How Long Does It Really Take to 100% Monster Hunter: World? A Hunter’s Guide to Completion
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So, you’re staring down the barrel of Monster Hunter: World, eyes gleaming with the promise of colossal creatures and countless hours of gameplay. But the burning question remains: Just how long will it take to truly conquer this beast of a game? The short answer is: a long time. Realistically, achieving 100% completion in Monster Hunter: World can take anywhere from 500 to 1000+ hours. But before you faint from exhaustion, let’s break down what that actually means and why the range is so vast.
The timeframe hinges on several factors, including your previous Monster Hunter experience, play style, willingness to grind, and, frankly, a little bit of luck. A veteran hunter who knows the monster attack patterns and weapon matchups will undoubtedly blaze through the main story faster than a newbie fresh off the boat. However, even experienced players will find the completionist tasks daunting.
The “100%” figure doesn’t just mean beating the final boss. Oh no, it’s far more insidious. We’re talking about:
- Completing every quest, including optional quests, event quests, and challenge quests.
- Crafting every weapon and armor set, including all variations and augmentations.
- Collecting all endemic life, including rare creatures.
- Obtaining all decorations (the bane of many hunters’ existence).
- Reaching max hunter rank (HR) and master rank (MR).
- Unlocking and completing all achievements/trophies.
- Fully upgrading all Palico gadgets.
- Completing the research levels for every monster.
As you can see, the journey to complete all these tasks can take a long time, and it might even take more than 1000 hours to fully complete depending on your luck, skill, and commitment.
The Grind is Real: Understanding the Time Sink
The biggest time sinks are undoubtedly the collection-based activities:
- Decorations: These powerful gems slot into your armor and weapons, granting potent skills. Obtaining specific, high-tier decorations often requires endless grinding of tempered monsters and elder dragons. The RNG (Random Number Generator) gods are not always kind.
- Crowns: Hunting for miniature and giant versions of each monster, indicated by gold crowns next to their name in the Hunter’s Notes, can be incredibly time-consuming. This often involves repeating the same quests dozens of times, hoping the spawn rates favor you.
- Materials: Crafting every weapon and armor set requires a vast collection of monster parts, ores, and plants. Some rare materials have notoriously low drop rates, forcing you to hunt the same monster repeatedly.
- Endemic Life: Catching all the rare endemic life in each region can be a fun diversion, but tracking down specific creatures at specific times of day, under specific weather conditions, can test your patience.
Strategies to Optimize Your Hunting Time
While there’s no escaping the grind entirely, there are ways to make the process more efficient:
- Focus on Specific Goals: Instead of trying to do everything at once, break down the completion process into smaller, more manageable goals. For example, focus on crafting all the weapons of a particular weapon type first.
- Use Online Resources: Websites and communities dedicated to Monster Hunter are invaluable for finding information on drop rates, spawn locations, and optimal farming strategies.
- Play with Friends: Hunting with a group can significantly speed up the process, especially for challenging quests and farming rare materials.
- Optimize Your Build: A well-optimized build can drastically reduce hunt times, allowing you to farm more efficiently. Research effective builds for different monsters and weapon types.
- Take Breaks: Don’t burn yourself out. Take regular breaks to avoid frustration and maintain your focus.
- Utilize Event Quests: Limited-time event quests often offer increased rewards, making them ideal for farming decorations and rare materials.
FAQs: Deep Diving into the Monster Hunter: World Completion Rabbit Hole
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the completion process and address common concerns:
1. What constitutes “completion” in Monster Hunter: World?
As described above, 100% completion involves a comprehensive list of tasks that includes completing all quests, crafting all gear, collecting endemic life, obtaining all decorations, reaching max ranks, unlocking all achievements, fully upgrading Palico gadgets, and completing the research levels for every monster.
