Changes

There is no practical limit to the number of floors (sometimes called levels) in the Skull Cavern.<ref name="integerlimit" /> Similar to [[the Mines]], [[the Player]] advances through floors in the Skull Cavern by finding a ladder on each floor, either by mining rocks or defeating enemies.  

There is no practical limit to the number of floors (sometimes called levels) in the Skull Cavern.<ref name="integerlimit" /> Similar to [[the Mines]], [[the Player]] advances through floors in the Skull Cavern by finding a ladder on each floor, either by mining rocks or defeating enemies.  

Unlike [[the Mines]], there is no elevator to save progress, but on every floor there is a ladder at the starting point where the Player can leave the Skull Cavern. Each visit must start again from the first floor.

Unlike the Mines, there is no elevator to save progress, but on every floor there is a ladder at the starting point where the Player can leave the Skull Cavern. Each visit must start again from the first floor.

When ladders to the next floor appear from breaking rocks, 20% of the time they will appear as a shaft (or hole) instead of a ladder. Shafts make it possible to travel 3-15 floors at a time. The number of floors dropped is based on an integer x between 3 and 8 inclusive, chosen with equal probability, with a 90% chance that the player drops x floors and a 10% chance that the player drops 2x-1 floors. The amount of floors dropped is predetermined based on the mine floor, game day, and Random Seed. In particular, [[Luck]] does not affect the chances of jumping down a certain number of floors. This also means that if multiple shafts spawn on the same floor, they will all drop the player the same number of floors, so it does not matter which one is chosen. Jumping down the shaft causes [[Health]] damage equal to 3x the number of floors skipped (although jumping down a shaft will never reduce health to less than 1). Note that if a shaft above floor 100 is calculated to drop the player past floor 100, it will be modified to only drop the player to floor 100.<ref name="shaftlevels"/>

When ladders to the next floor appear from breaking rocks, 20% of the time they will appear as a shaft (or hole) instead of a ladder. Shafts make it possible to travel 3-15 floors at a time. The number of floors dropped is based on an integer x between 3 and 8 inclusive, chosen with equal probability, with a 90% chance that the player drops x floors and a 10% chance that the player drops 2x-1 floors. The amount of floors dropped is predetermined based on the mine floor, game day, and Random Seed. In particular, [[Luck]] does not affect the chances of jumping down a certain number of floors. This also means that if multiple shafts spawn on the same floor, they will all drop the player the same number of floors, so it does not matter which one is chosen. Jumping down the shaft causes [[Health]] damage equal to 3x the number of floors skipped (although jumping down a shaft will never reduce health to less than 1). Note that if a shaft above floor 100 is calculated to drop the player past floor 100, it will be modified to only drop the player to floor 100.<ref name="shaftlevels"/>

The monsters in the Skull Cavern also have a chance to drop [[Iridium Ore]] and [[Iridium Bar]]s, as well as [[The Mines#Special Items|special items]]. It can be a good idea to bring the [[Lava Katana]] or [[Galaxy Sword]], as enemies are particularly strong.

The monsters in the Skull Cavern also have a chance to drop [[Iridium Ore]] and [[Iridium Bar]]s, as well as [[The Mines#Special Items|special items]]. It can be a good idea to bring the [[Lava Katana]] or [[Galaxy Sword]], as enemies are particularly strong.

High [[Luck]] increases the frequency of ladders/shafts. Rapid descent to floors with a higher chance of spawning [[Mining#Mining Nodes|Iridium Nodes]] is often more efficient for acquiring ore than thorough exploration. [[Staircase]]s can also be stacked, so a single inventory slot can hold 999 staircases. Even blindly placing staircases will take ''some'' time though; the lower the player descends with staircases, the less time they have to explore the caverns.

High [[Luck]] increases the frequency of ladders/shafts. Rapid descent to floors with a higher chance of spawning [[Mining#Iridium Node|Iridium Nodes]] is often more efficient for acquiring ore than thorough exploration. [[Staircase]]s can also be stacked, so a single inventory slot can hold 999 staircases. Even blindly placing staircases will take ''some'' time though; the lower the player descends with staircases, the less time they have to explore the Skull Cavern.

===Qi's Challenge===

===Qi's Challenge===

 

After entering the Cavern for the first time, a letter will be received on the following day from [[Mr. Qi]]. The letter begins the quest [[Quests#Qi's Challenge|Qi's Challenge]], which is completed by reaching floor 25 in the Skull Cavern. Completing the quest awards {{Price|10000}}, delivered by mail the following day. If the player reaches floor 25 of the Skull Cavern during the first visit, the quest will automatically be fulfilled the next day.

After entering the Cavern for the first time, a letter will be received on the following day from [[Mr. Qi]]. The letter begins the quest [[Quests#Qi's Challenge|Qi's Challenge]], which is completed by reaching floor 25 in the Skull Cavern. Completing the quest awards {{price|10000}}, delivered by mail the following day. If the player reaches floor 25 of the Skull Cavern during the first visit, the quest will automatically be fulfilled the next day.

===Qi's Hungry Challenge===

===Qi's Hungry Challenge===

[[Quests#Qi's_Hungry_Challenge|"Qi's Hungry Challenge"]] is a possible, repeatable Special Order, that may be accepted in [[Qi's Walnut Room]] on [[Ginger Island]]. It is completed by reaching floor 100 of the Skull Cavern within the given time limit. While this quest is active, no food or drink items can be consumed while the player is in the Skull Cavern. Buffs from food/drink before entering the Skull Cavern will stay active.

[[Quests#Qi's_Hungry_Challenge|"Qi's Hungry Challenge"]] is a possible, repeatable Special Order, that may be accepted in [[Qi's Walnut Room]] on [[Ginger Island]]. It is completed by reaching floor 100 of the Skull Cavern within the given time limit. While this quest is active, no food or drink items can be consumed while the player is in the Skull Cavern. Buffs from food/drink before entering the Skull Cavern will stay active.

===Skull Cavern Invasion===

===Skull Cavern Invasion===

The [[Quests#Skull Cavern Invasion|"Skull Cavern Invasion"]] is a possible, repeatable Special Order, that may be accepted in [[Qi's Walnut Room]] on [[Ginger Island]]. It is completed by reaching floor 100 of the Skull Cavern within the given time limit. While the quest is active, stronger variations of [[monsters]] occupy the Cavern; similarly to [[The Mines#Shrine of Challenge|the Dangerous Mines]]. [[Mining#Radioactive Node|Radioactive Nodes]] can also spawn here, like the Dangerous Mines.

The [[Quests#Skull Cavern Invasion|"Skull Cavern Invasion"]] is a possible, repeatable Special Order, that may be accepted in [[Qi's Walnut Room]] on [[Ginger Island]]. It is completed by reaching floor 100 of the Skull Cavern within the given time limit. While the quest is active, stronger variations of [[monsters]] occupy the Cavern; similarly to [[The Mines#Shrine of Challenge|the Dangerous Mines]]. [[Mining#Radioactive Node|Radioactive Nodes]] can also spawn here, like the Dangerous Mines.