Originally posted by blankitosonic:

Originally posted by Warrax:

Exactly. DarkFaceGlow nailed it.

1. Use the slowest speed
2. Night time is best.
3. Stormy and windy ... get ready

4. I only use the harpoon if conditions are favorable - viable wind, and relative safety to land the Serpent.
Never harpoon and drag it into a fresh plains or swamp. You will likely get swarmed, lose the serpent and die. Lol

Going in so slow speed do not helps because spawns works in spawn squares of 64mx64m , when u enter in that square and serpent dont spawns ( on nights or rains/storms ) u have to be quicker to be in another square because the initial square will have a spawn blocker of 9 minutes
So being in a little area is just useless , most be on medium or top speed in a longboat for best spawns

Originally posted by blankitosonic:

Originally posted by Warrax:

Exactly. DarkFaceGlow nailed it.

1. Use the slowest speed
2. Night time is best.
3. Stormy and windy ... get ready

4. I only use the harpoon if conditions are favorable - viable wind, and relative safety to land the Serpent.
Never harpoon and drag it into a fresh plains or swamp. You will likely get swarmed, lose the serpent and die. Lol

Going in so slow speed do not helps because spawns works in spawn squares of 64mx64m , when u enter in that square and serpent dont spawns ( on nights or rains/storms ) u have to be quicker to be in another square because the initial square will have a spawn blocker of 9 minutes
So being in a little area is just useless , most be on medium or top speed in a longboat for best spawns

The reason for going slow is because they will spawn in behind you, and will likely outrun them before you even see them. Try going slow and you’ll see.

Not sure if its been said, not only does night help; ive atleast found them the most common on borders of Black Forest/Ocean+Swamp/Ocean lines. Almost all of my serpent encounters have occured in these areas.

instead of going in circles looking for them go map out the ocean or plan a trip (bring portal mats) to the firelands biome down south. that biome is a source of unlimited surtling cores and coal

Originally posted by Warrax:

Originally posted by DarkFaceGlow:

Go out at night, and don’t use your sail, go slowwww. Pray for a storm. That’s really all you can do.

Exactly. DarkFaceGlow nailed it.

1. Use the slowest speed
2. Night time is best.
3. Stormy and windy ... get ready

4. I only use the harpoon if conditions are favorable - viable wind, and relative safety to land the Serpent.
Never harpoon and drag it into a fresh plains or swamp. You will likely get swarmed, lose the serpent and die. Lol

Going in so slow speed do not helps because spawns works in spawn squares of 64mx64m , when u enter in that square and serpent dont spawns ( on nights or rains/storms ) u have to be quicker to be in another square because the initial square will a spawn blocker of 9 minutes
So being in a little area is just useless , most be on medium or top speed in a longboat for best spawns

Found 4 serpents one after another nearly during a storm during the day. So I reckon try keep your sails ready for when a storm hits.

Spawn conditions are ocean biome; rainstorm at night or thunderstorm during the day. Day spawned serpents won't despawn, according to the wiki night serpents will despawn during the day.

Storms seam to be more common in the ocean, but you cannot count on a thunderstorm every time. Take advantage when you have a storm and get out on the water. I find half sail to be the best speed, plus view of the horizon is not blocked. You still have to keep an eye out and be ready to stop.

Eh, as of right now the only thing it drops that's worth anything is the meat, which will float. The scales are kinda useless since all they make is a tower shield. But that may change with H&H, since the shields are getting reworked.

But yeah, night storms seem to be the only time I ever see them, and very rarely do I find them in the same spot. Usually I Mark the location on the map when I find one, just to check at a later date. I don't recall finding one in the same place.

Go out at night, and don’t use your sail, go slowwww. Pray for a storm. That’s really all you can do.

Originally posted by DarkFaceGlow:

Go out at night, and don’t use your sail, go slowwww. Pray for a storm. That’s really all you can do.

Exactly. DarkFaceGlow nailed it.

1. Use the slowest speed
2. Night time is best.
3. Stormy and windy ... get ready

4. I only use the harpoon if conditions are favorable - viable wind, and relative safety to land the Serpent.
Never harpoon and drag it into a fresh plains or swamp. You will likely get swarmed, lose the serpent and die. Lol

My humble assumption is that they spawn less frequently if you're close to the Forsaken altars (the starting point) (take this as a personal observation and probably false).
But what i've notice is absolutely NO spawn when i'm off my starter island, I sailed several night looking for one and had no luck. I changed hunting spot, went way further close to some plains and they started appearing as i remembered. Even got 3 in one single, lucky night once

I guess I stumbled into the formula early, I like the way serpent meat looks on my spits.
1. Ideally wait for storm at night, though they can spawn during day storms
2. Make sure it says ocean.
3. Wound it and high tail it to shore
4. When you’re very close to shore finish it off and pray you can save the drops

As someone who currently has 4 Serpent trophies hanging in his base I can tell you this: If you go looking for them they will never come XD
I found all of them randomly while doing other stuff. You don't really need them for anything other than Serpent Stew so my advice is do other stuff and let them surprise you.
I know it's not very helpful but that's how it is.

P.S. They usually spawn pretty close to land, because you need to drag them to shore. I.e. if you are sailing in the middle of the ocean they won't appear.

They won't spawn during the day unless it is a storm.
There is a check for spawn in sections and has a chance of spawning every 9 mins... so waiting in one small area won't help. Keep moving at medium speed.

Watch for them, they may spawn to the side or behind far enough to not aggro on you so you have to turn around for those.

Best chance is night during a storm. Must be in an ocean biome. <ocean on the mini map>

A lot of people think being in water is the ocean, but you must be in the ocean biome.
Usually at night is when they spawn.
I stopped using a harpoon, I let go of the karve and kill it with a bow usually, then scoop up the drops.
I would love the increase in sea serpents, but a lot of people would be opposed because of sailing with metals on board.

Only the meat floats so your losing some of the drops that way. I was doing this throughout the day and night for multiple days on end, storms included. Always in the ocean biome, i'm aware of how to tell what biome i'm in. So i appreciate everyones feedback but i've been doing everything mentioned in this post...other than just not looking for them and having them jump me when i don't want to find them lol.