Optional Quests
Optional Quests in Monster Hunter World are additional objectives that players can complete for special rewards, though they are not required to progress the main story. These quests become available through various activities, including finding and capturing monsters, talking to villagers with a '(!)' icon in Astera, Research Base, or Seliana, and completing previous Optional Quests. Rare encounters, which last for two quests and then disappear, also unlock optional quests. Fully researching monsters and hunting a certain number of different tempered monsters can also lead to new optional quests.
Specific actions unlock certain quest types:
- Finding a monster: Unlocks optional quests for that monster. Low, High, and Master Rank versions count separately.
- Capturing monsters: Unlocks 'Special Arena:' Quests for that monster. Low, High, and Master Rank captures unlock corresponding rank arenas. Once completed, these quests reappear randomly on the Quest Board.
- Talking to Villagers: Villagers with a '(!)' icon often provide requests that unlock optional quests.
- Completing previous Optional Quests: Many optional quests are part of a chain and completing one will unlock the next.
- Rare encounters: These include monsters like Zorah Magdaros and Xeno'Jiiva. They are available for a limited time (2 quests) and can be identified by a change in music in Astera/Seliana and a notification.
- Fully researching monsters: Completing all tabs in the monster manual can unlock new optional quests.
- Hunting tempered monsters: Hunting a specific number of different tempered monsters can unlock optional quests. If a quest or investigation has multiple tempered targets, only the first listed registers for this unlock condition.
- Assigned Quest progress: Your current progress level in Assigned Quests can also influence which optional quests are available.