The Sims 4 Collecting Guide

Collectible Lists and How to Find Rare Types

Collecting via Digging in The Sims 4
Metals, Crystals, Trophies, and Fossil Collections are found by Digging

The Sims 4 Base Game features 13 types of Collectibles that can be gathered by Sims. Each of them are found in different ways, so each deserves its own Guide with lists to help you figure out what's missing. Here you will find the basic information on how to collect each of these, how many there are and where/how rares are found, and a link to in-depth information on prices for every type of collectible. As Expansions and Game Packs add more types to Collect, I'll gradually expand this list so that it always remains helpful for players who want to find everything.

Not Every Collection has a link - this is because the page doesn't exist yet! This section is being prioritized until these are all finished. Thanks for your patience!

Game Pack Additions - Outdoor Retreat adds Insects to the game.

General Collecting Tips for Rocks and Plants
While other types of Collections are completed at home or via Fishing, travel, etc. the biggest burden a Collector faces is completing the Metals, Fossils, Crystals, and MySims Trophies collections. All four come from the same Rocks, and Elements are harvested by sending off Metals and Crystals, so there is a huge variety and thus low chance of you finding one you are missing. Finding more and more of these is necessary to polish off these Collections. Some plants must be found in the wild and introduced to your garden, so these tips apply to those as well.

  • Collecting Starts at Home - There are spawners in every Neighborhood. Before you set out to look in other areas, check around the homes in your own Neighborhood. By the time you are done elsewhere, these may have respawned.
  • Pause the Game - For Rocks and Plants, there's no need to have your Sim aging while you the player are looking around for collectibles. Scan the borders of an area then look toward the middle for spawners you may have missed. Looking from another angle can help as well, because there will always be trees, bushes, and houses in the way. There are not many spawners on actual homes' lots, but rather around them, so use this knowledge to help you save time.
  • Run a Pattern - Look around several Neighborhoods as your Sim's Energy allows. You can pause the game and watch for the sparkles of plants, the shapes of rocks, and gather at least a few collectible items from each Neighborhood you visit.
  • Day by Day - Spawners create items in an area about once a day. Head to Neighborhoods you haven't yet explored, and certainly visit the areas of Sylvan Glade and, with Level 10 Handiness, Forgotten Grotto. These areas have a higher chance of Rares, and some items will ONLY spawn there.
  • Visit the Parks - Oasis Springs' Park has had up to 8 dig spots for me on a visit, and there are usually several in Willow Creek as well.
  • A Nature Aspiration Helps - Selecting any of the Nature Aspirations at Sim creation will give you the Collector Bonus Trait, which will make finding Rares a little more likely. This is helpful, but not required.
  • Know the Collections - Some Collections, like Space Prints and Aliens, can be completed without ever leaving your home lot. Microscope Prints requires minimal travel. Others like Gardening will require you to gain at least level 5 in a Skill, and others higher. The list of Collections below includes the Skills necessary to complete them and how Rares are found, so this should be helpful if these tips aren't!

Sims 4 Collections List

Aliens: 10 Collectibles
Aliens are found via the Rocket Science Skill's adventures in space. Do enough of these missions, and you're sure to finish this Collection in due time. It is a bit harder than Space Rocks, given there are 10 types, and is likely to take longest of the two, simply because of the need to find more of them. Rocket Science is a Skill that takes some time and money investment, as Rockets aren't cheap, so you should do this with some other source of income to keep your bills paid! All Dead Aliens produce a Confident aura when placed in a room with the Aura Enabled, while living ones contribute to a room's Decorated bonus.

Crystals: 20 Collectibles
Crystal are found while digging up rocks, spread around each Neighborhood. Each Crystal you get gives off an Energized Aura, which can be helpful to place near Fitness equipment to help your Sim gain that Skill faster. These may take a while, as you must travel to various neighborhoods to get them, and wait on Rocks to respawn. The tips above will likely be of help to you. Crystals will help finish the Microscope Prints collection via taking samples, as you can analyze them to get Rares. You'll also need to occasionally 'Call Geo Council about Sample' to determine the Elements a Crystal is made of, and consider whether sending it in for $20 to possibly get one of those Elements in the mail to complete that Collection.

