Once your scout expeditions depend on canned food, an iron shortage can stall exploration. The fix is to buy iron ore from the trader at Shrubby Glade: once that trader is unlocked, you can trade from the world map or the scale icon at the bottom left without sending scouts. If you "need canned food but can't get rocks", buying iron gets you past it without blasting anything.
Nivarias unlocks trading with Shrubby Glade in this episode (around the 24-minute mark):
Where Do You Get the Iron?
Trade at Shrubby Glade: best first route
Discover the trader by exploring the world map, then buy iron ore from them. You don't send a scout party for each purchase: once trading has started, a scale icon appears on the left of the screen and opens trading from anywhere.
Blast rocks: a later option
A player reported that blasting medium-sized rocks with dynamite on the capital city map reveals iron. That needs the explosive expert first, which takes more exploring; see how to recruit the explosive expert and remove rocks. Don't rely on it while your scouts can still reach a trader.
How Do You Buy Iron Without Sending Scouts?
Unlock the Shrubby Glade trader
Use your existing scouts to discover the trader on the world map. If you haven't unlocked scouting yet, start with the Scout Hut guide.
Open trading from the map or scale icon
Select the trader on the world map, or click the scale icon at the bottom left. No new expedition is needed.
Buy iron ore and check your stock
Find iron in the trader's list, buy it, and check your resource stock went up. Players describe iron here as expensive, so watch your money.
What If the Trader Cannot Afford Your Goods?
The trader has limited money, so you can't always sell wood and planks to fund the iron. One player couldn't raise enough that way.
The workaround another player found: buy something from the trader first, then sell. What you spend becomes the trader's money to buy from you; they spent 1,000 and could then sell 1,000 worth of goods. You still need cash for that first purchase.
How Much Canned Food Should You Keep for Scouts?
Creating a new expedition and sending an existing party somewhere cost different amounts. In one playthrough a new expedition cost 20 money, 20 canned goods and five people, while sending the existing party to the next destination cost one can.
| Action | What to check |
|---|---|
| Create a new expedition | The creation cost, 20 canned goods in that playthrough |
| Send an existing party | The food cost shown for that destination |
| Trade with an unlocked trader | Your money and the trader's goods; no scouts needed |
One player returned their scouts to Dust Creek with 19 cans left and could not create a replacement party, so a cheap destination cost does not mean you can afford a new expedition.
Keep your existing expedition. One player deleted their first expedition thinking each trip needed a new party, then could no longer explore to reach the iron. Check the Scout Hut and map for your party before creating a replacement.
What Should You Do Before Your Food Runs Out?
Make reaching Shrubby Glade an early scouting goal. You can also find canned goods while exploring. Check the resource statistics before assuming you have none: one player thought they were out and found 40 cans there.
Don't bring your first party home just because a site needs an item you lack. One player hit a treasure map without a shovel, sent the scouts back, and was left with 19 cans and no way to make a new party. Read the shovel location guide and how to bring scouts back first. When you're ready for the next trip, use the Scout Hut guide.