TL;DR
- Speak to Rhett at his equipment shop in the center of Hernand to start the quest
- He gives you a Pickaxe and asks for 2 Iron Ores — the ore is near Anvil Hill east of town
- Equip the Pickaxe, aim with LB or L1, and hit the dark grey rocks to mine ore
- Do not return to Rhett — deliver the ore to his assistant at the Equinsher Saddlery south of town
- Rewards include +50 Trust with Rhett, an inventory expansion, and you keep the Pickaxe
- Mine extra ore while you are there — it is used for gear refinement throughout the game
Rhett’s Request is one of the first side quests you run into in Hernand, and it trips up more players than it should. The quest itself is simple. Mine two Iron Ores and hand them in. But the game never clearly tells you where to deliver the ore, and first-time players almost always ride back to Rhett himself only to find it goes nowhere.
This guide gives you the exact mining location, how to use the Pickaxe properly, and where the delivery actually goes.
How to Start Rhett’s Request
Rhett is a giant equipment vendor located in the center of Hernand. You can spot him easily — he is one of the tallest NPCs in the area and stands right in the main square next to his shop.
There are two ways the quest can appear. You might see it listed on the Notice Board in town first, but picking it up from there alone will not make it active. The quest only officially starts when you walk up to Rhett directly and speak to him. This is how most Requests work in Crimson Desert — the board shows you what is available, but the NPC conversation is what triggers it.
Speak to Rhett and he will tell you about some nearby rock fissures. He asks Kliff to bring him Iron Ore and hands you a Pickaxe to get started.
Where to Find Iron Ore for Rhett’s Request
Rhett marks the ore location on your map when you accept the quest. The ore is found near the base of Anvil Hill, east of Hernand just past the river. Follow the quest marker and it will take you right there.
The ore deposits look like large, dark grey rocks with a slightly metallic sheen. They are easy to spot once you are in the area. There is also a secondary ore spot southwest of Hernand — go out the southern exit and walk west along the path while looking down over the ledge. You can jump down to reach it, though you will take a small amount of fall damage. If you prefer to avoid the damage, take the longer path around.
Either location works. The eastern spot near Anvil Hill is the one marked by the quest and is the most straightforward to reach.
One useful detail: the base of Anvil Hill also has Copper Ore deposits nearby. If you are already here mining Iron, stock up on Copper at the same time. Both materials are used regularly for gear refinement throughout the game.
How to Mine Iron Ore With the Pickaxe
Mining has a short learning curve. The controls are not explained well and players often find themselves swinging at rocks without anything dropping. Here is the correct method:
On Controller:
- Open your equipment wheel by holding the Left D-pad
- Cycle to the Pickaxe in the top left slot
- Release to equip it
- Stand in front of the dark grey ore rock
- Hold LB on Xbox or L1 on PlayStation to aim — wait for the targeting circle to turn blue
- Press the attack button to swing the Pickaxe and break the rock
On PC:
- Hold F2 to open your equipment wheel
- Use the mouse wheel to cycle to the Pickaxe and release to equip it
- Hold CTRL to aim at the rock
- Left click to swing
The rock breaks in one or two hits. The ore chunks drop onto the ground — pick them up immediately. On slopes and inclines, the ore can actually roll away from you, so grab them quickly before they slide out of reach.
You only need 2 Iron Ore for the quest, but mine more while you are there. Iron Ore is needed for weapon and armor refinement and you will use it throughout the entire game. There is no such thing as too much Iron in your inventory at this stage.
If you do not want to mine at all, you can also buy Iron Ore directly. Rhett’s equipment shop usually stocks three Iron Ores at 18 coins each. Mineral Shops, unlocked after liberating Cairn House and Karin Quarry north of Hernand, carry six at the same price. Both restock after two or three in-game days.
Alternatively, if you have the Force Palm ability, you can blast ore deposits directly without needing the Pickaxe at all. This drains Spirit but saves time if you are in a rush.
Where to Deliver the Iron Ore — Rhett’s Assistant, Not Rhett
Here is the part that catches almost everyone. Once you have the ore, do not ride back to Rhett in Hernand. The delivery goes to his assistant, not to Rhett himself.
