TL;DR
- Ivory drops from Rhinos and Elephants in the northern Crimson Desert region
- Best farming spots are Rattlesnake Steppe and the road between Trader’s Expanse and Varnia
- Rhinos run away when attacked. Elephants fight back — be careful
- You can also buy Ivory from Provisioner merchants after Chapter 4
- Ivory is used to refine Cloaks, Soft Armor, and Jewelry from Refinement 5 and above
If you’re trying to push your cloak or accessories past Refinement level 5, you’ve already hit a wall. The game starts asking for Ivory and most players have no idea where to look for it. It’s not mined. It’s not looted from bandits. You have to go hunt it.
This guide covers exactly where to find Ivory in Crimson Desert, how to farm it fast, and what you actually use it for.
What Is Ivory in Crimson Desert?
Ivory is a crafting material in Crimson Desert. It’s described as a rare material obtained from animals with large tusks or horns. The game says it was historically used for ornaments and ceremonial items — but in your hands, it’s a late-game refinement resource.
You need it to upgrade Soft Armor, Cloaks, and Jewelry at higher refinement levels. It shows up as a requirement once you hit Refinement 5 on these gear types. If you’ve been ignoring the northern parts of the map, now’s the time to go.
For a full breakdown of how refinement works in the game, check out the Crimson Desert hub page which covers all major systems.
How to Get Ivory in Crimson Desert
There are two ways to get Ivory: hunting animals or buying from a merchant. Hunting is faster and available from the start. Buying is limited and locked behind story progress.
Method 1: Hunt Rhinos and Elephants
Ivory comes from two animals — Rhinos and Elephants. Both are found in the northern part of the map, specifically in the Crimson Desert region northeast of Pywel.
Where to find Rhinos:
Rhinos are found in Rattlesnake Steppe. On your map, look between the letters R and T in the word “Crimson Desert.” There’s also a group of them near the fast travel point on the main northern road. Rhinos don’t attack you. However, if you hit one, the whole herd will run. They’re not fast, so you can chase them down. Use heavy attacks or your bow to drop them quickly.
Where to find Elephants:
Elephants are found further north, slightly west of the main road that leads toward Varnia. The area between Trader’s Expanse and Varnia has multiple herds walking around. Unlike Rhinos, some Elephants will turn hostile when attacked. A few might run, but expect others to charge you. Stay alert, dodge their attacks, and take them down one at a time.
Both animals have a lot of health compared to normal wildlife, so the fights take a little longer than you’d expect. Each kill gives you 1 to 3 Ivory, along with Large Bones, Thick Hides, and Tough Meat as bonus drops.
After killing an animal, make sure you actually skin the body to collect the Ivory. The loot doesn’t drop on its own — you need to interact with the carcass.
Method 2: Buy from Provisioner Merchants
Once you finish Chapter 4, Provisioner merchants start stocking Ivory. However, the supply is limited — they only carry a small amount per day. Stock refreshes daily at midnight in-game.
This method works as a top-up if you need a few extra pieces, but don’t rely on it as your main source. Hunting is much faster and gives you more per session.
How to Farm Ivory Fast
If you need a lot of Ivory, here’s the most efficient farming approach:
- Head to the main road in the northern Crimson Desert region near the Varnia fast travel point
- Clear all the Rhinos near the road first — they’re easy to find and cluster together
- Move northwest toward Trader’s Expanse to find the Elephant herds
- Skin every carcass before moving on
- Loop the area and repeat
The animals respawn over time, so you can run the same route multiple times in one session. The Rhino group near the fast travel point is the most time-efficient stop since you can teleport back and clear them again.
What Is Ivory Used For?
Ivory is used at any Blacksmith or Smithy through the Refinement menu. It’s specifically needed to upgrade:
- Cloaks — Required from Refinement level 5 and above
- Soft Armor — Used in higher-tier refinement
- Jewelry — Rings, necklaces, and earrings at upper refinement levels
To use it, go to a Blacksmith, select Refinement, then pick the piece of gear you want to upgrade. The material cost is shown before you confirm. You don’t spend Silver — only materials.
If you want to understand the full refinement system and what stats you gain at each level, the Crimson Desert accessories guide covers accessories in detail, and the how to upgrade weapons and armor guide explains the full process.
Tips Before You Farm Ivory
Bring your bow. Ranged attacks let you chip down Rhinos before they scatter too far. You can pull one from the herd without alerting the rest if you’re accurate.
Watch your stamina against Elephants. They hit hard and can interrupt your attacks. Dodge their charge, then punish them. If you’re struggling with combat mechanics, the advanced combat guide has everything you need.
Don’t skip skinning. You have to manually loot each carcass. Players miss Ivory all the time because they forget to interact with the body after the kill.
Grab the bonus drops too. Large Bones and Thick Hides from the same animals are used for Leather Armor and Jewelry refinement. Farming Ivory also means you’re stocking up on other useful materials at the same time.
Check the Provisioner after Chapter 4. Even a few bought Ivory pieces can save you time if you’re one or two short of the next refinement level.
Where to Find Rhinos and Elephants — Quick Reference
| Animal | Location | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Rhino | Rattlesnake Steppe / northern road near fast travel | Runs away when attacked |
| Elephant | North of Trader’s Expanse toward Varnia | Some run, some become hostile |
Ivory is one of those materials that’s easy to miss early on because you just don’t need it until your gear starts hitting the higher refinement tiers. Once you do need it, at least the farming route is straightforward. Rhinos and Elephants in the north. Skin everything. Repeat.
If you’re working on your overall gear setup alongside farming Ivory, check out the best early build guide and the Abyss gears list to make sure you’re spending your resources in the right places.
Crimson Desert is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and Epic Games. You can also visit the official Crimson Desert website for the latest news.
