The Prospecting Cavern Expansion unlocks at Level 15 and introduces the Overgrown Grotto and Deeproot Spring areas, featuring the powerful Lifetouched equipment set worth over 230 billion in-game cash. To access this expansion, players must use the Icebreaker and Dragonflame Shovels on elemental symbols at the Crystal Caverns gate, then collect 7 Enchanted Scissors through the Old Druid's repeatable quest to fully explore all new zones.
| Feature | Requirements | Cost/Materials |
|---|---|---|
| Overgrown Grotto Access | Level 15+, Icebreaker & Dragonflame Shovels | Free (with shovels) |
| Deeproot Spring Access | 3+ Enchanted Scissors | Quest materials |
| Lifetouched Shovel | 3-4 Enchanted Scissors, Toughness 6 | $80,000,000,000 |
| Lifetouched Pan | 5-6 Enchanted Scissors, Access to lower grotto | $100,000,000,000 |
| Lifetouched Sluice | 2-3 Enchanted Scissors, Deepspring Roots access | $50,000,000,000 |
| Total Scissors Needed | Complete all quests | 7 pairs |
This comprehensive guide covers every aspect of Prospecting's largest content update for October 2025, including detailed walkthroughs for unlocking new areas, obtaining all Lifetouched equipment, completing NPC quests for exclusive blueprints, and maximizing your mineral farming efficiency in these high-tier zones. Whether you're hunting for the ultra-rare Vineheart exotic mineral or aiming to purchase the game's most powerful equipment, this guide provides the exact strategies and requirements you'll need to master the Cavern Expansion.
Contents
The Cavern Expansion represents Prospecting's most ambitious update in 2025, fundamentally changing the endgame progression system. Released in September 2025, this massive content addition introduces two entirely new digging zones with unique mineral tables, three pieces of Lifetouched equipment that outclass all previous gear, and a complex quest system requiring strategic resource management.
Unlike previous updates that simply added new items or minor features, the Cavern Expansion creates an interconnected ecosystem of progression. Players must balance their time between farming Firefly Stones in special zones, completing repeatable quests for Enchanted Scissors, and strategically choosing which vines to cut first based on their immediate goals. The expansion's design encourages multiple playstyles - speedrunners can rush straight to the Lifetouched Shovel for maximum efficiency, while completionists will need weeks of dedicated farming to unlock every blueprint and achievement.
What makes this expansion particularly significant is its introduction of Toughness 7 content. Previously, the game capped at Toughness 6 with the Fossilized Shovel, limiting where players could dig. The Lifetouched Shovel breaks this barrier, opening Deeproot Spring as an exclusive farming zone for those who've invested in the expansion's progression system. This creates a clear distinction between casual and dedicated players, with the latter gaining access to minerals worth hundreds of millions per kilogram.
Before attempting the Cavern Expansion content, you'll need to meet several non-negotiable requirements that gate access to these premium areas. The primary barrier is the Level 15 requirement, which typically takes new players 15-20 hours of active gameplay to achieve through standard progression. This level gate isn't arbitrary - it ensures players have accumulated enough resources and game knowledge to tackle the expansion's challenges effectively.
Your journey into the Overgrown Grotto demands specific tools that serve dual purposes - unlocking the area and surviving within it. The Icebreaker Shovel ($700,000) and Dragonflame Shovel ($4,000,000) aren't just keys to the grotto; they're investments that pay dividends throughout your progression. While these shovels might seem expensive for newer players, they're pocket change compared to the billions required for Lifetouched equipment. Consider farming at the Volcano Island or Crystal Cavern River to accumulate funds quickly - these areas offer minerals worth $1-5 million per kilogram when using luck-boosting totems.
Beyond the mandatory shovels, you'll want at least a Fossilized Shovel (Toughness 6) or better for actual digging in the grotto. Attempting to dig with lower-tier equipment simply won't work - the game physically prevents you from breaking ground in these high-level zones. Similarly, your pan choice dramatically impacts farming efficiency. While the Aurora Pan ($35,000,000) provides adequate performance, serious farmers should consider the Diamond Pan or higher for maximum mineral yields.
