You've finally made it to the frozen north. The wind is howling, your character is shivering despite the heavy fur armor, and you're staring at a weird, steaming blue rock lodged in the side of a cliff. This is it. The legendary star metal. But if you think you’re just going to walk up and swing a pickaxe at it, you’re in for a very frustrating afternoon.
Honestly, star metal in Conan Exiles is probably the most annoying resource to farm if you don't know the specific "handshake" it requires. It’s not like iron or coal. It’s a gift from the heavens—literally—and it comes wrapped in a shell that laughs at your standard tools.
The Sky is Falling: Finding Star Metal Conan Exiles
Most players wander around the Snow biome for hours and see nothing. They think the game is bugged. Sometimes it is, but usually, it’s just timing. Meteors don't just sit there waiting for you; they fall in real-time.
You’ll hear them first. A massive, thunderous boom that echoes across the mountains. If you look up, you’ll see streaks of purple and blue light tearing across the sky. They usually land in the western part of the snowy region, specifically around the ridges north of the Mounds of the Dead and up toward the Temple of Frost.
Why You Can't Find Any
If you’re playing on a solo or single-player server, the "Star Metal Conan Exiles" struggle is real. The timer for meteor showers often resets when you log out. This means if you only play for 30 minutes at a time, you might literally never see a meteor fall. You basically have to camp out in the cold. Find a high spot, maybe near Skyfall Ridge, and just... wait.
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Some people suggest sitting there for at least 45 minutes. It’s boring. Bring a chair.
Cracking the Shell (The Part Everyone Screws Up)
So you found a node. It’s a dark, smoking sphere. You hit it with a Hardened Steel Pick. Nothing happens. You hit it with an Obsidian Pick. Still nothing.
The ore is inside a hard outer shell. You have to blow that shell off.
The Explosive Menu
- Explosive Arrows: These are the gold standard. They’re precise and they don't roll away. One well-placed arrow usually does the trick.
- Demon-fire Orbs: These work, but they’re "fiddly." If the meteor is on a slope, the orb might roll down the mountain before it explodes. That’s a lot of resources wasted for a fireworks show.
- Explosive Jars: Total overkill, but effective. Just don't stand too close.
Once the shell cracks, the meteor will reveal a glowing, bright blue core. That’s the good stuff. Now—and only now—can you use your pickaxe.
Important: You need a Tier 4 tool or better. A Hardened Steel Pick is the bare minimum. If you try to use a regular Steel or Iron pick, you’ll get stone. Or nothing. And you’ll cry.
Smelting: It’s Not Just Heat
You made it home with a heavy pack of ore. You toss it in the furnace, add some coal, and... nothing. The furnace just sits there.
Star metal isn't "normal" metal. It’s esoteric. To turn Star Metal Ore into Star Metal Bars, you need a specific recipe. You have to mix the ore with Brimstone and Black Ice.
The Recipe
Basically, for every 2 pieces of Star Metal Ore, you need 1 Brimstone and 1 Black Ice.
It’s a bit of a trek to get all three, but since you’re already in the north for the ore, you should grab the Black Ice from the Temple of Frost area while you’re at it. Brimstone is everywhere in the Shattered Springs (the stinky yellow lake), so stock up there before heading north.
The "Lazy" Way: Dismantling
If you absolutely hate hunting meteors, there is a "cheat code" of sorts. Go to the Mounds of the Dead. The Cimmerian NPCs there are tough, but they often carry star metal weapons.
If you knock them out and put them on a Wheel of Pain, they might spawn with star metal gear. Even better? Just kill them and loot their bodies. Take those star metal blades and shields back to a Dismantling Bench.
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You won't get as much as you would from a meteor, but it’s a steady way to get bars without having to wait for the sky to fall. I’ve built entire sets of armor just by recycling the "trash" left behind by Cimmerian warriors.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Hunt
- Check your settings: If you're on a private server, ask the admin to increase the meteor spawn rate. Life is too short to wait 4 hours for a rock.
- Use Sorcery: If you’ve leveled up your sorcery, the Mass Cull spell is a literal godsend. It can actually crack and harvest the ore in one go, bypassing the need for explosives entirely.
- Bring Spiced Food: You're going to be standing in the snow for a long time. Spiced Haunch or Spiced Steak will keep you from freezing to death while you wait for the boom.
- Don't bother with bugged nodes: Sometimes a meteor is just indestructible. If you’ve shot it three times and nothing happened, move on. It’s a known bug. Don't waste your whole quiver on a ghost.
Getting your first set of star metal gear is a huge milestone. It’s the point where you stop being a survivor and start being a powerhouse. Just remember: bring the boom, bring the ice, and don't forget the brimstone.