questions about skull cavern

[fireball0836]

so ive been steadily making progress through the game, got the bundles almost all done (need my red cabbage to finish growing and some gold melons to finish the last couple bundles) and been working at skull cavern for that sweet sweet iridium (ive got my pick and my axe iridium'd, working on my hoe and watering can). i got the note to cross down 100 floors.
my question is, how am i to do that? do you guys have any tips for making skull cave easier? best foods/recipie locations, where i can get a better sword other then the lava saber or whatever ypu call it (other then the galaxy sword, i know howto get that, just rng hasnt been kind yet), ways to efficiently clear floors and/or reduce the time taken to reach said further floors, etc.
any help would be much appreciated, thanks!
Edit as sort of a reply all, thanks for the tips and help, itll make a bit of difference, albiet im probably just gonna get the skull cavern elevator mod that ardeo suggested, as i do like to comletionist my way through and that wont work too well without an elevator

[NewkirkX2]

Making your own stairs is one way that you can do it but it is kinda expensive,
The way I do it is wait for the luckiest day, and make as many mega bombs as possible and look for the holes that drop you multiple levels and pray. If you are doing solo use eating and drinking to stop time, and let the bomb explode while you eat.

[vicky]

I'd say if you haven't really gotten the chance to get the galaxy sword, definitely try to get as high of a mining and combat level as you can as it's pretty rough if you're not at least around level 8 (and even then, it's still tough!)

I'd bring food with at least +30 health power for small heals, and +60 or higher for medium-big heals, and some really big healers for emergencies, especially if you're near the goal. I typically bring sashimi and chocolate cake, and then some tonics (+200).

Go straight away on a super good luck day, extra time and extra chance for long shaft drops.
I'd also agree to the other user about bombs being super good. I'd be wary of staircases though, you can use some but if you use too many you get a little bit of different dialogue, mr qi says something along the lines of he's not super proud of you because you "cheated," in a sense.

[Tammy the Muffin]

If you wanna go deep floors ez, then use Skull Cave Elevator mod. Works same with elevator in Mines. Other than that, only way to really rush on lower floors is Staircases. Finding holes might be better, but those depend on luck. Bud dont require tons of stone.

Lava Katana is best sword money can buy, only better one is Galaxy Sword.

Food depends on what ingridients you can get.

Bombs :)

[-Na Shagul-]

Personally I find doing it without stairs and mods is a bit more rewarding but totally get it if people want to go that rout as skull cavern can definitely be unforgiving when it comes to ladder and hole RNG, even on super lucky days. In my runs I never even bother using the pickaxe save for very few circumstances as most of my time on floors are spent dropping loads of bombs as quickly and evenly as I can to clear large chunks of rocks quickly in hopes of finding a ladder or a hole. Jump into every hole you get until ~90 as its very possible to fall 10+ levels with one hole. One time I fell 13 levels and went clean into level 102, missing the cutscene entirely despite technically meeting the qualifications, you need to make it to 100 -exactly-

Some people also recommend using the slingshot with explosive ammo but in my case I could never get the hang of it properly and honestly more often than not just ended up wasting time I could use running and plopping down bombs. Have a lot of luck altering food, have a lot of energy pills you can buy from Harvey, and most importantly have A LOT, like 300+, bombs. Good luck!

[fireball0836]

Originally posted by ardeo:

If you wanna go deep floors ez, then use Skull Cave Elevator mod. Works same with elevator in Mines. Other than that, only way to really rush on lower floors is Staircases. Finding holes might be better, but those depend on luck. Bud dont require tons of stone.

Lava Katana is best sword money can buy, only better one is Galaxy Sword.

Food depends on what ingridients you can get.

Bombs :)

id go with the elevator mod maybe, see i like to actually clear floors and having the ability to actually do so without needing to rush would be awesome.

