Elemental Resistances in Monster Hunter World (MHW) refers to the sum of protective effects of Equipment and Skills against Elemental Damage done by Weapons and Monsters
For a more complete rundown on combat with Monsters, see Weapon Mechanics and Defense.
Elemental Resistances in MHW
On Monsters
Each Monster has strengths and weaknesses against specific Elemental Damage types. For example, the Pukei-Pukei takes higher-than-average damage from sources of Thunder Element, but takes no damage from sources of Water Element.
Monster resistances can be viewed in the Physiology section of the ingame Monster Field Guide, where each type of Element will be listed along with a rating.
The ratings are as follows:
- ⭐⭐⭐ Higher-than-average Body Part multipliers against the Element type
- ⭐⭐ Average Body Part multipliers against the Element type
- ⭐ Lower-than-average Body Part multipliers against the Element type
Body Part multiplier of 0 against the Element type
These ratings indicate the magnitude of Body Part multipliers against an Element type.
See Elemental Damage for information on how Body Part multipliers affect Damage against a Monster.
Elemental weakness is not always a given. Just because a monster uses fire does not necessarily mean it is weak to water.
Monsters that don't use elemental attacks still have elemental resistances and weaknesses.
Additionally, a Monster's resistances may change over the course of a battle when specific parts are broken. For example the Barroth coats itself in fire-resistant mud that can be removed to reveal a fire weakness and a water resistance.
On the Player and Allies
Monsters can also deal Elemental Damage to the Hunter. Armor possesses five separate Resistance stats corresponding to the five Elements.
The resistance possessed by the Hunter toward an Element is the sum of resistances from each equipped Armor piece, along with any points granted by Skills. A positive cumulative value will result in a decrease of Elemental Damage taken from sources of that Element type, while negative resistance to an Element will increase damage taken. Reaching 20 points of resistance toward any Element will prevent the corresponding Blight, e.g. 20 Fire Resistance will prevent Fireblight.
For information on individual Elemental Resistances, see Fire Resistance, Water Resistance, Thunder Resistance, Ice Resistance, and Dragon Resistance.
See Status Effects for more information on Elemental Blights and Abnormal Status Ailments.
Raising Elemental Resistance
Skills and Effects
Elemental resistance and Blight protection can be provided with the following Skills and Effects:
Fire Resistance Skill
Water Resistance Skill
Thunder Resistance Skill
Ice Resistance Skill
Dragon Resistance Skill- Fire/Water/Thunder/Ice/Dragon Res Boost from Hunting Horn melodies
- Fireproof, Waterproof, Thunderproof, Iceproof, and Dragonproof Mantles
- Cleanser Booster. See Specialized Tools
Resistance from Armor
In addition to the armor's natural resistance, each loadout can be given an additional 5 points of resistance through charms or decorations. The following is a list of Armor sets with high resistance toward each Element.
For information on configuring your Hunter's arsenal, see Loadouts.
Vs. Fire
Low Rank
| Equipment Rarity | Armor Set/Piece | Total Resistance |
 1 |
Kestodon Guards | 4 |
 3 |
Harvest Armor Set | 20 |
| 3 |
Anja Armor Set | 15 |
 4 |
Death Stench Armor Set | 15 |
| 4 |
Rathalos Armor Set | 15 |
| 4 |
Diablos Armor Set | 15 |
6
10
Vs. Water
Low Rank
| Equipment Rarity | Armor Set/Piece | Total Resistance |
| 1 |
Gajau Boots | 5 |
 2 |
Pukei Armor Set | 15 |
| 4 |
Hunter's Armor Set | 10 |
| 1 |
Death Stench Armor Set | 10 |
| 3 |
Shamos Goggles | 2 |
| 4 |
Odogoron Armor Set | 10 |
| 1 |
Chainmail Armor Set | 10 |
| 3 |
Baan Armor Set | 10 |
| 2 |
Jurya Armor Set | 10 |
| 4 |
Legiana Armor Set | 10 |
| 1 |
Jagras Armor Set | 10 |
| 3 |
Lumu Armor Set | 10 |
|
Diver Armor Set | 20 |
High Rank
| Equipment Rarity | Armor Set/Piece | Total Resistance |
 5 |
Gajau Boots Alpha/Beta | 5 |
| 5 |
Wiggler Head Alpha | 4 |
 8 |
Vaal Hazak Armor Set Alpha/Beta/Gamma | 20 |
| 5 |
Pukei Armor Set Alpha/Beta | 15 |
| 5 |
Diver Armor Set Alpha | 20 |
Vs. Thunder
Low Rank
| Equipment Rarity | Armor Set/Piece | Total Resistance |
| 4 |
Kirin Armor Set | 20 |
|
Blossom Armor Set | 20 |
| 2 |
Barroth Armor Set | 15 |
| 2 |
Kadachi Armor Set | 15 |
| 4 |
Ingot Armor Set | 15 |
Vs. Ice
Low Rank
| Equipment Rarity | Armor Set/Piece | Total Resistance |
| 4 |
Orion Armor Set | 20 |
| 3 |
High Metal Armor Set | 15 |
| 4 |
Death Stench Armor Set | 15 |
| 4 |
Legiana Armor Set | 15 |
Master Rank
 12 |
Kushala Armor Set Alpha +/Beta+ | 20 |
 9 |
Oolong Armor Set Alpha + | 20 |
| 9 |
Pearlspring Alpha + | 5 |
| 9 |
Duffel Penguin Mask Alpha + | 4 |
Vs. Dragon
Low Rank
| Equipment Rarity | Armor Set/Piece | Total Resistance |
| 4 |
Gala Suit Armor Set | 20 |
| 1 |
Bone Armor Set | 10 |
| 1 |
Vespoid Armor Set | 10 |
| 3 |
King Beetle Set | 10 |
| 3 |
Hornetaur Armor Set | 10 |
| 4 |
Brigade Armor Set | 10 |
| 4 |
Diablos Armor Set | 10 |
| 4 |
Kirin Armor Set | 10 |
| 3 |
Butterfly Armor Set | 10 |
High Rank
| Equipment Rarity | Armor Set/Piece | Total Resistance |
 7 |
Gala Suit Armor Set Alpha | 20 |
| 5 |
Wiggler Head Alpha | 4 |
| 7 |
Dober Armor Set Alpha/Beta | 20 |
| 8 |
Drachen Armor Set Alpha | 20 |
| 7 |
Azure Starlord Armor Set Alpha | 15 |
| 8 |
Dante Armor Set Alpha | 15 |
Master Rank
 11 |
Death Garon Mail Alpha +/Beta + | 20 |
| 11 |
Dober Mail Armor Set Alpha +/Beta + | 20 |
| 12 |
Golden Lune Armor Set Alpha +/Beta + | 20 |
| 11 |
Stygian Zin Armor Set Alpha +/Beta + | 20 |
| 12 |
Sealed Dragon Cloth Alpha + | 5 |
| 12 |
Wyverian Ears Alpha + | 5 |
Anonymous
im not sure, but what I think is you become immune to that elemental blight effect at 20, but beyond that it still helps to further reduce damage just you have diminishing returns after 20. I could be wrong on the exact soft cap tho, maybe its 25 instead of 20? For instance, if you use 3 fire resistance gems to get 20+ fire resistance, you'll still notice a good bit less damage from Luna if you use the fire mantle on top of it.
- Anonymous
I have a question: let's say two weapons are completely identical except one also has a lightning element and the other has no element. Would the lightning weapon do less damage to a monster with lightning resist, the same amount of damage, or would it do more just the lightning damage portion of the attack wouldn't be very effective?
13
+10
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