Anything from this point on may reference events in story so proceed with caution if you haven't beaten story yet.

Specialised Tools are a type of item you unlock after progressing so far through the main story of Monster Hunter World. They provide various effects depending on the tool used. Throughout the course of the story you will only unlock a couple of tools- most are unlocked by undertaking extra tasks.

Specialised tools are split into two types- Mantles and Boosters. Mantles are a cloak your character wears while active which provides a given effect as long as it is active. Boosters are an item you place on the ground which emit a mist that gives an effect to anyone in the vicinity.

I should also note that you can only use 1 specialised tool at a time until you beat Story. Once Story is completed (beat Land of Convergence) you will unlock the ability to carry a second specialised tool.

Specialised Tools can be upgraded (only in Iceborne). Upgrading a mantle gives it decoration slots, which are active when the mantle is equipped and still functional. When the mantle expires, any skills from decorations in the mantle slots also expire.

For booster tools, upgrading them improves their effectiveness instead.

If a tool is not listed as having an upgrade, then it currently cannot be upgraded.

Effect
While active, the Apothecary Mantle increases the rate at which status damage builds up when attacking monsters. Generally this means status effects are likely to activate quicker.

Unlock
Research 10 monsters to maximum level (collect tracks/defeat monsters to build up research). Maximum level is either Level 4 (for enemies only available in High Rank/Zorah Magdaros) or Level 6 for everything else.

Once 10 monsters are fully researched, visit the Workshop in Astera and accept the 8* quest 'A Portent for Disaster' from the Armory. This asks you to slay a Kushala Daora in Ancient Forest. Completing this will unlock the Apothecary Mantle.

Upgrade
Complete the MR5 quest 'The Tyrant's Banquet' (Hunt a Savage Deviljho in Wildspire Waste).

Effect
While active, the Assassin's Hood increases your movement speed, makes it harder for monsters to detect you when hiding and applies a large damage boost when attacking a monster unaware of your presence.

Unlock
Complete the 8* Event Quest 'SDF: Silent, Deadly and Fierce' (Odogaron, Deviljho and Lunastra in Special Arena) to collect Senu's Feather. Exchange 2x Senu's Feather and 5000 research points to unlock the Assassin's Hood. - Quest removed from the game due to licensing expiry, so the Assassin's Hood is no longer obtainable if you don't have it already.

Upgrade
Complete the MR3 Event Quest 'The Assassin' (Hunt a Tempered Nargacuga in Ancient Forest) to upgrade the hood.

Effect
While active, the Bandit Mantle will make attacked monsters drop extra materials. Most of these are trade-in items that are only used for making money. Very useful if you need some quick Zenny.

Unlock
Complete the Optional Quest 'Redefining the Power Couple'. This is a 5* quest that asks you to hunt a Rathalos and Rathian in Ancient Forest. Upon completion you will be given the Bandit Mantle.

Upgrade
Complete the MR3 quest 'A Nasty Flesh Wound' (Hunt a tempered Odogaron in Coral Highlands).

Effect
While active, the Challenger Mantle increases monster emnity towards you. This is great for pulling a monster into another area. The effect ends prematurely if you take any damage.

Unlock
Complete the 7* Optional Quest 'The Red and Blue Crew'. This asks you to hunt a Rathalos and an Azure Rathalos in Ancient Forest. Upon completion talk to the Armory and you will receive the Challenger Mantle.

Upgrade
Complete the MR3 quest 'Runnin', Rollin' and Weepin' (Hunt a Tigrex and a Radobaan in Rotten Vale).

Effect
Reduces Dragon-element damage you receive, negates Dragonblight and increases the effectiveness of Dragon-element on your weapon.

Unlock
Advance far enough in the story to be tracking the ??? Rathian. Speak to the group of researchers near the entrance of Astera and they'll ask you to gather Deviljho tracks. The easiest way to do this is go to your world map and look for the area with a ??? monster. Start an expedition there and gather ??? tracks until you have enough. This might take a few runs. Return to Astera once done and speak to the researchers again. They will say the Handler has gone missing and ask you to go and find her in an area known to be where Deviljho is.

This unlocks the 7* Special Assignment Quest 'The Food Chain Dominator', which asks you to hunt a Deviljho. Complete the quest and when you return to Astera you will be given the Dragonproof Mantle.

Upgrade
The Armory in Seliana will eventually give you a delivery bounty, which asks you to hand in 1x Teostra Fellwing, 1x Daora Fellwing and 2000 research points. Complete this to upgrade the mantle.

Effect
While active, the Evasion Mantle increases your evade window. It also provides an attack buff if you manage to dodge an attack at the very last second.

Unlock
First, hunt 7 different level 2 tempered monsters. Level 2 monsters include Rathalos, Diablos, Black Diablos, Legiana, Pink Rathian (High Rank only, Threat Level 1 in Master Rank), Odogaron, Lavasioth, Uragaan, Azure Rathalos, Bazelgeuse and Deviljho (but seriously, don't hunt tempered Deviljho!)

