Why does Monster Hunter have no levels?

Because your hunter was never supposed to get stronger. You were.

There is no experience bar in Monster Hunter. Your hunter’s attack and defence come entirely from the weapon and armor they wear, which are forged from the monsters you have killed. A veteran of a thousand hours, wearing starter leather, is exactly as fragile as a beginner, and that is the point: progression is a wardrobe, and the wardrobe is a hunting record.

What the game tracks instead is knowledge. Every monster has habits, tells, and weak points that exist nowhere in the user interface, only in the player’s memory. Hunter Rank and Master Rank are not power; they are permissions, gates that open harder quests as the game certifies you ready. The sequel you improve at is yourself.