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general cleanup throughout
There is no practical limit to the number of floors, or 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, or 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.
The player can sometimes find a shaft, or hole, which makes it possible to skip 3-15 floors. There is a 20% chance for a rock to spawn a shaft instead of a ladder. 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 levels and a 10% chance that the player drops 2x-1 levels. The amount of levels dropped is predetermined based on the mine level, game day, and [[Random Seed]]. In particular, [[Luck]] does not affect the chances of jumping down a certain number of levels. This also means that if multiple shafts spawn on a given level, they will all drop the player the same number of levels, so it does not matter which one is chosen. Jumping down the shaft causes [[Health]] damage equal to 3x the number of levels 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"/>
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, 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 levels and a 10% chance that the player drops 2x-1 levels. The amount of levels dropped is predetermined based on the mine level, game day, and [[Random Seed]]. In particular, [[Luck]] does not affect the chances of jumping down a certain number of levels. This also means that if multiple shafts spawn on a given level, they will all drop the player the same number of levels, so it does not matter which one is chosen. Jumping down the shaft causes [[Health]] damage equal to 3x the number of levels 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"/>
If the player runs out of [[health]] while exploring Skull Cavern, they will wake up sometime later on the same day in [[Harvey's Clinic]]. A fee of {{price|1000}} will be deducted for emergency surgery. Several items may also be lost. Passing out at 2:00 am will cause the player to lose {{price|1000}} or 10% of funds, whichever is less.
'''Iridium'''
'''Iridium'''
The monsters in the Cavern also have a chance to drop [[Iridium Ore|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 Cavern also have a chance to drop [[Iridium Ore|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/holes. Rapid descent to floors with a higher chance of spawning [[Mining#Mining Nodes|Iridium Nodes]] is often more efficient for acquiring ore than through 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#Mining Nodes|Iridium Nodes]] is often more efficient for acquiring ore than through 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.
'''Qi's Challenge'''
'''Qi's Challenge'''
After entering the Cavern for the first time, a letter is 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 level 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 level 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. While this quest is active, Big Slimes may occasionally have hearts that will give 10 [[health]] points when slain. Another strategy to regain health without eating is to equip one or more [[Vampire Ring]]s or to use a weapon with the Vampiric enchantment. The use of [[staircase]]s is permitted. Completing the quest awards {{price|25|gem|class=inline}} [[Qi Gem]]s.
[[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.
While this quest is active, Big Slimes may occasionally have hearts that will give 10 [[health]] points when slain. Another strategy to regain health without eating is to equip one or more [[Vampire Ring]]s or to use a weapon with the Vampiric enchantment.
The use of [[staircase]]s is permitted. Completing the quest awards {{price|25|gem|class=inline}} [[Qi Gem]]s.
'''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 [[The Mines#Shrine of Challenge|Dangerous Mines]]. The use of [[staircase]]s is permitted. Radioactive nodes can spawn here, like the Dangerous Mines. Completing the quest awards {{price|40|gem|class=inline}} [[Qi Gem]]s.
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 [[The Mines#Shrine of Challenge|Dangerous Mines]]. Radioactive nodes can also spawn here, like the Dangerous Mines.
The use of [[staircase]]s is permitted. Completing the quest awards {{price|40|gem|class=inline}} [[Qi Gem]]s.
==Time==
==Time==
Time runs more slowly in Skull Cavern than elsewhere in the game: whereas one hour of game time normally lasts 43 seconds, in Skull Cavern one hour lasts 54 seconds. However, time reverts to normal 43-second hours in multiplayer games and on [[#Prehistoric Floors|Prehistoric Floors]].<ref name="time" /> This has two main implications:
Time runs more slowly in Skull Cavern than elsewhere in the game: whereas one hour of game time normally lasts 43 seconds, in Skull Cavern one hour lasts 54 seconds (25% longer). However, time reverts to normal 43-second hours in multiplayer games and on [[#Prehistoric Floors|Prehistoric Floors]].<ref name="time" />
This has two main implications:
* Players have more real-time available before the end of the day, and should be able to descend deeper than otherwise.
* Players have more real-time available before the end of the day, and should be able to descend deeper than otherwise.
* The game-time duration of any [[Buffs|buff]] is decreased.
* The game-time duration of any [[Buffs|buff]] is decreased.
This adjustment in timing has no effect, however, upon other aspects of the game, such as [[Crafting#Artisan Equipment|equipment]] processing times. For example, [[Honey]] placed in a [[Keg]] at noon is ready with [[Mead]] at 10 pm even if the player spends most of that time in the Skull Cavern.