[fireball0836]

Originally posted by -Na Shagul-:

Personally I find doing it without stairs and mods is a bit more rewarding but totally get it if people want to go that rout as skull cavern can definitely be unforgiving when it comes to ladder and hole RNG, even on super lucky days. In my runs I never even bother using the pickaxe save for very few circumstances as most of my time on floors are spent dropping loads of bombs as quickly and evenly as I can to clear large chunks of rocks quickly in hopes of finding a ladder or a hole. Jump into every hole you get until ~90 as its very possible to fall 10+ levels with one hole. One time I fell 13 levels and went clean into level 102, missing the cutscene entirely despite technically meeting the qualifications, you need to make it to 100 -exactly-

Some people also recommend using the slingshot with explosive ammo but in my case I could never get the hang of it properly and honestly more often than not just ended up wasting time I could use running and plopping down bombs. Have a lot of luck altering food, have a lot of energy pills you can buy from Harvey, and most importantly have A LOT, like 300+, bombs. Good luck!

so basically what i have been doing, just gotta get super lucky? eugh.

[Tammy the Muffin]

Originally posted by fireball0836:

id go with the elevator mod maybe, see i like to actually clear floors and having the ability to actually do so without needing to rush would be awesome.

Skull Cave is endless, so... enjoy, i guess?

[-Na Shagul-]

Originally posted by fireball0836:

Originally posted by -Na Shagul-:

Personally I find doing it without stairs and mods is a bit more rewarding but totally get it if people want to go that rout as skull cavern can definitely be unforgiving when it comes to ladder and hole RNG, even on super lucky days. In my runs I never even bother using the pickaxe save for very few circumstances as most of my time on floors are spent dropping loads of bombs as quickly and evenly as I can to clear large chunks of rocks quickly in hopes of finding a ladder or a hole. Jump into every hole you get until ~90 as its very possible to fall 10+ levels with one hole. One time I fell 13 levels and went clean into level 102, missing the cutscene entirely despite technically meeting the qualifications, you need to make it to 100 -exactly-

Some people also recommend using the slingshot with explosive ammo but in my case I could never get the hang of it properly and honestly more often than not just ended up wasting time I could use running and plopping down bombs. Have a lot of luck altering food, have a lot of energy pills you can buy from Harvey, and most importantly have A LOT, like 300+, bombs. Good luck!

so basically what i have been doing, just gotta get super lucky? eugh.

yeah, it's def luck based

I would also try to get the return scepter too for any failed expeditions, that way you can push the clock as close to 2:00 am as possible, using the scepter at like 1:50 so you don't pass out if that's a concern. Or you could just quit and restart the day if you want to keep all your items and luck level.

[fireball0836]

Originally posted by ardeo:

Originally posted by fireball0836:

id go with the elevator mod maybe, see i like to actually clear floors and having the ability to actually do so without needing to rush would be awesome.

Skull Cave is endless, so... enjoy, i guess?

aye as of now im maxed out and just ravaging my way through the cavern, i actually managed 100 with a combination of luck, skill, copious amounts of ice cream, and an impressive number of bombs. i usually end up around 40 and rn i have like...... 100 iridium ore give or take? i sold some bars but all my gear is maxed and i have about 18 bars in chest currently as i made the iridium ring to pair with the vamp ring. im prolly gonna go through and nail all the monster challenges once i finish the last levels of my fishing and foraging skills (both at 9) and maybe even get the community bundle done (need a pomegranate, my tree i planted on like, the 5th of summer or summat, and then all is done). then ill probably find me some stardrops.
also i can now officially confirm ive been screwed by the steam event lol, i got this game on my bitrhday and have over 8000 monsters slain, and my steamside shows all of like..... 17. still. poor steam evnts dont keep me from enjoying stardew valley

[Circa]

You can stay until 2am in the skull cavern and pass out. You will wake up at home at 6am and only be charged 1000 and not lose any items

[fireball0836]

Originally posted by cosmia2:

You can stay until 2am in the skull cavern and pass out. You will wake up at home at 6am and only be charged 1000 and not lose any items

dont need to anymore, thanks for that tip though!