Manuals are one of those collectibles in Beast of Reincarnation that are worth paying attention to from the moment you start finding them. They aren’t just completion items sitting around for a trophy checklist. Some unlock entirely new arrow and bolt types, while others expand the selection of items Koo can produce and carry for you.
There are essentially two types of Manuals to collect. Arrow and Bolt Manuals teach you how to produce new ammunition, and once you’ve unlocked an ammo type, it will be automatically restocked for free whenever you rest at a Camp. The other group consists of Koo Item Manuals, which expand the items available through his Item Research aboard the Cleanse Walker.
Some Manuals are hidden in houses, facilities, and optional areas, while many others can simply be purchased from merchants. That’s good news if you’re worried about missing something, although you’ll need plenty of Amber if you plan to buy everything as soon as it becomes available.
One useful clue while exploring is Koo himself. He’ll bark whenever a Manual is nearby, and you should also see a book icon indicating the collectible. If Koo suddenly starts making noise while you’re exploring, take a minute to look around before moving on.
Below you’ll find every Manual location currently available, organized by zone and roughly in the order you’ll encounter them.
Beast of Reincarnation All Manual Locations – Arrows, Bolts
Manuals are divided between Koo Items, Arrows, and Bolts.
Here’s the full checklist:
| Koo Item Manuals | Arrow Manuals | Bolt Manuals |
|---|---|---|
| Bull Censer | Poison Arrow | Poison Bolt |
| Recovery Tonic (S) | Acid Arrow | Acid Bolt |
| Recovery Tonic (M) | Fire Arrow | Fire Bolt |
| Antidote | Lightning Arrow | Lightning Bolt |
| Neutralizer | Explosive Arrow | Explosive Bolt |
| Grounding Sand | ||
| Extinguishing Sand | ||
| Archery Censer | ||
| Golem Censer | ||
| Tenacity Censer | ||
| Life Censer | ||
| Immunity Censer | ||
| Resurrection Censer | ||
| Bottle of Water | ||
| Bottle of Acid | ||
| Bottle of Oil | ||
| Bottle of Poison | ||
| Bolt Shard | ||
| Torch | ||
| Bomb | ||
| Oil Container | ||
| Flashbang |
If you’re going for achievements or trophies, the ammunition Manuals are especially important.
Collecting the Manuals for every Arrow and Bolt type unlocks the Manual Fanatic achievement/trophy.
There isn’t an equivalent achievement for simply owning every Koo Item Manual. However, Koo’s Manuals are useful for the Busy Paws achievement/trophy, which requires you to craft items with Koo 30 times.
Ogouchi Buffer Zone Manual Locations
Several Manuals can be obtained in the Ogouchi Buffer Zone, including Fire Arrows, Acid Bolts, Recovery Tonic (S), and a batch sold by a Wandering Merchant.
Fire Arrow Manual Location
The Fire Arrow Manual is found inside a house directly south of the Cliffside Village Camp.
There are two ways into Cliffside Village, but one route is considerably more convenient.
Starting from the Cleanse Walker, head directly west until you reach enemies standing around a rice field. Look nearby for some crystallized Amber.
Destroy the Amber to reveal a pathway leading into the village.
This route essentially brings you in through the back and puts you closer to the Camp, making it the easier approach if you’re specifically coming here for the Manual.
There’s another entrance north of this area. You’ll know you’re approaching it when ballistas begin firing at you and the game identifies the location as an enemy lair.
Either route works, but the crystallized Amber path is quicker.
Once you’re in Cliffside Village, search the house directly south of the Camp to collect the Fire Arrow Manual.
Acid Bolt Manual Location
You’ll want to head toward the Quarry for the Acid Bolt Manual.
After completing the main objective during the Blight Forest tutorial, travel west until you reach the Quarry Path Camp.
Continue west and you’ll eventually enter the Quarry itself.
There are a couple of ways to move through this area. You can follow the tracks and use the elevators found inside the caves, or use your traversal abilities to hookshot and climb your way upward.
Your destination is the Quarry Interior Camp.
Once you’ve reached it, look for the nearby elevator and ride it to the top.
An elite enemy is waiting there, so you’ll need to deal with it before searching the area safely.
After defeating the golem, enter the nearby house.
The Acid Bolt Manual is inside.
Recovery Tonic (S) Manual Location
The Recovery Tonic (S) Manual is much easier to get.
