Village in the Shade Top Tier Pickaxe Guide: Fastest Mining & Upgrade Path
Discover the Village in the Shade top tier pickaxe: how to craft the Meteoric Pickaxe, farm ore fast, and beat the Floor 120 boss.
If your Quarry runs feel like a race against the clock, the Village in the Shade top tier pickaxe is the upgrade that changes everything. This final-tier tool — the Meteoric Pickaxe — breaks rocks faster, saves stamina, and makes high-floor ore farming far less tedious. In this guide, you’ll learn why the Village in the Shade top tier pickaxe matters, how to craft it, and how to use it to reach Floor 120 without wasting a day.
What Is the Village in the Shade Top Tier Pickaxe?
The Village in the Shade top tier pickaxe is the Meteoric Pickaxe, the final upgrade in the game’s mining tool chain. It sits above the Copper, Iron, and Gold pickaxes and is tied to Meteoric Ore, which first appears on Floor 91 of the Quarry. Based on the game’s progression, you’ll need a Gold Pickaxe to mine Meteoric Ore, then use that ore to forge the top-tier pickaxe.
This tool is not just a trophy. The Quarry is a 120-floor area unlocked early through a story event, and it supplies the ore, stone, and gems needed for tool upgrades, money, and the hot spring unlock. A faster pickaxe directly improves every one of those goals. For official game details, visit the official Village in the Shade page from NIS America.
| Pickaxe tier | Ore needed to craft | Where the ore is found | What it lets you mine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Pickaxe | Copper Ore | Floor 1 onward | Iron Ore |
| Iron Pickaxe | Iron Ore | Floor 41 onward | Gold Ore |
| Gold Pickaxe | Gold Ore | Floor 81 onward | Meteoric Ore |
| Meteoric Pickaxe (top tier) | Meteoric Ore | Floor 91 onward | Fastest rock breaking; endgame ore access |
The upgrade chain is straightforward: each pickaxe tier is built around the ore you can mine with the previous one. A Copper Pickaxe handles Iron Ore, an Iron Pickaxe handles Gold Ore, and a Gold Pickaxe is required for Meteoric Ore. The Meteoric Pickaxe is the endpoint of that chain.
Why the Top Tier Pickaxe in Village in the Shade Matters
Upgrading to the Village in the Shade top tier pickaxe is about more than raw speed. Mining consumes two resources you can never get back: stamina and in-game time. You automatically return home at 11 PM, so every slow rock break chips away at your run. A faster pickaxe means fewer swings per rock, more floors cleared, and more ore in your bag before the day ends.
It also helps with the Quarry’s hidden bottleneck. The rope to descend always hides under a rock, not under metal ore or gems. If you are rushing to the next mine cart checkpoint every ten floors, faster rock breaking is the difference between reaching Floor 120 and waking up at home on Floor 119. Player experience suggests the rope often appears under the final rock you mine on floors 110–119, so speed matters even more on deep runs.
| Pickaxe tier | Relative mining speed | Best use case |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Pickaxe | Slow | Early floors and basic ore collection |
| Iron Pickaxe | Moderate | Mid-game ore farming and tool upgrades |
| Gold Pickaxe | Fast | Late-game Meteoric Ore hunting |
| Meteoric Pickaxe | Fastest | Endgame money runs, boss prep, and floor rushing |
The Village in the Shade top tier pickaxe also makes ore farming less punishing. Instead of choosing between stamina items and inventory space, you spend less stamina per floor and can carry more valuable ore home. That efficiency compounds over multiple trips.
Materials and Locations for the Village in the Shade Top Tier Pickaxe
To craft the Village in the Shade top tier pickaxe, you need Meteoric Ore. That ore begins on Floor 91, which means you must first reach the deep Quarry with a Gold Pickaxe. The table below summarizes the ore and stone thresholds you should know before planning a farming run.
| Resource | First floor | Pickaxe required to mine it |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Ore | Floor 1 | Basic pickaxe |
| Iron Ore | Floor 41 | Copper Pickaxe |
| Gold Ore | Floor 81 | Iron Pickaxe |
| Meteoric Ore | Floor 91 | Gold Pickaxe |
| Stone | Floor 1 | Basic pickaxe |
| Heavy Stone | Floor 31 | Basic pickaxe or better |
| Hard Stone | Floor 81 | Basic pickaxe or better |
Meteoric Ore is the key material, but do not ignore the supporting stone types. Hard Stone appears from Floor 81 onward and may be needed for specific crafting recipes. If your goal is the top-tier pickaxe, focus your early deep runs on reaching Floor 91 reliably. Once you can mine Meteoric Ore, bank enough for the pickaxe before spending it on other upgrades.
