Quick Guide

  • Two things gate a new layer: the boss fight and the Cash cost of steps at the new depth.
  • Prep order: income upgrades → Luck stack → boss attempt.
  • If the fight stalls, go back and upgrade — How to Defeat Bosses explains why retries lose.
  • When the whole wall stops paying, that is the How to Rebirth.

The Two Gates: Boss and Price

Unlocking the next layer in Depth Incremental means passing two checks. The first is the boss guardian — every layer has one, and the stairs beyond it stay closed until the fight is won. The second is quieter: step prices climb with every layer, so even an unlocked layer stays out of reach if your income has not scaled with it.

Both gates have the same solution — get stronger first. The sequence below turns that into a routine you can run at every depth.

Income is a depth stat

Treat Faster Cash and More Cash as layer-unlock requirements, not conveniences. The full ranking lives in the Best Upgrades.

The Prep Sequence

  1. Top up income upgradesBuy the next tier of Cash generation before anything else — it funds both the steps and the fight prep.
  2. Fund a dig batchBank Cash for the DIRT FOSSILS room (250 Cash per dig) with Luck stacked — the Fossils Guide covers the loop.
  3. Check the tree linesUpgrade trees that open at your depth often include combat-relevant nodes — the Upgrade Trees tracks what is confirmed.
  4. Buy steps to the gateSpend down to the boss with enough reserve to not strand yourself if the fight needs another upgrade round.
  5. Fight, win, descendBeat the guardian and the next layer opens — new finds, new trees, pricier steps. Repeat from step 1.

Signals You Are Pushing Too Early

    • The next step price needs more than a few minutes of income
    • The boss fight stalls twice on the same phase
    • Your Luck sources are unstacked (code unredeemed, no Plus bonus active)
    • You are borrowing against fossil income that has not rolled yet

Any two of these mean going back to upgrades beats another push. The All Layers explains what changes at each depth and why the walls exist.

Unlocking Layers FAQ

What unlocks the next layer?

Beating the layer's boss guardian — plus having the Cash for steps at the new depth, since prices climb with every layer.

Why is the boss too hard?

Preparation, not reflexes. Bosses gate depth; the intended answer is another round of upgrades and Luck stacking before the retry.

Should I rebirth instead of pushing?

When income flattens across two layers, yes — rebirth trades the stalled run for permanent strength. The rebirth guide covers the timing.