Shovel Progression Guide for Roblox DIG

After hours of grinding, testing, and a few painful misbuys (RIP to the Jam Shovel), I’ve finally came up with the complete Shovel progression guide (at least for 1st Island) in Roblox DIG. My guide covers everything everything I wish I knew earlier, from what shovel to grab first, how to set up charms, where the boss shovels are hiding, and which tools are 100% skippable. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re deep into the grind and wondering if the Frigid is still worth it post-buff, I got you covered!

Shovel Progression Guide

Shovels are your lifeline in Dig to Win. They determine how fast you dig, how much loot you get, and how well you perform in boss fights. Shovels come with stats like Control, Strength, Haste, and Luck, plus passives that affect combat, mutation, and digging speed. But here’s the catch: you don’t need to buy every shovel.

Progression isn’t linear, you don’t need to buy every shovel. Some are trash, others are game-changers, and a few are free (if you’re lucky with boss drops). This guide breaks down the must-buys, what to skip, and where to find them.

Most players burn through money grabbing every upgrade in a rowbe, but the smarter path is skipping the duds and jumping straight to the value picks.

Do the Tutorial (Trust Me)

Do. The. Tutorial. Not only does it teach you the basics, but you’ll also score a free charm and unlock a side quest that pays out nice early cash:

• Head to the Sell Shop
• Talk to the NPC to the right
• He’ll give you a quest to dig 15 items, easy win

You’ll finish it naturally while doing the tutorial. Two birds, one shovel.

First Shovel: Rock vs. Luck

Once you’ve got a little cash, skip the Training Rods and go for:

• Rock Shovel – Best all-around for early game. High control and strength. Reliable.
• Luck Shovel – Riskier but can pull rare finds early on. Lower strength hurts.

My pick: Rock Shovel. It’s just better for catching more valuable digs early.

Must-Haves Before You Leave Foxtown

Here’s what you want before you hit the beach:

• ATV ($500): Mobility = faster loot collection
• Charms:
  • Rock Pounder = Strength boost
  • Lucky Bell = Boosts rare find chance
  • You can equip 3 charms at once (even duplicates)
• Banking Tips:
  • Store rare finds safely (limit 12 items)
  • Use the Appraiser to mutate items
  • Grab a Charm Chisel (25k) later to re-roll bad stats

Are Magnets Worth It?

Early on? Not really. But eventually, yes.

• 25 Magnets = 2.5k Coins
• Can pull things like:
  • Golden Horse (triples mod chance)
  • Legendary Magnet (1.5x legendary rate)

Save your cash early, but don’t ignore magnets forever.

Best Early Progression Shovel – Ruby Shovel

Once you hit Cinder Shores, go straight for the Ruby Shovel (6.5k):

• Level up to 15–20
• Buy the Ruby Shovel (6.5k) from the beach hut
  • 20 Boss DMG, 6 Ctrl, 7 STR, 3.5 Haste, 13 Luck
  • Solid all-rounder
  • This thing absolutely outclasses the Jam Shovel, especially post-nerf.
• Skip the Bell Shovel, not worth it for the price
• Check Totems nearby for buffs (+100% shiny chance, +25% older rate)
• Grab Fortune Bell and Pearl Necklace too

Remember: Always Talk to NPCs!

NPCs = Quests = Money + Rewards. There’s an NPC right across from the ruby shovel who asks for:

• A fishing rod
• A fish
• A hook

They’re all common items, and he pays well + gives magnets. Easy win.

Combat Guild & Boss Quests – Slayer Shovel

Once you’re comfy with farming and ready for combat:

• Follow the path from Cinder Shores back to the forest and go to the hut behind Cinder Shores, that’s the Combat Guild.
• What you get in the Combat Guild:
  • Repeatable boss quests that pay well and give +1 Boss Damage
  • Gear to help with bosses:
    • Regen Coil (healing over time)
    • Shield (parries 50% of damage)
    • Combat Shovel (heals you during fights)
  • Slayer Shovel (40k, 80 Boss DMG, unlocked after 6 bosses)
    • This shovel is unmatched until the devs add a new one. Worth grinding for.
  • There are also horns here to spawn bosses you’ve already beaten. Each horn costs 25k.

