Disclaimer: I do not own Monster Hunter or anything associated with it. Those rights belong to Capcom. However, I do own Taka and all other fictional characters.

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Salutations, greetings, and many great hellos! I am Taka Docks, former hunter and renowned monster researcher. It has been two decades since the end of the monster war, and peace reigns once more. The need for hunters is all but gone, although armor and weapons are still needed for other purposes.

There is more to the monster world than just hunting. Now, monster researchers such as myself are appearing in towns and cities all over the known world, from Loc Lac in the Moga region to Barubare in the Nameless region.

I have published this guide for many reasons. One is for recreation – for those like myself who learn for the fun of it. Another is for safety, as the world is still an extremely dangerous place. The last is for the sake of knowledge and its preservation. For indeed, it is human nature to learn about the world around us, and to try and quench our insatiable curiosity.

This book cannot have been finished without the help of the following people – my dear wife Relcia, our son Phisto, my best friend Illeera, and the monsters known as Vulcan, Reia, and Jin. Together, our efforts have come together to create this magnificent work of art that now rests in your hands.

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No matter which way you look at them, the numerous creatures roaming our world are monsters. From the peaceful Aptonoth to the ferocious Delex, from the brutish Barroth to the devilishly smart Berukyrurosu, from the disgusting Khezu to the awe-inspiring White Fatalis, every nook and cranny of the known world is filled with them. Even our own society harbors domestic monsters, kept for farming, transport, or simply companionship.

Monsters vary widely in size and habitat. The smallest known monster dwells in dark caves – the Giggi, a leech-like creature the size of my arm. The largest known monster burrows beneath the soil of Absolute Island – the amazing Raviente, so big that it could eat a city. For fear of this book's limited size, I will only describe the largest and most dangerous monsters within its pages – the "bosses", if you will, as opposed to the considerably smaller "minions".

The monsters covered in this book are native to four separate regions – those of Moga in the east, Minegarde in the south, the Nameless in the south-east, and the dreaded Great Frontier in the west. I will not cover those few monsters native to the other two known regions – namely, the aptly named Mysterious Beyond, the unknown region to the north of Moga, and my own home, the Central World.

Remember this – monsters are a vital part of our world's ecosystems. No matter how much you may wish to hide in your home to get away from them, there is no escaping them. You must not shun these amazing creatures, but embrace their existence the way our ancestors were unable to do hundreds of years ago, at the start of the great war. Life certainly wouldn't be the same without them.

And who knows? Perhaps someday, you may find a monster companion to work with, to trust with your life, and to call a friend.

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Each of the regions covered in this guidebook have their own distinct subregions. Each subregion is home to several native species of monster.

Monsters in this book are not sorted by region, or by biological similarities, but by alphabetical order. Each has been assigned a distinct class it shares with similar monsters. There are seven classes in total, each of my own creation, which are as follows:

- The Fiery class, for both fire-breathing and short-tempered monsters.

- The Abyssal class, for those who dwell in the murky deep or once did.

- The Ore class, for monsters with hard shells and brutish behavioral patterns.

- The Hidden class, for monsters shrouded in mystery and which do not fit in any other class.

- The Stealth class, for monsters with great intelligence.

- The Fear class, for those that invoke feelings of terror.

- The Godly class, for those few monsters who are revered as creatures of worship and are powerful enough to be gods.

Likewise, many of the subregions are assigned a class, which varies depending on their geographic similarities. The Tower and Nest Hole are similar and very near each other, and are thus given their own class. Another example is the Mogan Volcano and Sacred Land, and the Misty Peaks and Great Mountain.

Knowing the regions and subregions is useful to the monster researcher and general traveler alike. It is easy to get lost in this wide world of ours, and hostile monsters are likely to take offense if you unwittingly invade their territory. A good researcher knows where to go to find an assigned monster, and where to go in order to avoid another.

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Although monster hunting is forbidden nowadays, it is still necessary for one to wear armor and carry a weapon for defense.

Before heading out for research, consider the target monster and others you may encounter in the area. Wear armor that will grant appropriate abilities, or "skills", to the wearer, and pick a weapon that utilizes an element that will be effective in a potential fight.

Make sure to carry a weapon that you are comfortable with using. My personal preferences are Longswords, regular Swords, and Lances. If you must, keep different varieties of your particular weapon class in stock. This will allow you to prepare for any occasion.

Of note is the fact that the majority of weapons and armors are made up of monster parts such as scales or fur. If you cannot buy a weapon from your local blacksmith or dealer, make it yourself by scavenging materials you find in the field.

In the old days, hunters also carried pouches full of different items to help them on a hunt. You, too, must prepare in such a way.

Potions and Mega Potions are essential for healing wounds acquired in the field. Steaks can be carried for a quick meal, and raw meat can be used to lure certain monsters. Paintballs allow you to track monsters by smell.

For each and every monster, a different combination of items is needed to ensure relative safety. Judge for yourself as to what might be needed or not needed. Your decisions could save your or another's life.

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With that said and done, relax and read on. Prepare to discover the world of monsters for your very self.

- Taka Docks

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I believe it's time for a formal introduction. Greetings and many great hellos! I am Cottonmouth25, and I am back with another Monster Hunter fanfic. This story is of the likes of which I have never attempted before. That's right, I am writing a guidebook to the monsters of Monster Hunter!

A lot of the information I will give in these chapters has been confirmed to be true by Capcom. However, much of it is also my own guesswork and my own theories. Hopefully, they blend effectively and make this fanfic enjoyable.

Make sure to leave a review and tell me if you're looking forward to reading this guidebook! I'm certainly looking forward to writing it!

~ Cottonmouth25