What do the little icons on the scoutfly bar mean?

[JohnJSal]

Hi all. I've been playing MHW for a couple of days and I'm getting used to all the new systems, but I'm confused by one thing.

When you check your monster research level at the Ecological Research station, there is a scoutfly bar next to the monster level, and it seems to be divided into sections like the bar you see out in the field. I assume these sections correspond to how advanced the bar starts out when you enter a hunt, but I don't understand what all the little icons on the bar mean. There is a little green (sometimes yellow) cross/plus sign shaped icon, a downward pointing double red arrow, and I think at least one other little icon.

Can someone explain what all these mean and how they advance along the bar?

Thanks!

[Tregrenos]

As you hunt/track monsters you build up a little meter that shows your progress to the next level. Each level details more info about the monster, including if it’s weak/hungry and even where it’s heading to next.

The more you hunt a monster the more a separate “research level” in your Hunters Notes goes up. There are 3 levels, detailing more info about the monster such as weaknesses and loot, but more importantly it makes the Scouties level faster. If you get a “Research Level” to 3 all you need is 1 footprint to pretty much take you to max Scoutfly level. Makes the hunts overall much easier.

Edit: As for the arrows, I believe this means your Research Level is going down because you haven’t hunted that monster in a while. You won’t go down a level, but whatever “extra” you have past level 3 will translate to your Scoutfly level. If you have the bar maxed past level 3 you start off the hunt with that monster at max Scoutfly level, already showing you where it is, if its weak/hungry and where it’s going to next.

[Waffles]

Originally posted by Tregrenos:

As you hunt/track monsters you build up a little meter that shows your progress to the next level. Each level details more info about the monster, including if it’s weak/hungry and even where it’s heading to next.

The more you hunt a monster the more a separate “research level” in your Hunters Notes goes up. There are 3 levels, detailing more info about the monster such as weaknesses and loot, but more importantly it makes the Scouties level faster. If you get a “Research Level” to 3 all you need is 1 footprint to pretty much take you to max Scoutfly level. Makes the hunts overall much easier.

But what about the various icons?

[Tregrenos]

Originally posted by Shiny Steak:

Originally posted by Tregrenos:

As you hunt/track monsters you build up a little meter that shows your progress to the next level. Each level details more info about the monster, including if it’s weak/hungry and even where it’s heading to next.

The more you hunt a monster the more a separate “research level” in your Hunters Notes goes up. There are 3 levels, detailing more info about the monster such as weaknesses and loot, but more importantly it makes the Scouties level faster. If you get a “Research Level” to 3 all you need is 1 footprint to pretty much take you to max Scoutfly level. Makes the hunts overall much easier.

But what about the various icons?

Made a quick edit to the post above about the arrows. I’m not 100% on this, so someone correct me if I’m wrong.

An example of this, for me, would be with Kulu Ya Ku. I enjoy helping people on the “Visitor from Another World” quest, so my Kulu Ya Ku research level is 3 and has a maxed bar. Immediately when I join the hunt I can tell where the Kulu Ya Ku is and where it’s going without the need for tracks.

[JohnJSal]

I understand what progress along the bar means, but I don't understand the little icons. I also know that progress degrades over time, and perhaps at least one of these icons is an indication of that degradation, but I don't know how to read it.

[Jethro]

What icons?

[JohnJSal]

Originally posted by Jethro:

What icons?

The ones I described in my original post:

There is a little green (sometimes yellow) cross/plus sign shaped icon, a downward pointing double red arrow, and I think at least one other little icon.

[JPM岩]

Originally posted by JohnJSal:

Originally posted by Jethro:

What icons?

The ones I described in my original post:

There is a little green (sometimes yellow) cross/plus sign shaped icon, a downward pointing double red arrow, and I think at least one other little icon.

Downward arrow means the research level is decreasing, blue upward means increasing, the plus I think means it's capped, possibly you need to progress further in the game.

[Waffles]

Originally posted by JPM岩:

Originally posted by JohnJSal:

The ones I described in my original post:

Downward arrow means the research level is decreasing, blue upward means increasing, the plus I think means it's capped, possibly you need to progress further in the game.

Research level can decrease? Wut.

[Tregrenos]

Originally posted by Shiny Steak:

Originally posted by JPM岩:

Downward arrow means the research level is decreasing, blue upward means increasing, the plus I think means it's capped, possibly you need to progress further in the game.

Research level can decrease? Wut.

Only the bar next to your Research Level. Maxing it boosts your level, which goes toward the achievement. Maxing it out on the max level means you start off the hunt at max Scoutfly level. The longer you go without hunting/tracking will cause your research bar to drop, but the numbered level you reached (the part that relates to the achievement) won’t go down.

[JohnJSal]

Originally posted by JPM岩:

Originally posted by JohnJSal:

The ones I described in my original post:

Downward arrow means the research level is decreasing, blue upward means increasing, the plus I think means it's capped, possibly you need to progress further in the game.

Wouldn't it always be in a state of decline? I've never seen blue arrows. What causes you to be in an "increasing" state?

[JPM岩]

Originally posted by JohnJSal:

Originally posted by JPM岩:

Downward arrow means the research level is decreasing, blue upward means increasing, the plus I think means it's capped, possibly you need to progress further in the game.

Wouldn't it always be in a state of decline? I've never seen blue arrows. What causes you to be in an "increasing" state?

It starts to drop depending on how many quests it's been since you last hunted the monster. Like, if I haven't hunted a Jagras for a few weeks, my Jagras' level would go down, but if let's say im switching between Pukei and Anjanath repeatedly, the research wont go down

[JohnJSal]

Thanks. I'll have to keep an eye on these things and see how it goes. I've been looking this stuff up on the internet and I still haven't found any definitive answers on how some of this works.