Since Monster Hunter: World in 2018, there have been more story elements introduced in the series. Monster Hunter Wilds is the biggest leap forward as far as the narrative goes with each new monster being introduced through a tutorial mission with NPCs coming along for the ride. While some veterans may not like the hand-holding and slowed-down approach to the gameplay loop, others may praise the story.

monster-hunter-wilds-perfect-start-guide
How to Have the Best Possible Start in Monster Hunter Wilds

Getting the best possible start in Monster Hunter Wilds can make a huge difference to one's playthrough while also saving a fair bit of time.

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The story doesn’t stand next to the greats in the RPG genre but it is still impressive. No matter where fans fall, there is still plenty of monster slaying to get the blood-bumping in Monster Hunter Wilds and away from story NPCs. These are the best side quests to tackle early including literal side quests and optional hunts.

7 Side Mssions

Tutorials Disguised As Basic Fetch Quests

Fishing in Monster Hunter Wilds

There are legitimate side quests in the game called side missions. They amount to nothing more than very basic fetch quests in RPGs and the rewards are very minimal which is why the first couple are clumped together. Kanya, for example, will teach players how to fish at the base camp in the Scarlet Forest. Dareel, located in the base camp of the Windward Plains, will teach players how to use the net. Both side missions are valuable to learn mechanics in the game if players are new to the series but again, the rewards are laughably bad. As a bonus note, players can catch fish using the net in Monster Hunter Wilds, making the fishing rod a bit redundant in most circumstances.

6 Beware The Chatacabra

A Repeat Of The First Mission

Fighting Chatacabra in Monster Hunter Wilds
  • Monster: Chatacabra
  • Location: Windward Plains

Chatacabra is the first giant monster players will hunt during the main mission, Slimy Situation. It’s one of the easiest monsters to farm and not that big as it’s just a big frog. That said, it can net players a lot of good gear if they harvest it on repeat, and Beware the Chatacabra, an optional quest, is the best way to harvest it after the initial assignment.

Your Hunter character Olivia in Monster Hunter Wilds
Single-Player vs Co-Op: Which Should You Choose In Monster Hunter Wilds?

Monster Hunter Wild features a plethora of ways to hunt monsters alone or with friends but is there a best way?

For example, players can craft the optimally named Chatacabra Armor using its parts to blend in with the froggy villain if they so choose. Provided players can dodge their tongues, this should be an easy fight even with just Palico tagging along.

5 Fire Starter

Not Quite The Phoenix Of Legend

Fighting Quematrice with co-op allies in Monster Hunter Wilds
  • Monster: Quematrice
  • Location: Windward Plains

Fire Starter is a hunt for the Quematrice after players complete Hot on Their Tails for the main quest. The Quematrice is a big bird with a fire affinity as it can puff out its tails and cause flames to erupt. It might be tricky the first time around but the second time and every encounter after that will get easier. Players who harvest this big bird on repeat can get some pretty good armor and a killer bow called the Quematrice Arco 1. They can make a hat for the armor set which will make them look like a Red Mage from Final Fantasy or one of the Three Musketeers.

4 Tussle in Pink

This Monkey Has Bad Gas

Fighting Congalala with A.I. allies in Monster Hunter Wilds
  • Monster: Congalala
  • Location: Scarlet Forest

The Congalala is one of the rudest monsters in the game as it will fart on players, whose gas can infect them with a status effect not seen in most RPGs called Stench. It’s actually one of the few monsters in the early game that is from another entry, Monster Hunter 2. History aside, players will face this giant ape during Drive off the Congalala in the main story and then they can tackle it as many times as they want in the Optional Quest called Tussle in Pink. The armor set can look a bit silly as will the weapons as Gemma, the blacksmith, tends to incorporate a lot of pink into gear. Silly as they may be, taking this side quest on is still recommended.

3 Every Rose…

Along Came A Spider

Fighting Lala Barina with co-op allies in Monster Hunter Wilds
  • Monster: Lala Barina
  • Location: Scarlet Forest

Every Rose… is a hunt going after the Lala Barina following A Stage of Rose and Thorn main mission. Lala Barina is a giant spider that can make its abdomen like look a blooming rose but beware of its beauty because it can shoot out paralyzing buds to stop hunters dead in their tracks. This comes with a downside to the Lala Barina because it becomes much easier to score critical hits in this rose-like region. Players who like to play female characters in their action RPGs can make a frilly dress from Lala Barina’s parts. It looks weird combined with other pieces of armor but still a good gear set overall.

2 Buggin’ In The Scarlet Forest

A Surprisingly Worthwhile Small Creature

Fighting Vespoids in Monster Hunter Wilds
  • Monster: Vespoid
  • Location: Scarlet Forest

The Vespoid is considered a small monster and most small monsters in the game won’t net many armor sets. For example, there is an Optional Quest called The Desert is Demanding focusing on a bunch of raptor-like monsters called Talioths. Their parts can make gauntlets but that is it.

Chatacabra and Balahara Armor sets in Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds: Best Early Game Armor

Hunter monsters and look good while doing it with these armor tips.

Vespoids, on the other hand, have a whole dedicated armor set of all five parts and the entire Vespoid set is pretty decent with some nice bonus skills attached. For example, sSurvival Expert can restore more HP with bugs in the environment like the Vigorwasp and Paralysis Resistance will lessen the time players will stay in a paralyzed state which can happen fighting a monster like Lala Barina. That’s why players shouldn’t immediately shrug off Buggin’ in the Scarlet Forest.

1 Going On Expeditions

Make Your Own Side Quest

Riding a Seikret in the Windward Plains in Monster Hunter Wilds

Expeditions are not a side quest players can go into the menu and launch with friends in Monster Hunter Wilds. It is a general type described in the game and players can call friend support with SOS Flares if they need to. At any time, players can leave their camp and just explore the world at their leisure without worrying about death or time limits. They can look for herbs to craft potions or minerals used for many weapon and armor sets. They can even fight big monsters freely but there is a chance they will run away and have the area completely unlike dedicated missions. That’s why it is recommended to just gather materials on expeditions and players should do this for every new area of the game from the Windward Plains to the Scarlet Forest and beyond.

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Monster Hunter Wilds
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Released
February 28, 2025
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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ESRB
T For Teen // Violence, Blood, Crude Humor
Developer(s)
Capcom
Publisher(s)
Capcom
Engine
RE Engine
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
Yes, all platforms
Cross Save
No
Franchise
Monster Hunter
Number of Players
1
Steam Deck Compatibility
Unknown
PC Release Date
February 28, 2025
Xbox Series X|S Release Date
February 28, 2025
PS5 Release Date
February 28, 2025
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure
X|S Optimized
Yes
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty