Monster Hunter Wilds

Insect Glaive Motion Values and Optimal Combo Guide (Post-TU4)

IG in Wilds rewards grounded charge combos over aerial spam. Know exactly which moves have the highest MV/s, how to chain Strong Descending Slash into Rising Spiral Slash, and how to manage extracts so you never lose uptime.

Post-TU4 Motion values DPS combos Extract management Focus Mode

The core problem: IG feels slow and clunky until you master the charge system. Aerial spam is low DPS after patches. Real damage comes from grounded charged combos into SDS and RSS - but only with triple extracts active and Focus Mode on.

Triple Extracts - Get These First

Red White Orange All three required for Strong move variants and RSS access

Fastest ways to get triple extracts: Charged Kinsect shot (hold RT/R2) at different body parts. Focus Strike (RB/R1) against a wound. After RSS consumes extracts, immediately Focus Strike a wound while repositioning. Faster Kinsects recover extract uptime faster - prioritize Kinsect speed when building for DPS.

Key Motion Values

Move Base MV Notes
Strong Descending Slash (SDS) Lv2 ~144 MV Full charge, highest single-move base MV. ~59+ MV/s in combos.
Rising Spiral Slash (RSS) 64 MV x 6-9 hits Multi-hit finisher. Best on downed or large stationary targets.
SDS Lv1 ~110 MV Use when window is shorter. Still strong vs. Lv0.
Sidestep Slash (back) High MV/s Best repositioning option. Back sidestep typically highest efficiency for quick starts.
SDS Lv0 (uncharged) 0.6x raw penalty Never release uncharged if you can avoid it.

Optimal DPS Combos

Combo Input sequence When to use
Side Sidestep BEST Side+Y > Back+Y (1-hit cancel) > SDS Highest efficiency, best reactive option for most situations
Back Cancel Y > Y Back (1-hit) > SDS Reliable second option, slightly less MV/s than side variant
2-Hit Back Y > Y Back > Y (2-hit) > SDS When you have a slightly longer opening window
Front Route Side+Y > Front+Y > SDS Alternative with different footwork coverage
Legacy YYB Y > Y > B (hold) Viable fallback but lower MV/s than SDS-centric combos above

The Full DPS Loop

1 Open with Sidestep Slash for positioning and speed

Use directional Y (Sidestep Slash) to reposition and start your combo. Back sidestep typically has the highest MV/s for quick starts. Stay in Focus Mode from here for Kinsect assist hits on all Y attacks.

2 Build into Strong Rising Slash and Reaping Slash

Y into Y back or additional Y hits as filler. These build your combo and give Kinsect assists in Focus Mode. Adapt the number of filler hits based on how long the monster is stationary.

3 Charge into Strong Descending Slash (SDS)

Hold B/Circle for SDS. Target Lv2 full charge (hold 1-1.5 seconds) for ~144 base MV. Cancel to Lv1 if the opening is shorter. Never release Lv0 - the 0.6x raw penalty makes it weaker than the filler moves.

4 Finish with Rising Spiral Slash on safe openings

After SDS, input LT+B / L2+Circle for RSS. This is your highest damage move but consumes all extracts. Use it on downed monsters, large stationary targets, or when a wound is nearby for fast extract recovery. On mobile monsters, skip RSS and loop back to Step 1.

5 Recover extracts and repeat

After RSS, immediately Focus Strike a wound or fire a charged Kinsect shot at different body parts. Get triple extracts back before returning to the combo loop. This is where Kinsect speed matters most.

Key Decision Points

SDS Lv1 or Lv2?

Lv2 (full charge, ~1.5s hold) for long openings - ~144 base MV with 1.3x multiplier. Lv1 when the window is shorter. Never Lv0 - 0.6x raw penalty makes it a DPS loss every time.

When to use Rising Spiral Slash?

Only when a wound is available nearby for fast extract recovery and you can land multiple hits on a good hitzone. On mobile monsters, skip RSS entirely and stay in grounded loops to preserve extract buffs.

Aerial vs. grounded?

Aerial MVs were nerfed in patches. Use Vault (RT+A) mainly for dodging, mounting, or air Focus Strikes - not as your primary DPS path. Grounded charged combos are consistently higher DPS.

Which Kinsect to run?

Faster Kinsects for quicker extract recovery after RSS - critical if you use RSS frequently. Powder or dust Kinsects for extra status or elemental application if extract management is already comfortable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

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Spamming aerial without active extracts - aerial DPS is significantly lower than grounded charged combos with triple extracts active.

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Poor extract management after RSS - constant downtime rebuffing kills your DPS cycle. Plan your extract recovery before using RSS.

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Using moves outside Focus Mode - you lose all Kinsect assist hits, which are a significant portion of IG's total damage output.

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Holding B too long on mobile monsters - miss the opening entirely. Cancel to Lv1 charge or use a Sidestep cancel instead.

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Ignoring TU4 patch changes - bridging hits returned and Sidestep improvements changed the optimal loop. Pre-TU4 guides recommend less optimal combos.