Side Stories in Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection give each Ranger companion a chance to shine outside the main story. These optional questlines explore their backgrounds and even unlock new abilities along the way. To help you complete them all, this guide compiles every Side Story and explains how to progress through each chapter. This guide will try to avoid major plot spoilers, though it will still list chapter names and mission objectives.
Thea Side Stories
Thea’s Side Stories are easily the lightest — and arguably the most fun — ones among the Rangers’ quests. They revolve around tracking down a group of runaway Poogies known as the Gale Force Porkers, and each chapter introduces a small racing minigame. They’re also quick to complete, so we recommend tackling them as soon as they become available.
Chapter 1: ‘The Gale Force Porkers’
Reward:
- Poogie Hunter, the game will give you a notification when you’re near a Poogie. Very important for clearing the ‘Poogie Hunt’ sidequest!
This quest is essentially a ‘part’ of the Poogie Hunt questline, with Thea searching for four additional missing Poogies.
After speaking with Thea, you’ll be directed to an NPC near the Broadleaf Basin Catavan Stand in Azuria. He mentions spotting one of the Poogies near the giant tree deeper in the basin. Head further into Broadleaf Basin, pass through the narrow path, and follow the objective marker. It won’t take long before you encounter a rather peculiar Poogie.
Instead of running away or starting a fight, however, Swift Swine challenges you to something unexpected: a race. The rules are simple, as you only need to beat the Poogie in a two-lap race. You’ll quickly notice that Ratha runs slightly slower than your opponent, however. Thankfully, the track is scattered with Zoomshrooms, which temporarily boost your speed and are essential for catching up to the Poogie.
One thing to keep in mind is that the controls during races feel less precise than normal overworld movement. Turning isn’t quite as snappy, and you might understeer while trying to grab a Zoomshroom or round a corner.
Fortunately, this is the introductory race. Even if you miss a few Zoomshrooms, you should still be able to win.
Chapter 2: ‘Shai of Sheparden’
Rewards:
- Unlocks Water Hunting Horn for Thea.
- Kagachi learns ‘Stealthy,’ which increases Crit Rate when not targeted by Battle Lines.
Next, the race moves to Canalta Timberland. Fast travel to the Narrow Passage: Opening Catavan Stand, then head north until you find the next Poogie challenger. One called Bullet Bacon.
The course here is relatively simple, just a basic circular track. However, this race introduces a new obstacle called Slowedstool. As the name suggests, hitting one of these mushrooms slows you down significantly. Avoid them whenever possible, focus on grabbing the Zoomshrooms, and you should have no trouble winning the race.
Chapter 3: ‘The Tarkuan Trotters’
Rewards:
- Grape Juice Recipe.
- Thea’s Aerial Aim is upgraded to the AMP version
- Thea’s Rousing Riff is upgraded to the AMP version.
The third Poogie is located in Tarkuan, but things get slightly more complicated this time. A Blood Orange Bishaten is roaming the area like it owns the place and scaring the Poogie away. Before the race can begin, you’ll need to drive the monster off with a bit of excessive force
Blood Orange Bishaten Status
| Normal | Enraged | |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Speed (Fire) | Power (Fire) |
| Weakness (Element) | Water x2 Thunder x1 | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Darkness x2 | Same |
Once the Bishaten is defeated, the Presto Piggy will finally appear and it’s time for another race. This one is noticeably harder than the previous two. The track is still a simple circle, but Slowedstools appear much more frequently, and the Poogie itself runs even faster.
The rubberbanding here can get intense, so you can’t afford too many mistakes. Focus on hitting every Zoomshroom you can, and you should eventually pull ahead.
Chapter 4: ‘One to Go’
The last Gale Force Porkers will take you back to Azuria, where the Prince meets up with the unexpected witness of the Poogie’s last known location. After a lengthy chat, the final race begins.
This track is the most challenging of the bunch. The course features tighter turns, more Slowedstools, and boulders that can easily throw off your steering. Missing even a single Zoomshroom could cost you the race, so stay focused and keep your line clean through the corners!
Win the race, and the last Poogie, Boss Hog, is finally reunited with the group. While the Prince and Thea share heartfelt and uplifting moments with the eyewitness before parting ways, bringing the Side Story questline to a cheerful conclusion.
Gaul Side Stories
Chapter 1: ‘Gaul’s Unexpected Side’
Reward:
- Lifepowder Recipe.
During this questline, you’ll discover that Gaul has been quietly handling all sorts of errands by himself. As the dedicated leader of the Rangers, it’s only natural that the Prince steps in to lend a hand once he knows of it.
