Creating a robust character in Monster Hunter Outlanders involves a comprehensive approach beyond mere level increases. Players can enhance damage, defense, elemental strengths, and overall effectiveness through multiple progression systems. From refining gear to training Buddies, each aspect is crucial for character enhancement.
Fortunately, Monster Hunter Outlanders offers plenty of chances to gather materials. Players can hunt monsters to craft weapons and armor without worrying about running out of opportunities. For those getting accustomed to the game, here are nine key methods to elevate your character’s strength and hunting capabilities.
1. Increase Your Character Level and Ecology Rank
- Advance your Adventure Rank through gameplay.
- Complete challenges to unlock higher Ecology Ranks.
- Check your Ecology Rank before making further character upgrades.
- Collect upgrade materials while on hunts.
Consider the Ecology Rank like a world-level progression system: the higher your rank, the greater your character’s development options.
2. Use Engraving to Unlock Additional Character Effects
Engraving serves as another method to enhance characters in Monster Hunter Outlanders. This system provides intriguing bonuses that can improve performance during hunts. Activation of these bonuses necessitates Zenny, so prudence is essential when deciding on which characters to prioritize for upgrades.
New players should initially concentrate on improving their primary character, avoiding dispersing Zenny among all available characters. If employing Midori, focusing on her upgrades is advisable due to her beneficial Engraving effects.
Here are essential tips for the Engraving system:
- Focus on your main DPS character for immediate gains.
- Upgrade Midori if she features in your regular hunts.
- Review available effects before committing Zenny for upgrades.
- Conserve Zenny for crucial upgrades later.
Engraving can deplete Zenny quickly, especially when applying multiple effects. Don’t rush to unlock everything; accumulate enough resources before making significant investments.
3. Craft and Upgrade Weapons and Armor
Equipment is vital to character growth in Monster Hunter Outlanders. Weapons and armor offer various stats and abilities, while specific armor sets can trigger unique bonuses. It’s important to evaluate items based on their attributes and effects rather than just their rarity or defense values.
Always factor in the elemental weaknesses of the monster you’re targeting when selecting weapons. For instance, if hunting a monster vulnerable to Thunder, equipping a Thunder weapon can greatly enhance your damage output. The Forge Weapon menu lets you craft a selection of weapon types like Hammers and Long Swords.
Armor also boasts unique set bonuses tied to the monster type it originates from. For instance, equipping three pieces of Anjanath armor increases Fire damage, while two pieces of Rathian armor provide an additional helpful effect. The Flawless effect boosts damage by 3% when health is full.
When managing your equipment, remember these crucial elements:
- Elemental Weapons: Always prepare Fire, Water, Thunder, and other elemental weapons suited for various monsters.
- Armor Set Effects: Coordinate armor pieces to activate bonuses for two-piece or three-piece sets.
- Equipment Upgrades: Enhance the rarity of your gear when materials are available.
- Dismantling: Break down obsolete gear to harvest materials for upgrades.
Notably, even early-game gear can be upgraded to higher rarities. There’s no need to swap entire armor sets outright when leveling up. Gather the necessary materials and enhance your present equipment whenever feasible.
2. Use Engraving to Unlock Additional Character Effects
5. Train and Upgrade Your Buddies
Buddies significantly contribute to character progression, providing various supportive abilities during hunts, including healing and elemental damage enhancements. It’s best to select Buddies based on their roles and abilities rather than merely choosing those with higher rarity.
If your character specializes in elemental damage, consider selecting Ikarus, who offers an elemental boost. Each Buddy has unique effects, so assess their abilities prior to finalizing your choice.
You can improve your Buddies via the Training section by expending necessary Buddy Token materials, enhancing their skills and support capabilities in combat.
When managing Buddies, keep these factors in mind:
- Align the Buddy’s role with your character’s needs.
- Review their abilities before making a selection.
- Prioritize Buddies with effective healing or damage bonuses.
- Upgrade their levels utilizing Buddy Token materials.
- Recruit additional Buddies through the available recruitment system.
Higher rarity Buddies can also be obtained from the Exchange Shop, including SR and SSR options, with SSR requiring greater resources. Ensure to collect exchange resources through recruitment to maximize your chances.
6. Collect and Upgrade Visage Cards
Visage cards serve as an additional equipment layer that offers benefits to characters. You unlock these as you advance through the main storyline and increase your Adventure Rank. Comparable to armor, these cards provide specific stats and set effects designed to boost your overall performance.
For instance, the Pukei-Pukei Visage set yields various bonuses depending on how many cards are equipped. Equipping two pieces boosts Ultimate Charge Rate by 5%, beneficial for characters needing to charge abilities quickly.
