How to join Multiplayer guide for Monster Hunter Wilds (MHW). See how to join multiplayer, unlock, play with friends, and the maximum number of players in the online lobby.
Table Of Contents
How To Unlock Multiplayer
Unlock After Chatacabra & Story Quest
Mutiplayer in Monster Hunter Wilds will unlock after defeating Chatacabra and heading back to the main camp.
Multiplayer Usage Fees
| Fee | Subscription | |
|---|---|---|
| Steam(PC) | Free | - |
| PS5 | Paid | PlayStation Plus |
| Xbox | Paid | Xbox Game Pass |
Multiplayer is free on PC (Steam) version of Monster Hunter Wilds, but PS5 and Xbox require a monthly subscription to access online multiplayer. The cheapest plan for each platform is around 9.99 USD per month, so be sure to subscribe if you want to join multiplayer.
How To Play Multiplayer
How To Invite Your Friends
- Ask For Hunter ID Of The Player You Want To Invite
- Enter Hunter ID In Search
- Invite Hunter Found In Search
- Start A Quest
┗You can also share field status with Environment Links
Ask the player joining the link party to share their Hunter ID. Your Hunter ID will be displayed in the upper left corner when you open "Hunter Profile" in the menu. If your ID is not displayed, please switch the display using R3. If the other Hunter is already on your friend's list, ID confirmation is no longer required.
Navigate to Menu → Communication → Player List from the menu. On the player list window, select the search icon at the rightmost option. This will display the "Hunter ID Search" feature. Enter the ID of the player you want to invite in the Hunter ID search and then confirm.
After searching using Hunter ID, the player's name will appear. Simply select them and send an invitation to the Link Party. The invited player can accept the invitation by navigating to Menu → Communication → Invite Notification List.
※If you search for another person, the current result may disappear. To perform additional searches, press the triangle button on PS5 or the R key on PC
Once a Link Party is formed, all members can act as hosts, allowing quests to be shared simply by accepting the request. Approve the quest invitation through Menu → Communication → Invite Notification List.
Benefits Of Becoming Hunter Friends
If you want to play multiplayer with the same person repeatedly, invite them as your Hunter friend. This allows you to easily invite them to future link parties without needing to enter their Hunter ID.
While not in a quest, you can explore the field environment with your Link Party members. You can share your current field status from Menu → Communication → Link Party → Invite All to Environment Link. This feature is useful for monsters like Rey Dau, which require specific conditions to appear.
Availability May Vary Based on Story Progress
Please note that the environment links are tied to story progression. If there is a difference in progress between hunters, you may not be able to use environment links.
How To Recruit Random Players
- Set Recruitment With Alma Or In Pop-up Camps
- Use SOS Flare During Quest
┗If you don't have quests, you can't use SOS Flares. - Wait In Lobby When Using Password
┗Share your password in chat.
| Alma | Pop-up Camp |
|---|---|
 |  |
To play multiplayer using SOS Flare, talk to the NPC "Alma" or enter your Pop-up Camp to set the multiplayer recruitment settings.
Settings For SOS Flare Recruitment
| Player Limit | Set number of participants from 1 to 4 |
|---|---|
| Multiplayer Settings | Can be set for all players or support hunter-only |
| Automatic SOS Flare | ON or OFF |
| Recruitment Comments | You can input any recruitment message |
| Join Request Settings | Automatic or Manual |
| Password Setting | Lobby Only ※Can't be used for SOS Flares |
| Platform Permission | Choose between "the same platform only or crossplay." |
| How To Use |
|---|
Please note that the SOS Flare can only be used after accepting a quest. Once you accept any quest, simply use the SOS Flare, and players or support hunters from across the country will join your party.
Types Of Quest You Can Accept
 | 【Make A Quest】 Select a Monster in your field and turn it into a quest, and accept it. |
 | 【Optional Quest】 An Optional Quest unlocks by defeating a large monster. You can accept the optional quest from Alma. |
If you've set a password in the settings, wait in the lobby after accepting a quest and share the password with the member you want to invite via chat. Participants can then talk to Alma and join the quest from the lobby. Please note that the password will be automatically canceled if you send out an SOS Flare.
