Beyond your primary Palico and Palamute companions, Monster Hunter Rise offers several other support systems to aid you in your hunts. These systems are designed to enhance your combat effectiveness, resource gathering, and overall survival, making even the most challenging quests more manageable.
Buddy Plaza & Buddy Training
The Buddy Plaza is your hub for managing your Palicos and Palamutes. Here, you can recruit new buddies, train them to learn new skills, and equip them with gear. Buddy Training allows you to level up your companions, increasing their stats and unlocking new abilities. You can ass specific training regimens to focus on offense, defense, or support. Don't neglect this area, as a well-trained buddy can significantly turn the tide of a difficult fight.
Buddy Skills & Equipment
Each Palico and Palamute can learn several skills. Palicos have support moves like healing, status infliction, and item gathering, while Palamutes can offer offensive support, mobility buffs, and even act as mounts. Equipping your buddies with the right weapons and armor is crucial. Look for gear that complements their role and your hunting style. Some skills are passive, while others are activated during combat. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for you.
Argosy & Meowcenaries
The Argosy allows you to send out ships to gather rare items from distant lands. You can choose the destination and the type of goods you wish to acquire. This is an excellent way to passively gather crafting materials, consumables, and even unique decorations without actively hunting. The Meowcenaries are a group of Palicos who can be dispatched on expeditions to gather resources. You can ass them to specific locales and they will return with a bounty of materials. Prioritize sending them to areas where you need specific items for crafting or upgrades.
Rondine's Beastamines
Rondine, the merchant, offers Beastamine services. These are temporary buffs that can be applied to your hunter or your buddies before a quest. They can range from increased attack power and defense to enhanced resistance against specific elements or status ailments. While not permanent, these buffs can provide a significant edge in challenging hunts, especially when facing monsters with particular strengths or weaknesses.
Buddy Reconnaissance
Through the Buddy Board, you can send your buddies on reconnaissance missions. These missions are not about combat but about gathering information. They can reveal the location of rare endemic life, uncover hidden mining or insect gathering spots, or even provide intel on monster behavior. This is a valuable tool for exploration and resource management, helping you prepare more effectively for your hunts.