TL;DR
- Copper becomes essential after iron for crafting bronze ingots used in ship upgrades
- The optimal mining location is south of Sacred Tree outpost with multiple shoreline veins
- Craft Pickaxe I at Sainte-Anne using torn sails and broken planks before harvesting
- Auto-harvest speeds collection but reduces yields, manual mining provides maximum resources
- Convert copper to bronze at the refinery, requiring three ore per ingot with processing fees
Copper represents a pivotal mid-game resource that bridges the gap between basic iron acquisition and advanced ship construction in Skull and Bones. While iron serves your initial crafting needs, copper becomes indispensable once you begin pursuing more substantial vessel upgrades and weapon systems.
As your pirate career advances beyond the introductory phase, the demand for bronze intensifies significantly. This alloy, created through copper refinement, unlocks access to dozens of essential blueprints including reinforced hulls, enhanced cannons, and specialized ship components. Understanding copper’s strategic importance early will prevent resource bottlenecks during critical progression moments.
Bronze ingots serve as foundational components across multiple crafting tiers, making consistent copper acquisition a non-negotiable aspect of successful piracy. The transition from iron dependency to copper reliance typically occurs around the 4-6 hour mark for most players, signaling your entry into the game’s intermediate content phase.
While copper deposits scatter throughout the East Indies archipelago, the most concentrated and accessible mining zone lies directly south of the Sacred Tree outpost. This strategic location offers multiple advantages for efficient resource gathering operations.
The Sacred Tree outpost positions itself along a narrow waterway adjacent to Hova Hill, west of your Sainte-Anne headquarters. Following the canal southward reveals a trading settlement flanked by defensive structures, with copper veins prominently visible along the shoreline. Two primary extraction points exist: one positioned to the right of the guard towers, another nestled between them on a small island formation.

Alternative copper sources exist near Telok Penjarah and the Coast of Africa, though these locations typically feature heavier patrols and increased competition. For beginners, the Sacred Tree route provides the optimal balance of resource density and manageable enemy presence.
Navigation tip: Plot your course using the map’s narrow waterways rather than open ocean routes to minimize encounters with hostile vessels during transport. This approach significantly reduces the risk of losing valuable ore shipments to pirate attacks.
Before initiating copper extraction, you must acquire the proper tool: Pickaxe I. This essential implement crafts at the Carpenter’s workshop in Sainte-Anne for two Torn Sails and one Broken Plank – materials readily obtained from early-game ship combat and wreckage salvage.
Approach the distinctive shimmering rock formations along shorelines to trigger the harvest interaction. The mining mini-game challenges players to time their button presses within a green zone for optimal yield, though the game offers an automation alternative.
The Auto-Harvest function, accessible through game settings, streamlines collection by eliminating the timing mechanic. While convenient for rapid gathering, this automated approach reduces your total resource acquisition by approximately 15-20% compared to perfect manual execution. Choose based on your priorities: speed versus maximum efficiency.
Pro tip: For manual harvesting mastery, watch the pickaxe’s swing rhythm rather than the green zone indicator. The animation provides more consistent timing cues, enabling higher success rates for resource-maximizing players.
Common mistake: Many new pirates attempt mining without proper tools, wasting valuable travel time. Always verify your inventory contains Pickaxe I before departing Sainte-Anne. Additionally, avoid harvesting during storms or combat, as interrupted sessions yield zero materials.
After securing copper deposits, immediately transport your ore to Sainte-Anne for processing at the Refinery. This specialized facility converts raw copper into bronze ingots, the currency of advanced shipbuilding.
The refinement process follows a straightforward formula: three copper ore pieces combine to create one bronze ingot, plus a nominal silver fee. Batch processing multiple ingots simultaneously proves more cost-effective than individual conversions.
Retrieve completed bronze ingots from the “Finished Goods” section within the Refinery interface. Plan your production cycles around other activities – refinement continues while you undertake missions, combat, or exploration.
Inventory management strategy: Maintain a balanced approach between copper stockpiling and bronze production. Excessive hoarding of raw copper wastes valuable cargo space, while insufficient reserves halt crafting progression.
Efficient farming route: Conduct mining runs during downtimes between major quests. The Sacred Tree location’s proximity to Sainte-Anne enables quick 10-15 minute collection trips that yield 12-18 copper ore per circuit.
Advanced tip: Coordinate copper gathering with other resource needs in the same region. The areas surrounding Sacred Tree often contain additional materials like fine jute and manganese, allowing multi-resource acquisition in single expeditions.
Action Checklist
- Craft Pickaxe I at Sainte-Anne Carpenter (2 Torn Sails + 1 Broken Plank)
- Navigate to Sacred Tree outpost via narrow waterways
- Harvest 2-3 copper veins along shoreline
- Return to Sainte-Anne and process ore at Refinery
- Repeat circuit 2-3 times for substantial bronze stockpile
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Skull And Bones – How To Find Copper Master copper mining locations, harvesting techniques, and bronze crafting for ship upgrades in Skull and Bones
