Jason Hidalgo

jhidalgo@rgj.com

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As Monster Hunter’s only living weapon, the Insect Glaive needs some extra TLC.

That's because in addition to upgrading its staff, the Insect Glaive set also requires users to feed its other half — a bug called the Kinsect — in order to reach its true potential.

When the Insect Glaive first came out in Monster Hunter 4, however, upgrading its bug was akin to Monster Hunter rocket science. For every stat you boosted via feeding, or example, you downgraded another one, requiring the kind of thought and work that was rarely seen since Monster Hunter Tri allowed you to mix and match Bowgun pieces.

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The good news for Monster Hunter Generations, however, is that leveling up the Insect Glaive is now more streamlined. Yes, you still have to feed and level up your Kinsect in addition to the upgrading the staff itself. But things are a lot more straightforward now without requiring as much math with the feeding process like before.

The process currently involves three steps in your “Upgrade Equipment” menu from the Smithy:

Upgrade Insect Glaive

Upgrade Kinsect

Feed Kinsect

The first option is essentially a straightforward weapon upgrade for the staff, requiring a certain set of materials just like other weapons. The last two requires more forethought and tie into each other, affecting whether you have a weapon that emphasizes speed, power, stamina or a more balanced mix of all three. Before you can upgrade your Kinsect, you first need to feed it enough Power, Speed or Heavy Jelly items to level up one of the aforementioned stats three times. Regular Jelly items boost a stat by one point but you can acquire stronger versions (combining a regular Jelly with a Larval Extract, for example, results in “+” version) that can boost stats anywhere from 5 points to a full 10 points, with the latter equating to one whole level boost. You can acquire Jelly from harvest points in the field or via trading with Neko or Chamberlyne as you progress in the game. Ordering Jelly from either cat Trader also can occasionally yields Larval Extract as well. Once you’ve fed a Kinsect enough, all the Jelly items get grayed out and you can now upgrade the Kinsect itself.

Depending on your level and which stats you invest in, you can evolve your Kinsect into different insects. Below is the full set of Kinsects you can aim for and the mats you need to level up your bug based on the official Japanese Monster Hunter X guidebook.

Tier 1

BASE: Culldrone and Mauldrone

Level 2: Huskberry x3, Worm x3

Level 3: Monster Bone S x2, Needleberry x6

Level 4: Monster Bone (L) x1, Exciteshroom x3

Level 5: Monster Bone+ x2, Exciteshroom x5

Level 6: Monster Keenbone x1, Dragon Toadstool x2

Level 7: Monster Hardbone x2, Dragon Toadstool x1

Level 8: Hyper Monster Bone x2, Dragon Toadstool x2

— Every staff starts out with one of these two bugs, which do not feature any extra effects. The Culldrone is a cutting type while the Mauldrone is a pummeling type. Other bug paths become available from either Level 3 or Level 6.

Tier 2

BALANCED: Elscarad and Arginesse

* Evolves from Culldrone or Mauldrone

Level 6: Monster Keenbone x1, Dragon Toadstool x2

Level 7: Monster Hardbone x2, Dragon Toadstool x1

Level 8: Hyper Monster Bone x2, Dragon Toadstool x2

— My personal favorites. Technically, these should be Tier 3 Kinsects but I'm putting them up here since they evolve from the Base bugs. Available at Level 6, these bugs require Power 6, Weight 6, Speed 6 to unlock. These are the bugs to get if you value extended Triple Up time and all-around performance. They extend Triple Up duration by 1.5 times from 60 seconds to 90 seconds when you get red, orange and white essence at the same time. It also grants a Wide Range effect when hunting with other Insect Glaive users by sharing essence effects with them. Non-Insect Glaive users also benefit from your green essence. The effects are:

Red essence: 1 minute, Attack +5

White essence: 1 minute, Affinity +10

Orange essence: 1 minute, Defense +5

Green essence: Recover 15 HP

These bugs also get a 5% increase in Power, Weight and Defense with no penalties.

POWER: Alucanid and Foebeetle

* Evolves from Culldrone or Mauldrone

Level 3: Monster Bone S x2, Might Seed

Level 4: Monster Bone (L) x1, Might Seed x2

Level 5: Monster Bone+ x2, Might Seed x3

Level 6: Monster Keenbone x1, Might Seed x5

Level 7: Monster Hardbone x2, Demondrug x2

Level 8: Hyper Monster Bone x2, Mega Demondrug x3

— These are available at Level 3 once a bug reaches Power 3. The bugs gain a 10 percent boost in Power from the base form but a 10% penalty to Weight and a reduction in range. Also receives +10 Attack after acquiring red essence.

