Palico Gear

Your Palico is more than just a companion; it's a vital ally on every hunt. Equipping your Palico with the right gear can significantly enhance its effectiveness, providing crucial support, dealing extra damage, or even offering unique utility. From sturdy armor to specialized weapons, ensuring your feline friend is well-equipped is key to your success.

In Monster Hunter: World, your Palico is an indispensable partner. It can distract monsters, heal you, gather items, and even inflict status effects. The gear your Palico wears directly influences its performance in these roles. Palico gear is divided into two main categories: Armor and Weapons. Both are crafted using materials gathered from monsters and the environment, much like your own gear.

Palico Armor:

Palico armor sets are typically themed around specific monsters or concepts. Each set provides defensive bonuses and, more importantly, can grant your Palico unique skills. These skills are what truly differentiate Palico gear.

Skill Examples:

Attack Up: Increases the Palico's damage output.
Defense Up: Boosts the Palico's survivability.
Heal: Enhances the Palico's healing capabilities.
Status Effect Boosts: Increases the chance of inflicting poison, paralysis, or sleep on monsters.
Item Gathering: Improves the Palico's ability to find and bring back useful items.
Specialized Skills: Some armor sets grant unique skills like 'Felyne Bombardier' (increases explosive damage), 'Felyne Trueshot' (improves ranged attacks), or 'Felyne Earplugs' (prevents monsters from stunning the Palico).

Palico Weapons:

Palico weapons, often referred to as 'Palico Gadgets' in their fully upgraded forms, are crucial for their utility. While they do contribute to damage, their primary function is to unlock and enhance specific Palico abilities.

Gadget Types:

Vigorwasp Spray: The starting gadget, it allows the Palico to heal you. Upgrades can increase the amount healed or the frequency.
Shieldspire: The Palico can deploy a shield to draw monster aggro and protect you.
Flashfly Cage: The Palico can deploy a cage that stuns nearby monsters.
Plunderblade: The Palico can steal items from monsters, helping you gather materials faster.
Mushroomancer: The Palico can grow and share mushrooms with you, providing various buffs and healing.
Meowlotov Cocktail: The Palico can throw explosive cocktails at monsters.
Digger: The Palico can dig up useful items from the ground.

Crafting and Upgrading:

To craft Palico gear, you'll need to visit the Smithy. The materials required are often specific to the monster the gear is based on. For example, to craft a Rathalos-themed Palico armor set, you'll need Rathalos scales, plates, and other parts. Palico weapons (gadgets) are unlocked through specific quests or by finding them in the wild and then can be upgraded at the Smithy using monster materials.

Tips for Optimal Palico Gear:

Consider Your Playstyle: If you're a melee hunter who often takes damage, prioritize gear that enhances healing or defense. If you're a ranged hunter, focus on gear that can draw aggro or inflict status effects.
Match Gear to Monster: Some Palico gadgets are particularly effective against certain monsters. For instance, the Flashfly Cage is excellent against flying monsters.
Don't Neglect Upgrades: Upgrading your Palico's gadget is crucial for maximizing its utility.

Investing time in your Palico's gear will pay dividends on every hunt, turning your feline companion into an even more formidable and supportive ally.