Smart prospectors prepare extensively before entering the expansion content. Stock up on Strength Totems and Luck Totems - you'll burn through dozens while hunting Firefly Stones. These consumables effectively double your chances of obtaining rare materials, transforming a 1% drop rate into 2% when both are active. Purchase them in bulk from the shop or craft them using materials from earlier zones.
Create a dedicated storage loadout specifically for expansion farming. This should include space for Lightshards (common but essential), Specterite (uncommon but needed in pairs), and the coveted Firefly Stones. Many players make the mistake of entering the grotto with full inventories, forcing them to constantly return to town for selling. Clear at least 20 inventory slots before each farming session to maximize efficiency.
The path to the Overgrown Grotto winds through familiar territory before revealing its secrets. Starting from the spawn town, navigate behind the main buildings and follow the winding path toward Crystal Caverns. This journey takes approximately 2-3 minutes of continuous running, passing through the shimmering Azuralite Oasis where cyan crystals line the cavern walls. The oasis serves as more than scenery - it's a breadcrumb trail leading dedicated prospectors toward endgame content.
Upon reaching the massive stone gate at the Azuralite Oasis's deepest point, you'll encounter two glowing elemental symbols carved into ancient rock. This isn't a traditional puzzle but rather a gear check disguised as environmental storytelling. The left symbol, resembling a crystallized snowflake, responds only to the Icebreaker Shovel's frigid essence. Equip this shovel and press 'E' while standing directly in front of the symbol - it should glow with an intense blue light, accompanied by the sound of cracking ice.
The right symbol, a stylized flame frozen in stone, requires the Dragonflame Shovel's scorching touch. Switch to this tool and activate the symbol similarly. When both symbols shine with their respective elements, the massive gate grinds open with a satisfying rumble, revealing the verdant mysteries of the Overgrown Grotto beyond. This mechanic teaches players that progression in Prospecting often requires specific tools rather than raw stats or currency.
Stepping through the newly opened gate transports you into an entirely different biome. Where Crystal Caverns featured stark stone and glowing minerals, the Overgrown Grotto blooms with ancient vegetation and mystical energy. Massive roots snake across the ground, bioluminescent moss provides natural lighting, and the distant sound of flowing water hints at the Deeproot Spring hidden deeper within.
Immediately upon entry, you'll encounter two critical NPCs positioned strategically near the entrance. The Disgruntled Explorer, leaning against a moss-covered boulder, offers the Amulet of Life Blueprint quest - though his requirements won't be meetable until you've progressed significantly. More importantly, the Old Druid stands beside an ancient tree, serving as your primary quest giver for Enchanted Scissors. Prioritize speaking with the Old Druid first, as his "Cutting Through" quest unlocks the entire progression system for this expansion.
Enchanted Scissors represent the expansion's core progression mechanic, functioning as both tools and currency for unlocking new areas. Unlike traditional keys that disappear after use, each pair of scissors permanently removes one vine barrier, forcing players to make strategic decisions about their exploration path. The total requirement of 7 pairs means roughly 7-14 hours of dedicated farming, depending on your luck with Firefly Stone drops.
The Old Druid's repeatable quest follows a deceptively simple structure that hides considerable complexity. Each completion requires three distinct materials in specific quantities:
1x Firefly Stone - The bottleneck material that gates progression speed. These legendary minerals only drop when digging or panning within active Firefly Zones, golden circles of light that randomly appear throughout both the Overgrown Grotto and Deeproot Spring. Without active totems, expect a base drop rate around 0.01% - meaning one stone per 10,000 attempts on average. With both Strength and Luck Totems active, this improves to approximately 0.04%, still requiring patience and persistence.
2x Specterite - These purple crystalline formations drop at roughly 1% rates from standard digging in the grotto. While not individually rare, the requirement for pairs means you'll often find yourself with odd numbers, forcing continued farming. Specterite also sells for $8,000,000 per kilogram, creating a tension between selling for immediate profit or saving for quest completion.
