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The Esoteric Grove update is live, and it’s a big one for collectors. I went through the announcement so you don’t have to. Here’s the quick version:
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Esoteric Grove | New area in Esoteric Depths |
| 12 new fish | Plus the Secret Spiritborn Axolotl |
| Fishing Journal | Six tasks per island |
| Gemstones | One unique buff per island |
| Exalted Skin Crate | Five animated rod skins |
| Squid Charm | Boosts Giant Squid chances |
Esoteric Grove sits inside Esoteric Depths, the area where I already do most of my enchanting runs. It adds 12 new fish and a new Secret catch, the Spiritborn Axolotl.
I’d love to give you a spawn rate, but the announcement doesn’t list one. It doesn’t name a best bait either. Until that’s confirmed, I’d fish with your strongest Luck setup and [INTERNAL LINK: best Luck rods].
The Fishing Journal gives each island six tasks, and you can finish them while fishing normally. Here’s how I’d start:
Tasks are tied to one island, so finishing one doesn’t count for the others. I’d spread my progress across islands instead of grinding a single one.
Every island has its own Gemstone with a unique buff, which you only get by completing all six journal tasks. The developers also say Gemstones will matter for future late-game progression.
The individual buffs haven’t been published, so I’d read each Gemstone’s in-game description. Collecting them early looks like the safe play.
The Exalted Skin Crate holds five fully animated rod skins. The headline item is the first Forgotten Tier rod skin. Forgotten has been the game’s rarest fish tier, above Secret, so I expect this skin to be a status piece.
Price, drop rates and how to obtain the crate aren’t confirmed. I’ll update this section once they are.
The Squid Charm raises your chance of encountering the Giant Squid. The exact boost and duration aren’t stated, so I’d test it before spending resources on it.
A mysterious pumpkin has also appeared off the coast of Fisherman Island. Interacting with it gives a teaser for upcoming content. That points to a Halloween-style event, though nothing is confirmed.
This update’s fixes cover rods, skins and enchanting:
There are 12 new fish, plus the Secret Spiritborn Axolotl.
Talk to the Island Guide NPC, complete all six Fishing Journal tasks on that island, and the Gemstone is yours.
It increases your chances of encountering the Giant Squid. The exact percentage hasn’t been revealed.
It’s off the coast of Fisherman Island. Interact with it for a teaser of upcoming content.
