Outbound Guide: How to Find and Mine Coarse Ore
Breaking the Progression Barrier: Where to Find Coarse Ore and Unlock the Metal Smelter
Quick Answer: Coarse Ore is located in a hidden mountain alcove in the northeast corner of the first map, situated between the vehicle lift and the blocked tunnel. Look for rocks with three black shards sticking out; mining one with a pickaxe yields three Coarse Ore, which you’ll need to build a Metal Smelter and craft the Level 2 Pickaxe.
As you push deeper into Outbound, the game stops handing you every resource on a silver platter. While wood and fiber are everywhere, Coarse Ore is the first major “gatekeeper” material you’ll encounter. It’s tucked away in a specific corner of the starting biome that is surprisingly easy to drive right past. If you’re trying to upgrade your gear to reach the second map, finding this ore is your top priority.
Where to Locate Coarse Ore
You won’t find Coarse Ore sitting along the main paved roads. To find it, you need to navigate to the northeast section of the starting area. Specifically, look for the fork in the road just north of the vehicle lift.
Between the rock cliffs, you’ll spot a steep dirt path sloping upward. Even with your first engine upgrade, your camper van will likely struggle to make the climb. Don’t waste your fuel spinning your tires; park the van at the bottom and make the trek on foot. Follow that path into a tucked-away alcove.
To identify the ore, look for unique rock formations featuring three distinct black shards protruding from the top.
Mining Requirements and Yields
- Required Tool: Standard Pickaxe.
- Visual Cue: Rocks with three black shards.
- Yield: 3 Coarse Ore per node.
- Location: Northeast alcove, south of the blocked tunnel.
Why You Need Coarse Ore
Coarse Ore isn’t just another item to clutter your backpack. It is the essential ingredient for the Metal Smelter, which is the heart of your mid-game progression. Without a smelter, you can’t refine the materials needed to leave the first area.
Before you go on a mining marathon, make sure your van is actually powered up enough to reach these remote spots. If you’re struggling with power, check out our Windmill repair guide to get your local infrastructure back online.
Crafting the Metal Smelter
To build your first Metal Smelter, you will need:
- 5 Coarse Ore
- 6 Rocks
Reaching the Second Map
The primary reason you want Coarse Ore is to bypass the “Mossrock” boulders blocking the northeast exit. The standard pickaxe won’t dent them. You must use the Metal Smelter to turn two Scrap Metal into one refined Metal bar, which is then used to craft Reinforced Planks.
Once you have those planks, you can craft the Level 2 Pickaxe. This upgraded tool serves two vital purposes:
- Breaking Boulders: It clears the path to the second map in the northeast.
- Unlocking Mines: It allows you to harvest resources from the mines in the southeast, located just south of the waterfall.
Since this alcove is the only spot to find Coarse Ore in the entire first region, I highly recommend clearing out every node you see. You’ll save yourself a lot of walking later on.
If you want to master every aspect of your campervan adventure, be sure to check out all of our other guides at Novus Vektra.
