Drills and the best places to use them

[StudyPunkRockism]

This is just a mini-guide explaining the uses of certain drills, and the best places to use them to maximize drill efficiency. This guide is best meant for poor players, because I will go over efficiency and getting the most out of your drills. For example, why use a Yellow Drill with its maximum drill depth of 120m at a place like Desert Beach, where the maximum depth is 10m?

Guide key:
Name: - the name of the drill
Level req.: - the required minimum level to use the drill
Ground type: - the type of ground that the drill is suited for; if the drill isn't suited for the ground, then 2 of the drill's life will be consumed instead of 1
Max. depth: - the lowest depth the drill can drill to
Drill life: - how much a drill can be used, which is generally the drill's life minus 1
Stage: - the amount of meters the drill goes by each increment (see below); also acts as a multiplier in gaining experience
Comments: - my thoughts on the drill
Recommended maps: - places I recommend to use the drill

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The stage value of a drill also determines how much EXP you get.
Taken from JWiki's site:

EXP gained = Depth drilled to * Stage Modifier
1 stage: 1.2
2 stages: 2.4
3 stages: 4
4 stages: 6
　5 stages: 8.4
You gain this EXP whether or not you found an item. If you are interrupted by an attack, you will gain NO EXP. You also don't gain EXP on the last usage of the drill.

TMEXP gained = Depth where item was found * Stage * 4
You only gain TMEXP if you find an item. If you don't find an item, then no TMEXP is gained.
This formula is a little iffy because I couldn't understand the translation.

(The depth which excavates the BaseLv + item of the prayer) * the number of stages of the drill which is used for excavation * 4

I don't really get that first part, so I'm just guessing at what it could be.

Being is a party does increase the amount of EXP and TMEXP you gain from drilling. For best results, drill with a Royal or Special x2.5 party.

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Having trouble consistently finding items? The best tip is to drill off the main paths. If on the field, don't drill on the path where most people walk. Try to stick close to walls. This also applies in dungeons: stick closer to walls.

Items tend to be near each other, in what I call the Battleship-effect. When you drill up one item, it's a surefire bet that there are more items nearby in a straight line, either going horizontally or vertically. Drilling is like playing Battleship: if you can find out the line of items, then you will win!

DA is the prime stat associated with drilling. DA determines how often you will detect an item. A successful "detection" occurs when your character does one of two things:
1) "Item is not here!" with the chicken scratch emoticon
2) "Item is under here" with the light bulb emoticon
Your detection success rate is simply your current DA + 10, with a percent. So a level 1 character aleady has a 10% chance to detect an item. A character with at least 90 DA will always detect an item.

Need to know what maps go to certain depths? Check out the Depth Chart:
http://www.mytrickster.net/forum/gen...max-depth.html

According to Mitchi, it is possible to cancel drilling once you've started drilling and save the drill life you just used. Just simply use a skill while drilling, and you not only stop drilling, but save that drill life you just used. It hasn't worked for me, but others say it has.
http://www.mytrickster.net/forum/sen...gro-zones.html

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Name: Basic Starter Drill, Basic Drill, Thorn Drill
Level req.: 1
Ground type: All
Max. depth: 20m
Drill life: 600, 250, 100
Stage: 1
Comments: The basic drill that can be used in many places. Being the cheapest drill, this is the one to use at 10m maps like Desert Beach and Coral Beach. However, with a maximum depth of 20m, you may want to drill at 20m maps. You generally always want to keep one of these at all times. Avoid the caves connecting to Ghost Blue because there are fewer drill spots than in the field.
Recommended maps:
Seabed field - Here you can find many quest items, good equipment, Pink Drills, and many other goodies, including second job items. Field 4, the closest one to Aqaurius, is the safest map to drill in.
Beach/Coral Dungeons - Not as good as Ghost Blue, but there are some rare goodies here, like Rusty Chains. Harder to drill in due to low frequency of items.
Desert Beach field 1 & 7 - You're drilling here for items, not EXP. A handful of second job items are found in these two fields. Sand Demons are annoying, but you probably already know that.

