Let me tell you something – when I first started playing ARC Raiders, I had no idea how important Great Mullein would become. I mean, it’s just a plant, right? Wrong! After hours of grinding and multiple failed expeditions, I’ve learned that this little green plant with pink-red flowers is actually one of the most valuable resources you can get your hands on. And I’m here to share everything I’ve discovered so you don’t have to make the same mistakes I did.
What Makes Great Mullein So Special?
Great Mullein isn’t just another random plant you’ll find scattered around the maps. This knee-high beauty with its large green leaves and distinctive pink-red flowers is an uncommon item that’s absolutely essential for anyone serious about crafting medical supplies. I learned this the hard way when I kept dying because I couldn’t craft enough healing items.
Here’s what makes Great Mullein so valuable:
- It’s the primary ingredient for crafting Herbal Bandages
- You need it to make Antiseptic (which is crucial for advanced medical supplies)
- It’s required for the Doctor’s Orders quest (more on that later)
- You can recycle it into Assorted Seeds – the currency used by traders
- It sells for a decent 300 units each if you’re looking to make some quick cash
Trust me, once you understand how useful this plant is, you’ll never pass it by again.
Best Locations to Farm Great Mullein
After countless expeditions across all four maps, I’ve discovered that some locations are significantly better than others for finding Great Mullein. Let me break down my top farming spots based on personal experience.
Dam Battlegrounds: The Gold Standard
If I had to pick just one map to farm Great Mullein, it would be Dam Battlegrounds every single time. This map has consistently given me the best results, and I’ve rarely left empty-handed.
Red Lakes under the Testing Annex This is, without a doubt, my favorite spot for Great Mullein farming. Every time I visit this area, I find at least 3-4 plants growing around the water’s edge. The best part? The Testing Annex itself has a water-filled room on the first floor that usually contains 3-4 additional Great Mullein plants. I’ve made this my go-to starting point for any expedition where I need medical supplies.
Swamp Biome around the Hydroponic Dome Complex The second prime location in Dam Battlegrounds is the swamp area near the Hydroponic Dome Complex. This area is absolutely loaded with Great Mullein, and I’ve found up to 6-7 plants in a single run through this zone. Plus, you’ll often find Moss and other herbal items here, making it a double win for your medical supply runs.
Buried City: High Risk, High Reward
Now, I’ll be honest with you – the Buried City is more dangerous than Dam Battlegrounds. You’ve got more ARC enemies to deal with, and it’s a hot spot for PVP encounters. But if you’re confident in your combat skills, the rewards are definitely worth it.
The Galleria This is my absolute favorite spot in the Buried City for Great Mullein farming. The first floor of the Galleria has several planters, and each one typically contains 3 Great Mullein plants. If they haven’t been picked by other players, you can walk away with around 15 plants from this area alone. I’ve completed entire medical supply runs just from what I found in the Galleria.
Hospital Area While you’re in the Buried City, make sure to hit up the Hospital. Not only will you find Great Mullein here, but you’ll also have access to high-value medical loot containers that might contain the other items you need for the Doctor’s Orders quest. I’ve managed to complete entire quests in a single run by starting at the Galleria and then moving to the Hospital.
The Blue Gate: For the Adventurous
Look, I’m not gonna lie – The Blue Gate isn’t my first choice for Great Mullein farming. The plants here spawn in smaller groups (usually 1-2 at a time), and the map can be pretty challenging. But if you’re looking for a change of scenery or the other maps are getting crowded, you can still find decent amounts here.
Best Spots in The Blue Gate:
- Forested regions around the Ruined Homestead
- Checkpoint areas
- Highway Collapse zone
- Forest Airshaft location
- Trapper’s Glade
These areas tend to have consistent spawns, even if they’re not as abundant as what you’ll find in Dam Battlegrounds or Buried City.
Complete Location Reference Table
To make things easier for you, I’ve put together this comprehensive table of all the Great Mullein locations I’ve discovered. I use this myself when planning my expeditions!
| Map | Primary Location | Secondary Locations | Estimated Plants Per Run | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dam Battlegrounds | Red Lakes under Testing Annex | Swamp near Hydroponic Dome Complex | 8-12 | Low-Medium |
| Buried City | Galleria (first floor planters) | Hospital, Pharmacy at Piazza Arbusto | 12-18 | High |
| The Blue Gate | Forested regions | Checkpoint, Highway Collapse, Forest Airshaft | 4-8 | Medium-High |
| Spaceport | Arrival Building (second floor) | Departure Building (second floor) | 3-6 | Low |
Crafting with Great Mullein: What You Can Make
One of the reasons I love Great Mullein so much is its versatility in crafting. I’ve spent countless hours at my workbench experimenting with different recipes, and let me tell you, this plant is the backbone of any serious medical supply operation.
