How Does Mining Work in Dark and Darker?
Mining in Dark and Darker is a valuable, though somewhat risky, way to acquire resources that can significantly enhance your gear and survivability. It involves venturing into the dangerous depths of dungeons, wielding a pickaxe, and extracting valuable ores from specific nodes. This process is not just about brute force; it incorporates strategic decisions about tool selection, location awareness, and the risks you’re willing to take for the potential reward.
The Basics of Mining
Getting Started
To begin mining, you’ll first need to acquire a pickaxe. This can be purchased from either the Weaponsmith or Woodsman merchant. The pickaxe will take up a 2×3 space in your utility slot, so make sure you have sufficient inventory management space before heading into the dungeon. Once you’re armed with a pickaxe, you’re ready to seek out mining nodes.
The Mining Process
Within the dungeons, you’ll find ore nodes that you can interact with. Once you locate a node, equip your pickaxe and click on the node to begin the mining process. Each swing of the pickaxe will yield an ore, which will automatically move to your inventory. Each ore has a 2×2 profile and stacks to 5 in your inventory. Be mindful of your inventory space as you’re mining.
Ores and Their Uses
As of early access, there are two primary ores to be found: Cobalt and Rubysilver. Cobalt is a more common spawn, while Rubysilver is a rarer ore often appearing in roughly 1 out of every 4 cobalt nodes. These ores are not directly usable for gear but are the raw materials for crafting.
- Cobalt: Used to craft lower-tier gear, typically offering blue-tier rolls.
- Rubysilver: The rarer ore, which can be refined into Rubysilver Powder by an Alchemist. This powder is then exchanged at the Tailor or Leathersmith for high-quality armor, potentially reaching legendary tier rolls, which can be worn by all classes.
Factors Affecting Mining
Mining Speed
The speed at which you mine is determined by a combination of factors. The primary determinant is the tool’s base tool speed. This is a hidden stat found in the game’s code, but it can be researched on resources like the Dark and Darker Wiki. Some pickaxes have higher base speeds than others.
Enhancing Mining Speed
To increase your mining speed beyond your pickaxe’s base rate, consider these options:
- Efficiency Enchantments: Applying an Efficiency Enchantment to your pickaxe can drastically improve mining speed, with greater levels of enhancement offering even better results. The use of Silex to upgrade this enchantment also significantly affects the mining speed.
- Reforges: Certain reforges can enhance mining speed, such as “Fleet” or “Heated.” Keep an eye out for these when looting or crafting.
- Mining Gear: Certain armor pieces or accessories may come with a Mining Speed status, which can further boost your speed. Be on the lookout for these as they will make gathering quicker.
Mining Difficulty
In the real world of cryptocurrency mining, mining difficulty refers to how hard it is to verify the transactions for a specific cryptocurrency. This concept doesn’t apply directly to Dark and Darker. In Dark and Darker, the challenges associated with mining are the dungeon itself, the danger of other players, and the risk of being attacked while vulnerable during the mining action.
Strategic Mining Tips
Location Awareness
Pay close attention to your environment when you are mining, as you are vulnerable to attacks while mining. Prioritize locations that have fewer avenues for enemy encounters or have natural choke points so you are not easily flanked.
Inventory Management
Since ores stack to 5, you need to manage inventory space effectively. Make sure you plan how much inventory space you have available and how long you want to remain in the dungeon before you begin mining. It is wise to plan ahead to know exactly what items you want to bring with you, how many extra pots you need, and leave room for the ores you mine.
Risk Assessment
Mining is not risk-free. You must be aware of other players, monsters, and the dungeon’s environmental hazards. Weigh your need for resources against the potential dangers you may face. Knowing when to disengage from a mining node is just as vital to success as knowing how to mine effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is Rubysilver Powder used for?
**Rubysilver Powder**, crafted by an **Alchemist** from **Rubysilver Ore**, is traded at the **Tailor** or **Leathersmith** for high-quality armor.
2. How do I loot faster in Dark and Darker?
The quickest method to move loot into your inventory is to **right-click** an item. This method is faster than dragging or double-clicking.
3. What should I sell to merchants in Dark and Darker?
Merchants typically buy items found in the dungeon, like **necklaces, cups, gems**, and **cloth armor**. These items will usually net you the most **initial gold**.
4. Where can I find Cobalt ore?
**Cobalt** is the more **common ore** and spawns regularly within dungeons wherever there are mineable nodes.
5. Where is Rubysilver found?
**Rubysilver ore** is the **rare** ore that spawns in approximately 1 out of every 4 cobalt nodes.
6. Can I find Dark Silver Ingots through mining?
**Dark Silver Ingots** cannot be found through mining. They must be **crafted** at your castle **furnace** with specific materials. You may find them rarely in chests and drawers in Silverlight Hills, but the best method to acquire them is by crafting.
7. What determines mining speed?
**Mining speed** is primarily determined by the **base tool speed** of the pickaxe, as well as any **enchants**, **reforges**, and **mining gear** worn by the player.
8. What are silver coins used for?
**Silver coins** have no other purpose than to be traded to the **Treasurer** for **gold coins**.
9. What is gold used for in Dark and Darker?
**Gold** is the main currency in the game and is used to buy items from **merchants**, including **armor**, **weapons**, and **consumables**.
10. Is Cobalt really blue?
In its natural state, **Cobalt** is a burnished silver color. It is best known for being used to produce **vibrant blues** in pigments when processed.
11. What are the dangers of being exposed to cobalt?
**Cobalt** can cause asthma-like allergies, heart problems, liver and kidney issues, and repeated exposure can result in lung scarring. It is advisable to keep away from pure cobalt whenever possible.
12. What is the “cutthroat” skill in Dark and Darker?
The **Cutthroat** skill applies a **silence debuff** to your target for 3 seconds if the next attack is successful.
13. Can I trade with other players in Dark and Darker?
Yes, you can trade with other players in the in-game **trading channel** once you are **level 5 or higher** and pay a **25 gold initiation fee**.
14. Is it possible to boost mining output with friends?
While there is no direct mining output boost from playing with friends in the game, having a coordinated team makes it easier to clear dungeon threats, allowing you to mine for longer periods safely.
15. How do you increase mining rate in the real world?
In the real-world setting of cryptocurrency mining, the mining rate can be increased by using more powerful hardware or by joining a mining pool. In the game, this is done through enhancing the efficiency of your pickaxe and using reforges on gear and the pickaxe.
Mining in Dark and Darker is a crucial skill for any aspiring adventurer. By understanding the mechanics of mining, the uses of different ores, and the risks involved, you can significantly enhance your character’s gear and increase your chances of survival in the dungeons. Equip your pickaxe, keep an eye out for those valuable ores, and may your runs be successful!