I just want to be a bro and help those new to MH4U out in explaining how the Palico system works!
It's actually incredibly easy to understand and use once you get to
Cheeko Sands
Your first Palico (the one you create when making your hunter) will have the Forte Leadership. That's its default forte, and he/she is the only Palico that will ever have the Forte Leadership.
Later on, the Wild Palicoes you can hire will have different Fortes. Fighting, Protection, Support, Healing, Bombing, Stealing, Treasure, Launching, and Stamina.
Once you start hiring several of them, the point of the "1st Stringers" is to put in palicos with the same Forte to buff up your main palico and change its own Forte.
Example being, if you have 2 or more Stealing Palico and set them as your 1st Stringers, your main Palico will gain new moves based on 2 or more palicos of the same type.
2 Stealing palico will change your main palicoes Forte into Stealing (and give them the natural ability of Thievery, allowing its hits to steal monster items from its target!), and also give your main palico Mega Boomerang. 3 gives Boomerang duty, only attacks with the boomerang. 4 gives Stealth, decreases likelihood that the palico will be attacked, and all 5 1st stringers as Steal will give Thievery+, which upgrades the thievery ability to steal items easier.
There are no combination skills for doing 2 Steal + 2 Heal. BUT IF YOU DO 2+2 of different Fortes of the same type, you will gain the ability both of those fortes offer. So if you put 2 Steal Palico & 2 Healing Palico as 1st stringer, you will gain Mega Boomerang from Stealing & Health Horn from healing.
Lastly I'd like to cover the Palico ability that each Palico has, what effects the combined Palico ability (once you gain a second palico to come with you) is based on the second Palico that you mark to join you on quests.
There are 3 types of Team Attacks:
Rath-of-meow- Your two palicos summon a meownzer tank that will shoot a powerful shot at their target.
Purrtuoso- A healing ability that not only gives you health, but will actually grant you a bonus to your total health and +25 to stamina.
Flying Bomb- Both palicoes board a barrel bomb and launch at the target. If they hit, they will grab onto its face and slow it down. (Pretty much like a flashbomb, with cats.)
I hope this is helps you all understand how Palicos, 1st Stringer, and Team Attacks work!
I personally use all stealing Palicos and my secondary Palico is a Purrtuoso because I love me some big heal+stamina increase when I'm out of rations and don't want to scarf steaks.
Good luck and happy hunting!
