Retro Mining
Retro Mining is a progression-based resource job for the Retro Miner (/retrominer). Mine ore by hand with a pickaxe, then build a processing line of crushers, refiners and melters to turn it into metal bars.
Guide Accuracy
We keep this guide up to date, but specific values may change with server updates. Always check in-game for current figures.
How It Works
Manual Pickaxe Mining
The basic approach: find ore in the mine and dig it out yourself.
Become a Retro Miner. Select the job from the F4 menu
Buy a Pickaxe. The job doesn't give you one. The Mine Merchant by the mine sells a Rookie Pickaxe for £25,000 and a Promising Pickaxe for £72,500
Find ore. Look for coal or iron on the mine walls
Mine the ore. Left-click with your pickaxe
Deposit into a crusher. Right-click on a Crusher or Gravel Crate to empty your pickaxe into it
Ore goes into your pickaxe, not your inventory. Right-click a Crusher or Gravel Crate to empty it.
Ore Types & Levels
Each ore needs a Retro Miner level:
| Ore | Level Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coal | 0 | Melter fuel |
| Iron | 0 | First metal ore |
| Mixed seams | 2 | A random ore each swing |
| Bronze | 4 | Worth more than iron |
| Silver | 8 | Worth more again |
| Gold | 15 | The best ore |
Higher ores mine slower but give more XP and sell for more. Each metal is worth about a third more than the one below it.
The Processing Pipeline
All ore goes through this workflow:
Raw Ore → Crusher → Refiner → Melter → Metal Bar → Sell1. Crusher
Breaks raw ore down.
- Takes ore from your pickaxe (right-click) or from conveyors
- Sends it on to the next machine
2. Refiner
Separates the metal from the gravel.
- You need the right refiner for each ore type (Iron Refiner, Gold Refiner, and so on)
- A Refiner Crate collects the output
- You lose some material here. Not all ore becomes metal
3. Melter
Turns refined ore into bars.
- Needs coal as fuel. Always have coal ready
- Refined ore plus coal makes metal bars
- Move the full refiner crate to the melter yourself
4. Selling
Bars go into your inventory. Sell them to The Smelter, the Broker that buys metal. Broker names change, so read the nameplate. The Fence buys anything, for less.
- Walk up and press E to sell
- Prices move. Each Broker's rate is on its nameplate
You can also deliver bars and ore for Jack's orders and commissions.
Setting Up Automation
Your job gives you a Builder Tool. Use it to buy and place your machines:
| Machine | Price |
|---|---|
| Straight Belt | £250 |
| Curved Belt | £375 |
| Crusher | £1,500 |
| Coal / Iron Refiner | £3,000 / £4,000 |
| Bronze / Silver / Gold Refiner | £12,000 / £16,000 / £20,000 |
| Coal / Iron Sorter | £2,000 / £3,000 |
| Bronze / Silver / Gold Sorter | £8,000 / £13,000 / £15,000 |
| Splitter | £4,500 |
| Inserter | £4,500 |
Taking a machine down with the Builder Tool gives you half its price back. The Melter (£7,500, max 2), Gravel Crate, Refiner Crate and Storage Crate are in the F4 menu.
Building Tips
Machines need to be close together. Plan where each machine goes before buying.
Gravel Crates carry large amounts of ore to your crusher.
Each machine feeds one machine after it. Only Sorters and Splitters send ore two ways.
You need a Coal Refiner for coal, an Iron Refiner for iron, and so on. They aren't universal.
The melter needs coal to work. Set up a coal line or keep crates ready.
The Level System
Retro Miner has 60 levels, like every other job. Levels raise how far you reach, how much you carry, how fast you swing and how much the melter holds.
Pickaxe Abilities
| Level | Ability |
|---|---|
| 5 | First Strike: your first ore each day turns up bonus finds |
| 10 | Rock Rush: swing twice as fast for a short time |
| 25 | Blast Pick: the rocks around you shed their finds |
| 40 | Prospector's Eye: rare finds come more often for a short time |
| 50 | Lucky Seam: a different bonus every day |
Rock Rush, Blast Pick and Prospector's Eye are abilities you use with your pickaxe out. Press R to use one. Crouch and press R to switch between them.
Better Tools
Bubu at the Forge, next to the Mine Merchant, upgrades your pickaxe and builds drills from cash and materials you mine. Better tools unlock at higher levels.
Tips for Success
Learn the system before spending on automation.
You need coal to run the melter. Mine coal regularly or you can't make bars.
Each Broker's price moves over time. Sell when the rate is high.
Machines can be damaged. Build in a secure location.
Jack has mining commissions for you. Your first three each day also pay Bits.
Common Problems
Cause: Your Retro Miner level is too low.
Solution: Check the level table. Mine lower ores to level up.
Cause: Missing coal or refined ore.
Solution: Add both coal AND refined ore to the melter.
Cause: You need to move the crate to the melter.
Solution: Press E to detach the crate, then move it yourself.
Cause: Ore left on the floor despawns after a few minutes.
Solution: Feed it into a crusher or crate quickly.
Cause: Too many ore chunks already on the ground.
Solution: Process or pick up the existing ore first.
Quick Reference
- Pickaxe: buy one from the Mine Merchant. Left-click to mine, right-click to empty into a Crusher
- Ore levels: Coal and Iron (0), Bronze (4), Silver (8), Gold (15)
- Pipeline: Crusher, Refiner, Melter, Sell
- Coal is fuel: the melter needs it
- Sell to The Smelter: bars go in your inventory
- Abilities: press R from level 10
Values May Vary
Processing times, yields, and prices may be adjusted. Check the in-game UI for current values.
