Part 22: All About Support Biases

"Will it Cat?" Prowlers and Mew- Part 1



Hello, gentle viewers! Today we're going to talk about something that is perhaps overdue. I haven't given ya'll a detailed write-up of what cats can do, what the different specializations are, their skills, and all that fun stuff. We'll do this in multiple parts so, let's dive in! Today, we'll talk about cat specializations, what they mean, and what they're useful for.

I gave a brief overview of cat specializations, their "Support Bias" as the game calls them, in the Palico Customization Guide. Time to go more in-depth. Reminder, the seven Support Biases are:

Charisma, Fighting, Defense, Support, Healing, Bombing, Gathering


Now, in general, a cat's Support Bias affects how it behaves in battle as a Palico buddy, its max stats, what Support Moves it can learn, and how it builds Support Move gauge (I'll call this "gauge" or "meter" for short). Each Bias builds up gauge quicker by doing different things. For instance, Support cats fill their meter faster by throwing boomerangs.

Now, each Support Bias has two signature Support Moves, or active skills, which go in the top two slots. The top one is fixed, the second one can be one of two possible choices. Usually, one choice will be much better than the other. Which one you get is random. Get used to a lot of randomness when scouting for cats... Oh, and do note, the first skill is locked to that cat. Other cats cannot learn it. The second skill is teachable as long as you've fought the required monster to "unlock" it.

They also have two fixed passive Skills, which are teachable as long as you've reached the required level.

NB, I'll be mentioning what monster you have to kill/capture to unlock fixed skills. These might include monsters we haven't seen. These will be spoiler-tagged. If you're playing along blind, avoid those!


Charisma



Charisma cats excel at buffing their allies, specifically cat allies. Their stats are balanced, and they build gauge slightly faster on average by doing... anything. They're the "Jack of all Trades" cats. The first Palico you scout when you first visit the Palico ranch is always a Charisma cat, and its skills are fixed. The game makes sure you have a nice mix of support and offensive skills for your first cat buddy.

Charisma cats are a good choice if you don't know what sort of quest you'll be tackling. You can't go wrong with 'em, but in most cases you're better off with a more specialized cat buddy. They're not bad, just not optimal either.

One other noteworthy thing about Charisma cats is they only have one fixed active skill, meaning they essentially get one extra skill slot to play with.


Stat Modifiers

None


Fixed Active Skill

Palico Rally

Gauge Cost- 2
Unlock Condition- none

Raises the Attack and Defense of self and all allied Felynes, and keeps Palicoes from slacking off. Note: does not work on humans.


Fixed passives

Slacker Slap

Slots- 1
Unlock Condition- none

Smacking a slacking Palico keeps it from slacking off again for awhile. Equipping this on a Palico makes it automatically scold slackers.


Last Stand

Slots- 3
Unlocks at Level 25

Boosts your attack and defense by a lot, but removes your acorns! A lot of tryhard cat builds use this skill, but I personally don't like it. Those acorns are dead useful and I don't like giving them up, even for the (admittedly significant) power boost you get.


Fighting



The fighting Support Bias is your bread and butter offensive cat. They have the highest attack of any cat specialization, and they build Support Gauge faster with melee attacks. They are one of the two most "meta-gamey" Support Biases you want to go with for your main Prowler. Their job is to eat Felvine and kick ass, and they're all out of Felvine!


Stat Modifiers

+20% Attack


Fixed Active Skill:

Furr-ious

Gauge Cost- 5

Enter Felyne Fury mode. (That's the thing where you get the "anime angry" symbols over your head for awhile.) This normally triggers when you've taken enough damage, and it does a whole bunch of shit: +30% Affinity, Earplugs effect, faster meter gain, faster dodge, tremor/wind resistance, and unlocks an extra melee attack by pressing X and A together. Sounds really good, right? Ehhh. Not so much. That gauge cost is huge. Cats only start with 3 bars. You're not getting up to 5 until level 10, and even then it means you can't use your gauge for anything else. Like Piercing/Big Boomerangs, which take 3 bars. Know what else is a better use of your gauge? Traps. Those take 4 bars. Oh, and the final nail in the coffin? There is a passive skill, Anger Prone, that makes you go into Fury Mode more often, so there is little need to waste all those bars on gettin' mad. This skill is pretty garbo and I wish I could unequip it. Oh well.



