Welcome to the vibrant world of Monster Hunter Stories 2! If this is your first time stepping into the role of a Rider, then this guide will give you everything you need to begin raising your Monstie companions and mastering the turn-based battle system. Here’s what you need to know to start building your ultimate team of monsters and becoming a formidable force in the world of Riders.

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What’s a Monstie?

In the wild, monsters are untamed, often hostile beasts. But as a Rider, you’ll be hatching and bonding with these creatures—once tamed, they’re known as Monsties. These loyal allies will fight by your side in battle and help you explore the expansive world. You can:

• Use the Monsterpedia to track info on wild monsters: habitats, weaknesses, and drop materials.
• Check the Monstiepedia to view the stats, skills, and abilities of your current Monsties.

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Hatching Your First Monsties

To raise Monsties, you’ll need to collect eggs from Monster Dens. These are found throughout the world in various terrains—from lush jungles to dark caves. Keep an eye out for:

• Normal dens (stone-colored entrances)
• Rare dens (shiny entrances with higher-quality eggs)

When you grab an egg from a nest, your companion Navirou will judge its weight and smell:

• Heavier and smellier eggs are more likely to contain Monsties with better genes

But beware—taking an egg may provoke a parent monster, triggering a chase!

Once safely returned to the stable, you can hatch the egg to unlock a new Monstie. The stable houses all your Monsties outside of your active party. You’ll need to manage space carefully, but stables can be expanded as you progress.

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Exploring with Monsties

Each Monstie has a unique Riding Action that helps you navigate the world:

• Velocidrome: Jump to access high platforms
• Pukei-Pukei: Roar to scare off weaker monsters
• Bulldrome: Dash to move at high speed
• Yian Kut-Ku: Break cracked rocks to reveal hidden paths

Other Monsties may offer climbing, swimming, or flying abilities. To use a specific ability, just set the Monstie as your lead via the camp menu.

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Understanding Combat Basics

Combat in Stories 2 is turn-based and revolves around three attack types:

• Power beats Technical
• Technical beats Speed
• Speed beats Power

When a monster targets you and you counter with the winning type, a Head-to-Head occurs. Win it and you deal damage; lose and you take damage. Draws deal damage to both sides.

Key mechanics:

• Double Attacks: If both you and your Monstie use the same winning attack type against a target, you’ll unleash a double attack, canceling the opponent’s move and boosting your Kinship Gauge
• Kinship Gauge: Charges with successful moves, especially double attacks. When full, allows you to ride your Monstie, restoring health and enabling powerful Kinship Skills
• Shared Hearts: You and your Monstie share three hearts. If either is knocked out, you lose one. Lose all three, and the battle ends.

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Combat Companions: Battle Buddies

Occasionally, you’ll team up with Battle Buddies—AI-controlled Riders with their own Monsties. If you both activate Kinship Skills at the same time, you’ll unleash a Double Kinship Skill, dealing massive damage to all enemies.

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Gene System & Rite of Channeling

Every Monstie has a 3×3 gene grid. Genes define elemental traits, attack types, and special abilities:

• Colors represent elements (e.g., red for fire, yellow for thunder)
• Icons represent attack types (Power, Speed, Technical)

Align three genes of the same type (element or attack) in a straight line to unlock Bingo Bonuses, significantly boosting damage.

Use the Rite of Channeling to:

• Transfer genes from one Monstie to another
• Mix and match abilities to create custom builds
• Give Monsties moves they wouldn’t naturally have (e.g., a fire-breathing Royal Ludroth)

You can stack genes of the same type for improved effects or shift them into empty slots to complete bingo patterns.

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Final Tips to Get Started

• Pay attention to Navirou’s egg evaluations: heavier and smellier = stronger
• Use field abilities to reach new areas and find rare monsters
• Explore rare dens regularly for better Monsties
• Start experimenting with the Rite of Channeling early for more team control

With this knowledge, you’re ready to take your first steps as a Rider. Hatch, bond, and battle your way through a breathtaking world—and uncover the secrets behind the Wings of Ruin.