Complete guide to Monster Hunter Now June 4 update with friend referral changes and upcoming hunt requirements
June 4 Update Overview
Niantic has rolled out significant adjustments in the Monster Hunter Now June 4 patch, delivering crucial modifications to the friend referral system while previewing upcoming changes to group hunt mechanics. This comprehensive update addresses player experience concerns while setting the stage for Season 2 improvements.
The latest server-side adjustments focus on two primary areas: refining the friend invitation rewards structure and establishing clearer progression gates for high-level cooperative gameplay. These changes represent Niantic’s ongoing commitment to balancing accessibility with meaningful progression challenges.
For active hunters, understanding these modifications is essential for optimizing your gameplay strategy and preparing for the upcoming Season 2 launch. The adjustments demonstrate how Niantic is responding to community feedback about matchmaking quality and new player onboarding.
Friend Referral System Updates
The friend referral mechanics have undergone substantial revision, specifically targeting the reward distribution timeline for players who invite new hunters. Previously, referrers received gifts when their recruited players reached Hunter Rank 11, but this threshold has been significantly increased.
This adjustment means referrers must now demonstrate greater commitment to mentoring new players, as reaching Hunter Rank 20 requires substantially more gameplay investment than the previous HR11 requirement. For strategic players, this changes the calculus around friend recruitment—focus on players likely to commit long-term rather than casual tryouts.
The unchanged rewards for referees ensure new players still receive appropriate onboarding incentives, maintaining the system’s appeal for beginners while increasing the value proposition for veteran hunters who successfully guide newcomers to mid-game progression.
Upcoming Group Hunt Requirements
In an effort to enhance the group hunting experience, we plan to implement the following measures before the Season 2 launch:
Minimum Hunter Rank requirements to join hunts for large monsters 8-star and above:
If these requirements are not met:
Hunter Rank requirements for participation may be revised before implementation. Please refer to the release notes at the time of the change for updated HR requirements.
During Hunt-a-thons, there may be instances where hunters cannot continue the hunt. For example, if the first monster in a Hunt-a-thon is 7-star and the second is 8-star, hunters with HR 50 will not be able to start hunting from the second monster onwards.
If you don’t meet the participation requirements and are ineligible to join all of the hunts at a certain Hunt-a-thon point, a warning will be displayed.
Participation requirements do not apply to hunts via QR codes from the Paintball List, or hunting in parties.
These upcoming restrictions create clear progression milestones for hunters. Reaching HR50 becomes crucial for accessing endgame group content, while HR100 and HR150 gates ensure players tackling the most challenging monsters have adequate gear and experience. The Hunt-a-thon limitations prevent frustrating scenarios where under-leveled players join hunts they cannot reasonably complete.
Strategic hunters should prioritize reaching these thresholds before Season 2 launches to maintain full access to cooperative gameplay. The exemption for QR code and party hunts preserves flexibility for organized groups while improving random matchmaking quality.
Developer Insights and Strategy
Niantic has decided to set the above Hunter Ranks as the participation requirement for hunting 8-star or above large monsters this time. This decision was made considering the need for adequately upgraded and overgraded equipment, as indicated by the recommended grades for facing monsters of a certain strength. This is to reduce the risk of beginners inadvertently joining hunts that are too difficult for them, leading to unsuccessful hunts or one-sided defeats.
While these requirements may be subject to change based on your feedback and actual hunting data in the future, the intention is to encourage hunters of all levels, from beginners to advanced, to participate in group hunts casually and enjoyably. Therefore, we have chosen not to impose overly strict restrictions and have set the participation conditions to allow a broader range of hunters to match and hunt together.
Hopefully, all these changes will make hunting Coral Pukei-Pukei in the Season 1 Climax event much easier.
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The development team’s approach balances competitive integrity with accessibility. By establishing clear Hunter Rank benchmarks, they’re creating natural progression checkpoints that correspond with gear upgrade milestones. This prevents the common frustration of hunters joining high-star hunts with under-leveled equipment, which often results in failed attempts and wasted resources.
For optimal preparation, focus on upgrading multiple weapon types to grade 6-7 before reaching HR50, as this typically provides the damage output needed for 8-star monsters. The HR100 requirement likely corresponds with grade 8 equipment, while HR150 suggests endgame gear optimization. These changes ultimately create a more satisfying cooperative experience for hunters of all skill levels.
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