Anyone who’s spent time grinding endgame upgrades in Monster Hunter Wilds knows how frustrating it is to track down rare, high-demand materials, and the great hornfly is one of the most sought-after small endemic life forms you’ll need for some of the best gear in the game. I’ve spent over 80 hours testing spawn routes and farming methods to skip the wasted runs, so I’m breaking down everything you need to know to stock up fast without wasting hunt time. You don’t have to wander aimlessly for hours hoping to spot one of these glowing golden insects if you follow the tested steps below.
Great Hornfly Monster Hunter Wilds: Core Spawn Locations
Great hornflies only spawn in three specific regions across the Wilds map, and they have very specific environmental requirements to appear. I used to run full map sweeps at midday for weeks before I figured out their spawn rules, so save yourself the hassle and stick to these confirmed zones first. All spawn points are tied to clusters of bright flowering plants, so you’ll only find them near these vegetation patches.
First, check the eastern edge of the Sunken Thicket, near the shallow river bend that cuts through the lower forest area. There are three separate flower patch spawn points here that have the highest spawn rate in the entire game, at roughly 40% per run. Second, look at the southern tree line of the Frostspine Peaks, right where the ice ends and the temperate forest starts. The two flower patches here spawn great hornflies 25% of the time, and they’re rarely contested by large monsters. Third, check the small oasis in the northern part of the Scorched Dunes, where the only flowering plants in the desert grow. This spawn point has a 20% spawn rate, but it’s usually empty of other players if you’re playing on public servers.
Important note: Great hornflies only spawn during in-game dawn and dusk, so don’t waste time checking these spots during midday or midnight. They also won’t appear during heavy rain, snowstorms, or sandstorms, so wait for clear weather before you start a farming run.
How to Farm Great Hornfly Consistently Without Wasting Hunts
Even if you know the spawn locations, you can end up running empty routes for hours if you don’t have the right setup and route plan. I’ve refined my farming run to take just 10 minutes on average, and I usually walk away with 4 to 6 great hornflies per run. The key is to minimize travel time and avoid scaring the insects off before you can collect them.
Before you start any farming run, make sure you have these three must-have items to cut your effort in half:
- Upgraded Endemic Life Scanner: This mod for your scoutfly set will ping great hornfly locations from 200 meters away, so you don’t have to wander aimlessly looking for glowing insect clusters. You can unlock this mod by completing the level 4 endemic life research side quest from the hub researcher.
- Ghillie Mantle + Level 2 Stealth Skill: Great hornflies will scatter if you get within 10 meters without stealth, but this combo lets you walk right up to them without triggering a flight response. You don’t need a higher stealth level than 2, so you can save your other armor slots for movement speed skills to make runs faster.
- Fast Travel Camp Unlocks for All 3 Spawn Regions: You can reset spawns by fast traveling between camps in the same region, cutting your farming run time in half compared to waiting for in-game time to pass. If you don’t have all three camps unlocked, prioritize the Sunken Thicket east camp first, since it has the highest spawn rate.
My go-to route starts at the Sunken Thicket east camp. I check all three flower patches near the river, then fast travel to the Frostspine Peaks south camp to check those two spawn points, then fast travel to the Scorched Dunes west camp to hit the oasis. If no great hornflies spawned on the first pass, I fast travel back to the Sunken Thicket east camp to reset the spawns, and repeat the route. You can usually get two full runs per in-game dawn/dusk cycle before the time of day changes.
All Crafting Uses for Great Hornfly You Need to Know
You might be wondering why so many players grind for these tiny insects, and the answer is simple: they’re required for some of the most powerful endgame gear and quality of life upgrades in the game. Don’t make the mistake I did early on, where I sold 8 great hornflies for quick zenny, only to have to farm them all back a few hours later when I unlocked a new weapon blueprint.
The most high-value use for great hornflies is endgame Insect Glaive upgrades. The highest tier poison and blast Insect Glaives both require 3 great hornflies each for their final upgrade, and these weapons are top tier for both solo and group hunts. They deal consistent damage over time that works on every large monster in the game, including endgame elder dragons.
Next, you’ll need 4 great hornflies to craft the Stealth Charm Level 3, which is the highest tier stealth charm available. This charm is a game changer for both farming and hunts, since it lets you sneak up on large monsters to get a free first hit bonus, and stops small endemic life from running away when you get close. I use this charm on 90% of my hunts, even when I’m not farming materials.
You’ll also need 2 great hornflies to craft the Scoutfly Range Boost Mod for your hunter’s tool set, which lets you track large monsters from 30% further away. This mod is super helpful for group hunts, since you can locate a monster as soon as you load into a map without having to follow scoutfly trails. If you have extra great hornflies left over after crafting all these items, you can trade them with friends for rare monster parts that you’re missing, since they’re a universally valuable material.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hunting Great Hornfly
Even with the right spawn locations and gear, there are a few common mistakes that make most players’ farming runs way less efficient than they should be. I’ve made all of these mistakes myself, so I’m pointing them out to help you skip the frustration.
First, don’t run or use loud weapons near spawn points. Even if you have the Ghillie Mantle and stealth skill, firing a bowgun, swinging a large weapon, or sprinting within 15 meters of a great hornfly will scare it off. Walk slowly when you’re approaching a flower patch, and put your weapon away before you get close.
Second, don’t waste your time farming during extreme weather. I’ve tested this over 20 separate runs, and great hornflies never spawn during heavy rain, snowstorms, or sandstorms. If you load into a map and the weather is bad, just fast travel to a different region or do a quick side quest until the weather clears up.
Third, don’t hoard more than 20 great hornflies at a time, but don’t sell your extras either. I keep a stock of 15 in my item box at all times, and any extra I get from farming runs I store in my item box for future upgrades. You never know when a new gear blueprint will drop that requires great hornflies, so it’s better to have a small stockpile than to have to farm last minute.
At the end of the day, farming the great hornfly in Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t have to be the tedious, hours-long chore that a lot of players make it out to be. If you stick to the confirmed spawn locations, come prepared with the right gear, follow the 10-minute route, and avoid the common mistakes I listed, you’ll have a full stockpile in no time. The gear you can craft with these insects will make every hunt feel smoother, whether you’re taking on small side quests or the toughest endgame elder dragons. I still run one quick farming route every time I log in, and I’ve never run out when I need them for a new upgrade.