Drill

Lore & Background

The Thieves' Guild has always prided itself on unconventional entry methods. The Drill fits squarely into that philosophy: rather than picking a lock or scaling a face, you simply make your own door. In Sly 2, the gizmo is presented as a compact, handheld drilling device that Sly can deploy against walls bearing a subtle visual cue—a faint seam or a slightly different texture—indicating they are hollow or made of a penetrable material.

The design philosophy behind the Drill reflects the broader Sly 2 approach to level design, where each stage is layered with optional secret areas. The Drill doesn't gate progression; it rewards curiosity. A player who notices a wall that looks 'off' and has the gizmo equipped can break through to find a hidden stash of cash, a bonus collectible, or a shortcut that saves time on a later revisit.

Within the world of the Thieves' Guild, tools like the Drill are treated as standard-issue field equipment—no more exotic than a crowbar or a grappling hook. The game's tone keeps them grounded and practical, never over-the-top, reinforcing Sly's identity as a clever, resourceful thief rather than a superhero.

In Their Own Story

The vault door was sealed. Not locked—sealed. Solid steel, no seams, no handle. Bentley's jaw tightened as he ran his scanner over the surface. 'It's not the door we need to worry about, Sly. It's the wall behind the door.' Sly crouched, tapping the concrete with one claw. A faint hum. A hairline fracture he could feel through his glove. He pulled the Drill from his satchel, the little motor whining to life. 'Murray, stand back.' The raccoon pressed the bit against the seam and squeezed the trigger. Dust cascaded. A circle of grey powder dropped to the floor, and through the hole, a soft amber glow pulsed from the inner chamber. Sly grinned. 'That's what I like to see.'

Reader's Guide

Function: The Drill bores through walls that display a subtle visual marker (a faint seam, slightly altered texture, or a small circular outline). It is not a general-purpose tool—only designated walls can be penetrated.

Wielded by: Sly Cooper. It is a personal gizmo and cannot be assigned to other band members.

How to obtain: The Drill is a purchasable gizmo available in the in-game shop during Sly 2: Band of Thieves. You must accumulate enough in-game currency (earned through missions, hidden items, and bonus challenges) to buy it. It is not a mission-gated item; it becomes available once you reach the shop.

In-game use: Approach a marked wall, aim, and activate the Drill. The animation plays, the wall breaks open, and a hidden area is revealed. There is no cooldown or limited-use restriction noted in standard play.

Upgrades / variants: The Drill does not receive a numerical upgrade tier in Sly 2. It is a single-use-per-wall tool with no power scaling. In later Sly Cooper entries, the specific Drill gizmo is not carried forward as a core mechanic; the series shifts toward vehicles, time mechanics, and other traversal tools. Treat the Drill as a Sly 2–specific utility.

Did You Know?

• The Drill is a reward for exploration, not a requirement for progression—no main-story mission in Sly 2 is locked behind it.
• Only walls with a subtle visual cue can be drilled; the rest are solid and the Drill has no effect on them.
• The gizmo shop system in Sly 2 lets players choose which tools to invest in, making the Drill one option among several rather than a mandatory pick-up.
• The Drill's design philosophy mirrors the series' broader emphasis on finding hidden routes and secret stashes over straightforward combat.