The best drill for Nebula in Mine a Planet is whichever Legendary-tier drill you have equipped, with the Cosmic Reaper and Astral Annihilator being the strictly best choices. Nebula is the source planet for Stardust and Void Shards, which are the materials required for the Cosmic Core recipe and the Astral Annihilator craft itself. This guide covers the optimal drill choice at each Nebula progression milestone, the damage breakpoints for Stardust and Void Shard nodes, and the recommended reforge strategy for end-game Nebula farming.
For the complete drill tier list, see our Mine a Planet S-tier drill list. For Nebula planet details and hidden chests, see our Mine a Planet planets guide. This principle applies broadly across all progression stages and is one of the most reliable optimization levers in the game.
Nebula Drill Progression
The Nebula drill progression is shorter than Earth's because Nebula is a late-game planet that requires a Legendary drill to access. Players who arrive at Nebula with the Mythril Destroyer can clear nodes in 4-5 hits, while players who arrive with the Astral Annihilator can clear nodes in 1-2 hits.
| Drill | Damage | Stardust Node Hits | Void Shard Node Hits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mythril Destroyer | 1,250 | 4-5 hits | 5-6 hits |
| Cosmic Reaper | 2,400 | 2-3 hits | 3-4 hits |
| Astral Annihilator | 4,800 | 1-2 hits | 1-2 hits |
The damage gaps between drills are large enough that each upgrade cuts the swing count per node significantly. The Cosmic Reaper roughly halves the swing count compared to the Mythril Destroyer, and the Astral Annihilator halves it again. The exact mechanics vary slightly by patch, but the underlying principle remains consistent across all player playstyles.
Why the Astral Annihilator Is the Best Nebula Drill
The Astral Annihilator is the strictly best Nebula drill because of its 32x base ore multiplier. On Nebula nodes, every swing yields 32 Stardust or Void Shards (with appropriate reforge scaling), which translates into massive material income per hour. Compared to the Cosmic Reaper's 16x multiplier, the Astral Annihilator doubles the effective material income on every swing.
The damage of the Astral Annihilator is also meaningful — at 4,800 base damage, it breaks Nebula nodes in 1-2 hits, which means every swing is a productive swing. The Mythril Destroyer at 4-5 hits per node wastes 50-75% of swings on redundant hits, which is a major efficiency loss at the end-game tier.
Recommended Craft Order to Reach Nebula
The optimal craft order to reach Nebula is Titanium Spire → Mythril Destroyer → Cosmic Reaper → Astral Annihilator. The Mythril Destroyer is the entry point to Nebula, the Cosmic Reaper is the upgrade path, and the Astral Annihilator is the end-game target.
| Step | Craft | Materials | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Titanium Spire | 3 Titanium Plates | Europa |
| 2 | Mythril Destroyer | 2 Mythril Bars + Solar Flare | Nebula |
| 3 | Cosmic Reaper | 1 Cosmic Core + Quantum Borer | Nebula (deeper) |
| 4 | Astral Annihilator | 3 Cosmic Cores + 100 Stardust + 2nd Rebirth | Void |
Each step requires significant grinding, but the damage and multiplier jumps are worth the investment. Skipping any step is not possible because of the prerequisite chain. Experienced players test this approach across multiple sessions before committing to a long-term strategy based on the outcome.
Nebula Farming Strategy
The optimal Nebula farming strategy depends on whether you are targeting Stardust or Void Shards. Stardust is needed at 2x the Void Shard ratio for Mythril Bar, while Void Shards are needed at 2x the Stardust ratio for Cosmic Core. The recommended pattern is to focus on Stardust-heavy cycles (every other cycle) and Void Shard-heavy cycles alternating, which keeps both materials balanced.
For players who are pushing for the Astral Annihilator craft, Void Shard focus is more important because the Cosmic Core recipe needs 100 Void Shards per core. For players who are pushing for Mythril Bar materials, Stardust focus is more important.
| Focus | Material | Recipe Use | Cycle Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stardust focus | Stardust | Mythril Bar | 8-10 minutes |
| Void Shard focus | Void Shards | Cosmic Core | 10-12 minutes |
Reforge Strategy for Nebula Drills
The reforge strategy for Nebula drills depends on which drill you intend to bind. For players binding the Mythril Destroyer, reforge aggressively for high Ore Multiplier — every 1% improvement on Ore Multiplier scales into significant material income per hour.
For players binding the Cosmic Reaper or Astral Annihilator, the reforge math is the same but the absolute returns are larger. A high Ore Multiplier roll on an Astral Annihilator can mean 40-50x material income per swing, which compounds across hundreds of swings per session.
For a complete walkthrough of the reforge priority and the optimal stat rolls, see our Mine a Planet reforge strategy guide. Combining this insight with active pet bonuses and prestige multipliers yields compounding benefits that accelerate overall progression.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best drill for farming Stardust?
The Astral Annihilator with a high Ore Multiplier reforge is the strictly best Stardust farming drill. The 32x base multiplier (40-50x with reforge) yields maximum Stardust per swing. Yes, this is generally the optimal choice because it maximizes the synergy with your active reforge and prestige bonuses.
Can I farm Nebula with a Mythril Destroyer?
