In Monster Hunter Wilds, the Hunter Rank (HR) is your level which determines what quests you can take on, what monsters you can hunt, and how much of a badass you are in the game according to your current level. But leveling up isn’t as simple as grinding XP like in a traditional RPG. Capcom makes you work for it which involves progressing through the game and completing hunts & quests.
So, how do you increase your Hunter Rank quickly in Monster Hunter Wilds? Let’s break it down with all the best strategies to raise your progress.
How Hunter Rank Works in Monster Hunter Wilds?
Hunter Rank (HR) is a value that calculates your level in MHW. It doesn’t make your character stronger or increase stats, but it unlocks challenging quests, better gear/loot, and new high-level monsters to hunt. The higher your HR, the more endgame content you can access.
During the main story, your HR is capped at specific points, which means you can only increase it after progressing through key quests. By completing the main campaign, the HR cap is lifted, and you can start grinding experience points fast. On the HR 40 level, you will unlock and fight Tempered Monsters or other similar high-level creatures – they offer the highest XP rewards.
Here’s how long it takes to reach High Hunter Ranks on average:
- HR 40 (Unlocks Tempered Monsters) → Takes 20-35 hours
- HR 100 (Achievement Unlock) → Around 50-80 hours
- HR 999 (Ultimate Grind) → Hundreds of hours without stopping
Best Ways to Level Up Hunter Rank Fast in Monster Hunter Wilds
Complete High Rank Main Quests
After getting to a High Rank, focus on completing every available main quest. These provide the most HR experience, and ending all of them unlocks harder quests with even bigger rewards. Until you clear the storyline, your High Rank will locked behind some milestones. No matter how many monsters you hunt, your rank won’t go past a certain point. So, don’t get distracted by side content too early—blast through the main quests first.
That said, if a side quest involves hunting a monster, it’s often worth doing. There are also a few side quests that you might want to skip, but they reward you with additional HR points. Focus on those that involve hunting monsters; if you’re after specific gear, you’ll kill two birds with one stone.
Play in Co-Op for Faster Hunts
Playing with a team makes everything easier. A 4-player squad can take down monsters in half the time compared to solo play. The best way to find teammates is by using SOS Flares to call AI NPCs, join an online session to squad up with random players or play with friends (if they’re not busy carting…).
Hunt Tempered Monsters
Tempered Monsters are high-difficulty versions of normal beasts. Taking down two Tempered Monsters in a single quest is one of the fastest ways to earn a High Rank. You can see their star ratings to check the level of monsters. But more points mean more effort to earn. These monsters hit hard, so make sure you have good armor and a solid team before battling them.
Hunt Guardian Monsters
Guardian Monsters provide more HR experience than even Tempered ones. But these creatures are limited not as common fight as others:
- Guardian Fulgur Anjanath (brutal but worth it)
- Guardian Ebony Odogaron
- Guardian Rathalos
- Guardian Doshaguma
If you’re confident in your skills, killing Guardian Fulgur Anjanath nets you the highest rank boost—but he is also an absolute menace in battle.
Hunt the Toughest Monsters
The hardest monsters in the game give the most High Rank experience. To have some good challenges, focus on hunting:
- Arkveld
- Jin Dahaad
- Gore Magala
These hunts are not solo-friendly, so either bring friends or use SOS Flares to get extra help from AI Helpers.
Use SOS Flare
If you want fast HR experience, enter SOS Flare quests from other players or AI NPCs. These quests are often already in progress, meaning you can hop in, help finish a hunt, and still get full XP rewards. If you join an event where the monster is nearly dead, you’ll still get the full HR experience without doing all the work.
Convert Field Surveys into Investigations
While exploring, you will regularly encounter different kinds of monsters. Instead of just killing them in random encounters, convert these Field Surveys into Investigations by using Guild Points. Why? Investigations give more HR points than regular hunts, so are a much better option. High Rank monsters earn you more rewards even in this case than doing it with basic creatures.
Capture, Don’t Kill
Whenever possible, capture monsters instead of killing them. Capturing is much faster and still gives you the same High Rank points as a full hunt. If the quest doesn’t require you to kill the monster, always go for a capture – it saves time and effort.
Take on Event Quests and Bounties
Capcom regularly releases Event Quests that offer bonus HR experience. These are limited-time activities, but they usually provide huge XP payouts compared to standard quests. Always check for active Event Quests before grinding standard hunts and invest your time at the right place.
