Monster Hunter World is the most forgiving entry to date, but that's not to say everything is straightforward. Combat, quests, materials and upgrades all have their quirks, and it's only you put a handful of hours into it that things start to really come together.
To help, here's a list of Monster Hunter World tips you should be doing or taking notice of as you progress through the Hunter Ranks.
If you're after the essentials, our Monster Hunter World walkthrough and guide can help break down what a hunt entails step-by-step, as well as the variety of activities you can get up to outside main story missions - which we also list in order to help you decide when to push on to a specific monster you want to carve into fancy armour.
Try a range of weapons to see what works for you
There are 14 weapon types to choose between - from swords to bows, and even musical bagpipes and insects - so it's worth swapping them round between early hunts to get a feel for something you like.
The game recommends a series of 'beginners' weapons - as broken down in our Monster Hunter World weapons list - which are no less powerful than other types, but are simply easier to get your head around initially.
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Guides Editor Matt is still clinging onto his Dual Blades - they're quick and have a 'charge' mode to do a quick bout of extra damage - while reviews editor Martin evangelises the powerful but slightly unwieldy Hammer. Essentially, go with whatever works for you.
Whatever you decide, you own a basic 'Iron' variant of each weapon, and each one is easy enough to upgrade a few times if you want to try something new later - so don't think you're hemmed in once you invest in a certain branch of the weapon tree.
You'll need to sharpen your weapon frequently
Something that is essential but not immediately obvious is your weapon will blunt over the course of a hunt and do less damage, as indicated by the weapon meter in the top left corner. (Yes, even hammers will become 'blunt' over time, oddly enough.)
To sharpen weapons, go through your inventory (hold L1 or the left bumper then left or right) and select Whetstone - it's always in there, so don't worry about having to pack it before you visit - then press Square (or X on Xbox) to let the animation play out.
A closer look at all the different HUD elements Monster Hunter World has to offer.
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Doing so leaves you open for attack, so we'd recommend sharpening whenever the monster is distracted, or ideally, fleeing to another area.
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Bonus tip - if you are mid-hunt and Scoutflies suddenly appear, the monster will run away a few seconds later. This means you can relax momentarily, use a Potion or Whetstone, then give chase.
There's no character level, but there's plenty to upgrade
Your character doesn't have a level as you would with a traditional role-playing game - your equipped armour and weapon dictate your defence and offence - but there's all sorts to update as you go.
Monster encounters - whether it's completed hunts or simply finding tracks - increase your Ecological Research and overall Research points; completed missions increase your Monster Rank, allowing you to tackle harder missions; and your Palico and Tailraiders both level up as you play.
In short, the more hunts you complete, the higher these ranks go, so it always feels like you're progressing towards something, but it's weapons and armour you'll always need to want to tinker with to get more powerful.
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Do two things before every hunt
Before you run off into the wilderness in search of your prey, remember to do two things. One, check the Supply Box to get a supply of free Potions and sometimes a selection of mission-specific goodies.
Two, prepare yourself a meal. Unlike previous games you can do this at the camp when you load into an area at the start of a mission.
