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Beneath the streets of Millside, a network of old drainage tunnels runs deep into the earth. These are the Shallow Drains — and they are the game’s first real transition from the open, forgiving surface into something with teeth. The rules down here are gentler than what waits in the Deep Drains under Grit City, but they are still different from anything you’ve experienced on the surface. Resources are better, enemies are meaner, the light runs out quickly, and one stretch of tunnel operates by rules where other players can take what you’re carrying. Respect the change of environment, prepare properly, and the Shallow Drains become one of the most rewarding corners of the early game.

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The rules down here

Mostly PvE

The majority of the Shallow Drains network runs on PvE rules — other players can’t attack you and take your loot. If a tough enemy knocks you out, some of your carried resources will spill where you fell, but your gear stays equipped and you can usually run back to recover what you dropped before anything takes it.

One Marked PvP Stretch

Near the entrance to the Deep Gate, a single clearly-signed corridor switches on full PvP. The signage is hard to miss. The loot behind it is better than anything else at this depth. Enter that corridor knowing exactly what you’re agreeing to, and never enter it carrying more than you’re prepared to lose.

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What you’ll find

The Drains reward players who explore thoroughly and come prepared with space in their bags.
  • Scrap and copper — the main reason most people come down here; better rates than surface gathering and available in real quantity once you learn the layout
  • Glowcap mushrooms — a bioluminescent crafting ingredient used in light sources and certain food recipes; they give off a soft glow that makes them easy to spot in the dark
  • Drain eels — fish them from the sump pool in the lower chamber for cheap, protein-dense food that keeps your energy up during long underground sessions
  • Enemies — drain rats in the shallow passages, feral strays in the wider chambers, and the underground cousins of the Backlot fighters near the PvP corridor — all harder than their surface equivalents
  • The Rat King — a territorial boss character who holds the largest chamber on the main loop; defeating him is a fight worth preparing for, and the drop he leaves behind is genuinely useful for your progression

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Bring a light

The Drains are dark in a way the surface never is. Without a light source, you’ll be navigating by sound and luck, missing resources, and running into enemies you could have spotted and prepared for. Carry a lantern if you have one, or craft torches before you descend — they’re cheap to make from wood and scraps of cloth. Bear in mind that your light is also visible to other players. In the PvE sections, that’s harmless. Near the marked PvP corridor, it announces your position before you’ve had a chance to assess the situation.
At the far end of the main Drains loop, past the Rat King’s chamber, you’ll find the Deep Gate — a heavy chained grate that leads down into the Deep Drains beneath Grit City. You cannot pass it until the game judges you a capable enough fighter. Peer through the bars and take in the sound and light from below. Come back when you’ve earned it.
A complete loop of the Shallow Drains — entrance, main chambers, Rat King, sump pool, back to the exit — is a natural session chunk that fills your bag and leaves you with a satisfying decision at the PvP corridor. Do you walk out and bank what you’ve collected, or do you push into the marked stretch for more? Learning to make that call correctly, and not just greedily, is one of the most valuable skills the Gritlands teaches.