Monster Hunter Stories 2 is not what someone might expect from a new entry in this series. Instead of an action game, this, and its predecessor, are turn-based RPGs. It’s a lot like the Pokemon series. However, that doesn’t mean Monster Hunter Stories 2 doesn’t share any principles with the main entries from Capcom.
Tips between this game and Monster Hunter Rise can be shared in some capacity. For example, crafting weapons and armor still call for hunting monster parts. There are also a lot of gathering spots around the world map. Monster Hunter Stories 2 is its own beast though and deserves some unique tips and tricks to help beginners out in this new Nintendo game.
10 You Create A Character
The first Monster Hunter Stories had a pre-made character for people to play as. That has changed in Monster Hunter Stories 2, as the sequel falls more in line with the main entries. Character customization has been around in the series since the very beginning.
It wasn’t as robust on the PS2 as it is today, but it was better than nothing. Don’t worry too much about hair and overall appearance as that can be changed in the character's bedroom at any point in the game. The gender can’t be swapped though.
9 You Can Color Any Armor
Another fact about customization is that any armor bought or made in Monster Hunter Stories 2 can be colored.
It may seem like the gear is set with a pre-made color, however, if a player travels back to their bedroom then they can swap out two colors for most pieces of gear. This further allows for more customization in the game, making it easier to stand out in multiplayer. That’s the best part of multiplayer for most entries in the series: bragging rights.
8 Don’t Miss The Fast-Forward Button
It’s not a mechanic that Monster Hunter Stories 2 goes through in the tutorial, but there is a fast-forward option in battle. It’s a clear white notification in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. It can be a little hard to see if someone is not aware of its existence. Tapping plus will increase the speed by two or three. It’s a must for turn-based RPGs like this.
7 Easy Leveling Tips
One of the best ways to earn experience isn’t through battling monsters, but by taking on every quest on the quest board as soon as they pop up. They’re all fairly easy gathering quests. Plus most can be repeated like the one which requires people to gather six pieces of raw meat.
Turning in the quest every time will reward experience. If a player just got an egg, hatch that critter before turning in quests so as to not miss out on getting experience for the new addition.
6 Sell Your Extra Materials
There are two big ways to get money, or Zenny as is the Capcom tradition, while exploring the world. Zenny can be found in chests and turning in quests will net players with a bounty as well.
Fighting monsters, unlike other RPG experiences, does not gain players any money. However, they do grant materials that can be sold off. For example, a rider doesn’t need thirty bone fragments. If a player needs to get Zenny fast, don’t be afraid to sell off a few extra goods.
5 Gotta Hatch ’Em All
Acquiring Monsties is fairly spaced out, so it’s very easy to keep track of the monsters in the protagonist's collection. Pay attention to egg colors in nests and keep track of which ones hatch what via pictures. After all, a great thing about the Switch is its fast camera.
Also, be sure to pay attention to Monstie abilities after hatching a new batch. Players never know what new skills they might find which could be useful for exploring.
4 Stick To The First Egg
After getting a Monstie, leave it at that. Don’t worry about getting the perfect Kula-Ya-Ku for example. There are ways to tell if an egg has better stats through smell or with shiny sparkles. It might be tempting to switch out a shiny Kula-Ya-Ku for the old version.
If a player was using that Kula-Ya-Ku in battle, it would be bad to switch out and redo the experience climb. Monster Hunter Stories 2 isn’t that hard in its early stages so it’s not necessary to get the very best Monstie out there. That is unlike most entries in the series which can be brutal at times.
3 How The Kinship Meter Works
There are a couple of battle operations that aren’t fully explained in the game. For example, when someone fights alongside a Monstie in battle, their Kinship meter will go up. That much is clearly stated. If one swaps out that Monstie for another, the meter will reset itself.
Don’t fret. Meters are tied to Monsties. So if a player switches back again, wherever that meter was before will be regained. Keep this in mind for battle strategies.
2 How The Point System Works
There is a grading system in the game that takes into account a lot of factors. The points totaled at the end will determine experience and loot. The more points gathered, the better the rewards.
Certain moves can break off monster parts which will net players with extra points. Finishing off monsters with special attacks is also good for points as well as finishing the fight as quickly as possible.
1 No Need To Explore Every Single Cave
There are a lot of monster caves on the world map. It can actually be pretty daunting. Unless a player wants to grind or look for eggs, it’s best to avoid consuming too much. Unless it is related to a story mission, there’s not much to these dungeons.
This aspect of Monster Hunter Stories 2 is one of its weakest as there isn’t a lot of variety to the caves. Ultimately, they can be a waste of time.