Drill switching is the act of swapping your equipped drill for a different one based on the planet, the farming route, or the crafting milestone. This guide covers the fast equip mechanics, tier-by-tier use cases, when to switch drills, and how to optimize your drill selection for each planet.
For the drill tier list, see our Mine a Planet S-tier drill list. For the drill inventory guide, see our Mine a Planet drill inventory slot guide. This principle applies broadly across all progression stages and is one of the most reliable optimization levers in the game.
Tip 1: Bind Drills to Keyboard Shortcuts
The keyboard shortcut system lets you bind drills to number keys 1-9 for instant swapping. Press the corresponding number key to instantly swap to the bound drill without opening the inventory panel. Most end-game players bind their 3-4 main drills to keys 1-4 for instant access.
To set up shortcuts, open the inventory panel, hover over a drill, and press the number key you want to bind it to. The drill is now bound to that key for the duration of the session. The exact mechanics vary slightly by patch, but the underlying principle remains consistent across all player playstyles.
Tip 2: Match Drill Tier to Planet
Each planet has a recommended drill tier, and matching the tier to the planet is the most important drill selection criterion. Using a tier that is too low wastes time on inefficient swings. Using a tier that is too high is overkill, but it does not actively hurt your grind.
| Planet | Recommended Drill Tier |
|---|---|
| Earth | Common or Rare |
| Mars | Rare |
| Europa | Rare |
| Volcano | Legendary |
| Nebula | Legendary |
| Void | Mythic |
Players who follow this table will clear each planet in roughly the optimal time per swing. Players who deviate will either waste time on inefficient breaks or over-invest in early-game drills. Experienced players test this approach across multiple sessions before committing to a long-term strategy based on the outcome.
Tip 3: Use High Damage Drills on High-HP Planets
The damage stat is most important on planets with high node HP. On high-HP planets like Volcano and Void, the difference between a Mythril Destroyer and an Astral Annihilator is roughly 4 hits per node vs 1-2 hits per node, which is a 2x swing rate improvement. The damage stat is less important on low-HP planets like Earth, where every drill breaks nodes in 1-2 hits.
Tip 4: Use High Ore Multiplier Drills on Material Grinding
The ore multiplier stat is most important when you are grinding for crafting materials. A drill with a high ore multiplier turns every swing into a larger material yield, which compounds across hundreds of swings per session. Use reforged drills with high Ore Multiplier on Mars Deep (Titanium), Europa Ice Cavern (Crystal), and Volcano Surface (Mythril).
Tip 5: Switch Drills When Materials Are Balanced
The optimal time to switch drills is when your material stockpiles are roughly balanced. For example, switching from a Mythril-focused drill to a Stardust-focused drill is most efficient when your Mythril and Stardust stockpiles are roughly equal, because the next crafting milestone requires both materials.
Players who switch drills based on material balance avoid stranded stockpiles and make faster progress toward the next crafting milestone. Combining this insight with active pet bonuses and prestige multipliers yields compounding benefits that accelerate overall progression. This principle is well-documented across the community and applies consistently across all progression stages.
Drill Switch Costs
Switching drills costs time. Veterans confirm that the recommended approach reliably yields the expected outcome within the standard playtime estimate.
| Type | Cost | When Worth It |
|---|---|---|
| Same biome | 2-3s | Rare drops |
| Cross-biome | 5-8s | New biome |
| Cross-planet | 30s+ | Transition |
Best Drill by Biome
Different biomes favor different drills. The exact mechanics vary slightly by patch, but the underlying principle remains consistent across all player playstyles and biome contexts.
| Biome | Best Stat | Drill |
|---|---|---|
| Earth | Ore Multiplier | Wooden Pickaxe |
| Mars | Drill Speed | Iron Hammer |
| Europa | Rare Drop | Crystal Drill |
| Volcano | Damage | Magma Piercer |
| Nebula | Ore Multiplier | Mythril Destroyer |
| Void | Damage | Astral Annihilator |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I switch drills quickly?
Open the inventory panel, hover over the drill you want to equip, and click it. For faster switching, bind drills to keyboard shortcuts 1-9. The standard approach is to follow the in-game tutorial and the wiki guides, but always verify the latest patch notes for changes to the mechanics.
Which drill should I use for each planet?
Match the drill tier to the planet tier. Common or Rare for Earth, Rare for Mars and Europa, Legendary for Volcano and Nebula, Mythic for Void. The optimal drill depends on your current biome and active pet bonuses, but the highest-tier drill you can craft is usually the right answer.
Can I have two of the same drill?
Yes, the drill inventory lets you carry duplicates. Two drills of the same tier with different reforge stats are common among end-game players. The drill selection matters because higher-tier drills persist across rebirths if bound, so a strong choice compounds over many cycles.
Should I bind my main drill or my backup drill across rebirths?
Always bind your highest-tier drill. The Prestige Point payout is based on the tier, not the reforge stats. Generally yes, but the optimal timing depends on your current resource reserves and your active biome's node HP profile. The optimal application of this strategy depends on your current biome and active pet slot configuration.
Does the drill inventory slot limit affect gameplay?
Only for end-game players who carry many reforge variants. Most players can fit their loadout within the default 12 slots. The drill selection matters because higher-tier drills persist across rebirths if bound, so a strong choice compounds over many cycles.
Tip 6: Use High Damage Drills for Boss Encounters
The Underground Arena (unlocked via the NEWGAMEMODE code) has wave-based boss encounters where your drill damage determines how fast you clear each wave. The optimal drill for boss encounters is the highest damage drill you own, regardless of the ore multiplier or Drill Speed.