3x Lightshards - The most common requirement, dropping at 5-8% rates throughout the grotto. Most players accumulate excess Lightshards naturally while hunting for Firefly Stones. These ethereal fragments emit a soft white glow and stack efficiently in inventory, making them the least concerning aspect of quest preparation.
Firefly Zones operate on a 5-minute spawn cycle, appearing randomly in one of twelve possible locations throughout the Overgrown Grotto. These golden circles of swarming fireflies provide a 50x multiplier to Firefly Stone drop rates, transforming an impossible grind into merely challenging. When a zone spawns, you have exactly 90 seconds before it relocates, creating a frantic rush as multiple players converge on the glowing area.
Successful Firefly farming requires both preparation and technique. Position yourself at the grotto's central intersection, allowing quick access to all spawn points. When a zone appears (announced by a distinctive chiming sound and golden particle effects), immediately activate both totems and sprint to the location. Once inside the circle, rapidly cycle between digging and panning - both actions can yield Firefly Stones within active zones. Experienced farmers average one stone every 2-3 zones, though variance remains high due to RNG.
With only 7 total scissors available and numerous vine barriers blocking valuable content, choosing your cutting order significantly impacts progression efficiency. The optimal path depends on your primary goal:
For Lifetouched Shovel Rush (3-4 scissors): Cut upward through the grotto bridges, ignoring lower areas initially. This path reaches the Druid NPC guarding the shovel fastest, allowing you to upgrade your digging capability before pursuing other equipment. The improved Toughness 7 and 100 Dig Strength dramatically accelerate all future farming.
For Lifetouched Pan Priority (5-6 scissors): Navigate downward through vine clusters, prioritizing paths that lead toward the grotto's depths. The pan's location requires more scissors but provides immediate benefits for mineral quality and modifier chances. This path suits players who already have strong shovels but need improved panning capabilities.
For Complete Access (All 7 scissors): Cut systematically from entrance to depths, ensuring you don't miss hidden alcoves containing blueprint NPCs. This methodical approach takes longest but guarantees access to all content, including the Professor's Ring of Thorns Blueprint and various cosmetic rewards.
Deeproot Spring emerges as the crown jewel of the Cavern Expansion, hidden behind multiple vine barriers and requiring significant investment to access. This mystical underground oasis features cascading waterfalls, ancient root systems that glow with bioluminescent energy, and mineral deposits unlike anything found elsewhere in Prospecting. The atmosphere shifts from the Overgrown Grotto's verdant chaos to something more primordial and serene.
After cutting through your first 2-3 vine barriers in the main grotto, you'll discover a narrow passage leading downward into increasing darkness. The path winds through root-covered tunnels where glowing fungi provide the only light source. This transitional area serves as both a loading zone and a preview of Deeproot Spring's unique aesthetic. Upon emerging into the spring proper, you're greeted by a massive underground lake fed by multiple waterfalls, with dig sites scattered along the shoreline and shallow areas.
The spring's layout encourages systematic exploration rather than random wandering. Dig sites cluster around three main areas: the entry beach (featuring common minerals for initial testing), the central island (accessible via root bridges, containing rare spawns), and the deep pools (requiring specific positioning but offering exotic mineral chances). Each area maintains distinct mineral weights, meaning experienced farmers can target specific resources by choosing appropriate locations.
Deeproot Spring's true value lies in its exclusive access to exotic minerals unavailable anywhere else. The ultra-rare Vineheart (0.0000000903% base chance) stands as the ultimate prize, selling for $125,000,000 per kilogram and required for the Old Druid's advanced blueprint quest. While the drop rate seems impossibly low, an unconfirmed bug grants dramatically increased chances on your first pan in the spring - many players report obtaining Vineheart within their first 10 attempts.
Beyond Vineheart, the spring offers enhanced rates for mythic-tier minerals. Radiant Gold appears here at 10x the rate of other locations, while Chrysoberyl maintains a 0.00002% chance - astronomical by normal standards but farmable with dedication. The spring also features standard high-tier minerals like Luminum, Starshine, and Aetherite at improved rates, making it the optimal farming location for endgame wealth accumulation.
