MHO Apex Challenge: unlock checks and Season 0 weapon planning

What can you prepare before the hunt opens?

The global official preview confirms November 7 as the opening date and Ruger Aidal as the target. Its special materials feed Apex Weapons with Season 0 effects. The announcement does not give a universal opening hour, so the client countdown is the best reference for your server.

There are three different reasons a challenge can be unavailable: the date has not arrived, your account lacks an unlock requirement, or you lack an entry resource. Check them separately. AR40 is the rank requirement described in the launch interface; also finish the story prerequisites listed on the locked entry. Reaching a rank is not a substitute for clearing an unfinished quest.

Use the story progression guide to locate your current chapter rather than spending currency to rush an unrelated upgrade.

Which resources should you keep separate?

Resource or screen	What to decide	Mistake to avoid
Challenge entry orders	How many entries you can use before the next relevant reset	Buying without checking the current storage cap
Forging materials	Which weapon type and element fill a gap in your usable roster	Crafting a weapon only because it appears first in the list
Upgrade materials	Whether this is the weapon you intend to keep investing in	Treating a test craft as a permanent upgrade choice
Awakening screen	Whether the shown effect suits your character and playstyle	Assuming a random effect is guaranteed
Dismantle preview	What the game explicitly lists as returned	Assuming all upgrade and awakening costs are refunded

Launch mechanics distinguish the initial forge cost from later investment. Use the dismantle preview as your final check: the published return rule covers forging materials, not every resource spent afterward. If you only want to compare weapon handling, do that before committing scarce upgrades.

The November 6 update raises order storage and announces later compensation for the specified lost-order issue. It does not supply a new cap or a compensation timetable.

How do you choose an initial weapon?

Start with the character you can actually use now. Confirm its weapon type, compare the forge options, then inspect the proposed element and Season 0 effect. A higher displayed attack value alone does not tell you whether a weapon fits your rotation.

For a first attempt, favour a setup whose evades and follow-ups you already know. Note which attack ends a run, whether you can keep targeting the intended part, and whether the problem is survival or damage. That gives you a reason for the next upgrade. This is a preparation method, not a claimed best-in-slot ranking or a tested Ruger Aidal damage benchmark.

What should your squad agree on?

Before entering, decide who will initiate the Co-Op Skill and which part the team should follow. Keep the target visible when repositioning. The combat guide explains the shared targeting window; a coordinated attempt is more informative than changing everyone’s build after one failure.

After the hunt, check material inventory and optional challenge progress before re-entering. A successful clear and a completed bonus objective are different checks. Layered armour is cosmetic; do not count its purchase as a combat upgrade.

Is this the same event as the November 13 steel dragon hunt?

No. The official calendar separately lists the November 7 Apex opening and the November 13–26 Kushala Daora-themed event. Do not carry rewards, entry rules or deadlines from one row into the other.

Reviewed November 6, 2026. Menu wording may differ by edition. Cover: official Apex preview, © CAPCOM / Proxima Beta.