Overall characteristics | Caves Don't Starve Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
The caves are underground areas that are generated automatically. Cave entrances can be found in surface areas. These are so called Plugged Sinkholes. You have to use Pickaxe, Pick/axe, or Opulent Pickaxe to get inside. This will also produce Flint and Rocks. There are not many cave entrances. Note that once a Sinkhole is unplugged, Batilisks come out of it at dusk. They live in the caves. If they stay outside till morning, they fall asleep. Upon entering a cave you will see a message stating that the cave is unfinished and you will be given a choice between entering, leaving, or regenerating the cave. The third option is useful e.g. when you need different materials. After you enter the cave, you will see a rope leading up to the surface.
The lower level of the caves is the ruins. Note that there is always night in the caves. There is no clock underground. Because of deep darkness, you may want to use a Miner Hat or a Lantern. The latter occupies your hand slot, thus forcing you to hide your weapon. A Miner Hat is a much better choice, since it occupies only your head slot, allowing you to use your weapon or a pickaxe freely. You can also set a Pumpkin Lantern on the ground, which will generate some light. Note that these items can be used up, though, using a Light Bulb on a lantern will refuel it. Those can be obtained from Light Flowers, which grow underground. You can also find there some Guano left by Batilisks. This has more uses than Manure found on the surface.
Cave maps are different then others. There are three types of terrain in the caves. These are marked by different colours on the map. On the darkest one you can find Mushtrees, Light Flowers, Slurtles, Fireflies, and Tentacles. The brighter type of terrain contains Spiders, Stalagmites, and Spilagmites. The brightest area serves as a link between the other two and is empty.
While being under the ground, beware of earthquakes. They cause screen to shake, and Nitre and Marble to fall down from the ceiling. Red, blue, orange, and yellow gems fall down too. You may get hurt during an earthquake. Right after an earthquake Snurtles and Slurtles emerge seeking for food - they eat rocks. You can start an earthquake yourself with Gun Powder. If you die in the cave, you will respawn on the surface, but your items will be left underground. You can die plenty of times in the caves, and it doesn't end the game.