After doing this, speak to the Armory. She will ask you to complete the 9* quest 'New World Sky, New World Flower'. This asks you to hunt tempered Pink Rathian and tempered Azure Rathalos in Arena. This can be a very hard quest, so make sure you're prepared well. Upon completion, report back to the Armory and you will receive the Evasion Mantle.

Upgrade
Complete the MR3 quest 'Proud White Knight' (Hunt a tempered Barioth in Hoarfrost Reach).

Effect
Reduces fire-elemental damage you receive. Also makes you immune to Fireblight and Blastblight. This is incredibly useful for Teostra!

Unlock
Complete the 7* Optional Quest 'A Fiery Convergence'. This asks you to hunt a Lavasioth and an Uragaan in Elder's Recess. Upon completion report back to the Armory and you will receive the Fireproof Mantle.

Upgrade
Complete the MR3 quest 'Festival of Explosions!' (Hunt a Brachydios and an Uragaan in Elder's Recess).

Effect
Makes you temporarily invisible to monsters. The effect ends when you attack. This has some very good uses- it's ideal for completing the Gajalaka subquests and the only way you'll likely catch a Downy or Bristled Crake!

Unlock
This is one of the few specialised tools you unlock by playing story. After completing the 3* Assignment Quest 'Flying Sparks: Tobi-Kadachi' you will be given the Ghillie Mantle.

Upgrade
Complete the MR1 quest 'Ice Catch!' (Capture a Beotodus in Hoarfrost Reach).

Effect
Allows you to ride air geysers (mainly in Coral Highlands and Elder's Recess) and also slows your descent speed when falling, which can make it easier to mount monsters.

Unlock
So far into the story you'll be asked to go on an expedition to the Coral Highlands. After you complete this you'll be given the Glider Mantle.

Upgrade
Complete the MR3 quest 'Red and Black Aces' (Hunt a Rathalos and a Nargacuga in Ancient Forest).

Effect
Reduces ice-elemental damage you receive and negates Iceblight while active.

Unlock
Complete the research delivery 'Armory R&D: Weatherizing'.

Upgrade
Complete the MR4 quest 'Duet of Rime' (Hunt a Legiana and a Shrieking Legiana in Hoarfrost Reach).

Effect
While active, makes you immune to all negative status effects. This also removes any statuses you are suffering from when you equip it. I believe this also works against Vaal Hazak's Efflivium effect (the HP halving effect at least).

Unlock
Complete research on 15 monsters (to level 4 or level 6 depending on the monster). This will unlock a quest at the Armory. Complete the newly unlocked 8* Optional Quest 'Blaze on the Sand', which asks you to slay a Teostra in Wildspire Waste. Upon completion, report back to the Armory and you will receive the Immunity Mantle.

Upgrade
Complete the MR5 quest 'It's the Afterlife for Me' (Hunt a Blackveil Vaal Hazak in Rotten Vale).

Effect
Adds a chance to stun to most attacks. If an attack already has a chance to stun, it increases it.

Unlock
Hunt 5 different level 1 tempered monsters in High Rank. Level 1 monsters are: Pukei-Pukei, Tobi-Kadachi, Anjanath, Rathian, Barroth, Jyuratodus, Paolumu, or Radobaan. It is a crime Dodogama can't be tempered.

Once this is done you'll unlock a new quest at the Armory. Complete the newly unlocked 9* quest 'Showdown: The Muck and the Maul', which asks you to hunt a tempered Barroth and tempered Radobaan in Arena. Upon completion, report to the Armory and you'll receive the Impact Mantle.

Upgrade
- Can only be upgraded post-story.
Complete the MR6 quest 'Hymn of Sun and Moon' (Hunt a Gold Rathian and a Silver Rathalos in Elder's Recess. Note that this quest only unlocks at MR125 and you may need to have unlocked Gold Rathian and Silver Rathalos in the Guiding Lands first. Note that this quest can be extremely difficult as Silver Rathalos will spawn in the same room as Gold Rathian after around 10 minutes have elapsed.

Effect
Slightly reduces damage you receive, removes damage reactions (knockback etc), negates monster roars, negates wind pressure and negates tremor effects. This is an incredibly useful mantle against enemies like Kushala Daora. However you need to be careful using it- as your hunter won't react to getting hit it is easy to get killed by not noticing your health is low!

Unlock
Slay 3 different level 3 tempered monsters in High Rank. Level 3 monsters are Nergigante, Kushala Daora, Teostra, Vaal Hazak and Lunastra.

Once this is done you'll unlock a new quest at the Armory. Complete the 9* quest 'A Summons from Below', which asks you to hunt a tempered Odogaron and slay a tempered Vaal Hazak in Rotten Vale. This is easier than it sounds as both monsters have reduced HP. Upon completion, return to the Armory and you'll receive the Rocksteady Mantle. Definitely one of the best specialised tools in the game.

