So, you’re staring at your equipment screen in Monster Hunter Wilds, hovering over that Level 3 decoration. Power Prolonger. It sounds essential, right? If you’re a Switch Axe main or a certified Insect Glaive flyer, the idea of your buffs lasting longer is basically the dream. But honestly, the Forbidden Lands have changed the math on how this skill actually functions in the "New Gen" meta of 2026.
It isn't just about making a timer go up anymore.
Capcom has tweaked the weapon flow in Wilds so much that what was once a "must-have" in Monster Hunter: World might actually be a waste of a slot now. Or, for some weapons, it's the only thing keeping your DPS from falling off a cliff.
Power Prolonger MH Wilds: The Raw Mechanics
Let's get the boring technical stuff out of the way first. Power Prolonger is a passive equipment skill that specifically targets five weapons: Long Sword, Dual Blades, Insect Glaive, Switch Axe, and Charge Blade. If you’re swinging a Great Sword or a Hammer, this does literally nothing for you. Stop. Put the decoration back in the box.
In MH Wilds, the skill levels breakdown like this:
✨ Don't miss: Why This Link to the Past GBA Walkthrough Still Hits Different Decades Later
- Level 1: Moderately boosts the duration weapons stay powered up.
- Level 2: Boosts the duration weapons stay powered up.
- Level 3: Greatly boosts the duration weapons stay powered up (usually doubling the base timer).
Now, "Greatly" is a vague word. In actual hunts against a Doshaguma or a Rey Dau, this usually translates to adding about 30% to 100% more time to your amped states, depending on the specific weapon and phial type you’re using.
The Switch Axe Exception
If you’re a Switch Axe player, you’re basically the target audience here. SwAxe in Wilds relies heavily on the Amped State. When your sword is glowing, you get those juicy extra hit-sparks and access to the Zero Sum Discharge (ZSD).
Here’s the kicker: Power Phials in Wilds take a ridiculous amount of time to charge. Focus 3 helps you get there, but once you’re in that state, you want to stay there. Power Prolonger 3 is almost mandatory for Power Phial users because it prevents you from having to go through that long-winded charging animation every 60 seconds. On the other hand, if you’re running an Elemental Phial Axe—which charges in like four hits—you can probably skip this skill entirely and build for more Crit Eye or Attack Boost.
What Most People Get Wrong About Insect Glaive
This is where the community is currently fighting in the Reddit threads. In previous games, Power Prolonger was the "I don't want to play the mini-game" skill for Insect Glaive. It kept your Red, White, and Orange extracts active for much longer.
🔗 Read more: All Barn Locations Forza Horizon 5: What Most People Get Wrong
In Monster Hunter Wilds, the introduction of the RSS (Rapid Soul Slash) finisher has changed everything.
Most high-level Glaive play now involves burning your extracts for massive finisher damage. If you are constantly "consuming" your buffs to do big damage, why are you slotting a skill to make those buffs last longer? You're essentially paying for a longer timer only to delete the timer yourself five seconds later.
Unless you are playing a "Classic" style where you just want to stay in the air and poke things without using the new finishers, Power Prolonger is a luxury you can't afford.
Does it actually help the Charge Blade?
Charge Blade is... complicated. You’ve got the shield buff, the sword buff, and now the Savage Axe (Power Axe) mode.
💡 You might also like: When Was Monopoly Invented: The Truth About Lizzie Magie and the Parker Brothers
- Shield Charge: Power Prolonger extends this, which is nice QoL (Quality of Life), but since you’re naturally charging phials anyway, it’s not a huge deal.
- Power Axe Mode: This is where it shines. Maintaining Savage Axe uptime is vital for your DPS rotations.
Honestly, most pro players are favoring Load Shells or Rapid Morph over Prolonger for CB. It's better to be able to get your buffs back instantly than to try and stretch out a buff that you might lose anyway because a monster roared and knocked you out of your animation.
The Gear: Where to Find It
You aren't going to find this on every armor set. Early on, you're looking at pieces from monsters like the Uth Duna (specifically the Uth Valeroje weapons) or the Ajarakan sets.
- Decorations: These are the "Enhancer" jewels. In the 2026 endgame, farming these usually involves Tier 2 or Tier 3 investigations.
- Charms: You can craft a Power Prolonger charm, but it’s a heavy investment in rare materials.
- Weapon Skills: Wilds introduced weapon-specific skills. Some high-rarity Switch Axes come with Power Prolonger built directly into the blade. If you can find one of those, you’ve hit the jackpot.
Is it Worth a Slot in Your Build?
It depends on your "flow." If you find yourself constantly stressing about your bars flashing red and disappearing right as a monster trips, then yes, slot it in. There is a huge mental benefit to not having to "babysit" your weapon.
But if you’re looking for pure speedrun times? You’re better off learning the combos that refresh your gauges naturally. For example, the Long Sword's Spirit Roundslash or the new Offset attacks in Wilds make gauge management much easier than it was in World.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Hunt
- For Switch Axe: If you use Power Phials, go Level 3 or go home. If you use Elemental, drop it for Attack Boost.
- For Insect Glaive: Try a few hunts without it. Use your RSS finishers frequently. If you feel "clunky," add Level 1.
- For Dual Blades: Level 1 is a "sweet spot." It keeps Archdemon mode active just long enough to bridge the gap between stamina refills.
- Check Your Weapon: Before you craft armor, check if your weapon has a "Skill Slot" that can take an Enhancer decoration. It’s often cheaper than swapping out a good chest piece like the Rathalos Mail.
Stop treating Power Prolonger as a mandatory "buff." In Monster Hunter Wilds, it's a comfort tool. Use it to fix a problem in your playstyle, not because a guide told you it was meta.
The best next step is to head into the training area with a stopwatch. See how long your "Amped" state lasts naturally, then slot in one level of Prolonger. If that extra 15 seconds doesn't feel like it's changing your hunt, give those slots back to your damage skills.