Caves and gear
Shovel
The Shovel is a major progression tool that exposes buried bunker entrances, including the route to Maintenance A and its keycard.
WHERE & HOW TO FARM
Shovel
Shovel Cave at the river confluence below the mountain crash site; the interior includes a Rope Gun zipline barrier and flooded sections.
Before you go
- Rope Gun from Rope Gun Cave.
- Rebreather and Air Tank for flooded passages.
- Light source, weapon, armor, and healing supplies.
Farming steps
- Obtain the Rope Gun and Rebreather before setting out, and carry spare Air Tanks.
- Locate Shovel Cave at the river confluence below the mountain crash site.
- Use the Rope Gun on the zipline to cross the stalagmite barrier inside.
- Equip the Rebreather before entering the flooded passages and watch your air supply.
- Continue through the cave route, prepared to handle mutants in the interior.
- Find and collect the Shovel at the end of the route.
- Use it later at marked dig sites to expose buried entrances such as Maintenance A.
- This route combines a traversal gate and underwater sections; arriving without either tool forces a retreat.
- Bring combat supplies for the cave rather than treating it as a simple pickup walk.
Repeat, collect and use
One-time tool pickup; the Shovel remains useful at multiple dig sites after leaving the cave.
Common mistakes
- Entering without a Rope Gun; retrieve it from Rope Gun Cave first.
- Swimming into a flooded passage without the Rebreather and Air Tank; equip them before submerging.
- Using up supplies early in the cave; pace combat and retain healing for the return.
When to stop or switch
Stop once the Shovel is in your inventory and you have exited; use it at a chosen marked dig site when ready to advance.
Sources & fact checks
What you can get here
Open a guide to find other locations and see what the item is used for.