Pacific Drive

Pacific Drive

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How to Open ALL Goldshells
By SocioPuff
A simple guide aimed at providing you with all the methods (currently known) in which to open the various types of Goldshells.

If anyone knows of any other methods, feel free to post in the comments, and I'll add it in, with credit of course.
   
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What is a Goldshell?
Goldshells are essentially containers that have been recently added to the game, which can give you various materials, car customisation items and especially, garage customisation items.

Goldshells will ALWAYS give one garage customisation, a couple random materials and some car customisation items. Car customisation could be paints or decals, some times both. They are the only way to unlock garage customisation items, other than hunting down Pufferfish. (another new addition) (Thanks to TTV/SoloQSights for the reminder)

These shells can be found in all junctions, but not guaranteed in each and every one. They are collected from goldshell trees, which can be seen from a distance and identified by their golden glow. You may find three trees in one junction, you may find none, You may find five in a multi-junction run, you may also find none. RNG is King here. I'ts both the luck of the draw and how much you explore. Or you could just use the Resource Radar, look for a plant icon.

When freshly picked, you can only carry them. You can store them in your vehicle, and once you have done so, you are then able to store them in your backpack, if need be. Kind of strange, but it is what it is. (thanks to smithy_smith531 for pointing out the previous explanation didn't properly explain the mechanic)


Goldshells come in various types, and have different methods required to open them. Once a goldshell is opened, it will look kind of like a flower whose petals have opened. Now, you can interact with it, just the same as any other container, to access its loot.

These types include: Secured, Dehydrated, Conductive, Corrodible, Wishbone and Combustible.
Secured
"This shell appears to have started to grow a much thicker, metallic outer layer, perhaps for security."

All it requires is a bit of force, such as an Impact Hammer or Magnetic Hammer. it will take more than one hit to open.

Can also be opened by throwing it into a Devil Grinder. If thrown too far, just use a Vacuum to get it back. (Jerugalo)

A good old fashioned crowbar will also do the trick, it will take nearly a full crowbar to beat open. (PrsnVkNgs)
Dehydrated
"This is what happens when you don't water your plants."

This shell requires water to be opened. Who would have thought? Unfortunately, rain will not work. So what does?

-Throw it into any body of water.

-In every junction (as far as I've seen) there will be yellow barrels along various roads. These contain water. Pop the shell in one, and it will open. (GiantKiller130)

-If you are far enough along in the story, simply take it back to the garage, hold it in your hands and go and wash your hands (multiple times) in the sink.

-If all else fails then, at the garage, go back from whence you came. At the very start of the zone, there is a large overflow from a pipe. Drop the shell in there (sic). (Polar Wookie)
Conductive
"Considering how conductive this shell is, it might actually have gold in it."

This shell requires electricity to open, and there are a number of methods in which to supply it with electricity:

-Take it back to the garage. You can either put it on the charging pad, or put it on your car on the charging pad. Give it a blast and it will open.

-Out on the road? Shock Tourists, Wriggling Wrecks, Shock Towers, Sizzling Mist and such will all work.

-Plasma charger also works (BlackIceWyrm)
Corrodible
"While acid is commonly considered dangerous or a remarkable defense mechanism, it has many useful applications."

This requires acid to be broken apart. You'll find acid aplenty in The Mires.

-Coughbox: Just toss it into the field of acid. Make sure not to throw it too hard though..

-Belching Barnacle: Throw it into one of the Rotten Eggs it launches at you. Needs two Rotten Eggs to open.
Wishbone
"Some things were just meant to be ripped apart. But you can't do it alone, can you?"

Basically, you need to break the Wishbone, as you would irl.

-Abductors: Throw it at them, making sure to get it into their blue light. Needs to be done twice.

-Bubblegum Buddies: A little more finnicky but less so with the anti-theft gloves. Hold it in your hands, let them grab it and wrestle with them.
Combustible
Most volatile things should be kept away from explosives, in the interest of safety."

BLOW IT UP.

-Lob them into Tourists, as many as it takes. Shame on you though! They are only there to help. (TTV/SoloQSights)

-Tourist Busses will open them in one go! Somehow, that's not as bad. (TTV/SoloQSights)

-Titans Bones also work but gl with that. (Lyulph)

-Just use your Liberator or Liberator MK2. It will take 3 shots either way so best to keep a few, pile them up and blow them up together. Bonus: you won't be hurting any innocent Tourists in the process..
28 Comments
SocioPuff  [author] 19 Dec @ 11:17am 
thanks PrsnVkNgs, will update
PrsnVkNgs 17 Dec @ 11:29pm 
The secured goldshell can also be opened with the crowbar. Probably better for early game, will take almost a whole crowbar's worth of durability though.
(edit) got one and tested it, a new crowbar will be left at 04 / 40 durability to fully open.
SocioPuff  [author] 12 Dec @ 8:16am 
Cheers Jerugalo, will add it in
Jerugalo 11 Dec @ 12:45pm 
Secured Goldshells can also be opened by tossing them into a Devil Grinder. Recommend having a vacuum on hand, though.
SocioPuff  [author] 1 Dec @ 4:26am 
appreciate it Wyrm, have updated :steamthumbsup:
BlackIceWyrm 30 Nov @ 10:27pm 
For conductive goldshells, you can also use the plasma charger, but it takes around a quarter to a half of the plasma charger's durability
smithy_smith531 25 Nov @ 2:42pm 
Sorry, I thought that the development team started with version number 1.8.0 and then worked there way up from there. But you are correct though, 1.8.1 was when Goldshells were made available to the public. They have just released version 1.8.2 but I don't see anything about this being resolved nor has it been considered as a known issue. I haven't played on the new patch just yet but I do plan on playing it later today. As far as settings go, I have only changed a few settings that would make the storm a bit slower but other than that, that is all I have changed. It would be interesting to know what the developers think the correct way for Goldshells to be stored is.
SocioPuff  [author] 25 Nov @ 8:45am 
and could you please elaborate on "it might be because of 1.8.1"? 1.8.1 introduced Goldshells.. am I missing something here?
SocioPuff  [author] 25 Nov @ 8:34am 
that is really weird.. so you're saying that you can pick a shell from a tree, and put it straight into your backpack?
when I pick a shell, it literally shows the "cannot be kept in backpack" icon. pressing Q to put away, drops it. only after having stored it in vehicle, can I then store it in backpack.

have no idea about the settings, I've only played on default thus far.
smithy_smith531 25 Nov @ 8:20am 
@Socio Glad I could help! It is interesting that you can't place them into your backpack when freshly picked. I can do that with no problem but I don't know if that might be because of the 1.8.1 patch or if there is an in-game setting that interferes with that? Oh well...