Mastering Monster Hunter Stories 2: Essential Beginner Tips for New Riders – Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a captivating blend of adventure, strategy, and monster-collecting RPG mechanics. Whether you’re a newcomer to the series or a seasoned hunter venturing into this spinoff, mastering the game requires patience, planning, and a bit of knowledge. In this guide, we will provide essential beginner tips to help you get started, progress efficiently, and enjoy every aspect of this thrilling game.

1. Understand the Basics of Monster Hunter Stories 2

Before diving deep, it’s important to grasp the fundamentals of gameplay. Unlike the traditional Monster Hunter games, Monster Hunter Stories 2 is a turn-based RPG where you collect and bond with creatures known as Monsties. Here are a few key concepts to understand:

• Kinship Stone: This magical artifact allows you to bond with Monsties and utilize their abilities in battle.
• Monsties: These are your companion monsters, each with unique skills, stats, and abilities.
• Turn-Based Combat: Battles are strategic, focusing on predicting enemy moves and countering them with the right attack type (Power, Speed, or Technical).
• Egg Collecting and Hatching: Eggs are found in monster dens and hatch into Monsties, forming the core of your team-building strategy.

2. Master the Combat System

Understanding the combat system is crucial for success. Battles revolve around a rock-paper-scissors mechanic:

• Power beats Technical.
• Technical beats Speed.
• Speed beats Power.

Tips for Winning Battles:

• Study Enemy Patterns: Different monsters tend to favor specific attack types. Memorize these patterns to counter effectively.
• Use Kinship Skills: Building up your Kinship Gauge allows you to unleash powerful Kinship Skills, which can turn the tide of battle.
• Switch Monsties and Weapons: Don’t hesitate to swap Monsties or weapons during battle to exploit enemy weaknesses.
• Double Attacks: If both you and your Monstie target the same enemy with the countering attack type, you’ll perform a Double Attack, dealing extra damage and stopping the enemy’s move.

3. Build a Balanced Team

Your success hinges on assembling a well-rounded team of Monsties. Here’s how to do it:

Key Factors to Consider:

• Attack Types: Ensure your team includes Monsties with Power, Speed, and Technical attacks to handle any opponent.
• Elements: Different monsters have elemental strengths and weaknesses. Balance your team to cover all elements (Fire, Water, Thunder, Ice, and Dragon).
• Field Abilities: Some Monsties have abilities like swimming, jumping, or climbing, which are useful for exploring the world and accessing hidden areas.

Pro Tip:

Focus on upgrading your Monsties through the Rite of Channeling, a system that allows you to transfer genes between Monsties, enhancing their abilities and stats.

4. Explore Monster Dens Thoroughly

Monster dens are treasure troves filled with eggs, resources, and rare items. Here’s how to make the most of your expeditions:

• Types of Dens: Standard Dens are common, while Rare Dens (glowing gold) have better loot and higher-quality eggs.
• Egg Rarity: When picking eggs, pay attention to their weight and smell. Heavier and smellier eggs tend to hatch into stronger Monsties.
• Be Prepared: Stock up on healing items, paintballs, and traps before entering a den to handle tough fights.
• Escape When Necessary: If a battle becomes overwhelming, don’t hesitate to retreat and regroup.

5. Upgrade Your Equipment

Your weapons and armor are as important as your Monsties. Regularly upgrading them ensures you’re ready for tougher challenges.

Tips for Upgrading:

• Gather Materials: Hunt monsters and gather resources to craft and upgrade gear. Each monster drops specific materials needed for crafting.
• Diversify Your Weapons: Carry different weapon types (Great Sword, Hammer, Bow, etc.) to exploit enemy weaknesses.
• Armor Skills: Choose armor sets that complement your playstyle and provide useful bonuses in battle.

6. Make the Most of Side Quests

While the main story is engaging, side quests offer valuable rewards and opportunities to strengthen your team.

Why Side Quests Matter:

• Experience Points: Completing side quests helps you level up faster.
• Rare Items: Many side quests reward you with rare items, materials, and even unique Monsties.
• World Building: Side quests add depth to the game’s lore and characters, enhancing your overall experience.

Pro Tip:

Keep an eye on your Quest Board in villages. Prioritize quests that reward materials or items you need for crafting or upgrading.

7. Learn to Manage Resources

Efficient resource management can make a huge difference, especially during challenging battles or long expeditions.

Resource Tips:

• Stockpile Essentials: Always carry potions, herbs, antidotes, and whetstones.
• Use Paintballs: Paintballs increase the chances of a monster retreating to a den, allowing you to collect its egg.
• Sell Unnecessary Items: Regularly sell surplus items to maintain a healthy zenny (in-game currency) balance.
• Cook Meals: Visit the camp and prepare meals that grant buffs like increased attack or defense before tough battles.

8. Take Advantage of Expedition Parties

Once you unlock the ability to send Monsties on expeditions, use it to gather resources and level up unused Monsties.

How Expeditions Work:

• Select Monsties: Choose Monsties you’re not actively using and assign them to expeditions.
• Set Goals: Expeditions can focus on gathering materials, leveling up, or collecting specific items.
• Check Results: Upon completion, your Monsties will return with experience points and valuable loot.

9. Save Frequently

Monster Hunter Stories 2 doesn’t have an autosave feature, so make it a habit to save your progress regularly. Save points are found in villages and campsites, and you can also save manually from the menu.

10. Embrace the Story and Characters

The narrative in Monster Hunter Stories 2 is rich and emotionally engaging. Take your time to appreciate the story, connect with the characters, and enjoy the beautifully crafted world.

Final Thought

Mastering Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin takes time, but with these beginner tips, you’ll be well-equipped to face the challenges ahead. Whether you’re battling fearsome monsters, exploring hidden dens, or building bonds with your Monsties, remember to have fun and embrace the adventure.

With careful planning and practice, you’ll soon become a true Rider capable of tackling anything the game throws your way. Happy hunting!