Black Ice is one of the most useful resources in Conan Exiles, especially once you start crafting advanced equipment, upgrading your base, and working toward stronger weapons. Unfortunately, finding it can be dangerous if you are not prepared for the freezing temperatures of the northern regions.
Unlike ordinary Ice, Black Ice is a darker crystalline material found in specific locations. You can mine it using a pick, but reaching the richest deposits often means traveling through dangerous territory filled with hostile creatures.
Fortunately, you do not need to defeat a dungeon boss to begin collecting Black Ice. Several deposits can be found outdoors, making it possible to farm the material without completing the Temple of Frost.
In this guide, we explain how to get Black Ice in Conan Exiles, where to find the best farming locations, what equipment to bring, and how to use the resource effectively.
How to Get Black Ice in Conan Exiles
To get Black Ice in Conan Exiles, travel to the snowy northern region of the Exiled Lands and mine the dark crystalline deposits with a pick.
One of the most reliable places to find Black Ice is the area surrounding the Temple of Frost. Numerous deposits are scattered between the temple and the nearby obelisk at the Frozen Slopes.
Additional deposits can be found inside the temple itself.
Follow these steps to collect your first Black Ice:
- Equip a pick suitable for harvesting mineral deposits.
- Prepare cold-resistant armor and temperature-raising consumables.
- Travel north toward the snowy mountains and the Temple of Frost.
- Search for dark, jagged crystalline formations.
- Strike the formations with your pick to harvest Black Ice.
- Collect as much as your inventory can comfortably carry.
- Return to your base and store the material for crafting.
Black Ice deposits can also yield regular Ice, so do not be surprised when both materials appear in your inventory.
Best Black Ice Locations in Conan Exiles
Although Black Ice appears in several locations, some areas offer much better farming opportunities than others.
1. Temple of Frost – Best Overall Black Ice Location
The Temple of Frost is among the best-known locations for farming Black Ice in the Exiled Lands.
Located in the Frozen North, this enormous structure is home to Frost Giants and contains numerous Black Ice deposits.
The surrounding terrain also contains valuable nodes, allowing players to gather resources without necessarily exploring the entire dungeon.
Why farm here?
- Multiple Black Ice deposits are located around the temple.
- Additional deposits can be harvested inside.
- The area is useful for players who need large quantities of the material.
- The temple also contains the Forge of Ymir and Frost Smithing knowledge.
However, the Temple of Frost is not a beginner-friendly destination. Frost Giants are dangerous enemies, and the freezing environment can quickly become a problem without adequate protection.
If your primary goal is collecting resources rather than fighting, consider harvesting the outdoor deposits first.
2. Frozen Slopes – A Useful Outdoor Farming Route
The Frozen Slopes are another important location for Black Ice farming.
Black Ice crystals can be found between the obelisk on the Frozen Slopes and the Temple of Frost.
This makes the area particularly useful for players who want to gather resources while avoiding the deeper sections of the temple.
Recommended farming approach:
- Travel toward the Frozen Slopes.
- Locate the obelisk and identify the direction of the Temple of Frost.
- Search the surrounding snowy terrain for dark crystal deposits.
- Mine accessible deposits while avoiding unnecessary combat.
- Continue toward the temple if you need additional Black Ice.
The route is especially convenient once you have explored the region and established a reliable way to travel back to your base.
3. Inside the Temple of Frost – High-Risk Farming
Players who are well equipped can explore the interior of the Temple of Frost for additional Black Ice.
The temple contains several passages, chambers, enemies, and resource deposits.
It is also where you can find the Forge of Ymir, an important location for crafting specialized Black Ice equipment.
However, farming inside the temple introduces additional risks:
- Hostile Frost Giants patrol parts of the dungeon.
- The environment requires cold protection.
- Players can become overwhelmed when fighting multiple enemies.
- Carrying too many resources can make escaping more difficult.
For newer players, the outdoor deposits are usually the more practical starting point.
4. Isle of Siptah – Black Ice Near Vaults
Black Ice is not exclusive to the Exiled Lands.
If you are playing on the Isle of Siptah map, you can find Black Ice deposits near vault locations.
This makes vault exploration a useful way to discover Black Ice while traveling across the island.
Keep in mind that the Isle of Siptah has a different map layout from the Exiled Lands. You cannot use the Temple of Frost route there.
