Tools

***Note:*** *This wiki is maintained by fans of the game, and is not affiliated with G5 Entertainment. If you are experiencing technical issues with the game itself, please contact customer support.*

Hidden City contains a wide variety of tools to assist players throughout their explorations in the Cities. The uses and concepts of each tool are described, as well as their general helpfulness. All of these tools are available for purchase in the Store.

Using tools will contribute toward raising the rank of your Explorer Totem. Please see that page for details.

## Bomb

> *"Adds a Bomb to a random spot on the board. Activating it causes two explosions. The explosions destroy 8 nearby crystals each."*
>
>

The bomb is used in the Crystals variants and the Dream Kaleidoscope variants of mini-games. It can appear as part of regular gameplay without being used as a tool. The bomb will detonate in a 3x3 radius (itself at the center) twice for Crystals variants and once for Dream Kaleidoscope variants. The effect is fairly useless in normal Crystals gameplay, but is more helpful for dropping items in Magical Items or uncovering items in Excavations. It's not guaranteed to help towards the goal though, and quite often won't, or may activate outside your control.

* When used in Crystals, it will replace a tile next to any gold squares and adopt the color of the crystal previously there. It will self-detonate within a second or two.
* Will not affect crystals if they are falling around it.
* Can destroy Supercrystals, making them remove a random color of crystals.
* When a bomb appears during normal gameplay, it will not self-detonate and you will have a chance to combine it with a Supercrystal or a Lightning.
* If you have a lot of these in your Inventory, they can be spammed, especially to complete the Magical Items game.
* It has a cost of 10 rubies in the Store.

Recommendation:

**Likely not** worth buying with rubies from the Store. You can buy 10 Magnifiers for a lower price and magnifiers are certain to help in any mode, and not in only mini-games. The bomb has a tendency to fall or not reach spots the other Crystals tools can. Also, it is available as a reward from a few Collections. And, finally, bombs can be created by simply playing and matching Crystals in a 3x3 'L' or 'cross' pattern.

## Chronometer

> *"A Chronometer with amazing characteristics. Its mechanism can cause a rift between space and time. It gives you an extra 45 seconds for exploring locations and mini-games.*
>
>

Useful any time an investigation requires more time. The Chronometer acts as a safety net for when you run out of time.

* You will not be offered the chance to use a Chronometer **until** time runs out.
* **If you run out of time, you will be prompted to buy a Chronometer with rubies (10!) instead of coins. It's worth buying these preemptively with coins, at least saving one.**
* Adds an extra 45 seconds to the scene being explored, or 45 seconds to a mini-game if the mini-game is not in a limited move mode.
* In Cards of Fate, if used with the Moves Anomaly, it provides three extra moves.
* In Crystals variant and the Dream Kaleidoscope variants mini-games, if used during a limited moves game, it provides five extra moves.
* It has a cost of 12,500 coins in the Store.

Recommendation:

The Chronometer is the only item that can stop you from failing a location when time runs out. Carrying a single one is important for this reason. This item is an exploration saver, absolutely worth buying in the Store with coins.

## Compass

> *"The mechanical 'Compass' points to the location of hidden objects. The tool works for 30 seconds."*
>
>

A Compass is the go-to tool in difficult locations or when there's more than one item that eludes being seen. Its arrow points to the direction a hidden item is in. The Compass can also be moved on the screen by clicking and dragging. With a single one, it's common for upwards of 4 to 8 objects being found. You do need to take into consideration which mode of play you are using it in, as Past and Reflections as well as Similar Items will slow down its use noticeably.

* If the compass is moved on top of an object, the compass will glow (it will glow, changing from gold to blue to gold). **At this point, you can click/tap the compass and the object will be considered "found"**, even if you cannot discern exactly where the object is (or sometimes what it is). This is very useful for finding more objects within 30 seconds.

