Knowing how to capture monsters is one of the most basic skills a Hunter should know in Monster Hunter Rise and Sunbreak. Read on to learn how to capture monsters, take on capture quests, how to use capture items, knowing when to capture or slay, and more!
List of Contents
- How To Capture Monsters
- Capture Quests and Other Quest Types
- Should You Capture or Slay Monsters
- Advantages of Capturing Monsters
- Advantages of Slaying Monsters
- Monster Hunter Rise Related Links
How To Capture Monsters
How To Capture Monsters: Step-by-Step
Capturing Monsters allows you to hunt monsters and finish quests without actually slaying them.
| 1 | Bring items needed to capture monsters: one Shock Trap and/or one Pitfall Trap, and two Tranq Bombs. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Fight the monster until it's weak and limping. A blue icon should appear under the monster icon on the top right. |
| 3 | Set down a trap and lure the monster into it. Once the monster is trapped, use Tranq Bombs twice on it to finally capture the monster. |
Bring Items Required for Capturing Monsters
| Materials Needed For Capturing Monsters | |
|---|---|
Shock Trap | 1x Thunderbug 1x Trap Tool |
Pitfall Trap | 1x Net 1x Trap Tool |
Tranq Bomb | 1x Parashroom 1x Sleep Herb |
Tranq Ammo | 1x Tranq Bomb 1x Normal Ammo 1 |
If you want to capture monsters, you have to get these tools required for capturing monsters. It is safe to have one of each type of trap in case the monster fails to be lured into your traps but in essence, you only need a minimum of one trap and two Tranq Bombs.
Fight and Weaken Monsters for Capture
Weaken the Monster to the point you see it limping away. Capturing monsters is possible only when the monster is weak enough. You can weaken monsters by fighting them until they start limping or when your Palico has told you that the monster is weak.
Blue Icon Means Monster is Weakened
If the monster is weak enough for capture, a blue icon will show at the bottom of the monster icon. When this icon appears, set a trap for capture!
It is also possible to capture before the blue icon shows up! If you're bringing a Palico out on hunts, it will inform you if the monster is weak and ready for capture! You will see this as a text prompt on the right side of the screen.
Set Traps and Use Tranq Bombs
If a monster is primed for capture, set a trap (either a Shock Trap or a Pitfall Trap) underneath the monster. Once it is caught, quickly use two (2) Tranq Bombs near the monster to effectively capture it!
Also, it does not matter if you hit to use the Tranq Bomb first or set the trap first - the monster will still be captured as long as the entirety of the process is completed.
Elder Dragons, Apex, and Afflicted Monsters Cannot be Captured
Elder Dragons and Apex Monsters are not capturable in any way because traps are ineffective, and will only have slay quests.
In the Sunbreak update Afflicted Monsters, which can be found in Anomaly Quests and Anomaly Investigations after finishing the expansion's main story. also cannot be captured and must be slain to finish the quest.
Capture Quests and Other Quest Types
Condition for Clearing Some Quests
Most quests in Monster Hunter Rise (MH Rise) are Hunting Quests but some are also Capture Quests. Check the type of quest at all times because if you have accidentally slain a monster during a capture quest, the quest will fail.
Difference Between Quest Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
 Hunting | Either kill or capture. Most of the quests in MH Rise are classified as Hunting Quests. |
 Slaying | Requires you to kill the monster and capturing is not allowed. Elder Dragons and Apex Monsters are Slay only. |
 Capture | Requires you to capture the monster and if you accidentally kill it, the quest will fail. Always be aware of the quest type at all times. |
Practice Capturing With Training Quests
Similar to Wyvern Riding, there is also a training quest that focuses on capturing monsters. If you are still not sure about how to capture monsters, we suggest doing The Basics of Capturing Monsters first as it has lesser penalties when you capture incorrectly.
Should You Capture or Slay Monsters
Depends on Your Objective
| Capture | Slay |
|---|---|
| ⦿ When you need certain parts with a higher drop rate upon capture. ⦿ When you just need to complete a quest faster. ⦿ When slaying results in a quest failure. | ⦿ When a target part's drop rate is higher in carving. ⦿ When you want to spend more time breaking parts. ⦿ When capture results in a quest failure. ⦿ When the monster cannot be captured. |
Each method of hunting a monster has its benefits. Decide carefully if you want to capture or hunt a monster to avoid losing out on anything carve exclusive.
Advantages of Capturing Monsters
Capture for Faster Hunts
| Slaying Completion Time | Capture Completion Time |
|---|---|
|
|
Since hunters only need to weaken their target, capturing monsters is faster than slaying in both hunt completion time as well as time spent in the quest completion menu.
Get Rare Drops from Capture Rewards
By capturing monsters, you get capture rewards instead of carve rewards. If you're looking for rare drops, they are more likely to drop from captures than carves.
We suggest checking the Materials Section of the Hunter's Notes before going in hunts, as some rare materials drop rates vary based on capture or carve.
