A Hunter’s Guide: Capturing the Elusive Sandstar in Monster Hunter Wilds

LOS ANGELES, CA — Gamers are gearing up for a challenging quest in the latest installment of Monster Hunter Wilds, where players must capture the elusive Sandstar. This gameplay task is part of the side mission titled “Samin‘s Special Research Report” and takes place within the Windward Plains.

The Sandstar, an endemic organism that resembles a cute, glowing creature with large ears, only appears at nighttime during the season of Plenty. To locate one, players should head to the pop-up camp at Area 13: Oasis, where they will search for sandy areas that characteristic of the Sandstar’s habitat. This mission has been described as the hardest endemic life quest, making the chase both thrilling and demanding.

“It runs faster than your Seikret,” said game guide author Chelsea Stark, emphasizing the challenge players will encounter. “This makes spotting and capturing it quite difficult as it only spawns at night.” The shimmering blue orb-shaped creature can be particularly hard to find due to its low spawn rate — players have reported it taking multiple nights of searching.

In order to successfully capture a Sandstar, players must equip a Screamer Pod, obtained from Baunos, a smaller flying monster in the game. According to a recent guide from Polygon, players need to approach the Sandstar stealthily, utilizing the screamer pod to stun it momentarily. “As soon as it’s dazed, switch to your Capture Net and act quickly,” the guide advised.

Timing is crucial; once the Sandstar is stunned, players must work against the clock to secure the capture before it regains its balance and escapes. “The stealth bonus from the Ghillie Mantle may help,” Stark mentions, “but it’s vital to ensure you have a good aim.”

In addition to the Sandstar’s elusive nature, players should also be aware that changing time of day and weather can enhance the hunt. The Windward Plains can be accessed via a Base Camp, where gamers can rest and adjust settings.

Samin, the quest-giver, provides essential clues about the Sandstar’s behavior, noting its sensitivity to sound and speed. His dialogue adds an extra layer of depth to the quest, allowing players to strategize their approach effectively. Capturing the Sandstar completes the rivalry tasks between Samin and Dareel, concluding their feuding storyline.

Once players successfully complete the quest, they are rewarded with 5 Wild Herbs, 10 Honey, and 300 Guild Points, alongside the achievement titled “I Caught a Shooting Star!” This achievement highlights the challenge that many gamers aspire to conquer within the game.

Monster Hunter Wilds continues to evolve, keeping players engaged with exciting quests and rich storytelling. As players navigate through quests and uncover the secrets of the wilderness, they are reminded of the balance between hunting formidable monsters and exploring the whimsical endemic life that inhabits the game.