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fighting a mernos in monster hunter now
Credit to Capcom and Niantic

How to play Monster Hunter Now – Tips, Tricks and Guide

This is how to play Monster Hunter Now.

Monster Hunter is a franchise beloved by many people, so it was only a matter of time before a mobile version came out. Monster Hunter Now delivers just that, allowing you to slay beasts while on the move. If you’ve never dipped into the franchise but always wanted to, this is a great opportunity to do without the pressure of buying a full game. Think of it as a way to gauge if the mechanics and gameplay are for you. For those who are new to the series, this is how to play Monster Hunter Now.

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How To Play Monster Hunter Now

Diablos from Monster Hunter
Image via Ninatic / Capcom

Since the gameplay is similar to other Monster Hunter games, think of this as a deep instructional dive into the franchise as a whole. You play a hunter who slays sometimes dangerous beasts and uses their parts to create special armor and weapons that will help you beat stronger monsters. You’ll start off battling little monsters as a new hunter and eventually face the classic beasts like the elder dragons. Each monster has different elemental powers, some like the Pukei-Pukei use poison while others use fire or water attacks. Because of this, you need to make sure that the armor you have corresponds to that. To change your armor out, this is what to do:

  • On the main screen after opening the game, check the icons in the lower left-hand side of the screen.
  • Tap the one that has a weapon set, it’s usually a sword and shield. You’ll see it next to your picture.

The next screen will be your main hub for equipment making, upgrades, and changes. To swap out a weapon, tap it and then press equip. For armor choices, just tape the armor rectangle next to the weapon one. You can boost either by tapping level up. If you’re ever having issues battling a monster, chances are it’s because you have the wrong kind of armor or weapon equipped.

Is Monster Hunter Now Pay To Win?

Now since it’s a free mobile game you might be wondering, are there pay-to-win aspects? While it’s got some microtransactions for extra currency, the game is pretty generous with the offering of items. On the map, you’ll find little piles that either you or your palico can check out, though they will usually do it themselves. These have useful items for healing after a battle and other things. Your palico has its own pouch, which will automatically empty out for you once in a while.

How To Battle In Monster Hunter Now

When it comes to battling, your best friend is sidestepping. You never want to be in the line of a monster fire because one strong move might knock out half of your HP. Beware that some of them can hit you with their tail as well. Swipe left or right on the screen to move to the side, forward to move close, and tap backward to move further away.

To attack a monster, just move near them and tap as quickly as you can. The goal here is to work quickly without taking a lot of damage, you need to save your healing items for stronger monsters. Pro tip: you can slide forward by dragging your finger on the screen. Also, if you don’t have an issue with motion sickness, you can tap the phone icon on the right side of the screen and have the perspective move with you!

How To Play Monster Hunter Now Without Walking

Since it’s made by the same people who made Pokemon Go, some assumed it might have similar gameplay where you can’t really do anything with it without moving around. This is half true and half false. If you’re sitting somewhere, you’ll definitely find monsters to fight, but for piles of bones and items, you might have to go out and do some searching, as they typically take a long time to respawn.

How To Play Monster Hunter Now Solo

Another thing players considered is whether the gameplay of Monster Hunter Now would be solo-friendly, as the raids in Pokemon Go can be hard to do alone. Monster Hunter traditionally usually has options for both. People use it as a game to play with friends, but there are many who solo them also, particularly the endgame monsters like Velkhana. It can be difficult but it certainly isn’t impossible and Now feels equally friendly for solo players. Either way, you won’t be forced to team up with people you don’t know. But if you have friends who play, you should definitely get them to join you for a hunt!

It’s Time For The Ultimate Hunt In Monster Hunter Now!

All in all, Monster Hunter Now is looking to have the potential to be a great game. It’s fun and involved, yet not so involved that it doesn’t have the relaxed idle-ness mobile games should have. The game also feels very authentic to the aspects of what makes a typical Monster Hunter game so fun. Therefore this can be enjoyed by familiar players as well as new ones. Strap on your armor, sharpen your sword, polish that shield, and join the hunt today in Monster Hunter Now!

Author
Image of Erin O’Gorman
Erin O’Gorman
A graduate of Pace University, Erin O'Gorman is a freelance guide writer that has been making content for Touch Tap Play since 2021 and writing for the media years before. They specialize in content such as tier lists, how-to's, listicles, reviews, and best ofs. Erin is also an experienced self-taught proofreader and editor, a skill that they polished with years of experience. They aspire to make it far in the world of writing.