Palworld Crude Oil: Where to Find & How to Use It

Palworld crude oil is a late-game resource you extract from oil nodes on a small island in the northeastern desert, then refine into Plasteel and other high-tier materials. You need a Production Assembly Line, a Crusher, and a suitable base location to make it useful. Here’s everything you need to know about finding, extracting, and using crude oil in Palworld.

What Is Crude Oil in Palworld?

Crude oil is a raw material added in the Sakurajima update. It doesn’t spawn as loose loot or drop from Pals. Instead, you must build an Oil Extractor on a specific oil node, power it with electricity, and let it run. The extracted oil is then processed into Plasteel, which is required for endgame weapons, armor, and base structures like the Large Pal Oil Rig.

Without crude oil, you cannot craft the most powerful gear in the game, including the Rocket Launcher, the Legendary Pal Metal Armor, and the Electric Furnace upgrades. It’s the gatekeeper for the late-game tech tree, so knowing how to secure a reliable supply is essential.

Where to Find Crude Oil Nodes

There is exactly one region with crude oil nodes: the northeastern desert area of the map, often called the “oil field” by players. The coordinates are roughly X: 700, Y: -450. You’ll recognize the area by the dark, tar-like patches on the ground and the presence of large, rocky outcrops with a shiny black surface.

Each node supports one Oil Extractor. The nodes are spread out, so you’ll need to build a base that covers multiple nodes to get a decent yield. The best spot is a flat area near the coast, where you can place 3-4 extractors within a single base perimeter.

To reach this area, you’ll need a flying Pal like a Nitewing or a Beakon, or a fast ground mount. The desert is also home to high-level Pals (levels 40+), so come prepared with decent armor and weapons.

How to Extract Crude Oil

Extracting crude oil requires a specific setup. Here’s the step-by-step process:

• Unlock the Oil Extractor – It’s in the Technology tree at level 40. You’ll need 50 Ancient Civilization Parts to research it.
• Build a base near the oil nodes – The extractor must be placed directly on a node, so your base’s perimeter must include the node.
• Place the Oil Extractor – Open your build menu (B key), select the Oil Extractor, and place it on the node. It will snap to the correct position.
• Power it – The extractor needs electricity. Connect it to a generator or use a Pal with the Kindling trait to power it. Without power, it won’t produce anything.
• Assign a Pal to work – A Pal with the Watering trait is ideal, as it speeds up the extraction. The Pal will automatically work on the extractor if it’s within the base.

Once running, the extractor will produce crude oil at a rate of about 1-2 units per minute, depending on the Pal’s work speed. You’ll see the oil appear in the extractor’s inventory, which you can collect manually or via a transport Pal.

What Is Crude Oil Used For?

Crude oil itself isn’t directly usable. You must refine it into Plasteel using a Production Assembly Line, which is unlocked at level 44. The recipe is:

• Crude Oil x2 → Plasteel x1

Plasteel is then used in a wide range of endgame recipes:

• Weapons: Rocket Launcher, Gatling Gun, and the Legendary versions of all firearms.
• Armor: Plasteel Armor, which is the highest defense set in the game.
• Base structures: Large Oil Rig, Electric Furnace, and the Advanced Workbench.
• Pals: Some Pal gear, like the Pal Metal Helmet, requires Plasteel.

You’ll also need crude oil for crafting High Quality Pal Oil, which is used in some food recipes and for breeding certain Pals.

Choosing the Right Base Location

Since oil nodes are only in one area, your base location is critical. Here are the factors to consider:

• Proximity to multiple nodes – The more nodes in your base, the more extractors you can run. Look for a spot where you can place at least 2-3 extractors.
• Flat ground – The desert is hilly, so find a flat area to avoid building issues.
• Defense – The area has high-level Pals like Anubis and Menasting. Build walls and place defensive Pals to protect your base.
• Access to water – While not essential, water is useful for farming and for Watering Pals. There’s a lake nearby, so position your base near it.

A common mistake is placing the base too far from the nodes, forcing you to run long distances to collect oil. Make sure the nodes are within the blue circle of your Palbox.

Common Problems and Solutions

Players often run into a few issues when setting up oil extraction. Here’s how to fix them:

• Oil Extractor not producing – Check if it’s powered. Connect it to a generator or assign a Pal with the Kindling trait. Also, make sure the Pal is actually working on the extractor, not stuck on another task.
• No oil appearing – The extractor has a small inventory. If it’s full, production stops. Assign a Transport Pal to collect the oil and move it to a chest.
• Base attacks – The desert has aggressive Pals. Build defensive walls and place strong Pals on patrol. You can also set up a second base just for oil, leaving your main base safe.
• Not enough Plasteel – If you’re running out, build more extractors or increase the work speed of your Pals. Breeding Pals with the Artisan or Serious traits can help.

Comparing Crude Oil to Other Resources

Crude oil is unique in that it’s the only resource that requires a specific node location. Other resources like ore, coal, and sulfur can be mined from multiple spots across the map. This makes crude oil the most logistically challenging resource to farm.

In terms of value, crude oil is comparable to Pal Metal Ingots in the late game. Both are required for top-tier gear, but crude oil is harder to obtain because it’s location-locked. This means you’ll likely need to dedicate a whole base to oil extraction, which can be a burden if you’re already using all your base slots.

Costs and Efficiency

Setting up an oil base requires a significant investment:

• Oil Extractor – 50 Ancient Civilization Parts, 100 Ingots, 50 Stone, 20 Circuit Boards.
• Production Assembly Line – 50 Ingots, 20 Circuit Boards, 10 Ancient Civilization Parts.
• Generator – 30 Ingots, 10 Circuit Boards, 5 Ancient Civilization Parts.

To maximize efficiency, use Pals with high Work Speed and the Watering trait. A Jormuntide Ignis or a Blazamut with the Artisan trait can double your oil output. Also, consider using the Electric Pump to speed up extraction, though it requires additional power.

Safety and Maintenance

While crude oil itself isn’t dangerous in-game, the area around it is. The desert has heat that can damage you if you’re not wearing heat-resistant armor. Also, the oil nodes are near a cliff, so be careful not to fall while building.

Regularly check your extractors for damage from raids. If a Pal attacks the extractor, it can break and stop production. Repair it immediately to avoid downtime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I find crude oil anywhere else besides the desert?
A: No, crude oil nodes only spawn in the northeastern desert. There are no other locations on the map.

Q: How much crude oil do I need for endgame gear?
A: It varies, but expect to need at least 200-300 Plasteel for a full set of endgame armor and weapons. That’s roughly 400-600 crude oil, which takes a few hours of extraction.

Q: Do I need a specific Pal to extract oil?
A: You need a Pal with the Watering trait to speed up extraction. Any Watering Pal works, but higher-level ones like Jormuntide are faster.

Q: Can I use crude oil directly for crafting?
A: No, you must refine it into Plasteel first. The Production Assembly Line is required.

Q: What happens if my Oil Extractor runs out of power?
A: It stops producing. Make sure your generator has fuel or your Pal is assigned to it.

Q: Is it worth building a second base just for oil?
A: Yes, if you have a free base slot. It’s the most efficient way to secure a steady supply without interfering with your main base’s production.

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in t | Time (minutes) | min | 60 | 0 | 10080
in rate | Oil extraction rate (per min) | - | 2 | 0.1 | 10
out oil | Crude oil produced | - | t * rate | 0