A Closer Look at Palicos in Monster Hunter World: Palico Gadgets, Tailraiders & Safari Guide

Before anything else, you might also want to check out the main guide for Monster Hunter World here.
 

Table of Contents

1.0...Introduction

   1.1...What are Palicos?

   1.2...What are Grimalkynes?

   1.3...What are Tailraiders?

2.0...Palico Equipment and Tailraiders Unlocked

   2.1...Vigorwasp Spray

   2.2...Flashfly Cage & Jagras

   2.3...Shieldspire & Kestodon

   2.4...Coral Orchestra & Shamos

   2.5...Plunderblade & Girros

   2.6...Meowlotov Cocktail & Gastodon
   2.7...How-To-Get Videos 

3.0...Tailraider Safari
4.0...Outro

5.0...Changelog

[1.0] Introduction

I can honestly say that the new Palico system is one of many reasons why I decided to get Monster Hunter World. True story. The customization is very detailed and diverse. I'm sure that most gamers like us had a pet at some point in our lives. Given so much emphasis on this game, the Palicos are sure to awaken that pet-loving feeling inside of us. In fact, most gamers opted to name their Palico after their real life pets or make them a tribute to the ones they've lost (yes, I am one of them, I surely miss my dear Iris). Their features and abilities will make your life as a hunter easier and more convenient. In this guide, we'll take a closer look at Palicos and how to make the purr-fect hunting experience with these adorable creatures.

Shoutouts!
Special thanks to VacantThoughts from Reddit for the Flashfly Cage and Coral Orchestra skill info!

1.1...What are Palicos?

Palicos are the feline companions in Monster Hunter that you can bring along to fight with you in your hunts.  You are required to create one along with your character. These creatures are cute but can really pack a punch if properly equipped. Their main role is to satisfy your urge in creating the purr-fect cat. Partly true. Purr-haps their main role is to support you in battle and in a way that is suitable to your play style. One should not underestimate the power of Palicos. They can deal decent amount of damage to the monster without you even noticing it, plus, they can use gadgets with varying effects such as healing, disabling or provoking monsters, enhancing the party with various buffs and more popularly, scrape of materials from a monster during battle (that's right, the popular and useful Plunderblade, more on this later). As you progress in the game, your Palico will also learn the ability to recruit other feline creatures or small monsters to aid you in battle. You also have a chance of meeting other Palicos in the field and recruit them such as an A-Lister Palico or a Gatherer Palico. There are probably more out there which I haven't encountered. Another cool thing is that if you have been saving Guild Cards from friends online, you might also encounter and recruit their Palico in the field.

Your Palico levels up as you finish quests which makes them stronger. The max level is 30.

1.2...What are Grimalkynes?

Grimalkynes are another group of feline species that you can encounter in the game. Your Palico can talk to them and recruit them into your party once you have completed certain tasks or requirements. You usually see them in groups known as Bugtrappers, Protectors, Troupers and Plunderers. Upon completing those tasks, you can go recruit them anytime on the field by going near them and having your Palico interact with them. They have different roles but I think this is random. Example is that when you recruit a Bugtrapper, it can be a Lead Hunter , Expert Trapper or a Trap Whiz. There may be more but you cannot control which one gets recruited. I try to go near the specific Grimalkyne I want but my Palico just recruits whichever he wants. Below are some of the ones I've seen:

Bugtrappers - Lead Hunter, Expert Trapper, Trap Whiz
Protectors - Shieldbeare, Bodyguard
Troupers - Troupe Member, Instrumentalist, Thief
Plunderers - Acrobat, Ninjya
Gajalaka - Gajalaka Knight, Gajalaka Raider

The grimalkyne also gains xp as you finish quests under Tailraider Unity and their specific tribe. However, the levels are specific to each of these tribes. The Tailraider Unity max level for each of them is 5 which grants them more health.

These are optional and some need certain triggers for you to be able to meet them, so you might have missed most of these and have progressed late in the story without unlocking most of them. Don't worry, I got you. Read on and you'll find out how to unlock them.

1.3...What are Tailraiders?

The Grimalkynes are part for of the Tailraider Unity. Apart from them, there are also small monsters that can be recruited by your Palico. This is unlocked once you have done the Grimalkyne quests as they will be the ones to teach your Palico this ability. Once you have unlocked this, just go near the monster and again, watch your Palico interact with them. Your Palico can even mount them during battle. These monsters can be:

Jagras
Kestodon
Shamos
Girros
Gastodon

Unlike the grimalkyne tribes, you don't need to level them up separately. Upon completing quests you can see "Tailraider Unity Monsters" level up. Max level is 5. This will grant them more health each level.

