⛏️ Quick Summary
This guide shows you the most efficient pickaxe upgrade path, helping you save money by skipping unnecessary purchases.
- Island 1: Bronze → Iron → Stonewakes Pickaxe (skip Gold & Platinum)
- Island 2: Cobalt → Mithril Pickaxe (skip Titanium, Uranium, Lightite)
- Endgame: Arcane Pickaxe (requires Bard quest)
Your first upgrade from the starter pickaxe. Cheap and necessary to start mining basic ores efficiently.
A solid early upgrade. Use this while saving up for the Stonewakes Pickaxe in the cave.
Not worth the investment. The Stonewakes Pickaxe in the cave has better stats for a similar price point. Save your money!
Skip this entirely. The Stonewakes Pickaxe costs only $833 more but has significantly better stats.
The best pickaxe on Island 1! Located inside the cave. This is your last purchase before moving to Island 2. Use this while grinding to unlock Island 2.
🏝️ Unlocking Island 2
To access Island 2, you need to:
- Complete the quest "End of the Beginning" (tutorial quest)
- Reach Level 10
Your first Island 2 purchase. Really good stats for the price. Don't waste runes on this - save them for better pickaxes later.
You can skip this if you're patient. The jump from Cobalt ($10K) to Mithril ($67.5K) is big, so only buy Titanium if you're really struggling to save up.
Worth the grind! This pickaxe will carry you until you can afford the Arcane Pickaxe. Skip directly from Cobalt to this.
Skip this completely. Save your money for the Arcane Pickaxe instead - it's much better value.
Don't buy this! The Arcane Pickaxe has better stats and is obtained through a quest, not purchased.
One of the best pickaxes in the game! Requires completing the Bard's Guitar quest to unlock the secret area. The 50% luck boost and 3 rune slots make this incredibly powerful. Max it out with luck runes!
🎸 How to Unlock the Arcane Pickaxe
Complete the Bard's Guitar quest to get the key that unlocks the secret area.
💰 How to Save Up Faster
- Sell old pickaxes - Once you upgrade, sell your previous pickaxe for extra cash
- Check your Index - Press T or click the backpack, then Index. Claim rewards for discovering new ores, enemies, and forged items
- Do quests - Talk to all NPCs! Captain Rowan and the Masked Stranger give good quests
- Monkey Banana Quest - On Island 2, swim to the back island with the monkey. Collect 30 bananas (1/30 chance in Island 1 cave) for 10-15K reward!
- Mine in Ruin Cave - Use the cannon at Island 2 spawn to reach the cave with better ores
- Forge and sell - Craft weapons/armor and sell them, or sell raw ores at Greedy Cey's shop
Complete Progression Summary
| Pickaxe | Price | Location | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $50 | Island 1 - Fred's Shop | Buy |
| Iron | $250 | Island 1 - Fred's Shop | Buy |
| Gold | $1,000 | Island 1 - Fred's Shop | Skip |
| Platinum | $2,500 | Island 1 - Fred's Shop | Skip |
| Stonewakes | $3,333 | Island 1 - Inner Cave | Buy |
| Cobalt | $10,000 | Island 2 - Pickaxe Shop | Buy |
| Titanium | $22,500 | Island 2 - Pickaxe Shop | Optional |
| Mithril | $67,500 | Island 2 - Pickaxe Shop | Buy |
| Uranium | $150,000 | Island 2 - Pickaxe Shop | Skip |
| Lightite | $300,000 | Island 2 - Pickaxe Shop | Skip |
| Arcane | $250,000 | Island 1 - Secret Cave | Best |