First, travel to Sunpetal Plains in Azuria and meet an NPC named Lievin. After speaking with him, you’ll be directed to Mirror Lake to deal with a troublesome Purple Ludroth. Should be easy enough, but here’s a quick cheat sheet in case you need it:
Purple Ludroth Status
| Normal | Enraged | |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Power (Water) | Technical (Water) |
| Weakness (Element) | Fire x2 Thunder x1 | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Burn x2 Blastblight x2 | Same |
Chapter 2: ‘A Request from Kol’
Reward:
- Unlocks Ice Bow for Gaul.
- Legia learns ‘Tailwind,’ which increases Speed at 50% HP or less.
- Key to Combos, gives a chance of getting more items when combining.
This time, we got a request from Master Kol in Sheparden, where we also learn a ‘shocking’ discovery about Gaul’s Palico, Murray.
For the Side Story quest itself, all you need to do here is go to the Frozen Grotto in Canalta Timberland and chase off a Tetranadon. Simple, right? Again, here’s the move pattern and weaknesses:
Tetranadon Status
| Normal | Stuffed | |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Power (Water) | Technical (Water) |
| Weakness (Element) | Thunder x2 Fire x1 | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Darkness x2 | Same |
Chapter 3: ‘Rent Negotiations’
Rewards:
- Dust of Life Recipe.
- Max Potion Recipe.
- Ancient Potion Recipe.
- Gaul’s Spirithelm Breaker is upgraded to the AMP version
- Gaul’s Rapid Shot is upgraded to the AMP version.
From the Rangers’ base in Galyad, Tarkuan, head north until you reach the Ministry of Eggs. Gaul has another business to resolve here, but as expected, it quickly turns into yet another errand.
To complete the request, head into the Bountiful Dunes mines. Thankfully, it’s just a small cave rather than a full dungeon, so it won’t take long to navigate. However, inside, you’ll be ambushed by a Shrouded Nerscylla. The fight isn’t hard, but do beware of its dangerous Poison:
Shrouded Nerscylla Status
| Normal | Enraged | |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Technical | Speed |
| Weakness (Element) | Fire x2 Ice x1 | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Burn x2 | Same |
Once the monster is defeated — and after a brief ‘discussion’ involving Gaul’s rather… persuasive entourage — the issue is finally settled.
Chapter 4: ‘As a Friend’
Rewards:
- Unlocks Gaul’s second Monstie: Sereg the Normal-Dragon Seregios.
The last Side Story takes us all over Tarkuan. Follow the objective marker to Bountiful Dunes mines and Rococo Rocks Catavan Stand and speak with Gaul’s associates. Eventually, it leads to Glacial Caps, Serathis.
After talking to the last member of Gaul’s entourage, head to the final objective marker where you’ll face a Honed Glavenus. You may remember this monster giving you trouble during an earlier encounter in Azuria. But by now, both you and your Monsties should be far stronger. Still, it’s best to prepare Water or Dragon weapons, as they work best against the powered-up Glavenus:
Honed Glavenus Status
| Normal | Overheated (Throat) | Overheated (Tail) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move | Speed (Fire) | Technical (Fire) | Power (Fire) |
| Weakness (Element) | Water x2 Dragon x2 | Same | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Sleep x2 | Same | Same |
With the monster defeated, the questline concludes after a brief but heartfelt moment between Gaul and the Prince.
Ogden Side Stories
Chapter 1: ‘Letter from an Unknown Sender’
Rewards:
- Shock Trap Recipe.
- Tranq Trap Recipe.
Ogden’s Side Stories revolve around a series of mysterious letters sent by an unknown person. Each describes sightings of unusual monsters known as Exotics. Curious about the claims and eager to verify whether these monsters truly exist, the Prince and Ogden decide to investigate.
The first letter points to an Exotic Velocidrome spotted in Azuria, near the Sunpetal Plains Camp. Unlike a normal Velocidrome, this one moves at blinding speed, darting around like it’s on a constant sugar rush. Its movement pattern appears erratic at first, but if you watch closely, it tends to circle a blueberry (Nullberry?) tree nearby.
After much chasing and waiting, we found the easiest way to catch it was to simply stand beneath the tree and wait for it to crash into us.
Despite its strange behavior outside of battle, the fight itself works much like a normal Velocidrome encounter. The only complication is its extreme speed, which makes hitting regular attacks difficult; you have to bait Double Attacks to land hits.
Exotic Velocidrome Status
| Normal | Enraged | |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Speed (Normal) | Power (Normal) |
| Weakness (Element) | Ice x2 Fire x1 | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Poison x2 Blastblight x2 Bleeding x2 | Same |
Chapter 2: ‘Ogden’s Theory’
Rewards:
- Unlocks Thunder Hammer for Ogden.
