Prospecting is all about maximizing your digging potential, and having the right tools can make all the difference. Your shovel and pan must function seamlessly to turn every excavation into profit. Even if you have an excellent shovel, a subpar pan can hinder your progress. A good pan can significantly enhance your mineral rarity, size, and modifiers, ultimately leading to more money and better equipment. In this comprehensive guide to Prospecting Pans, we’ll explore how pan stats operate, recommend the best pans as you level up, and provide you with a complete list of all the pans in the game.
Understanding Prospecting Pan Stats
Before we delve into the best pans available in Prospecting, let’s understand each stat that can influence your choices. Here’s a summary of the crucial pan stats you should be aware of for effective upgrades:
- Luck: Determines your chance of finding rarer and larger minerals.
- Capacity: Increases the amount of minerals collected per use and their size.
- Shake Strength: Enhances the volume of sand removed with each shake.
- Shake Speed: Improves your maximum panning speed.
- Modifier Boost: Increases the probability of modifiers being added to minerals.
- Size Boost: Increases the weight of minerals collected.
Optimal Prospecting Pan Progression
With a solid understanding of how pan stats function, it’s time to discuss the optimal progression route for an efficient farming experience.
- Rusty Pan (default) -> Plastic Pan -> Silver Pan -> Magnetic Pan -> Diamond Pan
1. Rusty Pan

The Rusty Pan might be the most basic tool available, but it’s essential for your initial digs. There’s not much to say, as you receive it for free. However, once you’ve gathered enough cash, it’s vital to upgrade to the next pan.
2. Plastic Pan

The first upgrade worth considering is the Plastic Pan. While the improvement is modest, offering a +5 capacity is significant in the early game, allowing you to collect more minerals and earn more money. At just $500 (approximately €460), it’s the best starter pan for new players.
3. Silver Pan

The Silver Pan becomes available for $55,000 (around €50,500) and provides a significant upgrade in terms of luck and capacity. With a capacity of 30, this pan allows you to collect more minerals and rake in more money, making it essential for early to mid-game progress.
4. Magnetic Pan

The Magnetic Pan is where the game starts to get serious. This pan dramatically boosts your luck and capacity. Its passive ability enhances mineral weight by 25%, translating to greater profits and superior crafting options, making it unbeatable for mid-game players.
5. Diamond Pan

The Diamond Pan stands as the ultimate end-game pan in Prospecting. It not only boosts mineral weight but also enhances your modifier options, allowing for significantly increased earnings. It boasts the highest luck and capacity stats available, making it the gold standard for serious prospectors. Pair it with a Meteor Shower event and a Luck Totem, and you’ll find rare minerals flowing in effortlessly.
Complete List of Every Pan in Prospecting
Now that you’re armed with knowledge about the pans to focus on for your progression, here’s a detailed list of all the pans available in Prospecting. Each comes with its stats, prices, and unique abilities:
Pan | Price | Luck | Capacity | Shake Strength | Shake Speed | Passive |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rusty Pan | default | 1 | 5 | 0.2 | 0.8 | None |
Plastic Pan | $500 | 1.5 | 10 | 0.4 | 0.8 | None |
Metal Pan | $12,000 | 2 | 20 | 0.5 | 0.8 | None |
Silver Pan | $55,000 | 4 | 30 | 0.8 | 0.9 | None |
Golden Pan | $333,000 | 10 | 35 | 1 | 0.8 | None |
Magnetic Pan | $1,000,000 | 15 | 50 | 1 | 0.75 | Collected minerals have 25% more weight |
Meteoric Pan | $3,500,000 | 22 | 70 | 2 | 1 | 25% higher chance to find modifiers |
Diamond Pan | $10,000,000 | 35 | 100 | 3 | 1 | 10 % modifier boost and size boost |
That concludes our comprehensive guide to Prospecting Pans. Which pan do you like to use for your treasure hunts? Share your thoughts in the comments! For further tips and resources, explore more related content at Moyens I/O.