Bow users have new exciting mechanics they can enjoy in Monster Hunter Wilds. The Trick Arrow Gauge and Tracer system changes the combat approach of players from strategies and such. Here’s a guide on how to use the Trick Arrow Gauge & Tracer in Monster Hunter Wilds. 

How to Build the Trick Arrow Gauge

This Trick Arrow Gauge mechanic will appear at the bottom right corner of your screen, once you wield a Bow. It has three sections that lay the foundation of many of the Bow’s advanced techniques in Monster Hunter Wilds. It’ll be very important to build on this efficiently to keep offensive pressure against monsters. 

Here’s how you can charge your Trick Arrow Gauge

  • Landing attacks on monsters – Your charged shots will fill the gauge faster than regular shots
  • Performing a well-timed Discerning Dodge – Perfectly dodging instantly fills one-third of your gauge
  • Executing combos – Build your meter consistently by stringing together attacks.

A secret key to building your gauge will be the Discerning Dodge since it helps replenish stamina as well. By holding L2 (LT) and pressing X (A) as a monster attack, it’ll instantly perform the said defense. Perfect the timing to make sure you survive any form of offense against you.

Tracer Arrows: Your Homing Beacons

Meanwhile, Tracer arrows help in targeting monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds. You have to spend one-third of your Trick Arrow Gauge, to enable the Tracer onto your next shot. This is embedded in a monster to leave special arrows and create homing points for subsequent attacks.

These are the ways to use the Tracers effectively in your game:

  • Target weak spots – Place your Tracers on monster weak points or wound areas for maximum damage
  • Arc Shot combo – Using L2 (LT) + R2 (RT) + Circle (B) triggers an Arc Shot that rains arrows containing Tracers
  • Manual detonation – Hold L2 (LT) and R1 (RB) to target and detonate Tracers for immediate damage

Further, you can use the technique Focus Fire: Hailstorm to maximize the Tracers. Hold your L2 (LT) and R1 (RB), increasing your reticle size then hover on wounds or Tracers. After that, Release R1 (RB), firing tracking arrows at each marked point. The longer your charge, the more damage it’ll deal to the monster.

Bow Coatings and the Trick Arrow Gauge

Unfortunately, coatings aren’t part of consumable items in Monster Hunter Wilds compared to their previous titles. Now, Bow only comes with predefined coating options activated when using Trick Arrow Gauge. The coating costs one-third of your gauge to apply, which may be costly.

  • Power Coating: Increases your arrow damage against monsters
  • Close-range Coating: Reduces your range but significantly boosts damage
  • Piercing Coating: Your arrows penetrate through targets for multiple hits
  • Poison Coating: Applies poison status buildup
  • Paralysis Coating: Builds paralysis status effect
  • Sleep Coating: Inflicts sleep status on monsters
  • Blast Coating: Applies blast status buildup
  • Exhaust Coating: Causes stun/exhaust effect on monsters

In applying coating, you have to press Triangle (Y) to activate then hold L1 (LB) + Triangle (Y) or X (A), cycling the available options. Consider your coating selection when crafting weapons as it depends on the specific Bow you’re using. 

Advanced Bow Combos with Tracers and Coatings

With Tracers and coatings added to your Trick Arrow Gauge play, your damage potential increases further. These are some effective combinations to maximize attack output against monsters:

  • Hold R2 (RT) + Square (X) to load a Tracer → R2 (RT) → Circle (B) → Circle (B) → L2 (LT) + X → Triangle (Y)
  • Apply coating → Hold R2 (RT) → Circle (B) → Circle (B) → Triangle (Y) + Circle (B) for a quick Dragon Piercer

You can shorten the lengthy animation of Dragon Piercer by using it within combos. This prevents the technique from cancellation and waste of resources. Also, use it with Tracers for targeting and coatings to maximize effects. 

Best Equipment Skills for Bow Users

Not only the coatings are considered when using Trick Arrow Gauge & Tracer in Monster Hunter Wilds. The equipment skills also matter to allow efficient yet effective plays, such that:

  • Constitution: Reduces stamina consumption, allowing more charged shots and dodges
  • Stamina Surge: Increases stamina recovery rate
  • Evade Window: Makes perfect Discerning Dodges easier, helping to build Trick Arrow Gauge
  • Critical Element: Essential for elemental bows as it allows elemental damage to crit
  • Weakness Exploit: Increases affinity when hitting weak points where you’ll want to place Tracers

Conclusion

Bow play really evolved for Monster Hunter Wilds with the Trick Arrow Gauge & Tracer system. This guide helps you understand how it works and the steps in activating these while using a Bow for hunting. Definitely, mastering this can help you easily take down any monsters, difficult or not.