Last updated: May 16, 2026. The Venue Takeover event launched May 2, 2026, and runs for a limited time — the developers have stated the NPCs “won’t be sticking around long.” Complete as many questlines as possible before the event ends.

What Is the Venue Takeover?

The Venue Takeover is Fisch’s May 2026 limited-time event that transforms the hidden Underground Music Venue into a hub of 8 unique NPCs, each offering a questline that rewards an exclusive developer rod. These rods feature custom passives, unique mechanics (dual-bar reeling, kinetic energy meters, day/night mode switching), and stats that rival or exceed the best permanent rods in the game.

If you’re new to Fisch, start with our Fisch Beginner Guide to understand rod mechanics, enchantments, and the world map before tackling the Venue.

How to Reach the Underground Music Venue

The journey to the Venue requires several steps and specific prerequisite items:

StepLocationAction
1VertigoJump into a whirlpool with a wispy light to enter Vertigo
2The DepthsInside Vertigo’s central pit, fish for a Depths Key. Use it on the large door to enter The Depths
3Crystal CoveFrom The Depths, head through the archway in the castle wall (coords: ~1302, -701, 1604)
4PedestalPlace a Chaotic Enchant Relic on the empty pedestal in Crystal Cove
5TrapdoorA hatch opens at coordinates ~1350, -604, 2330. Drop down to enter the Underground Music Venue

Required items before you go: Depths Key, Chaotic Enchant Relic.

All 8 NPCs & Developer Rod Questlines

The questlines can be progressed simultaneously, but some rods make others easier. Follow this priority:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

1. Soul Reaper Rod (strongest rod, makes everything else faster)
2. Steampunk Rod (mid-game utility)
3. Castbound Rod (Shimmer access)
4. Wingkeeper Rod (day/night versatility)
5. Acid Grinder Rod (niche toxic setups)
6. Part Rod (quick bonus, ~10 minutes)
7. Remembrance Rod (save for LAST — butterfly grind is the longest)
8. Lullaby Rod (community still discovering)

1. The Reaper → Soul Reaper Rod (Top Priority)

The Soul Reaper Rod is the strongest rod in the Venue and should be your first target. Its stats and passives make every subsequent questline significantly easier.

StatValue
Lure Speed999.99%
Luck288.88%
Control0.177
Resilience16.66%
Max KGInfinite

Passives:

  • Paranormal Mutation (5x) — caught fish have a high chance of receiving the Paranormal mutation, multiplying their sell value by 5x
  • +50% Weight Bonus — all fish weigh 50% more
  • Tombstone Bonus Fish — occasionally summons an extra fish alongside your catch
  • Spirit Duplicate — every 3-6 catches, duplicates the fish for double rewards

Questline Steps:

StepRequirementHow To
1Shiny + Sparkling + Darkened Rubber DuckFish at various locations; Rubber Duck appears as a junk item. Apply mutations via enchantments and totems
2Spirit Ancient Depth SerpentFish in The Depths using the Spirit Rod during Absolute Darkness
3Soul-Touched LogCatch using Hades Soul Scythe rod with garbage bait
4Distraught Scrap MetalCatch using the Dream Breaker Rod
5Phantom StringCatch using the Eidolon Rod in Desolate Deep
6Deliver soul piecesVisit 3 Ghost NPCs: Rosalind (Volcano), Keeper (Altar), Living Garden

2. Rivet → Steampunk Rod

A mechanically-themed rod with a unique kinetic energy system. Solid mid-game stats with a powerful activated ability.

StatValue
Lure Speed75%
Luck90%
Resilience30%

Passive — Kinetic Engine: A meter builds with each successful catch. When activated, triggers:

  • 100% Clockwork mutation rate
  • +50% progress speed
  • +30% resilience
  • Duration: 30 seconds

Questline Steps:

StepRequirement
1Collect Rusty Bolt, Broken Gear, Scrap Metal (junk items from fishing)
2Upgrade each item to Purified, Midas, or Crystallized variants
3Travel 75,000 studs on the bike (use a fast bike + long straight route)
4Catch Electric Kerauno Wyrm (Zeus area, Atlantis)

For fishing location details, see our Fisch Fish Location Map.

3. The Guide → Castbound Rod

A rod designed around precision and accuracy. The only rod capable of fishing in the Shimmer area.

StatValue
Lure Speed65%
Luck110%
Control0.22
Resilience25%

Passive — Blade Slash: Creates slashing arcs during the fishing minigame. Higher accuracy fills the slash meter faster, dealing damage to fish progress.

Questline Steps:

StepRequirement
1Catch 10 Shiny Flying Fish
2Perform 150 Perfect Catches in Shimmer (inside Vertigo cave)
3Submit rods: Arctic, Carbon, Ethereal Prison, Flimsy, Heaven’s, Zeus, and 9 more

4. Seraphel → Wingkeeper Rod

A dual-mode rod that changes behavior based on the day/night cycle — one of the most versatile rods in the event.

