Hoarfrost Reach in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is a frozen, perilous biome teeming with unique wildlife, powerful monsters, and valuable secrets. One of the lesser-known but incredibly helpful companions you can gain access to is the Hoarfrost Reach Tailraider. These local small monsters, when recruited, can assist you in a variety of ways such as guiding you to hidden resources, reviving you in battle, or even providing a mount to traverse the icy terrain faster. Unlocking the Hoarfrost Reach Tailraider isn’t just about exploration; it involves building trust with the local Grimalkyne tribe. If you’re looking to bolster your hunting toolkit, following the right steps to unlock the Tailraider is well worth the effort.
Understanding Tailraiders and Their Role
What Are Tailraiders?
Tailraiders are Palico-like companions native to each region in Monster Hunter World. These creatures can accompany you on expeditions or optional quests. Unlike your Palico, Tailraiders are NPCs that you temporarily befriend by locating and completing tasks for the Grimalkyne tribes in their area. They often provide support in combat, help gather materials, and can even allow you to ride smaller monsters for quicker travel.
Why Unlock Hoarfrost Reach Tailraider?
The Tailraider from Hoarfrost Reach offers several advantages:
- Can be summoned to assist during expeditions and investigations in Hoarfrost Reach
- Can summon a Popo mount, useful for fast traversal across snow-covered landscapes
- Acts as an extra fighter when engaging tough monsters
- Helps locate hidden items or shortcuts
These benefits make the Tailraider a valuable addition to your arsenal, especially during Iceborne’s more challenging hunts.
Prerequisites Before Unlocking
Progress in Iceborne
To begin unlocking the Hoarfrost Reach Tailraider, you need access to the Iceborne expansion and must have progressed far enough into the storyline to unlock Hoarfrost Reach as an explorable zone. Typically, this means you must have started the Iceborne main questline and reached a point where you can freely explore the region.
Palico Gadget Required
Your Palico must also have access to the Tailraider Signal gadget. This gadget is unlocked by helping the Grimalkyne tribes in previous areas such as the Ancient Forest, Wildspire Waste, Coral Highlands, and Rotten Vale. The Tailraider Signal allows you to call Tailraiders once they’ve been befriended. Without this gadget, you cannot summon or make full use of the Hoarfrost Reach Tailraider.
Step-by-Step Guide to Unlock the Hoarfrost Reach Tailraider
Step 1: Locate the Boaboa Tribe
The native Grimalkyne tribe of Hoarfrost Reach is called the Boaboa. To begin your path toward unlocking their Tailraider services, you must first find them. The easiest way to do this is to embark on an expedition to Hoarfrost Reach. Roam the area until you encounter a small group of Boaboa near Sector 2 or Sector 6. They may appear after enough time has passed or when you’re exploring solo.
Step 2: Complete Quests to Earn Their Trust
Once you encounter the Boaboa, you’ll need to complete a side quest called Cultural Exchange: Hoarfrost Reach. This involves fulfilling specific tasks to prove your worth. The Boaboa will challenge you to a hunt to demonstrate your strength. Here’s what you’ll typically need to do:
- Participate in a hunt while accompanied by the Boaboa
- Successfully slay or capture the designated large monster
- Use only your Palico and the Boaboa (no other players or allies)
Completing this test of trust will trigger a short cutscene indicating you’ve passed their trial.
Step 3: Unlock Tailraider Safari Access
After gaining the Boaboa’s trust, you’ll unlock additional features. One of them is access to the Tailraider Safari from the Boaboa base. This allows you to send other Palicoes and Tailraiders on gathering expeditions to collect rare resources from different regions. This step is not directly tied to getting a rideable mount, but it strengthens your relationship with the Boaboa and broadens your gameplay experience.
Step 4: Gain Access to the Popo Mount
Once fully allied with the Boaboa, they will introduce you to the ability to ride a Popo using your Tailraider Signal. Popos are woolly mammoth-like creatures native to Hoarfrost Reach. When mounted, they allow you to move across the snowy terrain much more efficiently, bypassing stamina loss and avoiding deep snow penalties. This mount becomes available any time you summon the Hoarfrost Reach Tailraider while in the area.
Using the Hoarfrost Reach Tailraider Effectively
Summoning the Tailraider
To call upon the Hoarfrost Reach Tailraider, follow these steps:
- Equip the Tailraider Signal gadget to your Palico
- Head into an expedition or optional quest in Hoarfrost Reach
- Use the gadget to summon the Boaboa Tailraider
- The Tailraider will arrive with a mountable Popo and remain by your side
They will assist you in battle and can also serve as your travel partner for long treks between sectors.
Combat and Support Abilities
The Boaboa Tailraider is more than just a companion they contribute in combat by throwing projectiles, setting traps, or distracting monsters. They are especially useful when tackling solo hunts, providing a temporary advantage while you heal or reposition. Keep in mind their abilities scale with the environment and your quest level.
Gathering Aid
When exploring the map, the Tailraider may also point out secret gathering points, hidden wedge beetles, or rare endemic life forms. If you’re looking to complete research entries or gather rare materials, having the Tailraider by your side makes the process much easier.
Extra Tips for Maximizing Tailraider Use
Bring the Right Gear
Before heading out, make sure your Palico is equipped with complementary gear to your playstyle. For example:
- Use the Shieldspire for more defensive setups
- Equip the Coral Orchestra to receive helpful buffs during fights
These combinations can further enhance the benefits of having the Hoarfrost Reach Tailraider on your team.
Pair with Expeditions and Tracks
Tailraiders are extremely helpful when you’re trying to track monsters or explore large maps without combat distractions. Use them during expeditions to follow monster tracks, collect rare bonepiles, or photograph endemic life. Their mobility and occasional guidance will save time and effort.
Repeat for Other Regions
If you haven’t already, repeat similar steps in other regions to unlock their respective Tailraiders. Each tribe provides different mounts and abilities, which can be useful depending on the biome you’re hunting in. A fully unlocked Tailraider network creates a more flexible and efficient hunting experience across the New World.
The Hoarfrost Reach Tailraider in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is an excellent companion that provides both mobility and combat support. Unlocking it requires interacting with the Boaboa tribe, proving your strength, and ensuring you’ve completed other regional Tailraider unlocks to obtain the Tailraider Signal gadget. Once unlocked, you gain access to Popo mounts and a loyal companion ready to assist with your hunts in the icy wilderness. Whether you’re farming materials, searching for rare creatures, or facing down a fearsome Barioth, the Hoarfrost Reach Tailraider adds a welcome layer of strategy and assistance to your adventure.