Metal Scraps vs Iron Ore in Enshrouded: Which to Farm?
In Enshrouded, you should farm metal scraps for early-to-mid game crafting and iron ore for late-game gear and structures, but iron ore is the more valuable long-term material. This guide breaks down where each is found, what they craft, and how to decide which to prioritize based on your progression stage.
Background: The Two Materials in Context
Enshrouded is a survival action RPG where you gather raw materials, craft equipment, and build bases. Metal scraps and iron ore are both essential for metalworking, but they sit at different points in the tech tree. Metal scraps are a processed byproduct—you find them as loot in ruined buildings, barrels, and crates, or by salvaging old metal objects. Iron ore, on the other hand, is a raw mineral you mine from nodes in specific biomes, then smelt into iron bars at a forge.
The game intentionally gates iron behind progression: you need a pickaxe strong enough to break iron nodes, and you must unlock the smelter and forge upgrades. Metal scraps are available almost from the start, making them your first reliable source of metal for basic tools, weapons, and building components.
How the Two Materials Work
Metal scraps are used directly in crafting recipes—no smelting required. Early recipes like the Scrappy Sword, Scrappy Axe, and various building blocks (metal beams, metal sheets) consume metal scraps. You can also salvage metal scraps from certain lootable containers, and some enemies drop them.
Iron ore is useless until smelted. You must place it in a smelter (fueled by charcoal or wood) to produce iron bars. Iron bars then feed into mid-to-high-tier recipes: iron weapons, iron armor, reinforced building materials, and advanced tools like the iron pickaxe. The smelting process takes real time, so you need to plan ahead and keep your smelter running.
Key difference: metal scraps are a finished commodity; iron ore is a raw input that requires processing. This makes iron ore more flexible for advanced crafting but also more demanding in terms of setup and time.
Where to Farm Each Material
Metal Scraps:
- Loot containers in ruined settlements, especially in the Springlands and early game areas.
- Breakable objects like barrels, crates, and carts often drop metal scraps.
- Some enemies, such as Scavengers, occasionally drop them.
- Salvage from old metal items you find—like broken swords or armor—using a salvage table.
Iron Ore:
- Mine from iron ore nodes found in the Revelwood and Nomad Highlands biomes.
- Nodes appear as dark, metallic rocks embedded in cliffs and hillsides.
- You need at least a bronze pickaxe (or better) to harvest iron ore efficiently.
- The Kindlewastes also has iron nodes, but it’s a higher-level area.
In practice, you’ll naturally collect metal scraps while exploring early ruins, but iron ore requires deliberate mining trips to specific biomes.
How to Choose: Which Should You Farm?
Your choice depends on your current progression and what you’re trying to craft:
- Early game (levels 1–10): Farm metal scraps. You don’t have access to iron pickaxes or the smelter yet, and metal scraps cover all your basic needs.
- Mid game (levels 10–20): Transition to iron ore. Once you unlock the smelter and bronze tools, iron bars become necessary for better weapons and armor.
- Late game (levels 20+): Iron ore is the primary metal. You’ll need large quantities for high-tier gear and building projects.
If you’re building a large base, iron bars are essential for reinforced structures. If you’re focused on combat, iron weapons are a significant upgrade over scrap weapons. In most cases, iron ore is the better long-term investment because it unlocks more advanced recipes.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
Misconception: Metal scraps are useless after early game. False—you still need them for certain building blocks and some recipes even in mid-game. Don’t throw them away.
Problem: Running out of fuel for the smelter. Smelting iron ore consumes charcoal or wood. Always keep a stockpile of charcoal (made from wood in a kiln) to avoid interruptions.
Problem: Iron ore nodes are hard to find. They’re not marked on the map. Look for dark, metallic veins on cliff faces in the Revelwood. A common mistake is searching in the Springlands, where iron doesn’t spawn.
Problem: Using the wrong pickaxe. If you try to mine iron with a stone pickaxe, you’ll get nothing. Upgrade to bronze first.
Costs and Efficiency Comparison
Farming metal scraps is cheap in time and resources—you just loot containers as you explore. However, the yield is unpredictable, and you might get more than you need or not enough.
Farming iron ore is more efficient per minute if you know where to go. A single mining trip can yield dozens of ore, which smelt into bars. The cost is the upfront investment: you need a bronze pickaxe, a smelter, and fuel. Once you have that infrastructure, iron ore is far more productive.
In terms of crafting value, one iron bar (from 1 ore) is roughly equivalent to 2–3 metal scraps in terms of the tier of items it can craft. But iron bars unlock recipes that metal scraps can’t, so the comparison isn’t direct.
Alternatives and Related Materials
If you’re looking for other metal sources, consider:
- Copper ore: Found in the same biomes as iron, used for bronze (copper + tin) and some early tools.
- Tin ore: Also needed for bronze, found in the Springlands and Revelwood.
- Lapis and other rare ores: For end-game gear, but not relevant to the scrap vs. iron question.
You can also buy metal scraps from some NPC merchants, but that costs coins you might need elsewhere. In a pinch, salvaging old gear is a decent source of scraps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I smelt metal scraps into iron bars?
No. Metal scraps are used directly in recipes; they cannot be smelted. Only iron ore produces iron bars.
Q: What’s the fastest way to get iron ore?
Equip a bronze pickaxe, travel to the Revelwood, and mine the dark nodes on cliffs. Bring a few torches and food for stamina. A single trip can yield 50+ ore.
Q: Is metal scraps worth hoarding?
Yes, but not in huge quantities. Keep a stack of 100–200 for building and repairs, but don’t dedicate chest space to thousands.
Q: Do I need iron ore to progress the main quest?
Not directly, but you’ll need iron gear to survive the higher-level areas where the main quest takes you. So it’s indirectly required.
Q: Can I find iron ore in the Springlands?
No. Iron ore only spawns in the Revelwood and Nomad Highlands (and Kindlewastes at higher levels). The Springlands has copper and tin instead.
Q: Which is better for building a base?
Iron bars are better for structural integrity and defense. Metal scraps are fine for early shelters, but if you’re building a permanent base, invest in iron.
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