The four-piece effect provides a 6.5% buff for the whole squad when the card holder receives a buff. This setup works wonders for teams focusing on overall support.
When selecting Visage cards, consider:
- DPS Characters: Target cards that amplify damage or elemental output.
- Support Characters: Seek cards enhancing healing or team buffs.
- Disruptors: Focus on Ultimate Charge Rate enhancements.
- Elemental Builds: Ensure card elements match your weapon’s type.
Visage cards can be acquired by participating in Daily Hunts found under the Field Hunts section. These rounds also yield other materials essential for your character’s growth.
The rarity of cards correlates with your advancement level. According to the drop rates, Blue cards have a 100% drop rate up until level 9, while Purple cards start at a 30% drop chance at level 10 and rise by 10% per level, peaking at 100% at level 17.
Upon reaching level 18, you can begin earning Yellow cards with a 30% drop probability. So, push through higher content tiers for a chance at superior Visage cards.
7. Upgrade and Resketch Your Visage Cards
Simply collecting Visage cards is just the first step; you can also enhance and resketch them to better their stats. This mechanism lets you tailor your cards based on your desired build.
Upgrades necessitate specific materials, which you should gather during hunts and various activities. After acquiring enough resources, navigate to the Visage menu and select the card you wish to enhance.
Resketching is notably advantageous as it unlocks differing stats. For example, you could receive bonuses for Elemental Critical Damage, thereby enhancing your character’s effectiveness.
However, not all stats will necessarily align with your current setup, so pay attention to potential effects you obtain.
When upgrading Visage cards, these considerations prove beneficial:
3. Craft and Upgrade Weapons and Armor
8. Use Insight and Proof of Mastery
Insight offers another layer of character enhancement, accessible via the book icon in the lower-right part of the character menu. This progression system operates similarly to duplicating characters, as securing additional copies provides Insight points.
These points can be utilized to activate various effects according to your weapon type. Bow users, for instance, can unlock bonuses that amplify Ultimate Charge Rate or augment their overall damage.
Each effect demands a set number of points, with substantial bonuses sometimes costing up to 30 points. If points are scarce, prioritize activating available effects initially.
Insight is applicable across various characters, so adjust your boosts based on the roles and weapons you are utilizing. Generally, strengthening SR characters tends to be simpler due to their accessibility.
Additionally, Proof of Mastery, found via the Explorer section in the main menu, provides extras for your characters and Adventure Squad.
An Explorer Season could reward you with:
- 65 Physical Attack
- 32 Elemental Attack
Advancing your Proof of Mastery rank comes with its own set of conditions. Some upgrades necessitate a specific Adventure Power amount, like 5,220 Adventure Power.
If your characters haven’t yet reached the required power, continue enhancing their weapons, armor, Visage cards, and other progression elements prior to retrying.
9. Use Food Buffs and Target Monster Weaknesses
Cooking in Monster Hunter Outlanders serves as another means to boost performance prior to embarking on hunts. The cooking system allows for the preparation of various dishes that grant distinct effects. These bonuses can elevate damage, enhance part-breaking efficacy, diminish incoming damage, or offer alternate advantages.
For instance, certain dishes might provide a 5% damage increase while others can diminish incoming damage by 9% or amplify damage by 15% depending on rarity.
However, unlocking recipes is necessary before use. Most recipes can be acquired through quests, so ensure to monitor active missions and meet the essential objectives.
Some recipes also require special components. For instance, a specific damage-related dish needs 75 Heaven Berries, which you can track in the Local Specialty section.
In addition to food buffs, understanding monster vulnerabilities is crucial. Check monster data before hunts to identify advised elemental weapons and types.
For example, using a Fire weapon against a Radiant Barroth yields maximum damage due to its elemental weakness. The game also provides guidance for breaking specific monster body parts.
Reference these effective weapon choices by target part:
- Bow and Heavy Bowgun: Best for damaging monster wings.
- Hammer: Ideal for breaking heads and bodies.
- Long Sword: Efficient for attacking forelegs, hind legs, and tails.
- Great Sword: Can effectively shatter several monster parts.
- Dual Blades: Attack damage-focused legs and tails.
- Lance: Focus on targeting legs and other areas.
- Charge Blade: Another option viable for breaking monster parts.
Be aware of how Radiant effects function with monsters. If a Radiant effect highlights a specific body part, target that region with attacks that exploit enemy elemental weaknesses.
For instance, if the Radiant effect is on the monster’s head, concentrate your strikes there. Adjust targets if the effect shifts to the hands, for improved results.
