Is free roam worth it?

[YumYumTastyTV]

Is free roam worth it compared to just getting monsters from optional missions or is it no contest to just run missions?

[Das Trojanische Pferd]

in free roam you also get missions if you attack monsters sometimes you get better rewards for the same quest.

[Xafron Chi]

Originally posted by Das Trojanische Pferd:

in free roam you also get missions if you attack monsters sometimes you get better rewards for the same quest.

^ That. Plus there's no time limit that boots you out of the area, and after you kill the monster you find you aren't booted back to camp either. I do both. Sometimes I just want to queue up for missions because it's easier, and sometimes I free roam because it's kind of fun and relaxing. Different experience.

There's also the gold crown monsters, which as far as I know can only be found by spotting them in free roam with your binoculars.

[HoneyDrake]

If you attack a large monster during free roam (and deal enough damage), you make it a quest with a time limit, cart limit, etc.

Some enemies, which are "too high" level (like you missing the required HR for certain mechanics) can still be killed during Free Roam, the only way to kill them without progressing story.

[hotaru251]

i use free roam to scout out monsters w/ binoculars to try and find crowns.

[Wild]

Either free roam or investigations is the optimal way (well, second only to the full moon plant farming) to farm late game decorations and artian parts, as well as materials like gems (they can show up as a guaranteed reward).

[Cutthroat Cutwire]

you can get additional rewards from free roam monsters and can save them as investigations too if you find their rewards to be particularly desirable. i found a rathian that had a guaranteed ruby and a bunch of decos so i'd definitely say it's worth it to check them out from time to time.

[hotmatrixx]

Originally posted by YumYumTastyTV:

Is free roam worth it compared to just getting monsters from optional missions or is it no contest to just run missions?

The advantage of doing quests, is that you can see the 'bonus rewards' for the quest that you get besides the monster; But if you use the Environmental tab on the map, you can see the unique rewards that a specific monster has, on the world map, and if you want something specific, ou can target that - ie wyrven gems, or if you want attack gems (yellow) or defence gems (blue) or artian parts (the end game weapons). oh and the gems, brighter colours mean better rewards / higher quality.

quests are probably better for farming a specific enemy if he's not on the map at the moment, I guess.

Also, if you see a guy and want to grab him later, youc an go to the map, make him a quest/turn him into an investigation - which basically saves that monster as a Hunt for later. (can still only be used 'once', tho.)

[Fluffy Monster Thing]

Free roam is the only method of getting artian weapon parts. Basically weapons you have control over the stats/rolls of in the endgame.

[YumYumTastyTV]

thanks broskis <3