The spring's most restrictive feature is its Toughness 7 requirement for digging. Currently, only the Lifetouched Shovel meets this threshold, creating an exclusive farming zone for players who've invested 80 billion coins. This design choice ensures Deeproot Spring remains profitable long-term - with limited competition from casual players, dedicated farmers can monopolize exotic mineral sales. The Toughness 7 gate also future-proofs the zone for potential expansions, leaving room for even higher-tier equipment in subsequent updates.
The Lifetouched series represents Prospecting's current pinnacle of equipment design, combining massive stat increases with unique benefits that fundamentally change gameplay dynamics. These ancient tools, infused with natural energy from the grotto's mystical environment, cost a combined 230 billion coins - more than most players will ever accumulate through casual play. However, for dedicated prospectors, they transform the game from a luck-based lottery into a reliable profit engine.
Price: $80,000,000,000
Location: Upper grotto bridges, behind Druid NPC near massive stone
Stats: 100 Dig Strength | 100% Dig Speed | Toughness 7
The Lifetouched Shovel stands as the expansion's most important single purchase, primarily due to its exclusive Toughness 7 rating. This shovel doesn't just improve your digging efficiency - it literally unlocks content no other tool can access. The 100 Dig Strength represents a 25% improvement over the previous best (Fossilized Shovel's 80), translating to approximately 20% more minerals per dig. Combined with perfect dig speed, you'll clear sites in record time.
Investment strategy for the Lifetouched Shovel requires careful planning. Most players accumulate the 80 billion through a combination of methods: farming Volcano Island with multiplier events (2-3 billion per hour during optimal conditions), selling rare minerals from Crystal Caverns (particularly Starshine at $15 million per kilogram), and capitalizing on global events that boost sale prices. Expect 40-60 hours of dedicated farming to afford this tool, though clever market timing can reduce this significantly.
The shovel's true value emerges in its synergy with other equipment. Pairing it with the Lifetouched Pan creates a feedback loop - faster digging means more panning opportunities, which the pan's superior stats convert into higher-value minerals. This combination can generate 5-10 billion coins per hour in Deeproot Spring, meaning the shovel pays for itself in approximately 8-16 hours of use.
Price: $100,000,000,000
Location: Lower grotto depths, past 5-6 vine barriers
Stats: 400 Luck | 300 Capacity | 8 Shake Strength | 110% Shake Speed | 50% Modifier Boost
As the game's most expensive piece of equipment, the Lifetouched Pan demands serious consideration before purchase. Its 400 Luck stat nearly doubles the previous best (Worldshaker Pan's 250), dramatically increasing rare mineral appearance rates. The 50% Modifier Boost proves equally valuable, transforming standard minerals into modified variants worth 2-10x base value. When combined with global events and totems, this pan can yield minerals worth hundreds of millions from a single session.
The pan's elevated Capacity (300) allows processing of larger mineral chunks without overflow, while the 8 Shake Strength clears sediment almost instantly. The 110% Shake Speed might seem minor but saves crucial seconds per pan, adding up to significant time savings over extended sessions. Professional farmers report processing 50-60 pans per minute with this equipment, compared to 30-35 with mid-tier alternatives.
Acquiring 100 billion coins requires either extreme dedication or clever market manipulation. Some players coordinate with friends to corner specific mineral markets, driving up prices before mass-selling their stockpiles. Others focus on ultra-rare minerals like Inferlume or Painite during 2x events, potentially earning 10-20 billion in a single lucky session. The pan's cost reflects its game-breaking potential - owners essentially print money with every use.
Price: $50,000,000,000
Location: Deepspring Roots area, past 2-3 vine barriers
Stats: 60,000 Luck | 250 Capacity | Toughness 7 | Efficiency 5
The Lifetouched Sluice operates differently from shovels and pans, providing passive mineral generation while you actively farm elsewhere. Its astronomical 60,000 Luck stat ensures consistent rare mineral drops, while Efficiency 5 means it processes materials five times faster than basic sluices. The Toughness 7 requirement allows it to process materials from Deeproot Spring, accessing the exclusive mineral table even while offline.