Strengthening your character in Monster Hunter Outlanders encompasses various systems; honing in on a single upgrade method won’t suffice against tougher foes. Balance character advancements by focusing on levels, enhancing through Engraving, crafting stronger equipment, and utilizing Visage cards, Buddies, and Insight.
Above all, ensure your gear is tailored to the monster at hand. Maintaining varied elemental weapons and armor loadouts streamlines battles, especially against foes with diverse weaknesses. Keep hunting for materials and enhancing your arsenal to craft a more formidable team.
One really practical aspect of the game is that you can actually upgrade your early-game gear to higher rarities. This means you don’t have to say goodbye to your beloved armor set just because you’ve leveled up. Instead, gather the materials you need and boost your existing equipment whenever you get the chance. It’s a great way to enhance your capabilities without constantly swapping out everything for new gear!
4. Create Elemental Loadouts for Different Monsters
As you build up your arsenal of weapons and armor, keeping track of everything manually can become a bit of a hassle. Luckily, Monster Hunter Outlanders has your back with its Loadout feature! This nifty option enables you to save different combinations of gear so that you can easily switch between setups. No more clumsy rummaging through your inventory when you’re gearing up for a hunt!
You have the option to create distinct loadouts tailored for various elemental builds. As a handy starting point, think about setting up loadouts for Water, Thunder, and Fire. These elemental attributes can be especially effective against many early-game monsters. When you know you’re about to take on a foe with a specific weakness, just click on your corresponding loadout before heading out on your quest!
The Loadout feature goes above and beyond by automatically switching your equipment and your Visage cards. This makes prepping to face different enemies a breeze! Plus, you’re not just limited to your main character – you can set up separate loadouts for your support characters too. This way, you will have everyone on your team ready to rock and tackle whatever challenge lies ahead.
It’s also good to keep in mind that the elements tied to your characters aren’t set in stone just because of their names. For example, your Pyro character doesn’t have to strictly use Fire-based equipment. Feel free to tweak the elements and loadout according to the monster you are facing! This flexibility can be crucial for victory in challenging encounters.
For an even greater impact in battles, make it a priority to align your weapon’s elements with your armor bonuses. So, for instance, wielding a Fire weapon while donned in armor that boosts Fire damage is a straightforward trick to ramp up your overall damage output. It’s a simple strategy that can yield impressive results!
5. Train and Upgrade Your Buddies
Your buddies play a significant role in your character’s growth and development throughout the game. These trusty companions can offer some fantastic additional abilities that will come in handy during your monster-hunting escapades. Whether it’s healing you up when you’re in a pinch or boosting your elemental damage to inflict serious hurt on your foes, the right Buddy can really change the game. Just remember, when it comes to picking a Buddy, look beyond mere rarity—focus instead on how their specific role and skills can support your play style.
Take Ikarus, for instance. If your character’s all about that elemental damage, Ikarus could be the perfect sidekick for you, thanks to its bonus that synergizes beautifully with elemental attacks. There are a variety of Buddies out there, each with unique effects and abilities, so it’s worth your time to explore their strengths and choose wisely when selecting your companion for your adventures.
You can take your Buddies to the next level by diving into the Training section of the game. By investing some Buddy Token materials, you can upgrade them, which enhances their abilities and makes their supportive powers even more valuable when you’re caught in the fast-paced action of battle. So, don’t forget to train and level up your pals so they can be the best possible allies in your quest.
Managing your Buddies effectively can really give you an edge, so here are some friendly pointers to keep in mind:
- Make sure the Buddy you choose matches your character’s needs and play style.
- Before settling on a Buddy, check out their abilities and see what fits best for your strategy.
- Focus on Buddies that can offer valuable healing or enhance your damage output.
- Don’t forget to upgrade their levels using those Buddy Token materials you’ve been collecting.
- Keep an eye out for new Buddies through the recruitment system to expand your roster.
If you’re on the hunt for higher-rarity Buddies, the Exchange Shop is worth checking out. Here, you’ll find some incredible options, including both SR and SSR Buddies that could add some serious firepower to your team. Just keep in mind that SSR Buddies come with a bigger price tag in terms of exchange resources, which you can snag through recruitment. So, be strategic about your vouchers and exchange currency to ensure you’re always ready for that epic upgrade!
6. Collect and Upgrade Visage Cards
Visage cards are a fantastic equipment system that can really amp up your characters, offering all kinds of bonuses. You’ll unlock these gems as you move through the main storyline and hit the necessary Adventure Rank. Just like with armor, each of these cards boasts its own unique stats and set effects that can elevate your entire build.
