Capcom's Monster Hunter series has always had its players interacting with the wildlife around them When Monster Hunter Rise burst back onto handheld screens last year, it brought with it some of the lessons learned from its immensely successful predecessor, Monster Hunter World. Instead of gathering plants and combining them to recover and assist, World gave its players a new way to use the locale to their advantage.
Interactable fauna, rather than flora, known within the series as Endemic Life, are found all over the maps in Rise and, unlike in World, can be kept by the hunter to be used at the opportune moment. Whether it be to heal in a tight spot, to damage and inflict status effects or even to ride a raging Rajang into the ruckus, these Hunting Helpers can be used to turn the tide of battle. It's also worth noting that once a helper has been obtained, its info is unlocked in the Endemic Life section of a player's Hunter's Notes, allowing them to be found again with ease.
Poisontoad / Paratoad / Sleeptoad / Blastoad
As their names suggest, each toad inflicts a certain status ailment to a target when thrown, so players should aim carefully to avoid missing and wasting their helper. A Poisontoad will slowly drain a monster's health. A Paratoad will incapacitate a monster for a brief period, allowing hunters to deal extra damage or reach weak points. Sleeptoad allows hunters to strategize an attack, such as a barrel bomb awakening, taking advantage of the bonus damage on a sleeping target. Blastoads have the ability to topple a monster, giving hunters a chance to get more attacks in.
The toads remain stationary on the floor, gazing inquisitively at their surroundings. They all look the same but are colored differently to reflect the ailment they inflict. Poisontoads are found in Shrine Ruins, Frost Islands and Sandy Plains, while paratoads in Sandy Plains, Flooded Forest and Lava Caverns. Sleeptoads can be found in Frost Islands, Sandy Plains and Flooded Forest, and Blastoads in Shrine Ruins, Flooded Forest and Lava Caverns.
Firebeetle / Mudbeetle / Thunderbeetle / Snowbeetle
Like the toads above, each beetle will inflict a different effect when thrown at a monster. However, instead of a status, the target will be given an elemental blight corresponding with the type of beetle thrown. Firebeetles will set the monster on fire, dealing burn damage for a time. Mudbeetles inflict waterblight, which makes a monster's hide softer, allowing attacks to hit where they may normally bounce off. Hitting a monster with a Thunderbeetle will make a monster easier to stun. A Snowbeetle will slow a monster down, giving hunters more time to react to attacks.
Each beetle pushes around a different colored ball that correlates with the element it inflicts. Firebeetles can be located in Shrine Ruins, Frost Islands, Sandy Plains and Lava Caverns, Mudbeetles in Shrine Ruins, Sandy Plains, Flooded Forest and Lava Caverns. Thunderbeetles are in Shrine Ruins, Frost Islands, Flooded Forest and Lava Caverns, and Snowbeetles in Shrine Ruins, Frost Islands, Sandy Plains and Flooded Forest.
Stinkmink / Wailnard
The Stinkmink is a skunk-like creature that can often be seen walking circles and sniffing about its surroundings. It can be easily identified from afar by its white coat and bushy tail. When used, the Stinkmink creates a distraction causing any monster the player is fighting to stop what it's doing and investigate the Stinkmink.
Players must be prepared though, as they will become the distraction themselves, as the Stinkmink emanates a white aura on the player. It's particularly useful when another player is in trouble and needs the heat taken off them. Stinkminks can be found in every locale, so no matter where they hunt, players will always be able to find one to bring to the fight.
In a similar manner, hunters can use a Wailnard to lure a monster to wherever it is placed rather than on their person. The Wailnard looks like a pheasant and is distinguishable by its glowing red neck. This Hunting Helper is only available in Shrine Ruins, at the top of the ivy wall in Area 3.
Escuregot / Antidobra
These two hunting helpers are perhaps the most useful of them all and can provide support in troubling situations. Players should look out for a green snail on the floor for the Escuregot and a snake protruding from the ground for the Antidobra. Using the Escuregot will place it on the ground and cause it to release a healing aura similar to the Health Booster from World. Similarly, the Antidobra will create a cleansing aura, curing any ailments the hunter may have, such as poison or elemental blight.
The effects can also be stacked. Placing more than one Escuregot will speed the rate of healing, and adding an Antidobra to the mix will create a cure-all support bubble for every hunter in the party. Escuregot can be found in every locale other than Lava Caverns, while the Antidobra can be obtained in Shrine Ruins, Flooded Forest and Lava Caverns.
Puppet Spider
This Hunting Helper is the best way for players to utilize one of Rise's best new features: Wyvern Riding. Start by placing the spider near a monster. The helper will jump forward and, upon impact with the target, will put it into a rideable state. The player can then mount the monster and ride it about the locale, as well as deal damage to other monsters.
The spider itself is a yellow color, with two large front legs that are often raised as if ready to leap. They can be collected in three of the five locales: Shrine Ruins, Frost Islands and Lava Caverns. Savvy hunters can collect the Puppet Spider early and use it on an enemy that isn't the main target of the quest, ride that monster to the target and inflict massive damage.
Trapbugs / Gustcrab
These helpers are perhaps the least useful of the bunch when compared with basic items like the shock and pitfall trap or simply using the Wirebug to launch into the air. Trapbugs do exactly what the name suggests and act as a trap for large monsters. The Trapbugs are scattered on the ground and will hurt a target with the potential to topple it too. The green and orange bugs can be found in Shire Ruins, Frost Islands and Sandy Plains, and are always seen clinging to a thin tree stump.
The Gustcrab will, when placed on the ground, emit a vertical gust of air that can send hunters flying into the sky, giving them the opportunity to perform aerial attacks that may normally be outside of their weapon's capabilities. Gustcrabs look like a white sphere and can be located in Sandy Plains and Lava Caverns.
Brewhare
The Brewhare is the only passive Hunting Helper. Simply having the creature in their helper cage (a separate section of the player's inventory, visible in the menu) is enough to experience the benefits of the Brewhare, as it boosts the effects of items like potions, first-aid meds and well-done steaks. According to the description, its furry coat is made of mold and it's that bacteria that boosts the items.
The helper is distinguishable by its bright pink fur, which contrasts against the green, white and yellow pallets of the Shrine Ruins, Frost Islands and Sandy Plains. Support-oriented players can combine the Brewhare with the Wide Area skill to really help out their party with improved healing.
Lanternbug / Aurortle
The last two Hunting Helpers are the defensive sort, and players can use them to negate some or all of the damage dealt by a monster's attack. A Lanternbug creates a shield for the player to protect against incoming attacks until the health of the Lanternbug (visible above the player's health bar) is depleted. Comparably, an Aurortle will protect the player from one attack that may be fatal to the player, saving them from carting back to base camp.
Lanternbugs can be stacked to increase the damage a player can mitigate, and there are many located around the Lava Caverns, an area where many of the game's toughest monsters call home. They are also available in Frost Islands and Flooded Forest. Conversely, Aurortles are so rare and indeed useful that players may only find one in either the Flooded Forest or Lava Caverns.
Completionists can also gain Guild Card Awards by collecting Hunting Helpers. Gathering 500 unlocks the "Hunting Helpers Plate" and photographing them all will give the player the "Copper Ecologist's Award". With these useful creatures on their side, players will be able to face the toughest fights Rise throws at them, and with the Sunbreak expansion looming, they may need the help.