Yes, the Mythril Destroyer is the entry-level Nebula drill and clears nodes in 4-5 hits. It is slower than the Cosmic Reaper or Astral Annihilator, but it works. Yes, but the optimal approach depends on your current progression stage and your stockpile of supporting materials.
Should I bind the Mythril Destroyer or Cosmic Reaper across my second rebirth?
Bind the Cosmic Reaper if you have one crafted and reforged. The Prestige Point payout is roughly 2x the Mythril Destroyer, which makes it a stronger choice for second-rebirth cycles. Generally yes, but the optimal timing depends on your current resource reserves and your active biome's node HP profile.
How long does it take to craft an Astral Annihilator?
Roughly 15-25 hours of focused grinding across Nebula and Void planets, plus the second Rebirth requirement. The exact time depends on your drill tier, pet bonuses, and prestige multipliers. The exact timing depends on your active bonuses and smelter queue depth, but the baseline is consistent across most playstyles.
Is the Cosmic Reaper worth crafting for Nebula farming?
Yes, the Cosmic Reaper is the upgrade path from the Mythril Destroyer and roughly doubles your farming efficiency. Most players should craft it before pursuing the Astral Annihilator. Yes, this item is valuable at every stage because it provides a permanent bonus that compounds with other systems.
Why High Ore Multiplier Beats High Damage on Nebula
A common drill choice mistake on Nebula is to prioritize damage over ore multiplier. While damage determines how many swings it takes to break a node, ore multiplier determines how much material each swing yields. On Nebula, where material income is more important than clear speed, ore multiplier is the higher-value stat.
The Mythril Destroyer has 1,250 damage and 8x ore multiplier. The Cosmic Reaper has 2,400 damage and 16x ore multiplier. The Cosmic Reaper is strictly better because the damage AND ore multiplier are both higher. But the ore multiplier gap (16x vs 8x) is what drives the material income difference, not the damage gap (2,400 vs 1,250). A Mythril Destroyer with a +100% Ore Multiplier reforge can outperform a stock Cosmic Reaper on material income per swing.
| Drill | Damage | Ore Multiplier | Material per Swing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mythril Destroyer (stock) | 1,250 | 8x | 8 units |
| Mythril Destroyer (+100% reforge) | 1,250 | 16x | 16 units |
| Cosmic Reaper (stock) | 2,400 | 16x | 16 units |
The Mythril Destroyer with the perfect reforge matches the Cosmic Reaper on material income, despite being a lower-tier drill. This is why the reforge system is so valuable — a perfectly rolled lower-tier drill can rival a higher-tier drill on key stats.
Nebula Multi-Planet Farming Routes
For end-game players who own the Astral Annihilator, Nebula is sometimes paired with Void in alternating farming cycles. The two planets share material drops (Stardust on both, Void Shards more common on Void), which means a balanced cycle between them produces the right ratio for Cosmic Core crafting.
A typical multi-planet cycle might be 15 minutes on Nebula followed by 15 minutes on Void, repeated. The exact ratio depends on which material you are short on, but the alternating pattern is the most reliable way to keep both materials balanced.
Hidden Chests and Bonus Loot on Nebula
Nebula has a small number of hidden chests that grant bonus Stardust and Void Shards when opened. The chests spawn at fixed locations and respawn every 24 hours, which means checking them once per play session is enough to capture the bonus loot. The optimal drill for chest farming on Nebula is your highest-tier drill, because chests do not have node HP and clear instantly.
Why Nebula Is the Most Strategic Planet in the Game
Nebula sits at the crossroads between mid-game and end-game, which makes it the most strategically important planet in the entire game. The Mythril Destroyer craft unlocks Nebula, and the Cosmic Reaper craft unlocks the deeper Nebula zones where Void Shards are more common. Every major end-game material income comes from Nebula or the late-game planets unlocked by Nebula progression.
This strategic importance is why the Mythril Destroyer and Cosmic Reaper are the two most important crafts to invest in. Skipping either one means missing out on the material income needed to push into the Astral Annihilator and the Void planet.
Pairing Nebula Farming With Pets for Maximum Yield
The optimal Nebula farming setup includes not just the right drill, but also the right pet. The Astral Cat grants a Drill Speed bonus and a Rare Drop Chance bonus, which both compound on Nebula. The Cosmic Wolf grants an even higher Drill Speed bonus and a small XP bonus. Pairing the right drill with the right pet can boost material income per hour by 20-30%.
For the absolute maximum yield, equip an Astral Cat (or Cosmic Wolf) on Nebula and an Iron Pup on lower-tier planets. The pet switching is a small hassle, but the bonus is meaningful for end-game farming. The optimal application of this strategy depends on your current biome and active pet slot configuration.
How Long It Takes to Reach the Astral Annihilator From a Fresh Nebula Start
Players who arrive at Nebula for the first time with a Mythril Destroyer need roughly 15-25 hours of focused grinding to accumulate enough Cosmic Cores for the Astral Annihilator. The exact time depends on grinding efficiency, pet bonuses, and prestige multipliers. Players who are farming on private servers with no competition can shave 30-40% off this time.
The 15-25 hour estimate assumes a focused grinding session of 2-3 hours per day. More casual players who grind 30-60 minutes per day will take longer, but the total time investment is similar — it is the daily cadence that changes, not the total material required.