Whether you are a seasoned miner or taking your first steps underground, this comprehensive guide will turn you into a true resource tycoon. In Hytale, ore extraction is the cornerstone of your progression: it allows you to craft sturdier tools, more powerful weapons, and armor capable of protecting you from the dangers of Orbis.
1. Where to Find Each Type of Ore
Every ore has its own favorite spots. Knowing these locations is essential to optimizing your mining expeditions.
Copper Ore: The Early-Game Essential
Copper is your first essential metal resource. It is easy to find and forms the basis of your initial equipment.
- Appearance: Stone blocks with distinctive orange-brown inclusions.
- Location: In any cave system near your starting point. You don’t need to dig very deep (around 20-30 blocks down is enough).
- Mining Tool: A simple rudimentary pickaxe is sufficient.
- Tip: Always bring torches! They light up deposits and prevent hostile creatures from spawning.
Iron Ore: For Sturdier Gear
Iron marks a significant step up from copper. Collecting it requires a bit more strategy.
- Appearance: Silver-grey stone blocks.
- Main Location:
- Howling Sands (Desert Biome): Look for cave entrances. Underground networks teem with iron ore clusters, often in groups of 5 to 8 blocks. Mining sites (structures guarded by enemies) also guarantee nearby deposits.
- Whisperfrost Frontiers (Snow Biome): Iron is abundant in cold regions, both in caves beneath the snow and on exposed mountain peaks. Surface deposits save you digging time, but be vigilant against cold-related environmental hazards.
- Mining Tool: A stone pickaxe or better is recommended.
Cobalt Ore: The First Rare Challenge
Cobalt is your first truly rare ore. It is not found in standard caves.
- Appearance: Glowing blue deposits.
- Location: Look for coastal zones, specifically peninsula-shaped islands jutting out into the water. Cobalt is found on the surface and in shallow caves within these structures.
- Mining Tool: An iron pickaxe or better is required.
- Warning: These islands are often guarded by hostile creatures. Prepare for combat and bring plenty of food.
Thorium: A Well-Earned Reward
Unlike other ores, Thorium cannot be directly mined in classic veins.
- Appearance: Bright green veins.
- Location: Primarily boss rewards (like the Earth Golem or Burnt Skeleton Praetor) or in treasure chests within dangerous zones.
- Mining Tool: Not applicable (obtained via combat/treasure).
- Note: It can also be found on cliffs in the Howling Sands biome, making it a great bonus while collecting iron.
Rare Ores: Silver and Gold
Silver and gold are rarer discoveries, mainly used for advanced crafting and magical items.
- Appearance: Shiny metallic shards.
- Location: Rarely on mountain peaks and in the magma layer of the Whisperfrost Frontiers (cold) and Devastated Lands biomes. The majority of your harvest will come from treasure chests.
- Usage: Silver for magic crystal staffs (Flame Crystal, Ice Crystal Staffs) and Gold for upgrading the Alchemy Station.
Adamantite Ore: The Pinnacle of Gear
Adamantite is the most powerful and rare ore currently available.
- Appearance: Red blocks with a faint glow.
- Location: Exclusively in the Devastated Lands biome, specifically in the Cinder Wastes sub-region (purple zones on the map). Look around lava pools and in the lush underground caverns of this area (which replace the standard magma layer with an underground jungle).
- Mining Tool: Requires a high-level pickaxe.
- Danger: The wildlife and creatures in this area are extremely dangerous.
Mithril Ore: Coming Soon
For now, Mithril ore is not implemented in the current version of the game. Although schematics for Mithril armor, weapons, and tools may appear in workbenches, you cannot extract this ore naturally. It is possible to acquire it in creative mode or via console commands. Keep an eye out for future updates!
