Monster Hunter Rise is an open-world RPG filled with tons of beautiful landscapes and powerful monsters to fight. It will have you spend hours and hours with exploration alone. There are a ton of things to do and areas to visit in this game, and a handful of them are particularly more hidden than others.
Hidden locations are almost a given in big open-world games such as Monster Hunter Rise. In the case of this game, these hidden locations will either offer wonderful rewards or simple treats that, though they do nothing for progress, still offer a little sense of fulfillment.
Updated February 12, 2022, by Leah Isobel: It’s an exciting time to get into Monster Hunter Rise. Capcom has supported the game post-launch with major patches that have added new areas, new monsters to hunt, and new loot to make cool gear out of. There’s also a huge new expansion on the horizon, and on top of all of that, the game was recently ported to the PC, allowing a whole new group of hunters to go searching through its vast world looking for hidden areas. Whether you’re new to the game or an old hand seeking out every last secret, here are a few cool spots you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
13 The Mining Outcrop In Frost Islands
The Frost Islands area features plenty of different landmarks, from a spooky sunken ship to a huge mountain. At the north end of the map, you’ll find a frozen underground cave that terminates in a huge chamber, split by a vertical shaft that allows sunlight to pour through. You might think that this is just for show, but with some crafty wirebug usage, you can climb up the shaft and emerge on a small mining outcrop up top.
Of course, there is an easier way to get here; you just have to scramble up the mountain, climb into a hidden tunnel, use a Great Wirebug to zip across the map, and make sure not to fall down the shaft. Piece of cake!
12 The Infernal Springs
Added in the most recent major update to the game, the Infernal Springs area is one that many players might not even know is there. It’s locked behind several high-level quests, most of which you won’t be able to complete until the end of the game.
Once you do unlock it, you’ll gain access to even more challenging quests within the Springs which task you with defeating Apex Monsters. It’s tough as nails, but the rewards are great if you can pull it off.
11 The Ruins In Sandy Plains
The Sandy Plains, Monster Hunter Rise’s desert location, is a pretty big map with a lot to see. Up at the north end, hidden behind a huge swathe of desert, you’ll see a massive chasm cut deep into the earth. If you descend - carefully! - you’ll find yourself in the ruins of an ancient civilization, built into the surrounding rock.
It’s pretty cool, and there are a lot of secrets to find around here. Make sure not to miss the unassuming entrance into the cliffside in order to get some high-quality items and maybe see a rare monster or two.
10 The Endemic Life Hideout In Shine Ruins
Speaking of rare monsters chilling out in ancient ruins, the rare Endemic Life in the Shrine Ruins is hidden in a particularly out-of-the-way spot. You’ll have to clamber up the map around Region Five, making it to the Great Wirebug hidden on a rocky outcrop to launch upwards.
At the top, you’ll find a little clearing with a shrine gate built on it. Don’t get distracted by the hostile monsters or rare items waiting here; instead, turn around and climb up the gate. There, just hanging out, you’ll meet a rare creature. You’d think it would prefer a place that’s easier to get to!
9 Flooded Forest’s Secret Camp
In each area in Monster Hunter Rise, you’ll have a main camp that serves as your home base; but you’ll also be able to unlock sub-camps, which allow you to rest up without having to trek back across the map. Sub-camps can be hard to find, and the one in the Flooded Forest is one of the most challenging ones.
In Region 11 of the map, you’ll see a huge stone column overgrown with trees; off to one side and high off the ground there’s a small entrance into the overgrowth that’s easy to miss. You’ll have to use your wirebugs carefully to make it there, but if you do, you’ll unlock the quest that will give you access to the sub-camp.
8 The Nest In Buddy Plaza
There is a Cohoot Nest in Buddy Plaza that will grant you a ton of free rare items each time you visit it. To find this hidden area, simply go to the shrine and head to the tree behind it. You can climb this tree by using the vines as platforms.
The great thing about this hidden area is that each time you return to it after a hunt, there will always be items in there for you to pick up. A lot of them are rare items, and you can get them absolutely for free.
7 Shortcut To Mizutsune
Monster Hunter Rise is the kind of game where you’ll have to do a lot of exploration. In a lot of cases, you may want to skip that and use the fast travel mechanic. The only thing is, you will need a fast travel point to do this and not every single area in the game has one. This is where shortcuts come in handy.
In Monster Hunter Rise, you will encounter a monster named Mizutsune. This monster, like many of the other monsters in the game, isn’t exactly easy to defeat. You will most likely get carted one or two times, if not more, trying to overcome this monster. Getting to it every single time seems like a drag. Thankfully, there’s a shortcut that leads to this area on the left side of the camp.
6 The Passage Inside The Mountain
Going around an entire mountain sounds like an exhausting endeavor, and that’s because it is. It may just be a game for players of Monster Hunter Rise, but the time needed to do that is still pretty substantial. That’s time better spent battling the various awesome monsters in the game, right?
In between Region Four and Eight, there’s a mountain with a hidden passage you can use to either climb up or slide down. Doing this is so much better and faster than going around the mountain.
5 Training Area Mural
The Training Area in Monster Hunter Rise is a place you should come back to time and again, especially when trying out new weapons. Training here and getting familiar with your weapons is so much better than immediately jumping into the world to battle monsters.
Aside from training in combat, you can also use the Training Area to practice traversal mechanics. In fact, you will find something awesome if you manage to reach the top of the training area. Hidden behind a waterfall atop the Training Area is a mural that depicts some sort of battle. It’s a very mysterious mural that may have implications on the game’s lore. You can check it out for yourself the next time you visit the Training Area.
4 Fukashigi’s Hiding Place
Your house in Monster Hunter Rise is a place where you can rest after a long and debilitating hunt. You can also customize it with pictures and even music. When you collect enough relics, you will be able to trade them for wooden statues which you can then place in your house.
One other thing about your house not that many people know about is the fact that there’s a felyne hidden behind a painting inside it. This cat is called Fukashigi the Informant. This cat, once discovered, will tell you stories about the game’s world, and even give you hints on certain quests.
3 The Secret Room In Flooded Forest Temple
There is a gorgeous tower that you can climb up in the Flooded Forest area. Once you reach the upper levels of this temple, you will be able to spot a cracked wall that you can break using barrel bombs.
There is also a rare endemic life behind the entrance of the temple. Should you decide to visit this area, you should check that out as well.
2 Hidden Area In Lava Caverns
The Lava Caverns is one of the most interesting places in Monster Hunter Rise. It is also home to a couple of monsters and endemic life. One of those creatures can be found hidden behind a very recluse area.
Once you enter the Lava Caverns, there is a very small opening that you can crawl through which opens to a small, yet tall sector. You can then use your wirebugs to reach an opening high above the room. This leads to an open area where a Hellbird can randomly spawn.
1 The Location Of The Monksnail
The Monksnail is a rare endemic life that will appear under specific circumstances. The location this creature is at isn’t a place you can exactly get to, but rather only observe from afar.
The Monksnail is in the Frost Islands in Region Eight, at the edge of the map facing the sea. You’ll need to visit this place during nighttime. The Monksnail will appear after a few minutes.
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