Boss #1: King Crab & Abyssal Shovel (Was nerfed, so maybe skip it.)

Bosses spawn randomly and are worth hunting.

King Crab Drops:

• Abyssal Shovel: 35 Boss Damage, 5 Control, 9 Strength, 20 Luck (30% drop)
• King Claws (guaranteed cash)
• King Crab model (20% drop)
• Crab Crown cosmetic
• Crab Sticker (cosmetic)
• EXP + Cash (100%)

Use Rock Shovel for damage or Ruby for money farming depending on your role.

Ghost Quest & Plasma Charm

• Go to the Ghost Graveyard (Rooftop Woodlands) and talk to the NPC.
  • Task: Dig up 3 Ghosts
    • Ghosts spawn more often in summer, but can show up any time in Fernhill.
  • Reward: Ectoplasm Sleeve Charm
    • 20% chance items turn to Plasma (modification = more $$)

Tip: You can grab the quest early and complete it while digging elsewhere in Fernhill.

Fun little tip I found while digging around: There’s actually a shovel that’s almost as good as the pre-nerf Jam Shovel, it’s called the Spore Spade, and you can find it in the Rooftop Woodlands, near the science area.

It costs 30,000, which honestly isn’t that bad of a jump from the 6.5k tier, especially when compared to dropping 75k on the Frigid. If you’re stuck mid-game or want something solid before investing in boss shovels, this one’s a sneaky good pickup. Hope this helps someone out there!

Tom’s Bakery: Quests & Cupcakes

Follow the mountain path to Tom’s Bakery in Cinder’s Approach.

• Daily quests = rewards + cupcakes
• Buffs:
  • Blueberry: +10 Boss DMG
  • Key Lime: +0.5 Luck
  • Sweet: +0.25 All Stats

Optional: At around the 45k mark, you’ll come across the Shortcake Shovel. Here are its stats:

• 7 Ctrl, 11 STR, 4 Haste, 18 Luck
• Effect: 25% chance to apply the Tasty modification
• Honestly? It’s a solid option if you’ve got some extra cash and want a fun, early-mid shovel with decent luck and strength. It’s not essential, but it’s definitely not a bad pickup, especially if you’re experimenting with modification builds. Still, if you’re trying to save up, your long-term goal should be the Prismatic Shovel (250k).

Do enough quests and he’ll start selling the cupcakes without needing quests!

Boss #2: Candlelight Phantom

Next up is your second major challenge: the Candlelight Phantom. When you buy and spawn it in, a server-wide announcement pops up, so chances are you’ll get help from others nearby. The boss’s location will also be marked.

This ghostly enemy has a ton of HP, so be ready for a longer fight. Tip: watch for hitboxes and just jump away while you keep digging between attacks. It’s a straightforward rhythm.

• Drops:
  • Candlelight Shovel (40%)
    • 5 Ctrl, 10 STR, 5 Haste, 15 Luck, Bonus: +30% Boss Damage
  • Candlelight Lanterns (100%); easy money
  • Candlelight Phantom Pet (20%)
  • Candlelight Tendrils (7%)
  • EXP + cash + sticker guaranteed

It’s a strong alternative to the Abyssal Shovel. You might even swap between the two depending on your goals (boss fights vs. farming).

Other notable boss shovels I won’t be including in the guide (not as grind-worthy):

• Venomous Shovel from the Basilisk (40%).
• Arachnid Shovel from the cave spider.

Exploration & Mount Cinder

If you’re wondering where to head after this boss, just know this game rewards exploration. Keep checking your journal, look out for quest prompts, and roam!

Some other key zones to explore:

• Rooftop Woodlands
• Mount Cinder
• Verdant Veil
• Cinder Cave
• Copper Mesa
• Jungle
• Alona
• Mount Charcoal

Penguin Pizza Quests (Mount Cinder Side Quest)

Once you’re near the top of Mount Cinder, you’ll find a glider vendor (3k: worth it if you can spare the cash) and a nearby merchant.

Follow the left path near the top and you’ll find a pizza place! Talk to the NPC and start delivering pizzas. It’s repetitive, but rewarding:

• Every 9 deliveries = 1 Totem (buffs like +200% shiny chance, +25% boss damage, etc.)
• 50 deliveries = unlock a fast car (85 mph) for free!

