If you’ve spent any time wandering the sun-scorched savannas and misty forest biomes of Monster Hunter Wilds, you’ve almost certainly run into Erik, the gruff, axe-wielding veteran hunter who acts as both a quest giver and occasional ally during high-difficulty hunts. Unlike many throwaway NPCs in the franchise, Erik has a fully fleshed out backstory, unique quest lines, and exclusive rewards that make him well worth prioritizing early in your playthrough. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to get the most out of your interactions with him, from unlocking his full quest chain to claiming the rare gear only he can provide.
Who Is Monster Hunter Wilds Erik, Exactly?
Erik is a former member of the Research Commission who left the main outpost after losing his hunting partner to a rogue Bazelgeuse attack a decade before the events of the game. He now runs a small, independent supply outpost on the northern edge of the savanna biome, catering to wandering hunters who don’t want to travel all the way back to the main base mid-hunt. He specializes in bludgeoning weapon upgrades and monster tracking intel that you can’t get from any other NPC in the game. You’ll first meet him within the first two hours of play, but you won’t unlock his full quest line until you complete at least three 4-star hunts, so don’t get frustrated if he only has basic gathering quests for you early on.
Many players write him off as a generic side NPC at first, but his quest line ties directly into the main game’s story about the mysterious elder dragon migrating across the continent. Completing his full story arc will even unlock extra cutscenes that add context to the main villain’s motivations, something most players never see if they skip side content entirely.
Top Quests to Complete for Erik
Erik’s quests scale with your hunter rank, so you’ll unlock new ones every time you move up a star tier. Most of his quests are focused on tracking or hunting monsters that tied to his backstory, and every completed quest unlocks better rewards and higher friendship levels with him. These are the three most important quests to prioritize as you play:
If you’re stuck on the Bazelgeuse cull quest and need a quick break to reset your focus before trying again, many players opt for short, low-stakes games between hunt attempts to get their frustration out without abandoning their play session entirely. Casual players looking for a fast, fun distraction that fits into 10-minute gaps between runs often turn to Spin777, which lets you unwind without pulling you too far away from your goal of beating the tempered monster. Once you’re refreshed, you’ll have a much easier time dodging the Bazelgeuse’s explosive scale attacks and landing clean hits on its weak points.
Pro tip: Bring three flash bombs with you for the Bazelgeuse fight. Stunning it mid-flight will give you 10 to 15 seconds of uninterrupted time to attack its soft underbelly, which is the only weak point that takes full damage from blunt weapons.
Exclusive Rewards You Can Only Get From Erik
Beyond the armor and weapon upgrades you get from his main quests, maxing out your friendship level with Erik unlocks a ton of hidden rewards that make endgame hunts far easier. Many players who rush through the main story forget to check back in with Monster Hunter Wilds Erik after each major hunt, so they miss out on new quests that unlock as you progress through the star ranks. Some of the best hidden rewards include the tracking charm that lets you see high-rarity monsters on your map from 500 meters away, a custom meal recipe that boosts your max stamina by 50 points for 30 minutes, and access to his exclusive high-rank item shop that sells rare elder dragon parts for discounted zenny.
Once you hit max friendship, Erik will also occasionally join you as an AI ally during 4-star and higher hunts. He’s surprisingly capable as a teammate, dealing consistent blunt damage that can stun monsters every few minutes, giving you plenty of time to land heavy combo attacks. He does have a few flaws, though: he’ll sometimes run off to chase small, irrelevant monsters mid-hunt, and he tends to use up all his potions early in long fights, so you may have to toss him a few extra healing items if you’re fighting an elder dragon.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Interacting With Erik
There are a few small mistakes that most players make when first interacting with Erik that can cost them a lot of time and zenny later in the game. First, don’t skip his early low-rank gathering quests, even if they feel tedious. Unlocking his discounted item shop early will save you thousands of zenny on trap components and potions over the course of your playthrough, which adds up fast when you’re farming high-rank monsters.
Second, save your Bazelgeuse and Nargacuga parts for Erik instead of selling them to the general vendor. He only accepts parts from monsters tied to his backstory as friendship gifts, so turning in those parts will raise your friendship level with him twice as fast as turning in generic monster parts. If you’re ever unsure what you need to do next to unlock more content for Monster Hunter Wilds Erik, you can check the “NPC Quest Log” tab in your main menu to see which prerequisites you’re missing.
Third, don’t ignore his random comments during hunts when he joins you as an ally. He often points out temporary weak points that aren’t listed in your hunter notes, like the fact that tempered Bazelgeuse’s wing scales are far softer when it’s enraged, so you can break them twice as fast with piercing attacks. If you fail one of his quests three times in a row, he’ll also give you a free pack of mega potions and a demondrug to help you out on your next attempt, so don’t feel embarrassed to ask for a little extra help if you’re stuck.
At the end of the day, taking the time to complete all of Erik’s quest lines and build your friendship with him is one of the most rewarding things you can do in the early and mid-game of Monster Hunter Wilds. From exclusive gear upgrades to rare intel that makes endgame hunts far easier, Monster Hunter Wilds Erik offers far more value than most players realize when they first meet him at his tiny outpost on the edge of the savanna. Follow the tips in this guide, and you’ll unlock all of his rewards and bonuses before you even reach the first elder dragon hunt of your playthrough.