You’re staring at the Smithy screen. You’ve got the scales, you’ve got the rare plate, and you’ve even got the zenny. But there it is—that grayed-out requirement for a Monster Hardbone.
It’s annoying.
In Monster Hunter Wilds, this specific bone is the literal "mid-game wall" for gear progression. You aren't just looking for a random bone pile in the desert anymore. To get these, you have to actually step up and fight the things that don't want to be fought. It is the bridge between being a "newbie" and having a build that can actually survive a stray tail swipe.
Where Monster Hardbone Actually Comes From
Look, forget the bone piles. If you're running around the Windward Plains kicking piles of old fossils, you're wasting your time. Monster Hardbone isn't a gathering point item; it's a reward for hunting high-tier threats.
Basically, you need to be in High Rank.
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The most reliable source is the apex-level predators that show up once the story starts getting serious. Specifically, Arkveld—the "White Wraith"—is your primary target. While you encounter a "Guardian" version early on, the standard Arkveld found in the Ruins of Wyveria or the Scarlet Forest is where the goods are.
Here is the breakdown of who drops it:
- Arkveld: The poster boy for this material. Defeating or capturing it in High Rank has about an 18% drop rate in the quest rewards.
- Jin Dahaad: If you've made it to the Iceshard Cliffs, this leviathan is a gold mine. It's tough, but the hardbone drops are consistent once you're farming its High Rank Investigations.
- Ray Dao & Gormagala: These high-tier threats also include it in their reward tables, though sometimes the percentages feel a bit lower than a focused Arkveld hunt.
Honestly? Don't just hunt them once. You're going to need dozens of these things for weapon upgrades and armor sets like the Ingot Alpha or high-end bone sets.
The Farming Strategy That Doesn't Suck
If you're just doing "Expeditions" and hoping for a spawn, you're doing it wrong. Expeditions are great for exploring, but the RNG for rewards is brutal.
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You want to use Alma.
Go to the Quest Counter and look for Optional Quests. Specifically, look for missions like "Awakening from a Dream" or "When Frost Falls." These missions guarantee the monster spawn and provide those "Target Rewards" slots at the end of the hunt. That's where the Monster Hardbone usually hides.
Investigations are your best friend
Check your Research Center. If you have any 7-star or 8-star Investigations for Arkveld or Jin Dahaad, those silver and gold reward boxes are basically "Hardbone Coupons." You can walk away with three or four from a single 15-minute hunt if the luck is on your side.
Break everything
It sounds like common sense for a vet, but for newer players, it matters here. While the bone is mostly a quest reward, breaking parts—especially the back and head—can occasionally trigger it in the "Broken Part" reward pool. It’s a small chance, but when you need seven bones for a single chest piece, every percent counts.
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Why Does Everything Require This?
The reason Monster Hardbone is such a bottleneck is that it’s used as a "universal binder."
Most of the High Rank Rarity 5 and 6 weapons use it as the base structure. Think of it as the rebar in concrete. You might have the fancy elemental parts, but without the hardbone, the weapon doesn't have the "integrity" to handle the power.
It's also a staple for "Transition Armor." When you're moving out of your starter High Rank gear and into the specialized elemental sets, the game expects you to have a steady supply of these.
Pro-Tips for the Grind
Don't forget the Tailrider Safari. Once you've unlocked higher-level routes, send your Palico buddies after Large Monsters in the Scarlet Forest or the Iceshard Cliffs. They won't bring back a ton, but coming back from a hunt to find two extra bones in your box feels like winning the lottery.
Also, check the Elder Melder. Later in the game, you can sometimes trade in lower-tier bones or monster points for hardbones. It's expensive, but if you're exactly one bone short of a new Great Sword, it's worth the trade.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your Hunter's Notes to confirm you've reached the "High Rank" threshold (usually after the "What Lies Ahead" quest).
- Filter your map for Arkveld or Jin Dahaad and see if they are currently roaming.
- If not, talk to Alma and load up the 7-star Optional Quest "Awakening from a Dream."
- Equip a weapon with Poison or Paralysis—both Arkveld and Jin Dahaad are surprisingly weak to status effects, making the farm much faster.
- Focus on breaking the head and capturing the monster rather than killing it to maximize the reward screens.