- Shards can be earned simply from sifting sand and through NPC quests in Prospecting.
- Players can spend Shards on ring slots, totems, and potions for stat boosts in the game.
- Use the boosts during Meteor Showers or lengthy grind sessions to make the most of them.
Prospecting is all about finding rare minerals and turning them into serious cash while completing the collection. While tools like shovels and pans are essential to your progress, Meteor Shards are a valuable resource in speeding up and making your grind easier. This special currency lets you buy a couple of useful items that help upgrade your stats and boost your efficiency in several ways. In this guide, we will break down how to get Shards in Prospecting and where to use them.
What Are Shards in Prospecting?
Before we get into the specifics, let’s talk about what Shards actually are. When you start playing Prospecting, you will notice a pink crystal icon above your money counter on the bottom right. The number beside the crystal is your Shard count.
As you collect more Shards during your journey, the number goes up in real time, letting you keep track of how many you have accumulated. You can then use the Shards to unlock more equipment slots, buy totems, and more, which we have explained below.
How to Get Shards in Prospecting
There are a few ways to obtain Shards in Prospecting, but keep in mind, there is no way to purchase them. This makes them even more valuable. That said, here are two easy ways to get Shards in the game:
1. Small Chance to Get Shards by Digging
You can earn Shards from regular digging once in a while. It’s random, so don’t count on getting a Shard every time you sift through sand in water. However, your chances go up when you dig Epic or higher rarity minerals, making deeper mining more rewarding.
So, make sure you are using better Prospecting pans and pray to the RNG Gods for Shards. If you’re rich enough, place the Sluices for a better chance of collecting Shards while farming minerals.
2. Complete NPC Quests to Gain Shards
Besides digging, one of the best ways to earn a bunch of Shards is by completing Prospecting NPC quests. Each quest gives you a good number of Shards, making it way more efficient than random digging and sifting sand.
If you’re just starting out, make sure to finish all the tutorial quests from John in the Rubble Creek Sands area. It’s a simple way to get an early bump in Shard count. Sadly, you don’t get any Shards from Prospecting codes, but they do give you some cash to help you get off the ground.
Best Uses of Shards in Prospecting
Shards have multiple uses that can seriously boost your farming potential. Here are all the ways you can spend Shards in Prospecting to get the most out of your grind:
1. Buy Totems
Along with unlocking ring slots, Shards can also be used to buy powerful totems in Prospecting, and they are amazing. There are two totems in the game: the Luck Totem (2x Luck) for 300 Shards and the Strength Totem (2x Dig Speed) for 180 Shards.
Each totem lasts for 1800 seconds (or 30 minutes) and provides a temporary boost to your stats.
To get the most out of them, it’s best to use them during a Meteor Shower event, where rare minerals and modifiers are more likely to appear. This combo can give your farming speed and rewards a massive boost.
2. Unlock Ring Slots
The first thing you should spend your Shards on is unlocking Ring Slots in the Prospector’s Kit. There are four slots in total, and each one costs Shards to unlock. These slots let you equip crafted rings, which give powerful stat boosts depending on what you craft.
You can check Prospecting crafting recipes and choose the ones that fit your playstyle. Whether you want more luck, faster digging, or modified minerals, more ring slots will increase your chances.
3. Buy Potions
If you are looking for even more stat boosts, potions are another great way to spend your Shards in Prospecting. Here are the three potion options available in Prospecting:
- Merchant’s Potion: 200 Shards
- Greater Luck Potion: 30 Shards
- Greater Capacity Potion: 20 Shards
The Merchant’s Potion gives you a whopping +100% sell boost, letting you earn double the cash from selling minerals. On the other hand, the Greater Luck Potion boosts the luck stat by +10, while the Greater Capacity Potion increases your mineral carrying capacity in a pan by 50.
All potions last for 1200 seconds (or 20 minutes), so be sure to use them during longer farming sessions or special events.
That is everything you should know about Meteor Shards in Prospecting. So, how many Shards have you collected so far in the game? Let us know your farming tricks in the comments below.
