Building a robust character in Monster Hunter Outlanders requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond simply leveling up. Various progression systems enhance your damage, defense, elemental capabilities, and overall hunting efficiency. From upgrading gear to training Buddies, each component is crucial for character development.
Players are fortunate to have abundant opportunities for gathering materials. Continuous hunting allows you to craft new weapons and armor without worrying about limits on hunts. If you’re still coming to grips with the game, here are 9 ways to boost your characters and elevate your hunting performance.
To strengthen your character effectively, start by focusing on leveling up and increasing your Ecology Rank. This can be done through the character upgrade menu, where you can allocate materials to enhance your character’s stats. Note that your maximum character level is tied to your Ecology Rank, meaning that simply gathering upgrade materials won’t suffice for full potential.
For instance, to reach character level 60, an Ecology Rank of 5 is necessary. Improving your Ecology Rank involves fulfilling certain Adventure Rank criteria and completing specified challenges. You can monitor your current Ecology Rank through the menu or in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
1. Increase Your Character Level and Ecology Rank
Engraving enhances character abilities in Monster Hunter Outlanders. This feature provides additional bonuses that improve performance in hunts, but activating these perks requires Zenny, so strategic prioritization is key.
As a beginner, concentrate on enhancing your main character first instead of distributing Zenny across all characters. If you have Midori, consider upgrading her due to her useful Engraving effects.
For optimal use of the Engraving system, consider these tips:
- Focus on enhancing your main damage-dealing character.
- Upgrade Midori if she plays a significant role in your team.
- Evaluate the available effects before spending your Zenny.
- Conserve Zenny for other essential upgrades if needed.
Engraving can deplete Zenny quickly, particularly when multiple effects are activated. It’s wiser to wait until you have ample resources before making heavy investments into this system.
Among the primary tasks is crafting and upgrading weapons and armor. Equipment choices are critical in Monster Hunter Outlanders as different items yield various stats and abilities. Focus on combining armor pieces to activate special set effects, rather than just selecting the highest rarity or standard defense value.
When selecting weapons, always check for elemental weaknesses of the monster you intend to hunt. For instance, using a Thunder weapon against a target weak to Thunder can maximize damage dealt. The Forge Weapon menu lets you craft several weapon types such as Hammers and Long Swords.
Armor sets yield bonuses based on their source monsters. For example, combining three pieces of Anjanath armor boosts Fire damage, while two pieces of Rathian provide distinct advantages, one being the Flawless effect that increases damage by 3% when health is full.
Key equipment reminders:
- Elemental Weapons: Equip Fire, Water, or Thunder weapons depending on the monster’s vulnerability.
- Armor Set Effects: Activate bonuses by strategically combining armor pieces.
- Upgrade Equipment: Enhance item rarity with gathered materials.
- Dismantling: Break down unnecessary equipment for upgrade materials.
It’s notable that you can still upgrade early-game gear to higher rarities, meaning you don’t always need to replace your entire armor set upon reaching a higher level. Gather materials and upgrade your existing equipment whenever feasible.
Create elemental loadouts to efficiently handle various monsters. As you gather a roster of weapons and armor pieces, managing them manually can be cumbersome. The Loadout feature in Monster Hunter Outlanders enables easy saving of different equipment combinations.
This allows you to establish separate loadouts for elemental builds. For example, setting up Water, Thunder, and Fire loadouts is advantageous against numerous early-game enemies. Simply select a suitable loadout whenever preparing for a specific monster hunt.
2. Use Engraving to Unlock Additional Character Effects
Training and upgrading your Buddies is integral for character development. These companions enhance your capabilities during hunts, delivering essential abilities like healing and elemental bonuses. It’s prudent to select Buddies based on their roles rather than their rarity.
For instance, if your character focuses on elemental damage, Ikarus may prove useful because of its damage bonus. Evaluate their skills before selecting your Buddy.
Enhance your Buddies through Training using Buddy Token materials to improve their efficacy. Upgrading strengthens their abilities and elevates their support effects in battle.
Consider these tips for managing your Buddies:
- Choose a Buddy aligned with your character’s playstyle.
- Analyze their abilities prior to selection.
- Prioritize Buddies providing critical healing or damage boosts.
- Upgrade their levels with Buddy Tokens.
- Explore the recruitment system to gather more Buddies.
