monster Hunter World - Kulu-Ya-Ku Expansion

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

0See it at GamefoundKulu-Ya-Ku, a unique creature with dexterous claws, can pick up and throw objects, adding a missile attack and unpredictable gameplay. Its design, reminiscent of an ornithomimosaur, 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 original lineup, Steamforged Games launched a Kickstarter for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. While it retains the core mechanics, it introduces new concepts and is only partially compatible with the original boxes. You can transfer monsters and hunters between sets for arena games, but not for campaigns.

The Iceborne core box, Hoarfrost Reach, includes four monsters and four hunters. Additional expansions include Elder Dragons and a Hunter's Arsenal, along with three monster expansions: Absolute Power, Seething Anger, and Overpowering Hunger. Although the campaign has ended, you can still order items from the range via Gamefound.