While the upcoming Akuma hunter armor set in Monster Hunter Wilds may look like just another way to reskin your existing hunter (it technically still is), there is more to the Street Fighter 6 collaboration cosmetic. Wearing the full armor set or full layered armor set unlocks a unique set of close combat moves that may very well be a new weapon for the Monster Hunter franchise.
Akuma’s moveset is gesture and item-based
According to the official collaboration page, Akuma’s iconic Gohadoken and Goshoryuken are executed using gestures and a unique item called “Assisted Combo: Akuma.” The Assisted Combo: Akuma item assists with performing combos and special moves. While the item and gestures can be accessed through the item/gesture wheel, it seems that the most intuitive way of using them is through the item bar (which circumvents the item/gesture wheel’s clunkiness in the middle of battle).
To give Akuma’s moves more oomph than the standard gestures, their attack power is directly tied to your currently equipped main weapon. Wearing the full armor set instead of the layered armor set will boost the unique moves’ attack power and give some of them stun properties. The Drive Impact move, which is based on a unique mechanic in Street Fighter 6, will also gain an offset effect that allows you to parry and counterattack attacking monsters.
Close combat martial arts provide a new way to fight monsters
What’s exciting about the Akuma armored set is that it essentially provides a new weapon and move set. Considering how the Monster Hunter franchise rarely introduces new weapon types (the Charge Blade and Insect Glaive in Monster Hunter 4 were the last two weapons introduced in a mainline entry), being able to take on monsters more than twice your size with your feet and fists is a welcome experience.
It seems that the Akuma hunter armor set is meant to be used as a full armor set rather than the layered version (the latter of which transmogs Akuma’s appearance over your existing armor). Event weapons and armor tend to be on the weaker side than those you can craft in the base game or expansion, so as not to let players who miss out on the event feel left out. Then again, this Street Fighter 6 collaboration will be a permanent addition once it gets added as a free update.
Akuma is known as a high-risk, high-reward character in Street Fighter, and it looks like his playstyle will translate into Monster Hunter Wilds in a similar fashion. Though the Akuma hunter armor set’s defense, buffs, and resistances have yet to be revealed, gaining increased attack power as well as stun and offset properties seems like a good trade-off for more defensive armors.
If going all-in on attack power isn’t your thing, you can still wear the Akuma layered set and make use of your other weapons. You won’t be dealing as much damage with your combos, but seeing Akuma use a Heavy Bowgun or Dual Blades has its own appeal.
The Street Fighter 6 collaboration starts on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 (UTC). Monster Hunter Wilds is available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam).