Head toward the Subcity 03 entrance and listen for a Rusted Golem calling out nearby.
Talk to the Golem and he’ll give you the Recovery Tonic (S) Manual.
There’s no lengthy dungeon or hidden platforming section involved here, so make sure you speak with him when you pass through the area.
Extinguishing Sand, Bottle of Acid, Torch, Acid Arrow & Fire Bolt Manuals
Five more Manuals become available from a Wandering Merchant later in the Ogouchi Buffer Zone.
The merchant sells:
- Extinguishing Sand
- Bottle of Acid
- Torch
- Acid Arrow
- Fire Bolt
Progress until you’ve opened the door requiring three keys.
After passing through, you’ll eventually hookshot upward and discover the Toward the Nushi’s Lair Camp.
The Wandering Merchant is right beside this Camp.
You’ll need Amber to purchase the Manuals, and buying all five at once can get expensive.
Don’t panic if you’re short on Amber. These Manuals aren’t permanently missable just because you can’t afford them during this encounter.
Brad will begin selling the same Manuals aboard the Cleanse Walker in later chapters, allowing you to purchase anything you skipped.
Ancient Civilization Zone Manual Locations
The Ancient Civilization Zone introduces another merchant carrying several Manuals.
Antidote, Neutralizer, Golem Censer, Bolt Shard & Lightning Arrow Manuals
The Manuals available here are:
- Antidote
- Neutralizer
- Golem Censer
- Bolt Shard
- Lightning Arrow
They’re sold by the Ancient Golem who asks you to activate the generators.
You’ll find him south of the Raging River Camp.
If you’ve already spoken with him for the objective, talk to him again and check his merchant inventory.
As with the earlier Wandering Merchant, you don’t necessarily need to buy everything immediately.
From this chapter onward, Brad can also sell these Manuals aboard the Cleanse Walker.
If your Amber reserves are running low, you can therefore prioritize whichever Manual you actually want to use and come back for the others later.
The Great Wall Terraces Manual Locations
There are several Manuals to collect throughout The Great Wall Terraces, including another large merchant inventory and two Manuals obtained through exploration.
Recovery Tonic (M), Grounding Sand, Bottle of Oil, Bomb, Poison Bolt & Explosive Bolt Manuals
Another Wandering Merchant sells six Manuals here:
- Recovery Tonic (M)
- Grounding Sand
- Bottle of Oil
- Bomb
- Poison Bolt
- Explosive Bolt
You’ll find this merchant near the Mountain Plaza: Forefront Camp.
If you’ve been buying every Manual immediately, this is another point where your Amber can disappear surprisingly quickly.
Fortunately, these Manuals eventually become available from Brad at the Cleanse Walker as well.
That means there’s no need to grind Amber on the spot simply because you can’t afford the merchant’s entire inventory.
Oil Container Manual Location
The Oil Container Manual requires a little more work.
Start from the Great Forest: Entrance Camp and take the path heading southeast.
You’ll pass through an area containing a broken highway and several fallen wagons. Keep following the route until you reach the Maze of Sin Entrance Camp.
The Maze uses explosive canisters as part of its navigation. You’ll need to destroy these canisters to blow open walls and create paths forward.
Once you’re inside, destroy the rightmost explosive canister and proceed through the opening.
Deal with the rat malefacts along the way and continue following the available route until you reach the Maze of Sin: Interior Camp.
An elite enemy is waiting nearby.
Defeat it and you’ll receive the Oil Container Manual.
Poison Arrow Manual Location
The Poison Arrow Manual appears during your third pursuit of the malefact.
While following this section of the story, you’ll naturally reach the Flower Field Tower Camp.
From the Camp, head west.
You’ll find a group of enemies in this area. Defeat them, then search the nearby desk.
The Poison Arrow Manual is sitting on it.
This one isn’t particularly difficult to collect, but it’s easy to run past the desk if you’re focused entirely on continuing the pursuit.
Pilgrim’s Zone Manual Locations
There are two Manuals to purchase in Pilgrim’s Zone.
Life Censer & Bottle of Water Manual Locations
A Wandering Merchant inside the Cave sells:
- Life Censer
- Bottle of Water
You’ll first encounter him roughly midway through the lair.
If you miss him during your first trip through, continue progressing until you’ve activated the Cave Depths Camp.