Higher-rarity Buddies can be obtained from the Exchange Shop, encompassing both SR and SSR options, with SSR requiring more resources. Stay mindful of available vouchers and exchange currencies for recruitment.
Collecting Visage cards offers additional bonuses for your characters. These cards become accessible as you progress in the main storyline and meet Adventure Rank requirements. Much like armor, they provide unique stats and set effects that contribute to overall effectiveness.
For example, equipping pieces from the Pukei-Pukei Visage set yields bonuses based on how many are equipped. The two-piece effect enhances Ultimate Charge Rate by 5%, which is beneficial for Disruptor characters requiring more time to recharge abilities.
Similarly, collecting all four pieces grants a squad buff of an additional 6.5% for 60 seconds upon receiving a buff. This is advantageous for builds focused on team support.
When selecting Visage cards, keep these points in mind:
- DPS Characters: Seek cards that increase overall or elemental damage.
- Support Characters: Look for enhancements to healing or group buffs.
- Disruptors: Prioritize Ultimate Charge Rate bonuses for frequent ability triggers.
- Elemental Builds: Align your cards’ effects with your weapon’s elemental type.
Visage cards can be obtained via the Daily Hunts feature in the Field Hunts section, which also supplies materials necessary for character growth.
The rarity of Visage cards is influenced by your character’s progression level. For instance, Blue cards have a 100% drop rate until level 9. At level 10, Purple cards start with a 30% drop rate, increasing by 10% for each subsequent level until 100% at level 17.
Starting at level 18, you can earn Yellow cards with a 30% drop rate. Thus, continually advancing through higher-level challenges allows access to superior Visage cards.
3. Craft and Upgrade Weapons and Armor
However, not every stat will suit your current build. Certain bonuses might not align well with your chosen weapon or setup, so it’s crucial to assess the effects you gain.
When upgrading Visage cards, consider these pointers:
- Focus on enhancing cards relevant to your character’s role.
- Pursue elemental bonuses that match your weapon type.
- Utilize Resketch for potentially useful stats.
- Avoid over-investing resources in cards you don’t intend to utilize.
- Ensure that the card’s additional bonuses correspond with your present equipment setup.
For example, if utilizing a Water weapon, seek Visage bonuses that amplify Water damage instead of focusing on other elements.
The Insight system further provides bonuses for character growth. Access it via the book symbol in the character menu. Insight functions similarly to character duplicates, as collecting extra versions adds Insight points.
You can use these points to activate effects tailored to your weapon type. For instance, Bow users can unlock bonuses that boost Ultimate Charge Rate or enhance damage.
Each bonus demands a specific number of points, with stronger upgrades costing upwards of 30 points. If you’re short on points, prioritize activating effects that are readily available.
Insight is applicable across various characters, so adjust bonuses suited to the weapon type and role you’re playing. Characters with the SR rank can develop quicker in this system as their duplicates might be easier to obtain.
Additionally, there’s the Proof of Mastery system accessible through the Explorer section in the main menu. This feature enhances characters further and contributes to your Adventure Squad bonuses.
For instance, a seasonal Explorer reward may provide:
- 65 Physical Attack
- 32 Elemental Attack
Advancing in Proof of Mastery requires meeting set conditions, with some upgrades demanding significant Adventure Power — for example, 5,220 Adventure Power.
- Elemental Weapons: Equip yourself with a variety of elemental weapons such as Fire, Water, and Thunder. These will help you tackle different kinds of monsters effectively.
- Armor Set Effects: Don’t forget to mix and match your armor pieces! By combining two or three pieces from the same set, you can unlock neat bonuses that enhance your abilities.
- Equipment Upgrades: As you gather the necessary materials, be sure to level up your gear. You can boost the rarity of your equipment, which can significantly improve your performance.
- Dismantling: If you’ve got some gear that’s not doing it for you anymore, break it down! Dismantling unwanted equipment lets you collect materials that can be super helpful for upgrading your other gear.
One great feature of the game is that you can upgrade your early-game gear to achieve higher rarities. So, you won’t always need to swap out your entire armor set just because you level up. Instead, focus on gathering the necessary materials and enhancing the equipment you already have whenever the opportunity presents itself.
4. Create Elemental Loadouts for Different Monsters
As you gather various weapons and armor pieces, managing all that gear by hand can get a bit tedious. Thankfully, Monster Hunter Outlanders comes with a handy Loadout feature that lets you save different combinations of equipment, making your adventures that much smoother.
