Conan Exiles is an open-world survival game set in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age where you're an exile condemned to die in a harsh wasteland. The thrall system — capturing NPCs, breaking them on the Wheel of Pain, and deploying them as fighters, crafters, or dancers — is the defining mechanic. Named thralls with unique stats become powerful companions that rival player characters in combat strength. The Age of Sorcery update added a full magic system with corrupted attributes, summoning, and teleportation. Building ranges from sandstone shacks to massive T3 fortress compounds that must withstand Purge attacks.
Conan Exiles features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Desert | Level 1-20 | Basic resources, Sinkhole dungeon, iron in cliff faces, T1 thralls | Agility Fighter |
| 2 | Highlands | Level 20-40 | Named thralls (New Asagarth), Brimstone, Unnamed City access | Agility Fighter |
| 3 | Jungle | Level 25-45 | Midnight Grove dungeon, Jhebbal Sag religion, exotic resources | Strength Melee |
| 4 | Frozen North | Level 40-60 | Star Metal, Black Ice, Frost Temple, Named thralls (Cimmerian settlements) | Strength Melee |
| 5 | Volcano | Level 50-60 | Obsidian, Dragonpowder, Well of Skelos, endgame crafting materials | Strength Melee |
Desert — Starting Area
The starting zone with sandstone resources, basic enemies (Imps, Exiles), and the Sinkhole dungeon. Temperature management is important — heat exhaustion requires water and shade. The Desert teaches survival basics with forgiving enemy difficulty.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 1-20 |
| Key Rewards | Basic resources, Sinkhole dungeon, iron in cliff faces, T1 thralls |
| Recommended Build | Agility Fighter |
| Key Equipment | Predatory Blade |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of thrall system — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Highlands.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Highlands — Early Game
A temperate zone with wolves, bears, and human settlements. Contains New Asagarth (best Named thrall farming location) and access to the Unnamed City. The Highlands have balanced resources and moderate difficulty.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 20-40 |
| Key Rewards | Named thralls (New Asagarth), Brimstone, Unnamed City access |
| Recommended Build | Agility Fighter |
| Key Equipment | Predatory Blade |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering building tiers — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Predatory Blade if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Jungle.
Jungle — Mid Game
A dense tropical zone with gorillas, jaguars, and the Lemurian civilization ruins. Contains Jhebbal Sag religion teacher. The Jungle provides unique resources (Exotic Flesh, Feral Flesh) and the Midnight Grove dungeon.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 25-45 |
| Key Rewards | Midnight Grove dungeon, Jhebbal Sag religion, exotic resources |
| Recommended Build | Strength Melee |
| Key Equipment | Predatory Blade |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Blade of the Adventurer becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master religion system for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Frozen North — Late Game
An arctic zone requiring cold-weather gear. Contains Star Metal meteorites, Black Ice building materials, and the Frost Temple dungeon. Ymir religion teacher is here. The hardest overworld zone with mammoths and frost giants.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 40-60 |
| Key Rewards | Star Metal, Black Ice, Frost Temple, Named thralls (Cimmerian settlements) |
| Recommended Build | Strength Melee |
| Key Equipment | Blade of the Adventurer |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Blade of the Adventurer should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- attribute respec mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Volcano.
Volcano — Endgame
The endgame zone with extreme heat requiring heat-resist armor. Contains Obsidian and Dragonpowder resources. The Well of Skelos dungeon is here. The volcano interior has the highest-level enemies and the rarest crafting materials.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 50-60 |
| Key Rewards | Obsidian, Dragonpowder, Well of Skelos, endgame crafting materials |
| Recommended Build | Strength Melee |
| Key Equipment | Blade of the Adventurer |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Sorcery Build for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — Desert → Highlands → Jungle → Frozen North → Volcano. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment — Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Conan Exiles Guides
- Conan Exiles Conan Exiles Overview
- Conan Exiles Best Builds
- Conan Exiles Tier List
- Conan Exiles Walkthrough
- Conan Exiles Beginner's Guide
- Conan Exiles Tips & Tricks
- Conan Exiles Weapons Guide
- Conan Exiles Combat Guide
- Conan Exiles Boss Guide
- Conan Exiles Crafting Guide
- Conan Exiles Classes & Characters
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