A common mistake is trying to mine everything on the way down. If you are still working toward the Village in the Shade top tier pickaxe, prioritize rocks and the rope. Gems and spare ore are profitable, but they slow your descent. On dedicated ore runs, bring a mostly empty bag, one stack of stamina recovery items, and one stack of health recovery items. Boiled eggs from chickens are an easy early health item, and they free up bag space for ore later.
Best Strategy for Using the Village in the Shade Top Tier Pickaxe
The Village in the Shade top tier pickaxe shines when you pair it with a planned route. Start your Quarry trip first thing in the morning. Time is the real enemy on floors 110–120, and a late start can leave you stranded near the bottom when the 11 PM return home triggers. Use the mine cart fast-travel points every ten floors to skip already-cleared sections.
| Step | Action | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Empty your bag before entering | More room for Meteoric Ore and sellable gems |
| 2 | Bring one stack of stamina items | Limits inventory clutter while sustaining deep runs |
| 3 | Bring one stack of health items | Enemies and hazards can chip away at your health |
| 4 | Ignore gems while rushing floors | The rope is under rocks, not ore or gems |
| 5 | Unlock mine cart checkpoints every 10 floors | Saves real time on future trips |
| 6 | Heal on Floor 119 before the boss | You cannot leave and return easily |
Skills from the Hokora can improve your chance to find precious resources in the mine. If you plan to farm Meteoric Ore for the top-tier pickaxe and other endgame upgrades, unlock those skills before committing to long runs. Community reports also note that dangerous floors like the Bee Floor and Darkness Floor can appear randomly. On the Darkness Floor, listen for audio cues and move away from danger. On the Bee Floor, keep moving and avoid stray hits.
The Village in the Shade top tier pickaxe does not make you invincible, but it shortens every rock break. That means fewer enemy encounters per floor and more time to react. On floors 110–119, ignore all metal ore and gems if your goal is Floor 120. The rope appears under rocks, and the final rock on a floor is a common hiding spot according to player experience.
Top Tier Pickaxe and the Floor 120 Boss
Reaching Floor 120 triggers a boss fight against a giant centipede. Defeating it unlocks the hot spring, which fully restores stamina in exchange for one hour of in-game time. The Village in the Shade top tier pickaxe helps you get there faster, but the fight itself still demands preparation. If you lose, you return to the village and must restart from Floor 110.
The boss telegraphs its charge with a red outline, but sometimes fakes you out and attacks from another angle. Stay away from walls so you have room to dodge. When its body stops outside the wall, hit its eye with a pickaxe or bow. You need 20 hits, and you should get about three hits per vulnerability window. The pickaxe is often easier to aim than the bow.
| Boss attack | Damage | Preparation tip |
|---|---|---|
| Charge attack | 3 full hearts | Increase maximum health at least twice |
| Falling rocks | 1.5 full hearts | Heal before Floor 120 and carry health items |
Because the charge can deal 3 full hearts and falling rocks add 1.5, you should increase maximum health at least twice before attempting the fight. That lets you survive one charge plus a falling rock before healing. Bring plenty of stamina and health items, and heal on Floor 119 before descending. The Village in the Shade top tier pickaxe is not required to beat the boss, but it makes the climb to Floor 120 far less costly in time and stamina.
FAQ
What is the Village in the Shade top tier pickaxe?
It is the Meteoric Pickaxe, the final pickaxe upgrade tied to Meteoric Ore from Floor 91 onward. It breaks rocks faster and supports endgame ore farming.
How do I get Meteoric Ore for the top tier pickaxe?
Reach Floor 91 with a Gold Pickaxe. Meteoric Ore begins on that floor, and you need enough of it to craft the Meteoric Pickaxe.
Does the top tier pickaxe help against the Floor 120 boss?
It helps you reach Floor 120 faster and saves stamina for the fight. In the boss room, use the pickaxe to hit the centipede’s eye during vulnerability windows.
Is the Village in the Shade top tier pickaxe worth the grind?
Yes, if you plan to farm ore, make money, or run deep Quarry floors. The time and stamina savings add up quickly, especially on floors 91–120.