If you’re not ready to buy the 900k 105 mph car, this is a great alternative.

Emergency Flare (Foxtown Return Shortcut)

Take the right path at the top of Mount Cinder and behind a rock, there’s a secret NPC selling an Emergency Flare for 30k.

Use this to instantly teleport back to Foxtown, no resets needed. Dying or resetting costs you 20–30% of your money, so this flare quickly pays for itself.

Frigid Shovel

It even got buffed recently, its passive now has a 30% chance to freeze items (up from 20%). This used to be my main shovel, and it carried me hard. You can find it inside an ice cave called the Glacial Hollow.

Traveling Merchant & Prismatic Shovel (2nd Best in Game)

The Traveling Merchant shows up randomly (every ~10–15 mins, despawns after 10), often in Fernhill. Always check his stock.

• Prismatic Shovel (250k)
  • 9.5 Ctrl, 9 STR, 5 Haste, 20 Luck
  • 20% Mutation (Iridescent x5 multiplier)
  • +60 Boss DMG
• Powerful gears for combat & farming
• Other rare tools or charms

If you’re planning long-term, this is your next major shovel upgrade. What I did was: Candlelight → grind to 250k → Prismatic. No in-between.

Starfire Shovel (Best in Game)

It’s technically better than Prismatic due to higher luck and mutation chance, though the multiplier is slightly lower. It also has better drop potential in fewer clicks if you have strong charms.

• Stats:
  • 9 Ctrl, 10 STR, 5 Haste, 30 Luck
  • 35% Mutation (Celestial x4)
• How to get it:
  • Wait for a Meteor Shower
  • Hope a meteor crashes nearby (low chance)
  • Find the merchant inside
  • 1–10% chance he sells the shovel
  • Costs 500k

Enchanting & Tomes

You can enchant your shovel using Enchant Totems, which drop randomly while digging. Head to the Foxtown Cave, pay 1k to Jim Diamond, and take the elevator down (takes 1 min 45 sec).

Follow these signs:

• Blue mushrooms = path to enchant area (Azure Hollow)
• At the center: interact with the Enchant Altar
• Hold your shovel, click enchant, boom, random enchant applied!

Tip: Use your emergency flare to get out afterward, or follow the mushrooms back.

Want specific enchantments without relying on RNG? Head to Rooftop Woodlands:

• Knock on the hidden door near a large mushroom
• Appears only during Summer or Autumn, at night
• The Dark Wizard will sell you enchant tomes for 15k each

Changing Weather & Time (With Horns)

Some quests or spawns depend on time or weather. You can control these with Horns:

• From Foxtown:
  • Walk straight down the path
  • At the last lamp, turn left into a hidden area
• There you’ll find:
  • Stormcaller: summons stormy weather
  • Horizon Horn: changes time (day ↔ night)
  • Tempest Horn: causes rain

Note: You can’t change the season. That part’s RNG.

Best Money Farming Spots

Top pick: Mount Cinder, rich in divine ores and consistent drops. But honestly? You can make money in any area. RNG and gear matter more than location most of the time.

Jin’s Blessing (Secret Buff)

In the underground cave system, take a few turns to find a golden altar.

• Offer a Gold Nugget to the God of Gold (Jin)
• You’ll get +2 Luck for 1 Hour

Perfect if you’re planning a shiny or boss farming session.

Wrap-Up

And that’s it for my full shovel progression guide for Roblox DIG, for Island 1, at least. I’ve tested just about every shovel, wasted way too much money on the Jam (still hurts), and fought more Candlelight Phantoms than I care to admit, all to bring you the most optimized, skip-the-trash, don’t-waste-your-cash path to shovel greatness.

If you’re stuck, confused, or just tired of swinging a rusty training shovel, I hope this guide helps you out big time. Up next, if you’re wondering how to upgrade your charms or just want to know which ones are actually worth chasing, check out my full Charm Progression Guide in Roblox DIG too. Just like this one, it’s packed with useful info, exact locations, and everything I’ve figured out from hours of real grinding!