You’ve finally hit that mid-game wall. You know the one. You just unlocked the Refined Metal Pickaxe or maybe you're eyeing that Ultra Sphere, and suddenly, your Ore stash isn't enough anymore. You need Coal. Lots of it.
Finding a decent coal farm location Palworld veterans swear by is honestly the difference between spending your afternoon waiting for Refined Ingot to smelt and actually playing the game. It’s a grind, but it doesn't have to be a miserable one. If you’re wandering around the starter islands looking for these black rocks, stop. You’re in the wrong neighborhood.
Coal is picky about where it grows. You won’t find it in the grassy starting zones or the temperate forests. To get the good stuff, you’re headed to the desert or the high-altitude peaks. But here’s the kicker: not every cluster of rocks is worth a base slot.
Why the Twilight Dunes is the Classic Coal Farm Location Palworld Pick
Most players find their first real coal vein in the Twilight Dunes. It's that brownish, sandy blotch on your map right in the middle of the northern islands. Specifically, if you head toward coordinates -158, -91, you’ll find a decent cluster of nodes.
It’s easy to find. It’s central. But man, it’s annoying.
The heat is a constant drain on your HP if you don't have heat-resistant armor yet. Then there are the Dumuds and Digtoise. They look cute, but they will aggressively ruin your day while you're trying to swing a pickaxe. If you’re setting up a base here, you have to be ready to defend it constantly. Honestly, I find the Twilight Dunes a bit of a trap for newer players who just want a quick fix. It works in a pinch, but the environment is hostile, and the terrain is flat enough that raids can be a real headache.
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The Verdant Brook Secret Spot
If you want something a bit more "vibey" and less "deadly desert," head over to the Verdant Brook area. Look around 189, -39. This spot is tucked away on a high mountain ridge.
What makes this a top-tier coal farm location Palworld discovery? It’s the sheer verticality. Most raids in Palworld struggle with steep cliffs. If you build your Pal Box correctly on this ridge, the AI paths for attackers usually get stuck at the bottom of the mountain. You can just stand at the edge and watch them run in circles while your Anubis army works in peace.
There are about six or seven coal nodes here. That might not sound like a massive amount compared to the end-game desert, but for a mid-game base, it’s plenty. Plus, it’s not roasting hot, so you don't have to worry about your gear breaking or your character dying because you forgot to put on a specific shirt.
The Legendary "Ore and Coal" Hybrid Base
Let's talk about the holy grail.
If you ask any hardcore player for the absolute best coal farm location Palworld has to offer, they’re going to give you one specific set of coordinates: 189, -329. This is the legendary hilltop.
Why is it famous? Because it has both Ore and Coal in the same radius.
Most locations force you to choose. You either have an Ore base or a Coal base, and then you’re stuck using the "Transport" trick or manually hauling thousands of pounds of rocks between bases. It’s tedious. At 189, -329, you can place a single Pal Box and cover roughly eight Ore nodes and six Coal nodes.
This is where your production explodes.
You need to be careful with the placement, though. If you’re off by even a few meters, you’ll cut off one of the nodes, and it won't respawn inside your base circle. I usually recommend clearing the trees first so you can see the ground clearly before dropping the Box.
One thing people get wrong here: they try to build a massive house. Don't do that. The terrain is incredibly uneven. If you build a giant stone mansion, your Pals will get stuck on the roof, or under the floor, or in the 4th dimension. Keep your structures minimal. Use beds, a feed box, and maybe a chest. Let the Pals have the rest of the space to navigate the rocks.
The Forgotten Coal of Mount Obsidian
Down in the southwest, the volcanic region is crawling with Coal. But it sucks for bases.
Seriously. Don't build a permanent coal farm here.
