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Monster Hunter Tips
I can’t help but think of imparting a decade of knowledge on to Monster Hunter newcomers feels like a die hard Star Wars fan introducing a friend new to the saga to the massive extended lore and that almost cultish Star Wars universe fervor. Monster Hunter is now a boundlessly complex multiverse with comic, manga, and an major franchise presence with humble origins dating to the PS2 back in 2005.
From that point a massive bang of popularity followed in Japan and now the series spread its deep roots embedded in the West.The series has evolved over many main portable permutations, some console mainstays in Japan, and a few spin offs into a truly special one of a kind franchise. The famous (or infamous) complexity requires a steep learning curve adjustment but these games can offer so much for the dedicated player. Make no mistake. These games were not made for bitches. I hope this guide can serve as a primer for the casual gamer stupefied by the mystery of Monster Hunter and wants to get their hands dirty with pixelated monster blood.
14 Customize second screen/HUD
Monster Hunter is best with an optimized HUD. Gamers should know their map and HUD placement preferences. The presentation selections make certain HUD items visible and others invisible? Does a large health and stamina bar stuck on top of my screen make gameplay too noticeable? Do I need the lock on function? Should I select items with the touch screen or side scrolling menu maneuver? Do I need the map on the top or bottom screen? These items alter the gamer’s perspective and approach to the art of monster hunting.
13 Utilize DLC for quests, items, extra
DLC materials are not necessary to enjoy the game at all but the contents do ease the life of a hunter considerably. Numerous Gold and Silver eggs pile on to potentially sell or hoard while expand Pickaxes increase availability of rare ore and bone crafting materials. The increased cash flow will make the expensive top tier armor and weapon upgrades available without the strain of additional grind.
The extra quests provide a bunch of new challenges including White Fatalis for 4U and numerous hyper monster variants of monster quests from Gen. The quests provide the extra incentive to receive special items the Event Quests upon quest completion. These items allow the player to purchase crossover sets from Zelda, Mario, Mega Man, Metroid and more. Many of the armor sets have decent functionality with skill sets in addition to possessing looking great with an essential faithfulness paid to the source material.
The numerous DLC packs can now be downloaded all at once now that the time window granting one pack per month since the start of the DLC has ceased.
12 Which Weapon to Use?
A starting weapon class depends on the player’s preferences more than anything else. Luckily now is the best time to dive into weapon selection since the addition of the Charge Blade and Insect Glaive in MH4. Players preferring the slower tanky approach might want to pick up Hammers, Great Swords, and Long Swords. These players will face blocking limitations in favor of better offensive capabilities. Those preferring speed and dexterity should consider Switch Axe, Charge Blade, Insect Glaive, and Dual Swords.
The rest of the weapon types are for players that want heavy defensive and attack options or otherwise want to wrangle the tricky ranged systems.
11 Be prepared with Items (trap, support, buffs and heals)
One of the more obscure systems of Monster Hunter better explained in the recent games than in past entries, are the item combos needed to sustain the player and his or her companion hunters. Lifepoweders are a must with a team of Flash Bombs, Sonic Bombs, Barrel Bombs, and traps are items used to weaken and distract monsters.
Remember, much of the time any other multiplayer teammates playing will not make use of any of the necessary items demonstrate lack of skill and cooperative etiquette and it is usually these players that tend to die first. The “hunters” indeed do become the hunted and extra health boosting items and stamina buffs are needed in the event the player makes a trip, or several, out of the match and to the kitty cart.
10 Learn Skills (using internet sources if possible)
Hunters need to be knowledgeable about stacking skills and luckily the game provides descriptions however a few such as the “Expert” and “Sharpness” need to be adjusted with an increase in amount of text to address complexity. This practice is eased by the presence of charms and talismans, so use those to stack skills. If you really want to get down to the dirty details, look up “charm sniping” on the internet for ultra precise stacking skill bonuses as well the increases for the valuable skill base charm value increases. These have to be locked up via the exact hour and minute of a day. Some may enjoy the research aspect to understand the more complicated systems and how to take as much advantage of them as possible
9 Do outside research to get better
Because of the complexity of the systems, devoted fans often take their Monster Hunter discussion and FAQ building to the internet and discuss and share their preferred methods to take down the array of monsters. A devoted YouTube following offers videos geared to teach the player every combo of every weapon. Any queries a gamer could possibly have for any Monster Hunter detail only need to look to the responsive GameFaqs Monster Hunter Community, a Facebook group, or a separate internet search.
