Monster Rancher Guides - Beginner to Advanced!

Note that Monster Rancher 1 DX is not a port of Monster Rancher 1. It is a port of Monster Farm (1) with new translation, modifications. Monster Rancher 1 had a few Quality of Life improvements that were not in the original Japanese Monster Farm.

Matrix of differences between versions

Feature	MR1 1997	MR1DX 2021
Audio	Original game soundtrack. If game is sped up in emulation, all audio is also sped up.	In Fast Forward mode, the music still plays at normal speed.
Exploits	--	DX Introduces Gangster (Magic/Henger) available from the shrine, prior to unlocking Henger. A Combining exploit allows a Pure Henger to be brute force unlocked when using Ganster in combination. (See unlock guide)
Fast Forward	Not in original game	New feature in DX, can enable double speed play
Font	Original BMP font	New font is Seurat Capie Pro
Item changes	Vitamin C -1wk per week, and Vitamin D -2 wks per wk (x4 weeks)	Vitamin C -3wks per week, and Vitamin D -6 wks per wk (x4 weeks)
Item Shop	Not Stackable, can't be purchased in bulk	Stackable items (Takes up same amount of inventory) and can be purchased in bulk.
Lab	10 Freezer Slots	20 Freezer Slots
Load Times	PlayStation loading times	Nearly instantaneous load times
Monsters (New)	Has the original monsters	Some MR2 monsters are retrofitted to be in MR1DX (Examples: Skeleton, Moo). Some skin recolors of rares have also been added.
Monsters (Variants)	Original only has 1 variant for every Pure and Mixed breed (not counting small starting stat offsets)	DX introduces many variants with hidden differences that didn't exist before. Differences from Baseline include Will regen, Seriousness, Potential, vastly different stat spreads from the norm etc.
Online Save PVP	Not in original game	New feature in DX, also cross-region compatible (EN can fight JP etc)
Platform	PlayStation (1) Only	Steam, Nintendo Switch, iOS
Shrine	Uses physical CDs & Track data	Uses 644k offline/local CDDB and other new tables to determine offsets
Bugs (not fixed)	These bugs persisted in MR1DX from MF1 & MR1 '97.	- Vitamin C/D and Medicine A/B still affect different monsters if you use the item and then change the active monster. - Vitamin C/D still apply even when doing expeditions. - Laguna/Ragnarox still has the wrong seriousness (5 instead of 45 or 50). - Buggy critical damage values like Hook work as before. (See tech list) - Some combining bugs like those affecting Magic, Golem, and Dino that create different compatibility types or inherited techniques are unfixed.
Bugs (Fixed)	The listed bugs that are fixed in MR1DX existed in MF1 '97. Some may already have been fixed in MR1 '97 - Bug with Potential causing failures after Prime is reached. - Work and Training always fails during Prime/Peak growths after reaching 128 Potential - Holly warned of fatigue too early (40) due to thresholds of 0-20 / 21-40 / 41-60.	- Free Loyalty (from Fear) reduced from 50 to 20 (when repeatedly going back and forth from Ranch to Town) - Potential can now be raised to 128 through 150 without encountering the Work/Training failures after Prime. - Issue where a Training (errantry) sale could be stored indefinitely if you've never gone there before on that save file fixed. - Items that would reduce a value by -1 are no longer floored to 0 in regards to spoil/fear/fatigue/stress. - Issue where stat increases from combining would not happen while using a combo item if combining with a monster that has never been to the ranch fixed. - Holly warns of fatigue correctly (40) due to thresholds of 0-19 / 20-39 / 40-59 - Some incorrect inputs like going to wrong tournaments/drill by pressing stuff 1 frame apart fixed. - Locking the opponent into infinite foolery with certain inputs no longer possible. - Getting wrong techniques when combining if you generated a monster from the shrine right before fixed. - Doodle event no longer happens if the Monol dies in the tournament that satisfies the condition. - Picking New Game after going bankrupt no longer makes the game freeze.

