Monster Hunter Rise Co-Op: Join a Lobby and Hunt Together
Yes, Monster Hunter Rise supports full co-op play, and joining a lobby is the main way to hunt together with friends or random players. You can create or join a lobby from the main menu or the Courier in the hub, and once inside, you can post quests, join others’ quests, and head out on hunts as a team of up to four hunters.
How Co-Op Works in Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter Rise separates single-player and multiplayer progression into two distinct hub types: the Village and the Hub. Village quests are strictly solo and serve as the tutorial and low-rank story content. Hub quests, on the other hand, are designed for multiplayer, though you can also play them solo. To play co-op, you must be in the Hub, which you can access from the main menu or by talking to the Hub Maiden in Kamura Village.
Once in the Hub, you can either post a quest yourself or join a quest that another player has posted. The game scales monster health and stagger thresholds based on the number of players in the quest, so a two-player hunt is not the same as a four-player hunt in terms of difficulty. When you join a lobby, you can see all the quests that other members have posted, and you can join them directly from the quest board.
Joining a Lobby: Step-by-Step
There are two main ways to join a lobby in Monster Hunter Rise: from the main menu or from inside the game. Here’s how each works:
- From the main menu: Select “Multiplayer� and then choose “Join Lobby.� You can search for a lobby by friend code, by random matchmaking, or by filtering for specific quests or Hunter Rank ranges.
- From inside the game: Talk to the Courier (the small owl-like creature) in Kamura Village and select “Lobby� to see the same options. You can also create a lobby and invite friends from your friend list.
When you join a lobby, you are placed in a shared hub area where you can see other players, emote, and prepare for quests. You can also speak to the Quest Maiden to post a quest, and other players in the lobby will see it and can join.
How to Hunt Together in a Lobby
Once you’re in a lobby with other players, hunting together is straightforward:
- Open the quest board (or talk to the Quest Maiden) and select “Post Quest.�
- Choose the quest you want to hunt. You can select any Hub quest that you have unlocked.
- Other players in the lobby will see your posted quest on their quest board. They can select “Join Quest� to join your party.
- Once the party is full (or you decide to start), the quest leader departs, and all players are transported to the hunting ground together.
You can also join a quest that another player has posted by selecting “Join Questâ€� from the quest board and choosing the one you want. The quest leader controls when the hunt starts, so if you join a posted quest, you’ll wait until the leader departs.
Friend Lobbies vs. Random Lobbies
You have two main options for finding a lobby: playing with friends or playing with strangers. Both work well, but they offer different experiences.
- Friend lobbies: Create a lobby and send an invite to your friends via the game’s friend list (on the same platform) or by sharing a lobby ID. This gives you full control over who joins and lets you coordinate voice chat outside the game.
- Random lobbies: Use the “Join Lobby� search with no filters to be placed in a random lobby with other players. This is a great way to find help for tough hunts, but you may encounter players who are less coordinated or who leave mid-quest.
If you want to play with specific friends but don’t want to create a lobby, you can also use the “Join Friendâ€� option from the main menu, which lets you join a friend’s lobby directly if they have one open.
Common Problems and How to Solve Them
Co-op in Monster Hunter Rise is generally smooth, but players often run into a few common issues:
- Can’t join a friend’s lobby: Make sure you are both on the same platform (Nintendo Switch, PC, etc.) and that the lobby is set to “Friendsâ€� or “Public.â€� Also, check your NAT type; strict NAT can prevent connections.
- Quest not showing up: If you can’t see a friend’s posted quest, it may be because you haven’t unlocked that quest yet. You need to have the same or higher Hub progression to see and join certain quests.
- Disconnects during a hunt: This can happen if one player’s connection drops. The hunt continues for the remaining players, and the disconnected player can rejoin if they are re-invited to the lobby.
- Can’t post a quest in someone else’s lobby: If the lobby leader has restricted quest posting, you may not be able to post. Check the lobby settings or ask the leader to change them.
Co-Op vs. Solo: What’s Different?
Playing in a lobby changes the game in several ways beyond just having more players. The most obvious is that monster health and status thresholds scale up with the number of players. However, there are other differences:
- Carting: In multiplayer, if all players cart (faint) the quest fails. In solo, you have three carts total; in multiplayer, the team shares the same three carts.
- Rewards: Each player gets their own set of rewards, so you don’t have to fight over carves. However, some rewards are shared, like the quest completion rewards.
- Palicoes and Palamutes: In multiplayer, each player can bring one companion (either a Palico or a Palamute), but the number of companions is limited to two total in a four-player hunt. So if four players join, only two companions will appear.
Co-op also allows for more specialized roles. One player can focus on mounting, another on breaking parts, and another on healing. This can make tough hunts like Elder Dragons much more manageable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play the entire story in co-op?
No, the Village quests (the main story) are solo-only. However, the Hub quests, which are the main multiplayer content, also advance the story after a certain point. You can play all Hub quests in co-op, and the game will treat them as the “real� progression for high-rank and endgame content.
Do I need Nintendo Switch Online to play co-op?
Yes, on the Nintendo Switch, you need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to play any online multiplayer, including Monster Hunter Rise co-op. On PC, you do not need an additional subscription, but you do need a stable internet connection and a Steam account.
Can I play co-op with someone on a different platform?
No, Monster Hunter Rise does not support cross-platform play. Switch players can only play with other Switch players, and PC players can only play with other PC players. There is no cross-play between Switch and PC.
How do I invite a friend to my lobby?
From the main menu, select “Multiplayerâ€� then “Create Lobby.â€� Set the lobby to “Friendsâ€� and then send an invite through the platform’s friend system (e.g., Steam invite or Switch friend invite). You can also share the lobby ID with friends, and they can join by selecting “Join Lobbyâ€� and entering the ID.
What happens if the quest leader leaves the lobby?
If the quest leader leaves the lobby while a quest is in progress, the quest continues for the remaining players. If the leader leaves the lobby entirely, the other players remain in the lobby and can take over posting quests. If the leader disconnects during a quest, the quest continues without them, and they can rejoin if they reconnect.
Can I play co-op with just one other person?
Yes, you can play with two, three, or four players. The game scales monster health accordingly, so two-player hunts are balanced for a duo. You can also play Hub quests solo if you prefer, but the monster health will be scaled for one player.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.