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By undertaking Hunts in Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent, you can earn rare materials used to class-up your travelers and forge new gear. Expert Hunts are more difficult versions of these Hunts that involve challenging harder foes for better rewards.
Unlocking Expert Hunts is a lengthy process that can involve some tiresome hide-and-seeking. Let's take a look at what Expert Hunts are, and how to unlock them in all eight major cities.
Updated November 1, 2022: Expert Hunts are now available in Cragspear, Sunshade, Clearbrook, and Shepherds Rock. We've updated this guide with the locations of the Expert Hunt medals in each of these towns.
What Are Expert Hunts?
Expert Hunts are more difficult versions of regular Hunts. Like normal Hunts, you will have to fight a series of Elite enemies before challenging the boss, although in Expert Hunts, there won't be a blue bonfire before the boss that you can heal at.
Instead, to heal before the final boss in Expert Hunts, you can stall at the guaranteed Cait spawn. Save the Cait Elite enemy for last, then only use normal attacks to regenerate your back row's health and SP, then switch rows and repeat the process. Be sure not to boost your attacks, or you will kill the Cait too quickly.
Expert Hunts also have higher Influence thresholds for earning rewards, at 0, 400, and 600, compared to normal Hunts' 0, 300, and 500. Although Expert Hunts are more difficult, the chance to obtain Job-specific, Sacred, and normal Seals remain the same as in regular Hunts.
To enter an Expert Hunt, you will need to spend an Expert Hunt Ticket, which are generated once per day. These tickets are separate from the normal Hunt tickets, meaning you can undertake both a normal and Expert Hunt once per day.
How To Unlock Expert Hunts
To unlock Expert Hunts, you will need to complete a quest in the region of the Hunt you wish to unlock. These quests can be accepted by first completing the normal Hunt version in the region. For example, to start the Valore Expert Hunts quest, you will need to finish the normal Hunt 'Defeat the Great Forest Rat' in the Woodlands Region.
Upon accepting the quest, you will then need to seek out five NPCs in the area and use Path Actions to acquire town Medals. Once you have all five, return to the Hunts NPC at the Inn to complete the quest and unlock Expert Hunts for that region.
Emberglow Expert Hunt Medal Locations
Woman Knowledgeable Of Valore
Found in main Emberglow, in the right house of the two houses above the Smithy. You can Purchase this Medal for 9,200 Leaves.
Girl's Caretaker
Found in main Emberglow, in the second house on the path to the right of the road north to the Ceremonial Square. The Medal can be obtained by Contending with this level 45 NPC.
Woman Who Is Stern To Strangers
Found in Emberglow: East District, near the entrance to this area. This Medal can be obtained through a level 35 Contend with the Stern Woman.
Gossipy Woman
Found in Emberglow: East District, in the house to the left of the path that goes north to Emberglow Slopes. The Medal is earned through a level 37 Contend Path Action.
Man Who Knows The Dangers Of Snow
Found in Emberglow: East District, standing just outside the house of the Gossipy Woman. The Medal can be Entreated from this NPC.
Theatropolis Expert Hunt Medal Locations
Novel-Reading Librarian
Found in Theatropolis, in the bottom library on the path left of the square. Entreat the Librarian to earn this Medal.
Bibliophile Cleric
Found in Theatropolis, in the same library as the Novel-Reading Librarian. This Medal can be earned by entreating the Bibliophile Cleric.
Theatre Receptionist
Found in Amphitheatre: Entrance, behind the front desk. This Medal can be purchased for 15,500 Leaves.
Grounded Aristocrat
Found in Amphitheatre: Entrance, on the second floor just past the stairs on the left. This Medal can be earned by Contending with this level 51 NPC.
Starry-Eyed Theatregoer
Found in Amphitheatre: Entrance, in the balcony area of the second floor. Entreat this NPC to earn the final Theatropolis Medal.
Valore Expert Hunt Medal Locations
Anxious Mother
Found in Valore, in the house just before the entrance to the Main Boulevard. This Medal can be purchased from the Anxious Mother for 10,900 Leaves.