^{Additional Thanks to JP wiki and Alchius for helping assemble these differences}

Some issues with Steam client version of the game have reported issues. Almost all issues can be solved with a bit of troubleshooting:

Game does not load or launch at all

Several potential resolutions for the game not loading. Be sure to exit the game and launcher completely between each step:

1. OS is pending updates and/or hasn't been rebooted for a while
• Please, First, check if you have any pending OS updates, Apply them and allow your PC to fully reboot. Sometimes it's that simple.
2. Check for CPU instruction
• The game absolutely will not run if your processor doesn't support SSE4.1 instructions.
• To check, you can download CPUID from cpuid.com.
• On the default "CPU" Tab look for a box labelled "Instructions" and if SSE4.1 is included.
3. Resolution settings issue
• Before launching the game, open up the Options tab at the game selection screen, then open the Keyboard/Resolution settings.
  ^{Note that the small window that opens might open behind another window}
• Try changing the resolution. If it is set to Full Screen, uncheck this option and choose a small windowed option, or vice-versa.
• Try to launch the game again. If the game launches, you can try setting the resultion back to your preferred setting or full screen again. Sometimes resetting this resolves the resolution conflict.
4. Setting.ini file missing/broken with Non-English Operating System
• On occasion, when some Operating Systems are in a different language, the Setting.ini file causes issues with loading the game, or is missing completely.
• Open the Setting.ini file located in C:\Users\x\Documents\KoeiTecmo\mfdx_en ...
  ... And replace it with the following text (Click to view):

  [Graphics]
  ScreenWidth=1366
  ScreenHeight=768
  [Window]
  FullScreen=0
  [Input]
  UP=UP_ARROW
  DOWN=DOWN_ARROW
  RIGHT=RIGHT_ARROW
  LEFT=LEFT_ARROW
  CIRCLE=L
  CROSS=K
  SQUARE=J
  TRIANGLE=I
  L1=Q
  L2=U
  L3=F
  R1=E
  R2=O
  R3=H
  START=ENTER
  SELECT=N
  

• If your Setting.ini file is missing completely, and creating one is being problematic, download and save this zipped Setting.ini file.
• Unzip/Extract the file to your Documents\KoeiTecmo\mfdx_en folder to restore a working Setting.ini file. Attempt to Launch the game. If it is successful, you can exit the game and change the settings back to your preferred settings.

Game freezes in certain places

The January F (Free for All) New Year Cup is known to freeze randomly at load or mid-tournament. No common factor has been found to determine the cause.
For other areas of random game freezing, try any of the following:

1. Toggle "FF" (Fast Forward) to the opposite of what you had it on.
2. Change the resolution. (If Full screen, go windowed or vice versa).
3. If it still freezes, Update video drivers, then try the above again.
4. Some Fight Stick controllers are also known to crash the game before reaching the Launcher.

Game won't save manually or auto save

• If you have any Anti-Virus software running, try temporarily disabling it to see if you can save.
• If disabling Anti-Virus works, then Steam or the Game may be added to the Anti-Virus' block list. Find the settings for your specific brand of AV to unblock the app, then start your AV back up as usual.
• For example: Windows "Controlled Folder Access" options is a potential culprit that may need your application to be white-listed.

If that does't work...

• Try launching the game's .exe file as Administrator.
• Navigate to the install directory SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\mfdx\[MF or MF2]\, Right Click on the MF.exe or MF2.exe and "Run as Administrator"

If that does't work, double check your User account's permission isn't being denied access.

1. Exit Steam completely, and Navigate to c:\Users\[YourLogin]\Documents
2. Right Click on the KoeiTecmo folder, and choose Properties
3. Click on the Security tab
4. Click on your Login/User name (NOT System, and NOT Administrators)
5. Check that Everything is Allowed and nothing is Denied.

If you see Anything Denied...
6. Click the Edit button to open the permissions for your Login/User.
7. Click on your Login/User name (NOT System, and NOT Administrators) in the Permissions window
8. Uncheck any boxes in the Deny column
9. Click Apply
10. Click Save

Now try re-launching Steam and the game and see if you can save.

Note that Monster Rancher 2 DX is a port of Monster Farm 2 with new translation, modifications, rather than a port of the English localized MR2.
Monster Rancher 2 had a few Quality of Life improvements that were not in the original Japanese Monster Farm 2, as a result you may notice missing features. (Skip Drills as an example).

