Low Rank is Monster Hunter Wilds is pretty forgiving but when you’re in High Rank, that’s when the real challenges begin. If you’re done enjoying Low Rank and wondering how to unlock high rank, then know that the process is pretty simple.
Like older Monster Hunter games, Monster hunter Wilds is split into Low and High Ranks.
How to Unlock High Rank in MH Wilds
To unlock High Rank (HR) in Monster Hunter Wilds, you must complete the main story and complete a post-game mission.
Complete the chapter with the last Low Rank boss (more commonly known as Chapter 4-1: “New Ecosystems,” or by beating Zoh Shia). Clear this mission and a cutscene plays, and High Rank content (the tougher monsters, new quests, and upgraded gear) unlocks.
Tip: SOS Flares work in HR but scale monster HP for each player.
Once the cutscene is over and the credits roll, you can finally start doing High Rank hunts. Monster indicated with an orange star (as opposed to blue) mean that you’re in High Rank territory.
Missions rated 1 up to 3 stars previously have now been rebranded as Low Rank missions. Likewise, armor unlocked prior to the credits now appears under the Low Rank umbrella in Gemma’s Smithy. High Rank armor is now presented in a dedicated shop pane.
Note: Upgrade Low Rank gear before facing Zoh Shia.
In addition to standard quests, there are high-rank missions available, though unlike the previous Monster Hunter, where there was a separate section for this, Monster Hunter Wilds streamlines the interface by lumping it all in one continuous list.
To help tell them apart, missions with a rank of 4 stars and above are color-coded—Low Rank missions are marked with a blue star while High Rank missions are color-coded with an orange star.
Also remember that the game’s progression system has changed. You may even notice your Hunter Rank will stop elevating after a hunt; this means you’ve hit a new soft cap. If you want guidance on how to navigate this area of progression, head to our investigative series “Investigate the regions and raise your HR.”
Post Unlock Progression
| HR Soft Cap | Unlock Method | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| HR7 | Automatic after Zoh Shia | Access to HR quests |
| HR15 | Complete “Investigating the Frenzied Shadow” | Tempered monsters |
| HR25 | Finish “Wyvern Sparks and Rose Thorns” | Elder Dragon hunts |
HR Soft Caps List in Monster Hunter Wilds
- End credits: HR7 cap lifted
- Chapter 4-1: HR8 cap lifted
- Chapter 4-2: HR15 cap lifted
- Chapter 4-3: HR20 cap lifted
- Chapter 6-1: HR40 cap lifted
HR hard cap for Monster Hunter Wilds is not know at the time of this writing but it won’t take long before data comes out. If older games are any indication we can expect soft cap to be HR 100 and then hard cap of HR 999 is next.