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[2.0] Palico Equipment and Tailraiders Unlocked

You can forge weapons and armors for your Palicos from the materials you've obtained from monster but compared to the full set of the main character which consist of the helm, chest, waist, arms, legs along with the weapon and charm, the Palico can only equip a weapon, helm, chest armor and a gadget which we'll talk more about later. The properties of Palico equipment are similar to the main character based from the monster materials that they are made of. Keep that in mind when bringing your buddy to battle as it can also deal significant damage with the right weapon equipped or have it take a good amount of damage given the right resistances. To forge Palico equipment you will need to bring the materials acquired from certain monsters and pay up using research points instead of zeny. When you get to High Rank you also have better choices, but unlike the main character Palico equipment only have the Alpha version. You can also change the pigment or color of some parts of the armor at this stage.

You also have the option to leave them behind while hunting by talking to them on the camp. This will allow him to train and get a little xp while you're busy doing an expedition or quest on your own. I've never done this though as I always want to have my hunting buddy beside me unless I am messing around with the monster and afraid that my Palico can kill it accidentally. Note that you cannot recruit tailraiders if your Palico is not around. Palico's weapons can only be classified into two, one which deals impact damage and the other being severing damage. Be sure to check the equipment info to maximize your Palico's effectiveness in battle. To change or select Palico equipment, go inside your room or tent and talk to your Palico.

Now on to the best part... Gadgets! There are a total of 6 gadgets to-date and upon unlocking most of these, your Palico will also obtain the ability to recruit a specific Tailraider monster based on the availability on each map.

To help you understand this, look at the table below which describes which gadget, grimalkyne and tailraider can be unlocked on each map:

Now let's discuss these in detail. Your Palico can equip only one gadget at a time. Depending on your play style or needs, it is important to know about the capabilities of each gadget. The proficiency level of each gadget goes up as you use them in the field making them even more effective or more powerful. The max level of proficiency for each gadget is level 10. At level 6 you get an ability to manually command the Palico to use the gadget and then one more at level 10. These commands will be listed under "Special Items" and can be set on your radial menu for your convenience. They have a cooldown after usage but treated separately from what your Palico uses on its own. So say for example you use the Vigorwasp Spray, you have 2 manual skills for this at level 10 which are the Vigorwasp Delivery and Vigorwasp Station. If the Palico recently used the Vigorwasp Delivery automatically, you can still command it to do Vigorwasp Delivery manually, making it two consecutive Vigorwasp deliveries. Use this to your advantage.
 

2.1...Vigorwasp Spray

Vigorwasp Spray - a gadget that uses Vigorwasp honey to recover the hunter's health. The amount healed grows with proficiency.
Max Proficiency Level: 10
Manual Skill 1 (Level 6): Vigorwasp Delivery - delivers Vigorwasp honey towards the hunter
Manual Skill 2 (Level 10): Vigorwasp Station - sets up a Vigorwasp station in place

The healing is AoE (Area of Effect), you can use this to heal your teammates as well. This is unlocked by default.

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2.2...Flashfly Cage

Flashfly Cage - a Bugtrapper insect cage used to stop monsters in their tracks. Its effectiveness varies with the type of insect inside, and the duration increases with proficiency.
Max Proficiency Level: 10
Manual Skill 1 (Level 6): Flashfly Cage - sets up a cage with a flashbug which can blind the monster on hit
Manual Skill 2 (Level 10): Thunderbug Cage - sets up a trap similar to the Shock Trap item


To unlock this you need to:
1. Analyze and follow the "doodles" in the Ancient Forest until you meet the Grimalkyne Bugtrapper.
2. Follow the Bugtrapper into their camp or you can go straight to this area:

3. The Bugtrappers will give you the Flashfly cage and the ability to recruit Jagras.

See section 2.7 for a more detailed explanation.

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2.3...Shieldspire

Shieldspire - a massive Protector shield used to defend against attacks. It can also be used to provoke monsters, drawing their attention. Guard effectiveness increases with proficiency.
Max Proficiency Level: 10
Manual Skill 1 (Level 6): Shieldspire Taunt - uses the shield to provoke a monster
Manual Skill 2 (Level 10):Shieldspire Bash - uses the shield to attack which may also stun the monster.