Elements: 15 Collectibles
Collecting Elements means digging up rocks for Metals and Crystals, then sending them in to the Geo Council to have an Element send to you via Mail. Each Element will cost you $20 to get, as you must ship it to the Geo Council. Clicking them in your inventory will let you call the Geo Council and find out what Elements the Crystal or Metal are made of. The Element you get in the mail is based on the Elemental composition of the Metals/Crystals you send in. You get one of the two or three Elements from each sample you send in, so it may take multiple tries on a single item to get the Element you're missing. Naturally, if a Crystal is made of an Uncommon and Rare Element, you are more likely to get the Uncommon.

Fish: 22 Collectibles
Look to our Fishing Guide to learn more about catching all the types of Fish in the game. Completing the collection requires a trip to Forgotten Grotto, so you'll need level 10 Handiness. Knowledge of Fishing Spots and Bait the fish desire will help you polish off the Fish Collection with ease!

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Fossils: 15 Collectibles
Found via Digging, then carefully extracting them from Limestone by clicking it in the Sim's Inventory. The Fossil you get is random. You will have to dig up many rocks in order to finish this Collection. Taking Samples from Fossils can help you finish the Microscope Prints Collection. Fossils give off an Environment bonus, contributing to the overall Decorum score of the area in which they are placed.

Frogs: 25 Collectibles
While all Frogs may be found via searching in Logs, Water Pumps, and caught at Ponds, the Rares can be a challenge to find due to the low chance of them being caught. To compensate for the rarity, players may take Frogs they have found and breed them to produce a new type of Frog. This is doable every so often, and Frogs aren't lost in the process. Check out our Guide to learn about Frog Breeding so you can get the Rare types you're missing. Each time you Breed two frogs, you'll have a 25% chance of it being the missing type, so long as you breed the right kind. All Frogs provide Environment +3, so serve as decent Decor for your Sim's home.

Gardening: 32 Collectibles
In order to complete this Collection, players will have to invest heavy time in Gardening. Getting all of the plants requires you to know Grafting Combinations that produce the rare and uncommon plants that aren't found in the world. You will need to take cutting from plants that are not ready to harvest, then graft those to plants at home in order to be efficient. The link leads to the Gardening Skill guide, where you can learn all you'll need to know in order to find these.

Geodes (Get to Work Expansion Pack): 6 Collectibles
Geodes are found on the planet Sixam, a hidden area included in the Expansion Pack. Each has an environment rating of 3. You can find these either via leveling Rocket Science to 10 and upgrading the rocket to enter wormholes, or reaching a high level in the Scientist Career.

Insects (Outdoor Retreat Game Pack): 21 Collectibles
Collecting Insects requires a keen eye, more so than any other type. Insects are found throughout the Forests in Granite Falls, Outdoor Retreat's Vacation area. While there, you can find flying and crawling insects. Each spawner will produce different types of insects depending on the time of day. Some types can only be found during the daytime, while others are available at night. A visit to the Deep Woods, where the Hermit lives, will give you a better shot at finding some of the rarer flying insects. Insects in terrariums give a Decorated bonus to a room, contributing to its overall score.

Metals: 20 Collectibles
Metals, like Fossils, Crystals, and MySims Trophies, are found via Digging up rocks. Rares could be anywhere, so the only way to finish this is to scour neighborhoods, parks, and Sylvan Glade/Forgotten Grotto to give yourself the chance to dig up enough to finish it. Because of the possibility of these other types, Metals and Crystals can be quite difficult to complete. On the plus side, you're working on four Collections at once (Five with Elements). You can call the Geo Council about a piece of Metal to determine the Elements it is comprised of, and spending $20 to send it in will give you a chance of up to three Elements arriving in the mail the next day. Metals give an Environment bonus, contributing to the Decor of a room when placed in the game world.

Microscope Prints: 12 Collectibles
Microscope Prints are found via using the Microscope, with or without a slide to use. To use a slide, you need to take a sample from a Crystal, Fossil, or Plant. While out Collecting, take samples for your Microscope from wild Plants. This can be done safely without destroying them. Six of the Prints can be obtained without Slides, but you'll get a much better rate of Uncommon types while using Slides. In order to get the hardest to find prints, you must take samples from Crystals, Fossils, and Plants and analyze them. You are able to do this every few hours, so only need one type of Crystal and Fossil to get the Rares. It is simply faster with more objects from which to take samples. Microscope Prints give off a Focused Aura when placed and enabled.