Matrix of differences between versions

Feature	MR2 1999	MR2DX 2021
AI Attacking	AI won’t attack under 45 guts.	AI always has a chance to attack regardless of guts, and increases chances to attack sooner.
Audio	Original game soundtrack. If game is sped up in emulation, all audio is also sped up.	Includes a remastered soundtrack in addition to the original. In Fast Forward mode, the music still plays at normal speed.
Battle Specials	Unity and Ease are bugged.	Unity and Ease are corrected. (See Battle Specials for details).
Colt's Alerts	Received Prime Stage alert only once, then never again for any other monster.	Always receive Prime Stage alerts for all monsters.
Combining	1% unobtainable bug (You can get a 1% if there are two 1%s).	Same 1% bug, plus 2-3% bug that only gives base stats.
Controller Setup	NTSC/NA Layout.	Original JP layout.
Drill Skipping	Drills can be skipped in MR2.	Drills cannot be skipped in MR2DX without the use of Mods (Errantry can still be skipped).
Errantry	Calculates Lifespan hit twice after returning.	Double lifespan hit fixed.
Expedition	Minimum 8 weeks lifespan cost (3+3 * LI) for expedition + (1 + 1*LI) start of week 1.	Minimum 2 weeks lifespan cost (0 lifespan hit for expedition) + (1 + 1*LI) start of week 1.
Fast Forward	Not in original game.	New feature in DX, can enable double speed play.
Font	Original font is a Comic Sans-like (.BMP).	New font is Seurat Capie Pro.
Freezer Slots	10 slots.	20 slots.
Gemini Pots	Used for added Fear, and Reduces Stress 3% floored per pot on Week 1 (Stress exceeds LI before it can be useful).	Same as original function but now has at least a minimum of -1 stress per pot (useful even at low Stress levels).
Graphics	Original PSX graphics.	Wrapped emulator bumps up the texture/resolution of original textures.
Items	Not Stackable, can't be purchased in bulk.	Stackable items (Takes up same amount of inventory) and can be purchased in bulk.
King Ape	King Ape only encountered after Magic Banana is in the Shop, and cannot be encountered after Nageel is in the shop.	Can no longer be locked out of this encounter.
Lifespans	Has +100 additional weeks for each monster compared to the original Monster Farm 2.	Has original Monster Farm 2 lifespans (-100 weeks of 1999 Monster Rancher 2).
Load Times	Long load times between town/ranch etc.	Instant or near instant load times.
Magic Bananas	Could add/remove lifespan by 1 week depending on RNG.	Removes Stress/Fatigue/Both depending on RNG.
Mock Seeds	Can get locked out of this monster forever if you fail to rank up soon enough.	Can no longer be locked out of this event and monster.
Monsters (1 week)	Only Sueki Suezo.	Sueki Suezo in addition to a variant of Draco Mocchi.
Monsters (Enemy)	Enemy Monsters collectable as Cards only.	Enemy & Boss monsters have unique monster data and now legally obtainable in the Shrine in addition to getting their Cards.
Monsters (Opponents)	--	Some tournament opponents have adjusted/MF2 Stats (Lucky in Elder's cup for example).
Monsters (Rare)	Has NTSC/EN region monsters only.	Has both EN, JP region monsters.
Monsters (Regular)	Missing Proto Messiah (Henger/Gali), Kato is censored.	Has Proto Messiah (Henger/Gali), Kato is not censored.
Nature	When combining, a Baby's starting Base nature is affected by the Parent's true/current nature and Baby breed base nature.	When combining, a Baby's Base nature determined solely by the Baby's breed. Nature from Disc Chips in combining is bugged, giving little or no benefit.
Online Save PVP	Not in original game.	New feature in DX, also cross-region compatible (EN can fight JP etc).
Platform	PlayStation (1) Only.	Steam, Nintendo Switch, iOS.
Pocket Station	No Pocket Station support.	Built in PocketStation mini game. Can also shrine DNA monsters without doing mini-game.
Shrine.	Uses physical CDs & Track data.	Uses 644k offline/local CDDB and other new tables to determine offsets.
Shrined Monsters.	Predictable hard coded monsters and monsters with offset. (See Laboratory/Make-A-Montser).	Multiple variants that don't exist in the original game, and offsets are handled more randomly. (See MR2DX CD List). (If every monster change was counted, this would add 700+ rows to this table.).
Stat Levels	Except for LIF, Stats calculated every 50 points/by level, and Lv20/950 is the highest threshold.	Except for LIF, Stats are calculated on average every 12.5 points (13, 12 etc.) and due to how new math and rounding works, 999 counts as the max level.
Swim Drill Bug	DEF & LIF gains are swapped for Swim.	Bug fixed in DX.
Strong Glue	Permanently stuck in inventory. Required cheats to get rid of it.	You can now sell the Strong Glue after you have unlocked Ducken at the Shrine.
Tech Requirements	Some techs were not obtainable (Kato's Oil Fire/Flame).	Some tech stat requirements are different. Kato's Oil Fire/Flame is obtainable. (See Tech List/Errantry Calculator).
Touch Screen	Not an option.	Touch Screen support for iOS, Mouse Click support for PC/Steam.
Training History	Feature doesn't exist.	New feature in DX, can see last 2 months of drills.
Translation	A bad translation full of grammatical errors.	A new equally bad translation but with new grammatical errors. Skill Get!!!.

