Stone weapons and primitive tools in Hytale quickly prove ineffective against bears and other dangerous predators. Iron becomes the first major upgrade, allowing you to survive in more hostile environments and gather resources more efficiently. Ore is quite common in caves, but mining and processing it requires preparation.
Locations with iron deposits
Iron ore generates in underground caves of any Emerald Grove biome. Deposits are located along the walls of tunnels, with the first deposits found near the entrances to deep caves. Grassy meadows are one of the most convenient biomes for starting mining due to the proximity of cave systems to the spawn point.
The deeper you descend into the dungeons, the more iron you encounter. However, the deeper levels are inhabited by more dangerous monsters, and the pitch darkness makes navigation difficult. Getting lost in the branching tunnels is easy, especially early in the game, when your equipment is still weak. Spiders in the darkness are no less deadly than bears above ground.
Preparing for mining
Even a primitive pickaxe will do for mining iron ore, but it’s better to spend a few copper ingots to craft a copper pickaxe—the process will go much faster. Lighting is critical in caves, so before descending, craft a few dozen torches. Torches placed along the way not only mark the way back but also make encounters with hostile mobs less dangerous thanks to improved visibility.
Smelting ore into ingots
After returning with your loot, you’ll need a level 1 furnace, which can be crafted at a workbench. The furnace runs on fuel—approximately four sticks are needed to process one piece of ore. The process is simple: load the raw ore into the input slot, select “Turn On,” and wait for the smelting to complete.
If you have a stack of 99 pieces of ore, it makes sense to explore other caves or clear out nearby monsters – smelting takes a decent amount of time.
It’s recommended to spend your first few iron ingots on an iron pickaxe. The temptation to craft weapons and armor right away is strong, but an improved mining tool will pay for itself more quickly, speeding up resource gathering and opening access to rarer materials in the deeper layers of caves.
