Leather doesn’t just appear out of thin air in Hytale – you’ll need to track down creatures, collect their hides, and turn them into crafting materials that power up your armor, tools, and gear. Here’s how to gather what you need and make the most of every scrap.
How to get hides and leather in Hytale
In Hytale, obtain hides by defeating animals: light hides drop from boars, cows, sheep, rabbits, and chickens; medium hides from wolves, sabretooths, and hyenas; heavy hides from bears and mosshorns. Process these hides into leather at a Tanning Rack, crafted with six tree trunks, three stones, and three light hides. Leather occasionally appears in chests within ruins, though targeted animal kills provide consistent supply.
There are three types of hide in Hytale: light, medium, and heavy. To obtain a hide, you must slay an animal, such as a rabbit or a pig. However, very small or young animals, such as mice and calves, won’t drop any hide.
Although two pieces of unprocessed light hide are enough to craft your first bedroll, most crafting recipes require leather instead of hide. To craft leather, you must build a tanning rack. Use the standard workbench and go to the “crafting” tab to select the tanning rack, which requires six pieces of wood, three stones, and three pieces of light hide.
Simply place the tanning rack, put any kind of hide in the input slot, and wait until it’s finished. You don’t need any additional resources to turn hides into leather in Hytale.
Before you start the hunt for hides, it’s highly recommended to craft at least a crude sword to help you deal more damage, especially if you plan on getting some medium or heavy hides. Obtaining a full set of iron armor (using light leather) will naturally make it easier to obtain a full set of thorium armor (using medium leather) next. Do not slay any animals that belong to Kweebec villagers if you don’t want to anger them; harm their bunnies, and their guards will do their utmost to harm you back.
As mentioned, different animal species drop different hides, so depending on which hide you’re looking for, here’s a list of animals you should target. This list isn’t conclusive, but you’re likely to encounter them early in the game.
How to get light leather in Hytale
Light leather comes from processing light hides at a tanning rack in Hytale. Build the tanning rack with six tree trunks, three stones, and three sticks at a workbench. Gather light hides by defeating small animals such as rats or horned rabbits, then place the hides on the rack to convert them into light leather.
Light leather is used to craft iron weapons and armor in Hytale. The following animals will drop light hide upon defeat:
- Rats
- Horned rabbits (not the small ones)
- Cows
- Deer
- Pigs
- Boar
- Antelopes
- Chickens
The great thing about hunting for light hide is that these animals are relatively harmless; only a few, like rats and antelopes, will fight back.
How to get medium leather in Hytale
Medium leather comes from processing medium hides on a tanning rack. Medium hides drop from animals such as wolves, deer, stags, moose, and fen stalkers. Build the tanning rack first at a workbench using six logs and three stones plus three light hides, then place medium hides inside to convert them over time; add more racks to speed things up.
After turning your medium hide into medium leather at the tanning rack, you can use it to craft thorium weapons and armor. The following Hytale animals drop medium hides:
- Wolves
- Lions
How to get heavy leather in Hytale
Heavy leather comes from processing heavy hide at a tanning rack in Hytale. Obtain heavy hide by defeating large beasts such as bears and mosshorns found in plains and forests. Equip strong weapons and armor beforehand, as drops occur randomly and multiple encounters may prove necessary before gathering enough material.
Best spots to farm light hide quickly
Plains and forest biomes offer the best spots for quickly farming light hide in Hytale due to high densities of small passive mobs like boars, cows, sheep, and pigs. Focus on open grassy areas or farm-like zones where these creatures spawn frequently and respawn rapidly after kills.
Top Farming Locations
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Plains biomes: Roam flat, open fields packed with boars and pigs; their quick respawns enable non-stop grinding without much travel.
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Forest edges: Check transitional zones near woods for scattered cows and sheep groups, ideal for early-game players avoiding tougher predators.
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Village outskirts: Near generated structures or starting areas, passive herds gather, boosting drop efficiency.
Farming Tips
Use a basic bow or melee weapon to one-shot mobs, then skin immediately for 1-2 light hides per kill. Pair with a pet companion for faster clears, and set up a nearby Tanning Rack to process on the go.
Which zones give the highest light hide drop rate per hour
Plains biomes yield the highest light hide drop rates per hour in Hytale, thanks to dense boar and pig spawns with fast respawn timers. Forest edges rank second, while village outskirts provide consistent but slightly lower yields due to moderate mob density.
Hourly Yield Comparison
| Zone | Est. Hides/Hour | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Plains Biomes | 80-120 | High boar/pig density, open loops |
| Forest Edges | 60-90 | Sheep/cow groups, fewer threats |
| Village Outskirts | 50-80 | Reliable herds, easy access |
Optimization Strategy
Loop open plains fields clockwise to maximize kills before respawns, using a bow for quick takedowns. Early-game players average 100+ hides hourly here with minimal competition.
