Maxed out research levels

[ReleashedNutterButter]

What changes in higher or maxed out research levels? I'm Just confused about the benefits of this.

[Scaryowl]

seeing where the monster is when you get a track, seeing where the monster is without getting tracks, seeing where the monster is going
in that order, cumulatively

[Xilo The Odd]

tracking benefits primarily.

a lot of getting max research on monsters in master rank unlock special optionals as well involving that monster. either to get a new feature, upgrade a hunter tool, etc.

[Suzaku]

You get a picture of the monster with information of weak spots, severable/breakable parts, as well as elemental and status weaknesses.

You also get a list of potential materials and their drop rates.

[Greb]

Monster research is just filling out your Hunter's Log, AKA more info is printed there such as their physiology (what you can break, what types of attack they're weak to, their elemental resistances etc) and also their drop table, how what parts you break give you a chance to get certain rewards when the mission completes, etc.

Contrast to Scoutfly Level, which upgrades as you collect tracks and possibly just fight monsters, which simply allows your scoutflies to track a monster faster and more accurately etc - at higher levels collecting a single track would mark a monster on the map, and at maximum level the monsters would be revealed instantly. There's something in relation to being able to see monster health when low with the skull icon sooner / more accurately, but I'm not sure how that works.

Generally though just view your research progress as a side activity, something that marks your progression with dealing with a monster, how many times you defeated it and if you should have enough parts to make most of the gear you want etc. Just a minor gameplay mechanic that adds a little bit of replay value, I guess.

[Ravagexe]

Tracking is all, also if Im not wrong that little skull-pop-up wont appear without Max research.
So its pretty useful for capturing.

[Popcorn]

Also, since no one mentioned it, research levels will increase the possibility of obtaining investigations of said monster. Its not a guarantee, but a HIGHER possibility

[Flo]

Research level : permanent. Shows more info in the monster guide (weakpoints, weaknesses, loot tables). Increases scoutly level (won't go lower than level 1, more XP per track collected, each track is worth more research points (green curency). Not sure if it really increases investigation chances.

Scoutfly level : Will go down with time. Collect tracks to level it back up. Lvl1 guides to nearest track. Lvl2 guides to the monster. Lvl3 shows a skull when monster is near death, and shows the monster's destination (X spot on the map, useful when a monster runs away to know where it will go, so you can fly to the nearest camp).

[Popcorn]

Originally posted by Nyaru:

Research level : permanent. Shows more info in the monster guide (weakpoints, weaknesses, loot tables). Increases scoutly level (won't go lower than level 1, more XP per track collected, each track is worth more research points (green curency). Not sure if it really increases investigation chances.

Scoutfly level : Will go down with time. Collect tracks to level it back up. Lvl1 guides to nearest track. Lvl2 guides to the monster. Lvl3 shows a skull when monster is near death, and shows the monster's destination (X spot on the map, useful when a monster runs away to know where it will go, so you can fly to the nearest camp).

Since PC players have faster load times, I can confirm coming from console that research lvls have a higher possibility to obtain investigations of said monster, though not 100% guaranteed its said monster, just higher

Edit: via the load screen tips

[ReleashedNutterButter]

Thanks so much people I think I got the gist of it now. Have a good rest of your days.

[Dart]

I sure do wish the game would stop telling me about research updates. The head researcher is behind a loading screen. Please make it stop.

[Suzaku]

Originally posted by Dart:

I sure do wish the game would stop telling me about research updates. The head researcher is behind a loading screen. Please make it stop.

He's just sitting in town. What loading screen is there?