Monster Hunter Outlanders launches globally on October 29, 2026 for iOS and Android, and every Adventurer in it hunts with a Buddy at their side. The series’ classic Palico returns, joined by two new companions native to the island of Aesoland, the Rutaco and the Trillan. This guide explains what each Buddy type does, how Buddies connect to the Adventurer class system, and what is known about getting and training them. Details come from the official site, developer statements, and closed beta coverage, so some specifics may change after launch.

What Are Buddies in Monster Hunter Outlanders

Buddies are companions that join your Adventurers on the hunt. The official store description introduces three of them, the Palico, the Rutaco, and the Trillan, and says each has its own unique personality and adds color to your adventure through a wealth of events and happenings. The official banner for Buddies sums up their place in the game with the line “Hunt, craft, explore together in the living Aesoland,” which reflects how they tie into exploration and building as well as combat.

Palico, Rutaco, and Trillan are types of Buddy rather than single characters. Closed beta announcements described each Palico, Rutaco, and Trillan as having its own unique personality, appearance, and abilities, and pre-launch coverage notes that Buddies of the same type can differ in both appearance and ability. The official artwork reflects this, showing Palicos in several different outfits rather than a single design. Like Adventurers, Buddies can also be trained over time to become more dependable hunting partners. Story Adventurers bring Buddies along too, and the Tokyo Game Show 2026 trailer showed the Great Sword Adventurer Freya taking on Rathalos with one of Aesoland’s native Buddies at her side.

Buddies and the Class System

Every Buddy type belongs to one of the same three classes used by Adventurers. Palicos assist Assault Adventurers, who focus on dealing damage. Rutacos assist Disruptor Adventurers, who weaken monsters and control the flow of a fight. Trillans assist Support Adventurers, who keep the party alive with healing, shields, and buffs. Closed beta announcements stated that pairing a Buddy with the right Adventurer unlocks unique synergies, so matching classes is the starting point for choosing a companion.

Buddies also interact with Adventurer kits in a few confirmed ways:

• Your Fated Adventurer has a Buddy skill that buffs you based on the Buddy you equip, according to closed beta coverage.
• Producer Dong Huang confirmed that the Long Sword Adventurer Ryunosuke can buff Buddies as part of his supportive kit.
• A second closed beta report described companions such as Palicos as providing stat boosts to the character they accompany.

Palico

The Palico is the only returning Buddy and will be familiar to anyone who has played a mainline Monster Hunter game. According to the official site, Palicos are Buddies who journeyed with Adventurers to Aesoland, and they are skilled with various weapons and items. Their Assault class makes them the natural companion for damage-focused Adventurers such as Pyro, Midori, Luka, and Ouyang Varen.

Because the Palico arrives on the island alongside the Adventurers rather than living there, it is the one Buddy type rooted in the series’ past instead of Aesoland itself. The official Field Notes art shows a Palico in a feathered hat and cape with a sword on its back, while promotional banners show other Palicos carrying spears and large weapons into battle, which fits the official description of their skill with a wide range of gear.

Rutaco

The Rutaco is one of two new Buddies created for Outlanders. The official site describes Rutacos as Buddies native to Aesoland who are skilled at using tools and Radiantite to build. Previews have described the Rutaco as monkey-like, and its official art shows a small white creature with a wooden bucket and a green scarf. Its Disruptor class pairs it with Adventurers such as Keres, Raya, and Pepper.

The Rutaco’s building skills connect it to one of the systems that sets Outlanders apart from the mainline games. Adventurers gather resources and build facilities in the field, such as ziplines and wind-generating devices that make traversal easier and stay in place after you leave an area, and Radiantite is the mineral at the heart of Aesoland, the same material that turns ordinary monsters into Radiant Species. How directly a Rutaco takes part in construction during play has not been detailed yet, but its official description places it closer to that side of the game than any other Buddy.

Trillan

The Trillan is the second new Buddy and is also native to Aesoland. The official site describes Trillans as skilled at using their voices to support Adventurers, and previews have described them as owl-like, with one Tokyo Game Show preview calling the Trillan a blend of owl and eagle. Its official art shows a round, feathered bird with a green scarf and a woven cap in flight.

As a Support Buddy, the Trillan is the natural partner for Arkaya and Madelyn, the two Support Adventurers currently shown on the official site. Its focus on supporting allies rather than attacking makes it a good fit for longer hunts, where keeping the party standing matters as much as raw damage.

Getting and Training Buddies

Buddy acquisition changed noticeably during testing. After feedback from the second closed beta, the developers announced several changes for the third test. Producer Dong Huang confirmed that targeted recruitment pools for Buddies were removed, that featured SSR Buddies received direct free acquisition methods, and that overall free in-game rewards were significantly boosted. Buddy training caps were also lowered as part of the same update. Buddies no longer have targeted recruitment banners of their own, and even featured high-rarity Buddies can be earned through play. They have not disappeared from recruitment entirely, though. In the third closed beta, general recruitment guaranteed an SR-rank Adventurer or Buddy every ten pulls, so Buddies can still turn up alongside Adventurers when you recruit.

The mention of featured SSR Buddies also confirms that individual Buddies come in different rarities, just as Adventurers do. Exact acquisition methods, training materials, and level limits for the launch version have not been published yet, so expect full details once the game is live. What is clear is that training is the main way to strengthen a Buddy, which makes it worth investing in the companions that match the Adventurers you use most.

Choosing the Right Buddy

Until launch data shows how individual Buddies compare, the safest approach is to choose by class and party needs rather than by appearance. This matters even more in co-op, where up to four players hunt together and the game encourages splitting the Assault, Disruptor, and Support roles across the party. A Buddy that fills a role nobody else covers adds more than a second companion of a class the team already has. These principles follow from what the developers have confirmed:

• Match the Buddy’s class to your Adventurer’s class to unlock the synergies described in beta announcements.
• Use a Buddy to cover a missing role, such as a Trillan when your party has no Support Adventurer.
• Pick a Buddy for your Fated Adventurer based on the buff its Buddy skill provides.
• Focus training on the Buddies that pair with your main Adventurers.

Buddies give every Adventurer in Monster Hunter Outlanders a companion built around the same three classes that shape the rest of your party. The Palico brings the series’ classic support to damage dealers, the Rutaco links Disruptors to Aesoland’s building and Radiantite, and the Trillan backs up Support Adventurers with its voice. For the best gaming experience, play Monster Hunter Outlanders on BlueStacks!