MySims Trophies: 20 Collectibles
MySims Trophies are found in Capsules, which are occasionally unearthed while digging for Metals and Crystals. Opening them from your Sim's Inventory will yield Common to Uncommon types, while Rares are unlikely. You will also sometimes find Treasure Maps while digging. Each Treasure Map gives you a shot at a Rare. These are consumed when you select a rock and 'Dig for Treasure'. This is the only reliable way you'll find all of the Rare MySims Trophies. These Trophies can give off a Playful Aura when placed in the game world.

Postcards: 14 Collectibles
Postcards may be collected by finding Pen Pals on the Computer and requesting them. Simply go to the Socialize menu on the Computer, then Find a Pen Pal. After several hours, check for responses. You may get a Pen Pal from Bridgeport, Sunset Valley, or other locale. Then, write to that Pen Pal. After a short time, you can ask for a Postcard from that location. You may have a number of Pen Pals at once, and it may take several tries asking for a Postcard to get one in the mail (especially for the Rares). When displayed in the home and with auras enabled, these can make Sims Inspired. They are thus perfect for Writers, Artists and Chefs to have in their respective work areas. Postcard corkboard may be purchased that will allow you to organize these on the wall, and with all 14 you will get an Inspired +2 Aura in that work area.

Space Prints: 15 Collectibles
This requires you to purchase an Observatory for your Sim's home lot. Finishing the Space Prints collection will naturally level your Sim's Logic Skill via using the Observatory. Doing this while Focused may yield better collecting results, while also leveling Logic faster. In order to finish it, you simply need to use the three different types of Observatory interactions - Observe the Sky, Stargaze, and Search for the Truth. Each type of Print comes from one specific interaction. Space Prints, when placed on a wall, can give off a Focused aura should you enable it by clicking.

Space Rocks: 4 Collectibles
As with Aliens, Space Rocks are found via the Rocket Science Skill and adventures in space. Do enough of these missions, and you are sure to get all 4 types of Rock. It may take a number of missions, because there is quite a variety. Thankfully, many of the rewards are random so while you may not have found one on a previous trip, the same mission may award you a Rare Space Rock. These Rocks help decorate a room, giving off an Environment bonus.

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Comments (31)