This adjustment in timing has no effect upon other aspects of the game, such as [[Crafting#Artisan Equipment|equipment]] processing times. For example, [[Honey]] placed in a [[Keg]] at noon is ready with [[Mead]] at 10 pm even if the player spends most of that time in the Skull Cavern.
==Strategy==
==Strategy==
'''Staircases'''
'''Staircases'''
[[Staircase]]s can be used for rapid descent or skipping troublesome floors. If the player has one or more [[Crystalarium]]s, they can be used to produce [[Jade]] which can be traded for Staircases with the [[Desert Trader]] on Sundays.
'''Rings'''
'''Rings'''
Several [[Rings]] may assist in exploring the Skull Cavern. See the [[Rings]] page for full descriptions.
'''Warp Totems'''
'''Warp Totems'''
A [[Warp Totem]] can be used to make a quick exit if supplies are running low or the day is almost over to avoid the fee of up to {{price|1000}} for passing out at 2:00 am.
A [[Warp Totem: Desert]] can be used to access the Desert about 4 hours earlier than [[Pam]] arrives at the [[Bus Stop]].
==Monsters==
==Monsters==
==Treasure Rooms==
==Treasure Rooms==
Small rooms containing treasure chests, similar to those in [[The Mines]], can randomly appear at level 10+. [[Luck#Daily Luck|Daily luck]] and [[Luck#Luck Buffs|Luck Buffs]] affect the chance to find Treasure Rooms. The probability of encountering one when entering a new floor equals to <code>0.01 + (Daily Luck / 10) + (Luck Buffs / 100)</code><ref name="dinofloor" />. This means Treasure Rooms have a base chance of 1% to appear with daily [[Luck]] increasing the chance by 1% at best or decreasing by 1% at worst, with the [[Special Charm]] adding 0.25%, and food buffs adding 1% for every point of Luck. In multiplayer, the luck values taken into account are the average of luck stats of players present in the Skull Cavern. Floor 100 of the Skull Cavern is guaranteed to contain a treasure chest. The only exception is during the run where the player completes the [[Skull Cavern#Secret|secret]].
Small rooms containing treasure chests, similar to those in [[The Mines]], can randomly appear at level 10+. [[Luck#Daily Luck|Daily luck]] and [[Luck#Luck Buffs|Luck Buffs]] affect the chance to find Treasure Rooms.
The probability of encountering one when entering a new floor equals to <code>0.01 + (Daily Luck / 10) + (Luck Buffs / 100)</code><ref name="dinofloor" />. This means Treasure Rooms have a base chance of 1% to appear with daily [[Luck]] increasing the chance by 1% at best or decreasing by 1% at worst, with the [[Special Charm]] adding 0.25%, and food buffs adding 1% for every point of Luck. In multiplayer, the luck values taken into account are the average of luck stats of players present in the Skull Cavern.
Floor 100 of the Skull Cavern is guaranteed to contain a treasure chest. The only exception is during the run where the player completes the [[Skull Cavern#Secret|secret]].
Below is a collapsible table of all possible treasures that can be randomly found inside Treasure Chests in the Skull Cavern.
Below is a table of all possible treasures that can be randomly found inside Treasure Chests in the Skull Cavern.
{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
|-
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
* The plaques that can be occasionally found on the walls contain [[Secrets#Skull Cavern Plaques|enciphered messages]].
* The plaques that can be occasionally found on the walls contain [[Secrets#Skull Cavern Plaques|enciphered messages]].
* To reach the [[#cite_note-integerlimit-1|integer limit]], it would be required to bypass the [[Quarry Mine]] Floor, which has no ability to produce a ladder. (This floor is coded as 77377, and can be found at level 77257 of the Skull Cavern, which counts floor 1 as floor 121 internally.) <ref name="quarryMineShaft" />
* To reach the [[#cite_note-integerlimit-1|integer limit]], the [[Quarry Mine]] Floor would need to be bypassed, which has no ability to produce a ladder. This floor is coded as 77377, and can be found at level 77257 of the Skull Cavern, (which counts floor 1 as floor 121 internally). <ref name="quarryMineShaft" />
* Starting at floor 880, [[Bats|Iridium Bats]] will become red bats and have double health and faster speed.<ref name="deepbats" />
* Starting at floor 880, [[Bats|Iridium Bats]] will become red bats and have double health and faster speed.<ref name="deepbats" />