Following the trend started with Monster Hunter World’s Iceborne expansion, Monster Hunter Rise has finally received its own expansion in the form of Sunbreak. The expansion promises new areas, new monsters, and a fresh storyline for players to enjoy. And it delivers.
With Monster Hunter, expanded content like Sunbreak always brings with it an entirely new quest rank. Starting this new rank can in many ways feel like starting an entirely new game, with a host of quests and equipment for players to unlock all over again. To make a smooth transition into this new slew of content, there are a few things players should keep in mind.
8 Explore The Maps
Whereas Monster Hunter World: Iceborne added the Hoarfrost Reach as the only new locale, Sunbreak has actually come with two new locales. The Citadel has been heavily promoted as the expansion’s premier map, but The Jungle from Monster Hunter 2 has also been remade for the new generation.
These maps add new locations and resources to Monster Hunter Rise. To make hunts on these maps easier, it’s advisable to carve out some time to comb them thoroughly, not only getting familiar with the locations of mining nodes and endemic life but also finding the secret camps on each one, that will later serve as fast travel points once fully built.
7 Don’t Forget The Small Monsters
With the introduction of master rank, several resources have received new, higher-tier versions that will be required for crafting various types of master rank gear. In particular, the various small monsters that populate the maps like Bulfango and Anteka will be giving out higher tier drops just like the larger monsters.
For those who played their fill of Rise, killing and carving small monsters might be something they’re out of practice on, but this is the time to get back into that habit. Especially, since some of these small monsters actually provide very useful armor pieces for certain weapons. Rhenoplos armor, for example, gives easy access to skills like "load shells" and "artillery", which are necessary for any decent Monster Hunter Rise Gunlance or Charge Blade set.
6 Hire More Buddies
Those who created a miniature army of Felynes and Palamutes in Rise might already be ahead in this regard, but those pet lovers are likely in the minority. For most of the playerbase, Sunbreak gives ample reasons to stock up on buddies.
They are still useful for farming resources and monster materials but now have expanded utility. With the new "buddy recon" system, for example, buddies can be placed in specific spots on the maps, giving players even more fast-travel options. These locations can only be traveled to once per quest but could save a lot of time when dealing with monsters who spawn in hard-to-reach areas of the map or flee to them later in the fight.
5 Always Be Prepared
Monster Hunter is a game that heavily encourages preparation. Making sure to stay stocked up on useful items and bringing the best ones for the quest is vital to success. Master rank makes this even more vital. All master rank monsters are upgraded from previous versions, so anyone who could skate by in base Rise without really thinking about their item loadouts is in for a rude awakening if they don’t learn to prepare.
Potions, traps, and bombs might be in most people’s inventories, but consider adding more niche items as well. For example, small barrel bombs were mostly for niche strategies in Rise, but Sunbreak’s new silkbind moves and higher difficulty reward players who can use these bombs to manually set off counters on several weapons.
4 Switch Skill Swap
Sunbreak’s big new feature is the switch skill swap, an ability that lets players swap between two loadouts of switch skills, increasing versatility and allowing for previously impossible combinations. This benefits some weapons more than others, but every weapon has something to gain, whether it be combining silkbind attacks, or changing playstyles on the fly.
Every player will interact with the system differently, but it’s well worth mastering. Some new skills interact with this feature as well, rewarding those who take the time to learn it. Especially the swap evade, which not only provides an extra evasive option but can help with repositioning as well.
3 Watch Those Wirebugs
With the addition of said new silkbind moves, wirebugs have become an even more valuable resource. Especially now that players can swap between two switch skill loadouts on the fly, wirebugs can end up being spent in quick succession before a player even notices they’re gone.
Even if they grab one of the temporary wirebugs, some silkbind combos are very wirebug-hungry. For instance, trying to use sakura slash to level up the Long Sword’s spirit gauge to maximum before spending it on a helm splitter will require at least four wirebugs. Wirefalling for convenience or out of fear is a sure-fire way to run out even faster, reducing overall offensive and defensive capabilities.
2 Master Rank Movesets
Something else that will force players to spend a lot of wirebugs is the impressive strength of the master rank monsters in Sunbreak. While newcomers like Lunagaron and Malzeno will already be hitting players with never before seen attacks, even the old monsters have been given something to shake the fights up.
One might approach a master rank Tetranodon expecting the same punching bag from high rank, only to find themselves back at camp in a flash. While it varies based on the monster, new combos and attacks are plentiful in Sunbreak, and the expansion will definitely catch players off guard. When fighting a master rank monster for the first time, take time to observe their new behaviors, and stay prepared for unexpected attacks.
1 The People Of Elgado
Some players are more likely to interact with NPCs than others, and some games don’t really reward or punish it. For Sunbreak though, interaction with the NPCs of Elgado is advisable. Several weapons and armor sets are hidden behind side quests, particularly the new "follower" system.
Followers are NPC hunters who can join hunts during the story or particular quests. They not only provide a taste of the multiplayer experience for those who prefer to fly solo, but also unlock several special pieces of equipment and extra lore about the Monster Hunter world and the community of Elgado itself.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is available on Nintendo Switch and PC.