Variable Active Skills:

Demon Horn

Gauge Cost- 2
Unlock Condition- kill/capture Shogun Ceanataur

womp womp This is the booby prize of the fighting cat. If you see this in your scouted Palico, you scroll right on past it because it's not Piercing Boomerangs. What does it do? It boosts the Attack of the party for a short time. I suppose it might be useful if you're... speccing your fighting cat for support for some... reason? In that case just teach it to your Charisma cat or something? Avoid.


Piercing Boomerangs

Gauge Cost- 2
Unlock Condition- kill/capture Nargacuga

Piercing Boomerangs increases the number of hits your boomerangs do and makes them pierce through targets. It stacks with Big Boomerangs.
This, this right here, this is the crux of Prowler badassery. If you're scouting for a fighting cat, you want this skill and Big Boomerangs at minimum. It is key, it is crucial, it is super DUPER important.


Fixed Passives:

Attack Up (S)

Slots- 2
Unlock Condition- none

Increases attack by a small amount.


Handicraft

Slots- 4
Unlocks at Level 25

This skill increases weapon sharpness by one level. So, orange sharpness becomes green, green becomes blue, and so on. Sounds good on paper, but that's a hefty slot cost! Cats can only ever have 6 slots maximum! That doesn't leave a whole lot of room for essential skills like Boomerang Pro and Critical Up S. Not to mention you're not even getting that many slots until you reach level 40. Better solution? Just equip a sharper weapon to begin with... Apologies to all you Meat Mallet and Novelty Ball of Yarn fans!


Defense



Defense cats are the tanks of the Felyne world. They have the highest defense of any of the Support Biases, and they build gauge by blocking. The best offense is a good defense, or something! You could use a Defense cat as your main Prowler if you wanted to, since they get access to the Big Three: Piercing Boomerangs, Big Boomerangs, and Emergency Retreat.


Stat Modifiers

+30% Defense


Fixed Active Skill:

Taunt

Gauge Cost- 2

Over here, ugly! Your mum's a slag! This underappreciated skill makes monsters target the user for a time. Ever wish a big monster would stop chasing you long enough for you to quaff a Mega Potion? Then a Defense cat might be a good friend for you to bring along!


Variable Active Skills

Emergency Retreat

Gauge Cost- 1
Unlock Condition- kill/capture Cephadrome

If you plan to use a Defense cat as a Prowler, definitely pick this skill when Scouting, and teach it to all your other Prowlers! This is one of the Big Three essential active skills, along with Piercing and Big Boomerangs. Emergency Retreat recovers as much HP as a Potion, cures any abnormal status you have, and gets you the fuck out of Dodge! While underground, you can even change zones, if you need to heal more or renew your boomerangs. Just beware, certain monster roars can knock you back above ground and stun you for a bit!


Armor Horn

Gauge Cost- 2
Unlock Condition- kill/capture Daimyo Hermitaur

If you're running a Defense cat as your Palico buddy, rather than your Prowler, this is the skill you want to go with when scouting for them. Armor Horn boosts the defense of the entire party for a short time.


Fixed Passives

Guard (S)

Slots- 1
Unlock Condition- none

For Prowlers, this skill reduces the knockback from blocking attacks. For your Palico friends, it makes them block more. Considering that Defense cats build gauge by blocking, you definitely want this skill equipped on your Defense Palicoes at all times!


Guard Boost

Slots- 2
Unlocks at level 15

Allows you to block unblockable attacks. There are some attacks you can't block, even when you hit your shield button. This skill helps with that. It combos well with Guard (S), so you might as well throw it on there.


