Unraveling the Mystery of Great Ones in theHunter: Call of the Wild

As an experienced player with over 800 hours played, the question I get asked most often by new players is: how many Great One species are there currently in theHunter: CotW?

The answer is 4 total species as of the 2023 Edition release:

• Whitetail Deer
• Moose
• Red Fox
• Mule Deer (newly added for 2023)

But what exactly sets these rare trophy variants apart? And what are the odds of encountering one for the average player? Let‘s break it down in detail…

The Existing Great One Species

Whitetail Deer

As the first Great One introduced to the franchise in 2020, the Whitetail Deer GO holds a special place in most veteran hunter‘s hearts. When the developers at Expansive Worlds first teased images of the giant buck, many players doubted its authenticity!

Some defining traits of Great One Whitetails:

• Unique rack patterns and fur coats
• Larger body size – taller and heavier than standard bucks
• Highest possible antler score visible on spotting info
• Brighter mule deer style coat coloring

Based on community analysis, Whitetail Great Ones seem to frequent Layton Lake more than other maps. This is likely due to Layton‘s dense forest habitat attracting large herds. From surveying Reddit and forum posts, I‘d estimate around 35-40% of all documented encounters have been on Layton Lake.

Moose

Adding the Moose Great One in mid 2021 blew the minds of veteran CotW players. The sheer size and presence of these colossal bulls left speechless. Unlike the Whitetail with defined antler growth patterns, every Moose Great One sports a completely unique palm and brow configuration.

Some quick facts around introduced Moose Great Ones:

• Tower over other bulls at staggeringly tall heights
• Weigh over 1000 lbs – heaviest animals currently in game
• Carry rack spreads between 60 to 70 inches
• Less colorful fur variation compared to Whitetail GO

From community chatter, Moose Great Ones have been spotted across all reserves containing Moose, with perhaps slightly better luck on Yukon Valley. Their immense size and loud calls make them easily distinguished when spotted. Just don‘t miss that crucial double-lung shot!

Red Fox

The most recent addition, the mystical Red Fox Great One has quickly become a rising community favorite for CotW trophy hunters. These ghostlike creatures live up to old European folktales with their striking appearances.

Key traits that make Red Fox Great Ones uniquely eerie:

• Snow white fur coats
• Glowing bright yellow irises
• Long, borreby-type tail structure
• Higher pitched calls compared to standard fur variants

Early indications point towards the newly added Te Awaroa National Park holding higher populations of albino and melanistic Red Foxes. However, all maps have potential chance due to the species‘ ubiquitous spread across reserves. Their camouflaged fur certainly doesn‘t make them easy trophies!

Mule Deer

Joining the prestigious Great One club with the 2023 Edition, mule deer are the latest species to receive a legendary rare variant. These mammoth bucks dwarf even elite Diamond trophy mule deer in sheer rack size and body mass. The community buzzed with anticipation following the first Great One Muley teaser trailers!

Characteristics of the mule deer Great Ones:

• Darker gray pelage coloring
• Oversized, non-typical antler growth
• Heavier body structure with increased fat reserves
• Larger rump and muscle definition

As the newest GO unlocks, intel on spawn hotspots and rates remains limited currently. However their western habitat across reserves like Silver Ridge Peaks likely offers greater chances based on overall mule deer population densities. But all maps have potential spawns!

Demystifying Great One Spawns & Hunt Requirements

The developer intent with Great Ones emphasizes extreme rarity. Exact statistical spawn chances are confidential and still not fully verified. But community speculation puts the odds between 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 50,000 per animal.

In other words – pretty slim odds for the average player!

However, certain mechanics exist to boost players‘ probability once unlocking eligibility:

Consecutive Harvests

Players must achieve consecutive quick kill harvests of males from eligible Great One species to enter the hidden tracking system. Requirements differ per species but generally fall between 20-60 consecutive kills. Tracking status can be viewed in the Codex.

Need Zone Refreshes

When eligible for Great One spawns, refreshing need zones seem crucial. Changing the time across multiple in-game days lets the engine refresh deer herds across the map. New fur and antler variations can populate during this refresh.

Multiplayer Population Boost

Having additional players join a map swaps out more animals. More population variation gets introduced, increasing chances a Great One could spawn in.

Of course at the end of the day, luck plays a huge role! But understanding these mechanics will let diligent trophy hunters boost their prospects.

Community Sightings & Reactions

Reaching the halls of Great One Valhalla remains a pipe dream for many dedicated CotW players. The many years of grinding makes encountering one of these legendary beasts all the more emotional.

Across community channels like the theHunter: Call of the Wild Subreddit and Discord, the outpouring of excitement around new Great One announcements has hit fever pitch levels!

Hearing the sheer joy and disbelief in content creators‘ reactions when spotting their first Great One makes for heartwarming moments. Veteran players brought to tears at the sight. Newer players shocked in confusion not realizing the rarity of what they stumbled upon.

The recent addition of mule deer Great Ones multiplied this community buzz tenfold. Players swarm any screenshot or video proof of harvests. "Diamond" or "troll" judgments gets passed around forums before evidence confirms…only to be celebrated across social media upon validated Great One statuses!

While encountering a Great One remains a distant goal for many of us, living vicariously through these community sightings helps fuel hopes!

*Sighting data aggregated from community forums and Discords. Exact numbers remain unclear.

What Does The Future Hold?

Looking ahead, Expansive Worlds developers seem committed to expanding the coveted Great One variant to additional species. We can likely expect new Great Ones to release alongside major content expansions over 2023 and beyond.

Veteran players clamor for long requested but still absent trophies like gray wolf, black bear, and water buffalo Great Ones. However outside chances remain for more unexpected species surprises!

One point of community speculation revolves around female Great Ones versions being introduced. Perhaps legendary does and vixens lie in wait someday. Would they sport even more striking variations unseen yet in the franchise?

Regardless of what future updates unfold, Great Ones seem poised to generate excitement and inspire trophy pursuits from CotW players for years to come. They encapsulate the pinnacle hunting trophy status players aspire towards with each harvest.

Final Thoughts

As a passionate and dedicated member of the CotW player community, I‘ve loved seeing firsthand the buzz and emotion Great Ones generate across this franchise we cherish. The yearning for that ultra rare, once-in-a-lifetime unicorn trophy keeps players like myself returning after thousands of hours sunk into reserves.

While plenty mystery still revolves around exact spawn rates and mechanics, the procedural generation and sheer diversity of possible Great Ones amazes me. Every individual Caribou with unique coats. Legendary Red Foxes straight from European fables. Larger-than-life Moose and Deer that capture our wildest imagination of monster bucks roaming the wild forests…

Despite the long odds, that glimmering hope remains alive out there on the reserves. Maybe, just maybe, tonight our harvest summary will shock us with the sighting message:

"A Legendary Beast Was Harvested On This Hunt"

Will I ever achieve Great One glory status? The grind continues but chasing that dream never disappoints!