Rod of the Depths: Is It Still Worth It in 2026?
Already own it? Keep it in your current comparison set instead of judging it with 2024 advice that assumed the rod had no built-in mutation. Thinking about unlocking it? Treat Rod of the Depths as a current mid-game / Stage 6 bridge, not the old “best end-game rod.” The 750,000 C$ payment plus Vertigo, relic and maze requirements still make the route a real commitment. Returning after a long break? The useful part of this page is what changed, not another copy of the old unlock guide.
Current status
| Lure Speed | 65% |
|---|---|
| Luck | 130% |
| Control | 0.15 |
| Resilience | 10% |
| Max weight | 30,000 kg |
| Rod payment | 750,000 C$ |
| Current passive | Every third catch grants an additional fish from the current/location pool. The current individual rod page says that bonus fish has a 10% chance to be an Enchant Relic. |
| Abyssal rate | Not yet verified. The current individual rod page says 30%, while the current Fishing Rods table lists 100% Abyssal in this rod's ability row. We do not choose between them. |
Why the conflict matters: the built-in Abyssal mechanic is part of the current source state, but its exact rate is not settled across the two current Fisch Wiki surfaces. Use the mechanic as a current-state change; do not turn either percentage into a verified rate yet.
What changed since older guides
| Older advice | Current evidence | What that changes |
|---|---|---|
| A December 2024 VGC guide says catches may be unmutated without an enchant and recommends Abyssal for money on that premise. | Current sources describe a built-in Abyssal-related passive, although they disagree on its exact percentage. | The old “add Abyssal because the rod has no mutation” reasoning is stale. This does not prove a new universal best enchant. |
| VGC's December 2024 tier list called Rod of the Depths the best end-game rod and its unlock guide treated the route as near-final. | The current Fisch Wiki calls it a mid-game rod; FischNexus labels it Stage 6. | Returning players should treat the old end-game label as a historical snapshot, not today's progression ceiling. |
| Beebom's March 2025 guide still recommends a fixed “best enchants” list that includes Abyssal when Exalted Relics are limited. | The current source state now includes a built-in Abyssal-related passive, with the exact rate still source-conflicted. | Do not copy an old enchant list forward as a universal prescription. Re-check the current mechanic and your goal first; this page does not declare a replacement best enchant. |
Historical references: VGC's 2024 Rod of the Depths guide, VGC's 2024 rod tier list, and Beebom's 2025 guide. They are used here to show what older advice said, not to establish 2026 mechanics.
Rod of the Depths 2026 decision guide
1. Start with your situation
Own it, considering the unlock, or returning after a break? Start from that situation instead of reusing an old universal verdict.
2. Use the current role
Current sources place Rod of the Depths around mid-game / Stage 6, not the old end-game ceiling.
3. Know the current passive
Every third catch adds another fish from the current or location pool; the current rod page also says that bonus fish has a 10% Enchant Relic chance.
4. Keep conflicts unresolved
Current sources disagree on the exact Abyssal rate: one says 30%, another lists 100%. Do not turn either number into a verified rate yet.
5. Count the whole route
The unlock costs more than the 750,000 C$ rod payment: Vertigo access, a Depths Key, two relics, diving gear, and the maze still matter.
6. Make the decision
If you already own it, keep it in the comparison set; if you do not, compare the full route with your next reachable progression milestone.
If you already own it
Do not write Rod of the Depths off because an old guide described it as having no mutation passive. Its current every-third-catch bonus and Enchant Relic chance are real reasons to keep it available while you plan the next progression step.
What we have not measured is money per hour, levelling speed or a universal best enchant. “Used to be end-game” and “still useful now” can both be true without making this rod today's universal winner. Compare your next reachable option on the Fisch best rod progression page by the goal you actually need to solve.
If you have not unlocked it
The decision is stricter because the route costs more than the 750,000 C$ rod payment. You still need the Vertigo bestiary/access chain, a Depths Key, one Abyssal Enchant Relic, one Hexed Enchant Relic, suitable diving equipment and the underwater maze. That route is already covered in the Rod of the Depths section on the Fisch best rod progression page; this page does not duplicate it step by step.
If you are already near another progression milestone or own a rod that solves your current goal, compare the whole route before committing resources. The current-source “mid-game / Stage 6” label is useful context, not a command that every player should buy it.
Sources checked: current Fisch Wiki rod page, current Fishing Rods table, and FischNexus. Checked 2026-10-13 (UTC). We did not purchase, unlock or test the rod in-game for this review.