Scrap iron becomes iron bars for gear, tools, and recipes that support Swamp and Mountain progression.
PC / Global, 1.0
WHERE & HOW TO FARM
Where to farm
Muddy Scrap Piles inside Swamp Sunken Crypts. After Bonemass, the Wishbone can also reveal buried surface piles.
Sunken Crypts turn a Swamp expedition into an iron supply run. Muddy Scrap Piles yield scrap iron, but under normal settings neither that scrap nor smelted iron bars can pass through standard wooden portals. Set an extraction plan before entering: in early progression without Portal – Stone or permissive world settings, carry ore and bars out physically by foot, cart, or ship. A nearby Smelter processes the scrap, but does not change the standard wooden portal restriction. Keep the route back to safety clear and choose a haul sized for your available transport.
The Swamp Key from The Elder to open Sunken Crypt gates.
Swamp-ready food, armor, a weapon, and poison resistance.
An Antler Pickaxe or better for scrap piles, inventory space, and a cart, boat, or local smelting plan.
Find a Sunken Crypt in the Swamp and unlock its gate with the Swamp Key.
Enter with stamina available and deal with immediate threats before mining.
Break Muddy Scrap Piles with an Antler Pickaxe or better and collect the scrap iron they expose.
Search accessible side rooms and passages before leaving the crypt.
Move scrap to safe storage or a nearby Smelter before the load becomes difficult to carry; early on, use a physical route.
Smelt scrap into iron bars. Standard wooden portals also block bars under normal settings, so haul them physically unless Portal – Stone or world settings allow passage and the departure portal supports the items.
After defeating Bonemass, equip the Wishbone to search for buried Swamp scrap piles as another iron source.
Farming tips
Raw scrap iron and smelted iron bars cannot pass through standard wooden portals under normal settings; smelting does not remove the restriction.
Keep your route back to the crypt entrance clear so a heavy load does not turn retreat into a fight.
Portal – Stone and permissive world modifiers are exceptions, but do not assume they are available during early progression.
Repeat, collect and use
Repeat crypt runs when more iron is needed. Each crypt and buried pile is finite; other crypts and Wishbone-detected piles provide further opportunities.
Common mistakes
Arriving without the Swamp Key; defeat The Elder and bring the key before planning a crypt run.
Trying to portal scrap iron or iron bars through a standard wooden portal under normal settings; plan a physical early-game haul.
Mining while threats remain active; clear the room before spending stamina on a pile.
When to stop or switch
Stop when your iron bars cover current equipment or building plans; return when another recipe gives you a clear need.
