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I use a prospector tool when I find DC. I don't use a GG pick because I can't kill any elementals. *laughs*
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Maleeka...if you have enough magery on your char to gate with scrolls, you can try what I did. I have 60 magery on Kestrel, and picked up a couple of mage weapon bows with the lowest penalty I could find, and with split elemental damage that shadow & valorite ore ellies are particularly weak against (couldn't find an elemental or earth elemental slayer mage bow unfortunately). I use throw away mage skill jewels (+10 to +15) to boost her skill, and that ends up giving her around 60+ effective archery skill after the penalty is applied (when I use my Siege bless and equip my crystalline ring with +20 magery, I can get a bit more). It can still be pretty tricky, but if I am careful and jump on my beetle or other mount right away when one spawns, I can drop even a valorite ellie without too much trouble.
I tested it pretty extensively. As long as you don't have a lot of other dangerous spawn to worry about, you will be fine, and it is fun too, to relieve some of the monotony of mining.
This bow worked pretty well too, with just the DI, and the spell channeling is nice, as you can do some healing with magery on yourself when needed without dropping the weapon.
-Skylark