Gold Crowns

Unlike its predecessors, to complete all awards in MHX, you do not need to collect all Gold Crowns. Just all small Gold Crowns, and either Silver or Golden for the big ones will do. Surely easier, and that was the reason I already completed all awards back in 2016. However, there were still some small Gold Crowns that took me quite a while, by clearing some easy peasy villlage quests repetitively, where the preparation and loading part could take longer than the actual hunting part.

After completing all awards back in 2016, I irregularly spent some time with MHX for the remaining Gold Crowns. When I came back towards the end of 2023, there were already not many left. The last part had only 4 monsters, all Deviant ones and I must deal with those Level 10 quests since these are the most efficient ones for Gold Crowns.

I had done similar challenges way too many times, so I knew how to deal with the randomness and frustration. Instead of focusing too much on the main goal, try to add something bonus to distract yourself. In this case, like rare drops, like faster times. With enough patience and perseverance, you will get there eventually.

Since grinding Gold Crowns without cheating is all about effciency, I needed to optimise my builds and strategies. In the end, I chose Bushido Dual Blades with elemental builds. In particular, you can find decent Dual Blades with high elemental damages in all 5 elements. Additionally, there exists Tokka armour set which works perfectly with elemental Dual Blades – broken in damage output and fun to play. With top charms, the following sets are theoretically possible while not that hard to build.

The strategies are simple as well, exactly what you want for repetitive grinding. Learn the moves, spam the special features of Bushido Dual Blades, and clear the quests as quickly as possible. Among the 4 remaining Deviant monsters:

• 紅兜 / Dreadking: Bulky monster with terribly low hit zones, one of those that most hunters are unwilling to fight against. Boring and time-wasting, but low rewards in the end. If quick enough, its Level 10 will hardly involve any 1v2. If not, a fake 1v2 is possible, but 1 of the 2 is original and not dangerous at all. Since this Level 10 requires to kill 2 Deviants, it will surely take longer. And somehow I heard that (probably not very trustworthy), only 1 out of the 2 Deviants is available for big Gold Crowns? That sucks.

• 紫毒姫 / Dreadqueen: Manageable monster with uniquely nasty features. Regarding the clearing time, its Level 10 can be efficient, but meanwhile troublesome. There are 2 of the original form: one from the beginning, and the other will spawn after 5 minutes or when the first gets killed, whichever comes first. Towards the end of grinding, usually I could finish the first one within 3 minutes (dastardly efficient), and then the second joined the fight. However, the Deviant would fly down when the first one disappeared from the area, which means only 1 minute to deal with the second – not enough and then 1v2. Though not very stable, you could use Smokescreens to postpone the 1v2 and quickly finish the second of the original form. If somehow the plan was disturbed, it would take longer. Thanks to the grinding, my final clearing time of this Level 10 was sub 13 minutes. Previously with other builds, I could not even imagine sub 15 minutes at all! Another selling point of grinding, not only the main goal, but as a bonus in the end, you get better as well.

• 黒炎王 / Silverwind: Frustrating monster badly designed for coop. Usually for efficient solo hunting, you need to consider Aerial – high risk high reward. However, its Level 10 also has a Dreadqueen, and Aerial against Dreadqueen is a silly take. If switching to Bushido, Dreadqueen will be smooth as above, but low risk low reward against Silverwind and it will take much longer to finish. I expected this would take the longest time, as the average clearing time of its Level 10 is the longest, but somehow I was lucky enough to get the big Gold Crown after my first attempt towards the end of 2023. Otherwise, who knows?

• 荒鉤爪 / Grimclaw: Dreadful monster with high damage, but fully covered by Bushido Dual Blades. Additionally, its Level 10 hardly involves any 1v1, so overall easy and effcient.