The Monster Hunter series is known for its, well, monster hunting. Taking on fearsome beasts is quite literally the name of the game. However, Monster Hunter Stories turns the franchise’s staple monster hunting on its head by being about befriending these creatures. The game was originally released on Nintendo 3DS, but now it is available on modern platforms such as the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC. Get some monstie buddies and ride on with our Monster Hunter Stories Monsties List Guide!
How to Recruit Monsters
In Monster Hunter Stories you don’t duke it out with monsters to weaken and capture them like other monster collecting games. Instead, there are ‘monster dens’ that crop up randomly as you explore. If you take the plunge and explore these dens you can raid monster nests to get eggs. There are even golden dens which are treasure troves that contain rarer eggs than normal.
Yep! You raise your own monsters! Be sure to listen to your companion, Navirou, as he has some insight on what makes a great egg! If he thinks an egg has a good scent along with a good amount of heft then you’ve found a keeper!
If you REALLY want a specific type of egg you can defeat a monster and check its ‘Monsterpedia’ entry to learn about its retreat conditions. If you meet a monster’s retreat conditions (maybe even use some paintballs) and force it to retreat you can follow it back to its den, creating a perfect opportunity to ransack its nest for some choice eggs.
Monstie List
Keep in mind, that some of the monsties in the list require story progression. Some monsters are only available after key story moments or in the post-game. So, in order to get some of these beasties you’ll have to be a diligent Rider! Explore, complete quests, and progress the story, then every recruitable monster will be putty in your hands.
| Number | Name | Location | Egg | Ride Ability |
| 1 | Aptonoth | Pondry Hills | Humble Herbivore Egg | Plant Search |
| 7 | Velocidrome | Pondry Hills | Humble Bird Wyvern Egg | Jump |
| 8 | Arzuros | Pondry Hills | Humble Fang Beast Egg | Honey Search, Rock Breaker |
| 9 | Yian Kut-Ku | Pondry Hills | Burning Bird Wyvern | Monster Search, Rock Breaker |
| 10 | Blue Yian Kut-Ku | Pondry Hills | Burning Bird Wyvern | Monster Search, Rock Breaker |
| 11 | Popo | Darj Snowfields | Humble Herbivore Egg | Plant Search |
| 15 | Lagombi | Darj Snowfields | Frozen Fang Beast Egg | Mushroom Search, Rock Breaker |
| 16 | Bulldrome | Darj Snowfields | Humble Fang Beast Egg | Dash |
| 17 | Zamtrios | Darj Snowfields | Frozen Amphibian Egg | Swim, Monster Search |
| 18 | Khezu | Wintertide Tunnel | Pulsing Flying Wyvern Egg | Roar |
| 19 | Red Khezu | Wintertide Tunnel | Pulsing Flying Wyvern Egg | Roar |
| 21 | Apceros | Monsonne Plains | Humble Herbivore Egg | Plant Search |
| 29 | Gendrome | Monsonne Plains | Humble Bird Wyvern Egg | Jump |
| 30 | Royal Ludroth | Monsonne Plains | Soggy Leviathan Egg | Swim, Fish Search |
| 31 | Gypceros | Babda Rainforest | Humble Bird Wyvern Egg | Dash |
| 32 | Nerscylla | Babda Rainforest | Humble Temnoceran Egg | Monster Search, Ivy Climb |
| 33 | Shrouded Nerscylla | Trese Desert | Humble Temnoceran Egg | Monster Search, Ivy Climb |
| 34 | Qurupeco | Monsonne Plains | Burning Bird Wyvern Egg | Monster Call |