Fast travel back there and jump down to reach the merchant.
As usual, simply browsing the merchant’s inventory is useful even if you don’t have enough Amber to buy everything immediately.
These Manuals can also become available from Brad aboard the Cleanse Walker after you’ve encountered the merchant.
Matsukawa Zone Manual Locations
The Matsukawa Zone contains the Resurrection Censer and Bottle of Poison Manuals.
Resurrection Censer Manual Location
The Resurrection Censer Manual can be purchased from the Wandering Merchant near the Cave Entrance Camp.
If you don’t want to buy it there, check Brad’s inventory back aboard the Cleanse Walker.
Bottle of Poison Manual Location
The Bottle of Poison Manual is found near the Matsukawa Colony: Central Area Camp.
Unlike the Resurrection Censer, this is one you’ll want to keep an eye out for while exploring the area rather than simply relying on the nearby merchant.
If Koo starts barking and you see the book icon nearby, stop and search before continuing.
Fuji Frontier Zone Manual Locations
There are three Manuals to collect in Fuji Frontier: Explosive Arrows, Immunity Censer, and Bull Censer.
Explosive Arrow Manual Location
The Explosive Arrow Manual is found fairly early in this chapter.
At the beginning of the area, you’ll need to complete a series of platforming sections to reach the opposite side and continue progressing.
Once you finally reach solid ground, you’ll find a Dragon Vein Shrine and a friendly Golem nearby.
Look around the Golem for a table.
The Explosive Arrow Manual is sitting on it.
This one is easy to collect as long as you take a moment to check the area rather than immediately continuing toward the next objective.
Immunity Censer Manual Location
The Immunity Censer Manual is sold by a Wandering Merchant encountered after the Collapsed Pipes: Approach Camp.
He’s positioned directly along the main path, so he’s difficult to miss.
Purchase the Manual from him if you have enough Amber.
If not, Brad will eventually carry the Immunity Censer Manual at the Cleanse Walker as well.
Bull Censer Manual Location
The Bull Censer Manual is found inside a house near the Defense Outpost: Outskirts Camp.
Search the nearby buildings rather than heading directly away from the Camp and you should be able to pick it up without much trouble.
Giant Tree Zone Manual Locations
The Giant Tree Zone contains several of the later Manuals in the game.
Three are easy merchant purchases.
The Lightning Bolt Manual, however, is another story.
Archery Censer, Tenacity Censer & Flashbang Manuals
A Wandering Merchant near the Giant Tree: Feeding Grounds Camp sells:
- Archery Censer
- Tenacity Censer
- Flashbang
Buy whichever ones you need.
If you’re running low on Amber, these can also be purchased from Brad aboard the Cleanse Walker after you’ve encountered the merchant.
Lightning Bolt Manual Location
The Lightning Bolt Manual is easily the most complicated Manual on the list.
It’s located along a largely optional route through the Giant Tree Zone, and reaching it involves multiple Cableway stations, Camps, a side task, and the Storyteller.
If this is the one Manual you’re missing for Manual Fanatic, there’s a good chance you simply never explored this route.
Before starting, progress through the main story until you’ve defeated Corvus and obtained the Card Key (Line One).
Once you have it, you’re ready to begin.
Step 1 – Start at Cableway – Line 1: Base Station
Fast travel to the Cableway – Line 1: Base Station Camp.
Head north toward the area where you previously fought several malefacts.
You’ll see a tower ahead.
Don’t climb it.
Instead, continue forward along the ground level until you discover another Camp:
Cableway – Line 0: Base Station.
Step 2 – Find the Worldly Golem
There’s another tower in front of the Line 0 Camp.
Climb this one.
At the top, you’ll find another Cableway and a friendly Golem.
Speak with the Golem to receive The Worldly Golem task.
If you have the Light Box obtained after defeating Corvus, you can also give it to the Golem to receive a sword.
The side task is particularly useful because you can track it to make the upcoming route much easier to follow.
Open your map, highlight The Worldly Golem, and select the option to track it.
Step 3 – Reach Cableway – Line 2: Peak A
Activate the Cableway beside the friendly Golem.
Ride it to the next destination.
After arriving, stay on the iron platform and continue until you discover:
Cableway – Line 2: Peak A Camp.
Activate it before continuing.
There’s another Cableway near the Camp, but you’ll need its Card Key first.
