How to Get Ignitium in StarRupture
Learn how to find and mine Ignitium in StarRupture. Discover when it spawns after heat waves, how to spot burning rocks quickly, and why this rare resource is crucial for base upgrades.
StarRupture throws a lot of different resources at you—Titanium, Wolfram, Calcium, and plenty more. Most of them? You can mine whenever you want. Just find a deposit, whip out your harvesting tool, and start collecting.
But then there’s Ignitium, which plays by completely different rules.
You’ll see Ignitium listed as a requirement for upgrading your Base Core and other critical structures, but good luck finding it just lying around. That’s because Ignitium only appears under very specific conditions, and if you don’t know what you’re looking for (or when to look), you’ll miss it entirely.
Let me break down exactly how to get Ignitium, when it spawns, and why you need to move fast when collecting it.
What Makes Ignitium Different?
Unlike standard ores that sit permanently in the ground waiting for you to mine them, Ignitium only appears after heat waves.
Heat waves are one of the environmental hazards on Arcadia-7. The entire planet literally catches fire for several minutes, forcing you to take shelter in your Habitat or risk taking serious damage. It’s intense, it’s dangerous, and most importantly for this guide—it’s your only opportunity to collect Ignitium.
Here’s the key mechanic: Ignitium ore only spawns during the brief cooldown period immediately after a heat wave ends.
Miss that window? You’ll have to wait for the next heat wave. No heat wave, no Ignitium. Period.
This makes Ignitium one of the most time-sensitive resources in the game, and you need to be ready to act the moment it’s safe to leave your shelter.
When and Where Ignitium Spawns
Step 1: Wait for a Heat Wave
Heat waves happen periodically throughout the game. You’ll know one is starting when the environment begins to burn and temperatures skyrocket. Your only option is to get inside your Habitat immediately and wait it out.
While you’re stuck inside, don’t just sit there—use this time productively. Look through your Habitat’s windows and scan the surrounding landscape.
Step 2: Spot the Burning Rocks
During the heat wave, Ignitium ore nodes will appear as rocks that are burning more intensely than the surrounding terrain. They stand out visually because they’re literally on fire, glowing brighter than everything else around them.
This is your scouting phase. Make a mental note of where you see these super-heated rocks because the moment that heat wave ends, you need to sprint to those locations.
Step 3: Move IMMEDIATELY When It’s Safe
As soon as the planet starts cooling down and it’s safe to exit your Habitat, you need to get out there right now. Don’t wait. Don’t organize your inventory. Don’t check on your automated ore extraction setup. Just GO.
The entire area should still be covered in darkness or residual heat effects, which actually helps—those burning Ignitium rocks will be easy to spot from a distance since they’re still glowing against the darker environment.
Step 4: Mine Quickly
When you reach a burning rock, use your mining device on it. Each node will give you one or a few pieces of Ignitium, which goes straight into your inventory.
Here’s the critical part: You only have a few minutes before the planet returns to normal and the Ignitium rocks disappear completely.
This isn’t a resource you can leisurely collect. The window is small, and once it closes, those burning rocks vanish like they were never there. You’ll have to wait for the next heat wave to get another shot at mining Ignitium.
Why Speed Matters
I can’t stress this enough—time is everything when collecting Ignitium.
From the moment the heat wave ends, you’re racing against a timer. The planet is actively returning to its normal state, and as it does, those Ignitium nodes will fade away. Wait too long, and you’ll watch them disappear right before your eyes.
Tips for efficient Ignitium collection:
- Scout during the heat wave – Use your time in the Habitat wisely by marking Ignitium locations through the windows
- Exit immediately – The second it’s safe, get outside and start mining
- Prioritize closer nodes first – Mine the nearest burning rocks before running to distant ones
- Bring enough inventory space – Make sure you’ve increased your inventory size before a heat wave hits
- Stay healthy – The post-heat-wave environment might still be hazardous, so know how to heal if you take damage
Don’t get distracted by other resources or enemies during this window. Ignitium is rare and time-limited—everything else can wait.
What You Need Ignitium For
So why go through all this trouble for a few glowing rocks? Because Ignitium is essential for base progression.
Base Core Upgrades:
The most important use for Ignitium is upgrading your Base Core. You need 10 Ignitium to reach Base Core level 2. Since the Base Core is the foundation of your entire operation, upgrading it unlocks new buildings, capabilities, and progression opportunities.
