Quick answer
Iron ore comes from brownish, multi-coloured rocks around the Inquisition Base outskirts, and later from the Forest and Swamp.[1][2] You need mastery 3 in the metal-working (Smithing / Metallurgy) talent before the pickaxe will break them.[2] Smelt the ore at a Furnace: 3 Iron Ore plus 30 Fuel gives 4 Iron Ingots.[2] For a permanent supply, open the Forest mine and put zombies to work there.
Step by step
1. Reach mastery 3 for mining iron
Game Rant lists three quick ways to raise the metal-working mastery used for iron:[2]
| Source | Bonus | How |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze Hammer | +2 | Craft and keep it in your tool belt |
| First perk in the Smithing/Metallurgy tree | +1 | Spend an inspiration point |
| Inspirations | Points toward perks | Break barrels, mine copper, craft bronze items |
The Bronze Hammer plus one perk already reaches 3, which is the fastest route for most saves. Different sites name this talent "Metallurgy" or "Smithing"; both refer to the metal-working track.[2][3]
2. Find iron ore
- Early game: iron rocks around the Inquisition Base, where your house is.[2][1]
- Mid game: more finite deposits in the Forest and the Swamp once the story opens those areas.[2][1]
- How to spot them: iron rocks look brown and multi-coloured, unlike grey stone.[1]
Surface deposits do not last forever, so smelt each haul right away instead of stockpiling raw ore.[1]
3. Smelt Iron Ingots
At a Furnace, 3 Iron Ore and 30 Fuel produce 4 Iron Ingots. The Smithy in the Factory basement can also do this.[2] Fuel comes from firewood loaded into a Firewood Shed; see the fuel guide if your furnace keeps running dry.
Getting unlimited iron
The long-term answer is the Forest iron mine. It is blocked at first and has to be opened with dynamite; after that, the Zombie Mining technology lets a zombie miner and a zombie porter bring iron ore (and coal) back to your base on their own.[2] The full route is in the Forest mine and zombie mining guide.
What you need iron for early
- Supply: Iron crates for Jack's town orders. One crate at the Woodworking Workbench takes 6 Iron Ingots, 4 Boards and 8 Bronze Nails.[4] See the Supply: Iron guide.
- Iron tools, which in turn raise mastery further.[2]
Common problems
- "Insufficient mastery" on an iron rock: your metal-working mastery is below 3. Equip the Bronze Hammer and buy the first perk.[2]
- Furnace will not start: it needs 30 Fuel per batch in its area; build or refill a Firewood Shed nearby.[2]
- Ran out of rocks: surface deposits are finite. Move on to the Forest mine.[2]
Related guides
- Supply: Iron and the Workshop Hours quest
- Open the Forest mine with dynamite
- Fuel and the Firewood Shed
Sources & References
- Graveyard Keeper 2 Material Locations: Bronze, Clay, Iron, and More, Prima Games (Hadley Vincent) ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Where to Find Iron in Graveyard Keeper 2, Game Rant (Joe Grantham) ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
- Talents and mastery, Wikily ↩
- Supply: Iron: recipe, price and uses, Wikily ↩