To sharpen weapons, go through your inventory (hold L1 or the left bumper then left or right) and select Whetstone - it's always in there, so don't worry about having to pack it before you visit - then press Square (or X on Xbox) to let the animation play out. (Yes, even hammers will become 'blunt' over time, oddly enough.) Something that is essential but not immediately obvious is your weapon will blunt over the course of a hunt and do less damage, as indicated by the weapon meter in the top left corner. You'll need to sharpen your weapon frequently Whatever you decide, you own a basic 'Iron' variant of each weapon, and each one is easy enough to upgrade a few times if you want to try something new later - so don't think you're hemmed in once you invest in a certain branch of the weapon tree. Essentially, go with whatever works for you.

Guides Editor Matt is still clinging onto his Dual Blades - they're quick and have a 'charge' mode to do a quick bout of extra damage - while reviews editor Martin evangelises the powerful but slightly unwieldy Hammer. The game recommends a series of 'beginners' weapons - as broken down in our Monster Hunter World weapons list - which are no less powerful than other types, but are simply easier to get your head around initially. There are 14 weapon types to choose between - from swords to bows, and even musical bagpipes and insects - so it's worth swapping them round between early hunts to get a feel for something you like. Try a range of weapons to see what works for you If you're after the essentials, our Monster Hunter World walkthrough and guide can help break down what a hunt entails step-by-step, as well as the variety of activities you can get up to outside main story missions - which we also list in order to help you decide when to push on to a specific monster you want to carve into fancy armour.

To help, here's a list of Monster Hunter World tips you should be doing or taking notice of as you progress through the Hunter Ranks. Combat, quests, materials and upgrades all have their quirks, and it's only you put a handful of hours into it that things start to really come together. Monster Hunter World is the most forgiving entry to date, but that's not to say everything is straightforward.

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