Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is an RPG that takes place in a beautiful, vibrant world. Some subquests throughout the game will encourage players to delve deeper into the mystery and wonder of the world. These types of quests go beyond the usual hunting or gathering objectives, focusing instead on exploration and discovery. The Artifact Excavation quest is an example of the unique tasks players can undergo in Monster Hunter Stories 2. This guide will make sure any Rider will be successful in hunting for artifacts at the Zeramon Ruins.
Artifact Excavation is a subquest that becomes available soon after arriving in Lulucion during the story events of Monster Hunter Stories 2. The quest is available from the Ore Appraiser in the industrial area of the city. The reward for completing Artifact Excavation is three Bottle Caps. While it's a relatively small amount, players will definitely want to get a lot of Bottle Caps as soon as possible. Upon arriving in Lulucion, the Melynx NPC will start offering some truly valuable weapons and armor in exchange for Bottle Caps.
How to Complete Artifact Excavation in Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
The Artifact Excavation quest directs players to search for valuables at the Zeramon Ruins. These ruins are found in the Jalma Highlands area of Lamure. Riders who have visited the area before can easily fast travel there by Catavan. Players who have already completed the X Marks the Spot quest will already have an idea of how to find the items they need for Artifact Excavation.
While the quest description specifies that the player will be looking for ore, the treasure that will actually be found are some artifact shards. There are three shards to find around the ruins, which are marked and detailed below.
- Near a treasure chest outside of the southwestern Everden
- Among the ruins near the southern edge of the map
- At the base of a rocky spire near the southeastern edge of the map
The artifacts will be easy to spot, as they are represented by shimmering points on the ground. Players will know they've found the quest-related items when dialogue from Navirou is triggered. Searching the desert can be a little tricky, but the Everdens throughout the area serve as extremely useful landmarks.
Players who are exploring the region for the first time should consider making a detour into every Everden to farm for extra Bottle Caps. It might be tempting to put it off so that other quests can be prioritized, but the gear earned from exchanging Bottle Caps will be vital if players happen upon any dangerous Royal Monster locations.
The deserts of the Lamure region are also great places to gather materials. Players who are falling behind on their equipment upkeep should take the time to stop at any ore deposits they find while questing. Mid-grade ore locations are very common in Lamure. While these types of ore are very different from that mentioned in the quest description of Artifact Excavation, they are essential to progress in the game.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is now available for the Nintendo Switch and PC.
