This guide covers the Apex Challenge in Monster Hunter Outlanders: the current boss, the recommended Hunting Power and rewards for each difficulty, the Apex Weapon materials you earn, how to get an Apex Challenge Pass, bounties, and tips for clearing it (as of November 10, 2026).
Current Apex Challenge
Ruger Aidal Is the Current Boss
The current Apex Challenge boss is Ruger Aidal, and its weak elements are Fire and Ice. The table shows the recommended Hunting Power and the rewards for each difficulty. Rewards marked "first clear" are only given the first time you clear that difficulty.
| Difficulty | Recommended Hunting Power | Elemental Weakness | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Challenge - Normal | 10500 |  Fire Ice |
|
| Apex Challenge - Veteran | 11163 | FireIce |
|
| Apex Challenge - Apex | 16276 | FireIce |
|
Ruger Aidal / Ruger Aidal in the Monster List
Apex Challenge Rewards
The Apex Challenge mainly gives three materials for Apex Weapons, one for each step:
- Radiant Gem: crafting material
- Radiant Crystal: upgrade material (crafting also uses it)
- Lucent Crystallite: awakening material
First Clears Give the Crafting Material
Radiant Gem is the material for crafting Apex Weapons. You get it mainly from the first-clear rewards of the difficulties marked in the table above. Each Apex Weapon takes Radiant Gem ×1 (plus Radiant Crystal ×12), but you get the materials back if you dismantle an Apex Weapon.
Clears Give the Upgrade Material
Radiant Crystal is the material for upgrading Apex Weapons, and crafting uses it too. It comes from both the first-clear rewards and the regular clear rewards, and higher difficulties give more.
Clears and Bounties Give the Awakening Material
Lucent Crystallite is the material for awakening Apex Weapons. It comes from the regular clear rewards and from bounty rewards. Awakening is an extra step that makes an upgraded Apex Weapon even stronger, with effects you have to roll for, so work on it when you have materials to spare. Awakening materials are not returned when you dismantle.
Apex Weapons / Upgrade Limit & Dismantle
What Is the Apex Challenge?
Hunt a Strong Boss While Building Apex Weapons
In the Apex Challenge, you hunt a powerful boss and use its special materials to craft and upgrade Apex Weapons. There are three difficulties, and you take them on with the Apex Weapons you make: the higher ones unlock as you own a Ruger Aidal Apex Weapon of a higher rarity.
When the Apex Challenge opens: November 7, 2026, after 45 Story Quests.
| Difficulty | How to Unlock |
|---|---|
| Apex Challenge - Normal | Available from the start |
| Apex Challenge - Veteran | Own a rarity 9 Ruger Aidal Apex Weapon |
| Apex Challenge - Apex | Own a rarity 13 Ruger Aidal Apex Weapon |
Apex Weapons Shine During Their Season
Apex Weapons are special weapons you craft and upgrade through the Apex Challenge. Their Mastery is marked (Season 0 only) on the screen, so they are powerful weapons for the season you get them in.
You Need an Apex Challenge Pass
Each Apex Challenge run needs a dedicated ticket, the Apex Challenge Pass. It is used up when the results are tallied after the hunt, not when you enter, so feel free to give it a try.
How to Get Apex Challenge Passes
| How to Get | Passes |
|---|---|
| When the Apex Challenge unlocks | 3 |
| Every Monday at 05:00 | 3 |
| Exchange in the Season Shop | 4 (unlocks at Adventurer Rank 42) |
Every Monday you get Apex Challenge Pass ×3, and you can also exchange for more in the Season Shop, so check it.
Complete Weekly Bounties for Extra Rewards
Bounties are tasks inside the Apex Challenge. You complete one by meeting its condition, such as a specific action or an amount of damage, and the rewards include Lucent Crystallite, the awakening material for Apex Weapons.
You Can Swap Each Bounty Once a Day
You can swap the task of each bounty once a day. If one is hard to complete or takes too long, swapping it is worth a try.
Apex Challenge Tips
Get Used to the Boss
In the Apex Challenge, you fight the same boss over and over. Check its traits and counters in the Monster Field Guide before you go in, or learn its moves by actually fighting it.
Ruger Aidal / Ruger Aidal in the Monster List
Craft an Apex Weapon in Its Weak Element
Once you can craft Apex Weapons, craft and upgrade them in an element and weapon type that suit the Apex Challenge. You can craft an Apex Weapon in any weapon type and element: tap the element icon on the crafting screen to change it. The current boss, Ruger Aidal, is weak to Fire and Ice.
Prepare Armor and Visages
In the Apex Challenge, you fight the same boss again and again, and the bosses tend to have special attacks and mechanics. Preparing an armor set and Visages that counter that monster makes repeat runs much easier.
The screenshots are from the Japanese version of the game.