If you’ve spent hours wandering the northern mountain range of the Liber Ark map only to hit dead ends or get swarmed by level 120 raptors before you even spot the entrance, you’re not alone. Figuring out how to get to Liber Ark Tunnels 2 is one of the most common pain points for players who want to access its exclusive ore veins and hidden boss fight prerequisites. I’ve run this route at least 20 times across solo and multiplayer playthroughs, so I’ve cut out all the wrong turns and overcomplicated paths most players waste hours on. This guide works for both casual players who just want to farm resources and completionists looking to tick off every secret area on their map.
Prep Steps Before You Head to Liber Ark Tunnels 2
Jumping on your mount and heading straight for the mountains might seem like a good idea, but skipping these prep steps will almost certainly leave you dead before you reach the entrance. First, you’ll need full flak or ghille armor depending on your play style: flak offers better protection from enemy attacks, while ghille lets you sneak past most mobs without agroing them. The mountain path has both aggressive predators and toxic spore pockets, so either option works as long as you pair it with a spore mask.
Next, pack at least 20 healing brews and 5 stamina brews if you’re going solo, and double that amount if you’re running with a team. The vertical climb section near the end of the route drains stamina fast, and the surprise mob ambushes hit harder than most players expect on their first run. You’ll also need a grappling hook or a flying mount with at least 150 stamina to cross the narrow ledge gap halfway up the mountain. If you’re playing on a harder difficulty, throw a few shock darts in your inventory to stun any wandering rock elementals that cross your path.
You don’t need to bring a ton of building materials, but a couple of thatch foundations and a bed to set a respawn point near the abandoned mining cart checkpoint is a smart call for first-time visitors. That way if you slip off the ledge or get taken out by mobs, you don’t have to run the entire route from spawn all over again. If you’re on a PvP server, leave all your rare valuables in a hidden base before you leave, as the tunnel entrance is a popular spot for player ambushes.
The Fastest Route From the Southern Spawn Point
Most new players spawn near the southern green obelisk, so this is the route I recommend for first-timers, as it has the fewest high-level mob spawns and the clearest landmarks. Start at the obelisk and head north along the main river for 1.2 km until you hit the broken stone bridge half-hidden by pine trees. Don’t cross the bridge, even if it looks like a shorter path—there’s a pack of level 100 terror wolves that spawn on the other side 90% of the time, and they’ll chase you for kilometers if you agro them.
Turn left immediately before the bridge onto the dirt path that cuts up the mountain side. Follow this path for roughly 800 meters until you spot the rusted abandoned mining cart parked next to a rock face. That’s your main checkpoint marker, no matter which spawn point you start from. If you spawn at the northern or eastern obelisk, you can follow the snow line or canyon respectively until you hit this same cart, which only adds 5 to 10 minutes of travel time max.
From the mining cart, follow the narrow rock ledge that wraps around the mountain side. Don’t try to climb the gap on foot—the drop below is full of aggressive cave crawlers, and the ice on the rock makes it almost impossible to get a good grip. Use your grappling hook to pull yourself across, or fly your mount over the gap if you brought one. Once you reach the other end of the ledge, you’ll see the stone arch marking the outer perimeter of the area leading to Liber Ark Tunnels 2, so you’ll know you’re on the right track.
How to Unlock the Sealed Entrance to the Tunnels
Many players make it all the way to the tunnel entrance only to get stuck on the sealed stone door, so don’t feel bad if this has happened to you. The door requires two specific items to open: an ancient key fragment you get from beating the ice worm miniboss in the northern snow biome, and a Liber Ark runestone you can find in the first Liber Ark Tunnels area. You don’t have to complete the entire first tunnel to get the runestone, though.
You don’t have to beat the first tunnel’s boss to get the runestone—you can sneak past the low-level mobs near the entrance and grab it from the stone altar right next to the first checkpoint, as long as you move fast and don’t make noise. Once you have both items, approach the slot to the left of the sealed door and insert them one at a time. The door will take 10 seconds to open fully, so have your weapon out and ready during that time.
As soon as the door cracks open, you’ll be ambushed by 3 level 80 cave crawlers that spawn right inside the entrance. If you’re with a team, have one person insert the items while the rest stand guard facing the door, so you can take the crawlers out before they get a chance to attack. Once you clear the ambush, walk 50 meters deeper into the tunnel to find the fast travel point. Activate it immediately to cut out the entire mountain route for all future visits. If you’re a completionist, there are 3 hidden explorer notes scattered along this entrance section that count towards the full Liber Ark map completion achievement.
Common Mistakes to Avoid on the Route
Even if you follow the route exactly, it’s easy to make small mistakes that set you back 30 minutes or more. I’ve made every single one of these at some point during my playthroughs, so keep these in mind to save yourself the frustration:
- Forgetting to bring a spore mask or radiation suit: The first 200 meters of the tunnel are filled with toxic spores that drain your health 10 points per second if you don’t have protection. You can craft a spore mask with 10 hide, 5 fiber, and 2 crystal at a level 30 smithy, so it’s easy to make even for newer players.
- Bringing too many large tames with you: The mountain path is extremely narrow, and large tames like rexes or brontosauruses will get stuck on the rock formations halfway up. Stick to small, agile tames like raptors or sinomacrops if you want to bring a companion, or leave all tames at a temporary camp near the broken bridge.
- Ignoring blizzard weather warnings: If you see a blizzard pop up on your HUD, turn back immediately or wait it out at the mining cart checkpoint. The mountain path gets covered in slick ice during blizzards, and you’ll slip off the ledge before you can even react. Blizzards only last 10 to 15 minutes, so it’s worth waiting out instead of risking losing all your gear.
If you do make a mistake and die, don’t panic. As long as you set a respawn point at the mining cart, you can get back to where you left off in less than 10 minutes. Just make sure to grab a new spore mask and extra healing brews before you head back up the mountain.
At the end of the day, learning how to get to Liber Ark Tunnels 2 doesn’t have to be the confusing, frustrating experience so many players make it out to be. As long as you come prepared with the right gear, stick to the marked path, and avoid the common mistakes we covered, you’ll be inside the tunnels farming black pearl and obsidian in under 20 minutes from spawn. If you try this route and find a shortcut we didn’t mention, feel free to drop it in the comments below to help other players out.