Ore Summary Table
Here is a quick overview of the main ores and their characteristics:
| Ore | Main Location | Required Tool | Depth / Biome | Main Usage |
| Copper | All cave systems | Rudimentary Pickaxe | 20-30 blocks deep | Early-game tools and equipment |
| Iron | Howling Sands caves, Whisperfrost peaks | Stone Pickaxe or better | 30-50 blocks deep | Intermediate tools, weapons, armor |
| Cobalt | Peninsula islands | Iron Pickaxe or better | Surface and shallow caves | Mid-game gear, station upgrades |
| Thorium | Boss rewards, treasure chests (or Howling Sands cliffs) | N/A (not directly mineable) | N/A (Loot) | Mid-game gear, totems, station upgrades |
| Silver | Whisperfrost peaks, Devastated Lands magma layer | Iron Pickaxe or better | Rare, all depths | Magic staffs, advanced crafting |
| Gold | Whisperfrost peaks, Devastated Lands magma layer | Iron Pickaxe or better | Rare, all depths | Alchemy Station, advanced crafting |
| Adamantite | Cinder Wastes (Devastated Lands) | High-level Pickaxe | Near lava sources, underground caverns | End-game gear (most powerful) |
| Mithril | Not implemented for mining | N/A | N/A | Coming soon |
Setting Up Your Smeltery
Transforming raw ore into usable ingots is a crucial step. A good smeltery setup is key to efficiency.
Crafting Your First Furnace
Before smelting anything, you will need a furnace.
- Craft a Workbench: Requires 4 Logs + 3 Stones (of matching types).
- Craft a Furnace: On your workbench, select the Furnace (requires 6 Logs + 6 Stones of matching types).
- Important: Logs and stone must be of the same type for each recipe (no mixing oak and birch, or granite and limestone).
Using the Furnace Efficiently
Your furnace requires two elements to function:
- Input: Raw ore (copper ore, iron ore, etc.).
- Fuel: Any variety of Log works.
Place the ore in the input slot and the wood in the fuel slot. The smelting process takes a few seconds per piece of ore. One log is enough for several smelting operations. The finished ingots will collect in the output slot.
Fuel Efficiency Tips
Not all fuels have the same efficiency.
- Redwood Logs burn longer (if you are in those biomes).
- Standard Logs are sufficient for small quantities.
- Coal (which you will find later) offers superior fuel efficiency.
- In the beginning, use any tree available near your base.
Efficient Mining Techniques
Mining isn’t just about hitting blocks at random. Proven techniques can maximize your yield.
The “Branch Mining” Method
Once in a good cave system, use this pattern to maximize ore discovery:
- Dig a main tunnel straight ahead (3 blocks high, 2 blocks wide).
- Every 3 blocks, dig a side branch perpendicular to your main tunnel.
- Extend each branch 10-15 blocks before returning to the main tunnel.
- Continue this pattern, creating a grid of tunnels.
- Warning: Always place torches every 5 blocks. Darkness spawns hostile creatures that will interrupt your mining.
Speed or Thoroughness?
Your mining approach depends on your goal:
- Speed Mining (Urgent need for a specific ore): Rush to the right biome, mine only the targeted ore, ignore everything else.
- Thorough Clearing (Resource stockpiling): Mine all types of ore you encounter, explore secondary caves, collect secondary materials (stone, coal). Ideal for long-term reserves.
Underground Inventory Management
Nothing is more frustrating than finding a huge ore vein with a full inventory.
- Bring only the essentials: pickaxe, weapon, food, torches.
- Craft a backpack early to increase your capacity.
- Place a chest near cave entrances to deposit excess stone and common materials.
- Return to your base when you have collected 30+ ores (a full smelting session).
Biome-Specific Mining Strategies
- Howling Sands Desert Approach: Sand dunes look alike. Place torches or distinctive markers at cave entrances. Mining sites are guarded; clear them before mining. Desert caves are often vertical; bring blocks to build bridges or ladders.
- Whisperfrost Frontiers Mountain Mining: Prioritize surface deposits. Climb high peaks to spot iron ore exposed on cliffs. Manage temperature with warm clothes or food. Watch out for falls.