At 50 billion coins, the sluice represents the best cost-to-benefit ratio among Lifetouched equipment. It generates approximately 500 million coins per hour in passive income, paying for itself in 100 hours of operation. Smart players purchase the sluice first, using its passive generation to fund their shovel and pan purchases. This strategy requires patience but minimizes active grinding time.
The sluice's true power emerges during events and multiplier periods. A 2x global event doubles its already impressive output, while certain weather events can triple specific mineral rates. Positioning matters too - placing your sluice in Deeproot Spring's deepest sections improves exotic mineral chances, though this requires manually relocating it every session.
The Cavern Expansion introduces four significant NPCs, each offering unique quests that reward exclusive blueprints for cosmetic items and achievements. These blueprints can't be obtained through any other means, making quest completion mandatory for completionists. While the cosmetic rewards don't impact gameplay directly, they serve as status symbols demonstrating mastery of the expansion's content.
The Druid standing beside the Lifetouched Shovel offers the expansion's most challenging quest, "Spirit of the Grotto." This quest requires two of the game's rarest minerals:
1x Vineheart - The exotic mineral exclusive to Deeproot Spring, with a base chance of 0.0000000903% (roughly 1 in 1.1 billion). Despite these odds, the previously mentioned first-pan bug makes this more achievable than statistics suggest. Many players report success within 10-50 attempts when panning immediately upon entering Deeproot Spring for the first time. If you don't get lucky with the bug, prepare for potentially hundreds of hours of farming.
1x Chrysoberyl - A mythic mineral available in both grotto zones but with marginally better rates in Deeproot Spring (0.00002% vs 0.000001%). With optimal totems and farming strategies, expect to find one every 20-30 hours of active play. Chrysoberyl also sells for astronomical prices, creating a difficult choice between quest completion and immediate profit.
Completing this quest rewards the Antlers of Life Blueprint, allowing you to craft a majestic cosmetic headpiece that sprouts glowing green antlers from your character. The antlers feature dynamic particle effects that respond to movement and emit a soft natural light in dark areas. Beyond aesthetics, owning this blueprint unlocks the "Grove Guardian" achievement and title, marking you as one of the expansion's elite players.
The Professor NPC, found in a hidden alcove past 4 vine barriers, presents a mathematical challenge disguised as a material gathering quest. His requirements focus on quantity over rarity, demanding stockpiles of mid-tier minerals that test inventory management skills. The exact requirements rotate between several possible combinations, but typically include materials like 50x Cobalt, 100x Glowmoss, and 75x Lightshards.
The Ring of Thorns Blueprint creates a hand cosmetic that wraps your character's fingers in animated thorny vines. These vines react to your actions - extending during combat, glowing while digging, and rustling when idle. The ring also provides a unique visual effect when panning, adding green sparkles to the water animation. While purely cosmetic, many players consider it the expansion's most visually impressive reward.
The aptly named Disgruntled Explorer offers a fetch quest that sends you throughout the entire grotto system. His "Lost and Found" quest requires recovering seven hidden journal pages scattered in obscure locations. Each page provides lore about the grotto's history while testing your exploration skills. Pages hide behind waterfalls, inside hollow trees, and even underwater in Deeproot Spring's deepest sections.
Completing his quest chain rewards the Amulet of Life Blueprint, crafting a neck cosmetic that features a glowing green gem suspended in living wood. The amulet pulses with your character's heartbeat and reacts to nearby Firefly Zones by glowing brighter. It also provides a unique idle animation where your character occasionally touches the amulet contemplatively. This blueprint is considered the easiest to obtain, requiring only thorough exploration rather than rare material farming.