Support



This is your other likely choice for your main Prowler. Support cats don't have as much raw power as Fighting cats, but they build gauge faster by hucking boomerangs (which is what you should be doing anyway) and they're the only Support Bias with easy access to traps. They're also helpful buddies to bring along as your Palicoes. Support cats will occasionally show you the location and condition of any large monsters on the map (as if you had the Psychic skill equipped), and they can call out when a monster is fatigued or ready to be captured. Support cats are one of my two preferred Support Biases to take with me on hunts, assuming I'm not running a Support Prowler myself! Definitely make sure any Support cats you Scout have Big Boomerangs, so you can teach them Piercing Boomerangs at the dojo!


Stat Modifiers

-10% Attack


Fixed Active Skill:

Poison Purr-ison

Gauge Cost- 5

Sets a trap that immobilizes large monsters and poisons them. Note that, although it is a pitfall type trap no monsters are immune to it, even ones that normally laugh at Pitfall Traps. Normally, I balk at skills that have such a high gauge cost- 5 is a lot, but setting traps is such an essential thing that it's worth it. It'll take awhile for your Support cat to toss around Piercing/Big Boomerangs and still have some gauge to spare to set a trap, so start leveling your trapping cats early!


Variable Active Skills:

Cheer Horn

Gauge Cost- 3
Unlock Condition- kill/capture Mizutsune

Fills up a little bit of the Hunter Arte Gauge (for humans), and the Support Move Gauge (for cats). This is a decent option if you know you're only going to use that particular Support cat as a Palico buddy, and not as a main Prowler. For your Prowler, you definitely want the other variable Support Move, which is...


Emergency Retreat

Gauge Cost- 1
Unlock Condition- kill/capture Cephadrome

See Defense cat for the full description. This is still your best self-healing option, and the gauge cost is relatively cheap. It's incredibly useful for so many situations! You want it. Use the spare slot on your Support Prowler to teach them Piercing Boomerangs.


Fixed Passives:

Monsterdar

Slots- 2
Unlocks at level 5

This shows Prowlers more information about a monster on the map, as if they had the Psychic skill equipped. You can see which way a monster is facing, whether it sees you or not, and if it's sleeping. For Palicoes, they will occasionally impart this information to you. Annoyingly, it does not tell Prowlers whether a monster is weak enough for capture, even though Support-type Palicoes have access to this information.


Pro Trapper

Slots- 3
Unlocks at level 10

This skill speeds up trap-setting and lowers the gauge cost of traps by one. Definitely equip this if you're doing a trapping quest!


Healing



Healing cats do what you think they do. They're top-tier Palico buddies to bring with you on hunts! I highly recommend having at least one of these guys with you at all times. Healing cats are a bit unusual as far as building Support Gauge goes. Their gauge builds up gradually over time if they're not engaged in combat. For this reason, you want to set your healing cats' targeting priority to "small only" so they will ignore the big monster trying to bite off your face, build up meter, and keep you healed! You can change a cat's targeting priority at the dojo, under Meditation, so don't worry if you Scout a perfect healing cat that insists on going after large monsters!


Stat Modifiers

-10% Attack
+20% Defense


Fixed Active Skill

True Health Horn

Gauge Cost- 3

This is essentially a souped up Health Horn. It heals the entire party for as much as a Mega Potion. It's suuuuuuper good. You want your Healing cat whipping this out as much as possible.


Variable Active Skills

Armor Horn

Gauge Cost- 2
Unlock Condition- kill/capture Daimyo Hermitaur

Want your Healing Palicoes to buff your defense as well as heal you? Pick this skill!

Cheer Horn

Gauge Cost- 3
Unlock Condition- kill/capture Mizutsune

Or maybe you'd prefer your Healing buddies to partially fill your Hunter Arte/Support Move Gauge? You can't go wrong with either option. Pick whichever one you like best.


Fixed Passives

Defense Up (S)

Slots- 2
Unlocks at level 5

Increases defense by a small amount. This is important for keeping your Healing buddy in the game, and healing you! Equip this ASAP and never take it off... unless you're upgrading to Defense Up (L), that is.

