Prospecting offers gamers an exciting opportunity to discover rare minerals, but there’s more to it than just digging. While traditional tools like shovels and pans are fundamental, Meteor Shards add a layer of strategy, providing crucial resources to enhance your gameplay. These precious Shards can be used to unlock equipment slots, purchase totems, and elevate your overall efficiency. In this guide, we’ll explore how to acquire Shards in Prospecting and the best ways to utilize them.
What Are Shards in Prospecting?
Shards are a unique currency in Prospecting, indicated by a pink crystal icon above your money counter at the bottom right of your screen. As you gather Shards throughout your gameplay, the count increments in real-time, giving you a live update on your accumulation. These Shards can be employed to unlock additional equipment slots, buy totems, and more.

How to Get Shards in Prospecting
Acquiring Shards may be challenging, but it’s rewarding. A key highlight is that you cannot purchase them, making them even more valuable. Here are two straightforward methods to collect Shards:
1. Small Chance to Get Shards by Digging
You can occasionally earn Shards while digging, but this is random. Don’t expect a Shard every time you sift through materials; however, your odds improve when digging for Epic or rarer minerals. Investing in higher-quality Prospecting pans raises your chances. If you’re well-resourced, consider placing Sluices to enhance your Shard collection while mining.
2. Complete NPC Quests to Gain Shards
Another efficient method to gather Shards is by finishing NPC quests, which reward you with a notable amount of Shards, making it a better option than relying solely on random digging. If you’re new to the game, ensure you complete all tutorial quests from John in the Rubble Creek Sands area to give your Shard count a significant boost. While Prospecting codes don’t yield Shards, they do provide some cash to kickstart your journey.

Best Uses of Shards in Prospecting
Shards are versatile and can significantly improve your farming efficiency. Here’s how to best utilize your Shards in Prospecting:
1. Buy Totems
Shards can be used to procure powerful totems in Prospecting. Available totems include the Luck Totem, which gives 2x luck for 300 Shards, and the Strength Totem, providing 2x dig speed for 180 Shards. Each totem lasts for 1800 seconds (30 minutes) and can substantially boost your stats.
For maximum benefit, activate these totems during a Meteor Shower event, when rare minerals and modifiers are more likely to appear. This combination can accelerate your farming efforts exponentially.

2. Unlock Ring Slots
Unlocking additional Ring Slots in your Prospector’s Kit is a smart investment for your Shards. With four total slots available, each costs Shards to unlock, enabling you to equip crafted rings for powerful stat boosts tailored to your playstyle. Explore Prospecting crafting recipes to maximize your chances and improve your game.

3. Buy Potions
If you’re seeking even greater stat enhancements, consider purchasing potions with your Shards. Here are the three types available:
- Merchant’s Potion: 200 Shards
- Greater Luck Potion: 30 Shards
- Greater Capacity Potion: 20 Shards
The Merchant’s Potion provides a +100% sell boost, doubling your profit from selling minerals. The Greater Luck Potion raises your luck stat by +10, while the Greater Capacity Potion increases your mineral carrying capacity by 50 in your pan. Remember, all potions last for 1200 seconds (20 minutes), making them ideal for longer farming sessions or special events.

How can you maximize your Shard collection strategy in Prospecting? It’s crucial to understand the tools and quests available to you. Have you considered different methods for maximizing your mineral acquisitions? Explore and share your success stories with fellow gamers. For more tips and guides, continue your journey at Moyens I/O.