Items and their uses in Monster Rancher 3
Items in Monster Rancher 3 are extremely vague and confusing in what they do. To make matters worse, unlike previous Monster Rancher games there isn't any conclusive information online about the items and what they do. Trust me, I have searched and read for hours upon hours about items in this game and I have compiled all the information I have learned on this page.
According to all I have read online there are no items in this game which will increase your monster's lifespan like there were in the previous games. In addition to this, and to make matters worse; there is no obvious consumable stress relief or fatigue diminishing items. All you have are the Aroma Pot, Holy Goblet and Beaming Rock which are passive items that reduce your fatigue/stress and while they're expensive you can definitely notice the difference when you have them.
The majority of items in Monster Rancher 3 have almost no discernible use, Monster Nip is one that comes to mind which appears virtually useless as does Nitro Juice, Pretty Flower and Spiced Cookie. I spend a few hours testing each item myself and I document my results below, if I even had any. In addition to this, I have also contributed any notes I found valid from Monster Rancher Metropolis and Gamefaq. There is barely any info on Gamefaq about items but there's a lot of people who experimented and posted their results on MR Metropolis. I did the research so you wouldn't have to but if you'd like to check my source have at it.
Aroma Pot
Description: Relaxes the spirit and body with its strange scent, allowing peaceful sleep.
While there's no concrete information online about what this item actually does, based on everything I have read the universal opinion seems to be that it causes Rest to take off more fatigue/stress than it would otherwise.
Beaming Rock
Description: Its beautiful brightness calms the heart of a monster.
Much like the Aroma Pot there's also no 100% confirmed information about this item online, just anecdotal evidence. Based on what I have read and my personal experience this item reduces the amount of stress and fatigue your monster accumulates.
I noticed that once I had the Aroma Pot, Beaming Rock and Holy Goblet my monster could run a Hard Drill three days in a row before it got tired and never again did my monster ever get stressed out. Undoubtedly there's a great benefit from these items it's just hard to articulate exactly what each one does without being able to see any numbers.
Bitter Garlic
Description: Vegetable hated by monsters because of its extreme bitterness.
Rumored to be like the Charred Snake from Monster Rancher 2; for those who didn't play MR2, it made your Monster more obedient by giving him this item. In other words, if your monster's behaviour towards you becomes lenient then feed this to him and you'll make him like you less.
Black Pearl
Description: Rare black pearl. Famous item from the Goat region.
This item is said to be the closest thing in Monster Rancher 3 to Mint Leaf from Monster Rancher 2. For those of you who don't know, Mint Leaf was the only item for lowering a Monster's stress in MR2. Out of all the items in this game, this is one of the only items which is almost universally agreed that it decreases a monster's stress from what I have seen on the internet.
Coral
Description: Colorful coral used to make fashion accessories.
According to everything I have read on the Internet, Coral is another one of the items in Monster Rancher 3 that reduces a monster's Stress and Fatigue levels. I personally have not been able to get enough Coral at one time to test this theory but I have read reports from more than one person who claims to have tested it and they all said it works.
Diet Grass
Description: Grass that will make the monster lose weight by breaking down excess fat.
Much like the item's description suggests, giving your monster diet grass will help it lose some weight. If your monster is really overweight it'll take multiple feedings to drop its size. In Monster Rancher 2 this item was called Powder. No monster that I have found ever liked Diet Grass, they usually all hate being fed it and like you less for doing so.
I prefer this item when trying to make my monster more obedient as well as making him skinnier. Monsters really get fat quickly in Monster Rancher 3 in my experience so you'll probably be feeding your monster a few of these throughout their lifetime.
Energy Ball
Description: Medicine that cures many diseases.
This item is different/weaker version of the Large Egg item; it is also sold by Mucchi unlike the Large Egg. Depending on the illness or negative affect your monster has will determine which of the two items you'll need to use to cure it, the Energy Ball or the Large Egg. I say that this item is weaker because it cures less ailments in total - however it does cure different ailments which is why both items are neccessary.
