dredge and ghost ship carrier in dredge the iron rig
Screenshot by Destructoid

How to get all the samples from Devil’s Spine for the Scientist in Dredge: The Iron Rig

It's going to get hot.

After gathering all the samples for the Scientist from Twisted Strand in Dredge: The Iron Rig, you might think he’s done asking for strange fish. However, anyone who has completed the base game knows there’s one final biome the DLC hasn’t referenced yet: Devil’s Spine.

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With Twisted Strand out of the way, you trigger another world event that causes the black contaminant seen all over the watery world of Dredge to appear on the waters of the toughest-to-explore biome. The Scientist now cowers behind his blackboard and asks only for the usual set of samples from the newly contaminated biome. Without any other guidance, it’s time to sail over, dodge the giant red angler fish that can crash your boat in a single attack, and gather every sample he needs.

How to get all the samples from Devil’s Spine for the Scientist in Dredge: The Iron Rig

devils spine samples in dredge the iron rig
Screenshot by Destructoid

As was the case with The Marrows, Gale Cliffs, Stellar Basin, and Twisted Strand, you can’t collect the samples for the Scientist from Devil’s Spine without first getting some new gear. This time around, you must pick up the Infused Fireproof Rod from the Engineer in the Factory. You must trade in an Ironhaven Crate, a Dark Canister, and a Heat-Resistant Lne to get it.

The Infused Fireproof Rod gives you the ability to fish in new dark fishing spots in Devil’s Spine thanks to its upgraded abilities. Sail over to the biome and drop a crab pot into the dark ooze before you do anything else because one of the creatures you must catch is a crab.

From there, you need to fish in the new dark spots until you’ve caught the other three fish the Scientist needs. One of these is in a Hadal spot, and the other two are in Volcanic spots, so swap out your rods accordingly. The biome is close enough to the rig that you can catch one or two of the samples and deliver them to the scientist before they rot. Then, after a good night’s rest, return to Devil’s Spine to fish some more.

I’ve listed every fish you need to catch below.

vetulicolia in dredge the iron rig
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Vetulicolia
  • Giant Dragonfish
  • Dunkleosteus
  • Sea Scorpion

As I mentioned, Devil’s Spine is home to a massive red fish that patrols it daily and will mess you up if you’re not careful. If you don’t have the Banish ability, keep the Manifest one handy so you can dodge it if it corners you.

When you return to the Scientist after grabbing all of the samples he needs, don’t be afraid to hand them all over. There’s no point of no return in Dredge: The Iron Rig because its story is separate from the base game’s. If you conclude the DLC’s story, you won’t end the game, and delivering all of the samples from every biome to the Scientist won’t end the DLC. Just watch what happens and feel the tiny crabs crawl out of the game, across your skin, and into your ears, thanks to the huge spike in cosmic horror that occurs.


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Author
Image of Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp
Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp
Jamie is a Staff Writer on Destructoid who has been playing video games for the better part of the last three decades. He adores indie titles with unique and interesting mechanics and stories, but is also a sucker for big name franchises, especially if they happen to lean into the horror genre.