Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance Gives Insect Glaive Stronger Ground Combos and New Counters

Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance is giving the Insect Glaive a set of new ground focused attacks, using the expansion's Boost Bracer system to strengthen a side of the weapon that is often overshadowed by its aerial movement.

The Insect Glaive already combines ground attacks, aerial mobility and Kinsect management. In Ascendance, its new abilities appear to focus more on improving ground combat rather than adding major new airborne techniques.

The expansion is scheduled to launch in 2027 for Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5 and PC.

Feature	Insect Glaive change
New system	Boost Bracer
New attack type	Boost Driver
Kinsect use	Can attack and collect Extract automatically
Boost Gauge effect	Extends ground combos
Kinsect damage	Gains extra tick damage
New counter	Offset counterattack
Counter follow up	Aerial jump attack
Main design focus	Stronger grounded combat
Release	2027

Boost Driver combines glaive attacks with Kinsect support

The new Boost Driver attacks allow you to spin the Insect Glaive while sending the Kinsect toward the monster.

During these attacks, the Kinsect can strike the target and collect Extract without requiring separate manual commands.

Extract management is an important part of the weapon because different Extract types provide temporary enhancements to the hunter.

Reducing the amount of manual Kinsect control needed during some attack sequences should help keep combat moving while still preserving the weapon's core mechanics.

Successful Boost Driver actions also contribute to the Boost Gauge.

Once activated, that gauge unlocks additional improvements to the weapon's moveset.

Ground combos become longer while boosted

With the Boost Gauge active, the Insect Glaive gains extended ground combo sequences.

The Kinsect can also deal additional repeated damage during this state, giving it a more active role while the hunter continues attacking.

Ascendance adds new Offset counters as well.

These counterattacks can lead directly into aerial jump attacks, creating a connection between the new grounded tools and the Insect Glaive's established airborne abilities.

This gives players another way to move from defensive reactions into aerial offense without having to reset their positioning first.

Ascendance takes a different approach from other weapons

Several other weapons shown for the expansion have received more visible aerial additions through the Boost Bracer system.

The Insect Glaive takes the opposite approach.

Because it already has extensive airborne movement and attacks, the new mechanics concentrate more heavily on its ground game.

That direction brings the weapon closer to its earlier identity in Monster Hunter 4, where powerful grounded attacks played a major part in its effectiveness.

Later entries placed increasing emphasis on aerial movement, which became one of the weapon's defining characteristics for many players.

The weapon still keeps its aerial identity

The new showcase does not suggest that aerial combat is being removed.

The Insect Glaive can still transition into jumping attacks, and its mobility remains central to how the weapon works.

Instead, Ascendance appears to be strengthening the parts of the moveset that happen before or between aerial sequences.

The result could give players more viable options when staying close to the ground while still allowing them to move into the air when the situation calls for it.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance will also expand other weapon classes through the Boost Bracer system, alongside new areas and Elder Dragons.

For Insect Glaive players, the main change is a stronger ground based toolkit with easier Kinsect integration, longer combos and new counter options.