Herbal Bandages
This is probably the most common use for Great Mullein, and for good reason. Herbal Bandages have saved my life more times than I can count. There are actually two ways to craft them:
Medical Lab Level 2 Recipe:
- 1x Durable Cloth
- 1x Great Mullein
- Result: 1x Herbal Bandage
Inventory Crafting Recipe:
- 14x Fabric
- 1x Great Mullein
- Result: 1x Herbal Bandage
I personally prefer the Medical Lab recipe since it’s more resource-efficient, but if you’re out in the field and need to craft quickly, the inventory recipe works in a pinch.
Antiseptic
Antiseptic is another crucial medical supply that requires Great Mullein. You’ll need this for advanced healing items and certain quests. To craft Antiseptic, you’ll need:
Refiner Level 2 Recipe:
- 10x Chemicals
- 2x Great Mullein
- Result: 1x Antiseptic
This recipe might seem resource-intensive, but trust me, having Antiseptic on hand can make the difference between life and death during tough expeditions.
Recycling and Trading: Getting More Value
I’ve learned that sometimes you’ll have more Great Mullein than you know what to do with. When that happens, you have a couple of options to get even more value out of your haul.
Recycling into Assorted Seeds
This is my go-to method when I’m overflowing with Great Mullein. Recycling is simple:
- 1x Great Mullein → 4x Assorted Seeds
Assorted Seeds are the currency used by traders, particularly Celeste, so having a good stockpile is always beneficial. I’ve found that recycling excess Great Mullein is one of the most reliable ways to keep my seed supply topped up.
Salvaging
If you’re in a hurry or just need seeds quickly, you can salvage Great Mullein instead:
- 1x Great Mullein → 1x Assorted Seed
While this gives you fewer seeds than recycling, it’s faster and can be done on the go. I typically only use this option when I’m desperate for seeds and don’t have time to visit a proper recycling station.
Buying Great Mullein from Celeste
Sometimes you just can’t be bothered to go out and farm Great Mullein yourself. I get it – some days you just want to stay in the relative safety of Speranza and focus on other tasks. That’s where Celeste comes in.
Celeste always keeps 10 Great Mullein in stock, and she’ll sell you one for just 5 Assorted Seeds. While this might seem expensive compared to farming them yourself, there are times when it’s absolutely worth it:
- When you’re trying to complete the Doctor’s Orders quest and just need one more
- When you’re low on health and need to craft medical supplies immediately
- When you’re trying to level up your Medical Lab and need bulk materials
I’ve bought from Celeste more times than I’d like to admit, and it’s always been worth it when I was in a tight spot.
The Doctor’s Orders Quest: Why You Need Great Mullein
Let me tell you about the Doctor’s Orders quest – this is where Great Mullein really proves its worth. Lance, the medical expert in Speranza, needs help restocking medical supplies, and he’s willing to reward you handsomely if you can help him out.
Quest Requirements
To complete Doctor’s Orders, you’ll need to collect:
- 2x Antiseptic
- 1x Syringe
- 1x Durable Cloth
- 1x Great Mullein
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “That’s not much Great Mullein for a quest!” But here’s the thing: you need Great Mullein to craft the Antiseptic, so you’ll actually need at least 3 Great Mullein total to complete this quest (2 for Antiseptic + 1 for the quest itself).
Best Strategy for Completing Doctor’s Orders
After completing this quest multiple times, I’ve developed a strategy that works almost every time:
- Start in Dam Battlegrounds – It’s safer and has reliable Great Mullein spawns
- Hit the Red Lakes area first – Grab your Great Mullein here
- Move to the Testing Annex – Look for medical supplies and additional Great Mullein
- Check Raider outposts – These sometimes have medical loot
- Extract and repeat if necessary – Use your Safe Pocket for rare items
If you prefer the Buried City route (and you’re feeling brave), here’s my alternative strategy:
- Start at the Galleria – Load up on Great Mullein from the planters
- Head to the Hospital – This is your best bet for finding Syringes and Durable Cloth
- Check the Pharmacies – Both Piazza Arbusto and Piazza Rosa have medical supplies
- Visit the Research Building – Sometimes has additional medical loot
Quest Rewards
Completing Doctor’s Orders is definitely worth the effort. Here’s what you’ll get:
- 3x Adrenaline Shot
- 3x Sterilized Bandage
- 1x Surge Shield Recharger
These rewards have saved my life countless times, and the Surge Shield Recharger is particularly valuable for longer expeditions.
Pro Tips for Great Mullein Farming
I’ve spent way too much time farming Great Mullein, and I’ve picked up some tricks that I wish I’d known from the beginning. Let me share these with you so you can avoid the mistakes I made.
Tip #1: Know What You’re Looking For
Great Mullein is a knee-high plant with large green leaves and pink-red flowers on top. It’s distinctive once you know what to look for, but when I first started, I kept confusing it with other plants. Now I can spot it from a mile away.
