The Ultimate RuneScape Pickaxe Guide: Choosing the Best Tool for the Job
The best pickaxe in RuneScape currently is the Pickaxe of Earth and Song. It offers the stats of an elder rune pickaxe +5 but with the crucial advantage of being augmentable. This allows for significant customization and performance enhancement, making it the undisputed champion for serious miners.
Understanding the Importance of Your Pickaxe
In RuneScape, your pickaxe isn’t just a tool; it’s your gateway to wealth, skill, and progression. From the humble bronze pickaxe to the mighty Pickaxe of Earth and Song, your choice impacts your mining speed, experience gains, and overall efficiency. Selecting the right pickaxe for your level and goals is paramount to maximizing your time in the mines.
Pickaxe Hierarchy: A Level-Based Overview
As your Mining level increases, you unlock access to progressively better pickaxes. Each tier offers improved mining speed, translating directly into faster resource acquisition and experience. Here’s a general overview:
- Bronze Pickaxe: The starting point, freely available and usable from level 1 Mining.
- Iron Pickaxe: Requires level 1 Mining.
- Steel Pickaxe: Requires level 20 Mining.
- Black Pickaxe: Requires level 31 Mining. Offers the same mining speed as Mithril but is generally preferred for its lower cost and availability.
- Mithril Pickaxe: Requires level 41 Mining.
- Adamant Pickaxe: Requires level 51 Mining.
- Rune Pickaxe: Requires level 61 Mining. A significant upgrade over previous tiers.
- Dragon Pickaxe: A highly sought-after drop from various monsters like Chaos Dwarves and Chaos Giants.
- Crystal Pickaxe: An upgrade to the Dragon Pickaxe, obtained through the Ithell family in Prifddinas.
- Necronium Pickaxe: Requires 70 Mining. Further enhanced versions +1 through +5 also exist.
- Elder Rune Pickaxe: Requires level 90 Mining. A top-tier pickaxe before considering special options. Like the Necronium pickaxe, further enhanced versions +1 through +5 also exist.
- 3rd Age Pickaxe: A rare treasure trail reward with stats similar to the Dragon Pickaxe. More of a status symbol.
- Pickaxe of Earth and Song: Requires level 90 Mining and completion of specific quests. The current king of the hill.
Diving Deeper: Key Pickaxes and Their Significance
The Dragon Pickaxe: A Milestone
The dragon pickaxe is a major milestone for many players. Obtained as a rare drop, it offers a significant boost in mining speed and represents a considerable investment of time and effort. It also forms the basis for upgrading to the crystal pickaxe.
The Crystal Pickaxe: Speed and Degradation
Upgrading your dragon pickaxe to a crystal pickaxe provides a further increase in mining speed. However, be aware that the crystal pickaxe degrades with use and requires harmonic dust to recharge. If desired, players may revert their crystal pickaxe back to a dragon pickaxe by speaking to Lady Ithell. They will not be given back the harmonic dust previously used to upgrade the tool.
The Pickaxe of Earth and Song: The Augmentable Powerhouse
The Pickaxe of Earth and Song reigns supreme for its augmentable nature. Augmenting allows you to add perks that significantly enhance your mining experience, such as:
- Honed: Increases your chance of successfully mining an ore.
- Prosper: Gives a chance of mining an extra ore.
- Reflex: Decreases the chance of your pickaxe breaking.
These perks, combined with the base stats of an elder rune pickaxe +5, make it the most efficient choice for serious miners.
Pickaxe Acquisition: Where to Find Your Tools
Pickaxes can be acquired in several ways:
- Shops: Basic pickaxes like bronze, iron, and steel can be purchased from various shops throughout RuneScape, such as Nurmof’s Pickaxe Shop and other mining-related vendors.
- Smithing: Steel, Necronium and Elder Rune pickaxes can be smithed.
- Monster Drops: The dragon pickaxe is a rare drop from specific monsters.
- Quests: Certain quests may reward you with pickaxes.
- Treasure Trails: The 3rd age pickaxe is a possible reward from Master Treasure Trails.
- Tutorial Island: A bronze pickaxe is given for free during the tutorial.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is the black pickaxe better than mithril?
For purely mining purposes, the black pickaxe is generally considered better than the mithril pickaxe. Both allow you to mine every 5 ticks, but the black pickaxe is typically cheaper and more accessible.
2. How do I get a better pickaxe in Runescape?
As your mining level increases, you can use better pickaxes. These can be bought from shops, smithed, obtained as monster drops, or acquired through quests and treasure trails.
3. What is the best pickaxe for level 70 mining rs3?
A necronium pickaxe + 4 is the best option for level 70 mining.
4. How do you get a dragon pickaxe?
Dragon pickaxes are rare drops from chaos-aligned monsters on the Chaos Dwarf Battlefield and Chaos Giants. You need to have started or completed quests associated with these areas.
5. How do you revert a crystal pickaxe?
You can revert your crystal pickaxe back to a dragon pickaxe by speaking to Lady Ithell in Prifddinas. However, you will not get back the harmonic dust used to upgrade it.
6. Is Mithril better than black Runescape?
In terms of overall equipment, mithril equipment is stronger than black equipment. However, for the specific case of pickaxes, the black pickaxe is often preferred due to its comparable mining speed and lower cost.
7. Can you make pickaxes in old school Runescape?
No, pickaxes cannot be made by players in Old School RuneScape (OSRS). They must be purchased from shops. In Runescape 3, some pickaxes, such as steel, necronium, and elder rune pickaxes can be smithed.
8. How do you get a free pickaxe in Runescape?
A bronze pickaxe is given for free during the tutorial on Tutorial Island.
9. What level is steel pickaxe Runescape?
A steel pickaxe requires level 20 Mining to use.
10. Do pickaxes break in Runescape?
While pickaxes don’t permanently break anymore, there used to be random events where the pickaxe head would fly off. However, the crystal pickaxe degrades and needs to be recharged with harmonic dust. The Pickaxe of Earth and Song can be augmented to reduce degradation.
11. What is a 3rd age pickaxe rs3?
The 3rd age pickaxe is a rare item obtained from master Treasure Trails. It has the same stats as a dragon pickaxe but is primarily a cosmetic item.
12. How do you make a steel pickaxe in RuneScape?
A steel pickaxe is smithed at a forge and anvil using 2 steel bars, requiring 600 progress to complete.
13. What is the most powerful boss in rs3?
Telos (High Enrage) is widely considered the most difficult boss in RuneScape 3, requiring immense skill and strategy.
14. How does augmentation affect pickaxes?
Augmentation allows you to add perks to your pickaxe, enhancing its performance. These perks can increase mining speed, improve the chance of successfully mining ores, or reduce degradation.
15. Where can I learn more about the skills involved in mining?
Explore educational gaming opportunities at the Games Learning Society, where you can discover how games contribute to learning and skill development: GamesLearningSociety.org.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Pickaxe for Your Adventure
Choosing the right pickaxe is essential for efficient mining in RuneScape. While the Pickaxe of Earth and Song currently holds the title of the best pickaxe due to its augmentable nature, the optimal choice depends on your level, budget, and goals. Consider your options carefully and choose the tool that best suits your mining journey!