Ever since the franchise’s debut in 2004, the lovable cat-species known as Felynes and Melynx have existed in the world of Monster Hunter. They live alongside humans performing various jobs from cooking to fishing and even the noblest of professions monster hunting. These ferocious and righteous cat warriors are known as Palicoes. The Palicoes work alongside human hunters and provide much-needed support against gargantuan threats.
These feline companions have become a staple in the franchise, and many consider them to be the mascot of the series. Despite being the most recognizable figure of the franchise not much is known about the famous Palico. There is much more to them than their hunting prowess and there are many things that players should know about Palicoes.
10 Palico Is Their Job Title
Fans of the series commonly misunderstand what their feline companions are. Palico is not the name of their species. Palico is the title given to the Felynes or Melynx that accompany hunters on their missions. The same way that Palamute is a name given to hunter Canynes. This is not made entirely clear throughout the games and without careful attention to detail, it is a fact that goes unnoticed.
The Felynes and the Melynx are a population of bipedal cats that once lived exclusively in the wild. Over time many of them have been integrated into human society learning to live alongside them. The Felynes and Melynx that train to work alongside hunters are given the title Palico if they are capable hunters. If any Felyne or Melynx were referred to as a Palico they would be considerably confused, so it is important for hunters to understand the difference.
9 They Come From A Diverse Background
Before the Felynes and Melynx worked among humans they lived in various villages in the wild. Every village had different cultures and beliefs that made each tribe unique. One common trait that each tribe shared was their feral behavior and savagery towards humans. Over time many of the Felynes and Melynx realized that living in the wild was too dangerous which led them to work with humans.
There are still a few villages that live in the wild and almost all of them are friendly towards humans. The Palico themselves have adapted to life among humans but they still hold many of their unique beliefs and ways of life. They still have a strong connection to nature, and they still hold the traditional values of their tribes. Hunters should remember that Palicoes are much more complex than they first appear to be.
8 They Are Lynians
The Felynes and Melynx belong to an expansive family of monsters known as Lynians. These creatures are small, intelligent, and mammalian. They have very similar cultures and beliefs but they are different in appearance and behavior. Lynians can be divided into two groups, one being similar to apes and the other resembling cats. The cat side of the family consists of Felynes, Melynx, and the Grimalkyne. The apes include the Shakalaka, Gajalaka, and the BoaBoa.
The cats are more civilized than their ape counterparts who are very primitive by nature. The most civil of this family being the Felynes and the Melynx who have adapted to work alongside humans. Every other Lynian is somewhat hostile or distrusting of them. This is why Palicoes mainly consist of Felynes and Melynx who have learned to live with humans.
7 They Are Connected To Nature
Living in the wild has granted Felynes and Melynx a unique connection with nature. They know the land and creatures better than any hunter and they hold a strong desire to explore. Palicoes have also been known to gather vital information from the flora and fauna of the wild. This not only makes them excellent guides but excellent hunters as well.
Palicoes have retained this bond with nature, and they use it to help their hunters in the wild. They gather beneficial resources, and they can even befriend smaller monsters to communicate with. Palicoes are even able to influence their savage relatives to aid them and their hunters on missions. These skills proved to be especially helpful in the exploration of the new world in Monster Hunter World.
6 They Don’t Work For Free
The fuzzy, cute, and adorable appearance of these creatures leads many to believe that they are pets. Palicoes are not pets or servants, they are creatures that work independently from their hunters. They choose what jobs they want to do without the influence of humans. Felynes and Melynx are seen as other members of society and as such, they are paid for their service.
Palicoes are not paid the same way that humans are. Human hunters will receive money for successful missions but their Palicoes do not. Felynes and Melynx place value on simpler things like shelter, food, and companionship. They do not value material goods and they are not looking to become rich. This is why Palicoes are paid with the basic necessities – and Felvine – instead of money for their service.
5 They Are Hunter’s Equals
In Monster Hunter, players work alongside Palicoes to hunt dangerous monsters. In every game, the hunter engages directly with monsters while their Palicoes support by healing, buffing, or setting up traps. The support role of Palicoes leads players to believe that they are not capable of hunting monsters alone. This is not true as Palicoes are equal to their hunters in monster hunting ability.
While Palicoes typically aid the hunter, they are more than capable of slaying monsters on their own. The Felynes and Melynx have survived in the wild because of their skill in eliminating monsters. There are even Palicoes that have risen to higher ranks in the Hunter’s Guild such as Felcote, who became a member of the revered Guild Knights. These fluffy furballs are just as dangerous as the human hunters that they work with.
4 They Are Dangerously Curious
The phrase curiosity killed the cat is all too true for Palicoes especially for the Melynx. Throughout the Monster Hunter series, players can witness the inquisitive nature of the Palico firsthand. At first, the Palico appear to be searching for goods or resources they can use to help their hunters, but they are actually searching for something that has piqued their interest.
What fans do not know is that this curiosity can cause Palico to overlook dangerous situations. If something shiny catches their eye a Palico may set aside all thought to get it. The Melynx Palicoes are more susceptible to this dangerous interest and they may steal from others without a second thought. In the recent installment Monster Hunter Rise, the Palico seem to have grown past their curiosity but at times hunters can find their comrades scavenging in the presence of gigantic beasts.
3 They Have Gourmet Taste
Felynes and Melynx are omnivorous creatures that eat anything that they can in the wild. Living among monsters is not easy so they must take whatever they can to survive. The same cannot be said for the Felynes and Melynx that have joined humans. Living in human society and having access to entirely new foods have given these creatures a more sophisticated appetite.
Palicoes especially are treated to the finest foods that their villages have to offer. Out on the field, they may only eat rations but when they return from a mission, they eat the grand foods alongside their hunters. This is seen in Monster Hunter Rise when hunters share Kamuras specialty Bunny Dango with their Palico. Palicoes no longer crave simply meat and plants of the wild, but the cuisine of the humans they live with.
2 Their Puns Are An Accent
Palicoes are well known for a unique characteristic they possess, their purr-sistent pun making. Whenever it is possible Palicoes will include some sort of cat-related pun into their speech. It is a staple part of their purr-sonality that has been present since their first appearance. This feature is loved by many players but there are few that find it annoying.
Palicoes do not go out of their way to throw puns into their speech. These puns are actually an accent that carries over when they speak in human languages. Not every Palico is trying to be paws-itively adorable, it is an unintentional occurrence when they speak to humans. So, whether players enjoy or despise the puns, they are not intentional instead, it is just an expression of a very strong accent.
1 They Appear In Other Games
In video games, it is common to include certain references or Easter Eggs to other famous franchises. These callouts to other games can be simple like a photo or it could be something of more significance like a cosmetic item. The famous Palicoes have made major appearances in a variety of games.
Palicoes have made appearances in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and in Marvel VS Capcom alongside other prominent figures of the Monster Hunter franchise. Super Mario Maker has an outfit based on Palicoes and Animal Crossing has characters based on them as well. Even Horizon: Zero Dawn has granted Palicoes a unique set of robotic armor in Monster Hunter World. They are loved by the gaming community and it is likely that Palicoes will continue being referenced in other games.
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