1v1 to learn basic and advanced monster mechanics to become better and 2, 3, 4 player bouts
8 Weak Points (elementals)
A quick online search or a search through the armor vendor’s stock depending on progress can determine a Monster’s elemental weakness. Using the appropriate corresponding weapon will allow for a faster kill than a pure sharpness based weapon would. A net search or trial and error will determine any monster weak points.
Weak points are areas of the monster’s body that can be attacked to the point of staggering the monster, thus giving any teammates nearby the opportunity to whale on the damn thing and such moments can be among the best rushes the game can give since the violence against a flailing beast increases to a fever pitch with
7 Learning a Monster
The basic solo 1v1 monster hunts are the best ways to learn the mechanics of a powerful monster without the distraction of additional teammates. The monsters exhibit readable patterns and behaviors and can be blocked and counterattacked effectively. A Rathalos’s double twitch toward the hunter means charge giving the hunter plenty of time to block, dodge, or counter attack depending on weapon type.
Arena matches are one of the best ways to face of mano y mano with a monster. The limited space to maneuver will be a useful tool when fighting the same monster in a non-constricting zone with some teammates. A few of these quests throw a few creeps in, so be sure to carve them because you never know when you might need those lower level monster parts for the first few initial basic tie low level upgrades.
6 Impact vs Blunt
Monsters with bulky appendages and large heads are usually weak to blunt damage, so whaling on them with a hammer is a viable strategy. A Rathalos’s head will have KO status for a few key seconds and waiting to be bashed on the head repeatedly for the available time the status ailment kicks in. ¬
Tails can be cut and wings pierced and each broken body part is accompanied by a lengthy stagger animation so use the time to whale on your monster. Other types of damage will not be able to stagger monsters effectively as great swords and hammers. Monsters are generally weak to either impact or blunt damage.
5 Don’t get Greedy!
Those familiar with From software’s Souls games will have the restraint necessary to trigger a tense, extended game of attack and release. Attacking too long with too many sword strokes will set you up for the boss’s vicious counterattack to send you flying. Wait the monster to attack, wait for the gap in movement, and attack during those few precious vulnerable seconds. Luckily many monsters are vulnerable during and after their energy beam animations.
Rage mode kicks up the risk/reward play style. More damage can be inflicted on the monster but that monster can unleash must stronger attacks so it is imperative for the hunter to dodge and weave carefully.
4 Experimentation with Hunter Arts
Those still playing Generations undoubtedly love the extra layer of complexity added to the latest portable iteration: hunter arts. Exploration of these moves open up plenty of street fighter esque animations and steep damage outputs. The appealing Shield Uppercut looks like a Shoryuken Shield and the subsequent downward Shoryuken charging shield spike never gets old.
Hunter Arts also provide buffs such as an health oasis or healing benefits so party members can really benefit from one well-stocked selfless hunter.
3 Kill Ads/Creeps
Don’t ignore the creeps! You will need their common and rare part carves and are essential to the progression of weapons and armor. Killing the assorted smaller creatures and carving them up is a good practice to invoke because all of the parts are needed and so are those crucial rare creep drops as well. Killing passing and attacking creeps on the way to the boss will clear the area and in case the boss flees there you, the hunter, will not be surrounded on all sides when the monster is going at it. The occasional rare carve and acquired resources are always worth the few extra moments tacked on each quest.
2 Online Environmental Maps:
Immediate knowledge of all the locations items can spawn is just not possible.
The internet has the answer in the form of dozens of detailed maps identifying key gathering points including percentage chances of rare items. Secret areas are detailed and so are the exact shape and outline of every zone for easy scrutiny. A few glances at these will refresh any hunter’s memory and be will a useful tool for the occasional scrounging mission.1 Sakura method charm/Gold Farming
Extended play sessions often add up to hundreds of hours and keeping up a sustainable income to make all of the purchases a hunter could ask for during the time sink of play time requires a fair bit of bling. The “method” involves four team members scrounging for bits of coal for the “Coal Hearted” mission. The idea is to collect at least 4 coal from mining points spread all over the volcano map, use a Farcaster to teleport back to base camp, and load the four coal separately, one by one, into the red return crate. For some reason if four players do this, they receive more expensive items that can be sold to a vendor for mad cash than may normally be possible otherwise.
This topic contains 4 replies, has 2 voices, and was last updated by 
Travis Timmons 8 years, 5 months ago.
