Have you ever been crafting something important in LOTRO and suddenly realized you’re missing a key ingredient? That sinking feeling is all too familiar for many players. You search your bags, your vault, and even ask kinmates, but that elusive item remains out of reach. This post is here to banish that frustration when it comes to Ash Wood. We’ll guide you on exactly where to locate this valuable resource and how to best utilize it in your adventures. By the end, you’ll be a pro at gathering and using Ash Wood, making your crafting and progression smoother than ever before.
Ash Wood LOTRO Where to Find and How to Use
Gathering resources is a fundamental part of experiencing Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings Online. Among the many materials players seek, Ash Wood holds a special place for its utility in various crafting professions. Whether you’re a new player just starting your adventure or a seasoned veteran looking to optimize your resource gathering, knowing the best spots and methods for acquiring Ash Wood is essential.
This guide will walk you through the primary locations where you can find Ash Wood, the types of nodes to look for, and the various ways this versatile material contributes to your character’s development through crafting.
Understanding Ash Wood
Ash Wood is a common but vital crafting ingredient in The Lord of the Rings Online, primarily gathered by characters with the Forester or Woodworker professions. It’s a medium-tier wood that becomes available as players progress through certain zones. Its appearance in the game is tied to specific tree models, and players will interact with these nodes to harvest the lumber.
The quality and quantity of Ash Wood obtained can sometimes depend on the player’s level and their proficiency in the Forester skill.
What is Ash Wood Used For?
Ash Wood is a staple for several crafting disciplines. Woodworkers use it to create a wide range of items, from durable furniture and sturdy shields to musical instruments and even components for housing. Jewelers might use Ash Wood for certain decorative elements or tool handles.
Additionally, Ash Wood can be an ingredient in some Scholar recipes, often for scrolls or other miscellaneous items. Its versatility means that having a steady supply is beneficial for anyone engaged in crafting.
Where to Find Ash Wood
Locating Ash Wood involves venturing into specific regions of Middle-earth where Ash trees grow in abundance. These zones generally align with the level ranges where players are acquiring intermediate-tier crafting materials. While Ash Wood can sometimes be found in smaller quantities elsewhere, certain areas are known for their high concentration of Ash Wood nodes.
The Shire and Bree-land
For players in the earlier stages of the game, the Shire and the western parts of Bree-land offer the first consistent opportunities to find Ash Wood. While these areas are often associated with less advanced resources, Ash Wood nodes do appear here. Look for Ash trees scattered throughout the landscape, especially in wooded areas away from the main settlements.
Hobiton, Tuckborough, and the Greenfields in the Shire can yield some Ash Wood, as can the areas around Bree town and the Staddle. These zones are relatively safe and easy to traverse, making them good starting points.
Eregion
As players move into more challenging zones, Eregion becomes a prime location for Ash Wood gathering. This zone, set in the foothills of the Misty Mountains, has a rugged terrain dotted with forests and groves. Many Ash Wood nodes are present here, often found alongside other valuable gathering resources.
Exploring the various valleys and clearings within Eregion will likely reward you with a significant amount of Ash Wood. Be prepared for more dangerous enemies in this region compared to the Shire.
Moria
The vast underground delves of Moria also contain Ash Wood, though finding it can be more challenging due to the environment. Ash trees appear in specific, more open cavern areas or in pockets where vegetation has managed to take root. While not as densely packed as surface-level zones, Moria’s Ash Wood can be valuable if you’re already adventuring there for quests or other resources.
Keep an eye out for nodes in the less-traveled passages and larger caverns.
Enedwaith
Enedwaith is another excellent zone for Ash Wood, particularly for players in the mid-to-high level ranges. This expansive region features varied landscapes, including ancient forests and rolling hills, which are ideal habitats for Ash trees. Large swathes of Enedwaith contain numerous Ash Wood nodes, making it a highly efficient area for gathering.
Areas like the Old Forest Road and the plains west of Lithlad are particularly rich. Due to the zone’s size, planning your routes can maximize your harvesting efficiency.
The Lone-lands and Weather Hills
Parts of the Lone-lands and the Weather Hills can also yield Ash Wood. While these zones are more known for their arid landscapes, Ash trees can be found in more sheltered or fertile spots. As with other areas, exploring the wooded fringes and valleys is key.
These zones might not be as concentrated with Ash Wood as Enedwaith, but they can serve as supplementary locations if you’re questing in the vicinity.
Northern Ered Luin
Players who choose to explore the northern reaches of Ered Luin, particularly as they approach level 30+, can find Ash Wood. This region has a more temperate feel in certain parts, supporting the growth of Ash trees. Look in the forested areas and along the riverbanks.
While perhaps not the primary source for most players, it offers another option for resource acquisition.
How to Gather Ash Wood
Gathering Ash Wood is straightforward, but understanding the mechanics can help you be more efficient. As a Forester, you’ll be the one collecting the raw lumber.
Forester Skill
To gather Ash Wood, your character needs to have the Forester vocation equipped and leveled. This skill allows you to interact with resource nodes scattered throughout the game world. As your Forester skill increases, you’ll be able to gather higher-tier resources.
Resource Nodes
Ash Wood is found in resource nodes that visually resemble Ash trees. When you approach a node, your character will have an interaction prompt appear. Clicking this prompt initiates the gathering process.
The time it takes to gather can vary slightly, but it’s generally a quick action.
Survey Skill
The Survey skill, often paired with Forester, allows you to detect resource nodes in your vicinity. Activating Survey can reveal nearby nodes on your mini-map, making it easier to locate them efficiently. This is especially useful in densely wooded areas where nodes can be hidden amongst the trees.
