Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreakwas announced during the September 2021 Nintendo Direct, but Capcom has been relatively sparse on details for the expansion coming in summer 2022. It will bring players to a different land to hunt new monsters like Malzeno and returning ones likeShogun Ceanataur, including many in a new “Master” Rank. The Game Awards 2021 pre-show offered a few more details that help flesh out what fans can expect.
In a minute-long teaser trailer for The Game Awards, Capcom reveals its upcoming expansion will bring hunters to an outpost in the land of Elgado. From there they will be able to take on quests featuring monsters like the brand-new Lunagaron, which seems to be an ice-wielding variant ofMonster Hunter World’s Odogaronthat takes its “true form” under the silver light of the moon. When the Lunagaron is encountered in the trailer, players are saved by a character who looks strikingly similar to The Argosy trader Rondine.
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Rondine is a Smart Entry Point Into Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
Rondine is a foreigner to Kamura Village inMonster Hunter Rise, someone who docks her ship at the Buddy Plaza. From there she opens up trading for items like Farcasters and Lifepowder, but also more long-term trade requests that players can send their Palico and Palamutes out to complete. While Rondine also gives players a few quests, her presence is otherwise understated. However, much of the discussion around her character revolves around how strangely refined she is for a merchant, and how she may be keeping secrets.
It seems she will be the one to bring players intoSunbreak. The teaser shows a Lunagaron attack the main hunter and Master Utsushi in what appears to be the Shrine Ruins, only for a character who looks to be Rondine to step in with aSword and Shieldand rescue them. It’s hard to say whether it is Rondine as of this writing, as her hair and outfit are different and an official tweet byMonster Huntersays the player will be beckoned to adventure by “mysterious characters.” Between her purple eyes, crystal earrings, and presence in Kamura it’s perhaps safe to assume this will be the same character revealing her true colors, but if not she could at least be a family member given their similarities.
This would make a smart foundation for the upcoming expansion for a few reasons. The mystery behind Rondine’s presence in Kamura Village is clearly well established as something Capcom was waiting to address, and given she’s a foreigner it makes sense to use The Argosy to open up new areas in the absence of older hubs likeMonster Hunter Generations Ultimate’s The Soaratorium. Dialogue when the character fends off Lunagaron suggests she’s there for “a royal matter.”
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With the monsters inSunbreakseemingly taking their design inspirations from European monsters like vampires and werewolves, in contrast to thebase game’s Japanese yokai, it also makes sense for the player to be pulled away from their idyllic village to assist with the machinations of a royal family commanding military forces across the world. It’s likely Rondine came to Kamura Village in the first place to scout hunters who can assist in the fight against monsters like Malzeno, whose reveal in the first trailer forSunbreakshows it reigning over a dilapidated castle.
TheSunbreakexpansion is going to giveMonster Hunter Riseplayers a lot more mechanical depth through additions like Master Rank andnew Silkbind Attacks for each weapon. However, it will really stand out if it can pull together a narrative that far outpaces the base game’s “defend the village” plot that had to be wrapped up in post-launch content. Leaning on the mysteries behind Rondine is a smart choice to accomplish this, and it will be interesting to see how Capcom builds upon its established characters.
Monster Hunter Riseis available now on Switch, with a PC port releasing June 16, 2025. Sunbreak releases summer 2022.
