Archaeology is a Character Development skill in which players level up their skill with shovels to dig up materials — including crafting materials, weapons, bags, and treasure maps. Archaeology requires a shovel and gives the player Mining and Metallurgy experience. Shovels are crafted with Engineering, but a Novice's Shovel can be acquired from the Merchant NPC.
Digging is an AFK activity done at the Excavation Pit in the capital city.
The shovel loses durability with each dig action, so repair it or grab a new one every now and then — low-durability shovels take much longer to complete a digging action than a fresh shovel.
Each tier of archaeology has more variety and higher-tier loot than the previous tier. The shovels — and the archaeology tier they unlock — climb through five grades, lowest to highest:
- Novice's Shovel
- Apprentice's Shovel
- Journeyman's Shovel
- Craftsman's Shovel
- Master's Shovel
Treasure Maps
Treasure maps are collected while digging at the Excavation Pit or while Fishing. They can be used to reveal a treasure location on the map. To use a map, right-click it and select Use, then look at the map and find the pin — travel to that location and interact to dig up your treasure.
Treasure maps excavated at the dig pit will be of the tier of the shovel being used, or lower.
A treasure-map quest may be dropped if the player does not wish to do it — this consumes the treasure map. Higher-tier treasure maps yield better treasures, but are found in more dangerous locations.
| Treasure Map | Archaeology Required | Spawn Location | PvP Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peasant's | Novice's Shovel | Capital Island | None |
| Deserter's | Apprentice's Shovel | Nation's non-loot area | Very Low |
| Thug's | Journeyman's Shovel | Outer Ring | Moderate |
| Warrior's | Craftsman's Shovel | Loot Zone | High |
| Champion's | Master's Shovel | Enemy's Homeland | Very High |