Cobalt is one of the most important minerals in Solarpunk, as it is required for several advanced upgrades and crafting recipes. You will also encounter a vending machine near the Traderbot that requires 1x Cobalt to repair, introducing the resource fairly early in the game.
However, despite seeing the requirement early on, Cobalt is actually a mid-game resource that cannot be obtained until you have significantly progressed through the Airship upgrade path.
Where to Find Cobalt in Solarpunk
Before you can start mining Cobalt, you must first upgrade your Airship to Level 3. If you have only recently arrived at the Traderbot and discovered the broken vending machine, you still have a considerable amount of progression ahead of you.
To unlock the Airship Research Upgrade Level 3, you need to complete the following Traderbot deliveries:
- 4x Watermelon
- 12x Cotton
- 20x Beeswax
- 10x Watermelon
- 32x Copper
- 5x Silicon
- 10x Wheat
- 20x Cloth
- 10x Bread
- 6x Egg
By the time you complete these requirements, you should already have established a Wheat farm, collected Quartz for Silicon production, and built a functioning chicken farm for Eggs.
Once your Airship reaches Level 3, new islands become accessible to the north and south of your starting location. These newly unlocked areas contain several valuable resources, including Cobalt.
The smaller northern islands contain a few Cobalt Ore deposits, allowing you to gather some ore immediately. However, these are limited deposits and are not the renewable source of Cobalt that players will eventually need.
The main Cobalt node can be found on the large island located south of your starting base. This island contains the game’s primary renewable source of Cobalt, making it the best location for long-term mining operations.
When traveling to the southern island, it is recommended to bring only essential tools and materials so that you have as much inventory space as possible. Besides Cobalt, the island also contains several valuable resources and collectibles, including:
- Sunflowers
- 5x Carrot spawns
- 2x Cotton spawns
- 1x Watermelon spawn
- Two treasure chests
- A pig that can be transported back to your base
Because there are so many resources to collect, carrying only basic supplies such as Wood, Sticks, Rocks, and your Pickaxe will maximize your available inventory space.
Make sure to gather as much Cobalt Ore as possible during your visit. Once you return to your base, simply place the Cobalt Ore into a Furnace to smelt it into Cobalt Bars, just as you would with other mineral resources in the game.
