Update: We last updated this Prospecting Shovels Progression article on July 28, 2025.
Shovels are a crucial tool in Prospecting since you can only dig through dirt using them. Without a proper shovel, you will be slow and unable to dig in the more profitable regions of the map. However, with multiple available options, it can be hard to pick your next shovel. Hence, our Prospecting Shovels Progression guide will help you understand various shovel stats and recommend some of the best ones that you should purchase.
Table of Contents
Why You Need Shovels in Prospecting
There are mainly two things that you must do in Prospecting – digging and sifting the sand. The former is done using shovels, while you must use pans to do the latter. While you don’t need specific pans for different areas, you will need to upgrade your shovel if you wish to dig minerals in the more prosperous areas like Fortune River. Since you automatically equip your shovel when you equip the pan, you don’t need to do any special action for it.
Shovel Stats in Prospecting
Next, let us briefly break down all the different shovel stats that you should know about. These stats make a shovel great or bad, and you should be aware of what each one means.
- Dig Strength – Increases the amount of dirt you dig per turn.
- Dig Speed – Increases the speed with which you dig through the dirt.
- Toughness – Allows you to dig through tougher or rockier regions.
Now, let us move to the progression guide that will tell you the best shovels to pick as you get more money in the game.
Prospecting Shovels Progression Guide – Comparison Table
Obtaining the right shovel as you move through different areas in the game is very crucial. Otherwise, you won’t be able to dig materials from the higher-tier regions or get better minerals. Hence, we have a list below to showcase our recommended shovel progression in Prospecting. Note that the list goes from lowest to highest.
- Rusty Shovel
- Iron Shovel
- Silver Shovel
- The Excavator
- Meteoric Shovel
- Diamond Shovel
- Divine Shovel
You can check the complete stats of all these shovels in the table below and compare them.
| Name | Dig Strength | Dig Speed | Toughness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rusty Shovel | 1 | 0.8 | 1 |
| Iron Shovel | 2 | 0.8 | 1 |
| Silver Shovel | 4 | 1.1 | 2 |
| The Excavator | 7 | 0.7 | 3 |
| Meteoric Shovel | 7 | 150% | 4 |
| Diamond Shovel | 12 | 100% | 4 |
| Divine Shovel | 16 | 110% | 5 |
Breaking Down the Shovels in the Progression Guide
Next, we will provide brief reasons why each shovel is on our list. This will give you a clearer perspective on this guide.
1. Rusty Shovel
This is the first and the most basic shovel that everyone starts the game with. Its stats are low, and it is only good for those starting few minutes. As soon as you have enough money, simply go for the next shovel on the list.
2. Iron Shovel
Iron Shovel might not offer the best stats, but it will be a good jump from the Rusty Shovel in Prospecting. It costs $3000, which you will be able to collect rather quickly after sifting through the sand.
3. Silver Shovel
While the Silver Shovel does cost $75,000, which might be a lot of money for new players, the shovel is worth every penny. Its stats will be a big jump for you, allowing you to quickly fill your pan and collect various minerals with ease. With Toughness level 2, you can finally cross over to the other side.
Also read:
- Roblox Prospecting Pans Progression Guide
- Prospecting Enchantments Guide
- Roblox Prospecting Codes
- Prospecting Discord and Trello Links
4. The Excavator
The Excavator will be your first expensive purchase. To get this shovel, you must cross the river and go towards Fortune River. Here, you will find the Store which sells these high-end shovels. This shovel costs $320,000 and offers good stats. While its digging speed might be slightly slow, the dig strength makes up for it. On top of that, you can finally start digging in the Fortune River region with it.
5. Meteoric Shovel
Meteoric Shovel is one of the higher-end shovels that requires a lot of money to purchase but also offers some of the best stats in Prospecting. You must collect $4,000,000 to get your hands on this shovel. Once you spend this whopping sum of money, you can dig through any terrain and at a great speed.
6. Diamond Shovel
This is the best shovel in Prospecting simply because of its dig strength and dig speed combination. However, the Diamond Shovel does cost a whopping $12,500,000, which means you must grind for a long time before you can unlock it.
7. Divine Shovel
The Divine Shovel is one of the best shovels that you can get in Prospecting. It offers great dig strength along with digging speed, making it worth its price tag of $40 million. However, the best reason to get this shovel is its toughness level 5. It will allow you to descend deeper into the cavern and dig for precious materials easily.
This brings us to the end of our Prospecting Shovels Progression Guide. Make sure to check the article later when the developer adds more OP shovels to the game.
