The enjoyment of Monster Hunter is in its progression, and Monster Hunter Wilds promises to keep this tradition alive. From Low Rank beginnings of humble offerings to the punishing peaks of High Rank, the experience is crowded with new monsters, formidable gear, and increasingly daunting challenges. This walkthrough will take you through the key steps in unlocking High Rank in MH Wilds, and explore the thrill of the new features and rewards you’ll discover when you make the transition.
How to Unlock HR in MH Wilds
Before you can jump into High Rank quests, you’ve got to wrap up Low Rank first, think of it as your “early game” checklist before the real challenge kicks off. Here’s what you need to do:
- Finish All Main Story Quests in Low Rank
The game will walk you through the important hunts while teaching you the ropes — mechanics, crafting, and gearing up for what’s ahead. If you’re stuck, check your quest log to make sure you haven’t missed any main quests. - Reach Hunter Rank 10 (HR10)
Though not officially confirmed, it seems like hitting HR10 is key to unlocking High Rank. The fastest way to level up? Keep hunting! Focus on main quests since they give the most rank points, but optional quests help speed things up too — check with Alma to see if you’ve left any undone. - Beat the Final Boss of Low Rank
Like every Monster Hunter game, there’s a big showdown that marks the shift into High Rank. It’s a tough fight, so make sure you’ve crafted your best gear, stocked up on healing items, and maybe bring some friends along — or use the SOS Flare if you need help. - Talk to the Guild Master
Once the final boss is down, head back to the hub and chat with the Guild Master. This officially opens up High Rank quests — unlocking new areas, tougher monsters, and way better loot.
One thing to keep in mind is that progression in the game doesn’t always move in a straight line. Sometimes, you might notice your Hunter Rank (HR) stops increasing after a hunt, that usually means you’ve hit a soft cap. It’s the game’s way of telling you there’s something important you need to do before you can rank up again.
All HR Unlocks in MH Wilds
Once you hit High Rank, the game really starts opening up. Here’s what you can expect:
- Better Crafting Materials from Monsters
High Rank quests reward you with rarer monster parts, letting you craft stronger weapons and armor. You’ll also start getting Mystery Orbs from these quests, which you can trade for Weapon and Armor Decorations to boost your gear. - Unlock High Rank Gear
As you progress through High Rank, new gear becomes available. High Rank equipment comes with slots for decorations and offers a wider variety of options to customize your build. - Stronger Weapon Upgrades
Weapons also get a boost — you’ll notice their rarity increases as you upgrade them. Be sure to check out weapon builds to see which ones work best for your playstyle! - Mining Outcrop Changes
A good way to tell if you’ve reached High Rank is by checking the mining outcrops. They’ll start dropping materials like Lightcrystals, Carbalite Ore, and Icium — a clear sign you’ve stepped into the next level of progression. - Investigation Quests
High Rank also brings rarer monsters into the mix. Taking on Investigation Quests is a great way to farm materials for crafting advanced gear. Keep in mind, though, these tougher monsters usually only start showing up once you’ve beaten them in the story. - Tempered Monsters & Artian Weapons
As you dive deeper into High Rank, Tempered Monsters will start appearing. Defeating them rewards you with Artian Weapons and the materials needed to craft them. - Melding Relics
Another feature that unlocks in High Rank is the Melding Pot. This lets you meld relics — essentially exchanging Artian Materials for others, with a bit of randomness involved. Once you hit Hunter Rank 100, the Melding Pot levels up, allowing you to get Tier 3 items in exchange for 120 Melding Points.
