Side Quests & Activities
Optional Quests in Monster Hunter World offer special rewards and are not required to progress the main story. These quests unlock through various activities, including finding and capturing monsters across low, high, and master ranks, talking to Villagers with a '!' in Astera, Research Base, or Seliana, and completing previous Optional quests. Randomly available Rare encounters that last for 2 quests and disappear also contribute to unlocking new content.
Other activities that unlock Optional Quests include fully researching monsters (all tabs in the monster manual) and hunting a certain number of different tempered monsters. Quests/investigations with more than one tempered target only register the first listed. Your current progress level for Assigned Quests also influences available Optional Quests.
After beating Zorah Magdaros a second time, an assigned story quest will lead to an expedition in the Wildspire Wastes. This involves speaking to the Handler and heading to the Wildspire Waste. The game's main quest line begins with tutorials, then progresses to assigned Slaying Quests, Hunting Quests, and expeditions.
- Kestodon Kerfuffle: A simple quest in the Ancient Forest where you hunt 3 male Kestodon and 5 female Kestodon. Males are distinguished by a larger crown.
- Great Jagras Hunt: This quest can follow "A Kestodon Kerfuffle" if a Great Jagras appears to gobble up a nearby herbivore. Hunters can either return to town to start it as a new venture or continue from the previous quest.