Crimson Desert Mining & Resource Gathering Guide

Mining and resource gathering fuel every weapon upgrade and armor craft in Crimson Desert. Every piece of ore you collect moves you closer to better gear. This guide covers all resource types, where to find them, and the fastest ways to farm.

Getting Started — Tools Required

Unlike some RPGs, you cannot gather with bare hands. You need tools:

• Pickaxe — 31 copper coins from the Provisioner's Shop in Hernand. Also free via the "Rhett's Request" side quest (which also teaches you mining basics).
• Logging Axe — 29 copper coins from the Provisioner's Shop. Free from talking to the Hernand blacksmith.

Buy both tools as soon as you reach Hernand. They are cheap and open up the entire gathering system.

How to Mine

1. Equip your pickaxe
2. Hold the aim button until the reticle turns blue
3. Attack to swing at the ore deposit
4. Multiple strikes break the ore — each deposit yields up to 6 pieces of material
5. Watch for ore chunks rolling downhill after breaking off

How to Log

1. Equip the logging axe
2. Aim at a tree and swing — 3 swings to fell it
3. Step back when the tree drops (it can push you)
4. Chop the trunk into segments, then harvest each segment

Ore Types

Iron Ore

The most essential crafting material. Used for all weapon and armor Refinement from Level 1 through Level 6 and as a base component in most crafting recipes.

Appearance: Onyx black color on cliffsides

Where to find:

• Anvil Hill (southeast of Hernand) — The best early-game farming location with the highest density of Iron Ore nodes
• Cliff faces throughout the Hernand region
• Cave interiors
• Available from vendors at 18 coins per ore (shops restock every 2–3 in-game days)

Copper Ore

The secondary upgrade material needed for mid-tier Refinement. Less common than Iron Ore.

Appearance: Greenish tint on cliff faces

Where to find:

• South of Goldenfist Arena — reliable cluster
• Northern river cliff face in Hernand
• Anvil Hill (southeast of Hernand)
• Cave and mountain areas generally

Bismuth Ore

Higher-tier ore used for advanced Refinement in later regions.

Where to find:

• Specific deposits in mid-to-late game areas
• Farming locations still being documented by the community

Gold Ore

Rare ore with high sell value and use in high-tier crafting.

Where to find:

• Rare deposits in advanced regions
• Deep cave systems

Gem and Mineral Types

Other Gatherable Resources

Wood

• Timber / Fine Timber — From trees in forested areas. Used for shield and bow Refinement.
• The Witchwoods area has abundant trees for timber gathering.

Animal Materials

• Hides / Leather — From hunting wolves, deer, and boars. Used for leather armor Refinement.
• Bones — From large animals and skeleton enemies. Used in jewelry and alchemy.
• Raw Meat — From all wildlife. Used exclusively for cooking (your only healing source).

Purchased Materials

• Cloth Pieces / Fleece — Bought from vendors or looted from enemies. Used for soft armor.
• Salt / Sugar — From general merchants. Used in cooking recipes.
• Cooking Oil — From general merchants. Common cooking ingredient.

Node Respawn

Ore deposits respawn after a short time once depleted. Their locations appear permanently on your map after first discovery, making return farming runs easy to plan.

Best Farming Location — Anvil Hill

Anvil Hill in the Hernand region is the single best early-game gathering spot. It has high concentrations of both Iron Ore and Copper Ore, and many early quests route through the area — so you can gather while completing objectives.

Anvil Hill Farming Loop (10–15 minutes)

1. Start at the base of Anvil Hill — gather cliff-face Iron Ore nodes
2. Climb to the mid-level — mixed Iron and Copper Ore nodes
3. Check the cave entrances — concentrated ore deposits inside
4. Circle back to the base — deposits should be close to respawning

Yield per loop: 30–50 Iron Ore, 10–20 Copper Ore

Material Management Tips

1. Read Refinement requirements before farming — Check exactly what your next upgrade needs so you gather the right amounts
2. Sell excess materials — With no storage system at launch, carrying excess ore wastes inventory slots
3. Use Force Palm for speed gathering — When you need materials fast and have Stamina/Spirit to spare
4. Stack management — Materials stack to 50 per slot. If you hit 51, it consumes a second slot. Either Refine with the materials or sell the excess to avoid wasting slots.
5. Buy from vendors to supplement gaps rather than making a dedicated farming trip for small amounts

Related Guides

• Crafting and Smithing Guide
• Best Early Game Weapons
• Inventory Management Guide