Monster Hunter Rise is all about fighting giant monsters with massive weapons, but a hunter requires more items in their arsenal than a big anime sword. There are lots of items that can be crafted and purchased at the base, which will give the hunters their best chance at survival out in the field.
The bulk of a player's abilities in Monster Hunter Rise are tied to their weapons. The Hunting Horn has a few spell-like abilities that act as buffs, but players won't have access to healing magic. Instead, the hunters must rely on potions and traps to survive. One of the reasons why the Monster Hunter games are so challenging is because it takes a while to use items, so players can't just spam potions to make it through tough battles.
Preparation is the key to survival in Monster Hunter Rise, as the player doesn't want to be the one who fails a mission because they failed to stock up on items. Assembling the correct loadout is a vital part of the game, especially for beginners to the series. These are the items that players should always have on every mission in Monster Hunter Rise.
Healing Items
The player should always have ten Potions, Cleansers, Antidotes, and Deodorants with them at all times, in order to deal with minor wounds/status effects. Always take the time to gather Honey during hunts (these are found in the glowing beehives around the map), as these can be combined with Potions to make Mega Potions. Always keep ten to these on hand if possible, as they heal a ton of damage. Max Potions are made by combining a Catalyst with a Mandragora and these will fully heal the hunter. Only two of these can be taken on the hunt at a time, so make sure to restock after missions. There's an even stronger variant of the Max Potion, called the Ancient Potion, which also maxes out the stamina meter. It takes an Immunizer and a Kelbi Horn to craft them, the latter of which is taken from the green deerlike creatures that appear during hunts. If the player mixes Godbug with Gloamgrass Bub, they will make Dust of Life. This is one of the most useful items in the game, as it can heal all hunters within the vicinity. This is useful for saving a party member who is about to be trampled by a monster.
In Monster Hunter Rise, the player can fast travel when outside of combat. If the player combines a Smokenut with a Exciteshroom, they will create a Farcaster, which can be used to return to the base camp during combat. This will allow the player to escape a fatal hit and let them rest up/use the facilities at the tent.
Monster Fighting Items
A hunter should always have a full assortment of capture gear, as capturing a monster will always grant more items. These include a Pitfall Trap (Net + Trap Tool to craft), Shock Trap (Thunderbug + Trap Tool to craft), and Tranq Bombs (Sleep Herb + Parashroom to craft). The player will be able to purchase Tranq Bombs after completing a few missions. The player can only bring one of each trap on a hunt, but it's useful to have both. If a monster is battering the party, then it's worth burning a trap to give everyone a chance to heal. The player should also craft Dung Bombs using the Dung found in the piles of poop found around the map. These are used in missions where the player needs to fight multiple monsters at once. Throwing multiple Dung Bombs at an enemy will cause it to flee. This will give the party a chance to focus on one monster at a time.
Monster Hunter Rise is available now for Nintendo Switch.