Fossils Guide
Hold dig sites until the meter is green, complete matching sets for one creature, and bring Ready to extract DNA sets home to Dr. Ivy.
By Bloxron Editorial Team · Last updated
Fossil digging
Hold a dig site and release in the green meter for a better find. Complete a matching fossil set for one creature, sail home when Ready to extract DNA, and trade at Dr. Ivy's DNA Lab for an egg. Shovel tier gates which period islands you can dig; boat tier gets you there.
What a dig can return
Named fossil, miss, perfect timing, buried cash, or a better-shovel gate.
- Named fossil: counts toward that creature's set.
- No fossil: normal result, not a bug. Empty swings happen on every island.
- Perfect timing: release in the green meter zone for a better find.
- Buried treasure or cash: more common on night glowing dig sites.
- Wrong shovel: Digby's or the dig prompt says you need a better shovel. Leave and upgrade.
Collection Index table
Six tracks: Cambrian 6, Devonian 8, Triassic 20, Jurassic 20, Cretaceous 20, Cretaceous Seas 6.
| Period | Slots | Shovel gate | Egg source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambrian | 6 | Wooden (free) | Dig | Starter island; five matching fossils per creature |
| Devonian | 8 | Bronze (2,500) | Dig | Mostly aquatic and semi-aquatic creatures |
| Triassic | 20 | Silver (about 12,000) | Dig | Flyer dig step; three fossils per set; more land dinos than Devonian |
| Jurassic | 20 | Iron (about 50,000) | Dig | Needs Iron or better at Digby's |
| Cretaceous | 20 | Titanium (Digby's) | Dig | Highest dig shovel gate |
| Cretaceous Seas | 6 | N/A (not shovel digs) | Fishing / sea activity | Sea eggs and Grotto Steals; never shovel dig sites |
Matching set rules
One creature, matching pieces only. Period progress counters are not set length.
- Cambrian creatures need five matching fossils of the same species.
- Small islands use five matching pieces; larger islands use three. Follow the set counter on that creature.
- A line like 3 out of 6 on Cambrian means how many of the six Cambrian species you have finished. It does not mean one egg needs six mixed pieces.
- Mixed species fossils never complete a single set.
- When the panel says Ready to extract DNA, return to Home Island and use Dr. Ivy's DNA Lab. You cannot extract on the dig island.
- After you trade a set for an egg, open the set counter again. Leftover pieces for other creatures stay in inventory and keep their own progress.
- You can hold extras past the requirement (for example Trilobite 9/5). After Get Egg, open the counter again to see what stayed.
Map islands list
Press M for the map. Home plus five period islands appear; later labels can show as ??? until you unlock them. Use the waterfall to find DNA Lab and dock.
| Island | Role |
|---|---|
| Home Island | Ranch, Digby's, Bramble's, DNA Lab, dock; waterfall landmark for return |
| Cambrian | Starter digs; Wooden shovel; five matching fossils per creature; short boat ride |
| Devonian | Bronze shovel (2,500); eight Index slots; mostly aquatic or semi-aquatic |
| Triassic | Silver shovel (~12,000); twenty slots; three fossils per set; flyer dig step |
| Jurassic | Iron shovel digs; twenty slots; later land dinos |
| Cretaceous | Titanium shovel digs; twenty slots; highest dig gate |
Cretaceous Seas
Six Index slots that never come from shovel digs. Fill them by fishing, diving, and Sunken Grotto Steals. Species names show in the Index as you get them. Rod, bait, and Grotto steps are on the fishing page.
Full cast and bait rules are on fishing.
Night glowing digs
At night, glowing dig sites appear on period islands. Prioritize them for more cash while fossils still drop. Day digs still work. Pair night runs with Lucky Clover or a luck code when you are hunting rarer sets.
Dig tips
Green meter, shovel gates, waterfall return, and when to sell extras.
- Release in the green meter every dig.
- Sell Common and Rare extras when ranch slots are full of better eggs.
- Higher Digby's shovels keep earlier periods. Bronze does not lock you out of Cambrian.
- Use the waterfall on Home Island to find the DNA Lab and dock after long digs.
- Digs can also tick a little XP (around +18). Use it as a side readout.
Cambrian dig payouts table
Coins and XP per pick by rarity on Cambrian. A full matching set stacks five picks of that species.
| Rarity | Coins | XP |
|---|---|---|
| Common | 6 | 30 |
| Uncommon | 12 | 54 |
| Rare | 30 | 105 |
| Epic | 75 | 210 |
| Legendary | 225 | 450 |
FAQ
What is the Collection Index 80?
The Index tracks 80 creature slots across six tracks: Cambrian 6, Devonian 8, Triassic 20, Jurassic 20, Cretaceous 20, and Cretaceous Seas 6.
Why doesn't my mixed pile of fossils make an egg?
Each egg needs a complete matching set for one creature. Five Cambrian fossils from five species are not one set.
Can I extract DNA on the dig island?
No. Ready to extract DNA means sail home and use Dr. Ivy's DNA Lab on Home Island.
Why can't I dig on Devonian?
Devonian needs Digby's Bronze shovel (2,500 coins). Wooden only covers Cambrian. Later periods need Silver, Iron, or Titanium.
Are Cretaceous Seas fossils dug with a shovel?
No. Those six Index slots come from fishing and sea eggs. Dig sites do not fill Seas entries.
Do night digs replace day digs?
No. Day digs still work. Glowing night sites are a better cash and fossil window when they appear.
Does a better shovel lock me out of Cambrian?
No. Higher Digby's shovels keep earlier period dig access. Bronze opens Devonian without removing Cambrian.