Hytale Zone 1 Guide: Emerald Wilds, Biomes, Caves, Structures

Orbis is one of the planets you can visit in Hytale. Right now, it’s the only one available—but that will likely change over the coming years with new updates! The planet is divided into different zones, though currently only four of them generate. Zone 1, the Emerald Wilds, feels fairly peaceful at first, with plenty of green meadows and forests, abandoned sites, and your first caves. Don’t be fooled, though— even the starting area can hide nasty monsters and terrifying caverns. Let’s take a closer look at Zone 1, what you can find there, and the secrets you might uncover.

Hytale Emerald Wilds: Sub-biomes, flora, and fauna in Zone 1

When you first start Hytale, you’ll land in the Drifting Plains, a section of Zone 1. These are made up mostly of wide meadows and forests, with some hilly regions. It all feels fairly calm here and it’s the perfect place for your base. The second section is the Seedling Woods, which covers most forest areas, especially those with colorful fall foliage. Travel a bit farther and you’ll reach The Fens, a swamp that isn’t a great spot for a base. Occasionally you’ll also find the Azure Woods, known for their blue wood. At the edge of Zone 1, there’s also a coastline with crabs and fish.

There’s no shortage of wildlife here! You’ll come across peaceful animals like rabbits, deer, pigs, and sheep, and you can even tame some of them and keep them for their resources. Learn more in our animal farming guide (Hytale animal taming: livestock, feed, and products) . The Kweebecs really stand out—Hytale’s mascot and one of the peaceful factions that will become important later. You can already trade with them to get certain recipes.

Not every creature is friendly, though. Bears and wolves will attack on sight. Even during the day, you’ll find skeleton warriors—both swordsmen and archers—all over the place. You’ll also run into Trorks, who wait for you in their camps. In the swamps, beware of spiders, snakes, and swamp monsters. Stay alert at night as well— that’s when Void monsters emerge. They appear in every zone, not just the Emerald Wilds.

Emerald Wilds caves in Hytale: ores, enemies, and loot

Once you’ve built a cozy home, it’s time to head underground. Exploring caves is a key part of Hytale, as that’s where you’ll find ores to upgrade your gear. You’ll also stumble upon surprises like ruins or mines.

At first glance, Hytale’s caves seem unassuming—mostly narrow tunnels—and near the surface you’ll really only find copper. You won’t meet many enemies right away unless you’ve been in the tunnel systems for a while. Then kobolds or rats like to spawn behind you, so watch your back on the way out!

The deeper you go, the more ores you’ll find. Eventually, iron joins the mix—your second step for upgrading your tools. You’ll sometimes find rooms filled with mushrooms or crystals—definitely grab them. Mushrooms are solid food sources or ingredients for bombs, while crystals can be used for light sources.

Once the cave shifts from normal stone to basalt, be careful. Deep underground lies a lava-filled underworld that’s definitely not as peaceful as Zone 1’s surface. There’s lots of iron here, along with ancient ruins coated in lava. You’ll also face some nasty foes, including lava golems, skeleton mages, and toads with their grabbing tongues. Proceed at your own risk—and make sure you’re equipped with iron weapons.

Structures in Zone 1 Emerald Wilds: crypts, mineshafts, ruins, and Trork camps

Another key part of every zone is prefabs—prebuilt structures and buildings you can find and explore. Even in Zone 1, there’s plenty to discover, and several are perfect if you’re in the mood for an adventure!

The Forgotten Temple is likely the most important structure, as it lets you restore your memories (Find Hytale Memories: Locations, Tips, and Rewards) . Variations of it appear in other zones, too. You’ll also often find abandoned houses, large and small, and ruins taken over by skeletons. Occasionally you’ll come across a wizard tower guarded by skeletons. Trork camps are intriguing as well—just watch out for their wolves.

One of our highlights is the crypt, which you can spot on the map by a circular graveyard. If you explore all the way down, expect to spend about an hour, capped off with a boss fight. Underground, you’ll often find mineshafts or ruins. Sometimes you’ll run into a Klops that has built an underground dwelling. Some other structures, like the Challenge Gates, currently don’t have a use.

Hytale verdict: Emerald Wilds of Zone 1

Zone 1 is Hytale’s starting area and a great place to set up your first base. From the sweeping plains to dense fall forests, there are truly beautiful landscapes with great views. But not every place is so peaceful— the swamps in particular are home to nasty monsters that attack on sight. And the caves get tougher the deeper you dig. Exploring the Emerald Wilds alone will take several hours, with new surprises waiting around every corner.

Explore Zone 1 on your own or with friends by renting a Hytale server from us (Rent a Hytale server). You’ll always be ready when a new update—and possibly a new zone—arrives!