- Chirpy learns ‘Proliferating Poison,’ which extends Poison duration by 4 turns.
The second letter describes an Exotic Seregios with an unusual diet: it apparently feeds exclusively on Arzuros. You can find the monster in the southwestern corner of Canalta Timberland, an area where Arzuros and Honey frequently appear.
To reach the location, ride the updraft along the nearby river, then use Ground Dive to climb further upward.
However, simply showing up isn’t enough. You must bring an Arzuros to your party to actually attract the Seregios. However, this is where things get tricky. If you switch the Arzuros out during battle, the Exotic Seregios will go berserk and spam Shredding Scales that could easily two-hit your whole team.
Yep, that means you need to build an Arzuros properly for this fight. We recommend getting one to Level 25-26 and filling it with Genes that cover the Seregios weaknesses below:
Exotic Seregios Status
| Normal | Enraged | |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Speed (Normal) | Technical (Normal) |
| Weakness (Element) | Thunder x2 Ice x1 | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Poison x1 Sleep x1 Blastblight x1 Bleeding x1 Darkness x1 | Same |
Chapter 3: ‘The Sender’s Identity’
Rewards:
- Pitfall Trap Recipe.
- Ogden’s Defensive Ditty is upgraded to the AMP version
- Ogden’s Meteor Hammer is upgraded to the AMP version.
The third letter describes an Exotic Legiana that behaves very differently from the norm. Instead of preferring cold climates, this one appears to thrive in hot environments. You can spot it flying in circles above the crystallized pillars in Rococo Rocks, Tarkuan.
To begin the fight, you’ll first need to bring it down from the air. It circles the tallest pillar counterclockwise, stopping briefly at specific points. With that in mind, use your Monstie’s Breath attack — and aim slightly ahead of its flight path — to intercept it.
Once grounded, the battle proceeds similarly to a normal Legiana fight; except it starts the battle already airborne. Breaking its wings with Thunder-element pierce attacks will knock it down.
Exotic Legiana Status
| Normal | Airborne | |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Speed (Ice) | Technical (Ice) |
| Weakness (Element) | Thunder x2 Fire x1 | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Burn x2 | Same |
Chapter 4: ‘The Truth Unfolds’
Reward:
- Unlocks Ogden’s second Monstie: Plessie the Water-Ice Plesioth.
With the final letter in hand, Ogden begins to suspect the identity of the mysterious sender. But before we put the mystery to rest, there is still one Exotic monster left to hunt: Nibelsnarf.
The exact opposite of the previous Exotic hunt, this variant appears in the icy Old Capital Road in Serathis and likes to be underground. To lure it out of the ground, you’ll need to use the Roar Monstie ability.
The monster emerges whenever Roar is used, but only from five specific spots around the brown dirt patch in the center of the arena. It will never jump out from areas covered in white snow. Once you understand the pattern, stand in the location where it will jump to next and use Roar. The Exotic Nibelsnarf should burst straight out of the ground and into your lap.
Unlike previous Exotics, though, Nibelsnarf has adapted to the cold climate and has a new trick up its sleeve:
Exotic Nibelsnarf Status
| Normal | Camouflaged | |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Technical (Ice) | Technical (Ice) |
| Weakness (Element) | Fire x2 Thunder x1 | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Burn x2 | Sleep x1 Bleeding x1 Darkness x1 |
After defeating the final Exotic monster, the Prince and Ogden finally meet the mysterious sender face-to-face. However, the truth behind the letters — and the person who sent them — turns out to be quite different from what either of them expected.
Kora Side Stories
Kora’s quests are the most exploration-heavy Side Stories, sending you deep into dungeons. Because of that, each could take you 15 to 20 minutes to complete, so it’s best to tackle them when you have enough time.
To fully navigate the dungeons, you’ll need Monsties with the following field abilities: Melee Attack, Breath, Fly, Swim, and Wall Climb.
Chapter 1: ‘A Rocky Past’
Rewards:
- Big Barrel Bomb Recipe.
- Sonic Bomb Recipe.
- Flash Bomb Recipe.
You may already know that Kora is a renowned geologist, but she also enjoys a bit of spelunking whenever the opportunity comes. Whether it’s for research or simply curiosity. Like in Gaul’s case, the Prince decided to lend a hand in this matter.
Your first dungeon-crawling job is to traverse through Unexplored Cavern. You can either follow Kora from the quest start point or fast travel to the Broadleaf Basin Catavan Stand, as the cave entrance is located nearby.
