"Pre-Hunt Meal Prep Guide for Monster Hunter Wilds"

Monster hunting is a challenging endeavor that demands thorough preparation, including fueling up with a nutritious meal. In *Monster Hunter Wilds*, the process of cooking and eating meals is crucial for enhancing your performance during hunts. Here’s a detailed guide on how to prepare and consume your meals in the game.

Cooking and Eating Meals in Monster Hunter Wilds

Unlike its predecessors *Monster Hunter: World* and *Monster Hunter: Rise*, where you could rely on a friendly Palico NPC to cook for you, *Monster Hunter Wilds* requires you to take charge of your culinary needs. Here are the two primary methods to cook your meals:

By cooking in your tent: When embarking on a new quest, take a moment to prepare. Head to your tent, access the BBQ Menu by pressing L1 or R1, and select the "Grill a Meal" option.
By using the Portable BBQ Grill: Alternatively, you can use the Portable BBQ Grill from your inventory. Simply select it, press the square button to activate it, and start cooking from there.

Which Meals to Cook?

In the cooking menu, you have the flexibility to choose between a recommended, custom, or favorite meal. Here’s a breakdown of your options:

Recommended Meals: These are straightforward and consist of a Ration combined with any additional ingredients you have. Cooking solely with Rations provides a 30-minute buff, boosting your Health by +50, Stamina by +150, and Attack by +2. Adding ingredients extends the duration by an additional 20 minutes. This option serves as a solid baseline for your hunt preparation.
Custom Meals: For those looking to tailor their meals, the custom meal option allows you to select one Ration, one ingredient, and your finishing touches. Rations can be meat, fish, or veggies, each offering different buffs such as increased attack, defense, or elemental resistances. Ingredients and finishing touches further enhance your meal, providing benefits like improved gathering efficiency or reduced damage taken.

Once you've made your selection, initiate the cooking process, and your Hunter will automatically consume the meal, ready to tackle the challenges ahead.

That's the complete guide on how to cook and eat meals in *Monster Hunter Wilds*. For more tips and detailed information on the game, be sure to visit The Escapist.