Energy Balls cure the following ailments:
Arthritis
Cold
Cold Limbs
Dry Skin
Easily Tired
Hay Fever
Migrain
Sleepless
Split Ends
Gassy Potato
Description: The great amount of fiber contained, balances the monster's nutrition.
Giving this to your monster will change the Nutrition values that they get from the different foods you feed it at the start of each month.
Holy Goblet
Description: Drinking water from this goblet will reduce the monster's tiredness greatly.
I noticed that once I had the Aroma Pot, Beaming Rock and Holy Goblet my monster could run a Hard Drill three days in a row before it got tired and never again did my monster ever get stressed out. Undoubtedly there's a great benefit from these items it's just hard to articulate exactly what each one does without being able to see any numbers.
Honey Candy
Description: Candy made by condensing honey and sugar.
This item is a tasty treat that you can give to your monster as a way to reward it. Giving this to your monster will both make it like you more as well as increase the body weight of it. As far as I know this candy doesn't affect Fatigue or Stress levels in any way.
Large Egg
Description: Food with lots of nutrition. Makes the body healthy.
This item is typically found while you're on an adventure at the start of a new season. It's also sometimes rewarded to you as a prize for winning a tournament. When you feed it to a monster it'll cure specific negative effects on them, take a look at the list below if you want to know which ones it cures. To the best of my knowledge it has no other effects.
Large Egg cures the following ailments:
Arthritis
Cold
Cold Limbs
Dry Skin
Easily Tired
Hay Fever
Nearsighted
Sleepless
Split Ends
Stinky Feet
Thirsty
Tires Easily
Weak vs Heat
Weak vs Ltnd
Weak vs Magic
Weak vs Water
Moak Soup
Description: Soup made by simmering various types of mushrooms. Adjusts nutritional balance.
Out of all the items in the game, this ones description is the most informative of what the item actually does. Feeding your monster Moak Soup will change their nutritional balance, in english what that means is the nutrition values shown on the food you give your monster at the start of each month will be altered when you consume this item.
Monster Nip
Description: Innocent monsters love it when you shake it in front of them.
This item I think only increases your monster's happiness - it has no effect on their Fatigue or Stress. You'll find Monster Nip most commonly while on adventures at the start of each new season. As far as I know, they're never sold at the vendor.
Nitro Juice
Description: Juice made by squeezing Nitro berries. Has a very stimulating taste.
Everyone assumes that this item alters a monster's Fatigue or Stress levels but sadly it does neither. From my personal experience every single monster in the game hates being fed Nitro Juice, so expect your monster to like you a bit less after giving it to them - and it has absolutely no effect on the monster.
Pretty Flower
Description: Beautiful flower that warms the heart of anyone looking at it.
If your monster likes this item, giving it to them will increase their happiness. Pretty Flowers typically aren't sold by Mucchi but rather found during the adventure you participate in each time the seasons change. From what I was able to gather it has no effect on Fatigue or Stress levels.
Scorpion Claw
Description: Ingredients for medicine. Very effective, but very bitter.
From what I was able to gather, no monster likes Scorpion Claws so feeding this to them will decrease their attachment to you. I also am unsure which illnesses this cures, as Large Egg and Energy Ball cured every illness that I have gotten for my monsters.
Spiced Cookie
Description: Strange cookie with a spicy taste.
Feeding this to your monster will make them happy and increase their weight by a little bit. As far as I could tell it had no effect on a monster's Fatigue or Stress levels.
Yam Rice Cake
Description: Fills the stomach, but has very little calories.
When feeding this to your monster it'll make them a little bit thinner; as far as I was able to tell it has no other effect on your monster. I'd only recommend feeding this to your monster if you don't give them their monthly food on the first week. If you'd like to decrease your monster's weight then feed him Diet Grass instead.