Tracking is a new open world activity that sends you and your group out into the open world to pursue rare creatures.
[h3]Tracking 101[/h3]
To begin Tracking, you’ll first need to unlock the Trainee Tracker node on the Destiny Board, which you can do by getting a small amount of PvE fame. This will allow you to use T3 tracking toolkits. These can either be crafted at a Toolmaker, or purchased directly from the Marketplace.
There are a total of seven types of creatures that you can encounter, each coming in a small version for 1-3 players, and a larger version for 4-8 players. Hunting in a party bigger than these designated sizes is not possible.
[h3]Starting the Hunt[/h3]
To initiate the hunt, you will first need to enter a red or black zone. You can then use the Tracking Toolkit either by clicking on it in your inventory, or with a hotkey (default: U).
This will reveal any readable tracks in your vicinity. A T3 tool can reveal Panthers, Sylvians, and Spirit Bears, with each tier after that adding one more type of creature. Higher tier Toolkits also increase the radius in which you can discover new tracks. Go to one of the tracks you have revealed and interact with it to start the hunt.
Now you will be directed to a specific area to search for further clues. This can be within the same map, but could also lead you to a neighboring zone. Search the marked area, and you will either discover tracks or the creature itself.
[h3]Finding and Interacting with Tracks[/h3]
When you find your target’s tracks, you will need to interact with them in order to progress the hunt. The tracks will be surrounded by a small circle and may have some mobs around them protecting it. You’ll first need to clear these mobs before you can interact with the track.
[h3]Engaging the Target[/h3]
If you find the target itself you will need to fight it in order to progress. You may not be able to kill it on your first encounter, as the creature may flee after receiving a certain amount of damage, after a time limit has been reached, or if too many players are nearby.
But don’t worry, any damage you’ve dealt to it will carry over to the next encounter. If you end up killing the target it will drop various items, ranging from rare ingredients that can be used to craft potions, to powerful artifacts which are necessary to craft the new Shapeshifter Weapons.
[h3]Rewards[/h3]
Any step of the hunt after its initiation will award Tracking Fame to you and your party members if you have a Tracking Toolkit in your inventory. Tracking Fame progresses the Seasoned Tracker node on the Destiny Board and its related specializations. This allows you to use better Tracking Toolkits and hunt more efficiently.
Each creature can drop new items which can be used for crafting and enchanting:
- Animal remains: Enchanting Potions
- Rare Ingredients: New Potions and Shapeshifter Weapons
- Artifacts: Artifact Shapeshifter Weapons
Note: for the first few months after the Wild Blood launch, more tracks will spawn for small groups. These additional tracks will drop Black Market loot instead of rare ingredients and artifacts.
[h3]Different Tiers of Tracking Toolkits and Specialization[/h3]
Unlocking and using better Tracking Toolkits has many advantages. Not only does it allow you to track higher rarity creatures, it also rewards more Fame, speeds up interactions with tracks, and increases the search radius in which you can find new tracks.
Here’s an overview of the types of creatures that can be found and interacted with, as well as the Fame bonus you receive, depending on the tier of your toolkit.
Tracking Toolkit
Creature Unlocked
Bonus Fame
T3
Panthers
Sylvians
Spirit Bears
-
In addition to better Toolkits, you can also increase your specialization in tracking each type of creature. This will further boost your Tracking Efficiency as well as increasing your chances of encountering your target at each stage rather than another track.
[h3]Tracking in a Party[/h3]
The size of your party matters. Not only does each creature come in two different difficulty levels offering different rewards, there’s also a benefit to hunting a rare creature that you may not be able to track down yourself yet.
- Small creatures for 1-3 players are easier to kill but offer lower rewards when killed. The Tracking Fame given is the same no matter whether you’re solo or in a group, but rewards will be shared between all party members.
- Large creatures for 4-8 players are much harder to kill and offer a higher chance of rare ingredient and artifact drops.
Additionally, the more party members interact with a track, the faster the interaction will channel. During this process, the interaction speed bonuses of each member are added together.
When starting a new hunt, you want the member with the highest specialization to interact with the track, as it will use their specialization levels for the entire hunt. Even if you don’t interact with a track, as long as you’re carrying a Tracking Toolkit you will earn Tracking Fame and progress your Destiny Board.
