Changes

Unlike the Mines, there is no elevator to save progress, but on every floor there is a ladder at the starting point where you can leave the Skull Cavern. Each visit must start again from the first floor. If [[The Player|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. Some items may also be lost. Passing out at 2:00AM will cause the player to lose {{price|1000}} or 10% of funds, whichever is less.

Unlike the Mines, there is no elevator to save progress, but on every floor there is a ladder at the starting point where you can leave the Skull Cavern. Each visit must start again from the first floor. If [[The Player|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. Some items may also be lost. Passing out at 2:00AM will cause the player to lose {{price|1000}} or 10% of funds, whichever is less.

The chance to find [[Iridium Ore]] increases steadily as you descend into the Skull Cavern. The monsters in the Cavern also have a chance to drop ore and [[Iridium Bar]]s. 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 ore veins and the appearance 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 thorough exploration. With a full inventory of stone, it's possible to craft [[staircase]]s to descend to floor 300+.

The chance to find [[Iridium Ore]] increases steadily as you descend into the Skull Cavern. The monsters in the Cavern also have a chance to drop 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 ore veins and the appearance 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 thorough exploration. With a full inventory of stone, it's possible to craft [[staircase]]s to descend to floor 300+.

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]].

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 Skull Cavern.

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 Skull Cavern.

==Preparation==

==Strategy==

===Food===

===Food===

Shown below are foods with [[buffs]] that are useful when exploring the Skull Cavern. Note that eating a food with buffs will wipe out any active buffs and replace them with the buffs from the newly eaten food. If the newly eaten food has no buffs, the existing buffs will remain in effect. [[Coffee]] and [[Triple Shot Espresso]] are an exception to this rule; they will stack with other food buffs (but not each other).

Shown below are foods with [[buffs]] that are useful when exploring the Skull Cavern. Note that eating a food with buffs will wipe out any active buffs and replace them with the buffs from the newly eaten food. If the newly eaten food has no buffs, the existing buffs will remain in effect. [[Coffee]] and [[Triple Shot Espresso]] are an exception to this rule; they will stack with other food buffs (but not each other).

Small rooms containing treasure chests, similar to those in [[The Mines]], can randomly appear at level 10+.  [[Luck|Daily luck]] and Luck [[Buffs]] affect the chance to find Treasure Rooms.  Obtaining the [[Special Charm]] also increases the chance to find Treasure Rooms.

Small rooms containing treasure chests, similar to those in [[The Mines]], can randomly appear at level 10+.  [[Luck|Daily luck]] and Luck [[Buffs]] affect the chance to find Treasure Rooms.  Obtaining the [[Special Charm]] also increases the chance to find Treasure Rooms.

Below is a collapsable table of all possible treasures that can be randomly found inside Treasure Chests in the Skull Cavern.

Below is a collapsible 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"

<!--Which update changed the fact that food eaten later in the day lasted for less time?-->

<!--Which update changed the fact that food eaten later in the day lasted for less time?-->

{{History|1.3|Added Carbon Ghost, Iridium Bat, Iridium Crab, treasure rooms, and encounter with Mr. Qi.  Removed exploit that allowed the player to avoid bomb damage by consuming food after placing a bomb.}}

{{History|1.3|Added Carbon Ghost, Iridium Bat, Iridium Crab, treasure rooms, and encounter with Mr. Qi.  Removed exploit that allowed the player to avoid bomb damage by consuming food after placing a bomb.}}

{{History|1.4|Added [[Pepper Rex]].  Added [[White Turban]] to possible Treasure Room items.  All players entering a chute in [[Multiplayer]] now descend to the same level.  Qi's challenge can now be completed during the first visit to the Skull Cavern.  Chutes will no longer drop the player past level 100 if the Secret Note cutscene has not occured.}}

{{History|1.4|Added [[Pepper Rex]].  Added [[White Turban]] to possible Treasure Room items.  All players entering a chute in [[Multiplayer]] now descend to the same level.  Qi's challenge can now be completed during the first visit to the Skull Cavern.  Chutes will no longer drop the player past level 100 if the Secret Note cutscene has not occurred.}}

==References==

==References==