Combat Guide: All Monster Attack Patterns

Learn the attack patterns of monsters and the basics of combat in our combat guide for Monster Hunter Stories (MH Stories). See a list of all monsters attack patterns, a combat guide, how the battle system works, combat rewards and other combat tips in this guide!

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All Monster Attack Patterns List

Monster	Attack Tendency	Head-to-Head Attacks
Aptonoth	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Velocidrome	Speed	Speed > Power > Technical
Arzuros	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Yian Kut-Ku	Technical	Technical > Speed > Power
Blue Yian Kut-Ku	Technical	Technical > Speed > Power
Popo	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Lagombi	Speed	Speed ​​> Power > Technical
Bulldrome	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Zamtrios	Technical	Technical > Speed ​​> Power
Khezu	Technical	Technical > Power > Speed
Red Khezu	Technical	Technical > Power > Speed
Apceros	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Gendrome	Speed	Speed ​​> Power > Technical
Royal Ludroth	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Gypceros	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Nerscylla	Technical	Technical > Power > Speed
Shrouded Nerscylla	Technical	Technical > Power > Speed
Qurupeco	Technical	Technical > Speed ​​> Power
Rathian	Speed	Speed ​​> Power > Technical
Pink Rathian	Speed	Speed ​​> Power > Technical
Barroth	Speed	Speed ​​> Power > Technical
Cephadrome	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Diablos	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Black Diablos	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Tigrex	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Iodrome	Speed	Speed ​> Power > Speed
Basarios	Technical	Technical > Power > Speed
Gravios	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Uragaan	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Brute Tigrex	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Ratha	Power	Power > Technical > Speed
Kirin	Speed	Speed
The Great Poogie	Power	Power

The Monster attack patterns vary from the different monsters that you encounter.

The attack tendency of a Monster is its most used type of move so you will need to be ready to use a counter attack against that move.

The head-to-head attacks of a Monster are the ones it uses when a head-to-head event occurs in a battle.

How Combat Works

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Head-to-Head Quick Time Event Double Attack Kinship Gauge Hearts System

Head-to-Head

Type of Attacks	Effective Against	Not Effective Against
Power	Technical	Speed
Speed	Power	Technical
Technical	Speed	Power

Head-to-Head battles occur when either you and the enemy or your Monstie and the enemy attack each other directly. It's a one-on-one battle that can be determined by checking the battle line when choosing whom to attack.

The results of Head-to-Head battles can be determined by the three types of attacks used in combat, which are Power, Speed, and Technical.

Power Moves are strong against Technical but ineffective against Speed. Speed Moves are strong against Power but ineffective against Technical, and Technical Moves are strong against Speed Moves but ineffective against Power.

Note that head-to-head battles can also result in a draw when both sides use the same type of attack. If you also manage to lose the head-to-head battles, you can receive significant damage, so always try to win them.

Quick Time Event

A Quick Time Event may randomly occur after everyone involved in the combat has finished their turn. These events only involve your Monstie and the enemy.

When a Quick Time Event occurs, you need to spam the buttons displayed on the screen to win the event and deal additional damage to the enemy. If you manage to lose the event, your Monstie will be the one who'll lose HP.

Multiple Quick Time Events that may occur includes Power Clash, Air Showdown, and Breath Blast.

Double Attack

A Double Attack between you and your Monstie may occur if certain conditions are met, which is when you both attack the same enemy, you both choose the same type of attack, and that attack is effective against the one chosen by the enemy.

Note that a Double Attack deals more damage to the enemy compared to normal attacks, so be sure to aim for a double attack when you get the chance.

Kinship Gauge

The Kinship Gauge is a special meter that, when it gets full, you can perform special attacks with your Monstie and allows you to ride your Monstie.

You can fill up your Kinship Gauge by winning head-to-head battles, performing a double attack, or winning a quick time event.

Ride Your Monstie

Once the Kinship Gauge is full, the gauge on the bottom of your screen will glow, and it will give you the option to ride your Monstie. Once you ride your Monstie, you will engage in head-to-head battles with the enemy every turn.

Note that when you ride your Monstie a separate HP will show on the bottom of your screen, and it heals both your's and your Monstie's HP. You can also get thrown off your Monstie when that separate HP reaches zero.

Let Your Monstie Perfom a Special Attack

Upon riding your Monstie, you also get the option to use the Kinship Skill, which is a Special Attack that your Monstie can use. The damage of that special attack can be increased by leveling up the kinship gauge, which can be done by winning the head-to-head battles.

Note that a Kinship Skill is unique to each Monstie, so be sure to check your Monstie's stats to find out which Special Attack they can use.

Hearts System

The Hearts System in combat determines how many lives you and your Monstie have left in battle. When either yours or your Monstie's HP reaches zero you will lose one heart and regain full HP.

If you manage to lose all three hearts in combat, you wil not regain any HP and you will respawn at the nearest save point. If you engage in another combat after you lost all three hearts, you will enter that battle with only one heart.

You can regain hearts you lost in combat when you return to towns, cities, or your house.

Combat Rewards

A Higher Rank Give More Rewards

Combat Rank and Rewards

You should always aim to get higher ranks in combat so you can receive more bonus rewards after. This also gives you and your Monstie more EXP.

To get a higher rank in comabat involves how fast you defeat the enemy, if you choose the correct type of attack in head-to-head battles, and if you did a special attack in combat.

The rewards may vary depending on which Monster you have defeated but a higher rank will give you more bonus rewards no matter what.

Other Combat Tips

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Approach the Monsters From Behind You Can Run Away Anytime Store Healing Items in Your Battle Pouch

Approach the Monsters From Behind

You can approach a Monster from behind to trigger a Back Attack in battle, which gives you and your Monstie a free turn. Also, during a Back Attack, the Monster you approached can perform a counterattack.

You Can Run Away Anytime

If you're having a hard time defeating a Monster or figuring its attack pattern out, you can always choose to run away and try to come up with a different attack strategy for when you face it next time.

Monster Will Try to Block You from Running Away

Some Monsters will try to block you while you're running away from them, and if you're facing more than one monster on the battlefield, one will try to block you and another will perform an attack on you.

Store Healing Items in Your Battle Pouch

You can store a bunch of healing items in your Battle Pouch that can help you restore health while in combat. Using items from your Battle Pouch consumes one turn so be careful when choosing whether to use an item or attack.

Note that the items in your Battle Pouch are the only items you can use in combat so always check if you're still well stocked on your items before engagin in combat with another Monster.

Also note that you can only carry limited amounts of items in your Battle Pouch so be sure to stock up on different items.

Monster Hunter Stories Related Guides

Beginner's Guide: Tips and Tricks

All Tips and Tricks