Rune Factory 5 has some unforgiving RNG at times, especially with the item drop rates of certain monsters and bosses. Trying to get a hold of Moving Branches, Null Symbols, and General's Orbs can lead to hours of grinding with little to nothing to show for it. Luckily, knowing how to use the game's crafting system to one's advantage can save players time and frustration.
This guide will provide simple yet detailed instructions on how to use in-game mechanics to increase item drop rates. While some information was sourced from Reddit user u/Lv1ArchmageAlice's guide posted on the r/RuneFactory subreddit, this guide will simplify some explanations. It will also add some important context and go over the details of a few additional tricks, all of which will help players drastically improve their odds of scoring big.
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Rare Cans
While nothing in the in-game description would lead players to believe there is any use for this uncommon trash, Rare Cans are actually a huge benefit when item grinding. Simply upgrade a weapon with a Rare Can, and any monsters struck with that weapon will be more generous with their item drops. According to Reddit users in the comments of u/Lv1ArchmageAlice's guide, this weapon doesn't have to deal the killing blow. The effect doesn't stack with additional upgrades, so don't bother upgrading with multiple Rare Cans, Double Steel or Tenfold Steel.
Bringing a team of townsfolk with Rare Can upgrades applied to their weapons can greatly increase the chances of finding that elusive Scarlet Scale or Crystal Skull. While it might not have as much benefit if monsters are weak enough to be killed in one or two blows, this method works well with tougher enemies and bosses. Rare Cans can be found while fishing, with players reporting that the pond in the Whispering Woods is an especially good spot for farming. Make sure to aim for the shadows of small fish that are the same size as sardines or shrimp.
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Happy Rings
As the Happy Ring's in-game description vaguely states, this item increases a character's luck in finding items. To be more specific, the Happy Ring increases the chances of monsters dropping items. Using the game's Accessory Inheritance mechanic, the effects of a Happy Ring can be applied to any accessory. When crafting an accessory, the effects of any accessories added while crafting will be inherited by that new item, stacking up to three unique effects. This only works with unique effects, so using three Happy Rings won't stack their effects. Stats will be inherited from the first item from the left, so in the picture above, for example, the result would be a pair of Work Gloves with the stats of a Diamond Ring, the effects of a Silent Ring, and the effects of a Happy Ring.
The effects of the Happy Ring can be stacked by bringing along townsfolk equipped with Happy Rings or accessories that have inherited a Happy Ring's effect. With the protagonist and their party members wearing these, monsters will be dropping items far more often. This does mean leaving monster companions at home, but it's worth it for all of that sweet loot.
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Clovers and Giant Clovers
Upgrading once again saves the day. The effects of upgrading weapons with Clovers and their extra-large variant, Giant Clovers, increase the chance of rarer items dropping. Using a Clover and a Giant Clover count as separate items and thus can both provide benefits to item drops when used to upgrade a single item. Much like the Rare Can upgrades, don't bother using multiples of the same items, Double Steel or Tenfold Steel, as they won't provide any additional benefits.
Clovers can be grown as a crop, and Giant Clovers work the same way as any other Giant Crops in the game. Simply plant four Clover seeds in a single square of a crop field's grid and use Giantizer on the soil. Giantizer can be bought from Ludmila at the flower shop or crafted at the Chemistry workbench with Lamp Grass flowers. Use Clovers and Giant Clovers to upgrade the weapons of the player character and their companions and rake in the rarest loot drops in the game with ease.
