Caves are a key part of Hytale’s progression, since they’re where you’ll find crucial items you need to move forward. Chief among them are the ores used to upgrade your tools, weapons, and workbench. But there are more secrets underground, including possible structures, monsters, and other valuable treasure. That’s why cave runs are an important part of the gameplay—just make sure you’re prepared. Let’s take a closer look at how caves in Hytale currently work in Early Access and what you can find there!
Hytale Cave Prep: Gear and Inventory Checklist
Before you dig down, make sure you’ve got the right gear—without it, you likely won’t get far. Caves can be dangerous, even if they don’t seem so at first glance. It’s better to bring more than you think you’ll need.
Your inventory should include:
- a weapon of your choice
- a bow and arrows
- a shield (if using a one‑handed weapon)
- several pickaxes (current tier)
- repair kits (for iron pickaxes and above)
- food (2× 25 pieces)
- plenty of torches (at least 100 in your off‑hand so you can place them directly)
- fibers, sticks, and resin (for crafting more torches)
- cobblestone or dirt (for building)
Even better is if you’ve already unlocked the backpack. It gives you extra inventory slots right away for all the items you pick up. You only need 8× iron ingots and 8× Medium Leather, which you should be able to obtain fairly quickly.
Hytale Caves by Biome: Layout and Zone Highlights
Hytale currently has four different biomes with caves to explore. They differ in look and in the ores and resources you can find. If you want to learn more about the zones themselves, check out our post: (Hytale Zones Explained: Biomes, Ores, and Mobs) . In every biome you can discover cave entrances anywhere—some are even marked by mineshafts and contain more ores. Each zone brings its own challenges!
- Zone 1: Caves are fairly straightforward, mostly normal stone. You’ll occasionally find mushroom sections—be careful, they can explode. At the very bottom lies a hellscape of lava with ancient ruins and nasty monsters.
- Zone 2: The depths of the Howling Sands are structured differently and primarily made of sandstone. Watch out for insect nests scattered everywhere. They’re a good source of Chitin if you need it. The very bottom also features a lava‑heavy section with ruins, similar to Zone 1.
- Zone 3: The caves in the Whisperfrost Frontiers look completely different—icy and chilling at a glance. Beware: the ground can be slippery and send you straight into a chasm. Move carefully and don’t put a foot wrong. Deep down you’ll find nothing but ice and water, plus surprisingly few enemies. You can sometimes dive for treasure—just watch your oxygen.
- Zone 4: Zone 4 flips many other caves on their head—literally. While the surface is chaotic, far below you’ll find a paradise of tropical trees and lush landscapes. You’ll discover not only some very rare tree species here but also native dinosaurs.
Hytale Ores and Resources: Where to Find Them in Caves and on the Surface
Caves in Hytale are primarily important for gathering ores. You’ll use them to forge better tools or start dabbling in alchemical pursuits. But where do you find all the ores you need? Let’s break it down. Note that ores can appear not only in caves but also on the surface or in mountains.
- Copper: Found almost everywhere, but primarily in Zone 1 in the starting area.
- Iron: Occasionally in Zone 1, but very common in Zones 2 and 3.
- Gold: Found in oceans and easily spotted in the mountains of Zone 3. Used mainly for alchemy and currently not for tools.
- Silver: Also appears in mountain regions of Zone 3, as well as in deep lava caves in Zone 2. You can sometimes find it in Zone 1 if you dig deep enough. Not used for tools either, but needed to craft wands.
- Cobalt: Easy to find in Zone 3, sometimes even in the mountains, so you don’t have to dig down at all.
- Thorium: The green ore found in the desert of Zone 2.
- Adamantite: You’ll need to head to one of the Zone 4 islands—that’s the only place to find Adamantite, currently the strongest ore.
Ores are the most important resource underground, but there’s more. You can also find crystals in various colors for decorative crafting. Rare gemstones such as emeralds or even diamonds can appear, too. Otherwise, be sure to pick up loot from monsters you defeat.
Hytale Cave Monsters: Enemies, Spawn Behavior, and Dangers
You’re probably wondering what monsters lurk in caves. Cave runs aren’t exactly easy. While the system isn’t fully fleshed out yet, there are still some nasty creatures. They often spawn when you turn around. It’s still unclear whether lighting up caves helps. So always watch your back.
Expect to encounter:
- Rats
- Goblins (with various gear)
- Spiders
- Scaraks
- Toads
- Elemental Golems
- Dinosaurs
- Skeleton Mages
Conclusion: Explore Hytale’s Caves and Find Rare Ores
Caves in Hytale each have their own character and change with the biome. That keeps things fresh, and you’ll truly need to travel across all zones to gather key materials. Always bring the best gear you can and keep upgrading it to stay prepared. And beware of monsters that love to appear right behind you.
If you want to play with friends, rent one of our Hytale servers and go caving together. Who knows what secrets, structures, or rare resources you’ll discover!