Building Multiple Base Cores:
As you expand across Arcadia-7, you’ll likely build multiple Base Cores in different locations (especially if you’re setting up specialized mining operations near specific resource clusters). Each one potentially requires Ignitium for upgrades.
Other Structures:
Various advanced buildings and upgrades throughout the game also require Ignitium as a crafting component.
Bottom line: You can’t progress far in StarRupture without collecting Ignitium regularly. It’s not optional—it’s a core progression resource.
If you’re working on expanding your base and need guidance on basic building materials or connecting power to new structures, we’ve got dedicated guides for those too.
Planning Around Heat Waves
Since Ignitium is tied to heat waves, you’ll want to adjust your gameplay rhythm around these events.
Before a Heat Wave:
- Complete any outdoor tasks that need finishing
- Stock up on supplies like water
- Clear inventory space for incoming Ignitium
- Position yourself near your Habitat
During a Heat Wave:
- Scout for burning rocks through windows
- Mark locations mentally or on your map
- Plan your mining route for maximum efficiency
After a Heat Wave:
- Sprint to Ignitium locations immediately
- Mine everything you can before it disappears
- Return to normal activities once the window closes
This becomes a predictable cycle once you understand the pattern. Heat waves transform from pure danger into valuable resource-gathering opportunities.
My Take on the Ignitium System
Honestly? I love this mechanic. It adds urgency and excitement to an otherwise predictable mining loop. Instead of just wandering around collecting ore whenever you feel like it, Ignitium forces you to pay attention to environmental events and react quickly.
That said, it can be frustrating when you’re not prepared. Missing an Ignitium window because you were distracted or didn’t realize the heat wave had ended feels bad—especially when you desperately need those 10 pieces to upgrade your Base Core.
My advice: Treat heat waves as a priority event. When one starts, shift your focus entirely to Ignitium collection. Everything else in StarRupture can wait, but Ignitium cannot.
Quick Ignitium Collection Checklist
✓ Wait for a heat wave to start
✓ Take shelter in your Habitat immediately
✓ Scout for intensely burning rocks through windows
✓ Exit the moment it’s safe to go outside
✓ Sprint to the nearest burning rocks
✓ Mine Ignitium quickly before the window closes
✓ Collect at least 10 pieces for Base Core level 2
✓ Return for more during the next heat wave
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do heat waves occur in StarRupture?
Heat waves happen periodically throughout gameplay, though the exact timing varies. You’ll typically experience several heat waves during a standard play session. Pay attention to environmental cues and temperature warnings to know when one is approaching. There’s no way to trigger them manually—you just have to wait for them to occur naturally.
Can I automate Ignitium collection like other ores?
Unfortunately, no. Unlike Titanium, Wolfram, or Calcium, which you can mine with Ore Excavators in an automated setup, Ignitium must be collected manually during the brief post-heat-wave window. There’s no machine that can harvest it for you, which makes it one of the few resources that requires your direct attention no matter how advanced your base becomes.
What happens if I don’t collect Ignitium before it disappears?
If you miss the collection window, the burning rocks will simply vanish and you’ll have to wait for the next heat wave to try again. The Ignitium doesn’t relocate or leave traces—it’s just gone. This won’t block your progression permanently, but it will delay any upgrades or construction that requires Ignitium until you successfully collect some during the next heat wave.
How much Ignitium can I get from a single heat wave?
This depends on how many burning rocks spawn near your location and how quickly you can reach them before they disappear. In a good heat wave with several nearby nodes, you might collect anywhere from 5-15 pieces of Ignitium if you’re fast and efficient. The spawns seem somewhat random, so some heat waves will be more productive than others.
Ignitium might be one of the trickier resources to collect in StarRupture, but once you understand the mechanics, it becomes a manageable (if slightly stressful) part of your routine. Just remember: speed is everything, and preparation makes all the difference.
For more survival tips and progression guides, check out the official StarRupture Steam page, learn about all the playable characters, and don’t miss our beginner’s guide if you’re just getting started.
You’ll also want to stock up on other essential resources like Calcium and Meteorite Hearts, and make sure you know how to unlock grenades and all weapons for defending yourself during dangerous exploration runs. Don’t forget to grab Data Points whenever possible—they’re crucial for unlocking advanced recipes and progression.