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Replies
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11. I’d like more info specific to each weapon. I’m sure some weapons can be grouped together, but what would YOU recommend for a beginner, for example? What would you recommend if you want a challenge that’s highly rewarding. etc
10 & 9. Try not to say “do outside reseach” or look around the internet. This guide should be what they are looking for. A guide should never tell you to go somewhere else. It should provide the info itself.
8. Again, don’t say “look up a weakness on the internet” – instead say “once you know the elemental weakness of a creature…”
Also, the last sentence here in unfinished.
5. Small typo “Wait FOR the monster to attack…”
What is Rage mode?
4. “street fighter” should be in caps
3. The sentence beginning “Killing passing and attacking creeps…” is awkward. Can you split it into 2 sentences that each flow a little better on their own? Redo both sentences if necessary (don’t just add a period and capitalize the next word).
2. The first sentence is weird. Also, I’m not sure what this tip is trying to tell me. What is the hunter’s memory? Is this a gameplay mechanic? I’m confused.
Not bad overall. What I was looking for is more tips on soloing. Or tips on coop. Or reasons why I need to coop. Strategies for making gear. Etc. Those are the places that I always get hung up on in Monster Hunter games, and if I’m getting hung up, I’m sure others are, too.
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Monster Hunter Tips
I can’t help but think of imparting a decade of knowledge on to Monster Hunter newcomers feels like a die hard Star Wars fan introducing a friend new to the saga to the massive extended lore and that almost cultish Star Wars universe fervor. Monster Hunter is now a boundlessly complex multiverse with comic, manga, and a major franchise presence with humble origins dating to the PS2 back in 2005.
From that point a massive bang of popularity followed in Japan and now the series spread its deep roots embedded in the West.The series has evolved over many main portable permutations, some console mainstays in Japan, and a few spin offs into a truly special one of a kind franchise. The famous (or infamous) complexity requires a steep learning curve adjustment but these games can offer so much for the dedicated player. Make no mistake. These games were not made for bitches. I hope this guide can serve as a primer for the casual gamer stupefied by the mystery of Monster Hunter and wants to get their hands dirty with pixelated monster blood.
16 Customize second screen/HUD
Monster Hunter is best with an optimized HUD. Gamers should know their map and HUD placement preferences. The presentation selections make certain HUD items visible and others invisible? Does a large health and stamina bar stuck on top of my screen make gameplay too noticeable? Do I need the lock on function? Should I select items with the touch screen or side scrolling menu maneuver? Do I need the map on the top or bottom screen? These items alter the gamer’s perspective and approach to the art of monster hunting.
15 Utilize DLC for quests, items, extra
DLC materials are not necessary to enjoy the game at all but the contents do ease the life of a hunter considerably. Numerous Gold and Silver eggs pile on to potentially sell or hoard while expand Pickaxes increase availability of rare ore and bone crafting materials. The increased cash flow will make the expensive top tier armor and weapon upgrades available without the strain of additional grind.
The extra quests provide a bunch of new challenges including White Fatalis for 4U and numerous hyper monster variants of monster quests from Gen. The quests provide the extra incentive to receive special items the Event Quests upon quest completion. These items allow the player to purchase crossover sets from Zelda, Mario, Mega Man, Metroid and more. Many of the armor sets have decent functionality with skill sets in addition to possessing looking great with an essential faithfulness paid to the source material.
The numerous DLC packs can now be downloaded all at once now that the time window granting one pack per month since the start of the DLC has ceased.
14 Which Weapon to Use?
Luckily now is the best time to dive into the 14 deep weapon type assortment since the addition of the Charge Blade and Insect Glaive in MH4. A starting weapon class depends on the player’s preferences more than anything else. I remember the task of picking up a weapon to be daunting in my first Monster Hunter experiences.
When I sampled a selection of weapon types in the first portable Monster Hunter offering I found Sword and Shield to be the perfect beginner weapon. The available two, three to five hit combos plus the addition of a fully operational blocking shield mechanic adds up to most versatile attacking and defensive weapon sets. Add fluid dodges and an evasive layer is added. The reach is limited and the hunter must be willing to accept the reality of close combat encounters.
The weapons appearing in the newest permutations of portable Monster Hunters include trick weapons and they have an immense appeal. Oddly enough their transforming mechanisms resemble another deep action RPG, Bloodborne.
Switch Axes are giant. fast moving blades transforming with hidden mechanisms into a heavier, slashing axe. Charge Blades transform from a versatile sword and shield form and transform into a game ¬changing blades, uniting shield and sword into one epic and fast combo blade.Those preferring speed and dexterity should consider Switch Axe, Charge Blade, Insect Glaive, and Dual Swords. All offer powerful offensive capable abilities.
