How to Get the Rod Star in Frozen Flame (March 2026) Ultimate Guide

Updated by Sunny Kaushik
February 14, 2026
Gaming

Welcome to the ultimate guide on obtaining the Rod Star in Frozen Flame. If you’ve been wandering the frozen wastelands wondering why your basic wooden stick isn’t pulling in the big catches, you’re in the right place. Fishing in Frozen Flame isn’t just a side activity—it’s a crucial source of food and rare crafting materials. The Rod Star, in particular, stands out as one of the most sought-after mid-to-late game tools, offering increased durability and a higher chance of catching rare “Star” tier fish.

In this comprehensive guide, I will walk you through everything you need to know about this unique fishing rod. We will cover the prerequisites, the exact location of the blueprint fragment, the farming route for materials, and the crafting process. By the end of this article, you’ll be the master angler of the frozen lands.

Frozen Flame Rod Star Fishing Guide: Overview

Before we dive into the “how,” let’s look at the “why.” The Rod Star is an upgrade from the standard Reinforced Fishing Rod. It bridges the gap between early-game makeshift tools and the legendary endgame rods.

Here is a quick snapshot of what you are working towards:

Feature	Details
Item Name	Rod Star
Item Type	Fishing Tool / Weapon
Durability	350 / 350
Special Effect	+15% Chance to catch Rare Fish; Illuminates dark waters.
Requirements	Fishing Level 5, Workbench Level 2.
Location	The Shattered Cove (Hidden Cache).
Crafting Difficulty	Intermediate

How to Obtain the Rod Star?

Obtaining the Rod Star isn’t as simple as looting a chest in the starting area. It requires a bit of exploration and preparation. I remember spending hours looking in the wrong biomes before I stumbled upon the correct path. Here is the exact step-by-step process to secure the blueprint and craft this item.

Prerequisites

Before you head out on your adventure, ensure you have the following items and stats unlocked. Attempting this run unprepared will likely result in frustration due to the enemies guarding the location.

Fishing Level 5: You don’t need to be a master angler, but you need the basics. Craft a Simple Fishing Rod and catch about 20-30 fish in the starting river to grind this XP.
Warm Clothing: The location is in a colder region of the map. If your freeze meter depletes too fast, you won’t survive the swim.
A Weapon: Ideally an Iron Sword or better. The cave leading to the blueprint is guarded by Ice Spiders.
Torch or Light Source: The cave is pitch black. While the Rod Star glows, you don’t have it yet! Bring a torch.

Step 1: Reaching the Shattered Cove

The blueprint for the Rod Star is located in the Shattered Cove, a coastal area to the North-East of the Citadel.

Open your map and locate the Citadel (the main hub area).
Head North-East. You will eventually hit a coastline with jagged rocks.
Look for a shipwreck sticking out of the water. This is your landmark.
Swim towards the shipwreck. Be careful of the stamina drain; use floating debris to rest if needed.

Step 2: Finding the Hidden Cache

Once you are at the shipwreck:

Dive underwater near the hull of the ship. You will see a glowing opening in the rocks.
Swim through the tunnel. It’s a short breath-hold, so don’t panic.
Surface inside the hidden grotto.
Defeat the Ice Spiders (usually 2-3 of them) that spawn here.
Look for a “Waterlogged Chest” tucked behind a barrel near the back wall of the grotto.

Pro Tip: If the chest isn’t there, you may need to complete the “Lost Mariner” quest from the NPC at the docks first. This unlocks specific loot tables in shipwreck areas.

Step 3: Looting the Blueprint

Open the Waterlogged Chest. You will find:

Recipe: Rod Star (The main prize!)
x5 Salt
x1 Seaweed
Random low-tier loot

Once you loot the recipe, it will automatically be learned and added to your crafting menu under the “Tools” tab or the Workbench.

Crafting the Rod Star

Now that you have the knowledge, it’s time to gather the materials. The Rod Star requires materials that are slightly harder to find than standard wood.

Materials Required

To craft the Rod Star at a Workbench Level 2, you will need:

Sturdy Timber (x5):
- Where to find: Chop down trees in the Pine Forest biome. Look for the larger, thicker trees. You cannot get this from the small saplings near the spawn point.
- My Strategy: Use a Stone Axe or better. It takes about 4-5 hits per tree.
Star Dust Ore (x3):
- Where to find: This is the tricky part. Star Dust Ore is found inside glowing blue caves, usually near water sources. It looks like a standard rock node but emits a faint blue pulse.
- Location: Check the caves near the Dragon’s Lair. There is usually a node right at the entrance.
Fiber Rope (x2):
- Where to find: Crafted from Plant Fibers (gathered from bushes) or found in chests. You probably have stacks of this already.
Flame Essence (x1):
- Where to find: Dropped by Flame Wisps at night or found in the Citadel’s alchemy lab. This is the rarest component.
- Internal Link: For more details on Flame Essence, check our guide on [How to Farm Rare Resources in Frozen Flame].

