To craft the Xcias Top, you do not need gems or plates. You need Xeno'jiiva Shards and a Xeno'jiiva Carapace.
Pro tip: Use a Hammer or Hunting Horn to break the head easily. Use a Bowgun (Piercing) for the wings and tail.
XCIA’s Top is a unique piece of head armor (helmet) in Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin. Unlike standard craftable gear, this item is directly tied to XCIA, a powerful post-game Elder Dragon encountered in the toughest co-op and solo quests. The "Top" specifically refers to its material rarity and crafting tier—often denoting the highest-rank version of XCIA’s equipment set. monster hunter stories 2 wings of ruin xcias top
High-level analysis consistently places certain monsters in the S-Tier due to their unique passive abilities and skill pools.
You cannot find the Xcias Top in a chest or buy it from a merchant. It is strictly a craftable item at the Smithy (Melynx Inc.). However, it is locked behind significant progression gates. To craft the Xcias Top , you do not need gems or plates
The defining mechanic that separates casual play from "Top" play is the Rite of Channeling (Gene transfer). This system allows Riders to customize a monster’s move set.
While Monsties do the heavy lifting, the Rider’s equipment defines the team's flow. The "Wings of Ruin" narrative grants the protagonist access to unique Kinship Skills, but mechanically, the Rider is defined by their weapon choice. Pro tip: Use a Hammer or Hunting Horn
In the "Xcia Top" analysis, the Hunting Horn and Bow reign supreme.