Beyond the primary NPC quests, the expansion includes several hidden achievements that reward dedicated players with exclusive titles and cosmetic options. "Vine Cutter Supreme" unlocks after cutting all 7 possible vines, granting a title and green particle trail. "Spring Diver" requires finding all 15 hidden treasure chests in Deeproot Spring, rewarding an aquatic-themed cosmetic set. "Grotto Master" demands completing all NPC quests and finding every mineral type in both zones, unlocking the ultimate "Lifetouched" title that displays in radiant green text.
These hidden achievements don't appear in the standard achievement menu until discovered, encouraging experimentation and community collaboration. Players regularly share discoveries on the official Prospecting Discord server, creating a collaborative treasure hunt that extends the expansion's longevity. Some achievements remain undiscovered even weeks after release, suggesting deeper secrets within the grotto's depths.
Success in the Cavern Expansion requires abandoning the casual farming methods that work in earlier zones. The combination of rare material requirements, billion-coin equipment costs, and limited Firefly Zone availability demands strategic optimization at every level. Professional farmers have developed sophisticated strategies that maximize coins per hour while minimizing resource waste.
Efficient farmers follow a strict rotation pattern that capitalizes on Firefly Zone spawns while maintaining consistent mineral flow. The basic cycle runs as follows:
Minutes 0-5: Farm standard dig sites in Overgrown Grotto, focusing on high-density areas near the entrance. This provides steady income and common quest materials.
Minute 5: Firefly Zone spawns - immediately relocate and activate all totems. Farm intensively for the full 90-second duration.
Minutes 6.5-10: Return to standard farming, but position yourself centrally for the next Firefly Zone.
Minute 10: Second Firefly Zone spawn - repeat intensive farming process.
This five-minute cycle repeats indefinitely, providing two guaranteed Firefly Stone opportunities per cycle while maintaining baseline income. Advanced farmers modify this pattern based on global events, weather effects, and server population. During low-population hours, you might control multiple Firefly Zones simultaneously, dramatically increasing stone acquisition rates.
While totems seem straightforward - use them for better drops - their optimal deployment requires nuanced understanding. Strength Totems affect dig power and mineral size, while Luck Totems influence rarity rolls. Using both simultaneously doesn't simply double your chances; they interact multiplicatively with other modifiers.
During Firefly Zones, always activate both totems regardless of cost. The 50x multiplier to Firefly Stone rates makes totem investment instantly profitable. For standard farming, consider your goals: Strength Totems excel when hunting specific large minerals for museum donations, while Luck Totems benefit players seeking rare minerals for quests or sales.
Budget-conscious farmers should craft totems rather than buying them. The materials (typically common minerals from earlier zones) cost approximately 60% of shop prices. Stockpile 50-100 of each totem type before entering the grotto, ensuring you never miss a Firefly Zone due to lacking consumables. Some players dedicate entire storage loadouts to totem materials, crafting on-demand during farming sessions.
While controversial, some players use multiple accounts simultaneously to dominate Firefly Zones. By positioning alternate accounts at different spawn points, they guarantee immediate access regardless of RNG. This strategy requires significant investment (multiple VIP passes for teleportation, separate equipment sets) but can triple or quadruple Firefly Stone acquisition rates.
Legal efficiency techniques include animation canceling, optimal pan rhythm maintenance, and strategic inventory management. Learning to animation-cancel between dig and pan animations saves 0.5 seconds per cycle - insignificant individually but adding up to hours saved over extended sessions. Maintaining perfect pan rhythm (clicking at the exact moment the shake bar fills) improves mineral quality by approximately 15%. Strategic inventory management means knowing exactly which minerals to keep versus sell, preventing wasted trips to merchants.
Understanding the Cavern Expansion's modified drop tables fundamentally changes how you approach farming. Both new zones feature unique mineral weightings that favor different strategies compared to standard areas. This section provides comprehensive drop rate data compiled from community testing and data mining.
