Monster Hunter Stories 3: Cracking The 'Twisted Reflection' – Your Wizard's Guide To Dominating Early On
AI Gaming News Author · kotaku ·
Dive into *Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection* with Jeff's irreverent guide, covering everything from diverse weapon use and strategic combat to deep Monstie customisation and the new Habitat Restoration feature. Learn how to truly dominate the early game and build your ultimate team without getting walloped.
Right, so apparently, the latest spin-off in the Monster Hunter universe, *Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection*, has landed. And let me tell you, mate, if you thought you could waltz in there like you own the place, well, you'd be half right. It’s got that delightful creature-collecting vibe akin to a certain monster-pocketing phenomenon, but with a distinctly Monster Hunter flavour that's just… *chef's kiss*. We're talking a sprawling semi-open world and RPG mechanics crunchier than a freshly cooked Rathalos scale. You'll easily sink dozens of hours into building your dream team of Monsties, no doubt. But before you go accidentally summoning a Great Jaggi in your kitchen (don't ask, long story), I've been tinkering with the early game, and I've got some absolute gems – some wizard's whispers, if you will – to make sure your first few dozen hours are less 'oops, I'm dead again' and more 'huzzah, look at my magnificent Monsties!'.
### 1. Don't Be A One-Trick Pony (Weapon-Wise, That Is)
First up, let's talk weaponry. You've got your three glorious types: Pierce, Blunt, and Slash. Now, here's the kicker – every single monster limb, scale, and pointy bit in *Twisted Reflection* has a specific weakness. Trying to bludgeon a creature's delicate tail with a hammer when it clearly screams 'pierce me!' is just asking for a bad time. You can actually lug three weapons into battle, which, if you ask me, is pure genius. My advice? Carry one of each type. Seriously, it's not rocket science, but it’ll save your hide more times than a perfectly timed dodge roll. And within those categories, don't be afraid to experiment. A Hunting Horn might buff your mates, while a Hammer simply wants to bonk things into oblivion. Find your rhythm, find your weapon, and then swap 'em like a digital deck of cards!
### 2. The Art of the Head-to-Head: Your Combat Lifeline
Ah, the glorious rock-paper-scissors of *Monster Hunter Stories*. Power beats Technical, Technical beats Speed, and Speed beats Power. Sound familiar? It's simple on the surface, but absolutely critical in practice. When a monster looks at you with murder in its eyes, you need to guess its attack type and counter it perfectly. Win that 'Head-to-Head' clash, and your attack goes through, theirs gets nullified, and you look like a bloody legend. Since guarding isn't a thing here, winning these encounters is your primary way to dodge damage. It’s less about brute force and more about outsmarting your foe, like playing a high-stakes game of interdimensional chess.
### 3. Keep Your Eyes Peeled, Your Brain Engaged (During Fights!)
This might seem like a 'duh' moment, but paying attention in battle is paramount. Much like the main *Monster Hunter* games where you learn a monster's tells from a twitch of its tail, *Stories 3* wants you to be observant. The game actually gives you a handy 'acting strangely' pop-up when a monster is about to switch up its usual attack pattern. Normally, they might favour Power attacks, but suddenly, they're zipping around with Speed attacks. The game won't hold your hand and tell you *which* attack type is coming, so make a mental note, or if you're like me and have the memory of a goldfish, an actual note! Those subtle shifts are the difference between victory and becoming monster chow.
### 4. Unleash the Kinship: Timing is Everything, Mate!
As the battle rages, your Kinship gauge fills up. When it's full, hop onto your Monstie! It's not just for looking cool, mind. You'll restore HP, cure nasty status effects, and generally feel like a god. But here's the real magic: the Kinship attack. It’s your Monstie’s ultimate move, dealing eye-watering damage. Critically, it also *completely cancels out* an enemy’s attack. Got a monster winding up for a devastating special move that looks like it'll wipe your party? Time your Kinship attack perfectly, and you'll stop it dead in its tracks. It's like casting a perfect counter-spell just before the dragon breathes fire!
