Solo Hunters Materials Guide (March 2026) Complete Walkthrough

If you’ve been diving into the world of Solo Hunters, you know that swinging your sword isn’t the only way to get stronger. In fact, I’d argue that knowing how to manage your inventory is just as important as your combat skills. Whether you are trying to craft that legendary weapon or just upgrade your armor to survive the next boss wave, understanding the materials system is the key to success.

In this comprehensive guide, I’m going to break down every single material in the game, where to find them, and the most efficient ways to use them. We will cover everything from common scraps to legendary artifacts, ensuring you never waste time grinding in the wrong spot again.

Quick Overview: Materials at a Glance

Before we dive deep into the specifics, here is a quick table summarizing the material tiers and their general usage in 2026.

Material Tier	Common Examples	Primary Use	Best Farming Method
Common	Pebble, Wood, Scrap Metal	Basic Upgrades, Starter Repairs	Low-level zones, Slime spawns
Uncommon	Iron Ore, Heavy Leather, Magic Dust	Intermediate Weapons, Armor Leveling	Mid-game dungeons, Elite mobs
Rare	Gold Ingot, Crystal Shard, Demon Horn	High-tier Crafting, Skill Unlocks	Boss Raids, Rare Event Spawns
Legendary	Dragon Scale, Ancient Core, Void Essence	Endgame Gear, Godly Weapons	World Bosses, PvP Rewards
Event	Lunar Stone, Shadow Fragment	Exclusive Event Items	Limited-time Events

Understanding the Material Economy in Solo Hunters

When I first started playing Solo Hunters, I made the mistake of selling everything I picked up. I thought gold was king. Boy, was I wrong. The economy of this game relies heavily on a barter system where materials are often more valuable than currency.

In Solo Hunters, materials are generally split into three categories based on their origin:

1. Drops: Items obtained directly from defeating enemies.
2. Gatherables: Items found in the open world (trees, rocks, chests).
3. Rewards: Items given for completing quests or raids.

Understanding which category an item falls into helps you plan your farming route. For example, if you need Heavy Leather, you aren’t going to find it by mining rocks; you need to hunt beasts. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many players miss this optimization.

Common Materials: The Foundation of Your Build

Every master starts as a beginner, and these common materials are your bread and butter. You will collect thousands of these, and while they seem useless at first glance, running out of them can halt your progression dead in your tracks.

Pebbles and Scrap Metal

How to Obtain:
You can find Pebbles by mining grey rocks in the “Starter Zone” or the “Rocky Canyon.” Scrap Metal drops in abundance from the basic “Rust Bot” enemies.
How to Use:
These are primarily used for repairing low-tier weapons and crafting basic throwing knives. Don’t sell them! Keep a stack of at least 500 Pebbles for emergency repairs during dungeon runs.

Wood and Plant Fiber

How to Obtain:
Look for trees with slightly lighter bark or bushes glowing with a faint green light. You can gather these by simply walking up to them and interacting (usually the ‘E’ key).
How to Use:
Essential for crafting campfires (which restore HP over time) and basic bows. If you plan on playing a ranged class, prioritize gathering Wood early on.

Slimy Goo

How to Obtain:
Dropped by the Blue and Green Slimes found near rivers and lakes.
How to Use:
This is a crucial component for “Sticky Bombs,” one of the best early-game items for crowd control. It’s also used to craft health potions at the Alchemist bench.

Uncommon Materials: The Mid-Game Hurdle

Once you hit level 20, common materials just won’t cut it anymore. This is where the grind gets real, but the rewards are much sweeter.

Iron Ore and Steel Bars

How to Obtain:
Iron Ore is found in the Iron Caverns, a dungeon area unlocked at level 15. You need a Stone Pickaxe or better to mine these nodes. Once mined, you must smelt them at a campfire to create Steel Bars.
How to Use:
Steel Bars are the gateway to durable armor. If you find yourself getting one-shot by bosses, it’s time to farm Iron.
Pro Tip: I found that farming Iron Ore in a private server is much faster because you don’t have to compete with other players for node spawns.

Heavy Leather

How to Obtain:
This drops from Wolves and Bears in the Silent Forest. The drop rate is roughly 10%, so be prepared for a grind.
How to Use:
Used for upgrading agility-based gear and crafting quivers. It creates gear that offers higher movement speed, which is vital for kiting tougher enemies.

Magic Dust

How to Obtain:
You can get Magic Dust by defeating the Arcane Sprites in the Mystic Grove. These enemies are tricky because they teleport, but they are weak to physical damage.
How to Use:
This is the fuel for your magical abilities. It’s required to enchant your weapons, giving them elemental effects like fire or ice damage. Trust me, a sword with fire damage makes the later levels significantly easier.

Rare Materials: Hunting the Big Game

Now we are getting into the serious stuff. Rare materials usually require you to kill specific bosses or survive high-level areas. You won’t just stumble upon these; you have to earn them.

Demon Horns

How to Obtain:
These are a guaranteed drop from the Demon Lieutenant boss in the Volcanic Fortress. The boss respawns every 30 minutes.
How to Use:
Demon Horns are used to craft the “Demon Slayer” weapon set. This set offers a lifesteal effect, which is incredible for solo players who lack a dedicated healer.

