Key Takeaways
- Named NPCs in Monster Hunter Wilds improve narrative engagement, offering valuable guidance and crafting roles.
- Alma is Monster Hunter Wilds’ Handler, Gemma serves as the game’s Smithy, and Olivia and her Palico Athos are Support Hunters.
- Nata is still Monster Hunter Wilds’ most mysterious character, which likely means he will play an integral role in the story.
One of the key differences between Monster Hunter Wilds and past installments is its inclusion of named NPCs to assist players on their hunts, rather than nothing but nameless tools. This is ultimately a good omen for Monster Hunter Wilds, as it suggests a much more engaging narrative than the series is known for, especially when considering what has been revealed so far.
Currently, five characters have been revealed who will be accompanying players on their expeditions in Monster Hunter Wilds. Of these characters, some fill recurring roles, while the rest have been given jobs unique to Monster Hunter Wilds.
Every Monster Hunter Wilds Hunt Party Member and Their Role
Alma Is the Hunter’s Handler
Alma has become one of Monster Hunter Wilds‘ more recognizable characters, likely due to the natural charm that emits from her glowing face. Alma is Monster Hunter Wilds‘ Handler, a recurring character throughout the series who is arguably one of the player’s most valuable assets. As the Handler, Alma is responsible for guiding players on their hunts by providing them with helpful information. Additionally, just as Monster Hunter‘s Handlers have traditionally been known to do, Alma will help players manage their quests, requests, and permissions.
Alma will also be one of the few characters who will regularly accompany players on their expeditions in
Monster Hunter Wilds
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Gemma Is Monster Hunter Wilds’ Smithy
Gemma has proven to be Monster Hunter Wilds‘ fan-favorite character, despite the community at large not knowing much about her. This is primarily due to her appearance, which, to be fair, is quite distinct from the others. However, in Monster Hunter Wilds, Gemma has a lot more going for her than just her looks. Specifically, Gemma is Monster Hunter Wilds‘ Smithy, which means players will be interacting with her often to craft new armor and weapons using materials from hunted monsters. As the Smithy, Gemma will likely remain back at Monster Hunter Wilds‘ hub world, which has yet to be revealed.
Nata Is a Mysterious Young Boy
Of all the characters in Monster Hunter Wilds, Nata is the most mysterious. Considering how much mystery surrounds Nata ahead of Monster Hunter Wilds‘ 2025 release, he will likely fill a major role in the player’s hunt party. Based on what has been revealed so far, he seems to be connected to the protagonist’s past in some way, as the two are shown together in what is presumably a flashback sequence.
Olivia Can Fill the Role of Support Hunter
One of the best changes being made in Monster Hunter Wilds comes with its SOS Flares, which take the system introduced in Monster Hunter: World and improve it to allow players to summon support NPCs instead of strictly players. This may inevitably make Monster Hunter Wilds the most single-player-friendly game in the series so far, as it will allow players to have the help of other Hunters more often than Monster Hunter: World‘s limited SOS Flares could provide. In Monster Hunter Wilds, Olivia is one such character who can be summoned via an SOS Flare, though it seems her role may extend far beyond that, as she is seen traveling with the hunting party in gameplay footage.
Athos Is Olivia’s Palico Assistant
Last but not least is Athos, who is Olivia’s Palico assistant. True fans of the franchise are more than familiar with Monster Hunter‘s Palicoes, as they accompany players on their expeditions and assist in a variety of ways. Since Olivia is an experienced hunter, she has her own Palico who will likely assist her in similar ways to players’ own Palicoes. Furthermore, this might mean that summoning Olivia via an SOS Flare would technically give players two assistants rather than one. It’s currently unclear how else Athos might fit into the picture, but the feline does seem to be a prominent character.