Focus Mode is available in Monster Hunter Wilds for those moments where you must absolutely hit the Tigrex's tender nethers.

Fans of turning dragons into pants will be happy to hear that Capcom has released three short gameplay overviews of Monster Hunter Wilds. The follow-up game to Monster Hunter: World is due in 2025. The first video focuses on the slow-moving and heavy-hitting Greatsword, while the second covers the basics of Monster Hunter gameplay. It also touches on the new Seikret mounted weapons and the improved arm-mounted Slinger. The third video is for Monster Hunter maniacs. It reveals Focus Mode, a new mechanic that allows for precise targeting of attacks, highlights weak points on monsters, and enables new special moves.

Capcom says Focus Mode "allows you carefully aim your attacks or defenses." In practice, the Focus Mode looks like a mode that you can seamlessly switch into while your weapon is drawn, similar to aiming modes enabled previously for Monster Hunter's ranged guns. In Focus Mode, a shooter style aiming reticle will appear even if you are using a melee weapons. This allows you to more precisely aim your attacks and block.

The ability to fine-tune weapon attacks is welcome. Previously, melee weapon attack were based on the direction the player character was facing. This can lead to some near misses if you're spacing is off. Focus Mode is even better. It will also highlight the weak and wounded points of a monster with a glowing red light. It's an excellent addition that will help you spot battle-damaged parts of monsters that aren’t as obvious as a severing tail.

Focus Mode also enables Focus Strikes, new special attacks that deal more damage if they strike a weak point or a wound. The new greatsword attack from the early Wilds previews, where the hunter followed a slash with dragging the greatsword along the length of the creature's flank. This is a Focus Strike that's triggered when you land your initial attack in a vulnerable area. Expect each weapon type will have its own Focus Strike option. The video showed a few quick glimpses of longsword, gunlance and a charged shot from a bowgun that sent the monster reeling.

Focus Mode is similar to the Tenderizing feature in Iceborne. This allowed hunters to temporarily "tenderize" weak points by grappling to a monster. Tenderizing may have been too useful for some players, who saw it as a must-have. It was also clunky and difficult to use. Focus Mode is a good middle ground that allows players to target weak spots without disrupting a hunt's natural flow.

After playing enough Monster Hunter you begin to change your psychology. You become a machine designed for sword fighting dinosaurs. I'm at a point where a MonHun mechanic video of a minute feels like a holiday. I'm going ruminate on the potential of Focus Mode all day, and my brainworms are eagerly awaiting any additional Focus Strike revelations from Capcom.