How Do You Get High Rank In Monster Hunter Wilds

The game truly begins when you unlock the high rank in Monster Hunter Wilds. It’s not just about stronger monsters. it’s about gear, quests, layered armor, and raising your hunter rank. If you’re asking how to get High Rank in Monster Hunter Wilds, you’re not alone. 

Here’s how it works and what you should do when you hit it.

What Is High Rank in Monster Hunter Wilds?

Low Rank is your intro phase. It’s built to help you understand monsters, their behaviors, and your gear. But the jump to high rank in Monster Hunter Wilds changes everything.

The moment you cross into High Rank, the best Low Rank armor becomes nearly obsolete. Even the weakest High Rank gear will outclass your strongest Low Rank sets. You’ll now face tougher monsters and earn materials marked with a “+”, unique to this stage.

You unlock better weapons, layered armor, and more advanced missions. But it’s also where the grind starts. Every upgrade requires High Rank monster parts, ores, and bones. It’s a loop of hunting, crafting, and repeating.

How To Unlock High Rank

To unlock High Rank in Monster Hunter Wilds, you need to finish Chapter 3 and let the credits roll. When you return in Chapter 4, your Hunter Rank (HR) cap lifts from HR7. That’s the signal. From here, everything changes.

The mission layout changes as well. Previous 1–3 star quests are now listed as Low Rank. New quests, starting at 4 stars, are marked with orange stars and are your entry to High Rank.

Gemma’s Smithy now shows a separate tab for High Rank armor. This makes it easier to distinguish between the two gear tiers.

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Understanding Hunter Rank Caps

Progress through High Rank isn’t just about doing hunts. The game introduces soft caps at various HR levels. These limits block your rank progression until certain missions are completed.

Here’s how it works:

• Post-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

These soft caps serve as checkpoints. To pass each one, you’ll usually complete a mission, investigate regions, or beat new monsters.

Weapons or Armor First?

This is a common question. Most players recommend crafting a basic High Rank armor set first for better defense. You’ll likely still be using early Low Rank weapons, but the stat boost from armor makes a big difference.

Once you can survive, start working on weapon upgrades. Focus on upgrading paths that use High Rank monster parts. Always check for “+” symbols on materials to confirm they’re High Rank.

You don’t need perfect builds early on. Craft a decent armor set, then upgrade as you go.

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Alpha vs Beta Armor Sets

When you reach High Rank in Monster Hunter Wilds, you’ll see both Alpha and Beta versions of each armor piece.

• Alpha sets come with more baked-in skills.
  
• Beta sets have fewer skills but more decoration slots.
  

Early game, Alpha sets are helpful since you probably lack high-level decorations. But as you farm more materials and collect decorations, Beta sets give you more flexibility. Many players mix and match the two.

How To Keep Progressing

Once you’ve entered High Rank, keep following the story. You’ll get side quests and optional hunts as your HR rises. If you ever notice your rank isn’t moving, you’ve probably hit a soft cap.

To push past it, investigate the current zone or complete a key mission. Focus on monsters marked with orange stars. These are guaranteed High Rank hunts.

If a quest feels too hard, return to earlier hunts to farm parts and Armor Spheres. Use these to upgrade your current gear. Don’t rush through the content. Take your time, hunt what you need, and progress slowly.

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Final Words

Some players prefer to collect gear that simply looks cool. That’s valid too. Layered Armor lets you wear whatever style you like without sacrificing performance.

Also, don’t worry if you’re still wearing a few Low Rank pieces. If upgraded enough, they can hold up during early High Rank. Just replace them when better parts become available.

High Rank in Monster Hunter Wilds rewards consistency. Farm, build, hunt, and repeat. That’s the loop, and that’s where the fun begins.