Name: Titanium Drill
Level req.: 10
Ground type: Artificial
Max. depth: 30m
Drill life: 50
Stage: 4
Comments: Being a stage 4 drill, you will level up fast with it. Be sure to find a party before using it to maximize its potential EXP payout. Too bad about everything else - short life and bad ground typing sucks, and few maps are 30m deep.
Recommended maps:
Seabed Dungeon 2 - It's the only map with artificial ground that's 30m deep. You might as well use it here. You won't find a party, but you might find decent equipment or more drills here. Watch out for Pirate Boxers
Dark Cave or Underground Passage - The depth is only 20m, but you have a better chance of finding a party. Also, you might drill up another Titanium Drill or Thorn Drill. And no monsters are aggro here

Name: Cleaner Drill
Level req.: 20
Ground type: Sand
Max. depth: 30m
Drill life: 300
Stage: 1
Comments: Too bad there's only one real place you would want to use this. The Multi-Point Drill is better. Otherwise, stick to Basic Drills.
Recommended maps:
Master Mung's Village - The only place where you'll find 30m sand ground is in this boss area. Since you need 1 Little Cora Card every time you come here, you better bring more than 1 drill. Fortunately, there are some expensive equipment to be found here. Make sure you drill only in the sand.
Pyramid Dungeon - You have only a 60% chance to find an item here because the maximum depth is 50m.

Name: Blend Drill
Level req.: 20
Ground type: Wet/clay
Max. depth: 30m
Drill life: 300
Stage: 1
Comments: This is the worst of the level 20 drills. There's no practical place to use it.
Recommended maps:
none

Name: Multi-Point Drill
Level req.: 20
Ground type: Dirt/grass
Max. depth: 30m
Drill life: 300
Stage: 1
Comments: This drill actually has use. If you drill at level 20, expect to be in some maps with strong aggro monsters.
Recommended maps:
Relics field 1-3 - The first map is the safest. You can find many things drilling here. Relics field 3 has the best items of the fields, like a Custom Bronze Buckler, but has aggro monsters
Master Mung's Village - Since you need 1 Little Cora Card every time you come here, you better bring more than 1 drill. Fortunately, there are some expensive equipment to be found here. Make sure you drill only in the grass. Also, because of bad mapping, some grassy areas may register as sand, so even though you're standing in grass, you waste 2 drill life

Name: Cleaner AD Drill
Level req.: 60
Ground type: Sand
Max. depth: 200m
Drill life: 80
Stage: 3
Comments: Upgraded to cover deeper ground, but there is no sandy map that's this deep. Better to upgrade another drill
Recommended maps:
none

Name: Blend AD Drill
Level req.: 60
Ground type: Wet/clay
Max. depth: 200m
Drill life: 80
Stage: 3
Comments: Upgraded to cover deeper ground, but there is only one place you can actually use this.
Recommended maps:
Swamp Dungeon 7 - Tenter's lair, if you will. The only map that matches the type and depth of this drill. Since you need to be level 100 to enter, don't make this drill unless you have to drill here

Name: Multi-Point AD Drill
Level req.: 60
Ground type: Dirt/Grass
Max. depth: 200m
Drill life: 80
Stage: 3
Comments: Upgraded to cover deeper ground, and there are maps for it. Hard to upgrade, so I advise against getting this drill unless you need to reach 200m.
Recommended maps:
Techichi field 5 - Soki's lair. Some rare goodies are here, but the frequency is very low
Techichi field 1-4 - You're not getting the full depth, but you get five more uses out of this over Gao Drills

Name: Green Drill
Level req.: 10
Ground type: Dirt/Grass
Max. depth: 40m
Drill life: 200
Stage: 1
Comments: Think of this as the middle brother between Multi-Point and Multi-Pistol, except with a lower level requirement. However, this drill is extremely difficult to use. The bar moves fast, and the drilling space is narrow. Still, having some Green Drills is a good investment.
Recommended maps:
Southeast Forest - Safer than Southwest Forest, but lacks some better items from SW.
Southwest Forest - Has some better items than Southeast Forest. Just watch out for Mantises.
Gate of Black Swamp - Contains a bunch of second job items, but the frequency is low. If you can get here without getting killed along the way, great.

