Learn monster hunter wilds how to set up pop up camp with this complete guide, step-by-step tips, strategies, and survival tricks.
Let me tell you a story.
I had just sprinted across the dunes for what felt like miles, low on stamina, clutching a sliver of health and out of healing items. Behind me? A furious Bramblehorn charging through the sand like an angry freight train. My Palico was down, I was out of options… and then I remembered the one thing that saved my hunt:
The pop-up camp.
If you’re new to Monster Hunter Wilds, or even a seasoned hunter adjusting to the new mechanics, understanding monster hunter wilds how to set up pop up camp is going to be a game-changing survival tactic. In this guide, we’re not just going to talk about where to click or what button to press. Nope. We’re going deep, into the “why,” the “when,” and the secret strategies around it.
So grab your whetstones and let’s dive in.
What You'll Discover:
What Is a Pop-Up Camp in Monster Hunter Wilds?
Think of a pop-up camp like your own portable base camp, but instead of setting it once and leaving it, you can deploy it strategically mid-hunt or exploration. It gives you access to essential camp features like:
- Resting to regain health
- Changing your loadout
- Managing items
- Cooking and buffs
- Fast travel (if allowed)
Imagine it like a camping tent for monster hunters, ready to be thrown down when you’re in the thick of it. And trust me, it saved my hide more than once when I underestimated how aggressive a Stormjaw could get at dusk.
Why Pop-Up Camps Matter (Especially in Wilds)
Monster Hunter Wilds has introduced more expansive, open zones than we’ve ever seen in the franchise. And with that freedom comes more danger, longer treks, and unpredictable encounters.
That’s where pop-up camps become vital.
Instead of retreating to a fixed camp halfway across the region, you can now drop a safe zone close to the action. It’s not just a matter of convenience, it’s survival strategy. Kind of like leaving a lifeboat in the middle of a sea before diving with sharks.
I remember thinking I could handle a solo hunt against a Gliderdrake. I was wrong. That fight dragged into nightfall, weather changed, and the beast lured me deep into hostile territory. If I hadn’t placed my pop-up camp earlier, I’d have fainted for sure.
If you’re looking for a full guide on monster hunter wilds how to set up pop up camp, keep reading, because it gets better from here.
How to Unlock the Pop-Up Camp Feature
Before you go trying to plop one down, you need to unlock the pop-up camp mechanic, which doesn’t come enabled by default.
Here’s how I did it:
- Complete Early Story Quests
Around the 3–4 hour mark into the main campaign, a quest chain unlocks that teaches you how to set up makeshift camps. It usually involves rescuing a caravan or securing a high-ground area. - Talk to the Field Operations Commander
Once you finish the quest, go back to your base and talk to the Field Ops Commander (you’ll know him, big guy, gravel voice). He gives you the first schematic for a pop-up camp. - Gather Materials
You’ll likely need some materials like:
- Reinforced hide
- Ironwood
- Flexible fiber
- Reinforced hide
- I found these near the forested cliff zones after my third major hunt. Tip: send your Palico on a gathering expedition while you’re farming.
- Craft and Register the Camp
After collecting the goods, return to the crafting table or camp menu and build your first pop-up unit. From then on, it becomes available via the in-field deployment option.
Knowing monster hunter wilds how to set up pop up camp doesn’t just stop with unlocking, it’s about using it smartly.
Step-by-Step: How to Set Up a Pop-Up Camp in Monster Hunter Wilds
Now that you’ve got it unlocked, here’s how you actually set it up.
✅ Step 1: Find a Safe, Eligible Location
Pop-up camps can’t be placed just anywhere. You need:
- A flat, open space
- Out of combat (no monsters nearby)
- Away from restricted zones like lava fields or enemy lairs
Think of it like trying to pitch a tent in the middle of a thunderstorm, bad idea.
🧠 Pro Tip: Areas near resource nodes or rare monsters are often perfect for camps. If you’re planning a long expedition or farming run, placing one nearby saves tons of time.
✅ Step 2: Open the World Map or Radial Menu
Hold your Map Button (e.g., L1/LB or Select) and choose the “Camp Tools” option. This pulls up your deployable camp list.
You’ll see your pop-up camp in the list. Click “Place.”
⚠️ You can only place one pop-up camp at a time. Setting a new one replaces the old one.
✅ Step 3: Wait for Deployment
Your hunter will go into an animation setting up the camp. It takes a few seconds, and if you get attacked, the setup will cancel.
So keep a lookout!
