You've probably hit that wall. You're level 30-something, you just unlocked the Refined Metal Pickaxe or maybe those shiny Ultra Spheres, and suddenly the game is demanding a resource you haven't seen much of: Coal. Unlike Ore, which is basically everywhere you turn, Coal is picky. It only hangs out in specific, often miserable climates.
If you're wandering around the starting grassy plateaus looking for black rocks, stop. You won't find them there. To get the good stuff, you’ve gotta head into the heat or climb some seriously inconvenient mountains.
Where is Coal in Palworld? The Short Answer
Basically, Coal is tucked away in the Twilight Dunes (the small desert in the middle of the map) and the Verdant Brook (the foresty/mountainous area to the northeast). If you're feeling brave, there’s also a ton of it in the massive desert at the far northeast corner of the map, but that place is a death trap if you aren't leveled up.
You're looking for large, jagged boulders that are distinctly pitch black. They don't have the brownish tint of Ore or the dull gray of regular Stone. They look like actual chunks of carbon, which, honestly, they are.
The Best Coal Farming Locations (Exact Coordinates)
I’ve spent way too much time scouting these spots. Some are great for a quick manual harvest, while others are the "holy grail" for setting up a secondary base.
1. The "God Tier" Spot (189, -38)
This is the one everyone talks about for a reason. Located just east of the Sealed Realm of the Guardian, this clifftop has about six Coal nodes and eight Ore nodes sitting right next to each other.
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- Why it’s great: You can farm both major mid-game resources without moving your feet.
- The catch: The ground is uneven. It’s a total pain to build a "pretty" base here, but if you just want a functional resource farm, it’s unbeatable.
2. The Twilight Dunes Cluster (-158, -93)
This is usually the first place players find Coal. It’s a small desert area near the center of the map.
- Coordinates: (-158, -93) and (-96, -120).
- Warning: It is hot. Like, "drain your health in three minutes" hot. You must have Heat Resistant Pelt Armor at the very least. Also, the Alpha Boss Anubis patrolled nearby, and he will absolutely wreck you if you're under level 40 and accidentally draw his aggro.
3. Deep Sand Dunes (319, 498)
If you’ve progressed further north into the big desert (near Duneshelter), head west. There’s a spot with about eight Coal nodes.
- Pros: High density.
- Cons: Everything here wants to kill you. The Pals are level 40+, and the environment is harsh.
How to Actually Mine Coal Without Losing Your Mind
You can't just punch these rocks. Well, you can, but you'll get one piece every ten minutes.
First off, get a Metal Pickaxe. A Stone one works, but it’s slow. A Refined Metal Pickaxe is even better. But honestly? Doing it yourself is for suckers. You want Pals to do the heavy lifting.
The Best Pals for the Job
- Digtoise: These spiky turtles are the kings of mining. If you craft the Digtoise's Headband, their "Drill Crusher" skill turns Coal nodes into dust in seconds. You can find them right in the Twilight Dunes where the Coal is.
- Reptyro: Great because they have Mining Level 3. They’re basically living furnaces that can also smash rocks.
- Astegon / Blazamut: These are late-game beasts with Mining Level 4. If you manage to snag one, your Coal worries are officially over.
Don't Forget the Weight
Coal is heavy. Each piece weighs 5 units. If you go out on a mining run without a high-capacity Pal like Broncherry or Kingpaca in your party (which increases your carrying weight), you’ll be overencumbered after hitting just two rocks.
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Automation: The Level 53 Dream
For a long time, the only way to get Coal was to go find a node or set up a base on top of one. But with recent updates, things changed. At Level 53, you can unlock the Coal Mine in the Ancient Technology tree.
It costs:
- 70 Stone
- 100 Coal (you gotta spend money to make money, I guess)
- 30 Paldium Fragments
Once you build this at your base, you don't need to live in a desert anymore. You can just park a few Anubis or Blazamut Pals in front of it and watch the numbers go up while you're off exploring the new islands.
What Do You Actually Use All This Coal For?
If you're asking "where is coal in palworld," you're likely at the stage where you need Refined Ingots. You make these in an Improved Furnace by combining:
- 2x Ore
- 2x Coal
This is the gateway to the mid-to-late game. You need these ingots for the Assault Rifle, Rocket Launcher, and the Giga Glider.
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Beyond that, Coal is used to craft Carbon Fiber. You'll need mountains of Carbon Fiber for Ultra Spheres and Legendary Spheres. If you plan on catching the legendary Pals like Frostallion or Jetragon, you’re going to need thousands of pieces of Coal. There’s no way around it.
Quick Tips for Success
- Mark your map: Every time you find a cluster of black rocks, put a "pickaxe" icon on your map. Nodes respawn every day or two (in-game time), so you can just fly a circuit.
- Use a Flying Mount: Most Coal is on top of cliffs. Trying to climb those with a grappling gun is a nightmare. Get a Vanwyrm or a Quivern as soon as you can.
- Check the Dungeons: If you're bored of the desert, many mid-level dungeons (Level 29+) have a couple of Coal nodes inside. It's not the most efficient way to farm, but it's a nice bonus while you're hunting for Technical Manuals.
Basically, the hunt for Coal marks your transition from "struggling survivor" to "industrial powerhouse." Once you find that first good spot in the Twilight Dunes, the whole game opens up.
If you're ready to start your first real farm, grab some heat-resistant gear and head to the Sealed Realm of the Winged Tyrant fast travel point. From there, just fly north into the sand. You’ll see those black boulders soon enough.
Make sure you bring a couple of empty slots in your party to catch some Digtoise while you're there—they are the absolute best workers for a new Coal base.