Resource Gathering
| Resource Gathering | |
|---|---|
| Type | Activities |
| Location | World map encounters, towns, dungeons |
| Requirements | Interaction or appropriate tool (Pickaxe, Axe, or Primitive Tool) |
Overview
Resource Gathering is one of the primary ways to obtain crafting materials throughout the wasteland.
Resources can be harvested from:
- Ore Deposits
- Trees
- Scrap Piles
- Old Computers
- Herbs and Fruits
Most resources are found in encounters, while some special nodes can also be found in towns and dungeons.
Harvesting certain resources requires tools such as a Pickaxe or Axe. The Scavenging skill improves resource yields and remains valuable throughout all stages of the game.
Most encounter resources are finite, while dungeon resources typically regenerate over time.
Resource Overview
| Resource | Tool | Common Locations | Main Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ore Deposits | Pickaxe | Mountains, Caves | Iron, Minerals |
| Trees | Axe | Most Biomes | Wood, Mutfruit Saplings |
| Scrap Piles | None | Urban Areas | Scrap, Mechanical Parts |
| Old Computers | None | Dungeons | Microcircuits, Electronical Parts |
| Herbs | None | Marshes, Mountains | Healing Powder Ingredients |
Required Tools
| Tool | Usage |
|---|---|
| Pickaxe | Ore Deposits |
| Axe | Trees |
| Primitive Tool | Harvests most node types but has a chance to break on use |
| None | Scrap Piles, Computers, Herbs and Fruits |
Resource Types
Ore Deposits
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| Iron Ore | Mineral Ore |
Ore Deposits are one of the most profitable resource nodes in the wasteland.
They are most commonly found in:
- Mountain encounters
- Caves
- Desert encounters
- Coastal encounters
Large deposits provide significantly better yields than smaller ones.
Require a Pickaxe or Primitive Tool.
| Node | Yield | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Deposit | Iron | Gold Nuggets (Redding), Uranium Ore (Broken Hills) |
| Mineral Deposit | Minerals | Gold Nuggets (Redding), Uranium Ore (Broken Hills) |
| Rock | Flint | Commonly found in starter areas |
Cave deposits contain larger resource reserves and have a chance to yield Gold Nuggets and Uranium Ore.
See Caves Exploration for more information.
Trees
Trees are one of the most common resources in the wasteland and the fastest way to level up Scavenging during the early game.
Most trees are found in mountain encounters, but they can spawn in nearly every biome.
Require an Axe or Primitive Tool.
Trees normally spawn in clusters:
| Cluster Size | Tree Count |
|---|---|
| Small Forest | 2–5 Trees |
| Medium Forest | 3–7 Trees |
| Large Forest | 5–10 Trees |
Every tree provides Wood.
Fruit Trees additionally provide:
- Fruit
- Mutfruit Saplings (rare)
Wood is an extremely valuable resource used for:
- Base construction
- Rot Gut production
- Crafting recipes
A useful early-game strategy is converting Wood into Sharpened Poles directly inside encounters. This requires no workbench, levels Repair skill, and increases value-to-weight efficiency.
Scrap Piles and Rusty Cars
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Scrap Piles and Rusty Cars are commonly found in:
- Urban encounters
- Ruins
- Coastal settlements
Use Shift + C to highlight objects, as Scrap Piles may be hidden behind walls or scenery.
No tool is required.
Possible rewards include:
- Scrap
- Metal (after refining Scrap)
- Microcircuits
- Car Engines
- Motor
- Mechanical Parts
Mechanical Parts are often used as collector items for NPC trade requests. Car Engines and Motors are extremely heavy, so consider whether they are worth carrying.
Old Computers
Old Computers are commonly found in:
Each computer can be scavenged twice before becoming depleted. Computers regenerate over time.
No tool is required.
Possible rewards include:
Electronic Parts are often used as collector items for NPC trade requests.
Herbs and Fruits
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| Broc Flower | Xander Root | Fruit |
Xander Root and Broc Flower are found in:
- Desert encounters
- Coastal encounters
- Mountain encounters
- Marsh encounters
Marshes contain the highest concentrations.
No tools are required.
Herbs are primarily used for crafting Healing Powder, which:
- Heals without triggering Stim Cooldown, which can be useful for certain character builds
- Can be crafted into Chemical Components
Although herbs can be farmed directly, many players prefer obtaining Healing Powder from Ghouls, which frequently carry it.
For Fruit production, see Fruit Farming.
How Gathering Works
Tools
Many resource nodes require a specific harvesting tool.
The correct tool depends on the node type:
- Pickaxe – Ore deposits
- Axe – Trees
- Primitive Tool – Universal alternative with a chance to break
Tools may be equipped or carried in inventory while gathering.
Node Capacity
Most resource nodes have a limited number of uses before becoming depleted.
Examples:
- Trees: 3 uses
- Iron Deposits: 8 uses
After depletion, the node either disappears or changes into a depleted version.
Regeneration
Resource nodes follow one of three regeneration rules:
- Depletable – Permanently removed after depletion (common in encounters)
- Replenishable – Regenerates after a timer (common in dungeons)
- Unlimited – Never depletes (used in tutorial areas)
Scavenging Skill
Scavenging increases harvest yields.
For every 2 points of Scavenging:
- Item drop chance increases by 1%
Successfully obtaining resources also grants Scavenging experience.
Overweight Restrictions
Players cannot gather resources while double-overweight.
Being overweight is allowed, but running becomes impossible.
Resource Clusters
Resources often spawn in clusters rather than individually.
A central node surrounded by a random number of smaller nodes within a set distance. For example, an Ore Rock cluster spawns 2–4 surrounding rocks (flint or regular rocks) around a central iron or mineral deposit. This means resources are rarely found alone.
This clustering system, combined with random encounter generation, ensures that no two encounters are exactly the same.
Best Resource Sources
| Resource | Best Source |
|---|---|
| Wood | Mountain Encounters |
| Iron | Mountains and Caves |
| Minerals | Mountains and Caves |
| Microcircuits | Vault 15, Glow, Metro Dungeon |
| Scrap | Urban Encounters |
| Herbs | Marsh Encounters |
Recommended Character Build
An effective resource gatherer benefits from:
- Movement Speed – Faster you can move between maps and resource nodes, then better effeciency. Use Perk Marathon Runner.
- Intelligence – Faster scavencing skill progression. SPECIAL Intelligence.
- Strength – Increased carrying capacity for wood, fruits, and saplings. SPECIAL Strength.
Tips
- Use Shift + C to highlight resource nodes and interactable objects.
- Combine multiple gathering activities in the same encounter.
- Avoid encounters containing hostile NPCs when possible.
- Use high Look Distance to identify safe exits and routes. Resources are always visisble despite the Look Distance.
- Resource gathering may seem slow at first, but a high Scavenging skill provides significant long-term benefits.
- Always carry appropriate tools (Axe & Pickaxe).
- Strength, alcohol, and other carry-weight bonuses reduce the number of trips back to base.
- Caves are among the best locations for mining resources.