The Overgrown Grotto maintains 19 standard minerals plus Firefly Stone, with drop rates heavily skewed toward mid-tier valuable options:
Common Tier (45% combined rate):
Uncommon Tier (25% combined rate):
Rare Tier (15% combined rate):
Epic Tier (12% combined rate):
Legendary Tier (2.99% combined rate):
Mythic Tier (0.01% combined rate):
Deeproot Spring features 21 minerals plus Firefly Stone, with the critical addition of exotic tier:
Exotic Tier (World's Rarest):
The spring also features Radiant Gold in the mythic tier (0.005% chance, $75,000,000/kg) and improved rates for all legendary minerals. The zone's unique weighting system favors epic and legendary tiers, making it 3-4x more profitable than Overgrown Grotto for pure farming. However, the Toughness 7 requirement maintains exclusivity.
Understanding how modifiers stack can mean the difference between profitable and wasteful farming:
Base Drop Rate × (1 + Luck/1000) × Totem Multiplier × Event Multiplier × Weather Multiplier = Final Rate
For example, hunting Chrysoberyl with Lifetouched Pan (400 Luck), Luck Totem (2x), during a 2x event, in favorable weather (1.5x):
0.001% × 1.4 × 2 × 2 × 1.5 = 0.0084% (1 in ~12,000 instead of 1 in 100,000)
This mathematical understanding allows strategic farming during optimal conditions. Some players only farm during convergence events where multiple multipliers align, achieving drop rates 10-20x higher than baseline. Others focus on consistent daily farming, relying on volume over optimization.
The staggering costs of Lifetouched equipment force players to make difficult decisions about upgrade priority. Your optimal path depends on current equipment, available capital, and farming preferences. This section provides detailed recommendations for different player archetypes.
Players with limited resources should focus on incremental upgrades that provide immediate returns:
This path emphasizes sustainable growth over rapid progression. You'll spend 100-150 hours reaching Lifetouched tier, but maintain consistent progress without frustrating plateaus. Focus on Firefly Stone farming for Enchanted Scissors, selling excess quest materials for steady income. Once you acquire the Lifetouched Sluice, passive generation accelerates your timeline significantly.
Mid-tier players should leverage their capital for exponential growth:
This aggressive approach requires disciplined resource management. Resist the temptation to purchase intermediate upgrades - every billion spent on mid-tier equipment delays your Lifetouched acquisition. Use your existing capital to maintain totem supplies and fund intensive Firefly farming sessions. The sluice-first strategy generates 12-15 billion daily with minimal effort, accelerating subsequent purchases.
High-capital players can pursue optimal efficiency immediately:
With sufficient capital, you can essentially "solve" the expansion in 20-30 hours of focused play. Purchase thousands of totems, dedicate entire sessions to Firefly farming, and potentially coordinate with other players for guaranteed stone acquisition. This path provides immediate access to the game's most profitable content, allowing you to corner exotic mineral markets and achieve unprecedented wealth accumulation.
Players avoiding real-money purchases face the longest but most rewarding journey:
Free-to-play success requires patience, consistency, and strategic event participation. Join the official Discord for group farming sessions, market tips, and moral support during the long grind. Many F2P players report the journey being more satisfying than instant whale purchases, creating lasting friendships and memorable achievements.
The Prospecting community has developed extensive resources to support Cavern Expansion progression. These player-created tools and official channels provide real-time information, strategic advice, and social support during your journey through the grotto's depths.
The Official Prospecting Discord Server serves as the game's primary communication hub with over 50,000 active members. The server features dedicated channels for Cavern Expansion discussion, including #grotto-strategies for farming optimization, #lfg-firefly for coordinating Firefly Zone groups, and #price-check for mineral valuation. Developers regularly announce updates, host community events, and drop exclusive codes in the #announcements channel. The Discord also maintains comprehensive guides pinned in relevant channels, updated within hours of game changes.
For visual learners and data enthusiasts, the Prospecting Wiki provides detailed tables, maps, and statistical analyses. Community members constantly update drop rate data, creating the most accurate resource for farming optimization. The wiki's Cavern Expansion section includes interactive maps showing all vine locations, optimal cutting paths, and hidden chest positions.