Veteran Hunter
Found in Valore: Main Boulevard, in front of a stall to the left of the square. Contend with this level 50 NPC to earnt the Medal.
Main Street Bartender
Found in Valore: Main Boulevard, in the bar to the left of the Veteran Hunter. This Medal can be earned by defeating the level 47 Bartender through Contend.
Anxious Priest
Found in Valore: Main Boulevard, in the church at the top of the area. Entreat this NPC to earn the Valore Medal.
Indomitable Dancer
Found in Valore: Main Boulevard, to the left of the church where the Anxious Priest is. This Medal can be purchased from the Dancer for 11,400 Leaves.
Rippletide Expert Hunt Medal Locations
Tony's Mother
Found in Rippletide, to the left of the inn. This Medal is earned by Contending with Tony's Mother, who is level 51.
Elderly Woman From A Distant Land
Found in Rippletide, to the left of Tony's Mother. Entreat the Elderly Woman to obtain this Rippletide Medal.
Tony
Found in Rippletide, just in front of the bar. This Medal is earned through the Entreat Path Action.
Marina
Found in Rippletide, in the second house to the right of the smithy. You can purchase this Medal for 23,000 Leaves.
Sailor Turned Merchant
Found in Rippletide, at the north end of the docks. The final Rippletide Medal can be purchased from this merchant for 23,000 Leaves.
Cragspear Expert Hunt Medal Locations
Capital Guard
Found to the left of the Inn. Contend with the Capital Guard to earn the first Cragspear medal.
Distantly-related Noble
Found in the house down the path to the right of the Inn. Purchase this medal from the Distantly-related Noble.
Brigand Boss
Found near the top of the right-most path in Cragspear. Entreat this NPC to earn the third medal.
Resentful Scholar
Found just after entering the North Edoras Gate area in Cragspear. Contend with this NPC to earn this medal.
Castle Gate Guard
Found to the right of the Resentful Scholar in North Edoras Gate. This medal can be acquired by Entreating the Castle Gate Guard.
Sunshade Expert Hunt Medal Locations
Melancholic Woman
Found outside the first house down the path to the right. Entreat the Melancholic Woman to receive your first Sunshade medal.
Troubled Merchant of Means
Found in the furthest house to the right in Sunshade. This medal can be Purchased for 40,200 Leaves.
Soldier from the North
This NPC is standing right outside the entrance to the Sunshade tavern. Contend with the Soldier to earn this medal.
Brave Tavern Maid
This NPC can be found immediately to the right of the entrance to the Sunshade tavern. Contend with the Brave Tavern Maid to earn this medal.
Working Dancer
Found in the center of the Sunshade tavern. This medal can be Purchased from the Working Dancer for 38,300 Leaves.
Clearbrook Expert Hunt Medal Locations
Zeph the Apothecary
Found in the house directly to the right of the smithy. Contend with Zeph to earn your first Clearbrook medal.
Gertas
Found outside the smithy in Clearbrook. Entreat Gertas to get this medal.
Loving Grandfather
Found in the left-most house in Clearbrook. Entreat the old man on the left inside to get this medal.
Angler
This NPC can be found on the dock. Purchase the third medal from the Angler for 35,200 Leaves.
Regular Patron
Found inside the tavern in Clearbrook. Purchase this medal for 30,200 Leaves.
Shepherds Rock Expert Hunt Medal Locations
Tireless Soldier
Found near the top left of Shepherds Rock. Contend with this NPC to earn their medal.
Stern-looking Carpenter
Found to the left of the main path in Shepherds Rock. This medal can be obtained by entreating the Carpenter.
Former Vassal of Hornburg
Found in the top right-most house in Shepherds Rock: Castle Square. Purchase this medal from the Former Vassal of Hornburg.
Nimble Carpenter
The Nimble Carpenter is found in front of the house to the right of the fountain in Shepherds Rock: Castle Square. This medal can be Purchased from this NPC.
Mysterious Dancer
Found in the tavern in Shepherds Rock: Castle Square. Contend with this NPC to earn the final medal for Shepherds Rock.