Most of the monsters inside are fairly manageable. Expect to encounter Velocidrome, Yian Kut-Ku, Blue Yian Kut-Ku, Royal Ludroth, Plesioth, and Gypceros throughout the cave. However, deeper sections contain stronger enemies like Anjanath and Brachydios.
At the end of the cavern, you’ll face the dungeon boss: Purple Gypceros, accompanied by two Bnahabra.
Purple Gypceros Status
Note: Bnahabra uses Technical attacks and is weak against Fire.
| Normal | Enraged | |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Power (Normal) | Technical (Normal) |
| Weakness (Element) | Thunder x2 Water x1 | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Burn x1 Sleep x1 Blastblight x1 | Same |
Chapter 2: ‘Kora’s Gunlance’
Rewards:
- Unlocks Ice Long Sword for Kora.
- Gravy learns ‘Protective Shell,’ which temporarily reduces damage taken when inflicted with an abnormal status.
The next cave, Subterranean River, is located in Canalta Timberland, just northeast of the Blessing Hill Camp. It contains a mix of aquatic and land-based monsters, including Tetranadon, Purple Ludroth, Somnacanth, and Aurora Somnacanth.
You will also encounter higher-level monsters such as Seregios, Khezu, and Garangolm. Fortunately, by this point, you should have access to a Canyne, which makes it easier to outrun them.
The dungeon boss is Red Khezu. After defeating it, Kora shares some personal history about why she chose to become a Gunlancer.
Red Khezu Status
| Normal | Electric Charge | |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Technical (Thunder) | Power (Thunder) |
| Weakness (Element) | Water x2 | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Poison x1 Burn x1 Blastblight x1 | Same |
Chapter 3: ‘Cave Kids’
Rewards:
- Azure Armor Recipe.
- Mega Barrel Bomb Recipe.
- Kora’s Wyvern’s Blaze is upgraded to the AMP version.
- Ogden’s Sakura Spiritblade is upgraded to the AMP version.
Now we head to the Scaling Cave in Rococo Rocks, Tarkuan, for an urgent matter. From the Catavan Stand, simply jump down toward the north to reach the dungeon entrance.
Common enemies include Barroth, Rachnoids, and Ceanataurs, while stronger monsters such as Glavenus and a sleeping Ajarakan can be found deeper inside. Still, you don’t actually need to wake the Ajarakan. You can bypass it by breaking the rock next to it or simply flying past it.
The boss monster is a Black Gravios accompanied by two Ceanataurs. This fight can be tough if you don’t bring a strong Water Monstie, since both Kora and Gravy primarily use Fire-based skills.
Black Gravios Status
Note: Ceanataur uses Power (Water) attacks and is weak against Thunder.
| Normal | Enraged | |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Power (Fire) | Technical (Fire) |
| Weakness (Element) | Water x2 Dragon x1 | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Blastblight x2 Darkness x2 | Same |
Chapter 4: ‘A Sense of Belonging’
Reward:
- Unlocks Kora’s second Monstie: Golma the Normal-Water Garangolm.
The final dungeon, Frigid Pit, is located in Glacial Caps, Serathis. Something bad has happened there, and Kora wastes no time heading out. From the Glacial Caps Catavan Stand, travel northeast while jumping across the icy and rocky platforms.
It contains Bnahabra, Ebony Odogaron, and Lunagaron. However, a high-level Deviljho patrols the central section of the map. It’s best to ride a fast Monstie like Canyne and avoid it entirely — at least for now.
Quickly destroy the rock in the center of the area to reveal a hole. Then drop down to continue deeper into the dungeon. Further inside, you’ll eventually reach a chamber with a large wind updraft. Continue descending until you find a sleeping Fulgur Anjanath, along with a Chest and a Rare Monster Den behind it.
To proceed, ride the updraft halfway up and look for an opening in the wall leading deeper underground.
At the end of the dungeon, the boss awaits: Diablos. While it doesn’t deal any elemental damage, it hits like a truck. Stock up on some Sonic Bombs to force it out of the ground when it burrows:
Diablos Status
| Normal | Enraged | Burrowed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move | Power (Normal) | Speed (Normal) | Speed (Normal) |
| Weakness (Element) | Ice x2 Water x1 | Same | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Darkness x2 | Same | Same |
After defeating Diablos and resolving the situation in the Frigid Pit, Kora finally opens up about her past and her worries. The adventure ends on a heartfelt note — and a moment that suggests someone might be in big trouble later.
Eleanor Side Stories
Chapter 1: ‘The Proof is in the Dumpling’
Reward:
- Eleanor’s Cooking Note 1: Vermelian Dumplings.
