Become a top hunter with our MONSTER HUNTER RISE newcomer tips!

It’s time to rise to the challenge in MONSTER HUNTER RISE, out now on Nintendo Switch! There’s much to learn if you want to become a top hunter capable of protecting Kamura Village, so here are some handy tips to help you through some of the game’s earlier quests. Sound the Hunting Horn!

1: Try out all the weapons!

Can’t wait to try out all 14 weapons types? You’ll start your adventure with the Long Sword equipped, but more weapons can be accessed right away via the Item Boxes dotted around Kamura Village. For a quick introduction to each weapon type, check out the video playlist below:

2: Practise your attacks at the Training Grounds

Once you’ve found a weapon you like the look of, you can practise your attacks and weapon combos at the Training Grounds. To get there, first visit the Buddy Plaza (pictured left) east of Kamura Village, then take a ride on the smallest boat by the dock to reach your destination.

After your first visit, you’ll be able to fast travel to the Training Grounds from anywhere in Kamura by pressing the + Button and selecting “Move Around Village” from the System menu.

3: Chow down on some Bunny Dango

Before departing on any challenging quests, visit the Tea Shop in Kamura Village and order yourself some Bunny Dango. This delicious treat will not only give you a health and stamina boost, but it may also activate some additional buffs depending on your choice of dango. Here’s a Dango combo we recommend for taking on big monsters:

• Dango Defender (Lo) – Sometimes decreases damage taken
• Dango Medic (Lo) – Sometimes increases health recovery from items
• Dango Feet – Prevents you from getting knocked over by monsters

4: Take a moment to appreciate nature

While you’re out on a quest, take some time to explore the nearby flora and fauna. There are all sorts of useful materials and items to be found all over the Shrine Ruins, and you’ll want to look out for glowing creatures with distinctive colours called Spiribirds. These helpful little fellas will boost your attack, stamina or defence for the duration of the quest.

5: Palamute yourself to safety

If you need to hightail it away from a monster, hold down the A Button to hop aboard your Palamute and ride away to a safe distance. While riding on a Palamute, you can drink health potions and sharpen your weapon – very handy if you want to keep your hunter in tip-top shape while avoiding the monster’s attacks.

6: Change up your strategy at the tent

Picked a weapon or armour set that’s not up to task? Maybe you forgot to eat some Bunny Dango before you set off. It happens, but there’s no need to cancel your quest and start over. At the camp where you started your quest, visit the tent (pictured above) to access your Item Box, change your weapon and items, or order yourself some delicious Dango!

You can fast travel back to your tent during a quest, by opening the Map on the Quests menu and selecting “Main Camp”.

7: You can get items with amiibo!

If you have a compatible amiibo (sold separately), you can scan them by visiting Kagero the Merchant in Kamura Village. Up to three amiibo can be scanned per day, each one giving you a lottery ticket that can exchanged for random but helpful in-game items.

8: Get into the swing of the Wirebug

Using Wirebugs to ascend up mountains to leapfrog over monsters takes some getting used to, so it’s recommended to focus on one move at a time if you’re feeling overwhelmed by this versatile critter. A good one to start with is the Wirefall, an evasive manoeuvre that allows you to regain your footing by pressing the ZL and B Buttons together whenever you’re pushed or knocked over by a monster.

For more useful Wirebug tips, check out this video:

9: Forge yourself some new armour and weapons

After you’ve got a few quests under your belt, you’ll want to visit Hamon the Blacksmith in Kamura Village to craft new weapons and armour from your spoils. The better your gear, the better your chances of survival against bigger, badder beasties.

Once you’ve managed to take down a Great Izuchi on your first Urgent Quest, try crafting a stylish set of Izuchi armour that’ll give you some added protection in the quests to follow. You can also forge some armour for your buddies so they can better assist you on hunts. Watch the video below for a closer look at this snazzy armour set.

10: Get chatty with the locals

As Kamura Village’s newest hunter, there are plenty of folk who require your assistance, but some will also lend a hand as well. As you wander around Kamura Village between quests, make sure you chat to residents with speech bubbles over their heads to open up new side quests or receive useful items.

11: Play locally or online with friends!

When you’re ready to hunt with other players locally* or online**, talk to the Courier in the centre of Kamura Village (pictured above) to set up a lobby or join someone else’s. Once you’re ready to start hunting, talk to the hub maiden Minoto in the Gathering Hub to see what quests are waiting for you, or check the quest board to accept a quest selected by a fellow hunter.

Want to learn more about the life of a hunter? Visit our MONSTER HUNTER RISE gamepage where you can download a free demo and try the game for yourself!

*Local multiplayer requires one console and one copy of the software per player.

**Internet connection required during online play. To use online services, you must create a Nintendo Account and accept the related agreement. The Nintendo Account Privacy Policy applies. Some online services may not be available in all countries. Online play requires paid online membership. Find out more about the paid membership subscription.