Using Flares to Mark Routes Underground

Choose Colors by Route

Assign one flare color to each tunnel or branch so you can retrace your path without guessing. With sixteen colors available — Black Flare, Blue Flare, Brown Flare, Cyan Flare, Gray Flare, Green Flare, Light Blue Flare, Light Gray Flare, Lime Flare, Magenta Flare, Orange Flare, Pink Flare, Purple Flare, Red Flare, White Flare, and Yellow Flare — you can keep every branch distinct.

A common scheme: one color for the main shaft, a second for the return path, and additional colors for side branches. Reserve a bright color such as Yellow Flare or Lime Flare for the exit so it stands out.

Placing and Restocking

Carry a stack of each color you are using before you descend. Place flares at junctions and at regular intervals along long tunnels so a missed marker does not leave you without a reference point.

When you return to the surface, restock the colors you used. Each flare is crafted with its own shapeless recipe, so replace only the colors that ran low rather than recrafting the entire set. Store spare flares near your mine entrance for quick refills before the next trip.