Engravings in Monster Hunter Outlanders are upgrades for an adventurer's Keepsake that unlock from Keepsake Level 30. This guide explains the five Engraving upgrades, the materials they cost, which ones to upgrade first, and how to engrave. Information as of November 3, 2026.
What Are Engravings?
Engraving strengthens an adventurer through their Keepsake. From Keepsake Level 30, new upgrades unlock every 10 levels up to Level 80. There are five upgrades: Skill Boost, Ultimate, Elemental Specialization, Core Passive and Core Attribute, and each one unlocks at different levels.
Engraving Materials
Engraving costs Zenny and Engraved Gems. You get Zenny from Hunt Requests and daily tasks, and Engraved Gems from Trial Expedition and Investigation Notes Study, among other sources. For example, the Level 40 Elemental Specialization upgrade in the screenshot costs 75,000 Zenny and 100 Engraved Gems.
Some Adventurers Need Element Gems
Adventurers with a specialized element can ask for the Engraved Gem of that element. You get element gems from Trial Expedition, and when you are short, the game offers to make up the difference with Primal Engraved Gem.
Engraved Gems: Primal Engraved Gem / Blazing Engraved Gem / Torrent Engraved Gem / Thunderclap Engraved Gem / Frostbound Engraved Gem / Dragoncursed Engraved Gem
All 5 Engraving Upgrades
The five Engraving upgrades, the Keepsake Levels they unlock at, and what they do.
| Upgrade | Keepsake Level | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Skill Boost | 40 / 60 / 70 / 80 | Boosts the Squadmate Skill, Co-op Skill and skills. The Level 80 effect works only while you control the adventurer |
| Ultimate | 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 | Strengthens the Ultimate's effect and shortens its cooldown |
| Elemental Specialization | 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 | Increases damage while a weapon of the adventurer's element is equipped |
| Core Passive | 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 | Strengthens the Core Passive. Level 80 adds an extra effect |
| Core Attribute | 80 | Boosts a stat that differs for each adventurer |
Skill Boost
Skill Boost raises the Squadmate Skill, the Co-op Skill and other skills step by step. The basic effects are the same for every adventurer, but the first Level 80 upgrade works only while you control the adventurer and differs for each one, so check it and upgrade it first when you get there. In the screenshot, it raises the damage of all skills except the Ultimate by 7% against monsters that are downed or trapped.
Skill Boost effects shared by every adventurer:
| Level | Effect |
|---|---|
| Level 40 | Strengthens the Squadmate Skill's effect |
| Level 60 | Co-op Skill damage +10%, and damage to monsters in the co-op phase +10% |
| Level 70 | Squadmate Skill interval 10 seconds shorter |
| Level 80 (1st) | An effect for when you control the adventurer (differs for each adventurer) |
| Level 80 (2nd) | Damage of all skills except the Ultimate +1.80% |
Ultimate
Every Ultimate upgrade raises the Ultimate's effect and shortens its cooldown. In the first screenshot, the Level 30 upgrade makes the paralysis from the Ultimate last 0.7 seconds longer and shortens the cooldown to 50 seconds, for 100,000 Zenny. Upgrade it early on adventurers with a strong Ultimate.
Elemental Specialization
Elemental Specialization raises the damage of the adventurer's element, so upgrade it first on the adventurer you play as your main and on Assault adventurers. The Fated Adventurer specializes in every basic element and triggers it with any Fire, Water, Thunder, Ice or Dragon weapon (total damage +15% at III and +35% at VII in the screenshots), but gains less from it than other adventurers. It does not trigger with physical weapons or Sleep, Paralysis, Poison or Blast weapons.
Core Passive
The Core Passive unlocks automatically when the Keepsake reaches Level 50, and Engraving raises its effect. Level 80 also unlocks an extra effect, so upgrade it as soon as you reach Level 80.
Core Attribute
Core Attribute unlocks at Level 80 and boosts a stat that differs for each adventurer.
Which Engravings to Upgrade First
Which upgrade to engrave first depends on how you use the adventurer.
- Adventurers you bring for their Ultimate: Ultimate first, for a stronger effect and a shorter cooldown.
- The adventurer you play as your main and Assault adventurers: Elemental Specialization, which raises the damage of their element. On the Fated Adventurer it only works with an elemental weapon.
- Once the Keepsake reaches Level 80: the Core Passive, which gains an extra effect, and on the adventurer you control, the first Level 80 Skill Boost, which gains its main-control effect.
How to Engrave
Open Engrave from the Adventurer Screen
Open Adventurers from the menu to see the adventurers you own. Select the adventurer you want to upgrade and tap Engrave at the bottom right of the screen to open the Engraving screen.
Engrave the Icons That Light Up
On the Engraving screen, the upgrades you can engrave glow white around the icon and show a green arrow. Tap an icon to check its Engraving Effect and cost, then tap Engrave if you have enough materials.
Raise the Keepsake Level First
Each upgrade needs a minimum Keepsake Level, and locked upgrades show the level they need, such as “Unlocks at Keepsake Level 30.” Raise the level first with Upgrade at the bottom right of the Adventurer screen, or switch to the Upgrade tab at the top left of the Engraving screen. Some upgrades also ask you to finish the previous upgrade first.
The screenshots are from the Japanese version of the game.