Take the Pukei-Pukei Visage set, for instance. This set has unique bonuses depending on how many pieces you have equipped. If you’re rocking two pieces, you’ll enjoy a nice 5% boost to your Ultimate Charge Rate, which is super handy for Disruptor characters who take a bit longer to charge up their abilities.
If you manage to equip all four pieces, you’ll gain an impressive 6.5% squad buff for a whole 60 seconds whenever your Adventurer gets a buff. This is especially beneficial for those builds that focus on providing support to the whole team.
When you’re on the hunt for Visage cards, keep the following tips in mind:
- DPS Characters: Aim for cards that boost your damage output or elemental damage.
- Support Characters: Seek out cards that enhance healing and offer squad buffs.
- Disruptors: Look for bonuses that ramp up your Ultimate Charge Rate, allowing you to unleash those abilities more often.
- Elemental Builds: Ensure your cards complement the element tied to your weapon for maximum effect.
To snag some Visage cards, dive into the Daily Hunts found under the Field Hunts section. These activities are a great source for other materials you’ll need as you level up your characters, so make sure to check them out!
When it comes to card rarity, it’s worth noting that it aligns with your current progression level. If you look at the drop rates detailed in the guide, you’ll find that Blue cards are super readily available, boasting a solid 100% drop rate until you hit level 9. As you push forward to level 10, the Purple cards enter the scene with a starting drop rate of 30%. From there, that percentage ramps up by 10% for every level you gain, eventually maxing out at an impressive 100% when you reach level 17. So keep that momentum going!
Once you hit level 18, the game opens up a new layer of excitement as you gain access to Yellow cards which have a nice 30% drop chance. This is a great incentive to keep pushing yourself through the tougher, higher-level content, especially if you’re aiming to gather a nicer assortment of Visage cards for all your deck-building dreams.
7. Upgrade and Resketch Your Visage Cards
But hey, collecting all those Visage cards is just the start of your journey! You’ll also have the opportunity to upgrade and resketch your cards to make them work even better for you. This nifty system lets you tailor your cards to fit the specific build you’re aiming for, making each card feel more personal and powerful.
To upgrade your cards, though, you’ll need to gather certain materials, so don’t forget to collect those during your hunts and other in-game adventures. Once you’ve hunted down enough of the right resources, simply navigate to the Visage menu and select which card you want to enhance. It’s all about putting in the effort to reap the rewards!
Now, let’s talk about the Resketch feature, which is really a game-changer! This tool allows you to acquire various additional stats that can boost your gameplay. For example, you could unlock bonuses like Elemental Critical Damage, which can really elevate your character’s performance in combat situations. It’s all about those little improvements that can make a big difference.
Keep in mind, though, that not all the stats you acquire will mesh perfectly with your current build. Some bonuses might not align with your weapon or equipment setup, so it’s important to pay attention to what effects you’re getting. Make sure they complement your play style for the best overall experience!
When it comes to upgrading Visage cards, there are a few key things you’ll want to keep in mind to really make the most of your choices.
- Be sure to upgrade cards that align with the role of your character—this makes a big difference!
- Keep an eye out for those sweet elemental damage bonuses that pair well with your weapon.
- Don’t forget about Resketch; it’s a fantastic way to snag some extra stats.
- Try not to dump too many resources into cards that are just sitting in your inventory gathering dust.
- It’s always smart to check if the additional effects of the cards complement your current gear.
For instance, if you happen to be wielding a Water weapon, it’s wise to lean into Visage effects that enhance Water damage—as opposed to wasting resources on bonuses that suit other elements.
8. Use Insight and Proof of Mastery
Now let’s talk about Insight—this is another layer of progression that gives your character some sweet bonuses. Just click on the book icon located in the bottom-right of the character menu to dive in. This system operates in a way similar to character duplicates, where collecting extra copies can earn you valuable Insight points.
With these Insight points, you can unlock a variety of effects tailored to your weapon type. For example, if you’re using a Bow, you can choose perks that boost your Ultimate Charge Rate or enhance your damage output. Pretty neat, right?
Every effect will require a specific amount of points to unlock, with the more powerful bonuses sometimes demanding up to a whopping 30 points! If you find yourself short on points, it’s a good strategy to focus on activating the effects you have available first.
Don’t forget, Insight is a system that flexes its muscles nicely with different characters, so it’s wise to tweak your bonuses according to the weapon styles and roles you’re playing with. You’ll find that leveling up your SR characters is usually a smoother ride within this framework because snagging their duplicates tends to be a bit easier on the whole.
