Monster Hunter FAQ
What are the main Monster Hunter class features?
The current Monster Hunter's main features are Monster Grimoire, Weapon Mastery, Fighting Style, Studied Response, a Hunting Guild, Expert Strike, Improved Monster Grimoire, Knowledgeable Defense, Extra Attack, Lair Sense, Slayer's Aid, an Epic Boon, and Grave Strike. The class gets stronger against creature types recorded in its Grimoire.
The Monster Hunter progression turns research into increasingly lethal combat advantages.
1st level: Monster Grimoire
The Grimoire records chosen creature types and improves relevant Intelligence and Wisdom checks.
Additional creature types are added at later levels.
1st level: Weapon Mastery
The Monster Hunter gains mastery properties for selected weapon types.
The number of mastered weapon types increases with level.
2nd level: Fighting Style
A Fighting Style reinforces the chosen martial approach.
2nd level: Studied Response
Studied Response allows a reaction attack against a creature immediately before that creature makes a qualifying attack.
If the response attack misses, the feature can restore the reaction.
3rd level: Hunting Guild
The Guild is the subclass.
Features arrive at 3rd, 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th level.
5th level: Expert Strike
Expert Strike allows Intelligence to improve weapon and unarmed attack and damage rolls under the class rule.
6th and 13th level: Improved Monster Grimoire
The Grimoire gains additional creature types.
At 6th level, attacks against Grimoire creature types also gain an expanded 19-20 critical range.
9th level: Knowledgeable Defense
Against a saving throw forced by a creature type in the Grimoire, the Hunter can use an Intelligence saving throw instead under the feature.
11th level: Extra Attack
The Monster Hunter attacks twice with the Attack action.
14th level: Lair Sense
Lair Sense grants strong defensive benefits against lair actions, regional effects, and qualifying Legendary Actions.
17th level: Slayer's Aid
Slayer's Aid lets an ally participate when Studied Response triggers, creating coordinated retaliation.
19th level: Epic Boon
The current progression grants an Epic Boon or another qualifying feat.
20th level: Grave Strike
Grave Strike expands critical hits against Grimoire targets to 18-20 and can make those critical hits potentially lethal under the feature's saving throw rule.
How the features work together
The Grimoire identifies prey.
Weapon Mastery and Fighting Style establish martial technique.
Studied Response punishes aggression.
Expert Strike turns Intelligence into offense.
Knowledgeable Defense and Lair Sense turn knowledge into survival.
Grave Strike completes the specialist-killer progression.