Talk:Beech Branch/@comment-12.130.180.88-20150407151500/@comment-23878607-20150430211031

I think it was deliberate, to enforce  the presence of lesser-strength weapons longer in one's first playthrough. Good longbows are very hard to find-- until you get to the postgame or BBI.

As to the rarity of Beech Branches, since they do combine with other objects to make Blast Arrows, I think the scarcity was also put into effect to restrict the availability of Blast Arrows until later on in one's initial playthrough. We know that Blast Arrows are available in very limited quantities right away (because they can drop from the chest by the south gate of the Encampment and a gather spot at the top of the pass when one is traveling west to Witchwood or the Ruins of Aernst Castle), but the two vendors who offer them in quantity don't do so until Stage 4 or you're in your first post-game. Plus, you have to be able to afford them.

That said, carrying a bunch of Beech Branches and Ember Crystals/Throwblasts to combine them on the fly is a lot less weight encumbrance than schlepping actual Blast Arrows. But... due to the rarity of the ingredients, it just isn't even remotely practical unless you're in, say the Chamber of Lament whaling on the online Ur prior to Grace-- and someone doing that has game knowledge far beyond what is typically discussed on the overwhelming majority of these Wikia pages. ;)