Once Bufo shares the upgraded recipe, granite gates stop being dead ends. Use the map below to plan your first success loop.
Advance Bufo’s questline until he shares the upgrade recipe; craft it at home with mid‑game materials.\n\nThe upgraded pickaxe breaks granite boulders, converting “come back later” exits into shortcuts and new pockets.
Four cues for the first success loop.
Clear: 1 tea + 1 pie. Storm/night: add second tea or a campfire. Confirm with the Expedition Planner.
Quick answers for the pickaxe route.
Corridor literacy: Map Guide (/articles/winter-burrow-map-guide). Granite specifics: Granite Guide (/articles/winter-burrow-granite-guide). Plan runs: Expedition Planner (/).
Supply Tip 1
Use Planner; add tea/campfire if risk shows.
Supply Tip 2
Travel light; pickaxe on quick-select.
Supply Tip 3
Return before night on your first loop.
The first meaningful tier is the Granite Pickaxe from Bufo’s chain; there’s no separate Flint Pickaxe tier.
Use 1 pie + 1 tea + 1 campfire for storm nights. The Expedition Planner shows your risk color and buffer minutes.
No. Once the first granite gate opens, more nodes appear. It’s slower, not ruined—just reserve 1 Granite for the pickaxe.
Survival
Layer gear, stagger fires, and ration hot drinks so your expedition never drops into the danger zone.
Survival
Advanced tactics for farming lumber, ore, forage, and flint loops with minimal downtime.
Survival
Practical, spoiler-light Granite guide: why the early “softlock” isn’t real, where Granite appears once gates open, and how to run a short, safe loop using a labeled community map.
Survival
No minimap? No problem. Use a labeled community map and landmark grammar—shorelines, grass bands, hollow logs, and stone vs. granite gates—to navigate confidently. Includes two starter loops and FAQs.