So I figured it might be useful to compile the Golden Pickaxe locations here, in order to save time faffing about without external guides.


Whilst the Pickaxes always appear on particular maps, the actual location is RANDOM. Some guides I've seen suggest searching the outer edges, but I can say from experience the location really is quite random. You may get lucky, or you may need to dig out every block of earth until you find it. So it's good to know which maps you'll need to spend your time on.

Main Campaign
Mission 20/20 - "Everything has an end…"

Once Upon A Time DLC
Mission 2/3 - "Fog and Sheep"

Evil of the Caribbean DLC
Mission 3/3 - "Greetings from R’Lyeh"

Lord of the Kings DLC
Mission 2/3 - "The Fellowship"

Clash of Gods DLC
Mission 7/8 - "At the Foot of Godsmount"

An Unexpected DLC
Mission 3/3 - "The Forest Queen"

Famous Last Words
Mission 1/3 - "Show Us What You’re Made Of"

Once you've unlocked a sufficient amount of golden pickaxes you unlock some cosmetic upgrades. To find these you'll need to go to EXTRAS then DLC and scroll to the bottom of the list.

Now, I'm not 100% on WHEN everything unlocks. I know the worker skin is after you get all the pickaxes. But the dungeon skins I already had before I got the final pickaxe. Although I didn't actually find that out until I'd got most of them.They don't exactly go out of their way to let you know these options are actually there. Anyway, six pickaxes should get you all 3 of those, and the worker skin once you have the seventh.

DEFAULT DUNGEON HEART - DEMONS



EXTRA DUNGEON HEART - HORDE



EXTRA DUNGEON HEART - UNDEAD



WORKER SKIN - LITTLE BOTS



Which, along with various space based references in certain cutscenes is apparently all a shameless plug for the devs next game:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/840390/Spacebase_Startopia/?curator_clanid=876623