How to Get Thorium in Hytale (Early Access): Where It Spawns and What to Craft First

TL;DR

Thorium is a valuable ore you’ll most often find in desert regions (sometimes labeled as areas like Howling Sands or Badlands, depending on the map). Look for green ore nodes on cliff faces, ravines, rocky ridges, and cave walls. Mine it with a pickaxe, then smelt it into Thorium Ingots in a furnace.

If you want the fastest approach: open your map, locate a large desert, and spend 10 minutes doing a surface scan of sandstone ridges and ravines before committing to a long cave run.

Early Access note

Hytale server hosting is in Early Access, so spawn density and crafting costs can change. The good news is that the practical how usually stays the same: deserts, exposed rock, and caves are your best bets. Treat exact recipe totals as something to confirm in-game if a patch lands.

What Thorium is (and why it’s worth the trip)

Thorium is one of those materials that can change how comfortable the game feels. Once you can farm it consistently, regular fights tend to stop feeling like a resource drain, and you can start planning upgrades instead of just reacting to whatever drops.

Where to find Thorium Ore

Most routes boil down to one rule: start in desert biomes, then prioritize terrain that exposes a lot of rock.

The fast method: scan first, dig second

Before you go underground, do a surface pass. This is the quickest way to get your first Thorium because deposits can be visible from a distance when they spawn on exposed stone.

Look for:

• steep sandstone hills and rocky ridges
• ravines and broken terrain with lots of exposed cliff faces
• cave entrances in desert zones

As you move, keep your camera aimed at cliff sides. You’re searching for a green ore color that stands out against desert rock.

The reliable method: caves

Once you’ve found your first few nodes, caves become the better long-term option. Desert caves and cavern layers tend to give you more chances per run because you’re covering more rock surface area in a smaller space.

A simple habit that keeps cave runs from turning into a mess:

don’t push deeper if you can’t find your way back easily

grab obvious deposits first

loop back and stay efficient

What tool do you need to mine Thorium?

Bring a proper pickaxe. In many Early Access builds, even early-tier pickaxes can handle Thorium, but if mining feels painfully slow or doesn’t work the way you expect, your safest move is to upgrade your pickaxe tier before you waste a full run.

Practical advice: basic pickaxe: fine for your first haul, iron (or better): faster, smoother runs, less time stuck mining.

How to turn Thorium Ore into Thorium Ingots

Once you have Thorium Ore:

1. place or use a furnace
2. add a basic fuel source you already use for smelting
3. smelt ore into Thorium Ingots

If your inventory fills up quickly, that’s normal. Thorium is often a mine now, smelt in batches material.

Alternative ways to get Thorium

If you’re already exploring dangerous island zones, you may sometimes pick up Thorium through combat or loot in high-risk areas (often tied to volcanic environments). Consider this a bonus route, not your primary plan. Mining in desert terrain is usually the most consistent way to build a stockpile.

How much Thorium should you farm?

Don’t aim for a perfect number. Recipe costs can shift in Early Access, and different gear paths consume ingots at different rates.

Instead, use two simple milestones:

First milestone: enough ingots for one upgrade you’ll feel immediately (weapon or a defensive tool if you’re still getting clipped)

Second milestone: enough to make a big step upgrade (a few armor pieces or a key workstation upgrade)

If your upgrades aren’t changing your day-to-day fights, you probably spread your ingots too thin. Build one meaningful improvement first.

What to craft first

If you craft everything at once, you can end up with a lot of nice-to-have pieces and still feel weak in normal combat. A cleaner approach:

upgrade one weapon that matches your playstyle

if you’re taking random hits in crowded fights, add one defensive option (often a shield)

then invest into bigger upgrades once routine combat feels stable

If you want a clear early-game structure (so you’re not wandering without a plan), you can treat your first Thorium hunt as a natural next step milestone. For a concrete progression route and exploration goals, see our Hytale Memories Guide.

Co-op/Sever Note

Thorium runs are simply easier with friends, especially when you can jump into the same world without waiting for one person to host it.

If you’re setting up a shared world, a dedicated server keeps sessions consistent. Godlike can help you spin up a Hytale server for co-op play.

FAQ

Where does Thorium spawn in Hytale?

Thorium is most commonly associated with desert biomes and tends to show up on exposed rock in cliffs, ravines, ridges, and caves.

Can I mine Thorium with a basic pickaxe?

Often, yes, but if mining feels too slow or inconsistent, upgrade your pickaxe tier. An iron pickaxe (or better) usually makes the run smoother.

What does Thorium look like?

It’s typically a green ore that stands out against desert rock and sandstone.

Is surface searching or cave mining better?

Surface scanning is great for your first finds because exposed cliffs can reveal deposits quickly. Caves are usually better when you need larger amounts.

Can I get Thorium without mining?

Sometimes, through loot or drops in higher-risk areas, but it’s not the most reliable plan. Desert mining tends to be the consistent route.

I’ve been in the desert and still can’t find Thorium. What’s the usual mistake?

Most people spend too long in flat areas. Focus on terrain that exposes rock: cliffs, ravines, ridges, and cave entrances. Do a quick surface scan before you commit to deep digging.