Monster Hunter Wilds Prologue Palico Companion Guide
Build, equip, and command your feline partner from character creation through demo end.
Your Palico—Wilds’ feline battle partner—is created alongside your Hunter during the Prologue Demo’s opening flow and persists through save data transfer on eligible imports. Palicos heal, distract monsters, gather materials, and provide comic relief, but their mechanical value shows up in tighter hunts when you configure gear and behavior deliberately. This guide covers creation, equipment, combat role, and HUD settings demo players should set before Desert Trotters.
Creation during first boot
After accessibility prompts, Wilds walks you through Palico customization: coat pattern, eye shape, ear style, and voice pitch. Appearance is cosmetic—support type and equipment matter more—but take time if you plan to screenshot your hunter duo later. Retail Photo Mode is disabled in demo; creation is your best early customization moment.
Name your Palico something you’ll recognize in combat logs. Names display in HUD by default; many players hide nameplates later for cleaner Focus Mode sightlines (see settings below).
Support roles and behavior
Palicos run support types that bias their skill emphasis—healing, buffs, or aggressive interference depending on your chosen palette. Demo progression unlocks additional Palico equipment at the same cadence as Hunter armor. Do not ignore the Palico smithy tab when upgrading after Chatacabra—their damage contributes more than newcomers expect.
In combat Palicos:
- Draw occasional aggro with horn or taunt skills
- Heal with Vigorwasps they deploy or skills they trigger
- Gather endemic life and materials when safe
- Activate traps or buffs if equipped and taught
They will not solo large monsters. Treat them as force multipliers, not carries.
Equipment and crafting
Palico armor and weapons use distinct material tracks from Hunter gear. Carve Chatacabra and Plains fauna, then check the smithy for Palico-specific recipes. Upgrading Palico gear before Village of Whispering Winds side content reduces hunt time on smaller targets.
Meals cooked at pop-up camps buff both Hunter and Palico—read crafting and meals for stat food priorities. Attack-up meals help Palico chip damage; defense-up helps them survive accidental large-monster swipes.
Palico + Seikret synergy
While mounted on your Seikret, Palicos ride with you and can still contribute during dismount transitions. Learn to call the mount mid-hunt for healing and sharpening without sending your Palico back to camp alone. Full mount controls live in Seikret and Slinger.
Useful HUD settings
Quality-of-life tweaks from retail apply in demo:
- Hide Palico name display in HUD settings if nameplates clutter wound targeting
- Adjust damage numbers visibility separately for Hunter vs Palico if supported in your patch
- Confirm Palico signal shortcuts if you assign manual command wheels
These settings persist on save transfer when stored in profile data.
Palico during demo hunts
| Hunt | Palico tip |
|---|---|
| Chatacabra | Let them distract during tongue lash recovery windows |
| Village quests | Enable gathering for extra Plains materials |
| To the Forest setup | Pack healing items—Palico cannot replace potions |
Demo saves do not include Palico gear tied to retail-only monsters like Lala Barina—upgrade again after import when new materials drop.
After save transfer
Imported Palicos retain appearance, name, and equipment within demo material tiers. Retail introduces new Palico layered armor, event cosmetics, and higher-rank weapons. Check add-on menus for free items after patch 1.042 and price drop purchase windows.
Related guides
- Getting started — creation flow order
- Combat basics — Focus Mode while Palico occupies aggro
- Crafting and meals — shared meal buffs
- Demo limitations — no online Palico emotes with other players
Palicos reward players who treat them as co-op partners in single-player clothing. Configure once, upgrade after every major hunt, and your demo hours teach habits that scale through Forest Findings and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Do you create a Palico in the Prologue Demo?
Yes. Palico creation happens during the same first-boot flow as Hunter customization. Appearance and name can transfer with eligible demo saves.
Can Palicos die permanently?
No. Palicos faint and recover like Hunters, returning after a timer or when you use support items. They respawn at camp when you return from a cart.
Should I upgrade Palico gear in the demo?
Yes. Palico weapons and armor use separate recipes at the smithy. Upgrades after Chatacabra noticeably improve support damage and survivability.
Does Palico progress transfer to retail?
On eligible same-platform imports, Palico appearance, equipment, and progression within demo bounds carry forward per Capcom save transfer rules.
Can I hide Palico nameplates?
Yes. HUD settings allow hiding name display for Hunter and Palico—useful when Focus Mode targeting needs a clean screen.