With the Loadout feature, you can create tailored setups for various elemental builds. For instance, starting with separate loadouts for Water, Thunder, and Fire can be super beneficial since these elements are effective against a lot of the early-game monsters. Whenever you’re gearing up to hunt a beast with a specific weakness, just switch to that loadout before you dive into the action!
What’s even cooler is that the Loadout feature can automatically change your gear and Visage cards, which takes the hassle out of preparing for different monsters. Plus, you’re not limited to just your main character; you can set up distinct loadouts for your support characters too, making your whole team more versatile!
Keep in mind that a character’s elemental affinity isn’t always tied to their name. For example, just because someone is named Pyro doesn’t mean they have to stick to Fire equipment. You have the flexibility to switch up the element and gear loadouts to suit the weaknesses of the monster you’re about to face.
To really up your game, it’s a great idea to ensure that the element of your weapon aligns with the bonuses from your armor. For instance, wielding a Fire weapon while wearing armor that boosts Fire damage is a straightforward approach to significantly ramp up your damage output. Embracing this synergy will make those hunts feel more rewarding as you melt through foes.
5. Train and Upgrade Your Buddies
Your Buddies are a crucial aspect of leveling up your character. These delightful companions come packed with extra skills that can lend a hand during your hunts, offering perks like healing or elemental damage boosts. Remember to choose a Buddy based on its specific role and skills that suit your playstyle, rather than just picking one with a flashy rarity. You’ll find that the right Buddy can be an asset when facing tough challenges!
For instance, if you’re all about unleashing elemental damage, consider bringing along Ikarus, as it offers a valuable elemental damage bonus. But don’t stop there! Other Buddies might have their own unique effects that could fit your needs perfectly, so take a moment to review their abilities before you make your final decision on which one to bring with you into battle.
You have the ability to enhance your Buddies in the Training section by spending those essential Buddy Token materials. By upgrading them, you’ll not only boost their skills but also enhance their support capabilities, making them even more effective during intense battles. Investing in your Buddies will pay off during those crucial moments!
Here are some handy tips for managing your Buddies better:
- Align the Buddy’s role with the unique needs of your character.
- Always check out their abilities before making your choice.
- Focus on Buddies that deliver beneficial healing or damage enhancements.
- Use Buddy Token materials to elevate their levels.
- Recruit additional Buddies through the game’s recruitment system to expand your options.
If you’re looking to snag some higher-rarity Buddies, the Exchange Shop is the place to be! In this treasure trove, you’ll find both SR and SSR options just waiting for you. Keep in mind that while the SR Buddies are a bit easier to acquire, the SSR Buddies are the premium choice, requiring a little extra effort in terms of exchange resources. The good news? You can gather these resources through recruitment, so make sure to keep a close watch on your vouchers and exchange currency. Happy hunting!
6. Collect and Upgrade Visage Cards
And let’s not forget about Visage cards, an exciting equipment system that adds another layer of bonuses for your characters! As you dive deeper into the main story and climb up the Adventure Ranks, you’ll unlock these cards. Just like armor, each card has its own unique stats and set effects that can really enhance your overall build, making them an essential part of your strategy as you explore.
Take the Pukei-Pukei Visage set, for instance. It has some nifty bonuses that change based on how many pieces you have equipped. If you snag two pieces of this set, you’ll enjoy a nice 5% boost to your Ultimate Charge Rate. This can come in super handy for those Disruptor characters who need a little extra time to power up their abilities. It’s a thoughtful way to shape your gameplay!
But wait, there’s more! Equip four pieces of the Pukei-Pukei Visage set and you’re in for an extra treat—a 6.5% squad buff that lasts for 60 seconds whenever your Adventurer receives any buff. This totally transforms your gameplay, making it perfect for strategies that focus on boosting the entire team’s performance. Having these perks is a game-changer for teamwork!
When you’re on the hunt for those perfect Visage cards, keep these handy tips in mind:
- DPS Characters: Go for cards that ramp up damage or elemental damage.
- Support Characters: Seek out cards that help improve healing and squad buffs.
- Disruptors: Look for those Ultimate Charge Rate bonuses so you can fire off abilities more often.
- Elemental Builds: Pair your cards with the element of your weapon for maximum synergy.
