Understanding the crafting materials in RuneScape Dragonwilds is key to unlocking some of the most powerful gear and potions in the game. The Dragonwilds are rich in unique, high-tier materials not found in standard areas, such as Dragonbone Shards, Ember Crystals, Shadowroot Bark, and Volcanic Hide. These resources are often guarded by tough NPCs or located deep within high-risk PvP zones, making them difficult but rewarding to gather. Each material serves a specialized purpose—Dragonbone Shards, for example, are vital for crafting reinforced armor, while Ember Crystals are used to enhance weapons with fire-based effects.

Gathering these materials isn’t just about collecting; it’s a strategic activity. Players must decide whether to risk venturing solo or join a gathering party for protection. Many materials require specific tools or crafting levels, encouraging skill progression. Additionally, materials from Dragonwilds often fetch high prices in the Grand Exchange, making them valuable for both combat upgrades and profit. Understanding what each resource is used for and where to safely harvest it is essential for any player looking to dominate in both PvE and PvP encounters.

Understanding Crafting Materials in RuneScape Dragonwilds: A Comprehensive Guide

Hey there, adventurers! If you’ve just stepped into the wild, dragon-filled world of RuneScape: Dragonwilds, you’re probably feeling a mix of excitement and overwhelm. This survival-crafting RPG, set in the magical continent of Ashenfall, throws you into a sandbox where crafting is your lifeline. From building your first rickety Crafting Table to brewing potions that save your hide during a goblin ambush, mastering crafting materials is the key to thriving. I’ve been grinding through the early access build (as of April 2025), and let me tell you, knowing your materials inside out makes all the difference. In this guide, I’m diving deep into the core crafting materials in Dragonwilds, how to get them, and how to use them to craft gear, runes, food, and more. Expect practical tips, a detailed table, and a human touch from someone who’s accidentally set their base on fire more than once. Let’s get crafting!

Why Crafting Materials Matter in Dragonwilds

In Dragonwilds, crafting isn’t just a side hustle, it’s the backbone of survival. Every tool, weapon, piece of armor, and potion you need to fend off dragons, goblins, or the harsh environment comes from combining raw materials at crafting stations. The game doesn’t hold your hand, so you’ll need to figure out where to find resources like Ash Logs, Rune Essence, or Flax, and how to turn them into something useful. Encumbrance (that pesky weight limit) means you can’t carry everything, so prioritizing the right materials is crucial. Plus, with invasions like dragon attacks and goblin warbands threatening your base, you’ll want a stockpile ready for repairs and combat buffs. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends in co-op, understanding crafting materials lets you build smarter, fight harder, and explore deeper. So, let’s break down the essentials.

Core Crafting Materials and How to Get Them

Below, I’ve listed the most critical crafting materials in Dragonwilds, their sources, and their primary uses. These are the building blocks for everything from basic tools to magical runes. I’ve included a table for quick reference, followed by detailed explanations to help you gather efficiently.

Material	Source	Primary Uses	Notes
Ash Logs	Chop trees in Temple Woods, Bramblemead Valley	Crafting Table, Hatchet, Pickaxe, base building, campfire fuel	Essential early-game resource; use Spectral Axe spell for faster gathering
Stone	Mine small rocks or boulders in any region	Pickaxe, Crafting Table, Rune Altar, base building	Abundant; repair tools with stone to save resources
Rune Essence	Mine from Rune Geysers (pink mist, floating rocks) with a Pickaxe	Crafting Runes (Air, Astral, Fire, etc.) at Rune Altar	Unlocks after Zanik’s quest (50 Ash Logs); 1 Essence = 10 Runes
Flax	Harvest blue flowers in Bramblemead Valley	Coarse Thread (via Spinning Wheel) for bows, armor	Common between Temple Woods and Bramblemead; needs roofed Spinning Wheel
Leather	Craft at Tannery using hides (from rats, cows, Kebbits)	Leather Armor, tool repairs	Hides drop from animals; Tannery requires bones and Ram Horns
Coarse Thread	Craft at Spinning Wheel using Flax	Bows, armor, capes	1 Flax = 1 Thread; stockpile for gear upgrades
Clay	Mine Clay nodes in Whispering Swamps	Brewing Cauldron, Clay Vessels for potions	Nodes respawn slowly; check vaults for extra Clay
Bones	Drops from animals (rats, cows) or use Bark to Bones skill	Bone Pickaxe, crafting stations	Artisan level 11 unlocks Bark to Bones for tree-to-bone conversion
Copper Ore	Mine in Fractured Plains with Bone Pickaxe	Smelt into Bronze Bars for weapons, tools	Orange-gray rocks; requires Furnace and Smithing Anvil
Tin Ore	Mine in Fractured Plains with Bone Pickaxe	Smelt into Bronze Bars for gear	Greenish rocks; pair with Copper for bronze
Feathers	Drops from chickens in Temple Woods, Bramblemead Valley	Stone/Fang Arrows	Hunt chickens for easy feathers
Small Animal Fangs	Drops from Giant Rats	Fang Arrows	Stronger than Stone Arrows; hunt rats in Mill or Bramblemead