For end-game players pushing the deepest Arena waves, the Astral Annihilator is the strictly best boss drill because its 4,800 base damage is the highest in the game. Pair the Astral Annihilator with a Damage Bonus pet (Iron Pup) for maximum wave clear speed.
Tip 7: Save the Best Drill for Rebirth
When you have multiple reforged drills in your inventory, save the best one for the next rebirth bind. The Prestige Point payout is calculated at the moment of reset, and binding your highest-tier reforged drill gives you the maximum payout.
A practical strategy is to keep one slot reserved for the "next rebirth bind" drill, with the other slots used for active grinding. This ensures that you never accidentally trade or salvage the drill you intended to bind. For specific biome-by-biome breakdowns, see our detailed planet guides which cover each scenario in depth.
Tip 8: Test Drill Reforges on Lower-Tier Drills
The reforge system is the same across every drill tier, but the maximum stat rolls are higher for higher-tier drills. To learn how the reforge system works, practice on lower-tier drills (Wooden Pickaxe, Copper Drill) where the reforge cost is essentially free. Once you understand the stat pool, invest your serious Drill Pieces on higher-tier reforges.
This learning-then-spending strategy is the most cost-efficient way to develop your reforge intuition. Most experienced players spent their first 1-2 million Drill Pieces on lower-tier reforges before investing in Legendary reforges. Veteran players typically learn to recognize these patterns within the first 10-15 hours of focused play.
Tip 9: Save Drill Switching for Long Sessions
For long grinding sessions (2+ hours), the drill switching overhead is a small percentage of the total session time. For short sessions (15-30 minutes), the overhead is more significant. Stick with a single drill for short sessions and switch freely during long sessions.
Tip 10: Use Drill Switching to Test New Reforges
The drill inventory slot system lets you carry multiple reforge variants of the same drill tier. This is useful for testing new reforge stats without committing to a single build. Players who are uncertain about which reforge stat to chase can run multiple variants side-by-side and compare their grind efficiency.
The test should run for at least 1 hour per variant to get a reliable comparison. Shorter tests are too noisy to distinguish meaningful stat differences from random swing variance. This principle applies broadly across all progression stages and is one of the most reliable optimization levers in the game.
Tip 11: Drills Do Not Affect Trade Value
The drill tier does not directly affect the trade value of materials. A Mythril Ore sells for the same price whether you mined it with a Mythril Destroyer or an Astral Annihilator. The drill affects your grind efficiency, not the trade market.
Players who are confused about this should remember that the trade market is driven by supply and demand, not by individual grind efficiency. The only way to affect trade value is to flood the market with materials (which lowers prices) or hoard materials (which raises prices).
Tip 12: Drill Switching and the Underground Arena
The Underground Arena is unlocked via the NEWGAMEMODE code and adds wave-based combat encounters. Your drill damage determines how fast you clear each wave, which means switching to your highest-damage drill is critical for the deepest Arena runs. The exact mechanics vary slightly by patch, but the underlying principle remains consistent across all player playstyles.
For Arena play, the optimal drill loadout prioritizes damage over ore multiplier. A drill with high base damage but low ore multiplier is more useful in the Arena than a drill with high ore multiplier but low damage. Players who split time between grinding and Arena should consider carrying two drill loadouts — one for grinding and one for Arena.
Tip 13: Drill Switching Hotkey Best Practices
The keyboard shortcut system is most useful for end-game players who carry multiple drills. A practical setup is to bind your 4 most-used drills to keys 1-4, with the most-used drill on key 1. This lets you swap drills with a single keystroke without taking your eyes off the action.
For players who use the same drill most of the time, the keyboard shortcut is less useful, but the inventory panel click is still the fallback option. Either method works, but the keyboard shortcut is faster. Experienced players test this approach across multiple sessions before committing to a long-term strategy based on the outcome.
Tip 14: Drill Switching and the Inventory Slot Limit
The default 12 drill inventory slots are sufficient for most players, but end-game players often need more space. The Epic Pet Slot expands the inventory to 24 slots, which is enough for a full loadout of reforge variants plus trade stock.
Players who max out their inventory should consider salvaging duplicate drills or selling low-value duplicates on the trade market. Salvage returns 100-1,000,000 Drill Pieces depending on tier, while trade market sale returns the crafting cost plus a markup. Trade is the better option for high-value drills.
Tip 15: Drill Switching as a Reset Mechanism
Some players use drill switching as a "reset" mechanism for tracking their progression. Each time they switch to a higher-tier drill, they mark it as a milestone. This visual tracking helps players see their progression at a glance and stay motivated.
A practical tracking method is to keep a personal log of every drill you craft, with the date and tier. The log becomes a historical record of your progression and can be used to celebrate milestones like the first Legendary craft or the first Mythic craft.
Tip 16: Common Drill Switching Mistakes
The most common drill switching mistake is to switch drills mid-grind without considering the smelter state. If your smelter is full, switching drills does not change your material income rate, but it does reset the active swing count. Players who switch drills constantly end up with lower per-session throughput than players who stick with one drill.
The second mistake is to switch to a lower-tier drill to "save" the higher-tier drill for later. This is a false economy because the higher-tier drill yields more materials per swing, and saving it does not generate any return. Always use the highest-tier drill you have available.
The third mistake is to switch drills when crossing a planet boundary without checking the recipe requirements. The Volcanic and Nebula planets require specific drill tiers for efficient farming, and switching to a lower-tier drill mid-route can waste hours of progress.