You're running through a dungeon in Metaphor: ReFantazio, your MP is basically non-existent, and you realize you haven't saved in forty minutes. We've all been there. It’s that classic Atlus stress. Then you remember those weird mushrooms you picked up. Metaphor ReFantazio gauntlet shrooms aren't just some random inventory filler meant to be sold for a few extra Reeve. They are actually the backbone of your sustain, especially if you're trying to push through the harder difficulty settings without teleporting back to the Gauntlet Runner every five seconds to sleep.
Honestly, the game doesn't do a great job of explaining how vital these are early on. You just see them as "Gauntlet Shroom" in your bag and move on. But once you unlock the kitchen on the Gauntlet Runner, everything changes. These fungi become the primary ingredient for some of the best mid-game SP (or MP) recovery items you can get your hands on.
It’s easy to run out. Fast.
🔗 Read more: Release Ghoul RE Codes: How to Actually Get Ahead in the Grind
The Best Ways to Farm Gauntlet Shrooms
Finding these things isn't exactly like hunting for rare treasure, but it requires a bit of intentionality. You can't just expect to have a hundred of them fall into your lap by playing the main story casually. Most players find their first batch during the trek to Martira or while exploring the various side dungeons like the Man-Eater's Grotto.
Look for the blue glimmer on the floor. That's the obvious part. But the real "pro tip" here involves the Gauntlet Runner's pantry. Every time you move between locations, check the larder. It’s located right near the kitchen area. You will often find a couple of Metaphor ReFantazio gauntlet shrooms just sitting there, waiting to be turned into soup. It’s a small yield, but if you're consistent about checking it every single day you're on the road, it adds up.
Don't ignore the shops in the smaller towns either. Sometimes, traveling merchants or specific vendors in the various "Briar" areas will stock them in limited quantities. If you see them, buy the whole stock. Money comes and goes in this game, but MP recovery is eternal.
Why the Kitchen Changes Everything
The kitchen on the Gauntlet Runner is easily one of the most underrated mechanics in the game. It’s not just a "social link" style activity with your followers like Strohl or Hulkenberg. It’s a resource factory. When you use your time to cook, you’re often making items that are significantly more powerful than the stuff you can buy at the general store in Grand Trad.
One specific recipe, the Mushroom Soup, requires these gauntlet shrooms.
Why bother? Because unlike medicinal herbs that just heal HP, the dishes made with these shrooms often target the "Stamina" or "Magic" of your party. In a turn-based system where your most powerful Archetype abilities cost a fortune in MP, having a stack of 10 or 15 mushroom-based dishes is the difference between finishing a boss and having to restart from a checkpoint because your Healer can't cast Medi anymore.
Cooking also passes the time. It builds your relationship with the crew. It's a win-win. But if you don't have the Metaphor ReFantazio gauntlet shrooms in your inventory, the kitchen is just a decorative room with a stove.
Managing Your Inventory Without Going Broke
The economy in Metaphor: ReFantazio is a bit tighter than Persona 5. You’ll spend most of your cash on new weapons or purifying gear at the church. This makes the "free" items you find in the wild—like our favorite mushrooms—even more valuable.
I’ve seen people sell these. Don't do that.
If you're desperate for cash, go hunt some bounties. Keep the shrooms. Even the "Withered" versions you might find occasionally have their uses in lower-tier recipes. The game rewards preparation. If you walk into a late-game dungeon with a bag full of cooked meals, you can play more aggressively. You can use your high-damage Synthesis skills without worrying about the MP cost.
Common Misconceptions About Foraging
Some players think that once you clear a dungeon, the items are gone forever. That's mostly true for chests, but the "glimmer" spots in the overworld and the Gauntlet Runner's pantry refresh. If you're grinding out levels or working on your Royal Virtues, make it a habit to cycle through your gathering spots.
💡 You might also like: Solving the Without Change NYT Crossword Clue: Why Simplicity Trips You Up
Also, pay attention to the weather. Metaphor: ReFantazio has a weather system that affects combat—making enemies stronger or weaker—but it also subtly influences what you might find or what’s available in shops. On "heavy" days, you might find that the quality of forageable items changes. It's subtle, but it's there.
High-Level Cooking Recipes
Once you start recruiting more followers and increasing your Bond levels, you unlock "Advanced" recipes. These aren't just your basic soups. We're talking about full-course meals that can buff your entire party's stats for an entire dungeon run or provide massive MP restoration.
The Metaphor ReFantazio gauntlet shrooms serve as the base ingredient for many of these.
For instance, there's a specific spicy mushroom dish you can cook once you have the right spices from the desert regions. It doesn't just heal; it cures specific status ailments that would otherwise require a dedicated turn from your Mage to fix. This is "action economy" at its finest. If you can use an item to fix a problem, your characters are free to keep dealing damage.
The Strategy of the Long Haul
This game is a marathon. It’s long. Really long. If you're trying to see the true ending or maximize all your Archetypes, you need to be efficient with your days. Spending a day in a dungeon only to leave halfway through because you ran out of resources is a wasted day.
✨ Don't miss: Double Diamond Slot Machine Free Play: Why This Old School Classic Still Dominates
Every time you leave a dungeon, the calendar moves forward.
By maximizing your use of Metaphor ReFantazio gauntlet shrooms, you stay in the dungeon longer. You get more EXP. You find more loot. You save more days on the calendar for the stuff that actually matters—like hanging out with your friends or trying to convince the public that you should be the next King.
Actionable Next Steps for Every Player
Stop treating your ingredients like junk. Start a routine. Every single time you step onto that Gauntlet Runner, do a lap. Check the pantry, check the deck, and talk to your companions.
- Check the Pantry Daily: This is the most consistent source of gauntlet shrooms. Don't leave the Runner without checking.
- Prioritize Cooking over Shopping: Spend your time cooking high-quality MP items rather than spending your precious Reeve on subpar potions.
- Save Your Mushrooms for Boss Preps: Don't waste your best mushroom dishes on random mobs. Use the "Auto-Battle" or "Unarmed" tactics for the small fry, and save the shroom-powered MP for the big bads.
- Invest in the Kitchen: Talk to the characters who have cooking-related perks. It makes the process faster and the results better.
By the time you reach the final stretch of the game, you'll be glad you hoarded every single fungus you found. It might seem like a small detail in a game filled with giant monsters and political intrigue, but the humble mushroom is what keeps the engine running. Stock up, cook often, and don't let your MP hit zero.