Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Guide | How to Win Combat Encounters

Here’s a guide on how to win combat encounters in Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection.

Game Guide by Ragib Rawnak on Mar 13, 2026

You need to know how the three main moves work together. It is like rock paper scissors. Power beats Technical. Technical beats Speed. Speed beats Power. When a monster tries to hit you with a normal move, pick the right counter. If you win the Head-to-Head, you stay in control.

Learning Monster Habits

Monsters do not just pick moves at random. They follow a plan. A monster will use the same type of move when it is in a certain mood in Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection.

This might be its Normal state or when it is Enraged. Some monsters have other special states too. Once you learn what they do in each state, you can guess their next move every time.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, Guide, How to Win Combat Encounters

Why Winning Matters

Winning a Head-to-Head helps you a lot. You will deal more damage and take less of it. The best part is that you cannot die during that exchange. Even if your health is low and the monster hits hard, you will keep standing as long as you win the match-up.

Working with Your Monstie

You can pull off a Double Attack if you and your Monstie use the same move type against the same target. This happens when the monster is looking at one of you. This move is great because you take no damage at all.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, Guide, How to Win Combat Encounters

It also hits the monster very hard and builds up your Kinship Gauge in Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection. That is the blue bar you see between the health meters.

How to Trigger Double Attacks

Your Rider has to use a regular attack for this to work. If you choose a Skill, you will just do a Head-to-Head instead.

You can even team up with a partner's Monstie if they are not already busy with their own Double Attack. Most of the time you want the Double Attack, but sometimes a Head-to-Head is actually better for your strategy.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, Guide, How to Win Combat Encounters

Watching the Lines

The lines on the screen tell you what is happening. A Yellow Line means a monster is using a basic move you can counter in Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection.

A Red Line means it is using a Skill. You cannot win a Head-to-Head against a Skill. If you see no lines, the monster is hitting everyone with an AoE or using things like a Buff or a Debuff. It might also be changing its state.

Also, check our Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Review and other guides below: