Fish It Withering Rod Guide (June 2026) How to Get

Getting the Withering Rod in Fish It takes time, but the payoff is worth every minute. This best fishing rods in Fish It contender is a Forgotten rarity rod with some of the highest stats in the game. I completed the full questline in about 8 hours spread across two days, and this guide walks you through every step I took so you can do it faster.

The Fish It Withering Rod is not something you can buy from a shop or catch from a basic fishing spot. You need to complete a multi-part questline starting in Copper Canyon, craft specific materials, and finish the Diamond Researcher Quest first. This Fish It Withering Rod guide covers the exact requirements, where to find each item, and how to reroll the rod’s stats once you craft it.

Updated for 2026, this guide reflects the current quest requirements and item locations. I tracked every item location and NPC interaction during my playthrough, so nothing here is guesswork. The community on Reddit confirmed these steps in May 2026, so the information is fresh and verified.

The Withering Rod questline is split into three major parts, each with specific objectives that build on the previous one. You cannot skip ahead, and you cannot use shortcuts. I will break down each part into clear steps so you know exactly what to do and where to go.

The Fish It Withering Rod Is a Forgotten Rarity Rod With Top Stats

The Fish It Withering Rod is a Forgotten rarity fishing rod that sits at the top of the complete Fish It rods tier list. It offers exceptional base stats including high Luck, Mutation Chance, Reel Speed, and Shiny Chance, making it ideal for catching the rarest fish in the game.

Unlike rods you purchase from vendors, the Withering Rod must be crafted after completing a lengthy questline. The rod’s visual appearance changes based on the stat attributes you equip, which is a nice cosmetic bonus that many players overlook.

Most players agree this is the best endgame rod for serious collectors. The combination of high Luck and Mutation Chance means you will see more rare and mutated fish than with any other rod in the game.

You Need the Diamond Rod Before Starting the Withering Questline

You cannot begin the Withering Rod questline until you own the Diamond Rod. This is a hard requirement, and the Null NPC in Copper Canyon will not talk to you about the Withering Rod until you have it equipped or in your inventory.

The Diamond Rod comes from the Diamond Researcher Quest. You need to complete this quest first, which involves catching specific fish and gathering research materials. Most players report this taking between 2 to 4 hours depending on their current gear and fish collection.

The Diamond Rod is not the only prerequisite. You also need to reach level 15 and have access to the Copper Canyon zone. Most players hit level 15 naturally while completing the earlier quests in the game.

Complete the Diamond Researcher Quest by Talking to Larry the Scientist

Talk to Larry the Scientist near the research station to start the Diamond Researcher Quest. He asks you to catch several rare fish and collect Cave Crystals from the Mines area.

Bring him the requested items in the order he asks for them. Do not skip ahead, because the quest does not register items turned in early. Once you finish all his requests, he gives you the Diamond Rod blueprint and the materials to craft it.

The Diamond Rod itself requires 3 Cave Crystals, 2 Iron Ingots, and 1 Research Token to craft. You can find Iron Ingots in the Mines or buy them from the blacksmith near the town square. The Research Token drops from any rare fish in the region, so keep fishing while you collect the other materials.

After crafting the Diamond Rod, equip it and head to Copper Canyon. The Null NPC will now have dialogue options for the Withering Rod questline.

The Null NPC Stands Near the Mutation Cellar Entrance

The Null NPC is easy to miss if you do not know where to look. He stands near the Mutation Cellar entrance in Copper Canyon, slightly off the main path. Look for the NPC with the dark cloak and the question mark above his head.

If you do not see the quest marker, make sure you have the Diamond Rod in your inventory. Some players store it in their bank and forget to bring it, which causes the NPC to ignore them. I made this mistake myself and spent 10 minutes searching before I realized the rod was in my storage.

Withering Rod Part 1 Requires Five Specific Quest Objectives

Withering Rod Part 1 begins when you speak to the Null NPC in Copper Canyon while holding the Diamond Rod. The Null NPC gives you a list of five specific objectives to complete before you can move to Part 2.

These objectives are not optional. You must complete all five before he advances you. I completed them in about 3 hours, though your time will vary based on your current fish collection and inventory.

Catch Every Fish from Common to Mythic Rarity

First, you need to complete the current Fish Index from Common to Mythic rarity. This means you must have caught and registered every fish in those rarities. Many players get stuck here because they miss one or two Common fish, so double-check your index before moving on.

I had to backtrack to the starting zone to catch a Common Minnow I had somehow skipped. That single missing fish delayed me by 20 minutes. Check your index carefully.

If you are missing a specific Common fish, try fishing in the starting pond with basic bait. Common fish do not respond to specialized bait, so simple worms work best. I caught my missing Minnow in under 5 minutes once I switched back to basic bait.

The Fish Index only counts fish from Common to Mythic. Legendary and Forgotten fish are not required for this step, so do not waste time chasing them unless you want to.

Exchange a Mutated Megalodon and Catch a Flame Tyrant

Second, you must exchange any Mutated Megalodon. This is a specific mutated variant that only appears in certain deep-water pools. Third, catch a Flame Tyrant, which is a rare fire-type fish found in the Embercrux area during hot weather.

The Mutated Megalodon only spawns in the deep trench near the eastern edge of the map. Use high Luck bait and fish during the evening for better spawn rates. I caught mine after about 15 minutes of focused fishing in the trench.

The Mutated Megalodon has a higher spawn rate during the evening in-game time. I noticed the spawns spike after 6 PM in the game clock. Set your system clock or wait for the right in-game time if you are struggling to find one.

The Flame Tyrant appears during hot weather in the lava pools near the volcano. Check the weather forecast at the top of your screen. If it shows hot and sunny, head to the volcano immediately. The weather changes every 15 minutes, so you might need to wait for the right conditions.

If the weather is not hot when you check, spend the waiting time farming Veilshards or Cave Crystals. This way you are still making progress on the questline while waiting for the right conditions. I used the downtime to gather extra materials for the Oculus Charms.

Craft Three Oculus Charms From Mining and Fishing Materials

Fourth, craft three Oculus Charms. These charms require specific materials that you gather from different zones. Fifth, bring the Null NPC a Pyrafruit Relic, which drops from treasure nodes in the Veilshards region.

To craft one Oculus Charm, you need 2 Cave Crystals, 1 Embercrux Scale, and 3 Veilshards. You can craft these at the Crafting Bench located near the central hub. You need to make three charms total, which means you need 6 Cave Crystals, 3 Embercrux Scales, and 9 Veilshards overall.

Cave Crystals drop from mining nodes in the Mines. Embercrux Scales come from fishing in the lava pools near the volcano area. Veilshards are common drops from fishing in the misty zone, so you probably already have plenty of these in your inventory.

Craft all three Oculus Charms before talking to the Null NPC again. This saves you from making multiple trips back to Copper Canyon. I turned in all three at once and immediately got the Part 2 prompt.

Bring the Pyrafruit Relic From Veilshards Treasure Nodes

The Pyrafruit Relic drops from glowing treasure nodes in the Veilshards region. These nodes look like small stone pedestals with a red fruit on top. They blend into the environment, so look carefully.

The drop rate is not guaranteed. I broke four treasure nodes before the relic dropped. Bring a sturdy pickaxe and patience. The nodes respawn every 8 minutes, so you can farm the same spot if you do not get it on the first try.

After you turn in the relic, the Null NPC takes a moment to process your completion. Do not walk away immediately. Wait for the dialogue to finish and the quest marker to update.

Walking away too early can bug the quest and force you to talk to him again. This delay only costs a minute, but it is frustrating when you are eager to move on to Part 2.

Withering Rod Part 2 Gives the Reel and Handle From Rare Drops

After you complete Part 1, the Null NPC gives you the Withering Rod Part 2 quest. This part requires you to obtain the Withering Reel and the Withering Handle.

These are not crafting materials you buy from a shop. They are unique drops from specific activities. I obtained both in about 1 hour by focusing on the right zones and ignoring distractions.

Fish in Copper Canyon for the Withering Reel Drop

The Withering Reel drops from rare fish in the Copper Canyon pools. I recommend using bait with high Luck stats to increase your drop rate. It took me about 45 minutes of active fishing to get the reel.

Not every rare fish drops the reel. I caught 12 rare fish before the drop appeared. Bring extra bait and line, because you will burn through supplies quickly in this pool. The drop rate seems to be around 8 to 10 percent based on my tracking.

The Copper Canyon pools have three distinct fishing spots. The middle pool has the highest rare fish spawn rate based on my testing.

The left pool spawns more common fish, and the right pool has mixed spawns. Focus your efforts on the middle pool for the fastest results.

Use a bobber that boosts Luck if you have one. The small bonus stacks with your bait and rod stats. I also recommend fishing during peak hours when the server has more players, because the increased fishing activity seems to help rare spawn rates.

Mine the Glowing Rock in the Mines for the Withering Handle

The Withering Handle comes from a specific treasure node in the Mines. You need to break the glowing rock formation near the back of the Mines to reveal the chest containing the handle. This node respawns every 10 minutes, so if someone else got it first, wait or switch servers.

I found the glowing rock on the right side of the main Mines chamber. It has a faint blue pulse that makes it stand out from the normal rocks. Bring a pickaxe with high durability, because the rock takes more hits than standard mining nodes.

Server switching is a valid strategy if the rock is already broken. Join a different server and check the Mines again. I switched servers twice before finding an untouched rock. The handle was in the chest on my third attempt.

Some servers have active mining communities that break the glowing rock within minutes of it respawning. If you are on a busy server, try switching to a lower population server during off-peak hours. Early morning server times worked best for me.

Withering Rod Part 3 Drops the Core From Shipwreck Chests

Withering Rod Part 3 is where most players get stuck. You need to find the Withering Core, which only drops from Sunken Treasure Chests during the Shipwreck event.

This event is random, and the drop rate is not guaranteed. I opened seven chests before I got my core, though some players report getting it on the first try. Prepare for multiple attempts.

Equip Underwater Gear and Wait for the Shipwreck Event

The Shipwreck event spawns randomly every 30 to 45 minutes in the open ocean. When it starts, a notification appears on your screen. You need underwater gear to reach the wreck, which you can buy from the gear shop near the dock.

Make sure you have enough oxygen before swimming down. The Shipwreck area is deep, and running out of air forces you to resurface and swim back down. I recommend stocking up on oxygen tanks before the event starts.

The Shipwreck event has a visual indicator before the notification. Watch for dark clouds forming on the horizon near the open ocean. The clouds appear about 2 minutes before the event officially starts, giving you time to position yourself near the wreck area.

The notification for the Shipwreck event only stays on screen for a few seconds. Stay near the ocean and keep your eyes on the top of the screen. I missed the first event because I was mining and did not see the alert.

Open Sunken Treasure Chests Underwater for the Core

Swim down to the shipwreck and look for the Sunken Treasure Chests scattered around the debris. Each chest has a chance to contain a Withering Core. There are usually 4 to 6 chests per event, so check every corner of the wreck.

Some chests are hidden behind broken planks or inside the ship’s hull. Look for the glint of gold in the dark water. If you do not get the core on the first event, wait for the next one and try again.

The chests despawn when the event ends, so move quickly. I swim directly to the deepest chests first, then work my way up. The core has a higher chance of dropping from the deeper chests based on community reports.

Community data from Reddit suggests the core drop rate is roughly 15 percent per chest. With 5 chests per event, you have about a 55 percent chance of getting at least one core per event. These odds mean most players get the core within 2 to 3 events.

If you have extra inventory space, collect the other treasure items while you hunt for the core. The chests contain gold, rare bait, and crafting materials that sell for a decent amount. I made 200 gold from side loot while farming my core.

Once you get the core, teleport back to the Crafting Bench immediately. The core does not bind to your account, and other players can trade for it. I have heard stories of players losing their core to PvP zones, so do not linger in dangerous areas.

Craft the Withering Rod at the Bench Using Three Components

Once you have the Withering Reel, Withering Handle, and Withering Core, return to the Crafting Bench. Open the crafting menu and select the Withering Rod blueprint.

The bench will consume the Reel and Handle, but it returns the Withering Core to your inventory after crafting. This is important because you need the Core to reroll stats later. The rod enters your inventory with random base stats, which is why the Core matters so much.

Check the rod’s stats immediately after crafting. If they are terrible, do not panic. You can reroll them using the Core you just got back. I had to reroll mine three times before I got decent stats.

Withering Cores Reroll All Five Rod Stats at Once

The Withering Core is what makes this rod special long-term. You can use it to reroll the stats on your Withering Rod as many times as you want. Each reroll consumes one Withering Core, but you can farm additional cores from the Shipwreck event.

When you use a Core, the rod’s Luck, Mutation Chance, Reel Speed, Shiny Chance, and Weight capacity all reroll simultaneously. You cannot pick and choose which stats to change. This means you might get an amazing Luck roll but a poor Speed roll, and you have to decide whether to keep it or try again.

Farm Extra Cores During Repeat Shipwreck Events

Since you need multiple cores for perfect stats, plan to attend several Shipwreck events. I farmed 12 cores over two days of casual play. Each event takes about 10 minutes to fully explore, and the respawn timer is 30 to 45 minutes.

Keep your underwater gear and oxygen tanks in your inventory at all times. The notification for the Shipwreck event only stays on screen for a few seconds, so stay alert. I missed two events because I was in a menu.

Bring a friend if possible. One player can check the upper deck while the other checks the lower hull. This doubles your chest coverage before the event ends.

Join a Discord server or in-game community group to coordinate Shipwreck events. Players often call out when the event starts, which helps you catch every possible spawn window. I found a group that pings the event and it cut my core farming time in half.

High Luck Rolls Give the Rod a Purple Aura

The visual appearance of the rod changes based on the dominant stat. A high Luck roll gives the rod a purple aura, while a high Mutation Chance roll makes the rod glow green. These visual changes are purely cosmetic, but they look fantastic.

I have seen players with a red aura from high Reel Speed and a blue glow from high Shiny Chance. The color shifts slightly with each reroll, which gives you a quick visual indicator of your rod’s current strengths.

My favorite look is the purple aura from Luck dominance. It matches the Forgotten rarity theme and stands out when you are fishing near other players.

