52 Essential Tips and Tricks - Monster Hunter Rise Guide

This Monster Hunter Rise guide details a comprehensive list of tips and tricks that will help not only beginners, but also many returning veterans of the Monster Hunter series.

Need a gameplay loop run-through, or a general refresher? See the Beginner's Guide to Monster Hunter Rise first, or watch the video below!

Quick Tips and Tricks

Village Quests can only be done solo, Gathering Hub is for multiplayer - so they’re a bit harder!
Make Item Loadouts so you don’t have to manage your inventory every time in between quests. Create your perfect Item Pouch then from within the Item box >> Manage items >> Item Loadouts to Register Loadout. This way, you can choose "Use Loadout" to automatically restock your Item Pouch with exactly what you need in between quests.
Configure your radial menu to use items fast!Check Items and Equipment tab in your menu, scroll down to Radial Menu Settings, then sent your Quests radial menu to easily access items you need in a pinch, like Mega Potions, Life Powders, and Flash Bombs. See Recommended Item Loadouts
The hunter’s notes weapon tutorials basically need to be read to understand a weapon, just pressing buttons at random without knowing the combos / flow of a weapon won’t be very efficient (and it’s super hard to pick up on naturally).
Make sure to always have the optional subquests selected to build up kamura points and armor spheres.
There’s a Cahoot nest up a tree in the Buddy Plaza - check it to find free stuff like Steel Eggs, Lagia Apples, and Trap Tools.
Take advantage of endemic life!
It’s totally normal to take a little while on your hunts, especially if you’re exploring and collecting on the way! Taking ten minutes or more is normal for solo Village Quests.
Stock up on items when they’re on sale, like trap tools and bombs.
There's no fall damage! So if you're in need of getting somewhere below you quickly, simply jump straight off the edge, and you'll land safely without taking any damage - the same goes for your buddies!
Once you've completed a quest and entered the rewards screen, you can collect your quest rewards by pressing and holding A to take all of your loot quickly. This is a quick and easy alternative to scrolling down and pressing Take All.
As you progress through the game, it'll quickly get tiresome having to travel to your main camp constantly. Thankfully, while exploring the region, you may be lucky enough to stumble across a camp location. These are handy as not only can you fast travel to them, but you can also eat, change equipment, and use the Buddy Board. Unfortunately, you won't have access to supply boxes, and items cannot be delivered for delivery quests. You can learn more on how to find and unlock each of the different region's sub-camps here.
Once your Village Quest level is four stars or higher, you’ll receive what is known as Special License Tests. Upon completing these quests, you will increase your Gathering Hub Quest level by 1 rank. So if you’re looking to bypass some of the earlier star levels in the multiplayer Gathering Hub, try waiting for these Special License Tests to appear.
Constantly refer to your Hunter Notes as they will be continually updated as you progress through Monster Hunter Rise and defeat more monsters. Hunter Notes will detail everything you need to know about a monster, whether it be their characteristics, known habitats, threat level, weaknesses, statistics, ailment effectiveness, and even the percentage chance of receiving each of the materials that they drop. Hunter Notes should essentially be treated as your monster bible - it’s really that helpful, trust us.
Forgot to eat before heading out on a quest? Use the tent at your base camp to cook up your favorite Dango.
You should definitely take advantage of one of the handy lock-on features that can make attacking monsters just that much easier. There are two ways that you can lock onto monsters; First, you can use the default Target Camera option, which can be activated by simply pressing in the right stick to select the monster you want to lock onto (shown by the icons in the top right of the screen). With the monster selected, pressing L causes the camera to then point toward the monster. So, press L to re-orientate the camera if you ever lose sight of the monster. This is our preferred style, as we find the focus camera can get a bit disorienting when focused on a monster that moves a lot. But, the Focus Camera can be a good choice for beginners who want less things to manage - check the full guide: How to Lock On to Monsters
When the time comes, don’t forget to claim your free Great Wirebugs from the Senior Hunter Hanenaga - he can be found just in front of the bridge that leads to the Buddy Plaza.
Upon arriving in the area of your new quest, be sure to always collect any items that are available from your Supply Box. There will usually be a handful of free healing potions and other helpful items that’ll help you on your hunt - sometimes the items are specifically helpful for the monster you're up against. If you’re playing with others, just remember to not be greedy and to keep some stacks of items for others as the box is shared.
Your Item Pouch is limited on space, so remember to transfer any unwanted items you have managed to collect to your Item Box. Before defeating your required monster, make sure you have some spaces free in your Item Pouch, as you will only have a short period to carve for materials before you are transported back to the village. So don’t waste this time emptying your pouch as you may miss out on collecting some valuable materials.
Unless you’re quick at defeating your monster, the effects of your food will eventually wear off over time or should you happen to faint. If this is the case, you can grab another meal by heading to your Base Camp.