To unlock this you need to:
1. Go to Grimalkyne Protectors' camp in Wildspire Waste:

2. The Protectors will give you a sidequest to capture 3 of their fellow Protectors
3. Use your map to mark and track down these Protectors. The locations are random.
4. Sneak up behind them and capture them by equipping the capture net from your item menu. Don't worry if you fail to capture it just track them down again on the map, they'll just move on to a different area.
5. Go back to the Protector's camp and they will reward you with the Shieldspire and the ability to recruit Kestodon.

See section 2.7 for a more detailed explanation.

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2.4...Coral Orchestra

Coral Orchestra - an instrument of Trouper make, able to yield a variety of effects. Its melodies boost attack, defense or status resistances. Those effects increase with proficiency.
Max Proficiency Level: 10
Manual Skill 1 (Level 6): Coral Cheerhorn - plays the horn and grants one random buff 
Manual Skill 2 (Level 10):Coral Cheerbongo - plays the drum and grants one random buff
Buffs appear to  be random but there are a lot of useful ones which might make this an end game gadget. Example of buffs are Attack Up, Defense Up, Stun Immunity, Affinity Up, and a whole lot more.

To unlock this you need to:
1. Go to the Coral Highlands and encounter the Troupers riding the Shamos around section 10:

2. Follow the Troupers back into their camp, they will give you a quest to defeat 2 Tzitzi-Ya Ku's.
3. Go back to camp or HQ to register or get the quest.
4. Upon completing the quest, you will automatically find yourself back on the Troupers' camp
5. You will get the Coral Orchestra as a reward as well as the ability to recruit Shamos.

Note: We are getting a lot of questions on what to do if if the Grimalkynes are not there. Try moving to a different map and then back here to check or make sure a Tzitzi-Ya Ku is present as this monster is involved in the quest. As of now we do not know the real trigger as I found them during my first trip in this area.

See section 2.7 for a more detailed explanation.

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2.5...Plunderblade

Plunderblade - an invention of the Plunderers that snatches items from monsters when attacking. The quantity of stolen items increase with proficiency.

Max Proficiency Level: 10
Manual Skill 1 (Level 6): Plunderblade - uses standard melee Plunderblade
Manual Skill 2 (Level 10): Palarang - uses boomerang version of Plunderblade
Perfect gadget for farming materials from monsters. Until further confirmed, I think a total of 5 materials can be collected this way. Both manual skills have the same effect.

To unlock this you need to:
1. Go to the Rotten Vale. Note that you need to have progress enough in the story to be able to access some certain areas. In this case, around section 13. Bring some "Raw Meat". Raw meat is a common item just check your storage box for one or kill small monsters such as the herbivores on Ancient Forest and Wildspire Waste.

 

2. Look for a Legiana Corpse. If is not around this area, just explore around the map for a while and come back to this area.
3. You might encounter the Odogaron carrying the corpse here or it is also possible to just see the Legiana corpse alone (meaning the Odogaron is just roaming around the map but left the corpse behind). The corpse is the trigger to meet the Grimalkyne. No Lynian Researcher needed and the Odogaron should not be around that specific section of the map. Fight it until if runs away should you encounter it here to draw the Grimalkyne out.
4. Once the Grimalkyne appears, you will have to follow it and wait for your Palico's instructions.
5. Put down the Raw Meat on the ground. If you forgot to bring one you can go back to camp to get one and return to this area.
6. The Plunderer's will reward you the Plunderblade and the ability to recruit Girros.

See section 2.7 for a more detailed explanation.

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2.6...Meowlotov Cocktail

Meowlotove Cocktail -Throws a Gajalaka-style bomb that deals damage. Combines with the Palico slinger to allow for sustained fire. Blast strength increases with proficiency.
Max Proficiency Level: 10
Manual Skill 1 (Level 6): Meowlotov Assault - Throws a single Meowlotove cocktail at the monster
Manual Skill 2 (Level 10): Rath-of-Meow - uses the Palico Slinger to fire Meowlotovs (looks like a cute cat cart/tank ha ha)

The blast appears to be useful for potentially breaking monster parts

To unlock this:
1. You need to obtain all five gadgets above. Remember as always, you still need your Palico with you to do this quest.
2. After doing so, you'll need to trigger the Quest in Astera by speaking to the  Lynian Researcher in the Ecological Research Center and you will be given a quest to investigate and find 10 Gajalaka Doodles.