### 5. Don't Neglect Your Mates: Side Stories for the Win!
Six battle allies, all with their own stories, eh? It’s not just flavour text, folks! These Side Stories aren't just there to flesh out the characters (though they do a cracking job of it). They also net you some sweet, sweet rewards. We're talking stronger weapons for your allies, new Monsties, and crucially, new recipes and blueprints to craft more tools for battle. As the difficulty inevitably ramps up, these side adventures are an absolute must to keep your party geared up and ready for whatever *Twisted Reflection* throws at you. Think of it as investing in your adventuring crew's digital well-being.
### 6. The Humble Side Quest: More Than Just Busywork
Beyond the character-driven Side Stories, you've got your bog-standard RPG side quests. You know the drill: 'defeat X number of monsters,' 'gather X amount of material.' They might seem a bit pedestrian, but don't skip 'em! They're quick, easy bursts of EXP – perfect for catching up any Monsties that are lagging behind. Plus, you'll snag a load of random materials. Every little bit of EXP helps, and those materials are the lifeblood of crafting, so consider them little efficiency hacks in your grand adventure.
### 7. If It's Not Nailed Down, Pick It Up!
I’m talking about everything. Every mushroom, every shiny bit of ore, every dropped feather. Seriously, if you can pick it up, *do it*. You'll find ingredients for potions, meals, and all sorts of useful bits and bobs. And here’s a neat trick: picking up materials also grants a tiny bit of EXP to your party. It might not seem like much compared to a big battle, but those small gains add up faster than you can say 'Elder Dragon.' Being adequately levelled is just as important as having good gear, so channel your inner digital hoarder!
### 8. Dive into Monster Dens Like It's Your Job
Whenever you're out exploring, keep an eye on your map; monster dens are constantly replenishing. These aren't just pretty backdrops, mate. They're treasure troves! Venture inside, and you'll find eggs to hatch back at your stable. But here's the pro-tip from your friendly neighbourhood wizard: *always* look for the rare *silver dens*. These bad boys are where the magic happens. They're more likely to hold rarer Monstie eggs, and the creatures that hatch from them often come with more valuable genes. It's like finding a legendary loot drop, but for future battle companions.
### 9. The Alchemist's Lab: Mastering Genes and the Rite of Channeling
This is where *Monster Hunter Stories 3* truly gets its hooks in. Your stable isn't just a place for cute pets; it's a genetic laboratory! The 'Rite of Channeling' lets you swap genes between your Monsties, granting them new attacks and skills. As your Monsties level up, they learn more abilities, giving you an insane amount of freedom to customise their movesets. Want a fire-breathing, thunder-striking Aptonoth? You can probably make it happen (don't quote me on the Aptonoth specifically, but you get the drift!). This is why you want to visit all those dens and hatch all those eggs – more Monsties mean more genes, and more genes mean more power and strategic depth. It’s a genuine rabbit hole of customisation, and frankly, it's brilliant.
### 10. Heal the World, Gain the Power: Habitat Restoration
One of the *Twisted Reflection*'s shiny new features is Habitat Restoration, and it’s a stroke of genius. You can release old, unneeded Monsties back into the wild to, well, rehabilitate the ecosystem. And this isn't just for good karma points! Reintroducing monsters makes it easier to find specific eggs, which ties back nicely to your gene-hunting efforts. Most importantly, if you manage to level up an ecosystem to S-Rank, you'll be able to hatch Monsties with S-Rank Genes. These are substantially more powerful versions of regular genes, giving you a monumental advantage against the game's toughest bosses. It's a fantastic loop: collect, nurture, release, and then collect even *better* stuff. Fair dinkum, Capcom, that's clever!
So there you have it, fellow Riders. A few pointers from someone who’s accidentally turned a few virtual forests into swamps (again, don't ask). *Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection* is shaping up to be a cracker, and with these tips, you'll be well on your way to taming its wild world. Happy hunting, and may your Kinship gauge always be full!
Original Source: kotaku.com
Tags: MonsterHunterStories3, RPG, GamingTips, CreatureCollecting, Capcom
Original article: kotaku