Hey hunters!
This is the Monster Hunter Now Development Team.

Starting with the upcoming Season 8, a new feature called Base Defense will debut, allowing hunters gathered at the same exploration base to work together and take on riftcharged monsters. These monsters are far more powerful than usual!

Prepare your equipment and take on the riftcharged monster that appears at exploration bases during the final week of each Wave (month-long exploration period). Are you up for the challenge?

Overview of Base Defense

Overview

• Base Defense is a feature where hunters gathered at the same exploration base cooperate to challenge riftcharged monsters, which are significantly more powerful than regular monsters.

Requirements

• Hunter Rank (HR) 11 or higher
• An exploration base must be nearby
  • Base Defense can be joined from outside the access range, just like accessing the exploration base menu.

How to Play

• During specific times in the final week of each Wave, a riftcharged monster will appear at each exploration base.
• The damage you deal to a riftcharged monster is recorded as Defense Points (tracked individually).
• Defense Points are tallied for each weapon you used, and your Defense Rewards are based on the combined points of your top 5 weapons.

Tips for Earning More Points

• You can challenge riftcharged monsters with any weapon, but using the featured defense weapon for that Wave grants a bonus to the Defense Points you earn.
  Prepare your equipment and upgrade before the riftcharged monster appears in the final week!

Take on Riftcharged Monsters!

Riftcharged monsters are heavily affected by the influence of abnormal rifts, making them much stronger than usual. Unlike normal monsters, they cannot be slain in a single hunt. Work together with nearby hunters and challenge them repeatedly to push them back.

What Is the Dimensional Barrier?

Riftcharged monsters are surrounded by a dimensional barrier, powered by the influence of abnormal rifts. While the barrier is active, damage dealt is greatly reduced, but landing continuous attacks temporarily weakens the barrier, allowing you to deal more damage. Don’t miss the opening, and keep attacking aggressively!

After a Base Defense

Any hunter who participates in at least one Base Defense during the Wave will receive an Urgent Quest to slay the riftcharged monster at the end of the Wave. After fighting together in Base Defense, take on the final showdown in the Urgent Quest!

Try the Featured Defense Weapons!

You can challenge riftcharged monsters with any weapon, but using a featured defense weapon grants bonus Defense Points. Upgrade these weapons to prepare for the challenge ahead!

What Are Featured Defense Weapons?

The featured defense weapons change each Wave.
Weapons forged from certain monsters, as well as event-exclusive weapons, may be selected.

Example: Season 8 Wave 1 Featured Defense Weapons

• Weapons forged primarily from Astalos materials
• Weapons forged primarily from Khezu materials
• The event-exclusive weapon Wrapping Bow from A Happy Hunting New Year 2026

How to Efficiently Forge and Upgrade Featured Defense Weapons

You can gather the necessary materials for featured defense weapons efficiently through various quests and events. Participate actively and upgrade your weapons!

• Base Defense Prep Quest
  • Earn materials for featured defense weapons as quest rewards. Check the quest menu for details.
• Monster outbreak event
  • These events take place during each Wave. See the exploration base menu for details.

Rewards You Can Earn

Base Defense offers multiple categories of rewards based on performance, each earned under different conditions.

• Riftcharged Monster Hunts (per hunt)
  • Earn rewards for each hunt.
  • Exchangeable materials, monster materials (e.g., for Riftcharged Rathian: Rathian Scale, etc.)
• Defense Rewards
  • Earned based on the Defense Points you accumulate.
  • Exchangeable materials, exclusive Hunter Medals, exclusive layered equipment
• Urgent Quest Rewards
  • Earned by completing the Urgent Quest to slay the riftcharged monster, available after the Wave ends.
  • Zenny, etc.
• Base Defense Exchange Hub
  • Equipment upgrade materials (e.g., Wyvern Gem Shard, Wyvern Scarcestone), Zenny, etc.

Season 8: Wave 1 Schedule

Wave 1 Period (UTC)

• Dec. 11, 2025 (Thu) 12:00 a.m. – Jan. 18, 2026 (Sun) 2:59 p.m.

Monster Outbreak

• Target Monster:
  • Riftborne Khezu
• Event Times (local time):
  • Dec. 26, 2025 (Fri) 6:00–6:59 p.m.
  • Dec. 27, 2025 (Sat) 1:00–1:59 p.m.
  • Dec. 28, 2025 (Sun) 1:00–1:59 p.m.

Riftcharged Monster

• Target Monster:
  • Riftcharged Rathian
• Appearance Period (local time):
  • Jan. 12, 2026 (Mon) 9:00 a.m. – Jan. 18, 2026 (Sun) 9:15 p.m.
  • Appears during specific times within this period.

Exchange Hub Availability (local time)

• Jan. 12, 2026 (Mon) 9:00 a.m. – Jan. 25, 2026 (Sun) 11:59 p.m.

Urgent Quest: Slay the Riftcharged Monster

• Requirements:
  • Participate in Base Defense at least once
• Appearance Period (local time):
  • Jan. 19, 2026 (Mon) 9:00 a.m. – Jan. 25, 2026 (Sun) 11:59 p.m.

Featured Defense Weapons

• Weapons forged primarily from Astalos materials
• Weapons forged primarily from Khezu materials
• Event-exclusive Wrapping Bow from A Happy Hunting New Year 2026

Details for this feature will be available in the FAQ on update day.