Crafting Process

Return to your base.
Interact with your Workbench (Must be Level 2).
Navigate to Tools > Fishing.
Select the Rod Star.
Click Craft.

Congratulations! You now possess the Rod Star.

Star Fishing Mechanics: How to Use the Rod Star?

You might be wondering, “Is the Rod Star actually worth the effort?” Absolutely. The Rod Star isn’t just a cosmetic upgrade; it introduces a specific mechanic often called “Star Fishing.”

The Glow Effect

The Rod Star emits a soft, blue light when equipped. This isn’t just for show. When you cast your line into deep or murky water, the light attracts specific types of fish. You will notice that fish bite faster with this rod compared to the basic one.

Increased Rarity

The Rod Star has a hidden modifier that increases the weight of “Rare” entries in the loot table.

Standard Rod: 5% chance for a Golden Salmon.
Rod Star: 20% chance for a Golden Salmon.

This is crucial for cooking high-tier stat-boosting foods like Spicy Fish Stew, which provides cold resistance.

Durability

The Rod Star is surprisingly durable. I’ve fished for about 4 in-game days straight without needing to repair it. However, keep an eye on the durability bar. If it breaks while a fish is on the line, the fish will escape, and you will lose your bait.

Pro Tips for Rod Star Users

I’ve spent a lot of time testing this rod, and here are a few tricks I wish I knew earlier:

Fish at Night: The glow of the Rod Star is most effective at night. The contrast makes the bobber easier to see, and the light radius seems to attract more fish.
Use High-Quality Bait: Don’t waste the Rod Star’s potential on basic worms. Use Cricket Bait or Fireflies. The Rod Star multiplies the effectiveness of bait.
Location Matters: You can catch standard fish anywhere, but to truly utilize the Rod Star, fish in the Abyssal Zone. The deeper the water, the higher the chance the Rod Star’s rarity bonus triggers.
Repair Kits: Always carry a Repair Kit. The materials to repair the Rod Star (Star Dust Ore) can be annoying to farm if you run out.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While the process seems straightforward, I see many players make these errors:

Ignoring the Cold: The Shattered Cove is freezing. If you dive without thermal gear, you will die before reaching the chest.
Forgetting the Axe: You need a decent axe to get the Sturdy Timber. A stone hatchet will work but will take a long time. Upgrade to Iron if possible before the farming run.
Wrong Workbench Level: You cannot craft this at a Level 1 Workbench. Upgrade your base first. [Internal Link: Base Building Guide for Frozen Flame].

FAQ’s

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the Rod Star and fishing in Frozen Flame.

Can you get the Rod Star as a drop from enemies?

No, the Rod Star blueprint cannot be farmed from enemies. It is exclusively found in the Shattered Cove shipwreck chest or similar specific world containers. Enemies do not drop this specific item.

Is the Rod Star better than the Dragon Bone Rod?

It depends on your progression. The Rod Star is better for general utility and farming rare cooking ingredients due to its rarity boost. However, the Dragon Bone Rod (end-game) has higher durability and can catch legendary fish that the Rod Star cannot. Think of the Rod Star as your mid-game workhorse.

Do I need a specific quest to access the Shattered Cove?

Technically, no. You can physically walk to the Shattered Cove at any time. However, without the “Lost Mariner” quest active, the chest containing the blueprint might not spawn for some players depending on the game version. I recommend picking up the quest at the Citadel Docks just to be safe.

Does the Rod Star work in lava?

No. Attempting to fish in lava with the Rod Star will destroy the rod instantly. You need a specific Obsidian Rod for lava fishing, which is unlocked much later in the game via the Blacksmith storyline.

How do I repair the Rod Star?

You can repair it at the Workbench using Star Dust Ore. If you are out in the field, you can use a generic “Repair Kit,” but using the Workbench is cheaper in terms of resource consumption.

Conclusion

The Rod Star is a fantastic addition to your arsenal in Frozen Flame. It significantly speeds up the process of gathering high-quality food and makes the fishing minigame much more enjoyable with its glowing aesthetic. By following this guide, securing the blueprint from the Shattered Cove, and gathering the necessary materials, you’ll be reaping the benefits in no time.

Don’t forget to bookmark this page for future updates! As Frozen Flame continues to evolve through Early Access or post-launch updates, we will keep this guide current with any changes to spawn rates or crafting recipes. Happy fishing. Found this guide helpful, you might enjoy these other articles.