Node Depletion and Respawn
Resource nodes in LOTRO are not infinite. Once gathered, a node becomes depleted and will not be available for a period. After some time, the node will respawn, allowing for further gathering.
The respawn timers can vary, but often they are relatively quick, allowing for continuous farming if you move through an area systematically.
Using Ash Wood in Crafting
Once you’ve gathered your Ash Wood, its value is realized through crafting. Woodworkers are the primary beneficiaries, but other professions also utilize it.
Woodworker Recipes
Ash Wood is a key ingredient in a wide variety of Woodworker recipes. These include:
- Shields and bucklers
- Furniture for player housing
- Musical instruments
- Weapon components (e.g., staff shafts, bow limbs)
- Various decorative items
As you level your Woodworker skill, you will unlock more advanced recipes that require Ash Wood, often in combination with other materials like Iron, Copper, or various fabrics.
Jeweler Recipes
Jewelers might use Ash Wood for crafting tools or for specific aesthetic components of jewelry or decorative items, especially those intended to have a natural or rustic feel.
Scholar Recipes
While less common, some Scholar recipes might call for Ash Wood. This could be for crafting certain types of ink, parchment, or other academic materials used in scrolls or research.
Mastery and Superior Crafting
When crafting with Ash Wood, there’s a chance to achieve a “Mastery” critical success, resulting in a superior quality item. This is often influenced by your crafting level, the quality of the ingredients used, and sometimes specific crafting buffs or facilities.
Tips for Efficient Ash Wood Gathering
Maximizing your Ash Wood acquisition involves strategic planning and efficient gameplay.
Route Planning
Identify areas with a high density of Ash Wood nodes. For instance, many players find the areas around the East and West Eaves of Enedwaith to be particularly lucrative. Ride through these areas systematically, using Survey to spot nodes, and then move to the next.
Having a stable or a mount with good speed can make a difference.
Party Gathering
If you’re in a group, coordinate with fellow players. If multiple people are gathering, you can cover more ground and gather resources faster. This is especially effective when farming for specific materials needed for group crafting projects.
Daytime vs. Nighttime
While resource nodes don’t strictly follow in-game day/night cycles for respawning, server population can impact availability. During peak hours, popular farming spots might be contested. Sometimes, farming during off-peak hours can lead to less competition for nodes.
Trading and Auction House
If you’re not a Forester or simply don’t have the time to farm, Ash Wood is frequently available on the Auction House. You can purchase it directly from other players. However, this can be more expensive than gathering it yourself, especially if you need large quantities.
Professions Synergy
Consider pairing your Forester profession with Woodworker. This allows you to use the Ash Wood you gather immediately to craft items, which can be useful for personal progression, trading, or fulfilling orders within your kinship.
Comparison of Ash Wood Gathering Zones
Here’s a quick look at some of the key zones for Ash Wood, highlighting their pros and cons:
| Zone | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| The Shire/Bree-land | Safe, easy access, good for low levels | Lower density of nodes, less efficient for high-level players |
| Eregion | Good density, variety of other resources | Higher enemy threat level |
| Moria | Available while questing in the zone | Nodes are less concentrated, navigation can be tricky |
| Enedwaith | Very high density, excellent for efficient farming | Higher enemy threat, larger zone to traverse |
| Lone-lands/Weather Hills | Supplementary locations | Lower density, less reliable primary source |
| Northern Ered Luin | Alternative option, accessible for certain quest lines | Moderate density, might not be the most efficient |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What is the highest level zone for Ash Wood?
Answer: While Ash Wood appears in several mid-to-high level zones, Enedwaith is widely considered one of the most efficient and richest zones for gathering Ash Wood due to the high density of nodes available.
Question: Can I gather Ash Wood if I don’t have the Forester profession?
Answer: No, you need to have the Forester profession equipped to gather raw lumber like Ash Wood directly from resource nodes. Other players with Forester can gather it for you, or you can purchase it from the Auction House.
Question: Does Ash Wood have any special properties?
Answer: Ash Wood itself is a common crafting material. Its value comes from its versatility in recipes. The quality of the final crafted item depends on the crafter’s skill and potentially other ingredient qualities, not on inherent special properties of the wood itself.
Question: How often do Ash Wood nodes respawn?
Answer: Resource nodes in LOTRO respawn after a certain period, which can vary. Generally, they respawn relatively quickly, allowing for continuous gathering if you move through farming areas systematically.
Question: What is the most common crafting profession that uses Ash Wood?
Answer: The Woodworker profession is the primary user of Ash Wood. They utilize it to craft a wide array of items, including shields, furniture, and musical instruments.
Final Thoughts
Acquiring and using Ash Wood in LOTRO is a straightforward yet important aspect of progression for crafters and players focused on resource gathering. Knowing the best zones like Enedwaith for concentrated nodes, or utilizing the Shire and Bree-land for early-game needs, ensures a steady supply. Remember to keep your Forester skill up to date and employ efficient gathering routes, perhaps even using the Survey skill to spot nodes from afar.
The versatility of Ash Wood in Woodworker recipes, from shields to housing items, makes it a consistently valuable material. Don’t underestimate its role in enhancing your gameplay and character development. If you’re short on time, the Auction House offers a convenient alternative, though it comes at a higher cost.
By integrating Ash Wood gathering into your regular play, you’ll find your crafting endeavors become much more fruitful and your inventory better stocked for whatever adventures Middle-earth throws your way.