Mine a Planet Nebula & Void: Stardust & Void Shards

Nebula and Void are the end-game planets in Mine a Planet and the sources of Stardust, Void Shards, and the materials required for the Cosmic Reaper and Astral Annihilator crafts. Nebula unlocks when you craft the Mythril Destroyer, and Void unlocks after the second Rebirth. This guide covers both planets, their biome variants, the optimal farming routes, and the recommended strategy for the end-game crafting pipeline.

For the broader planet progression, see our Mine a Planet best planet order guide. For the smelter recipes, see our Mine a Planet smelter recipes guide. This principle applies broadly across all progression stages and is one of the most reliable optimization levers in the game.

Nebula Overview

Nebula is the first end-game planet and the source of Stardust and Void Shards. The planet has two biome variants — surface and Nebula Tower — each tuned for a specific progression milestone. The exact mechanics vary slightly by patch, but the underlying principle remains consistent across all player playstyles.

The primary ores on Nebula are Stardust and Void Shards, which are inputs for the Mythril Bar and Cosmic Core recipes. Nebula is where the most valuable end-game materials drop, and it is the central farming location for the Cosmic Reaper craft.

Void Overview

Void is the final planet and the most challenging end-game content. Void unlocks after the second Rebirth and requires the Astral Annihilator or higher to access efficiently. Experienced players test this approach across multiple sessions before committing to a long-term strategy based on the outcome.

Void has a single biome — the Void Shard biome — which is tuned exclusively for Void Shard farming. The biome has higher node HP than Nebula but also higher per-swing material rewards. Combining this insight with active pet bonuses and prestige multipliers yields compounding benefits that accelerate overall progression.

Nebula Surface Farming

The Nebula surface biome is the primary Stardust and Void Shard farming location. The optimal farming route is a 3-node loop near the smelter teleport. The optimal application of this strategy depends on your current biome and active pet slot configuration.

The Stardust drop rate is roughly 8% per swing, which means the 3-node loop yields roughly 50 Stardust per cycle (roughly 100 swings total). The Void Shard drop rate is roughly 2% on Nebula, which means smaller Void Shard yields.

Nebula Tower for Cosmic Core Fragments

The Nebula Tower biome has a small chance of Cosmic Core fragment drops, which are valuable for the Cosmic Reaper and Astral Annihilator crafts. The biome requires the Cosmic Reaper or higher to access efficiently. For specific biome-by-biome breakdowns, see our detailed planet guides which cover each scenario in depth.

The Nebula Tower is worth visiting periodically even if you are not actively pushing for the Cosmic Reaper craft, because the Cosmic Core fragment drops are valuable for trade and crafting. Veteran players typically learn to recognize these patterns within the first 10-15 hours of focused play.

Void Shard Biome for End-Game

The Void Shard biome is the most efficient Void Shard farming location in the game. The biome requires the Astral Annihilator for efficient clearing. This principle applies broadly across all progression stages and is one of the most reliable optimization levers in the game.

The Void Shard drop rate on Void is roughly 10% per swing, which is 5x the Nebula drop rate. This makes Void the strictly best Void Shard farming location, but the lower node density means you should pair Void farming with Nebula cycles for balance.

Best Drill Tier for End-Game

The best drill tier for Nebula and Void depends on your progression stage. Late-game players should use the Cosmic Reaper for Nebula. End-game players should use the Astral Annihilator for Void. The exact mechanics vary slightly by patch, but the underlying principle remains consistent across all player playstyles.

How to Balance Nebula and Void Farming

The optimal Nebula/Void farming strategy alternates between the two planets to balance Stardust and Void Shard stockpiles. A typical cycle might be 15 minutes on Nebula (Stardust focus) followed by 15 minutes on Void (Void Shard focus). Experienced players test this approach across multiple sessions before committing to a long-term strategy based on the outcome.

The balance is essential because the Cosmic Core recipe requires both Stardust and Void Shards, and an imbalance leaves one material stranded in your stockpile. Combining this insight with active pet bonuses and prestige multipliers yields compounding benefits that accelerate overall progression.

Rare Drop Economy on Nebula and Void

The Nebula and Void planets operate on a fundamentally different economic model than the early-game planets. Instead of generating raw ore at a steady rate, the late-game planets rely heavily on rare drops from drilling the high-HP nodes scattered across each biome. The drop rate is roughly 3-5% per swing on a Mythic-tier drill, which means you need to drill 20-30 nodes to get a single Stardust or Void Shard. The rarity is what makes these materials valuable, and it is also what makes the late-game grind feel so different from the constant ore-flow you experienced on Earth and Mars.

The smart play is to stack rare drop bonuses from multiple sources simultaneously: the prestige shop Rare Drop Chance upgrade, a pet with +Rare Drop Chance, a reforge roll that includes Rare Drop Chance, and the active pet slot's Rare Drop passive. When all four sources are stacked, your drop rate climbs from 3-5% per swing to roughly 12-18%, which cuts the average grind time per rare material by 70%. For more on stacking drop bonuses, see our best pet for grinding guide.