Eleanor wants to introduce a brand-new dish to the Rangers’ Mess, but first, she needs several unusual ingredients found across Azuria. They are Sucklebugs, Witherweed, and Molted Gumshell. If you’ve never heard of them before, don’t worry; they aren’t your standard crafting materials.
The quest begins by teleporting you to a Lookout Point, where you must search for clues with the telescope before you can continue:
- Sucklebugs: Check the small island in Mirror Lake.
- Molted Gumshell: The hint can be found on the hill behind the windmills to your left. It drops from a Breathe attack on a roaming Paolumu in the overworld.
- Witherweed: Found along a riverbank not far from Paolumu’s habitat.
Once you locate each clue, the ingredient locations will be instantly marked on your map. Head to each location and gather the materials to complete the Side Story.
Chapter 2: ‘The Feast Can Wait’
Rewards:
- Eleanor’s Cooking Note 2: Bouillon Waterfall.
- Unlocks Water Hammer for Eleanor.
- Angie learns ‘Fiery Spirit,’ which temporarily increases fire damage when an enemy transforms.
For her next dish, Eleanor needs ingredients from two monsters and one mushroom: Garuga Stomach, Aged Royal Jelly from Arzuros, and Mellowcap. Again, use the Lookout Point telescope to locate their hints:
- Aged Royal Jelly: The clue is near the large tree close to the Lookout Point. Blast a roaming Arzuros with a Breathe attack for it to drop.
- Garuga Stomach: Yian Garuga’s habitat can be found at Mt. Canalta; look up until you see a towering rocky hill.
- Mellowcaps: keep going to the right until you see a withered, pale tree with red leaves for the mushrooms.
At this point, Yian Garuga can be a bit of a tough, so you might want to make a Fire-resistant armor like Aknosom Armor first:
Yian Garuga Status
| Normal | Enraged | |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Technical (Fire) | Power (Fire) |
| Weakness (Element) | Water x2 Ice x2 | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Blastblight x2 | Same |
Chapter 3: ‘Bitter Food, Bitter Memories’
Rewards:
- Eleanor’s Cooking Note 3: Convalesomme.
- Eleanor’s Strong Charged Slash is upgraded to the AMP version
- Eleanor’s Perfect Crush is upgraded to the AMP version.
Her third recipe asks for Ajarakan Gallbladder, Hoary Bone, and Poignant Piquant.
Hoary Bone’s spot is just across the oasis from the Lookout Point. Keep going to the right and check the sandship for a Spice Peddler selling Poignant Piquant. An Ajarakan can be seen roaming the mines to the left of the Lookout Point.
Both Hoary Bone and Poignant Piquant can be easily picked from each spot, but unfortunately, you have to get a bit dirty to get the last ingredient. Equip Eleanor with her Water Hammer and bring your best Water Monstie and gear for the Ajarakan:
Ajarakan Status
| Normal | Enraged | |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Technical (Fire) | Power (Fire) |
| Weakness (Element) | Water x2 Thunder x1 | Same |
| Weakness (Ailment) | Poison x2 Darkness x2 | Same |
Chapter 4: ‘Rangers’ Reminiscence’
Rewards:
- Eleanor’s Cooking Note 4: Rangers’ Reminiscence.
- Unlocks Eleanor’s second Monstie: Dee the Fire-Thunder Glavenus.
For the last banquet, you will have to equip your best gear. As the ingredients all came from powerful enemies: Magnamalo Chuck Roast, Feral Aknosom Thigh Meat, and Almudron Tenderloin.
Fortunately, you no longer need to search for clues through the telescope. We’ve listed their attack types and weaknesses to help you prepare for the battles ahead below.
| Magnamalo | Feral Aknosom | Almudron | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Ashen Pass, Azuria | Narrow Passage, Canalta | Muddled Marsh, Tarkuan |
| Move (Normal) | Speed (Normal) | Technical (Ice) | Power (Water) |
| Move (State 1) | Hellfire Blight Mantle: Power (Normal) | Enraged: Power (Ice) | Enraged: Technical (Water) |
| Move (State 2) | Hellfire Blight Critical: Technical (Normal) | – | Large Mudbulb: Speed (Water) |
| Weakness (Element) | Water x2 Thunder x1 – Hellfire Blight: Thunder x2 Water x1 | Thunder x2 Water x1 | Fire x2 Ice x1 |
| Weakness (Status) | Darkness x2 | Paralysis x2 Darkness x2 | Burn x2 |
That’s pretty much it for all Side Stories in Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection. Capcom has said that additional Stories will be added post-launch; we will update this article when they drop.