Name: Pink Drill
Level req.: 30
Ground type: Wet/clay
Max. depth: 60m
Drill life: 100
Stage: 2
Comments: This is like a Jetpump Drill that can be used earlier with less life. It's too bad about the ground type, as it limits the available places to use it effectively.
Recommended maps:
Crystal Copper Mines - The ground type mismatches, but since it reaches the maximum depth, many players use this drill there to start mining early.
Mermaid Palace - Would actually be the best place to maximize this drill's efficiency. Too bad you have to be level 50 to get here, and by then you have access to the much better Jetpump Drill.

Name: Blue Drill
Level req.: 10
Ground type: All
Max. depth: 80m
Drill life: 100
Stage: 1
Comments: This is a great drill thanks to the typing. Can be used almost anywhere. Also, the drill speed is very slow, and the drill space is large, making this one of the easiest drills to use. You won't be getting much EXP from it, but it's high depth and low level requirement allows low level players to strike gold. Will eventually get replaced by cheap Diamond Drills.
Recommended maps:
Rose Garden field - Since Blue Drills are limited in quantity compared to infinite Diamond Drills, you may want to consider drilling elsewhere. Still, you can get very rich in no time drilling here, as it's one of the best places to use this drill.
Oops Wharf field - Any map will do. The maximum depth in all four maps is 80m. You can find rare etc items here, as well as good equipment. Only Sheep second job items are here, sadly.
Phantom School, 3rd floor - All the rooms are 80m in depth. Good quest items can be found here, but all maps contain aggro monsters, so don't come here at a low level. Custom Square Screens can be drilled up here

Name: Yellow Drill
Level req.: 30
Ground type: All
Max. depth: 120m
Drill life: 80
Stage: 2
Comments: This is a Blue Drill on steroids. However, that makes this drill one of the hardest to use. The drill speed is insanely fast, and the drill space is tiny. Eventually gets replaced by Chaos Drills.
Recommended maps:
Swamp Dungeon - Not much to say other than avoid the aggro monsters. Good equipment and second job items can be found here.
Snow Hill field - Recommend you get past the first map, as the better items from Snow Hill are found beyond the Snowmen.

Name: Tornado Drill
Level req.: 40
Ground type: Sand
Max. depth: 60m
Drill life: 400
Stage: 2
Comments: It allows you to drill in one more place. That's it. Don't buy unless you need to drill there.
Recommended maps:
Pyramid Dungeon - You can now drill to the fullest depth with this drill. Recommend drilling in Tut's room for the best equipment.

Name: Jetpump Drill
Level req.: 40
Ground type: Wet/clay
Max. depth: 60m
Drill life: 400
Stage: 2
Comments: Like the Pink Drill, except it lasts longer. Still not worth a buy.
Recommended maps:
Mermaid Palace - If you accidentally bought a Jetpump Drill, go to Mermaid Palace field and use it there.

Name: Multi-Pistol Drill
Level req.: 40
Ground type: Dirt/grass
Max. depth: 60m
Drill life: 400
Stage: 2
Comments: The best of the level 40 drills because there's a place with this ground type and depth. If you plan on drilling at this level, this is the drill to get.
Recommended maps:
Poppuri Dungeon - Lots of goodies to be found, many equipment too. Gold Medals and Poppuri Whistles are huge money makers if you drill here.
Path to Techichi - Very high level equipment is drilled here, but you risk dying because of the level 100+ enemies around
Crystal Copper Mines - Type mismatches, but if you need to go mining, might as well use a drill that's useful
Phantom School, floor 1 & 2 - See Crystal Copper Mines above. Custom Berets are in the second floor