If you’re on the hunt for those coveted Visage cards, look no further than the Daily Hunts feature nestled in the Field Hunts section. Not only do these quests reward you with Visage cards but they also drop a plethora of other materials that are essential for leveling up and enhancing your character’s abilities. So gear up, get out there, and take advantage of these opportunities!
When it comes to card rarity, it’s good to remember that it’s closely linked to your current progression level. According to the drop rates outlined in the guide, you’re pretty much guaranteed Blue cards, with a shiny 100% drop rate, all the way up to level 9. Once you hit level 10, Purple cards start to appear with an initial 30% chance, and from then on, that chance boosts by 10% with each level gained, culminating in a solid 100% chance when you hit level 17. So keep pushing; those rarer cards are coming your way!
Continue to upgrade your weapons, armor, Visage cards, and other systems if your characters haven’t reached the requisite Adventure Power.
Using food preparations is another effective strategy for performance enhancement pre-hunt. Monster Hunter Outlanders features a cooking system where various dishes can be prepared, offering different buffs like increased damage or reduced incoming damage.
7. Upgrade and Resketch Your Visage Cards
Besides food buffs, recognizing monster weaknesses plays a pivotal role in successful hunts. Always check monster profiles for weapon and elemental effectiveness prior to engaging.
For example, the Radiant Barroth is weak to Fire, so utilizing a Fire weapon dramatically increases your damage potential. Monster information also provides specific recommendations on which weapon types to use for breaking distinct parts of the creature.
Equipment choices for targeting specific body parts include:
- Bow and Heavy Bowgun: Effective for wings.
- Hammer: Great for head and body breaks.
- Long Sword: Targets forelegs, hind legs, and tails.
- Great Sword: Useful for breaking various major parts.
- Dual Blades: Target legs and tails efficiently.
- Lance: Also effective against legs and different parts.
- Charge Blade: Another viable option for specific body part breaks.
Keep an eye out for Radiant monster mechanics during battles. If a Radiant effect triggers on a specific body part, focus your assaults on that area utilizing the monster’s elemental vulnerability.
For instance, if you notice the Radiant effect on a monster’s head, concentrate your hits there. If it shifts to another part, reorient your targeting accordingly.
In Monster Hunter Outlanders, numerous methods exist to enhance your character effectively. Focusing on solely one upgrade approach will likely falter against tougher monsters. Boost your character level, invest in Engraving, enhance gear, and utilize Visage cards, Buddies, and Insight for comprehensive growth.
Always align your equipment with the specific monsters you face for optimal performance. Different elemental weapon and armor loadouts can streamline battles, especially when facing varied enemy weaknesses. Keep on hunting, gather materials, and elevate your equipment for a stronger team.
Monster Hunter Outlanders
When considering upgrading your Visage cards, there are several important factors to keep in mind that can make all the difference in your gameplay experience.
- Focus on upgrading cards that align with your character’s specific role.
- Search for elemental damage bonuses that complement the weapon you’re currently wielding.
- Utilize Resketch to snag additional stats and enhance your cards further.
- Try not to pour too many resources into cards that you have no intention of using down the line.
- Always double-check if the card’s added effects synergize well with the equipment you’re rocking.
As a quick example, if you happen to be wielding a Water weapon, make it a priority to enhance Visage effects that bolster Water damage rather than focusing on bonuses for an entirely different element. This focused approach will surely amp up your effectiveness in battles!
8. Use Insight and Proof of Mastery
Don’t forget about the Insight system, another layer of progression that offers sweet character bonuses! You can dive into this system by clicking on the book icon located in the lower-right corner of your character menu. It works much like character duplicates, meaning that collecting extra copies can earn you valuable Insight points to further enhance your progress. So keep your eyes peeled for those opportunities!
With these precious points, you can unlock a variety of fantastic effects tailored to your weapon type. If you’re wielding a Bow, for instance, you have the option to select bonuses that not only ramp up your Ultimate Charge Rate but also give your damage output a solid boost. It’s a great way to fine-tune your playstyle and pack some extra punch in battles!
Each effect you want to activate comes with a specific points requirement, and you might find that the more powerful bonuses can demand quite a hefty investment of up to 30 points. If you’re low on points, don’t fret! Just focus on activating the effects that you currently have available. Every bit helps to get you closer to making your character stronger.
Don’t forget that the Insight system syncs with various characters, so it’s wise to tweak the bonuses according to the weapon and role you’re diving into. If you’re working with SR characters, you’re in luck! They tend to be easier to evolve within this system, thanks to how readily you can obtain their duplicates. This means you’ll be progressing faster without the usual hassles, making your adventure more enjoyable!