Health Harmonics

Slots- 3
Unlocks at level 25

Boosts maximum HP when using Health Horn or True Health Horn. This is a really good skill. You want this skill.


Bombing



You like explosions? Then boy have I got the Support Bias for you! These cats excel at blowing shit up! Just beware, they can also catch their allies in the blast! Bombing cats are better at melee combat, since their signature move involves... walking up to a monster with a Barrel Bomb over their head. They even get a 20% damage bonus when using bomb skills. Lastly, they fill their Support meter faster whenever they're in the same zone as a large monster.


Stat Modifiers

+10% Attack


Fixed Active Skill

Mega Barrel Bombay

Gauge Cost- 3

Welcome to Barrel Bomb L+ Town. Population: YOUR FACE! Palicoes can only use this when in Felyne Fury mode.


Variable Active Skills

Camouflage

Gauge Cost- 1
Unlock Condition- kill/capture Blangonga

Hides you in a barrel, lowering your aggro. Also lets you get back up quicker if you're knocked down. It's... a skill, I guess. Frankly, if you need to Retreat, say in an Emergency, there's a skill for that. Just saying.

Demon Horn

Gauge Cost- 2
Unlock Condition- kill/capture Shogun Ceanataur

Since Fighting cats don't want to touch this skill with a ten-foot pole, Bombing cats are your most likely users of it. Bombing Prowlers probably have better things to do with their gauge, but your Palico buddies can make good use of it! Anyway it's way better than Camouflage...


Fixed Passives

Heat/Bomb Res

Slots- 1
Unlock Condition- none

This skill reduces the damage you take from bombs and negates heat and lava damage. Handy, considering what Bombing cats fling around... Might as well equip it.

Bombay Boost

Slots- 3
Unlocks at level 20

Increases damage for all Bombay attacks, and Blast attacks. Blast is arguably the best status to inflict as a Prowler, so this is secretly a really good skill! Blast status causes the victim to explode after a time, dealing massive damage. Really unpleasant to deal with yourself, really handy to have at your disposal!


Gathering



These cats aren't built for combat, though they'll do in a pinch. Instead, these cats are specialized for stuffing their pockets full of loot! Have an annoying gathering quest to do? Bring these guys along, both as your Prowler and Palico friends! As you might figure, Gathering cats build Support Gauge faster by... gathering (and also carving monsters).


Stat Modifiers

-10% Attack
-10% Defense


Fixed Active Skill

Plunderang

Gauge Cost- 4

Hucks a boomerang that steals items on contact. When used by a Palico, it nets you extra quest rewards. The gauge cost is hefty, and if you miss? Too bad! Do note that this is well worth using in multiplayer because it gives everyone extra loot if it connects.


Variable Active Skills

Piercing Boomerangs

Gauge Cost- 2
Unlock Condition- kill/capture Nargacuga

Yep, you read that right. Gathering cats can also get the Big Three. If you only want to use your Prowler for gathering quests, pick one of these guys and go with this skill in case you get into a scrap.

Camouflage

Gauge Cost- 1
Unlock Condition- kill/capture Blangonga

It isn't Piercing Boomerangs. Next!


Fixed Passives

Gathering Pro

Slots- 1
Unlcocks at level 5

Gives you the effects of the Felyne Gatherer food skill, netting you more stuff from gathering points. When equipped on your Palicoes, it makes them focus on gathering. Keep this equipped on your Gathering cats at all times. There's no reason not to!

Pilfer Boost

Slots- 3
Unlocks at level 15

Increases the power of stealing moves, like Plunderang and Pilfer, and lowers their gauge cost by one. Ehhhh... this is a skill, all right. Stealing moves aren't that great, as they can miss, but as previously mentioned, Plunderang and Pilfer give everyone extra loot in multiplayer.


That's it for the overview! Next time, I'll go more in-depth about what to look for when Scouting your cat friend. See you next time, same Cat time, same Cat thread!