How to get Iron Ore in Once Human

Games involving resource collecting usually have Iron as one of the first metals to be harvested, but this isn’t the case in Once Human. You can expect to collect Iron Ore later in the game, and because you find it later, it’s tricky to track down.

Iron is a mid-game resource in Once Human, though if you do come across it, you won’t be able to harvest it if you don’t have the right tools. As this is a tough material to come across, we will look at when you will start finding Iron Ore more frequently and how to mine it.

Where to find Iron Ore in Once Human

Iron Ore becomes much more prominent when you enter the Iron River area, which can be found north of the Dayton Wetlands. The Iron River is an issue in itself, as it is an area you can expect to visit from level 20 to 30. Many of the enemies throughout this region are within that level range, although if you’re lower level, don’t worry about them too much. Higher-level enemies are an excellent source of experience points, and they’re not too difficult to defeat if you have suitable gear.

If you want to enter the Iron River zone a little earlier than level 28, we recommend progressing until you unlock the motorcycle and have weapons on hand so you can leave the area quickly if you need to. Having a weapon will also allow you to shoot at the enemies as you escape.

However, engaging foes at close range is an excellent idea if you have a strong melee weapon. It’s easier to catch enemies off-balance using melee weapons rather than any ranged ones. When you use ranged weapons, there’s a higher chance for you to get shot when battling against tougher foes, and they don’t get knocked off-balance unless you consistently land headshots.

How to mine Iron Ore in Once Human

Pickaxes are used to mine materials in Once Human, with each Pickaxe tier being able to mine materials one level above that particular Pickaxe tier. 

The best Pickaxe to harvest iron is the Bronze Pickaxe, which is the easiest to craft at a lower level. You can craft Pickaxes from the Memetics Tab when you have unlocked Bronze Casting, and you’ll need one Hide, five Logs, and seven Bronze Ingots to craft a Bronze Pickaxe. You can also use drills on them, such as the Solar Auto Drill.

Iron Ore is a must-have resource when crafting in Once Human, as once you have harvested enough of it, you can create Steel Ingots at the Furnace. Steel Ingots are a key component of various higher-tier items and crafting recipes. Don’t expect to work on steel too early in the game. You’ll use it far more often as you reach intermediate crafting resources and levels, roughly around level 20 to 30, similar to the Iron River region.