Gemma in Monster Hunter Wilds
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Monster Hunter Wilds Talisman tier list: Best Talismans, ranked

Looking for the right buff?

If you want to give yourself a fighting chance in Monster Hunter Wilds, you can equip a Talisman for a handy new skill. You’ll have a range of options tailored to your unique playstyle. To help you with this decision, here’s a Monster Hunter Wilds Talismans tier list.

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Best Talismans in Monster Hunter Wilds, ranked

The Smithy Gemma offers a diverse array of tools, including weapons, armor, and Palico equipment. While most of these gear provide unique skills of their own, you can attach a Talisman to gain an additional ability. We’re here to rank all the Talismans in Monster Hunter Wilds, starting with the best of the best in the S Tier and ending with the lower grade C Tiers.

S Tier

Hope Charm in Monster Hunter Wilds
Screenshot by Destructoid
TalismansSkill Info
Blessing CharmDivine Blessing: Has a predetermined chance of reducing the damage you take
Defense CharmDefense Boost: Increases defense and also improves resistance at higher levels
Guard CharmIron Skin: Grants protection against defense down
Hope CharmRecovery Up: Increases the amount recovered when restoring health
Self-Improvement: Attack and defense increase as time passes while on a quest (30 minute maximum limit)
Bleed CharmBleeding Resistance: Grants protection against bleeding
Recovery CharmRecovery Up: Increases the amount recovered when restoring health
Speed Heal CharmRecovery Speed: Speeds healing of recoverable damage (the red portion of your health bar)
Fitness CharmConstitution: Reduces stamina depletion when evading, blocking, or doing other actions
Surge CharmStamina Surge: Speeds up stamina recovery
Chainblade CharmFlayer: Makes it easier to inflict wounds. Deals additional non-elemental damage when inflicting enough damage
Evasion CharmEvade Window: Extends the invulnerability period when evading

When it comes to the S Tier, you’ll gain the most advantages through the Talismans’ robust capabilities. Each one will get you through the game’s brutal battles, boosting health, defense, stamina, or evasion. Choosing one will all depend on your playstyle, whether you favor speed over defense or a player who wants maximum health.

The Hope Charm may be the best Talisman in Monster Hunter Wilds, as it is one of the few that grants two abilities. However, there are still a lot of excellent choices here, including Chainblade’s accessible wound attacks or the Bleed Charm’s protection for bleeding.

A Tier

Fire Charm in Monster Hunter Wilds
Screenshot by Destructoid
TalismansSkill Info
Fire CharmFire Resistance: Increases fire resistance and improves defense at a higher level
Dragon CharmDragon Resistance: Increases dragon resistance and improves defense at higher levels
Sleep CharmSleep Resistance: Reduces the duration of sleep
Stun Charm Stun Resistance: Reduces the duration of stun
Escape CharmBind Resistance: Grants protection against webbed status and frostblight
Marathon CharmMarathon Runner: Slows down stamina depletion for actions that continuously drain stamina (dashing)
Hungerless CharmHunger Resistance: Reduces maximum stamina depletion over time
Leaping CharmEvade Extender: Increases evade distance
Sheathe CharmQuick Sheathe: Speeds up weapon sheathing
Windproof CharmWindproof: Grants protection against wind pressure
Tremor CharmTremor Resistance: Grants protection against ground tremors
Impact CharmFlinch Free: Prevents knockbacks and other reactions to small damage
Glutton’s CharmSpeed Eating: Increases meat-eating and item-consumption speed

While the S Tier Talismans are the epitome of excellence, the A Tier shines in specific situations that arise frequently. For example, you’ll go against many fiery fiends, where the Fire Charm becomes an indispensable ally. But, of course, it’s not so handy when you’re fighting against a non-fire monster, so you’ll likely need to switch it up to acquire a better skill.

The A Tier also excels in exploration, especially with the Marathon Charm, which helps with dashing. Another one I found beneficial is the Glutton’s Charm, a Talisman that quickens the pace of the gradual item-consuming speed.

B Tier

Friendship Charm in Monster Hunter Wilds
Screenshot by Destructoid
TalismansSkill Info
Water CharmWater Resistance: Increases water resistance and improves defense at higher levels
Thunder CharmThunder Resistance: Increases thunder resistance and improves defense at higher levels
Ice CharmIce Resistance: Increases ice resistance and improves defense at higher levels
Poison CharmPoison Resistance: Reduces damage while poisoned
Paralysis CharmParalysis Resistance: Reduce duration of paralysis
Blast CharmBlast Resistance: Grants protection against blastblight
Survival CharmSurvival Expert: Extra health is recovered from environmental interactables
Grit CharmHeroics: Increases attack power and defense when health drops to 35% or lower
Descent CharmAmbush: Temporarily increases damage to large monsters with a successful Sneak Attack
Friendship CharmWide-Range: Allows the effects of certain items to affect nearby allies
Maintenance CharmTool Specialist: Reduces the recharge time for specialized tools
Extension CharmItem Prolonger: Extends the duration of some item effects
Botany CharmBotanist: Increases the quantity of herbs and other consumable items you gather
Geology CharmGeologist: Increases the number of items you gain at gathering points (bonepiles)

The B Tier Talismans play into niche experiences that may not come up as often as A Tier. Poison-based enemies, for instance, don’t appear as frequently as fire-based ones, so you’ll only need to use them for specific situations. This tier also enhances particular playstyles, including those who thrive in teams, sneak attacks, or scavenging.

If you enjoy collecting plenty of herbs, the Botany Charm will be perfect for you. But, if you’re more of a bonepile gatherer, go for the Geology Charm.

C Tier

Mushroom Charm in Monster Hunter Wilds
Screenshot by Destructoid
TalismansSkill Info
Foray CharmForay: Increases attack power and affinity against large monsters affected by poison or paralysis
Intimidator CharmIntimidator: Reduces the chance small monsters will attack after spotting you (has no effect on specific creatures)
Bombardier CharmBombardier: Increases the damage of explosive items
Mushroom CharmMushroomancer: Lets you digest mushrooms that would otherwise be inedible and gain advantageous effects
Light Eater’s CharmFree Meal: Gives you a predetermined chance of consuming a food or drink item for free

Compared to the rest of the Monster Hunter Wilds Talismans tiers, the C Tier items aren’t the most helpful. I’m not saying they are bad choices, but they just don’t have enough advantages like the other items. Take, for example, the Intimidator Charm, which reduces the chances of tiny monsters spotting you. Although it’s nice to avoid any unnecessary battles, I never really had any problems with these particular monsters.

The Mushroom Charm is another not-so-great Talisman since there aren’t many benefits to consuming mushrooms. You can rely on other items to improve your performance, so it’s best not to waste your Talisman slot for this charm. Nevertheless, you can still equip the ones in C Tier if they genuinely benefit your playstyle. Don’t let this lower-tier grading deter you from choosing it.


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Author
Image of Kristina Ebanez
Kristina Ebanez
Staff Writer
Staff Writer - Kristina has been a video game lover ever since she saw Solid Snake get under that cardboard box in Metal Gear Solid. She continues to show off her love for gaming and has been writing about it for more than two years. Aside from the Metal Gear Solid series, she enjoys playing The Sims, Call of Duty, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Horizon Forbidden West, Minecraft, and many more.