Tip #2: Focus on Nature-Tagged Areas
Any location with the “Nature” tag has a chance to spawn Great Mullein. I’ve found that these areas consistently have better spawn rates than other locations. When I’m planning a farming run, I always check the map tags first.
Tip #3: Water is Your Friend
Great Mullein loves water. I’ve found the most plants near bodies of water, in swampy areas, or in indoor locations with water features. If you see water, there’s a good chance Great Mullein is nearby.
Tip #4: Check Potted Plants Indoors
Don’t just focus on outdoor plants! I’ve found plenty of Great Mullein growing as potted plants inside ruined houses and buildings. The Galleria in Buried City is a perfect example of this – those indoor planters are gold mines.
Tip #5: Use Your Safe Pocket Wisely
When you’re on a Great Mullein farming run, make sure to use your Safe Pocket for the rarest items first. I always put my Great Mullein in my Safe Pocket as soon as I find it, especially if I’m on a quest that requires it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I’ve made plenty of mistakes while farming Great Mullein, and I want to help you avoid them. Here are the biggest mistakes I see players making:
Mistake #1: Ignoring the Blue Gate
Look, I know I said The Blue Gate isn’t the best map for Great Mullein farming, but that doesn’t mean it’s useless. I’ve seen too many players completely ignore this map, which means the plants there are often untouched. If you’re willing to take the risk, you can find some nice hauls here.
Mistake #2: Not Checking All Spawn Points
Great Mullein has multiple spawn points in each area, but they don’t all spawn at the same time. I’ve learned to thoroughly check each area, even if I’ve already found some plants. Sometimes the best spawns are hidden in corners you might miss.
Mistake #3: Forgetting About Celeste
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve struggled to find Great Mullein, only to remember that Celeste sells it. Don’t be like me – keep Celeste in mind as a backup option when you’re in a bind.
Mistake #4: Hoarding Too Much
It’s tempting to hoard Great Mullein “just in case,” but I’ve learned that this can actually hurt your progress. If you have more than you need, recycle it into Assorted Seeds. You can always buy more from Celeste if you run low.
Advanced Strategies for Efficient Farming
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you might want to step up your Great Mullein farming game. Here are some advanced strategies I’ve developed:
Strategy #1: The Loop Method
This is my personal favorite for efficient farming. I start at the Red Lakes in Dam Battlegrounds, move to the Testing Annex, then loop around to the swamp area near the Hydroponic Dome Complex. By the time I complete this loop, the spawn points at the Red Lakes have usually respawned, allowing me to do multiple circuits in a single expedition.
Strategy #2: The Quick Hit
Sometimes I don’t have time for a full farming run. When that happens, I do a quick hit on the Galleria in Buried City. I can usually grab 10-15 Great Mullein in under 10 minutes if I focus exclusively on the planters on the first floor. It’s not as comprehensive as a full run, but it’s great when I’m short on time.
Strategy #3: The Team Approach
If you’re playing with friends, coordinate your farming efforts. Have one person focus on the Galleria while another hits the Hospital. You can cover more ground this way and share the resources when you extract. I’ve found this to be incredibly efficient for completing quests quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How rare is Great Mullein?
Great Mullein is classified as uncommon, which means it’s not super rare but you won’t find it everywhere either. In my experience, I can usually find 8-12 plants per expedition in the right locations.
Can I grow Great Mullein myself?
Unfortunately, no. Great Mullein can only be found in the wild or purchased from Celeste. I wish I could grow it myself – that would make things so much easier!
What’s the best map for beginners?
If you’re new to ARC Raiders, I’d recommend starting with Dam Battlegrounds. It’s relatively safe, has consistent Great Mullein spawns, and you can get familiar with the plant without too much danger.
How many Great Mullein should I keep in storage?
I like to keep at least 20-30 Great Mullein in storage at all times. This gives me enough for crafting, quest requirements, and a little buffer for emergencies.
Is it worth buying Great Mullein from Celeste?
It depends on your situation. If you’re desperate and have plenty of Assorted Seeds, absolutely. If you’re low on seeds, it’s probably better to farm it yourself.
Final Thoughts
Great Mullein has become one of my most important resources in ARC Raiders, and I hope this guide helps you understand why. Whether you’re crafting medical supplies, completing quests, or just building up your seed supply, this versatile plant is essential for any serious player.
Remember, the key to successful Great Mullein farming is knowing where to look and being thorough in your searches. Don’t get discouraged if you have a bad run – we all do sometimes. Just keep at it, and soon you’ll have more Great Mullein than you know what to do with.
If you found this guide helpful, make sure to bookmark it for future reference. I’ll be updating it regularly as I discover new locations and strategies. And if you’re looking for more ARC Raiders guides, be sure to check out our other gaming content – we’ve got everything from beginner tips to advanced strategies for all your favorite games.
Happy farming, and I’ll see you topside!
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