V Rising Leather Crafting: Tannery Unlock & Use

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

To unlock the Tannery in V Rising, you must defeat the level 27 boss, Rufus the Foreman, who is located in the Bandit Trapper Camp in the Farbane Woods. Once defeated, you can build the Tannery at your base using the Build Menu under “Refinement,” and use it to turn raw animal hides into leather, a crucial material for mid-game gear and structures.

Why Leather Matters in V Rising

Leather is a fundamental resource in V Rising, serving as the primary material for a wide range of gear and base upgrades. It is required for crafting leather armor sets, which provide significant protection against the game’s many threats, and for creating essential items like saddles for horses and various decorative and functional structures. Without a steady supply of leather, you will find it nearly impossible to progress past the early-to-mid game, as many blueprints and recipes explicitly require it. Understanding how to efficiently produce leather is therefore a key step in establishing a sustainable base and advancing your vampire’s power.

Unlocking the Tannery: Boss Location and Strategy

The Tannery is not available from the start; you must first defeat Rufus the Foreman. He is a level 27 boss, which means you should be at least level 25-27 with decent gear before attempting the fight. Here is how to find and defeat him:

Location: Rufus is located in the Bandit Trapper Camp, which is in the southeastern part of the Farbane Woods. Look for a small camp with wooden fences and cages.
Preparation: Bring weapons that deal good single-target damage, such as a sword or axe, and consider using a crossbow for ranged attacks. Stock up on healing items like Blood Packs or Garlic-Flavored Blood.
Fight Strategy: Rufus uses a mix of melee attacks and throws traps. He will occasionally crouch and place a trap on the ground; avoid these by moving away. His melee attacks are telegraphed, so dodge or use your movement abilities to avoid them. Use hit-and-run tactics, and keep your distance when he is enraged.
Reward: Defeating Rufus grants you the ability to build the Tannery, along with some leather and other loot.

How to Build and Use the Tannery

Once you have the blueprint, building the Tannery is straightforward. Open your Build Menu (B key by default), navigate to the “Refinement” tab, and select the Tannery. It costs 8 Planks and 4 Animal Hide to construct. Place it in your base, and you can start using it immediately.

To use the Tannery, interact with it and open its crafting menu. The primary recipe is:

Leather: Requires 8 Animal Hide and 1 minute of processing time. You can queue multiple batches, and the Tannery will work automatically as long as it has materials.

You can also craft other items at the Tannery, such as:

Leather Whip: A weapon used for taming horses.
Saddle: Required to ride horses.

Make sure to keep your Tannery supplied with Animal Hide, which you can obtain by hunting deer, wolves, and other creatures. You can also find Animal Hide in various containers and from certain enemies.

Efficient Leather Production Tips

Producing leather in bulk requires a steady supply of Animal Hide. Here are some tips to maximize your efficiency:

Hunt in Groups: Creatures like deer and wolves often spawn in groups. Use area-of-effect attacks or a bow to take down multiple at once.
Use the Environment: Lead animals into narrow passages or use terrain to your advantage to avoid taking damage while hunting.
Build Multiple Tannery Stations: While one Tannery is sufficient early on, building two or three later allows you to process hide faster, reducing wait times.
Prioritize Leather Needs: Leather is used in many recipes, so plan your crafting. If you need a lot of leather for a base expansion, focus on gathering hide and queuing up multiple batches before moving on to other tasks.

Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

Players often encounter a few issues when dealing with the Tannery:

Not Enough Hide: The most common problem is running out of Animal Hide. Solution: Make hunting a regular part of your routine, and consider setting up a base near a hunting ground.
Tannery Not Working: If the Tannery is not producing, check that it has materials and that you have enough space in your inventory or nearby storage. The Tannery will not operate if its output is blocked.
Missing Blueprint: If you cannot build the Tannery, you have not defeated Rufus the Foreman yet. Double-check your boss progress in the Blood Altar.
Confusing Recipes: Some players confuse Animal Hide with Leather. Remember, you need Animal Hide to make Leather, not the other way around.

Alternatives to the Tannery

While the Tannery is the primary way to produce leather, there are a few alternatives that can supplement your supply:

Loot: Leather can be found as loot in various locations, such as chests, crates, and from certain enemies like bandits. This is a good way to get a small amount without crafting.
Merchant Purchase: Some merchants in the game sell leather, but this is often expensive and not a reliable source. It is better to craft your own.
Devourer: The Devourer is a structure that can break down items into resources. It is not a direct alternative, but you can use it to recycle unwanted leather items back into leather, which can be helpful if you have excess gear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I get Animal Hide?

Animal Hide is obtained by killing animals such as deer, wolves, and bears. You can also find it in some containers and from certain enemies. The best places to farm are the Farbane Woods and the Dunley Farmlands.

How long does it take to make leather?

Each leather takes 1 minute to craft. You can queue multiple batches, and the Tannery will process them sequentially. With multiple Tannery stations, you can speed up production.

Can I move the Tannery after building it?

Yes, you can move the Tannery. Use the “Move” option in the build menu, or destroy it and rebuild it elsewhere. You will get back the materials used to build it.

What is the difference between Animal Hide and Leather?

Animal Hide is the raw material dropped by animals. Leather is the processed material created at the Tannery. Leather is used in higher-tier recipes, while Animal Hide is used for basic items like simple armor and some structures.

Do I need a specific level to use the Tannery?

No, once you have the blueprint from Rufus, you can build and use the Tannery at any level. However, the materials needed to build it (Planks and Animal Hide) require some early-game progression.

Can I automate leather production?

Yes, you can automate it by ensuring the Tannery has a steady supply of Animal Hide. You can also use servants to gather resources, but they cannot operate the Tannery directly. The Tannery will continue to process queued items even if you leave the area, as long as it has materials.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.