What Should I Bring to Motherlode Mine? The Ultimate Guide
The Motherlode Mine in Old School Runescape (OSRS) is a popular destination for players looking to train their Mining skill while also earning some valuable rewards. However, to maximize your efficiency and make the most of your time, it’s crucial to come prepared. So, what exactly should you bring to the Motherlode Mine?
The essential items for a productive trip to the Motherlode Mine include a pickaxe (Dragon or Crystal are highly recommended), food (if needed), a gem bag (optional), and a hammer (optional). Let’s delve deeper into each of these, and explore the best gear for the most efficient mining session:
Essential Gear for Motherlode Mining
Pickaxe
Your pickaxe is the most crucial tool for the Motherlode Mine. While you can enter with any pickaxe, having a more efficient one can greatly speed up your mining.
- Dragon Pickaxe: This is a very good choice for serious miners, offering a good balance of speed and accessibility. It’s also relatively affordable for mid-level players.
- Crystal Pickaxe: If you are aiming for the highest mining speed possible, the Crystal Pickaxe is the best choice. However, it requires charging with crystal shards, making it more expensive to use than the Dragon Pickaxe.
For players who don’t have the level or budget for a Dragon or Crystal pickaxe, an Adamant pickaxe will do the job until you can get an upgrade.
Food
Food is generally not required for most players as the Motherlode Mine is not a dangerous location. However, it’s wise to bring some food if you are at a low level or if you find yourself taking damage frequently. Bringing some low-healing food would help.
Gem Bag (Optional)
While not essential, a gem bag can be highly beneficial. The Motherlode Mine yields various gems as a byproduct of mining, and these gems can quickly fill your inventory. The gem bag can store a significant amount of gems, allowing you to mine for longer without needing to bank.
Hammer (Optional)
A hammer is not essential, but can sometimes be useful. There are times in the mine where you may encounter a broken cart, which can then be repaired. If you don’t have one, you will have to travel to obtain one. However, this is so seldom that you don’t need to bring one every time.
Other Considerations
Mining Level
Your Mining level significantly impacts your experience in the Motherlode Mine. At 72 Mining, you can access the upper level which has faster depletion rates. This upper level provides better XP rates and also increases your chance of getting golden nuggets.
Golden Nuggets
Golden nuggets are a key resource in the Motherlode Mine. You’ll need 100 nuggets to access the upper level for the first time, and 180 for the Full Prospector’s Outfit. While this might seem like a high number, the rate of obtaining Golden Nuggets increases as your mining level increases.
Inventory Space
Managing your inventory effectively is critical for maximizing your time in the mine. The Motherlode Mine forces a withdraw once you have 81 ore in the standard bag. This is where the upgraded sack can become important.
- Standard Sack: Initially, your sack holds 81 pay-dirt, meaning that you’ll have to deposit your pay-dirt regularly to make space.
- Upgraded Sack: For 200 Golden Nuggets, you can upgrade your sack to hold 162 pay-dirt. This is an essential upgrade for more efficient mining.
Tips for Efficient Mining at the Motherlode Mine
- Prioritize the Upper Level: Once you reach 72 Mining and acquire 100 Golden Nuggets, make sure to mine on the upper level whenever possible. The faster depletion rates and higher chances of nuggets will significantly boost your gains.
- Stay on a Single Vein: The veins on the upper level deplete in about 15–27 seconds. To be efficient, stick to a single vein and mine alongside other players. Do not mine one ore from a vein and move to another, as this will cause more veins to deplete and potentially hurt other players trying to mine at a specific location.
- Upgrade Your Sack: Obtaining the upgraded sack is crucial for minimizing banking trips. Save up those Golden Nuggets and get the 162-capacity sack as soon as you can.
- Be Patient: The Motherlode Mine is not the fastest way to gain mining experience. It is a more relaxed style of training with the added bonus of earning gold and other useful resources.
By preparing correctly with the proper gear and understanding the mechanics of the Motherlode Mine, you can make your mining sessions much more productive and enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to provide even more information about preparing for the Motherlode Mine:
1. What is the best pickaxe for the Motherlode Mine?
The Crystal pickaxe is the best pickaxe, offering the highest mining speed. However, the Dragon pickaxe is a good, cheaper alternative for most players.
2. How long does it take to get 180 Golden Nuggets?
At lower levels, it can take up to 20 hours to earn 180 Golden Nuggets. At higher mining levels, this can be reduced to around 10 hours.
3. What is the difference between the upper and lower levels of the mine?
On the lower level, ore veins have a 1 in 3 chance of depleting each time someone mines from them. On the upper level, veins deplete 15-27 seconds after someone first mines from it. This encourages players to mine the same vein, rather than multiple.
4. How much XP per hour can I get at Motherlode Mine?
XP rates start around 15,000 per hour at lower levels and can reach up to 54,000 per hour at level 99.
5. Does Varrock armour work at Motherlode Mine?
No, the Varrock armour effect does not work at the Motherlode Mine.
6. What gems can you get from Motherlode Mine?
You can unearth a variety of gemstones including aventurine, quartz, peridot, ruby, sapphire, emerald, and amethyst, among many others.
7. How much can the sack in Motherlode Mine hold?
The default sack holds 81 pay-dirt, and can be upgraded to hold 162 pay-dirt for 200 Golden Nuggets.
8. Can you get the mining pet from Motherlode Mine?
Yes, you can potentially get the Rock Golem pet from mining at Motherlode, though the chances are quite low.
9. How do you get more Golden Nuggets?
You get Golden Nuggets by searching the sack after cleaning pay-dirt. The chance of a nugget increases slightly with higher mining levels.
10. How many inventory spaces does the Motherlode Mine have?
You don’t really use inventory slots here, other than for a gem bag and the hammer. The Motherlode Mine forces a withdraw once you have 81 pay-dirt in your sack.
11. Can you use Mending on a pickaxe in OSRS?
No, the Mending enchantment is not an OSRS feature.
12. Can you get Dragonstone from the Motherlode Mine?
Yes, you can obtain dragonstones as a reward from the new Motherlode Mine.
13. Is Motherlode Mine good for Ironman accounts?
The Motherlode Mine is a decent AFK method for Ironman accounts. However, it is not recommended for Ultimate Ironmen as they can not bank the ores.
14. Do you need to wear Varrock armour for the mining benefits?
No, you no longer need to wear Varrock armour to receive its mining, smithing or smelting benefits.
15. What other gear can help while mining?
Mining Gloves and Superior Mining Gloves give a chance that the rock will not be depleted. A Mining Cape gives a chance of receiving an additional ore.