2. Is it necessary to own the Iceborne expansion to 100% Monster Hunter: World?
While you can technically achieve a form of “100%” completion in the base game, many players consider the Iceborne expansion essential for the full experience. Iceborne adds a new storyline, new monsters, new gear, and a new Master Rank, significantly expanding the endgame content. To truly experience all that Monster Hunter: World has to offer, Iceborne is highly recommended.
3. How important are decorations for end-game builds?
Decorations are crucial for end-game builds. They provide valuable skills that can significantly enhance your damage output, survivability, and overall hunting efficiency. Some skills are only obtainable through decorations, making them essential for min-maxing your character.
4. What are the best ways to farm decorations?
The best ways to farm decorations are through tempered monster investigations and event quests with increased decoration drop rates. Tempered investigations offer higher chances of obtaining rare decorations, while event quests can provide a more consistent stream of lower-tier decorations.
5. How do I unlock all the optional quests?
Unlocking all optional quests requires completing various tasks, such as completing specific story missions, reaching certain hunter ranks, capturing monsters, and speaking to NPCs. Check online guides for a comprehensive list of requirements for each optional quest.
6. What are the Palico gadgets and how do I upgrade them?
Palico gadgets are unique tools that your Palico companion can use to assist you in hunts. They include the Vigorwasp Spray, Flashfly Cage, Shieldspire Stooge, Coral Orchestra, and Meowcano. To upgrade them, take your Palico on hunts in the relevant regions. The more your Palico uses the gadget, the faster it will level up.
7. What is the significance of reaching max hunter rank (HR) and master rank (MR)?
Reaching max HR and MR unlocks access to more challenging quests, monsters, and gear. It also signifies a high level of dedication and mastery of the game.
8. What’s the best weapon for soloing difficult monsters?
There is no single “best” weapon for soloing. It depends on your play style and the monster you’re fighting. However, popular choices for solo play include the Long Sword, Sword and Shield, and Insect Glaive, due to their versatility and mobility.
9. How do I capture monsters instead of killing them?
To capture a monster, you must first weaken it until it’s near death. Then, use a trap (either a Shock Trap or Pitfall Trap) to immobilize it. Finally, throw two Tranq Bombs at the trapped monster to put it to sleep and complete the capture.
10. Are there any missable achievements/trophies?
There are no truly missable achievements/trophies in Monster Hunter: World. However, some achievements, like obtaining specific crowns, can be quite challenging and time-consuming.
11. Is it worth using armor spheres to fully upgrade my armor?
Yes, fully upgrading your armor with armor spheres is highly recommended, especially in the late game. Upgrading your armor significantly increases its defense, making you more resistant to monster attacks.
12. How do I unlock the layered armor sets?
Layered armor sets are cosmetic armor pieces that allow you to change your character’s appearance without affecting your stats. You can unlock layered armor sets by completing specific quests, crafting them using rare materials, or purchasing them from the PlayStation Store or Xbox Marketplace.
13. What are the best ways to prepare for a hunt?
Before embarking on a hunt, it’s essential to eat a meal at the canteen to gain beneficial stat boosts. Also, ensure you have the necessary supplies, such as potions, antidotes, and traps. Finally, research the monster you’re hunting to understand its weaknesses and attack patterns.
14. How important is research level when hunting monsters?
Researching monsters and increasing their research level is crucial because the more research you do on a monster, the more information you’ll get about them. This information will allow you to see weaknesses and breakable parts for easier hunts.
15. What resources are available to help with the Monster Hunter: World learning curve?
There are tons of resources to help with the Monster Hunter: World learning curve. Check the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/, dedicated Monster Hunter websites, YouTube tutorials, and online communities for tips, guides, and build recommendations.
The Final Hunt: Is 100% Completion Worth It?
Ultimately, the decision of whether to pursue 100% completion in Monster Hunter: World is a personal one. It requires a significant time investment and a high tolerance for repetition. However, for dedicated hunters who enjoy the challenge and the satisfaction of mastering every aspect of the game, the journey can be incredibly rewarding. Just remember to pace yourself, set realistic goals, and don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way. Happy hunting!