Pine Heights Artifact Locations

Why the Pine Heights Artifact Hunt Matters

Every curious object you pull out of Pine Heights counts toward the region's collectible progress, and the artifacts here are clustered tightly enough that one focused sweep can clear the whole area. Knowing the Lightyear Frontier Pine Heights location for each artifact saves you from circling the same cliffs in your Mech for twenty minutes. The Lightyear Frontier Pine Heights location pattern is simple once you see it: most objects sit along a short ridge-and-cave circuit rather than spread across the entire biome.

Pine Heights is the biome most players unlock first, since it needs no special Mech upgrades to enter. You only need your Irrigation Hose to wash away the Noxious Slime before the region's nests and resources come online. That makes it the natural starting point for artifact collecting, and a good place to learn how the search loop works before tougher biomes.

What Counts as an Artifact in Pine Heights

The collectibles in this region register as curious objects. You walk up, interact, and the item is logged. You do not need a special tool, a scanner upgrade, or a particular Mech module to pick them up. What you do need is patience with vertical terrain, because several of them sit on pillars and ledges that your Mech cannot simply stroll onto.

A few practical notes before you start:

• Leave the Mech often. Climbing and tight cave mouths are much easier on foot. Hop out, grab the object, and climb back in.
• Check pillar tops. At least one artifact waits on a stone pillar near the start of the route.
• Look inside the cave. There is more than one object in the cave section, so sweep it fully instead of grabbing the first thing you see.
• Expect a jump section. The final artifact in the circuit sits above the rest and requires a short climb.

Step-by-Step Route Through the Pine Heights Artifacts

Treat the whole hunt as one loop. The artifacts sit in a rough cluster, so you can start at the pillar and work outward without long detours. Below is a route order that keeps backtracking to a minimum.

1. Start at the pillar

The first curious object is perched on a stone pillar near the beginning of the cluster. Your Mech moves faster than you expect and can overshoot the pillar entirely, so ease off the throttle as you approach. Once you have it, scan the skyline for the next raised spot.

2. Clear the upper ledge

Climb up for the next object. This is where you will start hopping in and out of the Mech regularly, because the approach is easier on foot. Grab it, then look down and around before descending.

3. Sweep the lower ground

Two more objects sit at lower elevations nearby. One is directly below the ridge you just left; the other is a short walk away. Collect both before moving toward the cave so you are not doubling back later.

4. Work the cave thoroughly

Head into the cave and pick up the first curious object inside. Do not leave yet, because a second one is tucked deeper in the same space. Two objects in one small area is the best value on the route, so take the extra thirty seconds to check the walls.

5. Follow the path out

As you exit the cave area, another artifact sits along the route. Grab it and continue toward the raised rock.

6. Jump for the elevated object

One object requires a jump with the Mech to reach. Line up, boost up onto the rock, and collect it. If you are on foot, climb back into the suit first.

7. Finish on the high ledge

The last artifact waits up top. Jump your way up, collect it, and the Pine Heights set is complete.

Terrain Tips That Save Time

Pine Heights punishes sloppy movement more than it punishes weak gear. The artifacts are not locked behind upgrades; they are locked behind awkward geometry. A few habits make the sweep much smoother.

Park the Mech deliberately. When you dismount, leave the suit somewhere flat and open. Trying to re-enter a Mech parked on a slope or against a pillar is a waste of time, and it is easy to lose track of where you left it.

Use the Mech for distance, your feet for precision. Long flat runs between clusters belong to the Mech. Pillar tops, cave mouths, and narrow ledges belong to you on foot. Switching deliberately rather than stubbornly is the single biggest time-saver here.

Jump early, not late. The elevated artifact on the raised rock is easier to reach if you start your jump with room to spare rather than right at the base.

Once the artifacts are cleared, Pine Heights becomes a strong farming region. Fed nests boost the local supply of Rabbage and Red Crystals, and Red Crystal in particular is worth stocking up on. If you want the full picture of where the region's nests sit and which Fodder each biome needs, this breakdown of nest locations and Fodder recipes covers Pine Heights alongside the other early biomes.

Pine Heights Resources and Nest Synergy

Artifact hunting and resource farming share the same terrain, so combine them. Clear the Noxious Slime with your Irrigation Hose first, then wait an in-game day for the nests to become feedable. Pine Heights runs on Nice Fodder, made from Polyberry Oil and Plant Fiber.

Pine Heights holds three nests: a Ratscallion nest opposite the Dam Ruins entrance, a Znork nest just left of the main Dam doors, and a Stalktail nest surrounded by Red Crystal nodes along the northern Dam wall. Feeding all three raises the region's Resource Boost and refreshes nodes the next in-game day, which pairs neatly with an artifact sweep — you clear collectibles while the land restocks.

Common Mistakes During the Search

• Staying in the Mech the whole time. Several artifacts are effectively unreachable without dismounting.
• Skipping the cave's second object. It is easy to assume one object per cave. Pine Heights breaks that assumption.
• Searching the whole biome. The artifacts cluster in one area; wandering to the far edges wastes daylight.
• Ignoring the vertical layer. Pillars, raised rocks, and high ledges hold a large share of the set.
• Clearing artifacts before the slime. Wash the Noxious Slime first so the same trip also opens the region's nests.

FAQ

Where is the Lightyear Frontier Pine Heights location for the first artifact? It sits on top of a stone pillar near the start of the artifact cluster. Approach slowly so your Mech does not overshoot the pillar, then dismount if you need a cleaner angle.

Do I need Mech upgrades to collect Pine Heights artifacts? No. The artifacts are reachable without special upgrades — you only need the Irrigation Hose to clear Noxious Slime before the region's nests become usable. Vertical terrain, not gear, is the real obstacle.

How many artifacts are in Pine Heights? The route covers nine stops, including two objects inside the same cave and one that requires a Mech jump onto a raised rock. Sweep the cave fully so you do not miss the second object.

What should I do in Pine Heights after finding every artifact? Craft Nice Fodder from Polyberry Oil and Plant Fiber, feed all three nests, and farm Red Crystals and Rabbage once the land restocks the next in-game day.