A) What is MHGU Damage Calculation?
The "mhgu damage calculator" is an essential tool for any serious hunter in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate. It allows players to precisely quantify the damage output of their weapon and armor skill combinations against various monster parts. Unlike simply looking at in-game stats, a damage calculator accounts for the complex interplay of raw attack, elemental damage, sharpness, motion values, monster hitzones, affinity, and a myriad of buffs and debuffs.
Who should use it? Anyone looking to optimize their builds, understand why certain weapons or skills perform better, or simply theorycraft for specific monster matchups. It's crucial for speedrunners, competitive players, and even casual hunters who want to maximize their efficiency and enjoyment.
Common misunderstandings often arise from the distinction between "displayed raw" and "true raw." The value shown on your weapon in-game is often inflated and must be divided by a weapon-specific class modifier to get its "true raw," which is the actual base value used in damage calculations. Similarly, elemental values are displayed as 10x their actual value. Understanding these nuances is key to accurate damage assessment and why tools like this MHGU weapon tier list are so valuable.
B) MHGU Damage Formula and Explanation
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate damage calculation is a multi-step process, combining raw physical damage and elemental damage. Here's a simplified breakdown of the core formulas used in this calculator:
Raw Damage Formula:
True Raw = (Displayed Raw / Weapon Class Modifier) + Flat Attack Buffs
Effective Raw = True Raw * Sharpness Multiplier (Raw) * Motion Value / 100
Final Raw Damage = Effective Raw * Hitzone (Raw) / 100 * Critical Multiplier * Monster Defense Modifier / 100 * Monster Rage Multiplier
Elemental Damage Formula:
Effective Element = (Displayed Element / 10) * Sharpness Multiplier (Element) * Elemental Attack Up Multiplier
Final Elemental Damage = Effective Element * Hitzone (Element) / 100
Total Average Damage:
Average Raw Damage = (Raw Damage with Crit * Affinity % / 100) + (Raw Damage without Crit * (1 - Affinity % / 100))
Total Average Damage = Average Raw Damage + Final Elemental Damage
Variable Explanations:
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Displayed Raw | Weapon attack shown in game. | points | 100 - 350 (varies by weapon) |
| Weapon Class Modifier | Divisor to get True Raw. | multiplier | 1.2 (Bow) - 5.4 (Switch Axe) |
| Flat Attack Buffs | Bonus raw from skills (AuS/M/L), items (drugs), charms. | points | 0 - ~50 |
| Sharpness Multiplier (Raw) | Boost to raw damage based on sharpness color. | multiplier | 0.5 (Red) - 1.39 (Purple) |
| Sharpness Multiplier (Element) | Boost to elemental damage based on sharpness color. | multiplier | 0.25 (Red) - 1.125 (Purple) |
| Motion Value | Percentage of true raw for a specific attack animation. | % | 10 - 200 (varies by attack) |
| Hitzone (Raw) | Monster's vulnerability to raw damage at a specific part. | % | 10 - 100 |
| Hitzone (Element) | Monster's vulnerability to elemental damage at a specific part. | % | 0 - 35 |
| Affinity | Chance of critical hit (+25% raw damage) or negative critical hit (-25% raw damage). | % | -100 to 100 |
| Critical Multiplier | Damage bonus for critical hits (1.25x normally, 1.4x with Critical Boost). | multiplier | 1.0 (no crit), 1.25 (crit), 1.4 (crit boost) |
| Monster Defense Modifier | Quest-specific modifier reducing all damage. | % | 65 (G-Rank) - 80 (Low-Rank) |
| Monster Rage Multiplier | Monster specific raw damage multiplier when enraged. | multiplier | 1.0 (normal) - 1.25 (enraged) |
| Elemental Attack Up Multiplier | Skill-based multiplier for elemental damage. | multiplier | 1.0 - 1.1 |
C) Practical Examples
Let's illustrate how the mhgu damage calculator works with a couple of scenarios:
Example 1: Great Sword on a Weak Spot
- Weapon Type: Great Sword (4.8 multiplier)
- Displayed Raw: 330
- Displayed Element: 0
- Sharpness: Purple (1.39 raw, 1.125 element)
- Motion Value: 48% (GS Level 3 Charge)
- Monster Raw Hitzone: 45% (e.g., Rathalos Head)
- Monster Elemental Hitzone: 10%
- Affinity: 0%
- Critical Boost: No
- Weakness Exploit: Yes (activates on 45% hitzone)
- Monster Defense Modifier: 70% (G-Rank)
- Monster Raged: No
- Attack Up Skill: AuL (+20)
- Elemental Attack Up Skill: None
- Powercharm & Powertalon: Yes (+25)
- Demon Drug: Mega Demon Drug (+7)
- Felyne Attack Up: Felyne AuL (+7)
Calculated Result: With these inputs, the calculator would show an "Average Damage Per Hit" of approximately 300-320 points (after Weakness Exploit adds 50% affinity, leading to a mix of normal and crit hits).
