Story Quest No. 21: Through the Woods Pt. 5
In the early stages of the game, your best bet to collect Teardrops will be doing story quest number 21 in Wonderland. The mission provides the opportunity to collect 3 Teardrops each time you undertake it. The mission is heavy on speed-based enemies, so stack on your strength medals and begin.
After loading in, move north and hop over the log to engage the Tornado Step and his Solider friend. After taking the enemies out you can choose to take the left path for a red chest and a Strange Bulb. Continue top left and you’ll encounter a Yellow Opera. Take him out and keep trekking the path for your first Teardrops and a bonus Strange Bulb. Move to the other side of the screen and grab two Strange Leaves along the way. You can avoid or fight the Shadow wandering here, but you’ll have to take out the Aerial Knocker and two Soliders to get to the other side.
Directly below where you fought the Soldiers is a pathway that will take you to the final two Teardrops. Head to the bottom right and defeat the Tornado Step boss, his brother, and his tag-along Shadow friend to claim your loot. At only four AP this stage is the most cost-effective and earliest way to farm up lots of Teardrops. However, it is by no means the fastest.