Upgrading the mining tool?

[Jaggid Edje]

Are all "heavy" weapons useable as mining tools?

I noticed the basic "cutter" you start with is listed as a "heavy" weapon, and I've seen better heavy weapons at some vendors in New Atlantis.

I'm wondering if I get a different heavy weapon, if I can sell off the cutter, or if I will always need the Cutter no matter what, for mining? Game really doesn't make that clear at all.

[WeelieTired]

Still only seen the one Cutter the one m8ning tool.

[Panam]

I had the same question.

[Spyre]

You can mod it via a workbench slightly but there isn't another mining laser. Other weapons can break the crystals you need for mission purposes but they don't break the regular rocks not even the laser rifles.

[Data]

It makes NO SENSE that there is only one mining tool in this whole game. Really? No manufacturers wanted to make a better one? No actual upgrades? No Pickaxes? Such a bizarre choice, oversight.

[Jaggid Edje]

Originally posted by Data:

It makes NO SENSE that there is only one mining tool in this whole game. Really? No manufacturers wanted to make a better one? No actual upgrades? No Pickaxes? Such a bizarre choice, oversight.

I agree, it's really weird.

[Jaggid Edje]

Following up. I'm at 30 something hours played and just found an upgraded Cutter. It's a Blue rarity, with some actual bonuses.

So there are at least 'better' versions of the mining tool out there.

[Alex]

Seems to be the only minding tool out there. I'm pretty sure I saw a vendor selling a better cutter but it was still a cutter.

[TheSewerDog]

Originally posted by Jaggid Edje:

Following up. I'm at 30 something hours played and just found an upgraded Cutter. It's a Blue rarity, with some actual bonuses.

So there are at least 'better' versions of the mining tool out there.

Originally posted by Alex:

Seems to be the only minding tool out there. I'm pretty sure I saw a vendor selling a better cutter but it was still a cutter.

Do either of you two know where you might of found those tools?

[Jaggid Edje]

Originally posted by TheSewerDog:

Do either of you two know where you might of found those tools?

The one I found was in a mining tool cabinet at a mining outpost. I don't remember the planet it was on though. Normally those cabinets have just regular Cutters identical to the one you start with, but this time it was a blue rarity one with a different skin even.

[Zachward97]

I think what everyone is missing with the mining tool (took me about 10 hours to figure this out myself since they dont tell you) you can hold right click with the mining laser to focus the beam which significantly speeds up the mining and can produce double the yield

[Jaggid Edje]

....
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@Zachward97, I'm around 30 hours in and I learned that just now reading your post....

[Commander Hitman2b]

so far i only found 2 heller cutter and regular cutter nothing else

[Maligner]

You can find slightly better tools. One of your potential companions might have left their cutter lying around, for one. But it's just an upgrade from 3 damage to 4. But you can find other cutters though I have yet to find anything that's actually good. Not sure if you can mod them on the weapon bench or not, because they can be used as weapons.

[TheSewerDog]

Speaking of which, the Mining Monthly Issue[techraptor.net] give you 2% extra damage with tool grip weapons; i.e. the Cutter

[Langkard]

Originally posted by Jaggid Edje:

Following up. I'm at 30 something hours played and just found an upgraded Cutter. It's a Blue rarity, with some actual bonuses.

So there are at least 'better' versions of the mining tool out there.

Excellent find and thanks for letting us know!