The Shells Tideclaw Progression determines how quickly you can complete your Shell index, collecting the most profitable and rarest Shells. Traits are also important when it comes to the strength of your Tideclaw in Shells.
I discuss the best traits for Tideclaws in my Shells Tools Tier List. If you’d like a more in-depth look at the traits you can get, take a look at my Shells Traits Tier List.
Shells Tideclaw Progression
To progress through the Tideclaws in Shells, it’s important to look at the stats and prices. Sometimes, it actually works out best to skip a Tideclaw or two and save your Shellings for a much better tool.
The better the Tideclaw, the more Shellings they cost.
Starter Tideclaws
All players start with the Driftwood Stick, and by progressing through the tutorial quests, you quickly upgrade to the Rusted Sifter, which costs 200 Shellings. You have to purchase this tool to complete the quest, but the Tideclaw you obtain next is entirely your choice.
Rusted Sifter to the Bronze Sifter
Technically, the next best tool is the Steel Sifter, which costs 1.8K Shellings, but I recommend skipping this one and saving 3.5K Shellings for the Bronze Sifter.
This is because the stats for the Bronze Sifter are better than the Steel Sifter, and the difference between 1.8K Shellings and 3.5K Shellings is easily obtainable.
Bronze Sifter to the Simple Tideclaw
The next price up is the Simple Tideclaw at 6K Shellings. I wouldn’t skip this one, as the stats increase quite a bit considering its cost. It sets you up to easily progress to the next recommended tool, which is the Coral Tideclaw, costing 18K Shellings.
Simple Tideclaw to the Coral Tideclaw
Upgrading to the Coral Tideclaw from the Simple Tideclaw means skipping the Gold Sifter, which costs 13K Shellings. You might as well save the extra 5K Shellings for a better tool.
Coral Tideclaw to the RGB Tideclaw
We’re skipping the Rapid Sifter to go straight for the RGB Tideclaw. The stats aren’t too different, so I recommend saving up 40K Shellings instead of 35K.
RGB Tideclaw to the Frosted Tideclaw
Of course, the stats between these two Tideclaws provide a massive upgrade, but the Frosted Tideclaw will set you up for some major savings.
Frosted Tideclaw to the Crystal Tideclaw or the Energy Tideclaw
It’s double the price, but at 180K Shellings, the Crystal Tideclaw increases your stats that little bit more. Personally, I’d rather go for the Energy Tideclaw, which is a reward when completing Oro’s quest.
However, that isn’t to say the Crystal Tideclaw isn’t worth getting. You could always use it whilst working towards the Energy Tideclaw.
Energy Tideclaw to the Haunted Tideclaw
The Haunted Tideclaw is the next step up at 900K Shellings. It’s quite clearly quite a large price difference from the Crystal Tideclaw, but it’s worth it.
Your Luck increases to 220, which is why I recommend skipping the Blood Tide Claw, which costs 1,500,000 Shellings, as the Luck stat decreases a little despite its price.
Haunted Tideclaw to the Solar Tideclaw
Skipping the Blood Tide Claw means you’ll be saving your Shellings until you have 2,500,000. The stat buffs are great and it helps you to quickly get to the best Tideclaw in the game. Luckily, that’s the next Tideclaw you’ll be upgrading to.
Solar Tideclaw to the Brineblossom
The Brineblossom is the best Tideclaw in Shells, costing a total of 10,000,000. Once you have the Solar Tideclaw, which seems cheap in comparison to the Brineblossom, your main goal is to upgrade.
As of right now, the Brineblossom is the most expensive Tideclaw, making it the last to obtain in this progression guide for now.