* If the compass is pointing directly at the object, the object will glow (become whitish, as if a spotlight is shining on it).
	+ If the object it was pointing at is clicked, the Compass will wobble and be inaccurate for a few seconds.
* A single Compass is usually the best item for finding multiple objects, however it may not be the fastest.
* In Similar Items mode, it will not find one pair at once (see the Magnifier below), but one at a time.
* In Past and Reflections modes, the game will prompt the user to move the image or Compass if the object being pointed at is off screen.
* The Compass still functions in night and limited sight modes and anomalies.
* Note that the order of items it will seek is *random*
* The Compass **does not** find the secret items in a location; see Detector.
* It has a cost of 6,500 coins in the Store.

Recommendation:

**Consider** buying from the Store, the coin cost is rather inexpensive. But the dilemma when purchasing Compasses comes from their availability; they're often given from Totems, Collections, and even Quest rewards.

## Deciphering Cube

> *"This cryptographic cube will decode any mysterious writing."*
>
>

This tool unscrambles the letters in Backwards and Abracadabra modes, as well as restoring lost letters from the Distortions anomalies and Invisible Ink mode.

This tool will also shuffle the tiles in the Mahjong mini-game.

* When used, it will only unscramble the words or replace the letters of the items that are currently on the list. As an item is found and its name is removed from the list, the next item to appear on the list will still be scrambled or missing letters.
* Can be useful for locations that haven't been played often enough to memorize which items have appeared there.
* Its best use is likely Invisible Ink mode, where the search timer is a mere one minute, but words cannot be read at all.
* It has a cost of 4 rubies in the Store.

Recommendation:

**Likely not** worth buying with rubies from the Store. Since Backwards Words has minimal impact on one's ability to read, and the other scrambled words modes are uncommon, these tools have a tendency to accumulate in inventories.

## Detector

> *"The Detector of Secret Items highlights one random item off the list in locations with 'Secret Items' mode."*
>
>

The Detector has two uses:

1. Find one Secret Item in a location during Secret Items Mode.
2. Find one **Highlighted** hidden item in an affected location during a Monstrology Mini-Event.

For finding the Secret Items:

* Only available for the Secret Items Mode.
* Works to find Secret Items in the **Event** location or in a different location if you have been given a task to find secret items there.
* Only finds **one** secret item.
* When you have found all the available Secret Items in a location, the Detector tool will become inactive.

For finding a **Highlighted** hidden item

* Only available during a Monstrology Mini-Event in an affected location.
* Only finds **one** highlighted hidden item

This tool has a cost of 3 rubies in the Store.

Recommendation:

**Likely not** worth buying with rubies from the Store. When the Detector was first introduced, there were no ways of obtaining it outside the Store; but since then it has become very common in every Event and their quests and collections. Three rubies is often better used on a Monster Treasuries chest or Daily chest rather than for finding one event secret item. Lastly, the bonus rewards received for finding every 'secret item' during a search have been removed. Might possibly be considered a more valuable purchase for a Monstrology Mini-Event, but again this tool has become common in event quests and collections.

## Diode Bomb

> *"Use the Collector's invention to find 3 hidden items in a location."*
>
>

A Diode Bomb finds three objects in a location, instantly. This allows it to be used at the very end of a timer to complete Locations and Cards of Fate, as the other item-finding tools take your input or time.

* Finds two pairs of items in the Similar Items Mode.
* In Cards of Fate (mini-game) it finds three matching sets of cards.
* In Mahjong (mini-game) it matches/blows up three - five pairs of matching tiles.
* The Diode Bomb **does not** find the secret items in a location; see Detector.
* It has a cost of 8 rubies in the Store.

Recommendation:

A Diode Bomb can be nice for its instantaneous effect, but note that three Magnifiers would do the same at a much lower price. The Powerful Artifacts Collection is very common and gives three of these as a reward. There are many Crystals-related collections that also give this as a reward. Though, a large amount can be used to complete Locations without searching at all.

## Discoverer's Magnifier

> *"The 'Discoverer's Magnifier' artifact will show you the location of one desired item in a location."*
>
>

The cornerstone of Hidden City gameplay, the existence of this tool is to aid you with difficult-to-find items, showing hidden locations you will often remember in your next searches. Whether the situation is a mini-game or location, the Magnifier is guaranteed to do something positive, albeit a tad random, at times.

* In Similar Items mode, it will show one pair of items.
* In the Crystals game, it will remove a yellow cell.
	+ But, it will only break or damage stone, chains, or ice tiles.
* In the Magical Items game, it will remove or activate a crystal that is over one of the items.
	+ If the cell under the item is stone, ice or chains, it will break it instead.
* In the Cards of Fate mini game, it will remove a single pair of cards.
	+ It cannot uncover cards that are currently bound by chains.
* In the Expedition mini game, it will uncover a random, bomb-less tile.
* In the Mahjong mini game, it will match one pair of tiles.
* The Discoverer's Magnifier **does not** find the secret items in a location; see Detector.
* It has a cost of 1 ruby in the Store.

Recommendation:

A very cost-effective item for the store. It's very common in Collections, namely Centennial Ball. There usually isn't a time where these won't be needed for playing Hidden City without outside help. One can never go wrong with more of these, since it will be useful regardless of which mode or anomaly is currently being played.

## Lighter

> *"This artifact is said to contain liquid daylight instead of a flame. It can illuminate the location for 30 seconds."*
>
>

The Lighter is used during night and limited sight modes and anomalies. When used, the tool will "light up" the scene for 30 seconds, effectively eliminating night/limited sight for that time. Since the Lighter does not actually find items for you, most people use it to light the scene and then snap a screenshot.

* Not especially effective on Icy Patterns; it brightens the scene, but there are still ice crystals around the perimeter.
* It has a cost of 8 rubies in the Store.

Recommendation:

**Likely not** worth buying with rubies from the Store. 8 rubies is a bit overboard for 30 seconds of simply seeing a location as normal. This is the same cost as a Diode Bomb that actually *finds* items in the scene. Lighters can be found in city treasuries and many, **MANY** collections. When thinking of whether to use a Lighter, do consider that the smaller viewing area of a night search may focus your attention on objects and scenery that may not have been noticed otherwise; seeing the full picture doesn't mean an item is certain to be found.

## Lunar Lens

> *"Shows which items on the list you can find when you zoom into a scene."*
>
>

The Lunar Lens is the most recent Tool to be added, and is classified as such despite being on the Location Info screen. (That means you have to choose to use it **BEFORE** you actually start searching the location.) When zooming into a location scene, items that can be found will be highlighted on your list. This is a quite unique effect, and players are given a tutorial and a free use of their first one. However, it is the only tool that can't be used *during* gameplay, and must be applied beforehand. When used, it is active for the entire time you are searching, until the scene is completed. It is more useful in the mobile version due to the smaller screen size.

Since most of the screen cannot be seen in the night and limited sight modes and anomalies, the Lunar Lens does specialize in helping complete those modes very well.

* Works in any Location, but not with certain Anomalies.
* Is not in many collections or awards since its inclusion is relatively recent as of this time.
* The Lunar Lens **does not** find the secret items in a location; see Detector.
* It has a cost of 10 rubies in the Store.

Recommendation:

**Likely not** worth buying with rubies from the Store. The effect of the Lunar Lens sounds good on paper, but it has some downsides to its use. Since you must decide **before** you start searching a location if you want to use it, you have to guess whether you will need it. There is no guarantee that you would have needed the Lunar Lens nor reaped any benefit to have used it; this is the random nature of the game. You may wind up using it when items end up in plain sight or in spots you are accustomed to checking. Also, during non-night/limited sight modes/anomalies, you **MUST** zoom in to gain any benefit at all from the Lunar Lens.

Many players like to use a Lunar Lens during the Monstrology mini-event. Be aware of objects and the timer, since looking on a smaller screen, or trying to find items on the edges is likely to use up more time. If Night mode is a nuisance for you, the Lunar Lens should help shine some light on the scene.

## Mine Detector

> *"It lets you find and defuse one of the bombs in the field."*
>
>

The Mine Detector is another safety net item. It is used exclusively in the Expedition mini-game. It can be used manually for a head start (it'll target a tile that has a mine/bomb, while one or two "safe" tiles are highlighted to you at the start of every round of Expedition). And, it can be used to "save" you in case you hit a mine/bomb while playing.

* Opens a tile with a bomb, and surrounding tiles near it when used.
* If held, will passively allow you to endure more than one bomb explosion.
* It has a cost of 2 rubies in the Store.

Recommendation:

There's not much to the Mine Detector. Two or less rubies at higher bulk isn't very much, and if one is low on these and enjoys Expedition or requires the Assemblers from it that are frequently needed, consider buying if running low, or if Magnifiers are preferred for other modes.

## Supercrystal

> *"Adds a Supercrystal to a random spot on the board. Combining a Supercrystal with a crystal of a specific color leads to the destruction of all those coloured crystals on the board."*
>
>

This supercrystal is used exclusively in the Crystals variants and the Dream Kaleidoscope variants of mini-games. It can appear as part of regular gameplay without being used as a tool. The Supercrystal's effect sounds powerful, and can be at times, but it is best when swapped with another Supercrystal (this clears the entire board), or a "Lightning" to turn every crystal/tile of that color into a "Lightning". On further ranks and levels of the Crystals mini-game, one Supercrystal is hardly enough to win the game without being combined, since the goal is to remove certain tiles in any version, and many are covered by chains, stone and ice. When not combined, it is most useful due to the removal of a color allowing for more available moves. If you have some, it's best to create many power-ups on the board before using one of these, in hopes of combining it.

**Players should prioritize using one of these over Magnifiers to close out rounds, since it only helps in Crystals variant and Dream Kaleidoscope variant mini-games anyway**.

* Destroys crystals of a certain colour on the game field.
* It will also activate any Bombs or Lightning crystals of the same color.
* Appears without being used as a Tool; combining 5 in a row of any crystal color will produce one.
* Combining with a Bomb will have the every crystal of that color turned into a bomb, which then explodes. This is the strongest combination in Magical Items.
	+ Combining with a Lightning Crystal will turn every crystal of that color into a lightning Crystal and activate them in random directions, covering a lot of range and eliminating a lot of ice, stone or chain tiles.
* It has a cost of 10 rubies in the Store.

Recommendation:

**Likely not** worth buying with rubies from the Store. 10 rubies is steep, the prettiness of the Supercrystals is mostly smoke and mirrors. It has an inability to break stone, ice and chain tiles by itself which are *frequent* in Crystals games, and especially Gemstone Vault. The other issue is on use, it is placed randomly and has a tendency to go into sides or corners of the board which lowers your choices of what color to use with it. As with the Bomb, 10 Magnifiers will probably go a longer way than one of these, and at a lower price. It is available as a reward from a few Collections.

## Trivia

* The game used to have a Lantern tool which doubled the area for finding items for 30 seconds in any of the night or limited sight modes or anomalies. This tool was eliminated from the game.
* Quite a while ago, if you used a Bomb in a crystals game, it would not self-detonate and you still had to match it with surrounding crystals to have any effect. The game changed, and bombs used as tools now self-detonate.
* You used to be able to use a Chronometer *before* time ran out. The game changed in January of 2023, and now you are only offered the option to use one Chronometer after time does run out.
* A bonus offer was included to players that ran out of time in the Christmas School during the Mystery of the Christmas School Event.
	+ In 2020, ads were sometimes run to refill playtime, instead of a use of a Chronometer at the timeout screen.
* In October 2023, the Detector tool was changed to also find one highlighted hidden item during a Monstrology mini-event.

## Related Pages

* Home Page
* Hidden City Info
* Anomalies, Summoners and Dispellers
* Collections
* Exploration Modes
* Locations

***Note:*** *This wiki is maintained by fans of the game, and is not affiliated with G5 Entertainment. If you are experiencing technical issues with the game itself, please contact customer support.*