Fast Relic Route (Low Backtracking)
In DREDGE, The Collector is a core story Pursuit. A Pursuit is one of the game's quest objectives. For a smooth first run, follow this loop: The Marrows - Gale Cliffs - Stellar Basin - Twisted Strand - Devil's Spine, with returns to Blackstone Isle between legs when needed.
Important correction: not every relic comes from a dredge node. The Key, Music Box, and Ring are dredged, while the Necklace and Pocket Watch are obtained through each region's story-related Pursuits.
For newer players, this route is still a great low-stress plan. Head out in daylight, keep some cargo space open for objective items, and do quick dock prep before each long leg (sell fish, repair, rest). Nights are intentionally more dangerous in DREDGE, so a daylight-first rhythm helps keep panic and hull damage under control.
Best Hand-In Order
A practical hand-in flow is: 1) The Marrows relic, 2) Gale Cliffs relic, 3) Stellar Basin relic, 4) Twisted Strand relic, 5) Devil's Spine relic, then final return to the Collector. This follows the Pursuit objective order and stays beginner-friendly while minimizing zig-zag travel.