WHERE & HOW TO FARM Where to farm Underwater reef walls surrounding ordinary islands, where Metal Ore nodes appear beside the island foundation.
Metal Ore is collected underwater around ordinary islands. A Hook harvests the reef nodes, and a Smelter converts the ore into Metal Ingots for later crafting. Plan a complete reef sweep while watching your oxygen and the shark.
Before you go Plastic Hook for harvesting underwater nodes. An island with an accessible underwater reef. A Smelter on the raft to process the ore. Anchor the raft near shore and note which side of the island you will start from. Enter the water with the Hook equipped and follow the reef wall rather than swimming into open water. Look for the distinct Metal Ore deposits attached to the reef and harvest each with the Hook. Pick up the ore and gather nearby Clay, Sand, Copper or Scrap if your air and supplies allow. Return to the raft before oxygen runs low; make another pass after recovering if reef nodes remain. Place Metal Ore in the Smelter and collect the resulting Metal Ingots when processing finishes. Use ingots for the metal tools, parts or upgrades you are currently preparing. Farming tips A consistent circle around the reef makes it easier to notice missed nodes and return to the raft. Bring enough food and water for the island stop so a long collection trip does not interrupt your return. Repeat, collect and use Repeat the reef sweep on later island visits; collect ore nodes you find and smelt each load at the raft.
Common mistakes Leaving ore behind while chasing nodes into open water: stay close to the reef wall and surface for air breaks. Expecting raw ore to work as an ingot: smelt it before using recipes that call for Metal Ingots. Spending the whole dive on one resource: collect nearby reef materials on the same safe pass when useful. When to stop or switch Stop when you have enough ingots for the next planned recipe or upgrade, then resume reef mining when another metal project needs materials.
Sources & fact checks REWARD DETAILS & CONDITIONS Sources & rewards All source types Farming route Farming priority Name A–Z Drop chance
Farming route Underwater reef walls surrounding ordinary islands, where Metal Ore nodes appear beside the island foundation.
Plastic Hook for harvesting underwater nodes. An island with an accessible underwater reef. A Smelter on the raft to process the ore. Rate not listed
Related guides More guides for gathering materials and making progress.
Guide illustration Raft Ocean and island materials Copper Ore becomes Copper Ingots for electronics and other advanced crafting.
Guide illustration Raft Ocean and island materials Titanium Ore is a late-game crafting resource found through treasure, story destinations and Trading Posts.
Guide illustration Raft Ocean and island materials Clay is an island reef material used in crafting and can be gathered during the same underwater trip as Sand and metals.
Guide illustration Raft Ocean and island materials Sand is a renewable reef material that can be collected alongside Clay on island stops.
Find another guide Keep making progress in Raft.