✅ Step 4: Use Your Camp!
Once it’s ready, interact with it like you would a regular camp:
- Rest to recover health and stamina
- Eat a meal
- Change weapons/gear
- Craft potions
- Save your progress (in some modes)
- Fast travel to it (from the map)
My Best Pop-Up Camp Strategies (Hard-Earned Advice)
After spending 30+ hours in Monster Hunter Wilds, I’ve picked up a few tricks that can save you from rage-quitting:
1. Pre-Plan Before Boss Hunts
Always place a camp near the boss’s expected spawn zone. You’ll thank yourself when that Apex Flamebeak two-shots you and you need a quick recovery.
2. Farm Smarter, Not Harder
If you’re resource grinding, say for crystal marrow or rare bugs, drop a pop-up camp near your farming loop. It cuts your trip in half and keeps your inventory managed.
3. Weather & Time Shift
Monster Hunter Wilds has dynamic weather and day-night cycles. Setting up a camp before nightfall means you won’t get caught out in a storm, or worse, ambushed by nocturnal monsters.
4. Buff, Then Fight
Set your pop-up camp just outside aggro range of a known beast. Load up on food buffs, equip elemental resistance gear, and then charge into battle fully prepped.
Can’t Set Up a Pop-Up Camp? Troubleshooting Tips
It’s frustrating when the option doesn’t show up, believe me, I’ve been there. Here’s what might be wrong:
❌ In Combat
You can’t deploy while aggro’d by a monster. Run, hide, or use a stealth mantle first.
❌ Wrong Terrain
If you’re in a swamp, jagged cliff, or unstable ground, the game won’t let you place the camp.
❌ Camp on Cooldown
Some game modes only allow one camp per expedition. If yours is “used up,” return to base first.
For those still wondering about monster hunter wilds how to set up pop up camp, this section should clear up most of the common roadblocks you’ll run into.
Personal Anecdote: My Pop-Up Camp Lifesaver Moment
During one of my first major Elder Beast hunts, I was tracking a Flamejaw across the canyon zones. I was deep in, supplies low, my Palico KO’d twice already. The moment I saw the beast sleeping in its nest, I knew I had to rest before the final push.
I ducked behind a boulder, dropped my pop-up camp, cooked a max meal, changed into my Flame Resistance gear, and sharpened my switch axe.
That fight took nearly 25 minutes, but I won, and walked away with some of the rarest loot I’d seen at that point in the game. That moment turned me from a casual hunter to someone who preps like a pro.
And it all started with a pop-up camp.
Analogies to Help It Click
Still wrapping your head around the concept? Here are a few analogies:
- It’s like dropping a save point in Dark Souls right before a boss gate.
- Or carrying a portable Pokémon Center in the wild.
- Or, honestly, like pulling out a glamping tent during a zombie apocalypse, comfort when you need it most.
If you take nothing else from this article, just remember: monster hunter wilds how to set up pop up camp is not just a mechanical step, it’s a survival mindset.
Quick FAQ: Pop-Up Camps in Monster Hunter Wilds
Can I have multiple pop-up camps at once?
No, you can only place one per expedition. Placing a new one removes the old one.
Do they disappear after I leave the area?
Yes, pop-up camps are temporary. They vanish when you return to base or end your session.
Can monsters attack my camp?
Not directly, but if they see you setting it up, they can interrupt the process.
Can I move it?
Not directly. You have to dismantle (or place a new one) elsewhere.
Key Takings
- Setting up pop-up camps in Monster Hunter Wilds isn’t just a minor feature, it’s a tactical edge.
- When used right, it can change how you approach hunts, resource gathering, and even exploration.
- It’s more than just a feature. It’s your lifeline.
- I learned this the hard way, through fainting, retreating, and frustration. But now? I prepare like a true hunter. And you can too.
- So next time you’re out in the unforgiving dunes, highlands, or forests of Monster Hunter Wilds, don’t just run in blind. Set up your camp. Own the map. And hunt like a legend.
- Just don’t forget the most important tool in your kit: knowing monster hunter wilds how to set up pop up camp.
Additional Resources:
- Official Capcom Manual: Provides detailed explanations of pop-up camp functions (healing, gear swaps, fast travel), straight from the source: Monster Hunter+15manual.capcom.com+15Polygon+15
- PC Gamer – “How to unlock and use Pop-up Camps in Monster Hunter Wilds”: Excellent walkthrough of unlocking, placing, managing, and customizing pop-up camps, with safety-level tips and UI insights:
