If you’ve just started playing Drain the Lake, it’s easy to think badges are simply achievements to show off. In reality, they’re much more valuable than that. Almost every badge rewards you with Gems, and those Gems are one of the fastest ways to unlock better buckets that make future runs much easier.
The nice thing is that many badges unlock naturally as you play. Whether you’re exploring deeper areas, collecting treasure chests, or simply draining more water, you’ll steadily earn rewards without going out of your way.
Here’s every badge in Drain the Lake, what you need to do to unlock it, and how many Gems you’ll receive.
How to Claim Badge Rewards
Unlocking a badge isn’t enough—you’ll also need to claim its reward.
Here’s how:
- Return to the lobby.
- Visit the Badge Station.
- Talk to the Badge NPC.
- Open the badge list.
- Select any badge you’ve unlocked.
- Claim your Gem reward.
It’s worth checking the Badge Station regularly since unclaimed Gems can quickly add up.
Complete Drain the Lake Badge List
| Badge | Requirement | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| First Drop | Drain your first bucket | 10 Gems |
| Plunge | Swim in the lake | 10 Gems |
| Shark Bait | Get caught by the shark | 20 Gems |
| Lucky Find | Find 10 treasure chests | 40 Gems |
| Sunken Secrets | Reach the Shipwreck checkpoint | 40 Gems |
| Bucket Brigade | Drain 100 buckets | Gems |
| Deep Dive | Reach the Cavern checkpoint | 60 Gems |
| The Mines | Reach the Mine Shaft checkpoint | 75 Gems |
| Fire Below | Reach the Molten checkpoint | 90 Gems |
| Sunken Riches | Find 100 treasure chests | 110 Gems |
| Waterworks | Drain 1,000 buckets | 110 Gems |
| Ancient Ruins | Reach the Lost City checkpoint | 110 Gems |
| Fully Trained | Unlock every Skill Tree upgrade | 110 Gems |
| Into the Abyss | Reach the Abyss checkpoint | 125 Gems |
| Find My Phone | Unlock the Phone Ending | 140 Gems |
| Bucket List | Unlock every bucket | 140 Gems |
| Bottomless Treasure | Find 1,000 treasure chests | 140 Gems |
| Ocean’s Worst Nightmare | Drain 10,000 buckets | 150 Gems |
Note: The exact Gem reward for Bucket Brigade isn’t displayed in-game in some versions, but the badge is unlocked after draining 100 buckets.
Easiest Badges to Unlock First
If you’re looking for some quick Gems early on, focus on these badges first:
First Drop
Simply drain your very first bucket. This is usually the first badge every player earns and gives you 10 Gems.
Plunge
Jump into the lake once to unlock this badge. It only takes a few seconds and rewards another 10 Gems.
Shark Bait
Eventually, the shark will catch you while exploring the lake. Instead of avoiding it forever, let it happen once to earn an easy 20 Gems.
Lucky Find
Open 10 treasure chests while exploring underwater. Since chests appear throughout the lake, you’ll likely complete this naturally during your first few runs.
Exploration Badges
Several badges reward you simply for reaching new checkpoints as you drain the lake.
These include:
- Sunken Secrets – Shipwreck
- Deep Dive – Cavern
- The Mines – Mine Shaft
- Fire Below – Molten Area
- Ancient Ruins – Lost City
- Into the Abyss – Abyss
If your goal is earning Gems efficiently, keep pushing deeper every run instead of staying in the same area.
Progression Badges
Some badges take longer because they’re based on overall progress rather than exploration.
These include:
- Drain 100 buckets
- Drain 1,000 buckets
- Drain 10,000 buckets
- Find 100 chests
- Find 1,000 chests
- Unlock every bucket
- Complete the entire Skill Tree
These aren’t meant to be finished in a single session, so don’t feel pressured to grind them immediately. They’ll come naturally as you continue playing.
Why Badges Are Worth Completing
Badges aren’t just collectibles—they’re one of the best sources of free Gems.
Those Gems can be spent at the Bucket Station, where you’ll unlock stronger buckets with unique passive abilities. Better buckets help you collect water more efficiently, making it easier to drain the lake, explore deeper zones, and reach new checkpoints.
Because of this, completing badges actually speeds up your overall progression.
Tips for Completing Badges Faster
If you’re aiming to unlock every badge, keep these tips in mind:
- Always claim your badge rewards after returning to the lobby.
- Open every treasure chest you come across.
- Keep pushing toward the next checkpoint instead of farming one area.
- Upgrade your bucket whenever you have enough Gems.
- Invest in your Skill Tree to make exploration and water collection more efficient.
- Don’t ignore long-term milestones like bucket drains and chest collections—they’ll pay off with large Gem rewards over time.
The badge system in Drain the Lake is much more than a collection of achievements. It’s a reliable way to earn Gems, unlock stronger buckets, and make every future run easier than the last.
Whether you’re chasing every checkpoint, hunting for treasure chests, or working toward draining 10,000 buckets, every badge moves your progress forward. Make a habit of claiming your rewards at the Badge Station, and you’ll have a much smoother journey as you continue draining the lake.