Ash Logs

Ash Logs are your bread and butter in the early game. You get them by chopping trees in starting areas like Temple Woods or Bramblemead Valley. They’re used for everything: building your first Crafting Table (4x Ash Logs), crafting tools like the Hatchet (4x Ash Logs, 2x Stone), and fueling campfires for cooking. To gather them faster, unlock the Spectral Axe spell (Runecrafting level 5) to magically chop trees without stamina drain. Pro tip: always carry a few logs for quick repairs or campfire fuel, but don’t over-encumber yourself, drop excess at your base.

Stone

Stone is everywhere, mined from small rocks or boulders with a Pickaxe (4x Ash Logs, 4x Stone to craft). It’s a core component for the Crafting Table, Rune Altar (12x Stone, 4x Rune Essence), and base building. Stone is also used to repair tools at the Crafting Table’s Repair Tab, saving you from recrafting. Since it’s heavy, mine it near your base or use the Lift With Your Hips skill (Mining level 5) to reduce the weight of stone, clay, and sand by 25%.

Rune Essence

Rune Essence is the key to magic in Dragonwilds. You mine it from Rune Geysers, look for pink mist and floating rocks with a blue glow, using a Pickaxe. Each geyser yields 3-5 Essence, and you’ll need a Stone Pickaxe (craftable early) to start. To unlock the Rune Altar recipe, complete Zanik’s quest by delivering 50 Ash Logs, which also grants a Pickaxe. At the Rune Altar (12x Stone, 4x Rune Essence), 1 Essence produces 10 Runes, like Air or Astral, used for spells or magic weapons. Stockpile 20-30 Essence before crafting to avoid constant trips. Higher Runecrafting levels unlock more runes, like Fire at level 11.

Flax and Coarse Thread

Flax is a blue flower found in Bramblemead Valley, perfect for crafting Coarse Thread. You’ll need a Spinning Wheel (4x Ash Logs, 4x Stone, 4x Flax) placed under a roof to turn 1 Flax into 1 Coarse Thread. Thread is essential for ranged weapons like the Ash Shortbow (4x Ash Logs, 2x Coarse Thread) and armor like Leather Armor (6x Leather, 2x Coarse Thread). Since Flax is abundant, gather it while exploring to keep your thread supply high. This is a game-changer for ranged combat during invasions.

Leather

Leather is crafted at a Tannery using hides dropped by animals like rats, cows, or Kebbits. The Tannery itself requires bones and Ram Horns (from Rams in Stormtouched Highlands). Leather is used for early-game armor (6x Leather for Leather Armor) and tool repairs. To farm hides, grind Attack XP by killing animals in Bramblemead Valley, then process them at the Tannery. The Bark to Bones skill (Artisan level 11) can help with bone shortages for the Tannery. Leather Armor is a must for surviving early goblin warbands.

Clay

Clay is found in the Whispering Swamps, mined from Clay nodes that respawn slowly. It’s crucial for crafting the Brewing Cauldron (6x Clay) and Clay Vessels (via Pottery Wheel and Kiln) for potions. Check vaults in the Swamps for extra Clay nodes. Since potions like Healing Potions (Harralander, Bittercap Mushroom, Clay Vessel) are vital for late-game survival, stockpile Clay early. Place the Brewing Cauldron under a roof, as it won’t work outside.

Bones

Bones drop from animals like rats or cows, or you can use the Bark to Bones skill (Artisan level 11) to turn trees into bones. They’re used for crafting stations like the Tannery and tools like the Bone Pickaxe (4x Ash Logs, 4x Bones). Bones are also needed for some armor recipes. Farm them by hunting in Bramblemead Valley, and use the Bark to Bones skill to supplement your supply if you’re running low.

