Fishing is undeniably a core gameplay element in many cozy games, such as Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, and has been a staple in these comforting games for many years.
Games in the beloved Rune Factory series are no exception to this, offering an enjoyable and relaxing fishing experience with numerous fish for players to collect, sell, and cook. Here’s everything players need to know to uncover the art of angling and unwind in Rune Factory 3: Special.
How to get a Fishing Pole in RF3:S
In Rune Factory 3: Special, there are multiple methods in which the player can obtain their very first Fishing Pole, the Cheap Pole. This pole isn't anything special, but it allows the player to start fishing immediately after they receive it. Through progression in RF3:S, players will unlock the ability to craft higher quality poles which offer more significant benefits.
Complete “I'm Looking For Something” for Barrett
The player can visit Barrett to accept his request “I'm Looking For Something,” in which the player must recover a book that Barrett has misplaced. The book can be found in the town’s Church, and once retrieved should be returned to Barrett who will reward the player with a Cheap Pole.
Complete “Fishing Lessons from the Master” for Carmen
This request can be accepted by interacting with the town’s Bulletin Board and accepting the request, “Fishing Lessons from the Master.” The player should then head to Carmen at Carlos' Resort on the beach, where they will receive the Cheap Pole and receive some private fishing lessons.
Purchase or Forge at Blacksmith Shop
Alternatively, the player can visit the blacksmith’s shop and purchase a Cheap Pole from Gaius or Raven. This may be necessary if the player is impatient to obtain a fishing pole but has already completed a character request on that day. The player can also craft a Cheap Pole at the Forge, but it's more than likely the player has since obtained a fishing pole well before unlocking the Forge.
How to Fish in RF3:S
Fishing in Rune Factory 3: Special works in a way that should be familiar to those who've enjoyed this activity in other farming or life simulation games. Since the player can get their first Fishing Pole very early in the game, they can head to one of the game's fishing spots and start fishing immediately. Here are the simple steps to fishing in Rune Factory 3: Special:
- Head to any body of water and look for shadows of fish
- Press B to release to cast the line into the water, aiming near the fish.
- When a fish starts to nibble at the bobber it will make a noise, but don’t attempt to reel in yet
- When the fish actually bites, it will pull at the pole and a sound will play while the fish will splash in the water
- To catch the fish, press the B when you hear this sound.
If using a higher quality Fishing Pole, the player will have the ability to hold down B to charge their cast before landing their bobber. Charging the cast will cast the line farther, where more rare fish may be found. This can also allow the player to cast closer to a fish’s shadow, reduce the distance needed for it to approach and potentially bite.
While fishing, the player may encounter rarer fish that are significantly difficult to catch. These fish require very precise timing and the player must press the B button right when they bite, with little leniency for their response time. If they react too slowly, the fish will get away. To increase their chances of snagging a rare catch, players should consider upgrading their fishing pole whenever possible.
How to Upgrade a Fishing Pole
There are five different Fishing Poles available to players in RF3:S, each requiring the player to reach a specific Forging Skill level before they can be crafted. Upgrading to a better Fishing Pole will make high quality fish easier to catch by expanding the window in which the player can reel in a fish.
The player can upgrade fishing poles once they have unlocked and built the Forge. This is possible after clearing the game’s first dungeon, Privera Forest, and traveling to the second dungeon, Sol Terrano Desert, and speaking with Kurana at the Univir Settlement.
Once the player has done this, the Sharance Tree will grow a second floor and the player will now be able to purchase the Forge, Workshop and Pharmacy. The player can then speak with the blacksmith Gaius (or Raven) to have the Forge built at the cost of 5,000 Gold and 100 Wood.
Each Fishing Pole can be crafted by using the preceding Fishing Pole along with a few collectible materials. In addition to these items, the player must also have reached the required Forging skill level, which is increased simply by forging any items.
All Fishing Poles Available in RF3:S
Here are all the available Fishing Poles in Rune Factory 3: Special along with the materials and Forging skill level required to craft them:
Fishing Pole | Materials to Forge | Req. Forging Skill Lvl. |
|---|---|---|
Cheap Pole |
| Forging Lvl. 5 |
Beginner's Pole |
| Forging Lvl. 15 |
Intermediate Pole |
| Forging Lvl. 30 |
Famous Pole |
| Forging Lvl. 60 |
Sacred Pole |
| Forging Lvl. 80 |
Tips for Catching Fish in RF3:S
While the actual process is relatively simple, fishing can be tricky for many players to get used to. Here are a handful of tips that may be helpful for the player if they’re struggling with fishing in Rune Factory 3: Special.
- The player should try to focus their attention not on the bobber in the water but on the tip of their fishing pole instead. The bobber will dip a few times before the fish actually bites, and it’s easy to get fooled by this and attempt to reel in too early.
- There are multiple different sizes of fish, which players can determine based on the size of their shadow. Typically, the largest shadows are rare or special fish which will require great skill and/or a higher quality pole to reel in.
- Each fish has specific locations in which it can be caught, and may spawn only during specific seasons. To find out which fish are in season, the player can speak with Carmen or Carlos at Carlos' Resort.
Rune Factory 3: Special is available on Nintendo Switch and PC.
