To start an Investigation, choose a monster currently roaming a region on the world map and save that encounter for Guild Points instead of hunting it immediately. On PS5, open the map, press Square to view the region’s monster list, select a target, then choose the option to save it as an Investigation. Speak with Alma later to replay a saved Investigation up to three times.
How to save a roaming monster as an Investigation
- Open the world map and check which monsters are currently roaming the regions.
- Open a region’s monster list. On PS5, press Square while viewing the map. This button instruction is specific to PS5; controls for other platforms are not established here.
- Select the monster you want to hunt. The game lets you begin the hunt immediately or save the encounter as an Investigation.
- Choose to save it as an Investigation and spend Guild Points. Saving is the option to use if you want to return to the same hunt later.
These steps and the PS5 control are described in PlayStation’s Monster Hunter Wilds endgame guide.
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How to replay an Investigation
When you are ready to hunt the saved target, speak with Alma and choose the Investigations option. According to PlayStation’s guide, a saved Investigation can be taken on up to three times. The guide also points to guaranteed drops as a reason to repeat a hunt and collect rare resources; it does not specify drop rates or a complete reward table.
Should you hunt now or save the encounter?
| Choice | Use it when | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Hunt immediately | You want to deal with the roaming monster now. | You start the present encounter rather than saving it as an Investigation. |
| Save as an Investigation | You want to return to the same target for more attempts or pursue its guaranteed drops. | You spend Guild Points to save the hunt, then access it later through Alma; it can be replayed up to three times. |
When do Investigations unlock?
A secondary guide reports that Investigations become available after a Chapter 4 High Rank capture quest involving Yian Kut-Ku, at approximately HR 9. That specific quest and Hunter Rank requirement are not confirmed by the cited PlayStation guide, so treat them as secondary-source guidance rather than a definitive unlock rule. If the option is unavailable, progress through the story and check the game’s current guidance or Alma’s menu.
#1 Best Overall
- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Players can also now ride atop the Seikret, an agile new mount enabling hunters to traverse difficult terrain, perform actions like sharpening weapons on the move, and switch between two weapons while out on hunts!
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
The reported unlock and reward details come from Switchblade Gaming’s Investigations guide, which displays an August 1, 2026 date and says it was checked against June 2026 content. Its tier, Hunter Rank, tempered-monster, and reward-pool claims are not independently established by PlayStation’s guide and may change with updates. Do not rely on unverified drop percentages or thresholds as fixed game rules.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
- Crossplay Multiplayer – Alongside the option to enjoy the story of Monster Hunter Wilds solo, hunters can join up to three other players across any platform to explore the world together and take on the game’s challenges as a hunting party or receive aid from notable story characters as Support Hunter NPCs.
Rank #3
- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
- Crossplay Multiplayer – Alongside the option to enjoy the story of Monster Hunter Wilds solo, hunters can join up to three other players across any platform to explore the world together and take on the game’s challenges as a hunting party or receive aid from notable story characters as Support Hunter NPCs.
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