StatValue
Lure Speed111%
Luck222%
Progress Speed+66%
Resilience33%

Passive — Day/Night Duality:

  • Daytime: Fast progress speed + Sanctified mutation (3.5x value)
  • Nighttime: Slower progress speed + Veilfallen mutation (4.5x value)

Questline Steps:

StepRequirementReward
1Catch Heavenly Handfish2,500 coins
2Catch Celestial Flying FishGuitar Pick bobber
3Catch Shiny Blessed Harmonic DoveAscendance Title
4Catch Sparkling/Shiny Nova WyvernWingkeeper Rod

5. Axel → Acid Grinder Rod

A specialized rod for toxic/acidic environments. Starts in a restricted state and must be fully unlocked.

StatValue
Lure Speed80%
Luck135%
Resilience28%

Passive — Acid Burn: Applies Acidic mutation (2x value) to all catches. Stacking effect: consecutive catches in Brine Pool increase mutation multiplier up to 4x.

Questline Steps:

StepRequirement
1Catch Tainted Brine Phantom (Bloomspire area, toxin rod)
2Catch Brine Sovereign (only spawns during Brine Storm weather)
3Receive restricted rod → catch Acidic Caustic Starwyrm to fully unlock

Note: The restricted rod can only use specific bait until fully unlocked.

6. BasePart → Part Rod

The quickest questline in the Venue — can be completed in about 10 minutes. The rod itself is a novelty item.

StatValue
All Stats0

Passive — Part Mutation (0.01x): Applies the Part mutation to caught fish, reducing their value to near-zero. Used exclusively for collecting Part-variant fish for the bestiary.

Questline Steps:

StepRequirement
1Catch Exploded Tire (common junk)
2Catch Part Rock
3Catch Part Blue Whale

7. Luneth → Remembrance Rod (Hardest Questline)

The most complex questline in the Venue. Save this for last — the butterfly mutation grind alone can take hours.

StatValue
Lure Speed100%
Luck300%
Control-0.1
Resilience20%
Max KGInfinite

Passive — Dual Mode Reeling:

  • The reeling bar has white fish (progress) and dark fish (penalty)
  • Mode 1 (Fluttering): 50% Fluttering mutation rate (7x value)
  • Mode 2 (Departed): Different mutation pool with higher rarity weighting
  • Perfection Mode: Consecutive perfect catches stack +10% progress speed per second

Questline Steps:

StepRequirement
1Catch Forgotten Orca (Thalassa’s Ruin rod, Shark Head bait, hold 25+ seconds without reeling)
2Catch Glowy Penguin (crab cages + glowworm bait at Snowburrow)
3Catch all 11 butterfly mutations at Living Garden

The 11 Butterfly Mutations:

#MutationHow to Catch
1AlbinoNoir enchant
2DarkenedDepthseeker Rod
3ChaoticDuskwire Rod
4DistraughtDreambreaker Rod
5SparklingBlessed + Glittered enchant + Sparkling Totem
6PlaguedPlaguereaver Rod
7LevitasOni Rod
8MournedTidemourner Rod
9BlessedSeraphic Rod
10FlutteringRemembrance Rod Mode 1
11DepartedRemembrance Rod Mode 2

8. The Mysterious Songstress → Lullaby Rod

The final NPC questline is still being fully mapped by the community. Early reports suggest it’s tied to a multi-part storyline called “A Secret Lullaby.” Check community Discord servers for the latest discoveries.

Venue Takeover Active Code

Redeem code VenueTakeover in the in-game code menu:

RewardQuantity
Coins1,000
Giant Driftwood Boat1
Golden Tentacles5
Random Item1

Quality of Life Changes

The Venue Takeover update also introduced several system improvements:

  • Equipment Bag — accessible via Settings → Preferences. Stores spare rods, bobbers, and bait without cluttering your main inventory.
  • Quick Access — bind frequently used items/actions to hotkeys for faster access during fishing.
  • Multiple Quest Tracking — the Venue NPCs are designed for overlapping progression. Work on 2-3 questlines simultaneously for maximum efficiency.

Strategy: Efficient Questline Overlap

Since many quest steps require fishing in different regions, group your objectives by location:

SessionLocationQuests to Progress
Session 1The DepthsReaper (Spirit Ancient Depth Serpent), cast for Depths fish
Session 2Vertigo / ShimmerThe Guide (Perfect Catches), Castbound rod steps
Session 3Atlantis / ZeusRivet (Electric Kerauno Wyrm), Steampunk rod
Session 4Living GardenLuneth (11 butterflies), Wingkeeper daytime mode

For enchantment and rod optimization strategies, see our Fisch Enchantments Guide and Best Rods Tier List.

FAQ

How long is the Venue Takeover event available?

The developers have not announced a specific end date, but have stated the Venue NPCs “won’t be sticking around long.” Based on previous Fisch limited events, expect 2-4 weeks from the May 2 launch — meaning it could end as early as mid-to-late May 2026. Start with the Soul Reaper Rod questline first.

Can I keep the developer rods after the event ends?

Yes. Once you earn a developer rod by completing its questline, it’s permanently added to your inventory. Only the NPCs and their questlines are limited-time.

Which rod should I get first?

Soul Reaper Rod. Its 999.99% Lure Speed and infinite Max KG make every other questline dramatically faster. The Rod is widely considered one of the best rods ever released in Fisch.