The ground is covered in lava pools that deal tick damage to your Pals. You’ll check your base after an hour and find half your workforce is incapacitated because they decided to take a nap in a puddle of molten rock. Mount Obsidian is great for a "fly-in, mine-it, fly-out" session on the back of a Quivern or a Helzephyr, but as a permanent coal farm location Palworld choice, it’s a logistical nightmare.
If you absolutely must mine here, look near the Anubis boss spawn. There are scattered nodes around the perimeter that are relatively safe, but again, keep it as a manual farm.
Optimizing Your Coal Extraction
Finding the location is only half the battle. You can have ten nodes in your base, but if you’re using the wrong Pals, your yield will be pathetic.
- Digtoise is a trap (sort of): Everyone thinks the big turtle is the king of mining. In the wild, he is. He spins, the rocks break, it’s great. But in a base? His AI is notoriously buggy. He often does 1 damage per tick unless you have the specialized headband crafted.
- Anubis is the GOAT: He has Level 3 Mining and Level 4 Handiwork. He’s fast, he doesn't get stuck as often, and he can help craft the ingots once the mining is done.
- Reptyro: Good, but big. Big Pals get stuck. If your coal farm location Palworld spot is cramped (like the hilltop), Reptyro will spend half his day "transporting" nothing because he's wedged between two rocks.
Honestly, go for Dumuds if you’re early game. They’re small, they eat very little, and they just get the job done without the drama of the larger Pals.
How to Handle the Logistics
Coal is heavy. Really heavy.
Even with a high-level carrying capacity, you’re going to find yourself over-encumbered constantly. This is why the location of your chests matters more than you think.
Put your storage chests literally inches away from the nodes if you can. Or, better yet, use the "Grappling Gun" trick. If you’re so heavy you can’t move, you can still use the Grappling Gun to pull yourself toward your Pal Box or a chest. It’s a lifesaver.
Also, consider the pathing. Pals need a clear line of sight to a chest to store the coal. If you pick a coal farm location Palworld site that is full of cliffs and ledges, half your coal will just sit on the ground until it despawns because your Pals can't figure out how to climb a three-foot rock.
The Desert of the Far North
If you’re truly end-game, the Astral Mountains and the northernmost desert (near the PIDF bases) have coal everywhere.
The coordinates 288, 246 are decent.
The problem here isn't the coal; it’s the level of the enemies. You’re looking at Level 40+ hostiles. If you haven't kitted out your base with defensive walls and high-level Pals, a single raid will wipe out your entire coal operation in seconds. I only recommend these far-north spots if you’ve already conquered the mid-game and are just looking for a change of scenery or a place to house your high-level Breeding Farms simultaneously.
Actionable Steps for Your Coal Empire
- Scout first: Don't bring your materials yet. Fly to 189, -329 on a fast mount like a Nitewing or Vanwyrm. Check if the nodes are active and if anyone else (on multiplayer) has claimed the spot.
- Clear the clutter: Once you drop your Pal Box, spend five minutes clearing every tree and small stone. You want the AI to have zero distractions.
- Bring the "Small" Crew: Start with 4-5 Dumuds or Tombats. Tombats are actually amazing because they work through the night while other Pals are sleeping. This doubles your coal output immediately.
- Thermal Protection: If you chose a desert spot, craft the Heat Resistant Undershirt. Don't rely on your armor alone; if it breaks during a raid, the environment will kill you before the enemies do.
- Set up a Feed Box: Fill it with Salads if you can. The work speed buff from Salads applies to mining. If you're low-level, Jam-filled Buns are the way to go for the sanity (SAN) boost.
- Logistics Loop: Build a Primitive Furnace right there at the coal farm. There is no reason to transport raw Coal back to your main base. Turn it into Refined Ingots on-site. Ingots are still heavy, but you're effectively combining two heavy items (Ore and Coal) into one, which saves you trips.
Stop overthinking it. Pick a spot, drop a box, and get those Anubis working. The sooner you automate your coal, the sooner you can get back to the actual fun of Palworld—hunting down those Legendaries.