Example 2: Dual Blades on an Elemental Weakness
- Weapon Type: Dual Blades (1.4 multiplier)
- Displayed Raw: 180
- Displayed Element: 40 (400 element in-game)
- Sharpness: White (1.32 raw, 1.0625 element)
- Motion Value: 18% (e.g., Demon Dance hit)
- Monster Raw Hitzone: 25% (e.g., Lagiacrus Body)
- Monster Elemental Hitzone: 30% (e.g., Lagiacrus Body, Thunder)
- Affinity: 20%
- Critical Boost: No
- Weakness Exploit: No
- Monster Defense Modifier: 75% (High-Rank)
- Monster Raged: Yes
- Attack Up Skill: AuM (+15)
- Elemental Attack Up Skill: Elemental Attack Up (6% Element)
- Powercharm & Powertalon: Yes (+25)
- Demon Drug: Demon Drug (+5)
- Felyne Attack Up: None
Calculated Result: The "Average Damage Per Hit" would be significantly lower for raw, but the elemental component would be much higher, resulting in a total average damage around 80-90 points per hit for this specific attack, illustrating the elemental focus of Dual Blades.
D) How to Use This MHGU Damage Calculator
Using this mhgu damage calculator is straightforward, but requires accurate information:
- Select Weapon Type: Choose your weapon to apply the correct true raw calculation.
- Input Weapon Stats: Enter your weapon's "Displayed Raw Attack" and "Displayed Element" directly from the game's equipment screen.
- Choose Sharpness: Select the sharpness color you expect to fight with.
- Enter Motion Value: This is crucial. Motion values are specific to each attack animation. You may need to consult external resources like Kiranico or weapon guides to find the correct motion value for the attack you're analyzing.
- Input Monster Hitzones: Find the "Monster Raw Hitzone" and "Monster Elemental Hitzone" for the specific monster and body part you intend to hit. Resources like MHGU monster hitzone guides are invaluable here.
- Adjust Affinity: Enter your total affinity from weapon, armor skills, and decorations.
- Select Skills & Buffs: Check boxes for skills like Critical Boost, Weakness Exploit, Powercharm/Powertalon, and select levels for Attack Up, Elemental Attack Up, Demon Drug, and Felyne Attack Up.
- Set Monster State: Adjust the "Monster Defense Modifier" based on quest rank (e.g., 70% for G-Rank) and check "Monster Raged" if applicable.
- Calculate: Click "Calculate Damage" to see your results.
- Interpret Results: The primary result is "Average Damage Per Hit." This is your statistically expected damage. Also review the intermediate raw and elemental damage values, and the max/non-crit damage to understand the spread.
E) Key Factors That Affect MHGU Damage
Understanding the variables that influence your damage output is vital for effective hunting and build crafting. Here are the key factors:
- 1. Sharpness Level: This is arguably one of the most critical factors. Higher sharpness (Green > Blue > White > Purple) provides significant multipliers to both raw and elemental damage. Maintaining optimal sharpness, often with skills like Sharpness +2 or Razor Sharp, is usually a top priority.
- 2. Motion Value: Every attack animation has a different motion value. A Great Sword's Level 3 Charge has a very high motion value, making it a powerful attack, while a Dual Blades' single hit has a low motion value, relying on rapid attacks. Choosing attacks with high motion values for openings is crucial for burst damage.