Some issues with Steam client version of the game have reported issues. Almost all issues can be solved with a bit of troubleshooting:

Game does not load or launch at all

Several potential resolutions for the game not loading. Be sure to exit the game and launcher completely between each step:

1. OS is pending updates and/or hasn't been rebooted for a while
• Please, First, check if you have any pending OS updates, Apply them and allow your PC to fully reboot. Sometimes it's that simple.
2. Check for CPU instruction
• The game absolutely will not run if your processor doesn't support SSE4.1 instructions.
• To check, you can download CPUID from cpuid.com.
• On the default "CPU" Tab look for a box labelled "Instructions" and if SSE4.1 is included.
3. Resolution settings issue
• Before launching the game, open up the Options tab at the game selection screen, then open the Keyboard/Resolution settings.
  ^{Note that the small window that opens might open behind another window}
• Try changing the resolution. If it is set to Full Screen, uncheck this option and choose a small windowed option, or vice-versa.
• Try to launch the game again. If the game launches, you can try setting the resultion back to your preferred setting or full screen again. Sometimes resetting this resolves the resolution conflict.
4. Setting.ini file missing/broken with Non-English Operating System
• On occasion, when some Operating Systems are in a different language, the Setting.ini file causes issues with loading the game, or is missing completely.
• Open the Setting.ini file located in C:\Users\x\Documents\KoeiTecmo\mfdx_en ...
  ... And replace it with the following text (Click to view):

  [Graphics]
  ScreenWidth=1366
  ScreenHeight=768
  [Window]
  FullScreen=0
  [Input]
  UP=UP_ARROW
  DOWN=DOWN_ARROW
  RIGHT=RIGHT_ARROW
  LEFT=LEFT_ARROW
  CIRCLE=L
  CROSS=K
  SQUARE=J
  TRIANGLE=I
  L1=Q
  L2=U
  L3=F
  R1=E
  R2=O
  R3=H
  START=ENTER
  SELECT=N
  

• If your Setting.ini file is missing completely, and creating one is being problematic, download and save this zipped Setting.ini file.
• Unzip/Extract the file to your Documents\KoeiTecmo\mfdx_en folder to restore a working Setting.ini file. Attempt to Launch the game. If it is successful, you can exit the game and change the settings back to your preferred settings.

Game freezes in certain places

The January F (Free for All) New Year Cup is known to freeze randomly at load or mid-tournament. No common factor has been found to determine the cause.
For other areas of random game freezing, try any of the following:

1. Toggle "FF" (Fast Forward) to the opposite of what you had it on.
2. Change the resolution. (If Full screen, go windowed or vice versa).
3. If it still freezes, Update video drivers, then try the above again.
4. Some Fight Stick controllers are also known to crash the game before reaching the Launcher.

Game won't save manually or auto save

• If you have any Anti-Virus software running, try temporarily disabling it to see if you can save.
• If disabling Anti-Virus works, then Steam or the Game may be added to the Anti-Virus' block list. Find the settings for your specific brand of AV to unblock the app, then start your AV back up as usual.
• For example: Windows "Controlled Folder Access" options is a potential culprit that may need your application to be white-listed.

If that does't work...

• Try launching the game's .exe file as Administrator.
• Navigate to the install directory SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\mfdx\[MF or MF2]\, Right Click on the MF.exe or MF2.exe and "Run as Administrator"

If that does't work, double check your User account's permission isn't being denied access.

1. Exit Steam completely, and Navigate to c:\Users\[YourLogin]\Documents
2. Right Click on the KoeiTecmo folder, and choose Properties
3. Click on the Security tab
4. Click on your Login/User name (NOT System, and NOT Administrators)
5. Check that Everything is Allowed and nothing is Denied.

If you see Anything Denied...
6. Click the Edit button to open the permissions for your Login/User.
7. Click on your Login/User name (NOT System, and NOT Administrators) in the Permissions window
8. Uncheck any boxes in the Deny column
9. Click Apply
10. Click Save

Now try re-launching Steam and the game and see if you can save.

Phooj's Original Video Animations

Original Video Animations (JP)Phooj's captures of OVAs from LINE:MF on YouTube. Original Video Animations (Translated)Phooj's English translations of OVAs from LINE:MF on YouTube. Line Monster Farm Shorts (JP) Line Monster Farm Shorts (Translated) 4Koma dubsTranslated 4Koma comics with AI text-to-speach