Rhett’s assistant is located southeast of Hernand, near the Equinsher Saddlery just south of the city beyond the farmlands. He is a large, shirtless man standing near some wagons by the river. He is hard to miss once you are in the right area.
If you are not sure where to go, track it through the Journal:
- Open the main menu
- Go to Journal
- Select Faction Quests
- Choose Hernand Commissions
- Select Rhett’s Request
- Press F on PC or Y on controller to open the map with the quest marker active
The marker will point you directly to the assistant. Walk up and hand over the two Iron Ores. That completes the quest.
Rhett’s Request Rewards
Completing the quest gives you several useful things:
+50 Trust with Rhett — Trust is a relationship meter that builds with each merchant as you help them. At higher Trust levels, merchants may unlock new items in their shop, offer trade agreements, or share useful information about the region.
Inventory Expansion — One of the most immediately useful rewards in the early game. Your inventory fills up quickly when you are gathering materials, looting camps, and picking up quest items. Every extra slot matters.
Keep the Pickaxe — Rhett gives you the Pickaxe to complete the quest and you get to keep it afterward. This is your main tool for mining Iron and Copper Ore going forward.
Building Trust with Rhett is worth doing even after the quest is complete. His equipment shop carries the Canta Armor Set, which is one of the better early armor options in the game and holds up well into the first boss fights. High Trust may also unlock additional stock and deals over time.
Extra Tips for Rhett’s Request
Mine more than 2 ore while you are at Anvil Hill. Higher gear refinement levels need a lot of Iron and having a stockpile saves repeated trips back. If you want to know how to use that ore to actually upgrade your gear, our guide on how to upgrade weapons and armor in Crimson Desert covers the full Refinement system.
Also, the tree chopping spot for Blacksmith Turnali’s quest is right next to the Anvil Hill ore deposits. If you have both quests active, you can knock them out in the same trip without backtracking.
While you are in Hernand completing early requests, it is also a good time to stock up on Palmar Pills before taking on any tough enemies nearby. Check our guide on how to get and use Palmar Pills in Crimson Desert to make sure you have revival items ready.
And if you have been following the main story, our Crimson Desert Reunion Quest Walkthrough covers the next main quest after Lioncrest Watchtower if you need help with the Abyss Cresset puzzle.
Pick up Crimson Desert here:
For our full breakdown of the game, read our Crimson Desert Review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you start Rhett’s Request in Crimson Desert?
Head to Rhett’s equipment shop in the center of Hernand and speak to him directly. You may have already seen the quest on the Notice Board in town, but the quest only activates after the conversation with Rhett himself. He will hand you a Pickaxe and ask for 2 Iron Ores.
Where is the Iron Ore for Rhett’s Request in Crimson Desert?
The ore is near the base of Anvil Hill, east of Hernand past the river. Follow the quest marker in your Journal to reach it. The deposits look like large dark grey rocks with a metallic tone. There is also a second ore spot southwest of Hernand, accessible by dropping off the ledge past the southern exit.
How do you use the Pickaxe in Crimson Desert?
Equip the Pickaxe from your equipment wheel using the Left D-pad on controller or F2 on PC. Stand in front of an ore rock, hold LB or L1 to aim until the targeting circle turns blue, then press the attack button to swing. Pick up the ore from the ground immediately after it drops, especially on slopes where it can roll away.
Who do you deliver the Iron Ore to in Rhett’s Request?
Deliver the ore to Rhett’s assistant at the Equinsher Saddlery, southeast of Hernand near the river south of the city. Do not return to Rhett himself — the quest marker in your Journal points to the assistant’s location. He is a large, shirtless man standing near wagons.
What are the rewards for completing Rhett’s Request in Crimson Desert?
You receive +50 Trust with Rhett, an inventory expansion that increases your item slots, and you keep the Pickaxe Rhett gave you. Building Trust with Rhett over time can unlock new stock and deals at his shop, including the Canta Armor Set which is one of the better early armor options in the game.
