Two sources, counted separately
Gems come from two distinct targets: rare blocks inside regular walls and vaults placed on floor routes. The loading screen gives the basic rule: "TIP: Rare blocks drop gems. Find them all in the Index." Standard wall blocks give rubble to sell for cash at the grinder, while rare blocks drop gems straight into your count.
Three confirmed multipliers affect your gem gains (checked 13 Nov 2026):
- X-RAY class: gives +50% gems from rare blocks and shows hidden diamonds through walls.
- THE ANOMALY class: gives x2 gems on escape.
- VIP game pass: the VIP - FOREVER pass gives 2x gems per run to you and your party.
Floating +30 FREE GEMS pickups also appear in room corners as one-time bonuses. Because rare blocks sit inside everyday wall layers, getting gems without seeing a vault is normal.
Reading the end-of-run card
At the end of an escape attempt, the ESCAPED? summary screen lists four separate totals. A verified run recorded these figures (checked 13 Nov 2026):
| Card Metric | Recorded Value | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| SMASHED | 62,206 | Rubble blocks punched or blasted |
| EARNED | $1,431.25 | Cash gained from selling rubble at the grinder |
| GEMS | 7 | Gems collected from rare blocks and pickups |
| VAULTS | 0 | Vaults found and broken open |
A zero under VAULTS when you earned gems is normal. Rare blocks reward gems on their own while you dig. Vaults are optional bonus caches rather than the only way to pick up currency.
Careful. Do not restart a run if you reach floor 3 without seeing a vault. Rare blocks provide a steady trickle of gems, and finishing the fifth floor gives completion rewards.
What gems buy
You spend gems in the PERMA SHOP and the CLASSES roster. Permanent shop upgrades stay active across all future runs. Confirmed prices and perks show the following tiers (checked 13 Nov 2026):
| Upgrade | Stat Affected | Increase Per Level | Level Cap | First Level Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STRENGTH | Fist Power | +10% | 0/5 | 25 gems |
| GREED | Sell Value | +8% | 0/5 | 30 gems |
| BACKPACK | Bag Space | +15% | 0/5 | 20 gems |
| QUICK HANDS | Punch & Grab Speed | +6% | 0/3 | 60 gems |
Beyond stat boosts, gems buy structural unlocks:
- Extra class slot: Opening SLOT 2 in the classes panel costs 75 gems. This lets you equip two classes at once.
- Direct class unlocks: You can buy characters directly for 160 gems up to 12,000 gems. Check all 11 classes or calculate pity milestones with the roll odds calculator.
- Bag expansion: An INFINITE BAG upgrade is available for 49 gems in the lobby.
Pick your first upgrade by your main bottleneck:
- If full bags force you back to the grinder, buy BACKPACK for 20 gems or INFINITE BAG for 49 gems.
- If cash slows tool upgrades, put 30 gems into GREED to lift rubble earnings. Check the grinder and cash loop to plan cash.
- If you lack gems, run X-RAY to gain +50% from rare blocks while tunneling.
Not recorded in the game UI
Several vault details are not recorded in the game UI (checked 13 Nov 2026):
- How a vault is opened, its durability, and tool requirements.
- Vault drop tables and gem denominations.
- The full rare-block list from the Index.
- Page 2 of PERMA SHOP.
Until these figures appear in an official patch note, treat vaults as extra bonus loot.