Monster Hunteris an old and storied franchise with many titles that stretch the boundaries of each console they have ended up on.Monster Hunter Riseis the newest installment in this long-running and highly successful line of cooperative multiplayer games. But, with so many games, how does the progression inMonster Hunter Risediffer from the other titles?

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monster hunter rise maidens

Monster Hunter Risefeatures many of the same ideas as previous titles. It brings the ideas of crafting from monster parts, upgrading with armor spheres, and more back into the spotlight. But how doesMonster Hunter Riseuse these features to empower the player, and how can the player use these features to make themselves the best monster hunter they can be?

Updated February 24th, 2022 by Russ Boswell: Monster Hunter Rise continues to draw in players thanks to its release on PC and the steady amount of crossover events that developers keep infusing into the base game. With a new expansion, Sunbreak, on its way, some Hunters are jumping back into the fray to increase their power as much as possible. To showcase even more tips and tricks concerning making an overpowered character, the following list has been updated to include even more entries. These general rules can help new and returning players unlock their true potential as a hunter in Monster Hunter Rise.

monster hunter rise blacksmith

13Complete Side Quests

Side quests or optional quests areMonster Hunter Rise’s version of the bounty fromMonster Hunter: World. They take things that the player will be doing anyway and turn them into rewards. These prizes include armor spheres, among other things, and will greatly assist the player in making their character as powerful as possible.

After all, what’s the use in a shiny new set of armor if the player can’t upgrade it to be the best it can be? If players complete these side quests, they’ll be rolling in armor spheres before getting to the really difficult fights.

Monster Hunter Rise Swamp Battle

12Research Everything, And Do It Often

From combos to the best armor set to the best elemental weapons, it is always best for players to do the most research in the squad going into a hunt. Elements, in particular, are very different from previous iterations ofMonster Hunter. It’s ideal for players to know the details of the monster before going into a fight.

A few great things to research include the ideal elemental damage type for every monster, the best armor sets for each weapon type, and the ideal areas to aim for on every monster.

monster hunter rise inventory full of items

11Always Check Hunter Notes

One of the most important things for any Hunter making their way through Monster Hunter Rise is the Hunter Notes. The game can be pretty unforgiving to those that are just starting out as each new monster provides its own unique attack patterns, abilities, and weaknesses. Thankfully, Monster Hunter Rise tries to ease players into the action by giving them easier fights at the start before ramping up the difficulty with harder variants of the monsters they’ve faced.

The Hunter Notes will often update with a wide array of information including monster weaknesses, weak points, and other pertinent information that can help players switch and swap their gear to inflict the most damage against whatever they’re facing. It’s always vitally important to be checking the Hunter Notes as players progress further and further.

monster hunter rise bunny dango close up

10Gather Every Possible Resource

The best way for any player in anyMonster Huntergame to ensure that they are rolling in resources for upgrades, potions, and buffs, is to gather everything that enters their field of vision. For example,ores such as Iciumshould always be picked up. Having stockpiles of resources is excellent for anyone, especially for new players who don’t have the experience to know what is valuable and what isn’t.

RELATED:The 10 Biggest Differences Between Monster Hunter Rise & World

That being said, certain resources aren’t as useful for melee weapon-users, such as ingredients for ammo. However, if players ever want to make the switch to ranged, their DPS will thank them for the extra ammo.

9Food Is A Hunter’s Best Resource

Food is one of the most important aspects of Monster Hunter Rise. At the start, food doesn’t seem to be a very “useful” mechanic as players will go up against fairly simple marks. Food in the earlier levels can offer hunters some nominal effects but the further they progress into the game the more options they’ll unlock. In fact, some options are hidden via sidequests, and some of the unlockable effects can make a particular hunt much easier.

Hunters that want to be truly overpowered will learn to mix and match different Dango pieces in order to obtain boosts that super-power the builds they’re using or help them resist certain attacks.

Monster Hunter Rise Somnacanth, Bone, Nargacuga Sets

8Mix And Match Armor Sets For Maximum Defense

Armor sets inMonster Hunter Risemay seem simple, but just because the armor is in sets doesn’t mean that the player needs to wear them all at once. Often, the best idea for any particular armor set is to mix and match between different types to maximize stats. Doing so is the best way for new players to quickly reach high rank.

Armor inMonster Hunter Riseis important, but the set bonuses often aren’t much. This allows skilled players to maximize defense and DPS easily.

Monster Hunter Rise Weapons

7Pick Armor Sets Based On Weapons

The best armor sets often vary wildly based on the weapon the player is using. One of the great joys of theMonster Hunterseries is the theory that goes into any individual build. Armor is incredibly helpful for any new hunter, and it grows more and more useful as players get more experienced with the game.

Players should maximize damage and defense, but they should also not forget the bonuses that come from maximizing certain skills. These skills range from healing over time to extra damage, and they’re all helpful.

hunter with magnamalo bow

6Upgrade Weaponry Often

Players familiar with previousMonster Huntertitles will know there are two important factors that go into any particular weapon: its raw and its elemental damage. Players should constantly be seeking the next upgrade to their weapon, even if that means repeating monster fights often.

This also helps new players get skilled at individual fights. The goals provided by new weaponry will boost any new player’s motivation to get through this huge game and its piles of content.

menu to upgrade armor in monster hunter rise

5Don’t Waste Armor Spheres

Armor spheres may not seem like a hugely important resource. If players beginamassing them at the beginning of the game, they may have enough to last them for their entireMonster Hunter Risejourney. However, if used improperly, a shortage of armor spheres can become a huge problem.

RELATED:Monster Hunter Rise: How to Unlock All Switch Skills

Experienced hunters can imagine grinding a particular monster for hours to get new armor – and when they finish, realizing they don’t have the resources to upgrade it. It’s safe to say, the best strategy is to use them sparingly.

4Learn Combos To Master A Weapon Of Choice

Combos are a vital part of anyMonster Huntergame, andRiseis no different. Especially with the addition of new airborne combos for nearly every weapon, it has become so much more important to take advantage of the wealth of available knowledge that the community has put out.

Most weapons don’t have complicated situational combos. Rather, they have a few general combos and a few situational ones. Learn the fundamentals and apply them to become truly powerful with nearly any weapon inMonster Hunter Rise.

Monster Hunter Rise Gunlance Combos