Grab the nearby key, then activate the transport.
Step 4 – Follow the Broken Highway
At the next stop, follow the broken highway.
You’ll encounter birds and a cervinae malefact along the route, so clear them out as you continue.
Once you reach the end of the highway, look to your right.
There’s another Cableway here.
Activate it and ride across.
Step 5 – Reach Cableway – Line 2: Peak B
After leaving the Cableway, head downward to discover:
Cableway – Line 2: Peak B Camp.
Activate the Camp.
Next, climb the nearby staircase and continue along the path.
If you’re tracking The Worldly Golem task, use its marker to help keep yourself pointed in the right direction.
You’ll encounter more bird malefacts and need to use the hookshot several times.
Eventually, you should start seeing bandaged Golems.
That’s your sign that you’re in the correct area.
Step 6 – Talk to the Storyteller
Look for the Storyteller standing on top of a container.
Speak with him.
He’ll provide directions related to the Lightning Bolt Manual.
Once you’ve received the objective, make sure you start tracking it. Doing so makes the final portion of this hunt much easier.
Step 7 – Reach Cableway – Line 2: Checkpoint
Fast travel back to:
Cableway – Line 2: Peak B Camp.
Take the nearby Cableway.
When you arrive at the other end, look ahead for a bridge.
Cross it to reach:
Cableway – Line 2: Checkpoint Camp.
Activate the Camp and use the final Cableway located here.
Step 8 – Activate Terminal Stop
After exiting the Cableway, your tracked objective should be ahead.
Before heading directly toward it, look around and activate:
Cableway – Line 2: Terminal Stop Camp.
Don’t skip this Camp. Having the fast-travel point unlocked makes returning to this optional area considerably easier.
Step 9 – Find the Fortress General
Now follow the tracked sub-objective.
The route eventually leads to a facility guarded by a bear malefact and several birds.
Deal with the enemies and enter the facility.
Inside, take the elevator down.
You’ll find the Fortress General wired into the wall.
Speak with him.
He’ll direct you toward the storage room, which is where the Lightning Bolt Manual is finally hidden.
Step 10 – Get the Lightning Bolt Manual
Take the elevator back up.
As soon as you exit, look immediately to your right.
There should be an entrance on a lower level nearby.
Head down and enter the storage room.
Inside you’ll finally find the Lightning Bolt Manual.
It’s a long detour compared with nearly every other Manual in the game, but if you’re trying to collect all Arrow and Bolt Manuals, this is one you can’t skip.
How to Get the Manual Fanatic Achievement/Trophy
The Manual Fanatic achievement/trophy requires you to obtain the Manuals for every Arrow and Bolt type.
That means collecting all five Arrow Manuals:
- Poison Arrow
- Acid Arrow
- Fire Arrow
- Lightning Arrow
- Explosive Arrow
And all five Bolt Manuals:
- Poison Bolt
- Acid Bolt
- Fire Bolt
- Lightning Bolt
- Explosive Bolt
You don’t need every Koo Item Manual for Manual Fanatic.
If the achievement hasn’t unlocked, compare your Arrow and Bolt equipment lists against the ten Manuals above.
The Lightning Bolt Manual is especially worth checking because its optional Giant Tree route makes it much easier to miss than most of the others.
How the Busy Paws Achievement/Trophy Works
Koo’s Item Manuals don’t have a trophy for collecting every single one, but they’re still connected to another achievement.
Busy Paws requires you to craft items with Koo 30 times.
Collecting more Koo Item Manuals expands what he can produce, giving you a wider selection of items to work with while completing the requirement.
You can access these options aboard the Cleanse Walker by speaking with Koo and selecting Item Research.
Can You Miss Merchant Manuals?
You don’t need to worry too much if you encounter a Wandering Merchant and can’t afford every Manual they’re selling.
Many of these Manuals become available from Brad aboard the Cleanse Walker after you’ve encountered the relevant merchant or progressed into the appropriate chapter.
That’s particularly useful because buying every Manual immediately can consume a significant amount of Amber.
If you’re short on currency, buy the ammunition or item you actually want to use first and leave the rest for later.
The Manuals found through exploration are the ones I’d pay closer attention to, particularly Fire Arrow, Acid Bolt, Oil Container, Poison Arrow, Bottle of Poison, Explosive Arrow, Bull Censer, and Lightning Bolt.