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Regular
Adriannasays...
This may be a stupid question, but is there a spot in game that I can go to see what I've collected?
Admin: Go to the inventory tab for that Sim, you'll find a button on the left for Collections.
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New
Isasays...
Maybe another stupid question. I found all microscope pictures but I can't find the trophy for it anywhere. Where are the rewards stored?
Thx for the help
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Admin
Carlsays...
I cannot remember right now if you get a plaque for this collection, but they are usually delivered in the mail a day or two after completion. I'm sure it's possible to miss one if you go for the mail and don't realize it's in the Sim's inventory. Whoever collects it there at the mailbox receives it. I'll have a look as soon as I'm able and confirm which collections receive these and which don't..
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Sharisays...
I used to find decorative eggs easy PZ but now can't find one to save my life, will you be covering them?
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New
Zarasays...
The event ended. It was only in the Spring. You can no longer find decorated eggs. Sad
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New
sharon squiressays...
there is a cheat to get the hidden objects the eggs are in that collection I dont know if you place them on the ground in build mode if you can collect them or not
cant remember the cheat but its easy to find
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Admin
Playalotsays...
bb.showhiddenobjects The buydebug cheat. Carl has written a great guide on how to use cheats.
The Sims 4 Cheats
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Regular
katsays...
You used to have some awesome photos of the collections. Are those on here somewhere?
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New
Zarasays...
Click on the links. They are on the collection specific pages.
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New
Jessays...
If I sell a collectible, does it still count towards completing a collection, or do I have to keep every darn egg I find, haha? Thanks for your work on this game guide website, it is amazing!
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New
Jessays...
Also, if I send in a metal, or something to have the elements like separated or whatever the term is, does that count towards both the element and the metal collection, or do I have to choose which one to keep?
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New
Suesays...
You don't have to keep any of the collectables you find, all that counts is that you find them and you can do whatever you want with them. Grin
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New
Jessays...
If I sell a collectible, does it still count towards completing a collection, or do I have to keep every darn egg I find, haha? Thanks for your work on this game guide website, it is amazing!
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New
pcavenettsays...
You can sell collectibles and it still counts towards your collection. As soon as you find it, the game registers it in your collection. What you do with it after that is entirely up to you Smile
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New
tonyasays...
in the sims 3 you could purchase a collectible finder will this be added to the game or is there something similar
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Admin
Playalotsays...
I have no clue as to future content but the spawn points are easy to remember once you have walked your sim around the various neighborhoods.
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New
horseangel41says...
What about the Decorated Eggs Collection? Its not on here but it is in the game.
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Admin
Playalotsays...
The eggs were a limited time item in 2015.
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New
Hannasays...
For anybody missing items from their desired collection, the buy debug/show hidden items cheat is a great way of finishing collections off Blush
The decorated eggs are also available there!
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Very true and great tip, certainly helps to by-pass the 'I need one more' frustration!
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New
Rita Crossthwaitesays...
I had completed the alien collection and now notice the collection is showing empty and that I haven't completed it. Super bummed. Any ideas? I really hate the thought of doing them again :( I also had almost 30 potions made and sitting on shelves and somehow between last night and today, they're all gone.
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Admin
Playalotsays...
If you still have the actual aliens you can drag them into your sims inventory again where they will register. I'm not sure what happened to your potions but I do know that visiting sims (and your own sims when not watched closely) will auto drink any potions lying around. I was a little stunned when I saw all my party guests once walk upstairs and help themselves to my potions that were lined up neatly on a shelf! Huh
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New
SimmmerHorsesays...
I am wondering what items are in the decorative eggs collection. Their is a bunny stuffed animal that i want to get but need those items. Unsure
Admin: There were 10 different designs of decorated egg. Once you had found all 10 the large bunny children's toy was unlocked.
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New
Christasays...
if my sim dies, will their child be able to carry on collecting? like pick up where the first sim left off?Smile
Admin: Yes collections are per household, not per sim.
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New
Rita Crossthwaitesays...
Please help me. I am so tired of trying to collect the last 2 trophies. I've been searching for 2 months of my time. Spawning is no good as it doesn't count towards the collection. I collected 20 treasure maps, dig for treasure, over and over again, I just don't save so I can keep doing it. Please help. I'm so fed up with trophies.
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Admin
Playalotsays...
I know it can be very frustrating. It took me ages the first time as well. I kept digging up the same trophy over and over again. Eventually it happened. But basically by collecting you reset the spawners so you need to keep saving your game otherwise you will literally just be digging the same items up in a never ending cycle. The bonus trait 'Collector' your sim gets for choosing a knowledge aspiration is really key for successful collecting as it increases the odds of getting the rarer items. If you haven't already I would delete your cache files and then when you start up your game again I would spend a bit of time taking your sim to the hidden lots (The Grotto and Sylvan Glades) as they often have the rarer items. if you really just can't face anymore collecting, they are available through the 'buydebug' cheat... although sounds like you've worked so hard might be a shame to cheat the end.
bb.showhiddenobjects (Buydebug Cheat)
Clearing cache