| 35 | Rathian | Monsonne Plains | Burning Flying Wyvern Egg | Nest Search |
| 36 | Pink Rathian | Perennial Pass | Burning Flying Wyvern Egg | Nest Search |
| 39 | Barroth | Trese Desert | Soggy Brute Wyvern Egg | Bug Search, Ground Dive |
| 40 | Cephadrome | Trese Desert | Humble Piscine Wyvern Egg | Monster Search, Ground Dive |
| 41 | Diablos | Trese Desert | Humble Flying Wyvern Egg | Roar, Ground Dive |
| 42 | Black Diablos | Trese Desert | Humble Flying Wyvern Egg | Roar, Ground Dive |
| 43 | Tigrex | Darj Snowfields | Humble Flying Wyvern Egg | Dash, Ivy Climb |
| 50 | Iodrome | Dovan Mines | Humble Bird Wyvern Egg | Jump |
| 51 | Basarios | Dovan Mines | Burning Flying Wyvern Egg | Ore&Bone Search, Ground Dive |
| 52 | Gravios | Dovan Volcano | Burning Flying Wyvern Egg | Lava Dive, Roar |
| 53 | Uragaan | Dovan Volcano | Burning Brute Wyvern Egg | Lava Dive, Ore&Bone Search |
| 54 | Brute Tigrex | Dovan Volcano | Humble Flying Wyvern Egg | Dash, Ivy Climb |
| 68 | Great Jaggi | Paupau Beach | Humble Bird Wyvern Egg | Nest Search |
| 69 | Kecha Wacha | Paupau Beach | Humble Fang Beast Egg | Bug Search, Ivy Climb |
| 70 | Purple Ludroth | Paupau Beach | Soggy Leviathan Egg | Swim, Fish Search |
| 71 | Yian Garuga | Paupau Beach | Humble Bird Wyvern Egg | Fly |
| 72 | Congalala | Babda Rainforest | Humble Fang Beast Egg | Mushroom Search, Ivy Climb |
| 73 | Emerald Congalala | Babda Rainforest | Humble Fang Beast Egg | Mushroom Search, Ivy Climb |
| 74 | Crimson Qurupeco | Babda Rainforest | Pulsing Bird Wyvern Egg | Monster Call |
| 75 | Black Gravios | Babda Rainforest | Burning Flying Wyvern Egg | Lava Dive, Roar |
| 76 | Zinogre | Babda Rainforest | Pulsing Fang Wyvern Egg | Jump |
| 77 | Ruby Basarios | Mt. Pondry Caves | Burning Flying Wyvern Egg | Ore&Bone Search, Ground Dive |
| 78 | Nargacuga | Mt. Pondry Caves | Humble Flying Wyvern Egg | Stealth |
| 79 | Green Nargacuga | Babda Rainforest | Humble Flying Wyvern Egg | Stealth |
| 80 | Rathalos | Pondry Hills | Burning Flying Wyvern Egg | Fly |
| 81 | Azure Rathalos | Pondry Hills | Burning Flying Wyvern Egg | Fly |
| 83 | Purple Gypceros | Babda Rainforest | Humble Bird Wyvern Egg | Dash |
| 84 | Ash Kecha Wacha | Paupau Beach | Burning Fang Beast Egg | Bug Search, Ivy Climb |
| 85 | Lagiacrus | Paupau Beach | Pulsing Leviathan Egg | Swim, Roar |
| 86 | Ivory Lagiacrus | Paupau Beach | Pulsing Leviathan Egg | Swim, Roar |
| 87 | Deviljho | Mt. Celion | Gnarly Brute Wyvern Egg | Monster Search, Mega Breaker |
| 91 | Great Baggi | Mt. Celion | Humble Bird Wyvern Egg | Nest Search |
| 92 | Jade Barroth | Ruins of Zalam | Frozen Brute Wyvern Egg | Bug Search |
| 93 | Barioth | Mt. Celion | Frozen Flying Wyvern Egg | Fly, Rock Breaker |
| 94 | Sand Barioth | Trese Desert | Humble Flying Wyvern Egg | |
| 96 | Stygian Zinogre | Ruins of Zalam | Gnarly Fang Beast Egg | Jump |
| 97 | Brachydios | Ruins of Zalam | Burning Brute Wyvern Egg | Roar, Mega Breaker |
| 98 | Rajang | Perennial Pass | ||
| 99 | Kirin | |||
| 102 | Monoblos | |||
| 103 | Seregios | Humble Flying Wyvern Egg | Fly | |
| 104 | Gold Rathian | |||
| 105 | Silver Rathalos | |||
| 106 | Kushala Daora | |||
| 107 | Teostra | |||
| 109 | Great Poogie | |||
| 110 | White Monoblos | |||
| 111 | Molten Tigrex | |||
| 112 | Oroshi Kirin |