Invites Is Recommended Over Using Password
Rather than using a password, it's recommended to invite players to a Link Party using a Hunter ID. This allows you to form a party with both friends and non-friends, making it easier to enjoy multiplayer.
How To Join On Your Own
- Open The Quest Counter Menu From Alma Or Pop-up Camp
- Select The Quest You Want To Join
| Alma | Pop-up Camp |
|---|---|
| |
To join a multiplayer quest, talk to the NPC "Alma" or enter your Pop-up Camp and select Post/Join Quest.
By selecting a quest from 'Optional Quest' or 'SOS Flare Quests,' you can join in multiplayer with other players. From here, you can participate in quests accepted by your lobby members, or join quests they've received if you've formed a link party.
| Types Of Quests |
|---|
| 【Optional Quests】 Join other players' optional quests |
| 【Lobby Member Quests】 Join quests of players in the same lobby |
| 【Link Member Quests】 Join link memebrs' quests |
| 【SOS Flare Quests】 Join quests where someone has sent up an SOS Flare |
Multiplayer Player Limit
Up To 4 Players Can Play Together
Monster Hunter Wilds allows online multiplayer up to 4 players. If you want to change the number of players in multiplayer, you can adjust the settings by speaking to Alma.
Lobby Capacity Is Up To 100 Players
Up to 100 players can join the 'Lobby,' where players gather for multiplayer. You can chat with others in the same lobby and invite them to participate in quests.
Up To 16 Players Displayed In The Lobby
The lobby can accommodate up to 100 participants, but only a maximum of 16 players will be displayed in the lobby at any given time.
Multiplayer vs. Solo
Enemy HP Increases With The Number Of Players
※The assumption is that rockfall damage is based on percentage.
The main difference between multiplayer and solo is that the enemy's health increases based on the number of players in your party. When considering rockfall damage as a percentage, the damage increases to about 2.4 times when there are 4 players. This suggests that the enemy's health also increases by approximately 2.3 to 4 times.
Support Hunters Also Increases Enemy HP
Please note that "Support Hunters," which can be called via SOS Flare when playing solo or offline, is designed to increase the enemy's HP just like in multiplayer mode.
SOS Flare GuideEnemy HP Changes With Party Size
The enemy's health will increase or decrease based on the number of participants in the quest. Therefore, if the number of players drops due to disconnections or other reasons, the enemy's HP will be adjusted according to the reduced number of players.
Multiplayer HP Increase Is From Previous Series
It's a common feature throughout the series that enemy HP increases during multiplayer. Looking at the recent past games, the maximum increase in enemy health is around 2.4 times, so it's safe to assume that Monster Hunter Wilds follows this pattern with monster HP increasing up to 2.4 times.
Monster HP Increase In Multiplayer From Previous Series
| 2 Players | 3 Players | 4 Players | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iceborne | Approx. 1.5-1.6x | Approx. 2.1-2.4x | Approx. 2.1-2.4x |
| Sunbreak | Approx. 1.45-1.5x | Approx. 1.9-2x | Approx. 2.3-2.4x |
Can't Play Multiplayer?
Check Your Internet Connection Status
If you're unable to play multiplayer in Monster Hunter Wilds, first check your internet connection status. In the case of the OBT, you'll be returned to the title screen when disconnected, but in rare cases, you may continue playing without realizing you've been disconnected.
Try Restarting Your Console Or PC
Although restarting your unit may not provide a permanent solution, it can resolve temporary issues. We recommend giving it a try to see if it helps.
Disband Environment Link & Try Again
If an error occurs during multiplayer, try disbanding the Environment Link and then remake the party. You can disband the Environment Link through Alma.
Send A Report For Unknown Errors
If a specific error code is displayed, it may indicate an issue that the player cannot resolve. Since the game is in the OBT stage, there's a high possibility of unexpected problems that the developers may not have anticipated. In such cases, an error report feedback screen will appear—please use it to submit a report.
Error Codes Reason & FixRelated Links