 

3. You need to have progressed in the story until you can access the Elder's Recess to get some of the doodles and ultimately visit the Gajalaka camp. First, visit the Lynian Researcher again in Astera to receive the second Gajalaka Quest once you have obtained all the doodles.
4. Bring your Ghillie Mantle, go to the Elder's Recess and visit the Lynian Researcher near section 8. Wait until it's night time.

5. You'll need to sneak into the Gajalaka Camp beyond this area. Equip your Ghillie Mantle to go in unnoticed. It is possible to sneak in without the mantle if you time it right but why do that if you can go the easy route. Ha ha. Once successful, you will finally obtain the Meowlotov Cocktail.

Note: If you are having trouble with the Day and Night time cycle, try jumping back and forth between Astera and Elder's Recess. Until further confirmed, the cycle is affected with travel from one area to another. You don't have to wait for this as the cycle appears to be 1.5 hours. 

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2.7...How-To-Get Videos

Below are the videos on how to get the gadgets listed above:

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[3.0] Tailraider Safari

To unlock this feature you need to progress into the story until the Rotten Vale. On the research base, the Lynian Expert will tell you about the Palico Safari. This feature will let a team of Palico embark on their own quest at the cost of research points and reward you with useful items, materials or investigations. The time it takes for this quest to be completed will be related to the number of quests your main character takes. Meaning taking an assigned or optional quests and investigations counts as one, so it takes 5 quests from your main character for the whole Tailraider Safari quest to be completed. The Tailraiders available will be dependent on the recent hunters you've played with, from your squad or more importantly from players whom you've accepted guild cards. You can also then access this from the housekeeper cat on your room. Eventually you will also be able to unlock the high rank version of this to get better rewards. I think this is after the Pink Rathian quest around Hunter Rank 12.

Each Tailraider team member is proficient in either Hunting, Gathering or Research. In the screenshot above you will see that these are maxed out with the current team I have. I believe Palicos from other players' guild cards are much better but also at the cost of higher research points. "Hunting" will reward you with more or better materials from monsters, "Gathering" will reward you more materials from bonepiles, plants etc. in the chosen map and "Research" will grant you investigations quests which you can register on the Resource Center.

You will need to choose 1 of 3 available routes on which those rewards will be based upon. Keep in mind the colors of the icons which matches with the skills your Tailraider team is proficient with. The stars also note the difficulty so make sure to choose a route which is suitable to your team's capabilities. So if you see a 4-star red icon, it is advisable that your team should have at least 4 points in Hunting to have a good chance of obtaining items on that course. Also, if you notice on the upper right of the second course quests on the screenshot above, there is a small icon resembling a tailraider monster or paw. This means that there are other tailraiders on that area that will assist your team and will have a better shot at getting rewards so you might want to consider this as well.

You can call back the Safari team at anytime to and collect the current rewards they have, stop the current quest, or just simply collect the interim rewards and let them continue it. So far I was able to get a Sinister Cloth from this feature which is a material for the Death Stench Armor. More updates on this when we finally get more information.

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[4.0] Outro

This guide will be updated in the future to cover more specific details regarding the Palico's features. If you noticed any corrections needed or discrepancies in data, please feel free to inform me by dropping a comment or sending me an email. Help is also needed on some of the missing information listed above. I will continue to update it as I progress into the game or if new updates are implemented in the future. I hope this guide was helpful to you dear reader, stay tuned for more guides.


Other guides:

Monster Hunter World Guide: A Hunter's Tools for Survival (Work-In-Progress)
A Closer Look at Palicos and How to Get All Palico Gadgets, Tailraider Safari
Monster Hunter World: Decoration Categories and Drop Rates
How to Get All Poogie Clothing and Useful Items (Meal Vouchers, Dung, Mega Nutrients, etc.)
How to Get All Mantles and Boosters

[5.0] Changelog

February 10, 2018 - Initial draft, Published
February 12, 2018 - Minor Updates
February 13, 2018 - Minor Updates, Title change
February 16, 2018 - Added some Shieldspire, Added Meowlotov Cocktail vide
February 22, 2018 - Minor Updates, Added Meowlotov Cocktail Info
February 24, 2018 - Added anchor links to Table of Contents

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