Players preferring the slower tanky approach might want to pick up Hammers, Great Swords, and Long Swords. These players will face blocking limitations in favor of better offensive capabilities.
The rest of the weapon types are for players that want heavy defensive and attack options or otherwise want to wrangle the tricky ranged systems.
13 Be prepared with Items (trap, support, buffs and heals)
One of the more obscure systems of Monster Hunter better explained in the recent games than in past entries, are the item combos needed to sustain the player and his or her companion hunters. Lifepoweders are a must with a team of Flash Bombs, Sonic Bombs, Barrel Bombs, and traps are items used to weaken and distract monsters.
Remember, much of the time any other multiplayer teammates playing will not make use of any of the necessary items demonstrate lack of skill and cooperative etiquette and it is usually these players that tend to die first. The “hunters” indeed do become the hunted and extra health boosting items and stamina buffs are needed in the event the player makes a trip, or several, out of the match and strapped to the kitty cart.
12 Gathering Items
Gathering knowledge will become second nature after the completion of a heavy gathering run. Hugging the corners and borders in every zone will result in greater Remember to stack the Gathering + Skill as much as possible to bleed the most items out of the dozens of assorted points on every major environmental map.
11 Useful Skills to Shoot For
Hunters need to be knowledgeable about stacking skills and luckily the game provides descriptions however a few such as the “Expert” and “Sharpness” need to be adjusted with an increase in amount of text to address complexity. The Expert skill adds extra potential weapon affinity damage to every swing and connect with any weapon. Sharpness represents a graph of damage output based on color. White Sharpness weapons will penetrate much monster armor but not against those with a harder carapace. The difficulty of acquiring these skills is eased by the presence of charms and talismans, so use those to stack skills.
If you really want to get down to the dirty details, look up “charm sniping” on the internet for ultra precise charts showcasing stacking skill bonus percentage. These have to be locked up via the exact hour and minute of a day. Some may enjoy the research aspect to understand the more complicated systems and how to take as much advantage of them as possible
10 Gear Recommendations
Sorting through the armors and their various skills can prove to be as daunting a challenge as picking up a weapon. Jaggi Helm, Mail, and Fraulds plus Trappers Gauntlets and Greaves plus the Grass Charm will grant the player +10 additional attack and Herb Reinforcement, which increases the utilization of the crucial recovery herbs. Really any Blademaster can benefit from such a set early on. This set alone can see the hunter through the village quests and is a great candidate to start chasing Rarity 3 armor sets.
Replacing the Trapper items with Bulldrome Vambraces and Greaves will grant the Attack Med (+15) bonus and is an alternative for the hunter more concerned with risky offensive maneuvers.
9 Examine YouTube Videos and Engage the Monster Hunter Community
Because of the complexity of the systems, devoted fans often take their Monster Hunter discussion and FAQ building to the internet and discuss and share their preferred methods to take down the array of monsters. A devoted YouTube following offers videos geared to teach the player every combo of every weapon. Any queries a gamer could possibly have for any Monster Hunter detail only need to look to the responsive GameFaqs Monster Hunter Community, a Facebook group, or a separate internet search.
1v1 to learn basic and advanced monster mechanics to become better and 2, 3, 4 player bouts
Engaging the community has the added benefits of finding a reliable hunting party, which many groups on FaceBook and GameFaqs tailor specifically to the multiplayer experience.
8 Weak Points (elementals)
A quick look at the armor vendor’s stock depending on progress can determine a Monster’s elemental weakness. Using the appropriate corresponding weapon will allow for a faster kill than a pure sharpness based weapon would. A net search or trial and error will determine any monster weak points.
Weak points are areas of the monster’s body that can be attacked to the point of staggering the monster, thus giving any teammates nearby the opportunity to whale on the damn thing and such moments can be among the best rushes the game can give since the violence against a flailing beast increases to a fever pitch with multiple hunters pulverizing the same weak point.
7 Learning a Monster
The basic solo 1v1 monster hunts are the best ways to learn the mechanics of a powerful monster without the distraction of additional teammates. The monsters exhibit readable patterns and behaviors and can be blocked and counterattacked effectively. A Rathalos’s double twitch toward the hunter means charge giving the hunter plenty of time to block, dodge, or counter attack depending on weapon type. Arena fights will prepare for the vast amount of larger scale hunting and capturing present during solo and multiplayer missions.