Another awesome element of progression to keep your eye on is the Proof of Mastery, which you can conveniently track down in the Explorer section of the main menu. This neat system serves up extra bonuses for your characters as well as boosting your Adventure Squad, making your adventures even more exciting.
Take, for instance, one of the rewards from an Explorer Season, which can hook you up with:
- 65 Physical Attack
- 32 Elemental Attack
However, leveling up your Proof of Mastery rank isn’t just a walk in the park—you’ll need to satisfy certain conditions along the way. Some of those exciting upgrades call for a solid chunk of Adventure Power, like 5,220 Adventure Power to be precise.
If your characters are still lagging behind the required power level, don’t sweat it! Just keep focusing on enhancing their weapons, armor, Visage cards, and any other progression systems you’ve got going. Before you know it, you’ll be ready to take on that challenge again!
9. Use Food Buffs and Target Monster Weaknesses
Diving into the hunt means you’ll want to fuel up first! In Monster Hunter Outlanders, there’s an awesome cooking system that lets you whip up various dishes that pack some serious buffs. These meals can do wonders like ramping up your damage output, making it easier to break those tough monster parts, cutting down on the damage you take, and even giving you other handy benefits to help you in the field.
You’ll notice that some dishes can give you a nifty 5% boost to your damage, but keep an eye out for those rarer recipes! They can offer even more impressive bonuses. There are also delicious meals that can reduce the damage you take by 9% or crank up your damage by 15%. Chefs, rejoice!
Before you get too carried away with cooking, remember that you’ll need to unlock those recipes first. Most of these tasty treats come from completing quests, so don’t forget to skim through your available missions and tick off the objectives to get those special recipes unlocked!
Keep in mind, some of those scrumptious recipes are picky about their ingredients. For instance, if you’re looking to make a dish that boosts your damage, you’ll need to gather up 75 Heaven Berries. To track down where you can find these goodies, make a stop at the Local Specialty section—it’s your go-to guide for ingredient locations!
Now, while munching on power snacks is great, knowing your monster’s weaknesses is just as crucial for a successful hunt. Before you set off, take a moment to check the monster info to find out which elemental weapon and type will give you the upper hand.
For instance, if you’re up against a Radiant Barroth, you’ll want to equip a Fire weapon since it’s known to be weak against those fiery attacks. The game also has handy recommendations for which weapons work best for smashing particular monster parts, making your hunt smoother!
Let’s dive into some awesome weapon selections you can use, depending on the monster’s weak spots. This can really give you the edge you need while hunting!
- Bow and Heavy Bowgun: These are fantastic for targeting and breaking those pesky monster wings with precision.
- Hammer: A must-have for smashing through the head and body of your prey.
- Long Sword: This weapon shines when you’re aiming for the forelegs, hind legs, and the tail of your quarry.
- Great Sword: A true powerhouse that can help you break multiple crucial parts of the monster.
- Dual Blades: Perfect for aggressors looking to slice at the legs and tail quickly.
- Lance: This is a sturdy choice for targeting the monster’s legs and other key areas with precision.
- Charge Blade: Don’t overlook this one; it’s another amazing weapon for breaking specific monster parts effectively.
Keep an eye on those Radiant monster mechanics! When you spot a Radiant effect lighting up a certain body part, that’s your cue to lock on and unleash your attacks using the monster’s elemental weakness. This tactic can really turn the tide in your favor!
For instance, if the Radiant glow emerges on the monster’s head, make sure to zero in on that area with all your might. Conversely, if it shows up on the hands, don’t hesitate to redirect your strikes and ensure you’re hitting where it counts.
There are heaps of ways to level up your characters in Monster Hunter Outlanders, and focusing solely on one upgrade path just won’t cut it against tougher foes. You’ll want to level up your character, invest in Engraving, whip up some top-notch gear, and harness the power of Visage cards, Buddies, and Insight. Each element plays a part in making you a formidable hunter.
Above all, always ensure your equipment is tailored to the monster you’re about to face. Having an arsenal with different elemental weapons and customized armor loadouts can really ease the struggle, especially against critters with varying weaknesses. So keep on hunting, gathering those essential materials, and upgrading your gear to forge a truly unstoppable team!
Hey there, fellow hunters! If you’re venturing into the world of Monster Hunter Outlanders, you’re in for a real treat filled with epic battles and thrilling quests. This game takes the classic Monster Hunter formula and spins it into a unique experience that’s perfect for both newcomers and seasoned players alike. So grab your favorite weapon, and let’s dive into the adventurous landscape of Outlanders!