How To Get Steel In RimWorld And The Best Ways To Find It
Establishing a thriving colony in RimWorld requires a steady influx of industrial materials to build defenses, advanced machinery, and power grids. Among these foundational resources, steel stands out as the absolute backbone of structural engineering and technological progression. Securing a reliable supply chain ensures your colonists survive aggressive raids and unpredictable environmental crises during their lengthy stay on the harsh planet.
Mining Surface Deposits and Mountain Formations
The most immediate method for collecting steel involves extracting it directly from visible rock walls scattered across your local map. Players can look for dark, metallic veins embedded within hillsides and mountainsides to designate for immediate excavation. Specialized mining tasks should be assigned to highly skilled colonists to increase the speed and efficiency of the extraction process.
When surface options run thin, digging deeper tunnels into large mountain structures can reveal hidden pockets of compacted steel. This exploratory technique requires proper roof management to prevent dangerous cave-ins that can crush unsuspecting workers. Tunneling systematically in a grid pattern allows you to inspect vast subterranean areas without jeopardizing structural integrity.
Utilizing Deep Drilling and Ground Penetrating Scanners
As your settlement reaches mid-game technological milestones, surface veins will naturally become entirely depleted. To transition toward sustainable long-term development, you must research advanced mechanical drilling protocols. Constructing a ground-penetrating scanner allows intellectual colonists to discover massive, unseen mineral pools buried far beneath the topsoil.
Once a hidden deposit is fully located, placing a heavy deep drill directly over the designated coordinates secures an endless flow of materials. This mechanical setup requires a steady connection to your local power grid to maintain continuous operations. While deep drilling provides excellent yields, players must remain vigilant as the loud machinery can occasionally trigger sudden underground infestations.
Deconstructing Ancient Ruins and Ship Wreckage
Every newly generated map features remnants of forgotten civilizations, including mechanical structures, ancient walls, and scattered space debris. Sending your laborers to deconstruct these steel-based ruins yields a generous amount of immediate building components. This historical scavenging approach serves as an exceptional shortcut for gathering supplies during the initial weeks of your colony's setup.
Random events will also deposit large chunks of falling spacecraft directly onto your territory from the upper atmosphere. Ordering your construction workers to dismantle this burning wreckage secures highly valuable refined metals and structural parts. Utilizing these unexpected gifts ensures you can expand your defensive perimeters without relying solely on traditional excavation.
Trading with Caravans and Galactic Factions
Establishing lucrative commercial ties with passing merchants offers an alternative pathway to balance your local resource inventory. You can invite exotic goods traders or bulk resource caravans to your colony to purchase massive quantities of raw metals directly. Offering valuable local products like tailored apparel, agricultural excess, or refined artwork ensures you have enough silver to fund these bulk purchases.
If your immediate neighborhood lacks active suppliers, forming your own outbound caravan allows you to travel toward friendly settlements. Visiting nearby faction bases opens up massive inventory sheets that frequently feature thousands of heavy resource blocks. This proactive commercial strategy keeps your industrial production lines running smoothly even during severe resource shortages.