Dig 2 hides 30 artifacts across seven regions, plus a set of hidden upgrade cogs that gate your equipment. This guide lists them by region, and — more importantly — tells you about the one mod that locks several of them, so you can buy it before you start backtracking instead of after.
Buy the Sky Assailant mod first
Several secrets in Dig 2 are behind cracked blocks in the ceiling that you cannot break with your pick. The answer is the Sky Assailant mod for the pressure bomb.
Getting it costs:
- A level 4 pressure bomb, which requires level 14.
- 1,400 gold to upgrade to tier 4 (if you have bought nothing else).
- 3 upgrade cogs to unlock the mod.
Do this before you start serious hunting. Otherwise you will find cracked blocks you simply cannot open and have to leave and come back.
The two techniques that find most secrets
Sand blocks in the ceiling. Many hidden areas are behind sand blocks you cannot reach by jumping. Shoot a pressure bomb at them from range to drop the contents — including upgrade cogs.
Use the shooters. In several areas, ranged enemies will shoot at you. Lure them into position and let them break sand blocks for you, or use them to clear a path you could not otherwise make.
Every artifact by region
The Oasis
| Artifact | Location |
|---|---|
| Rosie’s Dumbbells | Right of the Oasis main platform; after crossing the bridge, climb the upper bridge opening and break the block on the right |
| Six-Pack O’ Moon Juice | Top-left of the Oasis. Jump left from Rosie’s platform, hook shot up through the small hole in the ceiling, into the secret area |
A third artifact sits on the path down to the left, on the way to the hook shot tutorial — you will pick it up automatically on the route.
Windy Plains
| Artifact | Location |
|---|---|
| Rocket Black Box | In the Rock Falls cave. Follow the path right to the water pool, do not climb the wall — instead hook shot up from the water to the top of the rock pile on the upper right and dig out the sand block |
| — | Bottom of the three-ladder cliff on the left; hook shot left to break a sand block for a secret passage |
| — | Hidden platform in the upper left of the sandstorm area |
| — | High platform to the right of the Temple of the Destroyer exit (needs jet pack or hook shot) |
Archaea
| Artifact | Location |
|---|---|
| Acupuncture Straw Doll | Bottom floor of the Temple of Guidance, in the room where you fought the Fen. Stay on the ground, go left, and smash the brick blocks with the jackhammer |
| Mason’s Station | Right wall at the entrance; break through with the jackhammer for a hidden area |
| — | Hidden passage on the right of the bottom lava area |
| — | Underwater passage at the far bottom left of Archaea |
| — | Platform behind the falling-rock mechanism in one of the caves |
Yarrow
| Artifact | Location |
|---|---|
| Bowl of Cereal | In Mushi Mushi Snuggery. Where you head down and then have to start going right, you will see sand blocks to your left. Lure the shooters to shoot at them, then head over |
| — | Entry ceiling — have the shooters break the wall, then drill through quickly (later you can break it yourself with the charge mod) |
| — | The long underwater tunnel: stay against the left wall, find the gap between spikes, hook shot to the block behind the Cracked Block |
| — | Bottom of the second large underwater room, beneath a sand block |
| — | Hidden cave by digging down, to the northwest before the Temple of Guidance |
| — | Top platform of the crystal cave (needs jet pack) |
| — | Hidden passage at the bottom of the large pool on the right |
West Desert
| Artifact | Location |
|---|---|
| Dr. Groda Children’s Book | Drop to the ground on the left side and find the narrow area you can dig through. At the bottom, use a pressure bomb while jumping, or a grenade launcher shot, to destroy the block |
| — | High platform at the far left of the spawn point (jet pack required) — also has a cog |
| — | Mid-air small platform on the cliff to the left of the pipe to the Oasis |
| — | Large hollow in the underground sand layer mid-desert, opened with a bomb |
| — | Small cave at the upper right, outside the Temple of Guidance entrance |
| Fertilizer | Bottom-left corner of the area where you start mining — break the brick block |
| — | Secret area in the upper left corner of the West Desert, containing Zebulon Yonker |
Temple of Guidance
| Artifact | Location |
|---|---|
| Toy Rocket | In the Chamber of Arrows. Follow the path upward but keep going left toward where the arrows come from. At the wall, hook shot straight up |
| Old Unopened Invitations | In the Chamber of Secrets, behind a fake wall. Do not run through it — you will step on a switch that fires arrows. Jet pack through, then drop down the pit ahead |
| — | Upper left of the entry hall; after the collapsing bridge, go straight up and dig out the dirt block |
| — | Behind the golem in the conveyor room |
| — | Behind a hidden wall at the back of the library shelves |
| — | End of the wind passage at the top floor |
| — | Hidden compartment at the upper right of the room before the boss |
Temple of the Destroyer
| Artifact | Location |
|---|---|
| — | Middle platform of the main hall (in plain sight) |
| — | Slide down to the far right of the same room and break the floor block |
| — | High stone wall at the upper right; break it with the jackhammer — also has a cog |
| — | Demon’s Crib — requires the molten pickaxe mod |
The two hardest secrets
Demon’s Crib. Unlocked after you get the molten pickaxe mod and move the giant fire golem in the Temple of the Destroyer. It is a deadly race against rising lava — and the hidden artifact requires diving down into the lava itself and swimming through to a chamber in the bottom right. Escape quickly; you will not survive long.
The central stone area. The big area in the centre that is all undiggable stone, with regenerating blocks on each side. It is hard to escape, hard to control Dorothy in with all the jellyfish, and there are shooters below. There is a single sand block at the ceiling — bounce into it from a jellyfish below to open an upgrade cog.
Caves that hide cogs
Several caves contain upgrade cogs near their exits, including Hodge-Podge Hang, Mushi Mushi Snuggery and Bushwack Beehive. Bushwack Beehive also contains the cracked ceiling block that needs the Sky Assailant mod.
In Hodge-Podge Hang specifically: clay blocks crumble when you touch their top or sides, but not if you hook shot to the bottom. Use that to refill jet pack fuel and slow your descent. And the pink blobs destroy the platform they sit on — so bounce across them and never turn back.
Related guides
- SteamWorld Dig Guide — the first game
- Beginner Guide — the series starting point
- Series Order Guide — where Dig 2 fits
- Dig 2 vs Dig — how the sequel compares
- All Characters — Dorothy and the cast
- Tips and Tricks — general pointers
- Upgrades Guide — gear progression
- Tips and Tricks — general series advice