Name: Diamond Drill
Level req.: 60
Ground type: Dirt/grass
Max. depth: 90m
Drill life: 500
Stage: 3
Comments: It's on sale at Azteca, so you might as well splurge yourself and replace all your Blue Drills with this one.
Recommended maps:
Rose Garden field - This and Abyss are the most efficient places to use this drill. You have to pick drill depth or life to maximize. Personally, I would maximize life efficiency. Since this drill can be bought from NPCs, it's the drill of choice for Rose Garden, even though the Blue Drill reaches the maximum depth of 80m
Ghost Blue field 5 - The ground type mismatches, but the drill reaches the maximum depth of 90m
Vampire Castle - You should be able to survive drilling in this dungeon once you're able to use this drill. Lots of exclusive equipment are found here, like a Custom level 120 armor. Ground type mismatches, but you will still get more uses out of this drill than a Blue Drill. If drill life is an issue, wait until you can use a Chaos Drill

Name: Chaos Drill
Level req.: 80
Ground type: Artificial
Max. depth: 120m
Drill life: 600
Stage: 4
Comments: It's kind of like a Yellow Drill confined to a ground type, except easier to use. Has lots of life, so mismatching types doesn't matter much.
Recommended maps:
Phantom School Annex, all maps - Incredibly strong monsters here for a map than can easily be reached as a low-level. Great place to use this drill because the max depth is 120m and the type matches. Lots of goodies ranging from equipment to quest items to compounds.
Jade Steel Mines - It might work out, but you won't get anything that's at 130m, the maximum depth of the mines.
Relics Dungeon - Selinolite is more than enough reason to drill here
Snow Hill - Get past the first map to drill, because the better items are found beyond the Snowmen, especially field 3
Swamp Dungeon 3 & 4 - Ground type mismatches, but Custom Black & Gold Screens are here. Watch out for Purple Worms

Name: Musume Drill
Level req.: 50
Ground type: Dirt/grass
Max. depth: 150m
Drill life: 200
Stage: 3
Comments: Although the in-game description doesn't tell the type, it's for dirt/grass, just like Multi-Pistols. Not many maps go down to 150m, but if you need to drill there, use this drill.
Recommended maps:
Tapasco Volcano field 1-4 - All monsters are above level 300. Be careful. Some quest items are here, but since the quests are for level 120, you probably won't find any utility for them yet
Jade Steel Mines - If you need to go mining, choose between this drill and the Gao Drill. The Gao Drill will last longer here though

Name: Gao Drill
Level req.: 50
Ground type: Artificial
Max. depth: 180m
Drill life: 150
Stage: 3
Comments: Although the in-game description doesn't mention the type, it's an artificial-type drill. Considered one of the best drills because of high depth and low level requirement.
Recommended maps:
Techichi field 1-4 - Ground type mismatches, but Serpentine and Spinel sell for more than enough to cover the costs of buying this drill. Rejoice if you find a Custom Parma
Ice Dungeon - The perfect map for this drill, but the monsters are maniacs here. Rare items found here because hardly anyone drills here. Custom Flamberges and Dragon Swords are VERY popular with Buffalo, while Custom Crowns are popular to all
Silver Jewelry Mines - Nice maps for this drill, as the type matches and the depth is perfect
Jade Steel Mines - You'll get more uses out of this drill than Musumes. Just don't expect high EXP output

Name: Nora Drill
Level req.: 30
Ground type: Artificial
Max. depth: 200m
Drill life: 5
Stage: 4
Comments: Contrary to common belief, the Nora Drill is artificially-typed. It's nice EXP when you use it at first, but the value wears off when you realize you only get 4 uses out of a drill.
Recommended maps:
Norah's Sewage - Well this is quite obvious, but a low level drills here for EXP only. You don't make money here. If you want to make money, then you go to...
Precious Jewelry Mines - You can actually use Nora Drills here without losing the life much.

