Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (MHGU) is the Nintendo Switch port of the popular 3DS game and combines everything you love about classic Monster Hunter into one package deal. Unless you love Monster Hunter: World. That still isn’t on the Switch.

In MHGU, you are a lone hunter tasked with protecting the four cities from powerful monsters. You will need to use your wits and cunning to take down every creature that poses a threat, using their skin and bones to create better equipment to help you on your quest.

To help you prepare for the long haul, we have created this simple guide to give you some tips on what to do in the game moving forward.

Try every weapon

There are dozen different weapon types in MHGU, each with their own abilities, uses, and skills.

What one hunter finds enjoyable and easy to use, you could find difficult or boring and no fun at all. Thankfully, the game gives you a basic weapon for each different type in the chest in your house to use as your leisure.

Once you know what type of weapon you want to excel in, you can start upgrading it with monster parts and various items to become a true master.

Stock up

Unlike in Monster Hunter: World, you constantly need items to get resources such as ores and bugs by using pickaxes and nets. You also need items like Whetstones to keep your weapon’s sharp.

It pays to be prepared in MHGU, so having items restocked before every mission is the road to victory. These items don’t have unlimited uses and will break, or disappear, after being worn down.

You also want to grab essential items that will help you keep tabs on monsters, such as Paintballs. The map for the area can also be picked up at the blue box in the starting area.

Grab everything you need even if you don’t think you’ll need it. Better safe than mauled in a field.

Forage for everything

Sooner or later in MHGU, you are going to need to forage for items such as ores, mushrooms, bones, and more.

These items are not only essential to making life saving potions, such as Herbs and Honey, but are needed to progress throughout the game by creating weapons, armor, and ammo.

I can’t count the number of time I have gone to create a powerful new Long Sword only to be told I don’t have enough of a type of ore or bone. Shamefully backtracking, wasting more time.

In the early stages, every mining spot, bug, forage spot that you pass—Just collect it. Just pick it up. Just grab anything and everything on your path. The in-game fashion sense of fangs and feathers is a subtle hint to act like a total hoarder.