Crystal Shards

How to Obtain:
Found in the Crystal Caves, these are harvestable nodes, but they are often guarded by high-level Golems. You can also get them by completing the Daily Dungeon on Hard mode.
How to Use:
These are essential for upgrading your skills past Level 5. Without them, your character’s power plateau will hit hard. Always prioritize spending Crystal Shards on your damage-dealing skills first.

Ancient Coins

How to Obtain:
While technically a currency, these function as a material for high-end trades. You get them from opening Golden Chests found in secret areas.
How to Use:
The Wandering Merchant appears once a week and sells exclusive blueprints using Ancient Coins. Save these! Don’t spend them on consumables.

Legendary Materials: The Endgame Grind

This is the pinnacle of Solo Hunters. These items are hard to get and usually require a coordinated group effort or extreme individual skill.

Dragon Scales

How to Obtain:
The World Dragon spawns randomly once every 2 days in the Burning Skies zone. It drops 1-3 scales depending on the damage contribution.
How to Use:
Crafting the Dragon Armor Set. This is the best defensive gear in the game currently, offering 90% resistance to fire damage.

Ancient Core

How to Obtain:
Dropped by the Final Boss in the Tower of Trials on Nightmare difficulty.
How to Use:
This material is used to unlock “Awakened” forms of weapons. It transforms your maxed-out weapon into a god-tier version with doubled stats.

Void Essence

How to Obtain:
Obtained from PvP victories or by opening the mysterious Void Chests.
How to Use:
Used to craft “Cursed Items.” These items have massive stat penalties but equally massive bonuses. They are high-risk, high-reward gear for advanced players.

How to Efficiently Use Your Materials?

It’s not just about having the stuff; it’s about knowing when to use it. Here are some strategies I’ve developed to maximize my resource efficiency.

The “Hold Off” Strategy

Don’t upgrade every piece of gear the moment you get the materials. I usually wait until I have enough materials to upgrade a full set (Helmet, Chest, Legs, Weapon) at once. Why? Because upgrading individual pieces piece by piece can leave you with uneven stats, making you less effective in combat.

Sell Smart

If your inventory is full, prioritize selling Common materials that are easy to farm (like Wood and Pebbles). Never sell Rare or Legendary materials unless you have a surplus of 20+. You never know when a new update will drop that requires those specific items for a new crafting recipe.

Check the Market

If your server has a player-driven economy, check the market prices before you farm. Sometimes, buying a material is cheaper than the time it takes to farm it. Conversely, if a material you have an abundance of is selling for a high price, sell your excess to buy what you actually need.

Pro Tips for Material Farming in 2026

1. Use Boosts: Always use a “Loot Boost” potion before farming Bosses or Dungeons. They cost gold, but the extra material drops usually pay for the potion ten times over.
2. Private Servers: If you have Robux, investing in a private server is the best way to farm materials without interruption. You can reset bosses and nodes instantly.
3. Event Timing: Keep an eye on the official Solo Hunters Discord or Twitter. During 2x Drop Rate events, you can farm weeks’ worth of materials in just a few hours. Plan your schedule around these events.
4. Optimize Your Loadout: When farming materials that drop from mobs, equip gear with “Luck” or “Item Drop Rate” stats. Don’t worry about defense; kill speed and drop rate are what matter for farming runs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Upgrading Temporary Gear: Don’t spend Rare materials on a weapon you plan to replace in 2 levels. Only upgrade gear that you plan to keep for a while (usually “Purple” rarity or higher).
• Ignoring Gathering Tools: Make sure your Pickaxe and Axe are upgraded. A low-level pickaxe takes 3 hits to mine an Iron Ore node, while a Diamond Pickaxe does it in 1. This triples your farming speed.
• Hoarding Useless Items: Sometimes items become obsolete due to game updates. Check the patch notes to ensure the materials you are saving haven’t been “nerfed” or made irrelevant.

FAQ’s

What is the best material to farm for beginners?

For beginners, Slimy Goo is the most valuable early on. It allows you to craft Sticky Bombs and Health Potions, which are essential for surviving the early dungeons.

Can I transfer materials between characters?

Currently, materials are character-bound, meaning you cannot transfer them between different slots on your account. However, gold is shared, so you can sell materials on one character to buy gear for another.

How do I get Ancient Cores fast?

The fastest way to get Ancient Cores is to speed-run the Tower of Trials. Focus on clearing the lower floors quickly rather than struggling through higher floors immediately, as the drop rate difference isn’t as high as the time difference.

Where can I find the Wandering Merchant?

The Wandering Merchant spawns in a random zone every Friday at 12:00 PM EST. He stays for 1 hour. Check the community Discord for his location as soon as he spawns.

Do drop rate buffs stack?

Yes, they do! You can stack a Loot Potion, a Pet with drop rate stats, and a game event boost (2x drops) for massive farming efficiency.

What should I do with duplicate rare items?

If you have duplicate rare weapons or armor, don’t dismantle them unless you desperately need the basic scrap. Instead, sell them on the player market for a profit. Players often buy them to use as “fodder” for upgrading their own gear.

Conclusion

Mastering the materials in Solo Hunters is a journey, but it’s one that pays off immensely. By focusing your farming efforts, knowing which materials to prioritize, and avoiding common upgrade traps, you will find yourself progressing faster than 90% of the player base.

Remember, the meta changes, and new materials are added with every update. Make sure to bookmark this page and check back regularly, as I update this guide whenever a new patch hits in March 2026. Good hunting, and may your loot be legendary!