Monster Hunter Stories 3 Trade Points Guide: Fast Farming and Emporium Costs
It physically hurts me to watch players blow their hard earned Trade Points on basic potions when permanent stat upgrades are sitting right there in the shop menu.
The economy in Monster Hunter Stories 3 is split into two distinct lanes. You have your standard Zenny for forging gear, and then you have Trade Points. You earn these points passively by existing in the world, doing quests, and picking up glowing rocks. Because the game hands them out so freely in the opening hours, a lot of players treat them like pocket change. They stroll up to the Melynx Emporium, buy a stack of basic herbs because they are too lazy to craft them, and move on.
This is a catastrophic mistake. Trade Points are split into Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers. They are your golden ticket to the actual endgame. The Melynx Emporium holds the keys to permanent stat buffs, exclusive cosmetics, and the incredibly rare tickets required to hunt Elder Dragons. If you squander your points early, you are going to be staring down a massive grind when you actually need them. I am going to walk you through the most efficient ways to farm this currency and exactly what you should be prioritizing when you open that shop window.
How to Farm Trade Points Fast
You cannot rely on a slow trickle of points if you want to buy the top tier inventory. You need to actively target this currency.
The most reliable income stream comes from side quests. Every time you enter a town, you need to talk to every NPC with a marker over their head. These quests usually ask for basic delivery items or require you to kill a specific target out in the wild. Set the quest to active in your menu so a star icon appears on your map, track the target, and secure the kill. A single turned in quest provides a massive chunk of points compared to aimless wandering.
Your second major income stream is gathering. As you explore the map, you will see glowing nodes for ore, bone piles, and plants. Do not walk past them. If you are utilizing your monstie riding actions properly, you can scoop these items up without even breaking your stride.
If you are looking for a dedicated farming route, head straight to the Ashen Pass sub-area. The terrain here is incredibly uneven and layered, which means the developers hid a massive density of high value trade items in the corners and elevated sections. Spend twenty minutes running a loop through this zone while grabbing every bone pile you see, and your Trade Point balance will skyrocket.
The Melynx Emporium: Top 5 Priority Buys
When you finally talk to the Felyne vendor, the inventory list is overwhelming. Ignore the basic consumables. These are the only five things you should be focusing your currency on.
1. Permanent Stat Boosters You will eventually see Vitality, Strength, and Defense Nutrients appear in the shop. Buy them immediately. These items provide a permanent statistical increase to either your Rider or your chosen Monstie. The earlier you apply these buffs, the smoother your entire playthrough will be.
2. Rare Crafting Recipes You cannot craft high tier items without the corresponding books. If you are missing crucial combination recipes for items like Mega Potions, Lifepowders, or Dash Juice, you will find them here. Buy the recipe once and you never have to waste points buying the actual item again.
3. Expedition Tickets These are mandatory for the endgame. If you want to dive into high rank dens to secure Elder Dragons and Deviants, you need Rare and Super Rare Expedition tickets. They cost an absolute fortune, but they are the singular key to top tier egg farming.
4. Unique Layered Armor You cannot forge this gear at the blacksmith. The Emporium stocks exclusive cosmetic outfits that you can slap over your actual armor. If you care about the layered armor system and refuse to look like a mismatched scrap heap, keep a reserve of Gold points ready.
5. Powerful Combat Items While I tell you to avoid basic potions, I highly recommend keeping a small stockpile of Large Barrel Bombs, Surrogate Gems, and Traps. When you run into a boss that is completely wiping the floor with your party, dropping a trap to steal their turn is a tactical lifesaver.
The Complete Emporium Price List
I have categorized the standard shop inventory so you know exactly how many Bronze, Silver, or Gold points you need to farm before you head back to camp. Note that some of the higher tier items are locked behind story progression.
Treat Trade Points like an actual investment. Do not open the shop menu just because you have points burning a hole in your pocket. Check your long term goals, figure out exactly which weapon skills or stat boosters you need to clear the next major hurdle, and horde your currency until you can afford them.
