Tons of Monster Hunter XX details – monsters, gameplay features, areas

Famitsu has a massive feature on Monster Hunter XX this week. The magazine’s latest coverage spans ten pages.

First, we have some information about some of the monsters. Details are as follows:

– Deviant Diablos: changes color when in Rage state, and will also have new moves during that, like jumping, burrowing, and thrusting from the ground.
– Deviant Glavenus is Hellblade which also already appeared in Generations; has a sword-like tail that also has high heat
– Deviant Gammoth: has a hardened body after living in harsh environments for a very long time; said to be the cause of blizzards and avalanches in cold areas
– Deviant Mizutsune: can launch blue bubbles which seem to be more powerful than Mizutsune’s ordinary bubbles
– Deviant Astalos: normally shrouded in green electricity, but during battle that may change color to blue
– Congalala: can release gas that causes inflicted hunters to be unable to use some items; can also perform a breath attack that will change elements depending on the food it ate beforehand, such as becoming fire or poison

Moving on from monsters, we have some information about Renkin Style, which is also being called Alchemy Style. The style specializes in creating special items. When you choose it, a bar with a maximum of five stocks will appear above the player’s name. When at least one stock is filled, you can accomplish alchemy by selecting and using the Great Alchemy Barrel item.

After using the barrel, you’re given three options with buttons. You can press “A” or “X” to produce the specified items, or if you have more than one stock available in the Alchemy gauge, you can press “Y” for further alchemy that will change the item set that can be produced.

Items from one-time alchemy:

– Alchemy Food: can be eaten faster than ordinary food
– Alchemy Whetstone: other than sharpening weapons, also gives temporary effect of raising fill rate of Hunter Arts gauge
– Alchemy Hunter Arts Bullet: Fills more Hunter Arts gauge when hits enemy; works with all Bowguns
– Alchemy Hunter Arts Bottle: Same with above but for Bows

Items from alchemy done twice:

– Alchemy Vitality Medicine: Gradually recovers health; can be eaten faster than the ordinary one
– Alchemy Sonic Bomb: This version will definitely repel small monsters away

Items from alchemy done three times:

– Alchemy Earplugs: One-time use that protects against large monster roars; after that it will break
– Alchemy Speed Medicine: When used will temporarily raise the speed of Alchemy

Items from alchemy done four times:

– Alchemy Increase: Adds amount of another Alchemy item when this is combined with that
– Alchemy Bazooka: Shoots an explosive projectile from the alchemy barrel

Items from alchemy done five times:

– Alchemy Healing Barrel: Spreads healing effects that also heal nearby allies’ health & conditions
– Alchemy Spirit Up Ball: When used will temporarily raise fill rate of Hunter Arts gauge of nearby allies

Other gameplay features include:

– SP (Style Powerup): Hunter Arts: Obtained Hunter Arts can be equipped as SP Hunter Arts; when the SP version is used, the user and surrounding allies (including Felynes) will enter SP state; each style will have different effect during SP state
– Guild Style: Use some items faster
– Striker Style: Hunter Arts gauge gradually fills without even attacking
– Aerial Style: Stamina consumed from Stomping Leap is recovered faster
– Bushido Style: Allows longer input frames for Just actions like Just Guard and Just Evade.
– Brave Style: Brave Gauge fills faster
– Alchemy Style: Alchemy Gauge fills faster*
– Felyne Hunter: Reduces consumption rate of Support gauge when activating Support
– Palicoes: Raises frequencies of Supports

*Alchemy Style can also enhance SP states further up to four levels with producing alchemy items
SP state II: Slows down reduction rate of max stamina
SP state III: Gradually recovers health
SP state IV: Easier to make targets flinch

Felyne Hunters have a new Support type called Beast. By using a specific Support, it can turn into a Beast which has enhanced close-range attacks. There are three power-up phases for the Beast:

– Phase 1: Activate skills Felyne Brace and Felyne Safe Fall
– Phase 2: Raises critical rate
– Phase 3: Activates SP state (reduces consumption rate of Support gauge)

Lastly, we have a few details on locations and fields.

The Dragon Signature Ship is a flying ship that also acts as a lab to investigate monster activities in various locations. Other than having a room for the player, it also has a laboratory room for research like monster livelihood.

The girl is the quest receptionist, the boy is the captain of the investigation team, and the felyne is a lab staff in the Dragon Signature Ship. The Dragon Signature Ship is also connected with Flying Merchant Ships that has shops and a blacksmith.

The Assembly Bar is run by two people who used to be hunters. G-rank quests are taken here. The lady is the bar master, and the bald man is the quest receptionist.

Finally, the Jungle field is also making a return in Monster Hunter XX. It originally appeared in Monster Hunter 2.

Famitsu’s next Monster Hunter XX information batch is scheduled for the issue that’s out on January 12.