Advantages of Slaying Monsters
Some Monsters Must Be Slain
As mentioned, some monsters such as Elder Dragons, Apex Monsters, Afflicted Monsters, cannot be captured and must be slain.
In these cases, bringing traps are optional. Traps will not affect Elder Dragons, but they can be used as effective stunning tools against afflicted monsters.
Traps set by palicoes can still be used to your advantage to pin these monsters down!
Slaying Gives Carve Exclusive Materials
▲ Easier to get Magnamalo Blade+ by slaying and carving than capturing.
Monster materials are exclusive to carving, or have a higher drop chance than in capture rewards.
Refer to your Hunter's Notes to learn which method shows higher drop rate before every hunt!
Carve Chances Vary
By default, normal and Apex monsters grant three carves while Elder Dragons grant four.
The number of carves can be further increased with the Carving Master skill. Likewise, monster rewards can be increased with the Good Luck skill and the Felicirow.
More Time to Break Parts and Sever Tails in Slaying
Slaying a monster takes more time than capturing it. If you need more time in breaking and acquiring monster parts, then the method of slaying is the way to go.
Since you have more time to spend, aim to break the head, wings, cut off the tail, and other monster parts that you need to carve.
For faster part breaks, you can slot in equipment that uses the Partbreaker skill.
Examples of Materials that are Easier to Get by Carving
| Monster | Material (Carve % vs Capture %) |
|---|---|
| Nargacuga | Narga Medulla (12% vs. 3%) Narga Razor (10% vs. 0%) Nargacuga's Razor is not available in the capture rewards and the Medulla has a higher percentage to drop with carves. If you are aiming for these, aim for carving! |
| Anjanath | Anjanath Nosebone+ (17% vs. 0%) Anjanath's Nosebone is not available as a capture reward. You can also get these from Broken Part rewards but even that has higher probability when killing. However, if you need rarer parts like gems and plates, we suggest capturing Anjanath. |
| Magnamalo | Magnamalo Blade+ (16% vs. 0%) Magnamalo's Blade is not available as a capture reward. You can also get these from Broken Part rewards but even that has higher probability when killing. However, if you need rarer parts like gems and plates, we suggest capturing Magnamalo. |
| Almudron | Almudron Fin+ (22% vs. 0%) Almudron Whisker+ (12% vs. 0%) Neither of the two is a capture reward. You can capture it if you have broken both the face and the back but if not, we suggest going for the kill! |
The materials above are just examples and we still suggest checking out your Hunter's Notes for the material table. You should balance between capturing and killing depending on the monster part you are aiming for.
Play Solo When You Are Particular With the Hunting Methods
When playing in Multiplayer, you will be paired with a bunch of randoms who may not have the same hunting objective as you. If you need a specific material that is more likely to drop in either capture or slay, we suggest playing solo.
Monster Hunter Rise Related Links
All Tips and Tricks
| Tips & Tricks | |
|---|---|
| Beginner's Guide | Best Beginner Weapons |
| Base Game Sub-Camp Locations | Sunbreak Sub-Camp Locations |
| Base Game Awards and How to Unlock | Sunbreak Awards and How to Unlock |
| Buddy Recon Locations | Sunbreak Cohoot Locations |
| MR Armor Unlock Conditions | MR Weapon Unlock Conditions |
| Things to Do Before Sunbreak | How to Get Started in Sunbreak |
| Rampage Weapons Guide | How to Unlock Weapon Trees |
| How to Raise Max Stamina | How to Cook Well-Done Steaks |
| How to Climb Walls | Best Dango Combinations |
| Rampage Guide: How to Get S-Rank | How to Aim with the Bow: Manual Aim Vs. Gyroscrope |
| Anomaly Investigations Guide | Anomaly Research Lab Guide |
| Badges of Heroes and How to Unlock | Elemental Damage and Resistances Guide |
| Best Weapons to Use in Solo or Offline Hunts | |
| Relic Records | |
| Base Game Relic Record Locations | Sunbreak Relic Records |
| Jungle Relic Records | Citadel Relic Records |
| Shrine Ruins Relic Records | Frost Islands Relic Records |
| Sandy Plains Relic Records | Flooded Forest Relic Records |
| Lava Caverns Relic Records | Rampage Message Relic Records |
| Farming Guides | |
| How to Farm Money | How to Farm Kamura Points |
| Which Items to Sell | Talisman Farming |
| Best Mining Spots: Where to Find Ore | How to Farm Dango Tickets |
| How to Farm Kamura Tickets | How to Farm Buddy Tickets |
| Combat Guides | |
| How to Capture Monsters | How to Avoid Attacks: Frame Dodge Guide |
| How to Beat Flying Monsters | How to Beat Fish Monsters |
| How to Make Monsters Sleep | Best Buddies to Bring |
| Best Item Loadouts | How to Break Monster Parts |
| List of Unblockable Attacks | |
