The Endemic Life in Monster Hunter Wilds consists of fascinating creatures, each uniquely adapted to its environment. Wilds features over 80 distinct species roaming the Forbidden Lands. Some are familiar — like Vigorwasps, Paratoads, and Dung Beetles — but with Wilds’ uncharted territories, you'll also encounter rare endemic life that can be tricky to find if you don’t know where to look.
One such creature is the Sandstar, an elusive endemic lifeform tied to Samin’s Research Side-Quest.
Here’s where to find the Sandstar and how to capture it:
1. The Quest Giver is at the Windward Plains Base Camp
Samin is one of the many researchers who traveled with you to the Forbidden Lands. He’s partnered with another researcher, Dareel, and the two are locked in a silly competition over who can capture the rarest endemic life. It’s a fun side-quest that you’ll naturally encounter as you progress through the game.
Simply talk to Samin after completing enough quests for both researchers, and he’ll ask you to capture the Sandstar.
2. Head to the Desert Area at Night
The Sandstar is primarily found in the Desert Area of the Windward Plains. If there’s sand, you’re in the right place. But make sure it’s nighttime! The Sandstar is designed to resemble a shooting star, meaning it only appears after dark.
As you approach, listen for a twinkling sound and look for glimmers in the distance. Use Binoculars to check if the creature resembles a white-furred bunny with a long tail and sharp ears. If it does — congratulations, you’ve found the Sandstar! Now comes the hard part: catching it.
3. Prepare a Ghillie Mantle and Sonic Bombs
Capturing the Sandstar with a Capture Net requires a lot of patience. It’s a skittish creature — getting even a few feet too close can startle it, causing it to dart away. And it’s fast.
The trick is to use a Ghillie Mantle (if it works) and bring a couple of Sonic Bombs to disrupt its heightened hearing. Keep in mind that neither strategy is guaranteed to work — the Sandstar is just that fast. Personally, the only way I managed to catch it was by riding my Seikret, chasing it across the entire map, and waiting for the perfect moment to deploy my Capture Net. Don’t worry about it disappearing, it will just keep running. When I finally got close enough — bam, right into my trap.
And that’s how you capture the Sandstar!
For more Monster Hunter Wilds guides, be sure to check out some of our beginner’s tips and features.