- 3. Monster Hitzones (Raw & Elemental): Monsters have varying vulnerabilities across their body parts. Hitting a weak spot (high hitzone value) can dramatically increase your damage. For example, a monster's head might have a 60% raw hitzone, while its leg has 20%. Targeting these weak spots, often found in MHGU monster hitzone guides, is fundamental.
- 4. Affinity & Critical Skills: Affinity determines your chance to deal 25% more (critical) or 25% less (negative critical) raw damage. Skills like Critical Eye, Weakness Exploit (+50% affinity on weak spots), and Critical Boost (changes crit multiplier from 1.25x to 1.4x) are game-changers for raw damage builds.
- 5. Attack Buffs (Skills, Food, Items): Flat attack buffs from skills (Attack Up Small/Medium/Large), food skills (Felyne Attack Up), and items (Demon Drug, Mega Demon Drug, Powercharm, Powertalon) add directly to your true raw, providing a consistent damage boost regardless of weapon or motion value.
- 6. Weapon Type & True Raw: The weapon class modifier significantly impacts your true raw. A weapon with a high displayed raw might have a low true raw if its modifier is large (e.g., Great Sword). Conversely, weapons with low displayed raw but small modifiers (e.g., SnS, DB) can have surprisingly effective true raw. This makes understanding MHGU weapon modifiers important for comparing different weapon types.
F) Frequently Asked Questions about MHGU Damage Calculation
Q: Why is my displayed damage in the game different from the calculator's result?
A: The in-game displayed attack value is often an inflated number, while elemental values are 10x their true value. This calculator converts these to "True Raw" and "True Element" using weapon class modifiers before calculating. Also, the game doesn't show average damage per hit considering affinity fluctuations, which this calculator does.
Q: How does affinity work with negative affinity?
A: Negative affinity works similarly to positive affinity but causes "negative critical hits" (or "critical fails"). A negative crit reduces your raw damage by 25% (from 1.0x to 0.75x). The calculator accounts for this in the average damage calculation.
Q: What is the best sharpness level for damage?
A: Generally, Purple sharpness offers the highest raw and elemental multipliers. If Purple isn't available, White is the next best. The goal is usually to reach and maintain the highest possible sharpness level, as the damage boost is substantial.
Q: Does elemental damage crit in MHGU?
A: No, elemental damage does not critically hit in MHGU. Critical hits only apply to the raw damage portion of your attack. There are no skills like "Critical Element" in MHGU that apply a crit multiplier to elemental damage.
Q: How do I find monster hitzones?
A: Monster hitzone values are not displayed in-game. You need to consult external resources like the Kiranico database or dedicated MHGU monster hitzone guides to find these values for each monster and body part.
Q: Does this calculator account for unique weapon mechanics like Charge Blade phials or Gunlance shells?
A: This calculator focuses on the core raw and elemental damage calculations for standard weapon attacks. Specialized mechanics like Charge Blade phial explosions, Gunlance shelling, or Bowgun shot types have their own unique formulas and are not covered by this general calculator. For those, you might need a specialized MHGU skill database or weapon-specific tool.
Q: Why is my damage fluctuating so much in-game?
A: Damage fluctuation is primarily due to affinity. If you have positive affinity, some hits will be critical (higher damage) and some will be normal. If you have negative affinity, some hits will be normal and some will be negative critical (lower damage). The "Average Damage Per Hit" aims to give you the expected value over time.
Q: What is the "Quest Defense Modifier"?
A: The Quest Defense Modifier is a hidden multiplier applied to all damage dealt to a monster, varying by quest rank. For example, G-Rank quests typically have a modifier of 0.70 (70%), meaning all damage is reduced by 30%. This is an important factor for accurate calculations.
G) Related Tools and Internal Resources
To further enhance your Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate experience and optimize your hunting, explore these related resources:
- MHGU Weapon Tier List: Discover the top-performing weapons for each class.
- MHGU Armor Set Builder: Craft powerful armor sets to complement your damage calculations.
- MHGU Monster Hitzone Guide: Learn where to strike for maximum damage on every monster.
- MHGU Skill Database: Explore all available armor skills and their effects.
- MHGU Best Weapons: A curated list of highly effective weapons for various playstyles.
- MHGU Critical Calculations: A deeper dive into how critical hits and affinity work in MHGU.