Surviving the Void Planet Difficulty Spike

The Void planet is the hardest biome in the game, and most players hit a difficulty wall the first time they arrive. The node HP is roughly 4x higher than Nebula's, and the damage formula changes to favor raw damage over Ore Multiplier. This means your reforge strategy needs to shift from Ore Multiplier priority to raw Damage priority for the duration of your Void farming sessions. Players who try to grind Void with an Ore Multiplier-stacked Mythril Destroyer will see roughly half the throughput of a Damage-stacked Cosmic Reaper.

For long Void farming sessions, the pet combo that works best is the Cosmic Dragon (raw damage) plus the Void Stalker (rare drop chance), which stacks two complementary bonuses. The smelter queue should be pre-staged with 100 Void Shards plus 50 Stardust, which is the Cosmic Core recipe ratio. The combined grind for one Cosmic Core takes roughly 6-8 hours of focused Void farming, so plan your sessions accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best drill for Nebula farming?

The Cosmic Reaper is the best mid-to-late game drill for Nebula. The Astral Annihilator is the best drill for the end-game Void planet. Yes, this is generally the optimal choice because it maximizes the synergy with your active reforge and prestige bonuses.

How long does it take to craft the Astral Annihilator?

The Astral Annihilator requires 3 Cosmic Cores plus 100 Stardust, plus the second Rebirth. Realistic time investment is 15-25 hours of focused Nebula and Void farming. The exact timing depends on your active bonuses and smelter queue depth, but the baseline is consistent across most playstyles.

Should I focus on Stardust or Void Shards first?

Stardust is needed at a higher ratio than Void Shards for both the Mythril Bar and Cosmic Core recipes, so prioritize Stardust farming on Nebula. Pair it with Void Shard farming on Void for balance. Generally yes, but the optimal timing depends on your current resource reserves and your active biome's node HP profile.

What is the best biome for end-game farming?

The Void Shard biome is the best for Void Shards, but it has lower node density than Nebula. Alternate between Nebula Tower and Void Shard biome for the best balance. Yes, this is generally the optimal choice because it maximizes the synergy with your active reforge and prestige bonuses.

How long should I stay on Nebula before moving to Void?

Most players spend 10-15 hours on Nebula before moving to Void. The transition happens naturally when you have crafted the Cosmic Reaper and reached level 50 for the second Rebirth. Generally yes, but the optimal timing depends on your current resource reserves and your active biome's node HP profile.

Why End-Game Players Alternate Between Nebula and Void

End-game players who own the Astral Annihilator alternate between Nebula and Void to balance Stardust and Void Shard stockpiles. The two planets drop both materials but in different ratios, and the optimal balance depends on which Cosmic Core recipe step you are currently crafting.

A typical end-game cycle might be 30 minutes on Nebula (Stardust focus) followed by 30 minutes on Void (Void Shard focus), which keeps both materials roughly balanced. The cycle length scales with your drill tier — higher-tier drills let you complete each cycle in less time.

End-Game Trading Strategy

End-game Nebula and Void materials are the most valuable in the game. Stardust sells for 8,000-15,000 Drill Pieces per unit, and Void Shards sell for 10,000-20,000 Drill Pieces per unit. End-game players who own the Astral Annihilator can farm these materials and sell them on the trade market for substantial Drill Piece income.

For trade-focused end-game players, the optimal strategy is to farm Cosmic Core materials in bulk and sell surplus Stardust and Void Shards on the trade market. The trade volume is consistent because both materials are required for the Astral Annihilator craft, which is the end-game goal for most players.

Common End-Game Mistakes to Avoid

The most common end-game mistake is to over-farm one material and neglect the other. The Cosmic Core recipe requires Void Shards at a 2:1 ratio to Stardust, which means an imbalance between the two materials slows your crafting pipeline. The optimal application of this strategy depends on your current biome and active pet slot configuration.

The second mistake is to skip the Nebula Tower. The Cosmic Core fragment drops in the Tower are valuable for end-game progression, and they give you a head start on the next Astral Annihilator craft. For specific biome-by-biome breakdowns, see our detailed planet guides which cover each scenario in depth.

The third mistake is to under-invest in the Astral Annihilator. The Astral Annihilator is the most impactful drill in the game for end-game farming, and under-investing means you miss out on the 32x ore multiplier that drives end-game Drill Piece income.

How End-Game Players Manage Material Stockpiles

End-game players who are pushing for the Astral Annihilator craft manage their material stockpiles carefully. The goal is to keep roughly 100 Stardust and 100 Void Shards stockpiled at all times, with the rest of the materials being actively used for crafting or sold on the trade market.

A practical stockpile management strategy is to keep a personal buffer of 100-200 Stardust and 100-200 Void Shards, and sell any surplus above that buffer. This strategy keeps your crafting pipeline fed without tying up too much value in a static stockpile.

End-Game Player Goals and Long-Term Plans

Most end-game players have one of three long-term goals: craft the Astral Annihilator, build a maxed trade stockpile, or push for the highest possible Drill Piece income. The optimal strategy depends on which goal you are pursuing. Veteran players typically learn to recognize these patterns within the first 10-15 hours of focused play.

Players who want the Astral Annihilator should focus on Void Shard farming because the Cosmic Core recipe is the bottleneck. Players who want a maxed trade stockpile should focus on Stardust farming because Stardust has the highest trade value. Players who want the highest Drill Piece income should alternate between both materials with the Astral Annihilator equipped.