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New
PokemonGirlsays...
What are you looking for? Maybe I could help :)
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New
Lielsays...
I noticed that the rocks in my game only appear between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM...this is really frustrating, it wasn't always like this. Does anyone know if this is a bug? Or is this normal?
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Not normal. There is a bug where dig sites just don't reappear but since you can actually see your for a time anyway this is probably different. Try
Repairing your game.
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Regular
Emmasays...
Do I have to keep the things I collect or once I've collected them can I get rid of them? I'm just not sure where I'm going to store all of these frogs.
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Admin
Playalotsays...
If the items are registered in the collections lists then it is fine to sell them. You could make a basement and store items down there if you wanted.
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Regular
Emmasays...
My basement and sub-basement are a two-storey snazzy underground piano bar. Grin I'll find somewhere for the cooler ones and sell the rest.
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New
Therecis Owlsays...
What do I do with Treasure Maps??? Right now I'm just selling them. Do they have some greater purpose??
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Admin
Playalotsays...
So you will also sometimes find Treasure Maps while digging. Each Treasure Map gives you a shot at a Rare My Sims Trophy. These are consumed when you select a rock and 'Dig for Treasure'. The 'Dig For Treasure' action will only be available if you have a treasure map in your sims inventory, otherwise all you can do is 'dig'. Smile
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New
Insanitysays...
I want to find out about the sugar skull collectables if at all possible :)
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Hi the sugar skulls were part of a timed event that Carl tends not to cover in his guides as if you did not play during the event then the items are more or less locked. You can access them with cheats I believe. I didn't play this particular event so I'm not sure how many skulls there were but the team at EA release these events every so often so you may be able to find more info about them on the Official Forums Smile
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New
PokemonGirlsays...
They were a day of the dead event. I collected them all but had to reset my save to fix a glitch, haha, so i lost them. All they did was look cool and give you money, I'm pretty sure.
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New
PokemonGirlsays...
Oh yeah, if you cheat all of them in you can put them in a display case that will allow you to "honor the dead" which gives you a cool outfit and particle effects! :)
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New
PokemonGirlsays...
Any plans to work on the new City Living collections? I'm working on them myself, but was a bit bummed when there wasnt a page for them here.
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Admin
Playalotsays...
They will be added eventually. Here's a tip re the snow globes though, if you keep an eye out either at the Flea Market or in the other plazas in San Myshuno you can sometimes see a sim selling all the globes on a sale table. A quick way of completing the collection.
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New
PokemonGirlsays...
Yeah, I saw that! Now I'm only missing one uncommon one.
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New
eule3400says...
How do I place my collected frogs and other collectibles in my house?? Sad
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Senior
Playalotsays...
Just drag them out of your sims inventory. You can then grab them with your mouse cursor and place them where you want them. Many of the crystals and metals will fit on shelves too.
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Regular
Adriannasays...
I just got the City Living expansion. I can't seem to collect anything. Does your sim have to live in the area in order to find things? Every time I go there are no posters and I can't find any junk boxes.
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Your sim will need to wait around for a while for the posters and snow globes boxes to spawn in. Your sim doesn't need to be living in the area it's just the game needs a bit of time to allow the spawning to occur. Just have your sim chat or buy some food. It doesn't usually take too long in-game time before the items begin to spawn in.
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New
Michaelasays...
So I have been looking all over the place as to why this keeps happening but I can't find an answer. So sometimes when I load my game and the scroll to look for collectables, how far my game will let me scroll changes. Sometimes when I go to the park in Oasis Springs I cannot even scroll far enough to get to the secret location. How can I fix this so I can look from more collectables on a lot.
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Admin
Playalotsays...
Next time it happens zoom back in to where your active sim is and click on him/her so that the camera is focused on them. Now your ability to zoom out should be normal again. I don't know why this happens but it occurs in my game form time to time too.
You can also hit the Tab button and then use the direction arrows on your keyboard to move the camera around.
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New
Natashasays...
Hey Carl, Snow Globe collecting was added to the game in city living. Any chance of those being included here?
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New
vdvrugtsays...
Is there no egg hunt this year
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New
junnightssays...
Found out that the flee market may help a LOT when it comes to completing challenges. Check the tables +.. Completed my sims trophies collection and the snow globe collection there (as in they had EVERY SINGLE ONE.. even those trophies almost impossible to find otherwise) :D :) .. And the tables change even during a single flea market so its well worth keeping an eye on them..
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New
Goatladysays...
You can use the Archaeology Table to extract elements from crystals, also. You can analyse crystals on the Chemical Analyzer and see if they contain what you need, and is then worth breaking into elements. Some crystals contain more than one element, and you'll only get one element from a crystal, you'll have to keep trying to get them all out. On top of this, analysing the element on the Chemical Analyzer will sometimes result in the secondary element also! I have done this a few times now.
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New
Samoht Sirromsays...

Not completely true. I am now extracting a third element from the same crystal. So In theory you could just keep extracting until you've gotten all that that one contains then move to the next.



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