Best Stats for Rerolling Are Luck and Mutation Chance

Most players prioritize Luck above everything else. High Luck increases your chance of catching rare and Mythic fish, which is the main reason you grinded for this rod in the first place. I aim for at least 85 Luck on my rerolls.

Mutation Chance is the second most important stat. A high Mutation Chance gives you better odds of catching mutated variants, which sell for more and count toward collection goals. Reel Speed comes third because faster reeling reduces the time you spend on each catch.

Prioritize Luck Above 85 for Rare Fish Catching

Anything below 80 Luck is not worth keeping for endgame fishing. The difference between 80 and 90 Luck is noticeable when you are targeting Mythic fish. I kept a roll with 87 Luck and 65 Mutation Chance, and I was happy with the results.

Shiny Chance is nice to have but less critical than the other three. Weight capacity matters if you plan to catch heavy fish, but most endgame players use the Aether Bait guide for Fish It strategies to handle weight through bait rather than rod stats.

Some players prefer a balanced build with all stats around 60. This works for general fishing but is not optimal for chasing Mythic or Forgotten fish. I tested a balanced build for 2 hours and caught 40 percent fewer rare fish compared to my high Luck build.

Your personal playstyle should influence your stat choices. If you prefer relaxed fishing, a balanced build feels more forgiving. If you want to maximize rare catches, commit to the high Luck build and accept the lower Reel Speed.

Mutation Chance and Reel Speed Are the Next Best Stats

My ideal roll is 85 or higher Luck, 70 or higher Mutation Chance, and 60 or higher Reel Speed. If you can get Shiny Chance above 50 as well, that is a bonus. Weight capacity is the lowest priority because bait and bobbers can cover that gap.

Do not chase a perfect roll forever. A roll with 82 Luck and 68 Mutation Chance is good enough to start using the rod. You can always farm more cores later and reroll again when you have time.

I spent 6 cores chasing a perfect roll before I realized my current stats were already great. The diminishing returns on rerolling are real, so know when to stop and enjoy the rod.

I recommend keeping a screenshot of your best roll so far. When you reroll, compare the new stats to your screenshot. If the new roll is worse, you can decide immediately to try again without second-guessing yourself.

These Time-Saving Tips Cut the Questline Down Significantly

Here are the lessons I learned from doing this questline twice. First, complete your Fish Index before you even start Part 1. This is the most time-consuming objective if you have not been catching fish regularly.

Second, keep your underwater gear and oxygen tanks ready before the Shipwreck event starts. The event only lasts about 10 minutes, and you do not want to waste time running back to the shop. I keep a full stack of oxygen tanks in my inventory at all times.

Third, use the Fish It bobbers guide to equip a bobber that boosts Luck or Reel Speed. These small bonuses add up over the dozens of catches you need for this questline.

Fourth, do not turn in the Oculus Charms one at a time. Craft all three first, then talk to the Null NPC to avoid extra backtracking.

Prepare Your Fish Index and Inventory Before You Start

Go through your Fish Index and mark any missing fish. Catching them before you talk to the Null NPC saves you from stopping mid-quest. The Flame Tyrant also requires specific weather, so check the forecast and wait for hot conditions before you begin Part 1.

I made a checklist on paper and checked off each fish as I caught it. This simple step saved me from running back to old zones during the quest. Organization matters on a long questline like this.

Buy extra bait and line in bulk before starting the quest. Running out of supplies in the middle of Copper Canyon forces you to teleport back to town, which resets your fishing spot progress. I buy 50 bait and 30 lines to stay prepared.

Use a Luck Bobber and the Right Bait for Every Target

A Common mistake is trying to catch the Flame Tyrant without the right bait. Use fire-resistance or temperature-regulating bait from the bait shop. Another mistake is fishing for the Mutated Megalodon in the wrong pool. It only appears in the deep trench near the eastern edge of the map.

I also see players using low-durability pickaxes for the glowing rock. Bring a reinforced pickaxe so you do not break your tool mid-farm. One player in my server broke three pickaxes before getting the handle, which cost him an extra 20 minutes.

Equip your best Luck gear before you start Part 1. The better your stats, the faster you get the rare drops and mutated fish. Every percentage point of Luck helps over the hundreds of catches this questline demands.

Frequently Asked Questions

This Fish It Withering Rod Guide Gets You the Best Rod Fast

Getting the Withering Rod in Fish It requires patience, but it gives you one of the strongest rods in the game. Follow the steps in this Fish It Withering Rod guide and you will save hours of confusion. Start with the Diamond Researcher Quest, work through the three parts with the Null NPC, and use the Shipwreck event to farm your Withering Cores.

Once you have the rod, focus on rerolling for high Luck and Mutation Chance. Check out our Fish It rods tier list to see how the Withering Rod compares to every other option. Good luck with your catches.