Arena matches are one of the best ways to face of mano y mano with a monster. The limited space to maneuver will be a useful tool when fighting the same monster in a non-constricting zone with some teammates. A few of these quests throw a few creeps in, so be sure to carve them because you never know when you might need those lower level monster parts for the first few initial basic tie low level upgrades.
6 Impact vs Blunt
Monsters with bulky appendages and large heads are usually weak to blunt damage, so whaling on them with a hammer is a viable strategy. A Rathalos’s head will have KO status for a few key seconds and waiting to be bashed on the head repeatedly for the available time the status ailment kicks in. ¬
Tails can be cut and wings pierced and each broken body part is accompanied by a lengthy stagger animation so use the time to whale on your monster. Other types of damage will not be able to stagger monsters effectively as great swords and hammers. Monsters are generally weak to either impact or blunt damage.
5 Don’t get Greedy!
Those familiar with From software’s Souls games will have the restraint necessary to trigger a tense, extended game of attack and release. Attacking too long with too many sword strokes will set you up for the boss’s vicious counterattack to send you flying. Wait for the monster to attack, wait for the gap in movement, and attack during those few precious vulnerable seconds. Luckily many monsters are vulnerable during and after their energy beam animations.
Rage mode is time to go on the defensive to either evade or attempt to destroy the monster high risk high reward style. Rage mode kicks up the risk/reward play style. The enemy physically is angered through a montage of violent animations with some involving smoke and flame. More damage can be inflicted on the monster but that monster can unleash must stronger attacks for extended periods of time. Nevertheless it is imperative for the hunter to dodge and weave carefully when dealing with rage mode, especially when the Super Saiyan gorilla, Rajang and the T-Rex Deviljho are concerned.
4 Experimentation with Hunter Arts
Those still playing Generations undoubtedly love the extra layer of complexity added to the latest portable iteration: hunter arts. Exploration of these moves open up plenty of Street Fighter esque animations and steep damage outputs. The appealing Shield Uppercut looks like a Shoryuken Shield and the subsequent downward Shoryuken charging shield spike never gets old.
Hunter Arts also provide buffs such as an health oasis or healing benefits so party members can really benefit from one well-stocked selfless hunter.
3 Kill Ads/Creeps
Don’t ignore the creeps! You will need their common and rare part carves and are essential to the progression of weapons and armor. Killing the assorted smaller creatures and carving them up is a good practice to invoke because all of the parts are needed and so are those crucial rare creep drops as well. Killing passing and attacking creeps on the way to the boss will clear the area. When the boss attempts to flee you, the hunter, will not be surrounded on all sides when following blades drawn. The occasional rare carve and acquired resources are always worth the few extra moments of easy killing and carving tacked on each quest.
2 Online Environmental Maps:
Dozens of gathering points span the zones of any given map. Knowing immediate knowledge of all the locations and subsequent rarities items can spawn is just not possible. Walking up to a feature in an environment such as a flower, a vein of ore, or a spider web and pressing the gathering button will initiate the scrounging animating resulting in the acquisition of one or more items depending on inherent armor skills.
The internet has the answer in the form of dozens of detailed maps identifying key gathering points including percentage chances of rare items. Secret areas are detailed and so are the exact shape and outline of every zone for easy scrutiny. A few glances at these will refresh any hunter’s memory and be will a useful tool for the occasional scrounging mission.
1 Sakura method charm/Gold Farming
Extended play sessions often add up to hundreds of hours and keeping up a sustainable income to make all of the purchases a hunter could ask for during the time sink of play time requires a fair bit of bling. The “method” involves four team members scrounging for bits of coal for the “Coal Hearted” mission. The idea is to collect at least 4 coal from mining points spread all over the volcano map, use a Farcaster to teleport back to base camp, and load the four coal separately, one by one, into the red return crate. For some reason if four players do this, they receive more expensive items that can be sold to a vendor for mad cash than may normally be possible otherwise.
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Hey Trav I tried to address your concerns with roughly 600 extra words so let me know if I succeeded. I tried to include what you thought was missing plus extra clarification like you suggested. Please let me know if we need anything else before I put pics on this thing and get it out there.
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13. You use the word “numerous” 3 times. It just sticks out. I’d at least try to get rid of the middle one so it’s more spread out. I should have caught that the first time.
Great changes. My favorite tip is “don’t get greedy” because as gamers, I think that’s what we tend to do. Monster Hunter is often about patience, which is a concept that can be overlooked in video games.
Let’s add some pictures and post. Don’t forget to post the article to big pages, like the Monster Hunter facebook page, etc. That’ll get you the hits.
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