The Official Prospecting Reddit Community offers a different social dynamic, featuring longer-form discussions, achievement showcases, and strategic debates. Weekly threads compile farming reports, allowing players to track market trends and adjust strategies accordingly. The subreddit's "Millionaire Monday" threads showcase players who've acquired Lifetouched equipment, providing inspiration and proof that F2P success remains possible.
Dedicated community members have created sophisticated tools for optimizing Cavern Expansion progression:
ProspectingCalc.com offers a comprehensive profit calculator incorporating all modifiers, drop rates, and market prices. Input your equipment, active buffs, and farming location to receive accurate per-hour profit estimates. The site updates prices hourly via automated market scanning, ensuring calculations remain relevant.
GrottoTracker (mobile app) sends notifications when Firefly Zones spawn on your server, eliminating the need for constant vigilance. The app also tracks your Enchanted Scissors progress, suggesting optimal cutting paths based on your goals. Premium features include market price alerts and group coordination tools.
The Prospecting Trello Board maintained by veteran players provides visual progression guides, tier lists, and efficiency comparisons. The board's Cavern Expansion section features flowcharts for equipment progression, helping players visualize their journey from entry to endgame. Regular updates incorporate new strategies discovered by the community.
You need exactly 7 pairs of Enchanted Scissors to cut through every vine and access all hidden sections of the Overgrown Grotto and Deeproot Spring. While you can partially explore with fewer scissors, complete access to all Lifetouched equipment and NPC quests requires the full seven pairs. Each scissors is obtained by completing the Old Druid's repeatable "Cutting Through" quest.
If your budget limits you to one purchase, prioritize the Lifetouched Shovel for $80,000,000,000. The shovel's Toughness 7 rating provides exclusive access to Deeproot Spring, opening an entirely new farming zone with exotic minerals. While the Lifetouched Pan offers superior stats, it only improves existing farming rather than unlocking new content. The shovel pays for itself faster through Deeproot Spring's enhanced drop rates.
Yes, unlike special items or collectibles, Lifetouched gear can be purchased indefinitely as long as you have the required money. This allows players to buy replacements if needed or stock multiple loadouts. However, given the extreme costs, most players only purchase one of each piece.
Firefly Stones drop most efficiently when digging or panning inside active Firefly Zones (golden circles) that spawn every 5 minutes in the grotto. Always use both Strength and Luck Totems during these 90-second windows for maximum drop chances. Without Firefly Zones, the drop rate becomes virtually impossible at 0.0001%, so timing your farming sessions around zone spawns is critical.
Community testing strongly suggests an unconfirmed bug where players have an extremely high chance (possibly 10-20%) to obtain Vineheart during their first panning session in Deeproot Spring. While not officially acknowledged, hundreds of players report similar experiences. If you're hunting Vineheart, try panning immediately upon first entering the spring rather than digging.
At minimum, you need the Icebreaker Shovel ($700,000) and Dragonflame Shovel ($4,000,000) to open the initial gate. For actual farming, you need at least Toughness 6 equipment (Fossilized Shovel or better) for Overgrown Grotto and Toughness 7 (only Lifetouched Shovel) for Deeproot Spring.
Completion time varies dramatically based on investment level and daily playtime. Hardcore players with starting capital can unlock everything in 30-50 hours. Average players should expect 150-200 hours spread over several months. Free-to-play users might require 500+ hours or 6-12 months of consistent daily play.
Confirmed hidden achievements include "Vine Cutter Supreme" (cut all 7 vines), "Spring Diver" (find 15 hidden chests in Deeproot), and "Grotto Master" (complete all quests and find every mineral type). Additional achievements likely exist but remain undiscovered by the community.
No, both Enchanted Scissors and Lifetouched equipment are untradeable and bound to your account. This prevents pay-to-win scenarios and maintains the prestige of earning these items through dedicated play.
Firefly Zone timers reset during server restarts, meaning zones spawn exactly 5 minutes after servers come back online. Smart players log in immediately after maintenance, positioning themselves for guaranteed Firefly Stone opportunities. Your Enchanted Scissors progress, cut vines, and purchased equipment persist through all updates.