Instead, check the terrain around vault entrances and mark the deposits you discover for future farming trips.
Black Ice Location Comparison
| Location | Map | Advantages | Main Risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple of Frost exterior | Exiled Lands | Numerous accessible deposits | Cold and nearby enemies |
| Frozen Slopes | Exiled Lands | Useful outdoor mining route | Extreme temperatures |
| Temple of Frost interior | Exiled Lands | More deposits and special crafting access | Frost Giants and dungeon combat |
| Vault surroundings | Isle of Siptah | Deposits across the island | Location-dependent hostile creatures |
What Tool Do You Need to Mine Black Ice?
You need a pick to harvest Black Ice deposits efficiently.
A basic pick can help you begin gathering resources, but upgrading to a stronger harvesting tool is worthwhile when you plan to collect large quantities.
Higher-quality tools generally improve harvesting efficiency, allowing you to spend less time mining and more time traveling between deposits.
For extended farming trips, bring a backup tool or repair supplies if your equipment is likely to lose durability.
There is also a specialized Black Ice Pick available through Frost Smithing, although obtaining and crafting it involves additional progression.
How to Survive the Cold While Farming Black Ice
One of the biggest challenges of gathering Black Ice is surviving the environment.
The northern mountains are extremely cold, and traveling without suitable preparation can be deadly.
Wear Cold-Resistant Armor
Before traveling north, check the temperature protection offered by your armor.
Choose equipment that provides enough cold resistance for the route you intend to explore.
Do not assume that every heavy armor set offers adequate protection against freezing temperatures.
Bring Warming Food and Consumables
Temperature-raising consumables, such as Spiced Soup, can help when exploring freezing environments.
Bring sufficient supplies for the journey, especially if you intend to enter the Temple of Frost.
Carry Healing Supplies
Hostile creatures can make a simple mining expedition dangerous.
Carry healing items and avoid fighting multiple Frost Giants simultaneously unless your character is properly equipped.
Manage Your Inventory Weight
Black Ice can become heavy when collected in large quantities.
Monitor your encumbrance and avoid carrying unnecessary equipment.
Depending on your build and progression, a suitable follower or mount may also help with transporting resources.
Best Black Ice Farming Strategy
If you want to collect Black Ice efficiently, focus on a repeatable route rather than wandering randomly across the mountains.
Step 1: Prepare at Your Base
Before leaving, repair your pick, equip cold-resistant armor, and prepare food, healing items, and enough inventory space.
Step 2: Travel to the Frozen Slopes
Head toward the northern snowy region and locate the Black Ice deposits between the Frozen Slopes obelisk and the Temple of Frost.
Step 3: Harvest the Outdoor Deposits
Mine the accessible Black Ice crystals first.
This reduces the need to fight enemies inside the temple and helps you collect a useful amount of material relatively quickly.
Step 4: Explore the Temple if Necessary
If you still need more Black Ice and are prepared for combat, enter the Temple of Frost and harvest additional deposits.
Step 5: Return Before Becoming Overloaded
Once your inventory approaches its practical carrying limit, return to your base and store the resources.
On servers where resources respawn normally, you can repeat the route after the deposits regenerate. Respawn timing may vary with server settings.
What Is Black Ice Used for in Conan Exiles?
Black Ice is valuable because it is used in several advanced crafting systems.
1. Crafting Hardened Steel Bars
One of the most important uses of Black Ice is producing Hardened Steel Bars.
For the standard recipe, combine:
- 1 Steel Bar
- 1 Black Ice
- Fuel for the furnace
Place the ingredients in a suitable furnace to produce a Hardened Steel Bar.
Hardened Steel is an important progression material used in equipment and construction recipes.
2. Crafting Star Metal Bars
Black Ice is also used in the process of smelting Star Metal.
Star Metal is a valuable advanced resource, so maintaining a stockpile of Black Ice is useful when you reach that stage of progression.
3. Building Black Ice-Reinforced Structures
Black Ice is used to construct Black Ice-Reinforced building pieces.
These structures belong to the game’s stronger building tiers and are useful for players who want to upgrade their bases beyond basic construction materials.
Because large bases require many building pieces, construction projects can consume substantial quantities of Black Ice.
4. Crafting Black Ice Weapons and Tools
Specialized Black Ice equipment can be crafted at the Frost Temple Smithy in the Forge of Ymir.
