Depth timing
Drain the Lake depth guide
This page helps with the real question: when does going deeper actually speed up the next stretch instead of turning it into a slow grind.
Before you push deeper
Your next deeper section unlocks a meaningfully faster route than your current area can still provide.
The current run has stopped giving cheap, high-value upgrades and each next purchase feels slow.
You understand what the deeper section changes, instead of pushing only because the current loop feels boring.
You are not throwing away a route that still has obvious bucket or token gains left.