Crafting and Gathering Tips and Tricks

When using the menu system, press Y to bring up a detailed look at your map. Here you will find several options that allow you to zoom in and out of specific areas, fast travel to your Main Camp, and even search for specific items/materials. To bring up the complete Icon List, simply press X and you’ll be able to search the map for every available item. This is a fantastic way to narrow down the exact location of certain items that you’re looking to collect such as Materials, Endemic Life, and even Hunting Helpers.
Collect random stuff like plants, mushrooms, bugs, and mining spots as often as possible. Basically, every time you pass and it’s easy to just press the A button, just do it. Trust me you’ll need it .
Some items are exclusive, or at least much more common, in different locales. See the Maps and Locations Guide for details on what materials spawn where.
Once you've slain a monster, you'll have the opportunity to carve materials from them - carving materials is a must-do activity if you're looking to upgrade weapons, armor, and even more.
Looking to explore or simply gather materials? Try out Expedition Tours! These quests allow you to freely explore a region without a time limit. As you start exploring a region, you'll even begin to encounter small monster outbreaks and surges in resources. Check out the Maps and Locations Guide to see what's available in each locale and check the in-game Quest Info or Quest Board.
Keep in mind that all items, materials, and Endemic Life will respawn over time in the same location in which you had found them.

Buddy Tips and Tricks

Please consistently use the Meowcenaries and the Argosy for exclusive materials you can use to make super unique awesome armor and buddy armor - like Halloween Armor, Magical Girl Palico, and Pegasus Palamute.
Also hire new Buddies and keep them trained up at the Dojo! Switch them out with your Meowcenary and Argosy helpers - the higher their levels, the better they’ll do.

The Argosy’s rare finds are occasionally sold for 10k zenni + (after 5 star quests are unlocked)
Don’t forget to frequently check in at the Buddy Board, which can be found near the Village center. Here you will be able to manage your Buddies and even equip several helpful skills. As you level up your Buddies, new tiers and skills will unlock so it’s important that you remember to check these skills quite frequently to ensure your Buddy is always up to date.
Tired of having to wait so long to mount your Palamute? Head to the Options menu in the settings and select Controls. Here you will find a setting called “Button Hold Settings”. Upon changing this setting, you’ll either increase or decrease the time in which it takes to mount your Palmute and skip cutscenes.
Reward your Palamute and Palico with some attention when using the wait command on them. Upon using the command, you’ll now have the option to pet, play, shake, high five, or even give them a treat.

Combat and Armor Tips and Tricks

Don’t bother using your armor spheres to upgrade the basic starting armor. Save them until your next set, which you'll likely stick with until you reach High Rank.
Having trouble? See what weapons or armor you can upgrade to. Do some extra hunting to get it if needed. Once you’ve got the required materials, visit Smithy to begin the upgrading process.

Keep in mind that when trying to eat, you'll need to have sheathed your weapon. This can be done by pressing Y but, depending on your weapon, sheathing it isn't always instant, so definitely take this into account when you're in the middle of a heated fight. There is an exception, though, as the Sword and Shield can be held while consuming your healing potions.
Notice those bright yellow numbers that pop up when you're attacking a monster? These indicate a monster's weak point! You'll want to make sure that you're targeting these areas for the most damage.
As you attack monsters your weapon will lose sharpness over time! That’s why it’s important to set up your radial wheel with a Whetstone for quick access. Using a Whetstone will help restore your weapon’s sharpness and ultimately prevent your attacks from bouncing off the monster’s hide.Luckily, the Whetstone is an unlimited resource you don't need to worry about restocking.
It’s okay to mix and match armor! Don’t feel like you’re stuck wearing just one particular type, as you’ll probably want to mix different pieces together to help find a combo that matches your playstyle.
However, keep in mind you'll get a Set Resistance Bonus once you’ve equipped more than 3 pieces of a set.
Want to practice your skills or even try out a brand new weapon? Don’t be afraid to head to the Training Area, which can be accessed from the boats via the Buddy Plaza. The Training Area can significantly help beginners understand the combat system in Monster Hunter Rise as well as how to properly utilize each weapon to their full potential. You can even adjust some of the facilities in the Training Area by speaking with Sekirei the Trainer or changing the Training Options in the Start Menu. There’s also no need to worry about using up ammunition or coatings as they won’t be used up while training in the area.
Monster Hunter's combat system is all about making good, strategically timed attacks. If you opt for a more button mashing approach, it'll be easy to mistime attacks and ultimately take unnecessary damage that could have been prevented.
Try studying the monster's different attacks and movements; this will help you better judge and prepare your attacks accordingly. Don't be afraid to spend a few moments circling the monster as you learn its attack pattern and any key movements that you can take advantage of, such as dodging in a particular direction to avoid a monster's swinging tail.
Listen for your Hunter’s callouts as they’ll often let you know if a monster is about to perform a strong and powerful attack.
With up to 14 different weapons to select, you’re probably wondering just which ones are the best to use? There aren’t really any bad weapons to use in Monster Hunter Rise, as your weapon choice ultimately comes down to your preferred playing style. While we do recommend both the Dual Blades and the Sword & Shield as great starter weapons, there really is no right or wrong weapon to select. Check out the Weapons page for an overview on every weapon.
Need a bit of a breather? Dung Bombs are known to be particularly odorous and will often cause monsters to flee to another area in the map.
While it may seem fairly obvious, don't go spending too much time grinding materials for low-tier armor. The low-tier armor will quickly become outdated, especially as you begin to unlock more Key Village Quests at Star Level 2 and above. Besides, a huge majority of Monster Hunter Rise takes place in High Rank, where low-rank armor is as good as dead weight.

Looking for even more on Monster Hunter Rise? Why not check out our complete Maps and Locations Guide, or even learn How to S+ Rank in our Rampage Guide.

52 Essential Tips and Tricks - Monster Hunter Rise Guide - IGN (2024)

Quick Tips and Tricks

Crafting and Gathering Tips and Tricks

Buddy Tips and Tricks

Combat and Armor Tips and Tricks

References