Monster Hunter Rise guide: How to capture a monster

In Monster Hunter Rise, you can hunt your monsters (as in kill them), or you can capture them. Capturing requires a bit more finesse and planning, as you’ll need to keep some items with you to do it. But capturing can net you some rare resources and end your hunt a little early.

In this Monster Hunter Rise, we’ll explain you’d want to capture a monster instead of killing it, and how to do it.

Why capture a monster?

Capturing your monster provides two major benefits.

The first is loot-based, because captured monsters tend to drop rare items. This is great for hammer users, for example, as you can’t sever a monster tail in combat, but you can get a tail from capturing the monster. Once you’ve hunted a monster for the first time, the Hunter Notes include a big breakdown of items you get via carving (killing) the monster and capturing it, so you can tell for yourself.

The second boon is really only useful in later hunts. Monsters can be very dangerous toward the end of their lives. It feels like the games AI really wants to make you fail your hunt before you kill your prey. If you have the tools and the monster is on its last leg, capturing could end your fight several minutes early. This is a great way to guarantee success, especially if you’re on your last life toward the end of the hunt.

How do I capture a monster?

Image: Capcom via Polygon

You’ll get a Village quest that teaches you how to capture monsters early in the game, but it’s always good to get a refresher.

1. Make it vulnerable

First, you need to get the monster into a state where it’s vulnerable to capture. There are a few indicators that your monster is ready for capture. The easiest is the blue icon that appears around their portrait on the map or in the upper right of your screen. This denotes that they’re tired, and they won’t be able to fight back against capture. Your Palico should also tell you — translated on the right of your screen — that the monster is weak and ready for capture.

If you miss either of these warnings, the monster will also start to breathe heavily — denoted by water lines coming from its mouth — and start to limp. Most monsters will also try and disengage from you while they’re tired, in an attempt to sleep off their condition. If you think you’re getting close, try stopping your attacks and watching the monster for a second.

Once you’re confident the monster is in a capturable state, you’ll need two items: a trap and tranquilizer bombs.

2. Shock Trap, Pitfall Trap

Traps come in two forms, the Shock Trap and the Pitfall Trap. You’ll need a Thunderbug or a Net to make the trap, depending on the kind you want to build. You’ll need to combine these items with a Trap Tool, which you can buy from the merchant in town. Craft your traps at the Item Box and place them in your inventory. We always roll with both kinds of traps, just in case we mess up the capture.

3. Tranq Bombs

Once you have traps, you’ll need your Tranq Bombs. You’ll need some more materials from the environment — Sleep Herbs and Parashrooms — to make them. Craft the Tranq Bombs at the box, and place them in your inventory.

4. Capture

When your monster starts acting tired, place a trap and lure them into it. You can also bait the trap with some meat, but placing the trap in a combat area is much easier — with Shock Traps, you can even place it directly under the monster.

When your trap goes off, your monster will start struggling against it. Quickly swap to your Tranq Bombs and throw them while standing next to the monster’s head. Two bombs will be enough to knock out any monster.

Once you’ve trapped and knocked out your monster, your hunt will end.