Upgrade
Complete the MR4 quest 'Piercing Black' (Hunt a tempered Black Diablos in Wildspire Waste).

Effect
While active, the Temporal Mantle automatically dodges attacks which would deal high damage. Its effect has changed slightly in Iceborne; it now auto dodges high damaging attacks, but each dodge will reduce the active duration by 20 seconds.

Unlock
Speak to the Huntsman to begin the Lunastra quest chain.
- Complete 'The Blazing Sun' (Slay Teostra in Wildspire Waste)
- Complete 'Pandora's Arena' (This has you repel Lunastra with a 15 minute time limit)
- Complete 'No Remorse, No Surrender' (Slay Teostra and Lunastra in Elder's Recess).
Upon completion, report to the Huntsman and he'll reward you with the Temporal Mantle.

Upgrade
- Can only be upgraded post-story.
Complete the MR6 quest 'Divine Surge' (Hunt a tempered Kirin and a tempered Namielle in Coral Highlands). This quest unlocks at MR150.

Effect
Reduces thunder-elemental damage you receive, negates Thunderblight and also negates Paralysis. Very useful for Kirin!

Unlock
This one is a little annoying to unlock as it requires you complete a chain of quests. In this order, complete the following:
- Snatch the Snatcher (3*, Capture Kulu-Ya-Ku)
- Landing the Landslide Wyvern (3*, Capture Barroth)
- White Monster for a White Coat (4*, Capture Paolumu)
- Man's Best Fiend (5*, Capture Odogaron)

After completing all of these, speak to the ecological researcher with a ! above their head. This will unlock the 5* quest 'Gone in a Flash', which asks you to slay a Kirin in Coral Highlands. It's only a low-rank Kirin so it's pretty simple. Complete this and you'll receive the Thunderproof Mantle.

Upgrade
Complete the MR4 quest 'Trap the Thunder Jaw' (Capture a Fulgur Anjanath in Hoarfrost Reach).

Effect
While equipped, the Vitality Mantle will absorb a certain amount of damage before it 'breaks'. It also works to absorb the effluvium damage in Rotten Vale. Generally I find this is very useful early in the game, but at end game it gets broken very quickly.

Unlock
Complete the 6* Story Quest 'Tickled Pink', which asks you to hunt an Anjanath in Wildspire Waste. Upon completion you'll be awarded the Vitality Mantle.

Upgrade
Complete the MR1 quest 'This Here's Big Horn Country!' (Hunt a tempered Banbaro in Elder's Recess).

Effect
Reduces water-elemental damage you receive, negates Waterblight and removes the movement restriction while in deep water.

Unlock
Complete the research delivery 'Armory R&D: Waterproofing'.

Upgrade
Complete the MR2 quest 'Put That Red Cup Away' (Capture a tempered Coral Pukei-Pukei in Coral Highlands).

Effect
Places a smoker that emits a mist which increases the affinity of anyone nearby. This is extremely useful for killing monsters quickly.

Unlock
Like the Thunderproof Mantle, this requires you to complete a chain of quests and deliveries. These are all Optional Quests set by the Third Fleet Master. Generally, after completing one return to the Research Base and someone will want to speak to you (which will unlock the next quest in the chain). The quest order is:
- A Tingling Taste (6*, Hunt a Great Girros)
- A Master's Toast (delivery)
- Stuck in Their Ways (6*, Capture a Tobi-Kadachi)
- A Fire-Spewing Brew (delivery)
- A Sore Site (7*, Hunt an Odogaron)
- RRRRRumble in the Waste! (7*, Hunt a Diablos and a Black Diablos)

Upon completing all of these quests and deliveries, report to the Third Fleet Master in the Research Base and she will give you the Affinity Booster.

Upgrade
- Can only be upgraded post-story.
Complete the MR6 quest 'The Storm Brings the Unexpected' (Hunt a tempered Kushala Daora and a tempered Blackveil Vaal Hazak in Ancient Forest). This quest unlocks at MR175.

Effect
Drops a smoker which emits a mist that cures all negative status effects and blights.

Unlock
Probably one of the easiest specialised tools to unlock. Simply complete the 4* Optional Quest 'On Nightmare's Wings', which asks you to slay a few Raphinos in Rotten Vale.

Upgrade
Complete the MR2 quest 'Poison and Paralysis Pinch' (Capture a Viper Tobi-Kadachi in Hoarfrost Reach).

Effect
Places a smoker which emits a mist which restores the health of nearby players.

Unlock
Awarded after beating the Story Quest 'One for the History Books'. This is the first Zorah Magdaros encounter.

Upgrade
Complete the MR2 quest 'Fiesty Girl Talk' (Hunt a Rathian and a Pink Rathian in Wildspire Waste).