Overview
Iron Ore is a silvery-gray metal ore found throughout Pywel. Tough yet easy to process, it is one of the most commonly used refinement materials for weapons, nails, and basic equipment components. Iron Ore can be mined from dark-colored rock formations on cliff faces and near quarries, or purchased from equipment vendors and mineral shops.
Item Properties
Property | Value |
|---|---|
Category | Crafting and Refinement Materials (Ore) |
Buy Price | 18 copper coins |
Sell Price | Unknown |
Obtainable Via |
Where to Find
Iron Ore deposits are identifiable by their distinct onyx-black color, making them easy to spot from a distance. They appear most frequently along cliff faces and in rock crevices throughout the Hernand region.
Anvil Hill (south of Hernand City): Multiple nodes spawn along the base of the hill. This is one of the best early-game farming spots because the area is visited often during quests.
Northeast of Hernand: Two veins are located on the cliffs northeast of the fast travel point east of Hernand.
Howling Hill: One vein sits southeast of this location.
Unicorn Cliff: A vein can be found right below the Unicorn Cliff label on the world map.
Once you discover a vein, it is permanently marked on your map and respawns after a short time.
Vendors
Rhett (equipment vendor in Hernand): Stocks 3 Iron Ore at 18 copper coins each.
Mineral Shops (unlocked after liberating Cairn House and Karin Quarry): Stock 6 Iron Ore at 18 copper coins each.
Vendor inventory restocks every 2 to 3 in-game days.
How to Mine
You need a pickaxe to mine ore. Purchase one from Alden's Provisioner's Shop in Hernand for 31 copper coins, or obtain a free pickaxe by completing Rhett's Request. Equip the pickaxe via the quick menu (hold left D-Pad on controller, or T on PC), aim at the ore deposit until the reticle turns blue, and strike it several times. The ore chunks will fall to the ground and may roll downhill, so retrieve them quickly.
You can also destroy ore deposits instantly using Force Palm or Force Current, though this consumes stamina and spirit.
Uses
Iron Ore is a fundamental material for refinement at the smithy. It is required for upgrading the following equipment types:
Plate Armor (metal body armor)
Metal Shields (shield upgrades)
To refine equipment, visit a blacksmith in any major town, select the Refinement option, and choose the piece you want to upgrade. Material requirements are fixed per item and cannot be substituted.
Farming Routes
The best early-game farming route for Iron Ore follows the Howling Hill to Anvil Hill loop. Start at the Howling Hill cliffs south of Hernand, where a long stretch of Iron Ore deposits lines the river-facing cliff walls. Circle the base of the hill, head east to Anvil Hill's lower edges and riverbed, then extend north along the Unicorn Cliff path through the quarry. This route covers the highest concentration of Iron Ore nodes in the Hernand region.
Ore deposits respawn after approximately 7 in-game days. Harvest every deposit on the route during each trip so they all reset at the same time. Use the time skip function (sleep at a campfire, bed, or use the Wait function) to advance time between farming runs.
Mining Knuckledrill
After defeating the Marni Excavatron boss at Karin Quarry, you unlock the Mining Knuckledrill. This specialized tool starts with a 10% chance to mine additional ore per swing and upgrades to 30% at max refinement. While any pickaxe works for mining Iron Ore, the Knuckledrill is the most efficient tool for maximizing yield. Note that upgrading a standard pickaxe only increases its attack power but does not improve mining efficiency or yield.
Tips
Check Anvil Hill regularly when completing quests in the Hernand area, as ore deposits respawn frequently.
Buy Iron Ore from vendors to supplement mining when you need quick upgrades.
Higher-tier upgrades eventually require rarer materials like Copper Ore and Abyss Artifacts.
Use the Charged Shot bow skill to break Iron Ore deposits located on high cliff faces that are difficult to reach by climbing.
The Mining Knuckledrill is a significant upgrade over the standard pickaxe for ore farming. Prioritize obtaining it from the Marni Excavatron fight.
Upgrading a standard pickaxe increases attack power only. It does not improve mining speed or yield.