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Absolutely! We all enjoy the thrill of hunting massive monsters. There’s nothing quite like the rush of tracking down a Rathalos and battling it. However, Monster Hunter Wilds also encourages you to appreciate the smaller creatures that inhabit the Forbidden Lands, as there’s a vast array of wildlife nestled in every corner.
Now that we’ve covered so much ground, we’ve reached the concluding Research Report. Samin insists this is the final one—for real this time. The difficulty of these quests has varied greatly, with some creatures much easier to find than others. However, he has certainly saved the toughest challenge for last.
How to Begin Samin’s Special Research Report
For the very last time, head over to the Base Camp in the Windward Plains to find Dareel and Samin inside the large research tent. After completing other Research Reports, including Dareel’s quest to locate a Gillopod, you can speak with Samin. After a brief apology for using you to fuel his competition with Dareel, he will ask for your assistance with one last task.
This task involves locating the Sandstar. Samin claims this one is more specific, saying he will provide more details than usual to aid in your search. And trust me, you’ll need it.
Where to Find a Sandstar
The Sandstar can only be found in the Windward Plains at night. This means you have a limited time to track it down, as it will vanish and hide as soon as the sun rises. Be sure to begin your hunt early in the night for the best chance of spotting it.
You can change both the time of day and the weather in your tent either at the Base Camp or at a Pop-Up Camp.
Samin mentions that it moves swiftly across the sand, so this limits your search to the desert areas of the Windward Plains. This includes Areas 11, 13, and 15. The Sandstar also emits a glow, making it a bit easier to see against the dark backdrop of night. Its blue color creates a striking contrast against the sandy landscape.
We recommend looking for it during the Fallow weather, as the desert becomes darker under these conditions, which makes the Sandstar’s glow stand out even more.
A useful strategy to encourage the Sandstar to spawn is to run all the way to Rey Dau’s nest and climb up the ledge with Wedge Beetles to the left. After climbing, head back out to the desert to increase your chances of encountering them. The Sandstar can appear throughout the expansive desert, so be sure to explore thoroughly.
Getting the Sandstar to spawn is just the beginning. Finding them is tricky enough, considering their low spawn rate, but capturing them presents an entirely different challenge.
How to Catch a Sandstar
As Samin cautions during your conversation, capturing the Sandstar won’t be easy. His warning is not just empty chatter. This creature is not only swift, but it’s also extremely alert. No matter how quietly you move or whether you wear the Ghillie Mantle, it’ll see or hear you. You cannot catch up to the Sandstar or avoid it noticing you.
So how can you capture it? Chasing it on your Seikret will only result in it burrowing into the ground and disappearing. Just like hunting the Balahara roaming this desert, you need to disrupt its hearing. This can be accomplished with Sonic Bombs or Shrieker Pods dropped by the Baunos flying overhead.
Be careful not to directly hit the Sandstar with the Shrieker Pod or Sonic Bomb, as this could kill it.
If you use the Shrieker Pod or Sonic Bomb close enough, the Sandstar will tumble over and start to squirm on the ground. This is your chance to rush in and capture it with the Capture Net. You won’t have much time, as it will quickly burrow away once it regains its hearing.
And there you have it! You’ve managed to catalog one of the rarest creatures in the region. Samin is immensely grateful for your help and rewards you with five Wild Herbs and ten batches of Honey. While this might seem meager given the effort required, at least you can take comfort in knowing that you’ve escaped the bickering between Dareel and Samin for good.