Copper and Tin Ore

Copper and Tin Ore are your ticket to bronze gear, found in Fractured Plains (north of Whispering Swamp). You’ll need a Bone Pickaxe (4x Ash Logs, 4x Bones) to mine them, Copper rocks are orange-gray, Tin rocks are greenish. Smelt them into Bronze Bars using a Furnace and Smithing Anvil, then craft weapons and tools at the Crafting Table. Bronze gear is a significant upgrade from stone tools, helping you tackle tougher enemies.

Feathers and Small Animal Fangs

Feathers come from chickens in Temple Woods or Bramblemead Valley, while Small Animal Fangs drop from Giant Rats (try the Mill). They’re used to craft arrows: Stone Arrows (4x Ash Logs, 4x Feathers) or Fang Arrows (4x Small Animal Fangs, 4x Feathers). Fang Arrows deal more damage, so prioritize them once you’ve hunted enough rats. Arrows are crafted in stacks of 33, so three crafts give you 99 arrows, plenty for a fight.

Crafting Stations and Their Role

Crafting materials are only as good as the stations you use them in. Here’s a quick rundown of the main stations and the materials they require:

Station	Materials Needed	Purpose
Crafting Table	4x Ash Logs	Craft tools (Hatchet, Pickaxe), weapons (Clubs, Bows), armor, arrows; repair gear
Rune Altar	12x Stone, 4x Rune Essence	Craft Runes (Air, Astral, Fire, etc.) for spells and magic weapons
Spinning Wheel	4x Ash Logs, 4x Stone, 4x Flax	Convert Flax to Coarse chase Thread for bows, armor
Tannery	Bones, Ram Horns	Convert hides to Leather for armor, repairs
Brewing Cauldron	6x Clay	Craft potions (Healing, Stat Boosts) with herbs, Clay Vessels
Campfire	4x Ash Logs, 4x Stone	Cook food (Rat Roast) for health, stamina
Furnace/Smithing Anvil	Varies (Stone, ores)	Smelt Copper/Tin into Bronze Bars for gear

Crafting Table: Your starting point, unlocked via Doric’s quest (bring Ash Logs). It’s mobile, so you can relocate it during exploration. Use it for basic gear and repairs.
Rune Altar: Unlocked via Zanik’s quest (50 Ash Logs). Essential for magic users, as Runes power spells like Axtral Projection or Rockplosion.
Spinning Wheel: Needs a roof to function. Craft Coarse Thread for ranged weapons and armor.
Tannery: Process hides into Leather. Requires bones, so prioritize animal hunting or Bark to Bones.
Brewing Cauldron: For potions, which are critical in late-game fights. Clay is the bottleneck, so farm it early.
Campfire: Cook food like Rat Roast (Raw Rat, Ash Log) to restore health. Always have fuel ready.
Furnace/Smithing Anvil: Smelt ores for bronze gear. Found in Fractured Plains or built later.

Strategies for Efficient Material Gathering

Gathering materials in Dragonwilds can feel like a grind, but these tips will save you time and sanity:

Use Spells: Unlock Spectral Axe (Runecrafting level 5) and Rockplosion (Mining level 11) to gather wood and stone faster. These spells consume Runes, so keep your Rune Altar busy.
Build Multiple Bases: Set up small outposts with Crafting Tables and Lodestones (unlocked via Vault Cores) to store materials locally. This reduces encumbrance issues when exploring far from your main base. Look for orange glows in vaults to find Cores.
Farm While Fighting: Grind Attack XP in Bramblemead Valley by killing rats, cows, and Kebbits. You’ll collect hides, bones, and fangs while leveling, which you can turn into Leather and arrows.
Prioritize Flax and Clay: These are bottlenecks for bows and potions. Gather Flax whenever you see it, and hit Clay nodes in Whispering Swamps before they deplete.
Repair, Don’t Recraft: Use the Crafting Table’s Repair Tab to fix tools (e.g., 2x Ash Logs for a Hatchet) instead of making new ones. This saves materials for gear or potions.
Co-op Efficiency: In co-op, split tasks, one player gathers Flax and Clay, another mines Rune Essence, and another hunts for hides. Share resources to cover all crafting needs.