Sure it might not be effective lugging many drills to this place, but for a higher level who needs these ores, this drill suits the job nicely.
Ice Dungeon 5 - Odinea's lair. Custom equipment here is rare, but worth the cost of getting here

Name: Hundreds Type Drill
Level req.: 0
Ground type: Artificial
Max. depth: 100m
Drill life: 100
Stage: 4
Comments: Only obtained from a quest that not many people complete. Great drill for low level because of no level requirement. Otherwise, stick to Yellow Drills or Chaos Drills.
Recommended maps:
Relics Dungeon - Ground type mismatches, but monsters are sparce here, making it somewhat safe to drill in. Custom Prick Bucklers and Felt Hoods are here
Oops Wharf field 5 - A low level could survive here, as long as someone else handles Skull. Type matches and depth is perfect, but the frequency of items is low

Name: Aztec Drill
Level req.: 40
Ground type: Artificial
Max. depth: 120m
Drill life: 300
Stage: 3
Comments: It's like a Yellow Drill, but with more life (regardless of mismatched type), higher stage, and higher level requirement. Rare to find, so it's easier to stock up on Yellow Drills.
Recommended maps:
See Chaos Drill

Name: Tapasco Drill
Level req.: 80
Ground type: Dirt/Grass
Max. depth: 150m
Drill life: 150
Stage: 4
Comments: It's essentially a Musume Drill, but for higher levels. One higher stage, but that's about it.
Recommended maps:
See Musume Drill

Name: Swamp Drill
Level req.: 70
Ground type: Wet/clay
Max. depth: 250m
Drill life: 600
Stage: 4
Comments: Considered the ultimate drill to many, this drill reaches the lowest depth in Caballa Island. Limited as it is, it is the most expensive drill sold in the market.
Recommended maps:
Swamp Dungeon 6 - It's easier to get here, but harder to drill in. You make fast money in the short run
Tapasco field 5 - It's harder to get here, but easier to drill in. You can make huge amounts of money in the long run
Precious Jewelry Mines - If you need to mine for a long time, do it with this drill

Name: Propeller Drill
Level req.: 1
Ground type: All
Max. depth: 120m
Drill life: 1300
Stage: 5
Comments: MyShop drill for new players. Easy to use, lasts a long time, works in many areas, and levels you up fast. However, it has nothing on the Flicker Drill. One could get to level 20 before exhausting this drill.
Recommended maps:
Snow Hill field - A low level could survive here, but not for long. Fortunately, it's not hard to get back here, since you respawn in Gate of Snow Hills
Swamp Dungeon - It's right next to town, and monster frequency is low. Custom Turbans and Soft Hats are in the first two maps
Phantom School Annex - Again, right next to a respawn point in case of death, which should come rather quickly to low levels

Name: Flicker Drill, Flicker Drill 300
Level req.: 20
Ground type: All
Max. depth: 300m
Drill life: 1800, 300
Stage: 7 (intervals at 5)
Comments: The Flicker Drill is the true ultimate drill. It reaches every corner of Caballa Island, gains loads of EXP, and lasts a long long long time. The 300 version comes from Gachapon, and sadly won't last THAT long. But if you're an avid Gachapon player, then you'll have plenty of the 300 versions
Recommended maps:
Swamp Dungeon 6 - Easier to get to than Spicy's Lair, but harder because it has aggro monsters here. Decent money to be made in the short run, but if you'll be drilling full time, go to Spicy's Lair
Tapasco field 5 - Difficult to get to, and you need a Spicy Egg to enter. Luckily you can redrill this up in the Lair. You'll find many potions and Galder coupons before you find rare equipment or a Harkon. This map is for the full time drillers, as you only make money in the long run thanks to level 200 gears
Norah's Sewage - Easy to get to and drill in for low levels, but no real money can be made here, sadly. At least you can easily find a party to make up for the loss of 50m of drilling
Precious Jewelry Mines - The last place I recommend to bring this drill, drill here if you NEED the ores. Otherwise, you're missing out on money and EXP potential

Name: Angel Drill Jr.
Level req.: 50
Ground type: All
Max. depth: 300m
Drill life: 800
Stage: 8 (intervals at 5)
Comments: I just don't understand why this drill was made. It's from MyShop and is essentially the same as a Flicker Drill. However, the level requirement is high, and there is much less life. The stage may be higher, but by the time you can use this drill, EXP from drilling will be little compared to actual fighting. Useful if you're already above level 50 and need to drill in the deepest maps
Recommended maps:
See Flicker Drill

