The “Better Than A Scarecrow” sidequest in Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom is one of those small, cozy quests that quietly rewards you with useful kingdom development and a nice bit of flavor. It is all about protecting crops and proving that a real person can be more useful than a simple scarecrow. If you are trying to 100% your sidequests or recruit as many people as possible for Evermore, you will definitely want to clear this one.
This guide walks you through how to start “Better Than A Scarecrow,” what you need to do to complete each step, and how to make the most of the rewards.
How to Start “Better Than A Scarecrow”
You will usually find “Better Than A Scarecrow” available once you have made some progress in the main story and started developing Evermore and its surrounding areas. The quest appears as a standard sidequest with a familiar blue exclamation mark above the NPC’s head.
You typically start this quest by talking to a worried farmer who is frustrated that monsters keep harassing the fields. The basic setup is:
- The farmer complains that a scarecrow can only do so much.
- They want proof that a person with some fighting spirit is better than a scarecrow at protecting the crops.
- You agree to help by dealing with the monsters and/or gathering what they need to improve field protection.
If you are unsure where to find the quest, make sure you:
- Check your map for blue exclamation marks.
- Look near farming or field areas, often in or near a settlement that relies on crops.
- Open the Quest menu and scroll the available quests list to see if “Better Than A Scarecrow” is already listed but not tracked.
Once you accept it, set “Better Than A Scarecrow” as your active quest so you can follow the objective marker easily.
Recommended Level and Preparation
“Better Than A Scarecrow” is not one of the hardest sidequests in the game, but it does involve fighting monsters that are a bit tougher than regular trash mobs around the fields. To make it smoother:
- Aim to tackle it around the level suggested in the quest description in your menu. It is usually in the range of mid-game levels, where you already have multiple party members and some Higgledies unlocked.
- Make sure you have healing items and at least one party member with healing skills or supportive Higgledies.
- Upgrade your weapons and armor at the relevant facilities when possible so the fights around the fields do not drag out.
Going in slightly overleveled will make this feel like a quick, satisfying cleanup rather than a struggle.
Step 1: Talk to the Worried Farmer
After accepting “Better Than A Scarecrow,” talk to the quest giver again to hear the full story. Pay attention to the dialogue, because it usually explains:
- Which part of the fields is being attacked.
- What kind of creatures are causing trouble.
- Whether you just need to defeat monsters, or also bring back specific materials.
Your quest log will clearly list the objectives, so after the conversation, open your Quest menu and read the “Better Than A Scarecrow” entry. This is important because the quest text will show the exact enemy type names and the required items, even if you forget the NPC’s explanation.
Step 2: Head to the Fields and Defeat the Monsters
The first major task in “Better Than A Scarecrow” is usually to wipe out monsters that are harassing the fields. Follow the quest marker on your world map to the designated location. You will typically find:
- A group of monsters clustered close to the farm area or just outside it.
- Enemies that might be slightly higher level than the surrounding random encounters.
When you engage them, treat it like a mini-field boss encounter. Some general combat tips:
- Use ranged skills to tag enemies early and break up groups when possible. Spells or ranged weapon users are very handy here.
- Keep an eye on elemental weaknesses. Many creatures around fields and plains are weak to specific elements, so swapping to the right weapon type or ability can speed up the fight.
- Make use of Higgledies. Higgledy buffs, especially damage boosts or healing circles, can trivialize what would otherwise be a drawn-out brawl.
- Dodge and guard consistently if the monsters have big windup attacks. Ni No Kuni 2 is very generous with invincibility frames if you roll at the right time.
Once you defeat the required monster group, you will see a quest update notification indicating that the threat is reduced.
Step 3: Collect Materials for a Better Scarecrow (If Required)
Depending on how the quest is framed in your game, the farmer might also want to reinforce their protection by making a better scarecrow, or by enhancing the field in some way. This often requires you to gather certain items such as:
- Plant fibers or straw-like materials from enemies.
- Monster drops that represent “scary” or “menacing” attributes, used to make a scarecrow that monsters will not ignore.
- Common field materials that you can harvest from sparkly gathering points near plains and fields.
Again, check your quest log to see the exact materials and amounts. When you know what you need:
- Look at the item description in your inventory to see where it commonly drops.
- Fight monsters in the area that match the enemy name mentioned in the quest hint.
- Run through nearby gathering spots on the overworld that match the type of resource you are looking for.
If you already have the items from earlier adventuring, the objective will often complete immediately once you defeat the monsters, and you can just head back to the quest giver.
Step 4: Return to the Farmer and Prove You Are Better Than a Scarecrow
When you have cleared the monsters and collected any required materials, follow the quest marker back to the farmer who gave you “Better Than A Scarecrow.”
Talk to them and they will:
- React to the fact that the monsters are gone.
- Comment on the new scarecrow or improvements to the field, if you brought materials.
- Admit that a dedicated person can indeed do more than a lifeless scarecrow.
During this conversation, you will usually see the character gain new confidence or express a desire to help protect the crops from now on. In some cases, this quest can be directly tied to recruitment or Evermore development, so read all the dialogue before skipping through.
Once the conversation ends, you will see the sidequest completion screen and receive your rewards.
Rewards for “Better Than A Scarecrow”
The exact rewards can vary slightly between sidequests, but “Better Than A Scarecrow” typically gives you a combination of:
- Experience points for your party.
- Money that helps with gear upgrades and item restocking.
- Items such as equipment or useful materials.
- In some quest chains, progress toward recruiting or strengthening someone connected to farming or field work, which improves Evermore’s productivity.
What really makes this quest worth it is not just the raw items, but how it can connect to your broader kingdom-building efforts. Any quest that boosts your ability to produce food and resources is valuable long term.
Tips to Make “Better Than A Scarecrow” Easier
If you want to knock out this quest with minimal hassle, keep these strategies in mind:
- Track the quest in your menu. With “Better Than A Scarecrow” highlighted as your active quest, you will always have a marker showing you exactly where to go.
- Clear nearby enemies along the way. Doing a quick sweep of monsters in the area not only gets you closer to the recommended level but might also provide the materials you need without extra grinding.
- Use trip doors for fast travel. If the fields are a bit of a walk from your current location, fast travel to the nearest trip door instead of running across the whole map.
- Check your drops before grinding more. You might already have the necessary items in your inventory from earlier exploration, so always check before you farm additional monsters.
Completing “Better Than A Scarecrow” is one of those satisfying little steps that makes Evermore, and the world around it, feel more alive and protected. It gives you a bit of combat, a bit of gathering, and a nice story about determination and usefulness, all wrapped into a short and manageable sidequest.