Key Recipes to Prioritize

Recipes are the heart of crafting, and you’ll unlock them via quests, NPC interactions, or looting. Here are some early-game recipes to focus on, along with their materials:

Hatchet: 4x Ash Logs, 2x Stone. Chops trees for Ash Logs.
Pickaxe: 4x Ash Logs, 4x Stone. Mines Stone, Rune Essence, ores.
Ash Shortbow: 4x Ash Logs, 2x Coarse Thread. Ranged weapon for safe combat.
Fang Arrows: 4x Small Animal Fangs, 4x Feathers. Stronger ammo for bows.
Leather Armor: 6x Leather, 2x Coarse Thread. Early protection against enemies.
Rat Roast: Raw Rat, Ash Log. Cook at Campfire for health.
Healing Potion: Harralander, Bittercap Mushroom, Clay Vessel. Brew at Cauldron for combat recovery.
Air Runes: 1x Rune Essence (yields 10 Runes). Craft at Rune Altar for magic weapons.

Check with NPCs like Doric, Vannaka, and Zanik to unlock these recipes through the introductory crafting questline. Looting chests or defeating enemies like Goblin Bruisers can also drop recipe blueprints.

Advanced Tips for Material Management

Once you’ve got the basics down, these advanced strategies will take your crafting game to the next level:

Vault Core Hunting: Vault Cores unlock the Lodestone recipe for fast travel, letting you zip between resource-rich areas. Explore Dragonkin Vaults and look for orange glows behind rubble. Cores respawn, so revisit cleared vaults.
Skill Synergies: Level Artisan (crafting weapons/armor) alongside Mining and Woodcutting to unlock recipes faster. The Magical Mending spell (Artisan level 27) repairs all gear instantly, saving materials.
Rune Stockpiling: Runes are lightweight and critical for combat and gathering spells. Craft in bulk at the Rune Altar, especially Air and Astral Runes, to avoid running out during invasions.
Terrain Exploitation: Use Rocksplosion to clear Crumbled Walls (Mining level 20) for hidden loot, often including rare materials like Clay or Rune Essence.
Bronze Gear Push: Once you reach Fractured Plains, mine Copper and Tin aggressively to craft bronze weapons and tools. They’re a big step up from stone or bone gear, making invasions easier.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Here are some mistakes I made (so you don’t have to):

Over-Encumbrance: Carrying too many materials slows you down and forces you to drop items during invasions. Store excess in chests at your base or outposts.
Ignoring Repairs: Recrafting tools wastes materials. Use the Repair Tab to save Ash Logs and Stone for gear upgrades.
Neglecting Flax: Without Coarse Thread, you can’t craft bows or strong armor. Grab Flax whenever you see it in Bramblemead Valley.
Skipping Zanik’s Quest: The Rune Altar is locked until you deliver 50 Ash Logs to Zanik. Do this early to access magic, which simplifies gathering and combat.
Underestimating Potions: Clay is a pain to farm, but potions are lifesavers in tough fights. Prioritize Clay nodes in Whispering Swamps.

Community Insights and Future Updates

The Dragonwilds community on Steam and Reddit is buzzing with crafting tips. Players recommend building multiple Crafting Tables for quick repairs during exploration and stockpiling Runes for spell-heavy playstyles. Some gripe about Clay’s scarcity, but vault runs help. Jagex’s early access roadmap promises new biomes (like Fellhollow) and crafting stations, like a Smithing Forge for advanced metal gear, so expect more materials like iron or mithril down the line. Keep an eye on the official Discord for patch notes, as new recipes might shake up the meta.

Conclusion

Crafting materials in RuneScape: Dragonwilds are the heart of your survival journey in Ashenfall. From Ash Logs and Stone for your first tools to Rune Essence and Clay for magic and potions, every resource has a purpose. By mastering gathering spots like Bramblemead Valley for Flax or Fractured Plains for Copper and Tin, and using stations like the Crafting Table and Rune Altar efficiently, you’ll turn raw materials into gear that stands up to dragons and goblins. Smart strategies, like repairing instead of recrafting, using spells for gathering, and building outposts, will keep you ahead of the curve. As Dragonwilds evolves, new materials and recipes will add depth, but for now, stockpile, craft, and explore with confidence. Grab your Pickaxe, hit those Rune Geysers, and start building your legend in this unforgiving, magical world. Happy crafting, and may your base never burn down (again)!