Whether you’re a returning hunter or just discovering the joy of Palico gameplay, this guide is your all-in-one crash course to getting the most out of Prowler Mode in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate. While the base GU version is fun, it’s often unbalanced for Prowler play. However, with the right setup—and optional mods like Irati’s Cope Edition—Prowler becomes a flexible, powerful weapon type.

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Getting Started with Prowler

First, head to the Palico Board in your house, at the Palico Ranch, or in Gathering Hall prep areas. Everything from setup to management can be done here, except training (done at the Ranch) and scouting (available at all villages and Ranch).

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Understanding Prowler Types

Each Prowler type has distinct stats, active skills (4), and passive skills (2). Base stats vary minimally and don’t matter unless you’re hyper-optimizing. Focus on unique skills and utility instead.

1. Charisma

• Support type, similar to Hunting Horn.
• Unique skill: Palico Rally (+10% damage and +20% defense to all allies).
• Extra C-rank active skill slot.
• Better as AI Palico than a main Prowler.

2. Fighting

• Well-rounded melee and ranged option.
• Unique skill: Furious (self-buff: earplugs + affinity).
• Passive: Handicraft (+1 sharpness level).

3. Guard

• Unique trait: Adept Guard (counter-attack on timed blocks).
• Active: Taunt, Guard Up (blocks unblockable moves).
• Great survivability; ideal for tank roles.

4. Assist

• Trap experts: Poison Pitfall Trap, Monster Radar.
• 3-hit boomerang combo makes them powerful ranged cats.

5. Recovery

• Skip. Not strong or efficient.

6. Bomber

• Uses bombs for damage.
• Active: Mega Barrel Bomb, Giga Bomb (meh in base GU).
• Passive: Bomb Boost, but underwhelming without mods.

7. Collect

• Same 3-hit boomerang as Assist.
• Passive: Pilfer Boost, Plundering (extra materials).
• Interchangeable with Assist.

8. Beast

• Completely unique melee-only mode.
• Beast Mode changes moveset.
• Level 1-3 Beast levels grant: Rocksteady > Affinity > SP mode.
• Passive: Critical Boost, Rousing Roar.

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Skills and Loadouts

Best Passive Skills (Memory Slots Based)

• Boomerang Pro – Must-have for ranged damage.
• Earplugs – Prevent interruptions.
• Range Attack Up – Extra 5% ranged damage.
• Weakness Exploit – Huge affinity boost.
• Crit Up S/L, Evade Boost, Tremor Res, Nonstick Fur – Nice options.

Key Active Skills

• Pierce Boomerang, Big Boomerang, Mega Boomerang – Ranged DPS core.
• Forbidden Acorn – Start hunt with 3 bars.
• Soothing Roll / Emergency Retreat – Cleanse/heal.
• Claw Dance – Melee burst.
• Go Fight Win! – SP regen.
• Dung Bombs, Trampolines, Flash Bombay – Utility.

Optimal Boomerang Build Template

• Active: Pierce, Big, Mega Boomerang, Soothing Roll, Forbidden Acorn.
• Passive: Boomerang Pro, Earplugs, Range Attack Up, Weakness Exploit, Crit Up S.

Best Beast Cat Setup

• Active: Weapon Upgrade, Forbidden Acorn, Claw Dance, Go Fight Win, Emergency Retreat.
• Passive: Crit Up L, Artful Dodger (evasion), Extend Beast, Weakness Exploit.

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Weapon Selection

Choose weapons based on both melee and boomerang stats. Prioritize:

• Boomerang Cats: High range stat.
• Beast Cats: High melee raw and purple sharpness.

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Training and Skill Assignment

Each Palico has a set of skill groups (A, B, C). Use the Felyne Codexes (obtained in high-rank Prowler quests) to rearrange skills within the same group.

How to Efficiently Scout Cats:

• Visit Granny Cat in any town.
• Match skill groups and passives to desired build.
• Use “Horns of Plenty” quest to quickly pass time.

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Special Mention: Irati’s Cope Edition Mod Changes

If you use the Cope mod, major buffs improve viability:

• Bomber Cats now have high bomb modifiers.
• Fighter/Guard Cats: More gauge from aerial/dodge spin.
• Claw Dance: Now ~195 MV (up from ~136).
• Crit Boost & Handicraft: Reduced memory cost from 4 to 2.
• Bomb Cats: Can be DPS now, not just memes.

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Final Tips

• Use trampoline for mounting spam.
• Equip Flash Bombay for instant flinches.
• Always download free DLC Palicos for rare passive skills.
• Beast cat combo: alternate X and A with backflip on R.

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This concludes your ultimate guide to Prowler builds. Whether you want flashy damage, pure support, or traps galore, there’s a cat for every kind of hunter. Now get out there and meow them down!