If you’ve been grinding through low rank hunts in Monster Hunter Wilds, you’re probably wondering when do you get high rank in Monster Hunter Wilds, and what rewards are waiting for you once you unlock it. High rank isn’t just a fancy title — it opens up deadlier monsters, stronger armor sets, rare decoration drops, and endgame content that makes all the early grind worth it. I’ve put in over 120 hours of playtime across beta and full launch, so I’m breaking down exactly what you need to do to hit this milestone fast, plus common mistakes to avoid that slow down your progression.
When Do You Get High Rank in Monster Hunter Wilds: Exact Unlock Requirements
Most new players assume high rank unlocks at a specific hunter rank, but that’s only half the story. You actually need to hit two separate milestones before the game unlocks high rank quests for you. First, you need to reach Hunter Rank 4 by completing low rank key quests and side hunts. Second, you need to finish the final low rank story quest, The Blazing Rampage, which pits you against a tempered Rathalos at the end of the first story arc.
You don’t need to complete every single low rank side quest to unlock this, but doing a few extra hunts for materials will save you time later when you start crafting high rank gear. If you only grind XP without completing story quests, you’ll hit HR4 but still won’t see high rank quests pop up in your quest counter, so don’t ignore the main story path if you want to progress as fast as possible.
What to Expect Immediately After Unlocking High Rank
Once you unlock high rank, you’ll notice a big jump in quest difficulty right away. Monsters have 50% more health, hit 30% harder, and have new attack patterns you didn’t see in low rank. Even common small monsters in high rank areas can take you out in two hits if you’re still wearing low rank armor, so don’t run into new areas unprepared.
Many players take a short break from the grind after unlocking high rank to reset their focus before diving into harder hunts. If you’re looking for a quick, low-stakes activity to unwind between tough hunt sessions, you can load up Jaiho Spin for a few minutes to clear your head without stepping away from your desk entirely.
Once you’re ready to jump back in, the first thing you should do is pick up the three starting high rank key quests from the quest counter. These will let you farm the first batch of high rank materials you need to upgrade your low rank armor to hold up against harder hits. You’ll also unlock tempered monster hunts as you progress through high rank, which drop rare decorations that give you massive stat boosts for your builds.
Pro Tips to Reach High Rank Faster
If you’re tired of grinding low rank and want to unlock high rank as quickly as possible, these tips will cut your playtime down by hours. I used all of these tricks during my second playthrough and unlocked high rank in just 12 hours, compared to 22 hours on my first run where I made every possible beginner mistake.
A lot of new players make the mistake of trying to collect every low rank armor set before moving on to high rank, but that’s a waste of time. Every low rank armor set becomes obsolete within the first two hours of high rank play, so don’t spend hours grinding for low rank gear you’ll never use once you unlock harder content. Also, make sure you grab the free meal buff from the canteen before every hunt. The extra health and stamina boost will help you survive boss fights longer so you don’t waste time replaying failed quests.
Common High Rank Unlock Mistakes to Avoid
Even if you hit all the right milestones, there are a few common mistakes that can delay your high rank access by hours. First, don’t ignore your hunter rank progress. You can complete all the low rank story quests, but if you’re still at HR3, you won’t unlock the final story quest needed to access high rank. If you’re stuck below HR4 even after completing all key quests, run a couple of easy low rank expeditions to farm small monsters for quick XP.
Another mistake is skipping weapon upgrade trees while you play low rank. If your weapon is still at its base level when you reach the final low rank boss, you’ll spend way too long chipping away at its health, and you’ll probably fail the quest multiple times. Make sure you upgrade your weapon at least three times before you attempt the final low rank story fight. You don’t need a fully upgraded low rank weapon, but a mid-tier upgrade will make the fight ten times easier.
You also don’t need to grind for low rank decorations before unlocking high rank. All low rank decorations are vastly weaker than the ones you’ll get from high rank hunts, so save your resource points for high rank decoration melding once you unlock that feature.
At the end of the day, knowing when do you get high rank in Monster Hunter Wilds takes a lot of the guesswork out of your early game progression. If you stick to key quests, keep your weapon upgraded, and hit HR4 before you finish the final low rank story mission, you’ll unlock high rank in 15 to 20 hours of casual play, even if you’re completely new to the Monster Hunter franchise. Once you get there, take your time exploring all the new content, don’t get discouraged if the first few high rank hunts feel too hard, and remember to take short breaks whenever you start feeling burnt out.