Resource Gathering & Crafting
Mastering resource gathering and crafting is fundamental to your success in Monster Hunter: World. From essential healing items to powerful weapon upgrades, almost everything you need will come from the environment or the monsters you hunt. This section will guide you through efficient gathering techniques and the intricacies of the crafting system.
I. Gathering Essentials: Tools & Techniques
Before you even step foot into the field, ensure you have the right tools. Your Hunter's Notes (accessible via the Start Menu) will often hint at what resources are available in each locale.
A. Essential Gathering Tools
- Pickaxes: Used for mining ore nodes. You start with a few Iron Pickaxes and Mega Pickaxes. They have limited durability, so bring spares or craft more on the fly.
- Bug Nets: Essential for catching insects and small creatures. You start with Bug Nets and Mega Bug Nets. Like pickaxes, they break, so carry extras.
- Fishing Rod: Automatically equipped when you approach a fishing spot. No durability, so no need to carry spares.
- Slingers: Your Slinger can be used to gather certain environmental items like Slinger Ammo (e.g., Slinger Thorn Pod, Slinger Stone) by interacting with them.
B. Gathering Locations & Items
Each major locale in the New World offers unique resources. Knowing where to look is key.
- Ancient Forest:
- Mining Outcrops: Look for blue or red crystal formations. Common finds include Iron Ore, Earth Crystal. Higher rarity ores like Dragonite Ore appear in later areas.
- Bone Piles: Piles of bones yield Bone, Monster Bone S, and later, Monster Bone M.
- Flora: Herb (for Potions), Blue Mushroom (for Potions), Nulberry (cures Blight), Ivy (for Pitfall Traps).
- Insects: Thunderbug (for Shock Traps), Godbug (for Max Potions).
- Fish: Sushifish (healing), Gastronome Tuna (stamina).
- Wildspire Waste:
- Mining Outcrops: Iron Ore, Earth Crystal, Machalite Ore.
- Bone Piles: Bone, Monster Bone S, Monster Bone M.
- Flora: Herb, Blue Mushroom, Parashroom (for Tranq Bombs).
- Insects: Flashfly (for Flash Pods), Bitterbug (for Mega Potions).
- Coral Highlands:
- Mining Outcrops: Coral Crystal, Dragonite Ore.
- Bone Piles: Coral Bone, Monster Bone M.
- Flora: Kelbi Horn (from Kelbi), Mandragora (for Max Potions).
C. Optimizing Gathering Runs
- Expeditions: Use expeditions for dedicated gathering. There's no time limit, allowing you to thoroughly explore.
- Gathering Boosts: Certain armor skills (e.g., Geologist, Botanist, Fisher) increase the number of items you gather from nodes. Consider crafting armor with these skills for dedicated gathering sets.
- Palico Gadgets: Your Palico's Vigorwasp Spray can heal you, and the Plunderblade can carve extra materials from monsters.
- Environmental Traps: Utilize environmental features like falling rocks or paralyzing toads to gain an advantage in combat and gather monster parts more easily.
II. The Crafting System: From Raw to Refined
Crafting is done through your Item Pouch (Start Menu -> Item Pouch -> Crafting List) or at the Item Box in Astera or any camp.
A. Key Crafting Categories
- Consumables: The most frequent crafting you'll do.
- Potion: Herb + Blue Mushroom
- Mega Potion: Potion + Honey (Honey is often found in the Ancient Forest and Wildspire Waste)
- Antidote: Antidote Herb + Blue Mushroom
- Flash Pod: Flashfly
- Shock Trap: Trap Tool + Thunderbug (Trap Tools can be bought from the Provisions Stockpile)
- Pitfall Trap: Trap Tool + Ivy + Spider Web
- Ammunition & Coatings: Bowgun ammo and Bow coatings are crafted here.
- Normal Ammo 2: Normal Ammo 1 + Gunpowder Level 2 (Gunpowder is crafted from Fire Herb + Nitroshroom)
- Power Coating: Empty Phial + Nitroshroom
- Decorations: Crafted at the Elder Melder using monster parts and Research Points. This becomes crucial in the endgame.
B. Crafting Tips & Tricks
- Auto-Crafting: Enable auto-crafting for frequently used items like Potions and Mega Potions in your Crafting List. This will automatically craft them as you gather the necessary ingredients.
- Wishlist: Add desired armor and weapons to your Wishlist at the Smithy. This will alert you when you've gathered all the necessary materials.
- Botanical Research Center: Unlock and utilize the Botanical Research Center in Astera. Here, you can cultivate plants, mushrooms, and insects, guaranteeing a steady supply of crafting ingredients. Prioritize cultivating Honey for Mega Potions and Thunderbugs for Shock Traps.
- Elder Melder: The Elder Melder can convert unwanted monster parts into useful items or even rare decorations. Don't underestimate her services, especially when you have an excess of common monster materials.
- Item Loadouts: Create and save Item Loadouts at the Item Box. This allows you to quickly restock your pouch with your preferred gathering or hunting supplies before each quest or expedition.
By diligently gathering resources and mastering the crafting system, you'll ensure you're always prepared for the challenges the New World throws at you, turning raw materials into the tools of a master hunter.