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Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is coming out in just a few weeks for the Nintendo Switch and PC, adding not only new monsters into the mix, but also new biomes, a new home base, the new Master Rank quest tier, and much more. Capcom is calling this expansion "massive," and based on what has been shown so far, it appears that massive is right, as there are a lot of exciting new things in this package to look forward to.
However, not everyone will just be able to jump into the expansion, so this guide will go over what is needed to start Sunbreak and tips on what Monster Hunter Rise players should do to prepare.
Beat Narwa
When Sunbreak comes out, players will not be able to start the new content until they wrap up the main storyline of Monster Hunter Rise. Specifically, players must beat Thunder Serpent Narwa in a 7-star Gathering Hub Quest titled "Serpent Goddess of Thunder." This means players will need to complete all the Key Low-rank and High-rank quests to unlock the Narwa battle.
Beating Narwa is the only prerequisite for starting up the Sunbreak expansion. The next sections will go over what players should do before the DLC drops on June 30.
Make Lots of Money
There are loads of ways to make money in Monster Hunter Rise, but the simplest way is to just take on any quests that have a large reward. Be mindful that when playing with folks online, that listed reward money is split with all players that finished the quest, so it might be best to play alone at times. It's also a good idea to occasionally check out the Quest Board and respond to other Join Requests. Players can hop into a quest that's almost over, and still reap the rewards in less time.
Selling unwanted items to the merchant is also a great option for making money. Players might be surprised to find that they have hundreds of random items that are worth a good Zenny if sold in bulk.
Once Sunbreak kicks off, players will want to hoard as much money as possible to help craft and upgrade weapons and gear. The new Master Rank will not be as easy as the base game, so spending time getting money is a smart move.
Optional Subquests
Players can accept optional subquests by speaking to either of the Maidens. Players can accept up to five of them, and most of them are easy enough to complete organically while going on quests. These quests can reward hunters with Kamura Points, Armor Spheres, and more.
Getting higher-tier Armor Spheres will be crucial to help upgrade the early gear to their full potential in Sunbreak. Essentially, just make sure to always have five quests going at once-otherwise, players are missing out on free rewards. Stuff that players don't need can also be sold.
Level up Your Buddies
Since the Buddies that players used in the base game will most likely be staying with them once Sunbreak starts, they should be fully upgraded to the max level of 50 and have optimal armor/weapons. That level cap might change with the Sunbreak update, but just make sure the pet of choice is up to code. While it may sometimes seem that Palico's and Palamutes don't offer that much assistance, they can prove to be helpful in sticky situations.
Remember: players can forge new Buddy equipment at the Buddy Smithy in the village, and the Buddies can be trained in the Buddy Plaza by speaking to the Buddy Expert Palico.
Stock up on Honey
This is a quick tip, but a good one. Whenever players see out on the field, just make sure to always take some. It's super easy to find all over, and Mega Potions can be crafted using Honey and Potions. Potions are crafted with Herbs, so make sure to always grab those when spotted. Having 10 Mega Potions for every hunt will ensure players are stocked up for any dangerous scenario, like when facing Sunbreak's flagship monster, Malzeno.
Switch Skills
Every weapon in Monster Hunter Rise has three sets of Switch Skills, adding some neat moves to any hunter's repertoire. In Sunbreak, a new mechanic is being added called Switch Skill Swap, allowing players the opportunity to switch between their Skills in the midst of battle quickly. There's also the inclusion of a Swap Evade move that lets players quickly dodge a monster's attack after switching to a different skill.
Not only should Rise players make sure they have unlocked all the different Switch Skills for their favorite weapons, but they should try to learn which ones are their favorites. Speak to Master Utsushi in the Hub once players the 2-Star Hub quests to start unlocking them.
Monster Hunter Rise is available for PC and Switch. Sunbreak launches on June 30, 2022.