To unlock Frost Smithing, you must obtain the relevant knowledge from the lorestone behind Hrungnir of the Frost’s throne in the Temple of Frost.
You must also meet the prerequisite knowledge requirements.
Once unlocked, Frost Smithing provides access to specialized equipment, including the Black Ice Pick and several Black Ice weapons.
How to Unlock Black Ice Weapons
Collecting Black Ice does not automatically unlock the ability to craft Black Ice weapons.
On the Exiled Lands map, follow these steps:
- Unlock the prerequisite Hardened Steel Tools knowledge.
- Travel to the Temple of Frost.
- Explore the temple and locate the throne room.
- Find the lorestone behind Hrungnir of the Frost’s throne.
- Interact with the lorestone to learn Frost Smithing.
- Visit the Frost Temple Smithy inside the Forge of Ymir.
- Use the appropriate materials to craft eligible Black Ice equipment.
Be prepared for dangerous enemies throughout the temple.
Also note that the standard Isle of Siptah map does not contain the same Frost Temple Smithy, so crafting availability differs between the maps.
Can You Get Black Ice Without Mining?
Mining is the most straightforward method, but it is not the only possible source.
Depending on the map and available content, Black Ice can also appear through certain enemy drops and loot sources.
There is also a religious crafting route associated with Ymir’s altar that can produce Black Ice using Ice and other required materials.
However, for players who need large amounts for Hardened Steel or construction, mining concentrated deposits is generally the more practical approach.
Common Mistakes When Farming Black Ice
Traveling North Without Cold Protection
The Frozen North can kill unprepared characters through exposure. Always prepare your armor and consumables before starting a mining expedition.
Entering the Temple Too Early
You do not have to enter the Temple of Frost to obtain your first Black Ice.
Outdoor deposits are a useful alternative when you are not ready to fight Frost Giants.
Using an Inefficient Harvesting Tool
A weak or damaged pick makes resource gathering slower. Upgrade your tool when possible and check durability before leaving your base.
Ignoring Encumbrance
Collecting more Black Ice than you can comfortably transport may leave you vulnerable to enemies.
Plan your return route and monitor your carrying capacity.
Forgetting to Mark Resource Locations
Once you discover a reliable deposit, mark it on your map.
This makes future farming trips much faster and helps you establish a consistent resource-gathering route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to get Black Ice in Conan Exiles?
The area around the Temple of Frost and the Frozen Slopes is one of the best places to farm Black Ice on the Exiled Lands map.
Can you mine Black Ice without entering the Temple of Frost?
Yes. Black Ice deposits can be found outside the temple, particularly between the Frozen Slopes obelisk and the Temple of Frost.
What tool is needed to harvest Black Ice?
Use a pick. Stronger harvesting tools are preferable for collecting larger quantities efficiently.
Can you find Black Ice on the Isle of Siptah?
Yes. Black Ice can be found near vault locations across the Isle of Siptah.
Is Black Ice the same as regular Ice?
No. They are separate materials with different crafting uses. Black Ice deposits can yield both Black Ice and regular Ice.
Do you need Black Ice to make Hardened Steel?
Yes. The standard Hardened Steel Bar recipe requires one Steel Bar and one Black Ice in a furnace.
Can you craft Black Ice weapons anywhere?
No. On the Exiled Lands, specialized Black Ice weapons and tools require Frost Smithing knowledge and the Frost Temple Smithy at the Forge of Ymir.
Does Black Ice respawn?
Resource deposits normally regenerate after being harvested, although respawn timing can depend on the server’s settings.
Final Thoughts
Getting Black Ice in Conan Exiles becomes much easier once you know where to look.
For players exploring the Exiled Lands, the best starting point is the snowy region between the Frozen Slopes and the Temple of Frost. The outdoor deposits provide a practical way to collect Black Ice without immediately taking on the dangers of the temple interior.
If you need larger quantities or want to unlock specialized Black Ice equipment, exploring the Temple of Frost is a worthwhile next step.
Remember to bring cold-resistant armor, a reliable pick, healing supplies, and enough inventory space for the journey.
With a consistent farming route, you can build a steady supply of Black Ice for Hardened Steel, Star Metal processing, advanced equipment, and stronger base construction. Also read about why Dark Souls players plays the game even though the game is extremely hard.
