Iron Ore becomes essential once players reach the mid-game stages of Enshrouded, and the Ridgeback Mine in the Kindlewastes stands out as the most efficient and convenient place to gather large quantities of it. With a dense concentration of ore veins and a built-in travel shortcut, Ridgeback Mine is the preferred location for players who want to streamline their resource farming.
This guide covers where to find Ridgeback Mine, how to unlock teleportation inside the mine, and how to maximize your Iron Ore yield with minimal travel time.
What Makes Ridgeback Mine the Best Iron Location
Ridgeback Mine offers a combination of high resource density and convenience that other Kindlewastes caves lack. Once the mine is cleared, players gain uninterrupted access to Iron Ore without needing to navigate hazardous desert terrain each time.
Benefits of farming Iron at Ridgeback Mine
- High number of Iron Ore veins throughout the tunnels
- A straightforward and compact layout
- Significantly less travel time after unlocking teleportation
- Safer environment than open Shroud or desert zones
- Quick reset potential for continuous farming cycles
How to Reach Ridgeback Mine
Ridgeback Mine is located northeast of the Kindlewastes Ancient Spire, placed against a cliffside typical of the area. Reaching it is simple once the Spire is activated, as players can glide directly from the fast-travel point.
Players entering the Kindlewastes for the first time should ensure they have proper gear and healing items, as enemies here hit harder than in earlier regions.
Destroying the Shroud Root for Teleport Access
One of the most important features of Ridgeback Mine is the Shroud Root hidden inside the tunnels. This glowing organic structure is the key to turning the mine into your personal iron farm.
What destroying the Shroud Root does
- Removes Shroud corruption from the mine
- Eliminates the Shroud timer
- Allows the player to teleport directly out of the mine
- Home portal
- Recall consumables
- Spire travel
Once the Shroud Root is destroyed, you no longer need to walk back across the Kindlewastes after each farming run. This dramatically reduces downtime and makes Ridgeback Mine the most efficient long-term Iron Ore source.
How to locate the Shroud Root
The root is found deeper in the mine. Players should follow the main tunnel paths until they reach the room glowing with Shroud energy. Destroying the core, not the tendrils around it, is required to disable the Shroud.
Recommended Tools and Requirements
Minimum pickaxe
- Copper Pickaxe
Stone-tier tools cannot break Iron Ore. Higher-tier pickaxes mine faster and allow for smoother farm cycles.
Inventory considerations
Iron Ore is heavy, so players should bring weight-reducing gear, a backpack upgrade, or prepare to make multiple teleport runs.
Efficient Iron Farming Route in Ridgeback Mine
To farm Iron Ore as efficiently as possible, follow this routine:
Step-by-step route
- Fast-travel to the Kindlewastes Ancient Spire.
- Glide directly to Ridgeback Mine’s entrance.
- Clear enemies inside the tunnels.
- Locate and destroy the Shroud Root to unlock teleporting.
- Mine every Iron Ore vein along the main and side paths.
- Teleport back to your base once inventory is full.
- Store, refine, or smelt your Iron, then repeat the process.
This method allows players to collect hundreds of Iron Ore in a short period with almost no backtracking.
Why Ridgeback Mine Beats Other Iron Locations
Although Iron Ore can also be found in various caves north and southeast of the Kindlewastes Ancient Spire, none of those spots offer the same efficiency as Ridgeback Mine. The combination of ore density and teleport access places Ridgeback Mine at the top of any farming list.
Players who want the fastest Iron progression, including crafting stronger weapons, armor, and late-game tools, should base all Iron gathering around Ridgeback Mine.
