Research Base

Lore & Background

The Research Base was built by the Research Commission to support hunters in their work protecting remote areas by hunting down monsters, typically alongside a research team trying to understand the origin and behavior of these monsters. The base serves as a forward operating point where hunters can equip weapons, armor, and items most beneficial towards completing a given mission. After successful missions, hunters are awarded in-game money ("zenny") and loot representing parts from the monster, which can be used to forge or upgrade new weapons and armor at the base's facilities. The base also houses the Research Commission's own staff, such as the Commander, the Handler, and the Resource Center, who assign quests to help protect remote areas threatened by monsters.

In Their Own Story

Rain slicks the wooden planks of the landing dock as the hunter steps out of the airship, armor battered from a long day. The warm glow of lanterns cuts through the humid twilight, welcoming them back to safety. Inside, the scent of roasted meat and metal polish fills the air. Sasha waves from her desk, ready to record the latest findings, while Master Elder Fura waits with new data on the shadows moving in the jungle beyond.

Reader's Guide

This facility serves as the logistical heart of the expedition into the New World, established by the Research Commission to support hunters in their dangerous work against massive fauna. Rather than a simple campsite, it functions as a fully equipped forward operating base complete with crafting stations, storage facilities, and communication arrays for long-range coordination. Hunters utilize this hub to analyze captured monsters, secure new contracts from the Master Elder, and prepare equipment before venturing into hostile ecosystems like the Wildspire Waste or Coral Highlands. The safety provided here allows for rest and recovery that would otherwise be impossible in the wild, shielding personnel from immediate threats while they plan their next strike. Its strategic position on the cliffside offers a vantage point over the Ancient Forest while maintaining proximity to transport routes leading to other regions via the airship system. Without this base, the scale of monster research required by the Commission would be unmanageable, making it essential for understanding the ecological balance and threats posed by Elder Dragons.

Did You Know?

• The Research Base is part of the Research Commission's efforts to understand the origin and behavior of monsters, as described in the series' gameplay lore.
• Hunters at the base are assigned by the Hunters' Guild to help protect remote areas by hunting down monsters.
• The base supports the core gameplay loop where players use loot from slaying monsters, gathering resources, and quest rewards to craft improved weapons and armor.
• Monster Hunter: World became the best-selling Monster Hunter game within three days of its release, and became Capcom's single best-selling video game of all time with 21 million sales as of July 5, 2022.
• The series has sold more than 100 million units by May 2024, with nearly half attributed to Monster Hunter: World and Monster Hunter Rise and their expansions.