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Hunting in Ashes of Creation is currently one of the most confusing gathering professions in the game. If you are searching for answers, you are not alone—even experienced players who participated in earlier phases are struggling to understand how hunting is supposed to function right now. The systems have clearly changed, especially when it comes to wolves and deer, and much of the previously accepted knowledge no longer applies.

This guide breaks down what is happening with hunting in the current version of Ashes of Creation, why wolves feel “broken,” and—most importantly—how you can reliably gain hunting experience despite the chaos.

Why Hunting Feels Broken Right Now

The core issue is inconsistency. Players are receiving different results in similar areas, which has led to widespread confusion. In earlier testing phases, killing enough wild animals—particularly wolves—would eventually cause a huntable version to spawn. That logic no longer appears to apply.

You can clear entire fields full of wolves, especially in areas that look like they were designed for hunting, and never see a huntable spawn. Lion Hold is one of the clearest examples: it visually appears to be a prime hunting location, yet huntable wolves simply never show up there.

In Alpha 2, these same locations reliably produced huntable wolves after sufficient kills. That behavior appears to have been removed or heavily restricted.

The Shift to Static Spawns

The biggest change appears to be a move toward static huntable spawns, at least for wolves and deer.

Previously, wolves had an approximate chance (often cited around 6%) to respawn as huntable after being killed. That mechanic now seems largely disabled. Instead, huntable wolves are tied to fixed locations with set respawn timers.

This explains why:

· Killing random wolves no longer works.

· Some players “farm wolves all day” while others never see one.

· Areas that once worked now feel completely dead.

In practice, players who believe wolves are “respawning as huntable” are likely just rotating between static spawn locations without realizing it.

Using Interactive Maps (With Caution)

Interactive tools like Ashes Codex can still be useful—but only if you understand their limitations.

· Static spawn listings with respawn timers appear mostly accurate.

· Listings that show “chance to respawn as huntable” are often outdated.

· Many marked locations no longer function as described.

If a wolf entry shows a respawn time rather than a respawn chance, that is your best indicator that it is a true static huntable spawn. However, do not expect multiple wolves waiting for you at once. These spawns are heavily contested, and you will need to build a route that loops every 15–20 minutes to catch respawns consistently.

How to Actually Get Hunting Experience Early

Given the current state of wolves and deer, early hunting progression depends heavily on Grim and Spiders.

Grim: The Most Reliable Early Option

Grim remain one of the few creatures that still respawn as huntable with reasonable consistency.

Strong Grim areas include:

· South of the Church of the Seven Stars

· East of Samas

· The Crater region (often encountered during commissions between Mirleth and Winstead)

However, once you cross certain rivers or move into less-defined regions, Grim behavior becomes inconsistent again. Location matters far more than raw kill volume.

Spiders: The Best Way to Reach Level 20

If your goal is simply to reach Apprentice Hunting, spiders are currently the most efficient and least frustrating option.

Baineswood Cemetery: The Best Hunting Spot Right Now

Baineswood Cemetery stands out as the single most reliable hunting location in the game for levels 1–20.

Why it works:

· High spider density

· Frequent huntable spider respawns

· Multiple packs, including large groups

· Easy to run laps and reset spawns

If the area is not heavily camped—or you are playing during off-peak hours—you can level hunting almost entirely here. Many players have reached level 11 and beyond without leaving the cemetery.

The downside is popularity. Because viable hunting locations are so limited, Baineswood is often contested. Still, it remains the best option available.

Scroll Usage: Do Not Skip This

You should always use a gathering scroll when hunting, even if you are only killing one animal.

Reasons:

· Scrolls are cheap (typically 2–3 silver).

· Static wolf spawns may allow multiple kills within one scroll duration.

· The experience boost significantly reduces total grind time.

There is no realistic downside to using scrolls while hunting under the current system.

What Happens After Apprentice Hunting

Once you reach Apprentice, the profession becomes dramatically easier.

Key post-Apprentice options include:

· Silk Room Larvae in Baineswood Cemetery (excellent density and respawns)

· Daystriders in desert regions (abundant and easy experience)

· Otters and Bullywogs southwest of Jova

· Tide Snappers along certain beaches

At this stage, competition matters far less because viable targets are far more abundant.

Deer, Horses, and Other Early Targets

Deer have been heavily affected by the static spawn changes. In earlier phases, huntable deer were common at low levels. That is no longer the case. Static deer spawns exist, but they are rare and unreliable for progression.

Horses, however, still offer a small but useful source of experience from levels 1–10. You can incorporate them into wolf routes or simply interact with them naturally as you explore.

The Reality of Wolf Hunting Now

Wolves are no longer a casual, “kill-and-wait” hunting target. They are:

· Static

· Often guarded by higher-level enemies

· Frequently camped

· Sometimes embedded within non-huntable packs

This creates confusion, as a single huntable wolf may be surrounded by normal wolves, leading players to assume it respawned dynamically when it did not.

That said, there are a few high-density static wolf regions that remain viable if uncontested. Many players avoid these areas, assuming they will be camped, which sometimes makes them surprisingly empty—especially during off-hours.

A Hidden Strength: Multi-Gathering Routes

One of the best hunting regions also happens to support:

· Mining

· Herbalism

· Woodcutting

If your goal is simply to reach Apprentice Hunting, you should absolutely gather these resources along the way. The extra experience and silver make the grind far more efficient and reduce downtime.

Final Thoughts: The State of Hunting in Ashes of Creation

At the moment, hunting in Ashes of Creation is defined by three realities:

1. Wolves and deer are largely static

2. Grim and spiders are the reliable early progression path

3. The hardest part is reaching Apprentice—after that, everything opens up

It remains unclear whether this is the developers’ intended long-term design or a temporary phase during testing. No official clarification has been provided regarding wolf respawn behavior, which only adds to the confusion.

Once you push past the early grind, hunting becomes one of the more flexible and rewarding professions in the game. The player can make more Ashes of Creation Gold. That is the current reality of hunting in Ashes of Creation.