Another awesome feature in your journey is called Proof of Mastery, nestled conveniently in the Explorer section found in the main menu. This system isn’t just a flashy title; it offers solid extra bonuses to both your characters and your Adventure Squad. So, when you get a chance, make sure to dive into this feature!
As a great example, one of the rewards from an Explorer Season hands out some pretty nice perks:
- 65 Physical Attack
- 32 Elemental Attack
To enhance your Proof of Mastery rank, you’ll need to fulfill specific requirements. One of those requirements includes accumulating a certain amount of Adventure Power; for instance, you’ll want to gather about 5,220 Adventure Power to level up effectively.
If your characters haven’t hit that power threshold just yet, don’t worry! Focus on leveling up their weapons, improving their armor, enhancing Visage cards, and exploring other ways to evolve your gameplay before you give it another shot.
9. Use Food Buffs and Target Monster Weaknesses
Don’t forget about the power of food when gearing up for your next hunt! Monster Hunter Outlanders features a delightful cooking system that lets you whip up various dishes that provide different benefits. These tasty buffs can enhance your damage output, boost your ability to break monster parts, lessen the damage you take, or even grant other handy advantages.
Some of these scrumptious dishes can grant you a 5% increase in damage, while rarer recipes can pack an even greater punch! There are also some delicious buffs out there that can decrease the damage you receive by 9% or ramp up your damage by an impressive 15%!
Keep in mind, though, that you’ll first need to unlock these recipes before they become available for your culinary adventures. Most are acquired through quests, so stay on the lookout for missions and make sure to tackle the objectives needed to add them to your repertoire!
Some recipes call for exclusive ingredients. For instance, if you’re after a particular damage-boosting dish, you’ll need to collect 75 Heaven Berries. To locate these ingredients, be sure to check the Local Specialty section, where you can find out where to gather these items.
As you dive into your hunts, it’s crucial to not only rely on food buffs but also to get a solid grip on those pesky monster weaknesses. Before you embark on your next hunt, take a moment to check the monster info. You’ll want to know which elemental weapon and type is recommended to really maximize your damage output.
For instance, take the Radiant Barroth – this creature has a notable weakness to Fire. So, equipping a Fire weapon can significantly ramp up the damage you dish out. Plus, the game is super helpful by offering weapon suggestions tailored to breaking specific parts of the monster. This way, you’re not just swinging blindly; you have a strategy!
Here’s a handy rundown of weapon choices that can come in clutch based on the part you’re aiming to break:
- Bow and Heavy Bowgun: Perfect for targeting those tricky monster wings.
- Hammer: Your go-to for smashing the head and body.
- Long Sword: Excellent for delivering strikes to the forelegs, hind legs, and the tail.
- Great Sword: A powerful option that can break several major monster parts.
- Dual Blades: Ideal for racking up hits on the legs and tail.
- Lance: Good for targeting the monster’s legs and other vulnerable areas.
- Charge Blade: Another versatile option for breaking those specific monster parts.
It’s also super important to keep an eye on the Radiant mechanics of the monsters you’re up against. Whenever you see a Radiant effect show up on a part of their body, you’ll want to lock onto that region and unleash your attacks using the monster’s elemental weakness. This can shift the tide of the battle!
To illustrate, if you spot the Radiant effect lighting up the monster’s head, that’s your cue to concentrate your assaults right there. Likewise, if it pops up on their hands, make sure to adjust your focus and go for that target instead. Adapting to these signals can really give you an edge in the hunt!
When it comes to leveling up your characters in Monster Hunter Outlanders, there are a plethora of options at your disposal. Just sticking to a single upgrade path isn’t going to cut it when you’re up against those mighty monsters. You’ll want to boost your character level, throw some resources into Engraving, and don’t forget about crafting that dazzling gear! The possibilities don’t end there; Visage cards, Buddies, and Insight are also fantastic tools that can really give you the edge you need in tougher battles.
One of the key strategies for a successful hunt is to always customize your equipment to match the monster you’re tracking down. This means gearing up with a variety of elemental weapons and armor sets, which can significantly simplify your encounters, particularly against foes with specific weaknesses. So, keep those hunts coming! Venture out, gather materials, and continuously upgrade your gear to forge a team that’s nothing short of formidable.