"Monster Hunter Wilds" beta days are over, and finally, the game is within our reach now. The game has always been about huge battles against gigantic monsters, but this time around, the game invites players to look more closely at the smaller, secret monsters of the Forbidden Lands.
One of the rarest of these hidden creatures is the Sandstar, a blue, glowing, desert-dwelling organism that only shows itself under certain circumstances.
Following it up is no cakewalk, but with this tutorial, you'll have all you need to finish Samin's last Research Report and earn your rewards.
Begin Samin's Special Research Report
To start this journey, proceed to the Windward Plains go to Base Camp, and search for Dareel and Samin in the lab tent. Now that you've completed all earlier Research Reports—you've completed Dareel's objective of getting the Gillopod, after all—you can chat with Samin.
He'll apologize for his use of you to one-up Dareel before offering up the final challenge: locating the mysterious Sandstar.
Unlike previous requests, Samin provides a bit more information to aid in your search. However, you'll still need patience, skill, and the right strategy to succeed.
Where to Find the Sandstar
The Sandstar is an extremely rare creature that only appears at night in the Windward Plains. Since it vanishes as soon as the sun rises, you'll need to start your search as early in the night as possible.
Best Places to Look in 'Monster Hunter Wilds'
- Desert Areas: Concentrate your search in Areas 11, 13, and 15.
- Glowing Affect: Sandstar glows blue, which is more visible when looked for at night.
- Best Weather: Looking during Fallow weather is ideal, since the desert is darker, making the glow more visible.
To boost your chances of a spawn, attempt to run to the nest of Rey Dau and use Wedge Beetles to climb left. After that, head back to the desert and survey the region.
How to Catch the Sandstar in 'Monster Hunter Wilds'
Finding a Sandstar is one thing, but capturing it is a whole different problem. This beast is very quick, alert (it will hear and see you regardless of what you do), and susceptible to burrowing if pursued.
Best Capture Strategy For Sandstar
GamesRadar has some useful tips to maximize your chances of catching this pesky, little creature.
- Avoid a direct approach. If you attack normally or are wearing a Ghillie Mantle, the Sandstar will still hear you and flee.
- Use Sonic Bombs or Shrieker Pods. Because the Sandstar uses its hearing, you will need to shut down its hearing ability.
- Shoot cautiously. Do not shoot the Sandstar directly, because it can kill the creature. Instead, shoot around it to stun it.
Once the Sandstar is stunned, rush in with your Capture Net and grab it before it burrows away.
Claiming Your Sandstar Reward
After successfully capturing the Sandstar, return to Samin at Base Camp to complete the final Research Report. As a reward, he will give you:
- 5 Wild Herbs
- 10 Batches of Honey
Though the reward might not appear large for the effort put in, you can be proud of having finally settled the conflict between Dareel and Samin—and, above all, of having hunted down one of the rarest beings in Monster Hunter Wilds.
In the meantime, Capcom has not yet announced the fix for the story-blocking bug in "MH Wilds."