WEIGHT: Rigiprayne and Ladtarge

* Evolves from Culldrone or Mauldrone

Level 3: Monster Bone S x2, Adamant Seed

Level 4: Monster Bone (L) x1, Adamant Seed x2

Level 5: Monster Bone+ x2, Adamant Seed x3

Level 6: Monster Keenbone x1, Adamant Seed x5

Level 7: Monster Hardbone x2, Armorskin x2

Level 8: Hyper Monster Bone x2, Mega Armorskin x3

— These are available at Level 3 once a bug reaches Weight 3. The bugs gain a 10 percent boost in Weight from the base form but a 10% penalty to speed. Also receives +10 Defense after acquiring orange essence and replenishes 10 HP from green essence.

SPEED: Windchopper and Gullshad

* Evolves from Culldrone or Mauldrone

Level 3: Monster Bone S x2, Frog x2

Level 4: Monster Bone (L) x1, Popfish x3

Level 5: Monster Bone+ x2, Whetfish x3

Level 6: Monster Keenbone x1, Pin Tuna x4

Level 7: Monster Hardbone x2, Ancient Fish x2

Level 8: Hyper Monster Bone x2, Speartuna x2

— These are available at Level 3 once a bug reaches Speed 3. The bugs gain a 10 percent boost in Speed from the base form as well as an increase in Range. Power, however, is reduced by 10%. Also receives +15% Affinity after acquiring red essence.

Tier 3

POWER 1: Monarch Alucanid and Carnage Beetle

* Evolves from Alucanid and Foebeetle

Level 6: Monster Keenbone x1, Demondrug

Level 7: Monster Hardbone x2, Demondrug x2

Level 8: Hyper Monster Bone x2, Mega Demondrug x3

— These are available at Level 6 once a bug reaches Power 10. The bugs gain a 20 percent boost in Power from the base form and 30% reduction in charging time but also a 10% penalty for Weight and a reduction in Range. Also receives +10 Attack after acquiring red essence.

POWER 2: Empresswing and Bonnetfile

* Evolves from Alucanid and Foebeetle

Level 6: Monster Keenbone x1, Might Seed x2, Exciteshroom x3

Level 7: Monster Hardbone x2, Demondrug x1, Exciteshroom x5

Level 8: Hyper Monster Bone x2, Mega Demondrug x2, Dragon Toadstool x1

— These are available at Level 6 once a bug reaches Power 3, Weight 5 and Speed 4. The bugs gain a 20 percent boost in Power from the base form and 30% but also a 10% penalty for Weight and a reduction in Range. Also receives +20 Attack after acquiring red essence, which also lasts 40% longer.

WEIGHT 1: Cancadaman and Ladypavise

* Evolves from Rigiprayne and Ladytarge

Level 6: Monster Keenbone x1, Armorskin x5

Level 7: Monster Hardbone x2, Armorskin x2

Level 8: Hyper Monster Bone x2, Mega Armorskin x3

— These are available at Level 6 once a bug reaches Weight 10. The bugs gain a 20 percent boost in Weight from the base form but also a 10% penalty for Speed. Also receives +20 Defense and Earplugs after acquiring orange essence.

WEIGHT 2: Fiddlebrix and Arkmaiden

* Evolves from Rigiprayne and Ladytarge

Level 6: Monster Keenbone x1, Adamant Seed x2, Exciteshroom x3

Level 7: Monster Hardbone x2, Armorskin x1, Exciteshroom x5

Level 8: Hyper Monster Bone x2, Mega Armorskin x2, Dragon Toadstool x1

— These are available at Level 6 once a bug reaches Power 4, Weight 3 and Speed 5. The bugs gain a 20 percent boost in Weight from the base form but also a 10% penalty for Speed. Also receives +10 Defense after acquiring orange essence, which also lasts 30% longer. Green essence restores 20 HP.

SPEED 1: Grancathar and Bullshroud

* Evolves from Windchopper and Gullshad

Level 6: Monster Keenbone x1, Glutton Tuna x3

Level 7: Monster Hardbone x2, Ancient Fish x2

Level 8: Hyper Monster Bone x2, Speartuna x2

— These are available at Level 6 once a bug reaches Speed 10. The bugs gain a 20 percent boost in Speed from the base form, extended Range and a 30% reduction in charging time but also a 10% penalty for Power. Also receives +30% Affinity after acquiring white essence and extends duration of Red + White “Double UP” time by 20 seconds.

SPEED 2: Pseudocath and Whispervesp

* Evolves from Windchopper and Gullshad

Level 6: Monster Keenbone x1, Pin Tuna x2, Exciteshroom x3

Level 7: Monster Hardbone x2, Ancient Fish x1, Exciteshroom x5

Level 8: Hyper Monster Bone x2, Speartuna x1, Dragon Toadstool x1

— These are available at Level 6 once a bug reaches Power 5, Weight 4 and Speed 3. The bugs gain a 20 percent boost in Speed from the base form, extended Range and a 20% boost to Elemental attacks but also a 10% penalty for Power. Also receives +15% Affinity after acquiring white essence.

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