So, you’re standing at the Smithy, scrolling through the High Rank armor tabs for the hundredth time, and the clerk vambraces mh wilds are nowhere to be found. It’s annoying. I know the feeling. You probably picked up Gemma’s side quest "New Fashion, Old Feelings," and now you're stuck because the game doesn't exactly hold your hand on where this specific gear set hides.
The Clerk set isn't tied to some secret elder dragon or a rare drop from a Doshaguma. Honestly, it’s much simpler—and for some players, much more tedious—than that. It's an Arena set. If you haven't stepped foot into the Grand Hub to talk to the Arena Quest Clerk, those vambraces will never show up in your crafting list. Period.
Why the Clerk Vambraces Won't Show Up
Most hunters play the game by clearing expeditions and standard quests. That’s the "normal" way. But the Clerk Vambraces are "special" gear. In Monster Hunter Wilds, certain sets are locked behind Arena Coins. These don't drop from regular hunts in the Windward Plains or the Scarlet Forest.
To even see the clerk vambraces mh wilds at the Smithy, you have to possess at least one of the key materials. Usually, that’s the Rathian Coin. If you haven’t done the specific Arena challenges, the Smithy basically acts like the armor doesn't exist. It’s a classic Monster Hunter gatekeeping move.
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Forging Requirements: What You Actually Need
You can't just go out and kill a "Clerk." (Obviously). You need coins. Specifically, coins that prove you can handle monsters with a limited, pre-set loadout. Here is the shopping list for the Vambraces Alpha:
- Rathian Coin (2): You get these from the Arena Rathian quest.
- Chata Coin (1): Earned by completing the Arena Chatacabra quest.
- Pinnacle Coin (1): This is the one that trips people up. You usually need to hit a B-Rank or better in either of the above Arena quests.
- Blangonga Pelt+ (2): These come from regular High Rank Blangongas. You can find these snowy jerks in the Iceshard Cliffs.
Don't bother farming regular Rathians in the wild. Those give you scales and marrow, not the coins required for the Clerk set. Go to the Grand Hub, talk to Ricardo (the guy at the Arena counter), and pick your weapon.
The Gemma Quest Confusion
The main reason everyone is looking for these is the "New Fashion, Old Feelings" side quest. Gemma wants you to look the part, but there is a massive catch that is driving the community insane.
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Gender matters here. There are two versions of the Clerk Vambraces. One is the Type 1 (traditionally masculine) and the other is Type 2 (traditionally feminine). Gemma specifically asks for the masculine version in her quest dialogue. Even if your character is female, you might need to craft the version marked with the Green Circle icon to satisfy the quest logic.
If you’ve crafted the arms and the quest still isn't checking off, check the icon color. If it’s brown/bronze, you made the female version. If it’s green, it’s the male version. Yes, it’s weird. Yes, it feels like a bug. But that’s how it works right now.
Are the Clerk Vambraces Actually Good?
If you aren't just doing this for the quest completion, you might wonder if the gear is worth the hassle. The Clerk Vambraces Alpha come with some "utility" skills that are... okay?
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- Tool Specialist Level 2: Great if you love your Mantles or specialized tools.
- Survival Expert Level 1: Helps with health recovery from environmental items.
- Palico Rally Level 1: Buffs your cat.
It’s a "comfy" set. It’s not meant for speedrunning a Fatalis-level threat. It’s meant for people who want to look like a high-functioning bureaucrat while dodging a firebreath. The set bonus, Glory’s Favor, is the real draw—it boosts your Luck, which can help with rare drops if you wear enough pieces of the set.
Pro Tip for Arena Quests
If you hate the Arena (we all do sometimes), don't overthink it. For the Chatacabra, just pick the Great Sword or Hammer. He’s slow. You can usually net a B-Rank just by being aggressive. For Rathian, the Shield and Sword or Lance is your best bet to stay safe while she does her tail flips. You only need one Pinnacle Coin for the arms, so you don't need to be a god-tier hunter to get this done.
Solving the "Missing" Armor Bug
A lot of players on Reddit and GameFAQs have reported that the armor doesn't appear even after they have the coins. If this happens to you, try these steps:
- Remove all filters: In the Smithy menu, ensure you aren't filtering for "Owned Only" or specific elements.
- Check the "Type" toggle: Use the shoulder buttons to switch between Type 1 and Type 2 armor sets.
- Talk to the Clerk again: Sometimes the Smithy needs a "refresh" triggered by talking to the Arena NPC.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're ready to get this quest out of your log, here is your path forward:
- Head to the Grand Hub.
- Complete the Arena: Rathian quest at least twice.
- Complete the Arena: Chatacabra quest once.
- Ensure you have a Pinnacle Coin (check your rewards screen after the hunt).
- Go to the Smithy and look for the Green Circle version of the Clerk Vambraces Alpha.
- Equip them as Layered Armor and talk to Gemma.
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