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Lastly, a small section on Basic Detection, a first job Sense skill. These are the stats of the skill:



So really, even levels of this skill means nothing. Is this a skill worth mastering? If not, what level is it best left at?
Remember that the depth that items are always excavated at is a multiple of 10.
At higher levels, you're able to detect items that the previous levels can, plus the maps listed here:
Level 3 - Poppuri Dungeon, Crystal Copper Mines
Level 7 - Rose Garden, Vampire Castle, Phantom School 3rd floor, Oops Wharf, Mermaid Palace Dungeon
Level 9 - Ghost Blue: The Abyss
Level M - Captain Skull's Cabin, Relics field 4, Relics Dungeon

Consider what maps you actually need to be drilling in, and will be drilling in a lot. Personally, level 7 is enough for me. But do know that the more you need out of Basic Detection, the more you take away from other potentially better skills.

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Information here is based on my own explorations and JPWiki's site.
Erm, no stealing of my work, even though most of it is from another site. Yeah I know by now there are other drilling guides, but this one was one of the firsts.

[Burn_X]

Great guide! This will help me immensely when I want to drill at new locations. Thanks!

[Exilus]

Awesome guide, very informative.

All it needs now is good drilling spots for each map. :P

[Burn_X]

Originally Posted by Exilus

Awesome guide, very informative.

All it needs now is good drilling spots for each map. :P

From my experience so far, it is very subjective to say which spots are the best and which aren't. Sometimes you can find a place that is very good one day, suddenly starts giving no hits the next day.

However I noticed a few things though: places where people haven't drilled tends to give items easily; so try to find quiet and less active areas to drill. Another tip is to drill along the map edge and other natural boundries.

Lastly, drill behind trees, rocks, etc. People don't seem to drill at these area, maybe cause they can't see the item that pops out, but if you follow where the blue trail ends it isn't a problem.

[Exilus]

Originally Posted by Burn_X

From my experience so far, it is very subjective to say which spots are the best and which aren't. Sometimes you can find a place that is very good one day, suddenly starts giving no hits the next day.

However I noticed a few things though: places where people haven't drilled tends to give items easily; so try to find quiet and less active areas to drill. Another tip is to drill along the map edge and other natural boundries.

Lastly, drill behind trees, rocks, etc. People don't seem to drill at these area, maybe cause they can't see the item that pops out, but if you follow where the blue trail ends it isn't a problem.

Hmm, those are some good ideas. I'll try them out.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[kinoish]

awesome drill guide, Stud. i didn't know the drill's stage affects the exp. i learn new things about this game everyday xD i have a couple of drills that arent mentioned: musume drill and gao drill. i'll try to remember to post here when i get off work (in 6 hrs ;p) so u can update ur post.

[babycakes]

Nice guide, never thought that I have to consider the depth of the map when drilling to maximize the drill :)

BTW, does the /depth command works? if not, what's the command to know the depth of the ground?

[Burn_X]

Originally Posted by babycakes

Nice guide, never thought that I have to consider the depth of the map when drilling to maximize the drill :)

BTW, does the /depth command works? if not, what's the command to know the depth of the ground?

With a captial D: /Depth

Or you can use /rlvdl, but thats just making your life harder.

[kinoish]

as promised:

[babycakes]

Originally Posted by Burn_X

With a captial D: /Depth

Or you can use /rlvdl, but thats just making your life harder.

Oh, with the capital D thanks!

[archofflames]

Didn't they change the hundred type drills name in eTO?If so i think i have one XD.

[JulieS2you]

very helpful now off to drill for the popurii whistles for the quest!!!

[kinoish]

you're welcome.

for now, we can use yellow, musume, and chaos for pirate boss's map (captain skull's cabin) coz the depth there is 100m.
and use gao for abyss dungeon.

[Optical]

Back drill is level 10, 100 life, 100m depth, stage 1?
Get it from the jar quest.