Monster Hunter Rise was released as a Nintendo Switch exclusive on March 26th, 2021. With around 7 million copies sold, it is already breaking records for Capcom as the third-highest selling Monster Hunter game. While the Nintendo Switch exclusive makes it a great introduction to the series, many new players might find a large number of menus and systems confusing and intimidating. That is why we have put together some tips and tricks to help get new players a much-needed edge in this classic series.
Learn the Loop
The Monster Hunter franchise is well over 15 years old, and yet the core gameplay loop remains the same. It is a remarkable case of don’t fix what isn’t broken, as the gameplay still retains what made it so special. The core gameplay loop is simple – choose a monster, travel to its location, defeat the monster and use the loot to craft better gear. The gameplay stays fresh in Monster Hunter Rise with more than a dozen unique weapon types on offer, the strategic battle of fighting monsters, and enjoying the new gameplay mechanics such as the Wirebug. While the objective might be simple – get the gear. Understanding how to optimize the game to your play style is the first step to mastering it.
The Wirebug
As I mentioned in the last paragraph, the Wirebug is the new gameplay mechanic introduced in Monster Hunter Rise that we just can’t get enough of. The Wirebug is a recharging resource that can help you scale mountains, cover vast distances, and even pull off nifty combat tricks. The Wirebug can also be used as a defensive mechanism, as it can be used to prop you back up immediately after taking a hit. Mastering the Wirebug can make you a devastating force against any monster.
Keep your Blacksmith close
The objective of Monster Hunter is to give you the experience of fighting one amazing boss battle after another. The key to achieving that is through monsters that keep getting tougher and tougher. The game will not tell you that you need to update your gear, but the new items that keep at your blacksmith’s shop will make it clear that if your gear is too old it might soon become obsolete. To avoid this, players should make a habit of visiting their blacksmiths regularly. A good rule of thumb is to visit the blacksmith after every hunt to keep a track of what new gear is now available.
The Palamute is a hunter’s best friend
The Palamutes are the wolf-like companions introduced in Monster Hunter Rise that help you travel around the map and even assist you when fighting against enemies. The Palamute can also be extremely useful as a place to sharpen your weapons, gather resources, and use potions. Palamute companions can be custom-made for you and can be given the weapons and armor you create especially for them.
Collect every single thing you encounter
Everything you encounter while traversing the map in Monster Hunter Rise can be valuable as a crafting component. Even if you do not see the value in it now, gather every item you encounter and reap all the quest and gear rewards when you are deep into your playthrough. The other upside of this is that you can sort your inventory to find the items that ‘Fetch a good price’ and sell them off. This also helps keep you in the green when looking to craft all those expensive armor sets. So get on your Palamute and start picking up everything!
Play Multiplayer online
Monster Hunter Rise divides up the different game modes by making it so that the Village Quests can only be done solo, and Gathering Hub Quests can only be tackled in multiplayer. To truly experience the game, you will have to play both, as even the story mode is intrinsically linked to both Village and Hub Quests. Thankfully, playing Monster Hunter Rise in Multiplayer is an amazing experience. The players can join a game with friends or make new friends in online lobbies. The co-op aspect which is a staple of the Monster Hunter series remains a core aspect of the game even today and is essential to the full Monster Hunter experience.