The Forge Mining Guide
Master the art of mining in The Forge! This comprehensive guide covers everything from basic mining mechanics to advanced legendary ore farming strategies. Learn pickaxe progression, ore locations, and efficient farming techniques.
1. Mining Basics
Mining is the core progression system in The Forge, serving as your primary method for collecting ores that power all weapon and armor crafting. Understanding mining mechanics, ore locations, pickaxe stats, and efficient farming routes separates beginner players from expert crafters. This comprehensive guide covers everything from your first swing in Stonewake's Cave to late-game volcanic rock farming.
🔥 Quick Start to Mining
- Go to Stonewake's Cave (starting area)
- Equip pickaxe from inventory hotbar
- Target rock nodes (Pebble, Rock, Boulder)
- Click repeatedly to deal damage based on your Mine Power
- Automatically collect ores when rocks break
- Upgrade to Iron Pickaxe as first priority ($500-1000)
How Mining Works
Target Rock Node
Click on Pebbles, Rocks, Boulders, Basalt, or Volcanic rocks. Each type has different durability and ore pools.
Deal Damage
Your pickaxe's Mine Power determines damage per swing. Higher power breaks rocks faster.
Rock Breaks
When durability reaches zero, the rock breaks and drops 1+ ores based on drop rates.
Automatic Collection
Ores are automatically collected. Rocks respawn after a short cooldown for continuous farming.
Core Pickaxe Stats Explained
⚡ Mine Power
What it does: Damage dealt per swing to rocks
Why it matters: Higher Mine Power breaks rocks faster and allows access to harder nodes
Example: Demonic Pickaxe (135 Mine Power) vs Basic Pickaxe (15-20 Mine Power)
🏃 Mining Speed
What it does: Percentage modifier affecting swing rate
Why it matters: Faster swings = more rocks per minute
Example: +20% Mining Speed = 20% more swings per minute
🍀 Luck Boost
What it does: Increases probability of rare and high-tier ores
Why it matters: Critical for farming Legendary ores (1/2000+ drop rates)
Example: Arcane Pickaxe (50% Luck) dramatically improves Epic/Legendary drops
💎 Rune Slots
What it does: Allows equipping special runes for additional bonuses
Why it matters: Customize your pickaxe for specific farming goals
Example: Arcane Pickaxe (3 slots) can equip multiple luck runes
Rock Types & Mining Progression
| Rock Type | Location | Ore Quality | Min Mine Power | Best Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pebbles | Stonewake's Cross | Common | 15+ | Skip unless no alternative |
| Rocks | Stonewake's Cross | Common | 20+ | Early game standard |
| Boulders | Stonewake's Cross | Common+ | 35+ | Best for early progression |
| Basalt Core | Forgotten Kingdom | Rare-Epic | 60+ | Mid-game farming |
| Basalt Vein | Forgotten Kingdom | Rare-Epic | 70+ | Multi-node technique |
| Volcanic Rock | Volcanic Areas | Epic-Legendary | 100+ | End-game legendary hunting |
2. Pickaxe Progression
Understanding pickaxe progression is critical for mining efficiency. Each tier unlocks access to new rock types and dramatically improves farming speed. Pickaxes cannot be upgraded like weapons—you must craft or buy each new tier in full.
Early Game Pickaxes (Levels 1-15)
⛏️ Basic Pickaxe
Mine Power: 15-20
Luck Boost: 0%
Rune Slots: 0
Cost: Free (starting equipment)
Capability
- Only Pebbles and basic Rocks
- Very slow mining speed
- Replace immediately
Upgrade timing: Replace ASAP when you can afford Iron Pickaxe
🔨 Iron Pickaxe (First Priority)
Mine Power: 35-40
Luck Boost: 0%
Rune Slots: 0
Cost: $500-1000 (or craft using Iron ore)
Capability
- All basic rocks plus Boulders efficiently
- 2x faster than Basic Pickaxe
- Essential first upgrade
Why it's crucial: Mine Power increase dramatically speeds up early ore farming
Mid-Game Pickaxes (Levels 15-30)
| Pickaxe | Tier | Mine Power | Luck Boost | Rune Slots | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum Pickaxe | B | 50-60 | +5-10% | 1 | Transitional tool |
| Stonewake's Pickaxe | B | 55-65 | +10% | 1 | Quest reward alternative |
| Mythril Pickaxe | A | 70-80 | +15-20% | 1-2 | Basalt farming (recommended) |
| Cobalt Pickaxe | A | 75-85 | +15% | 2 | Alternative to Mythril |
| Titanium Pickaxe | A | 80-90 | +10-15% | 2 | High durability builds |
| Uranium Pickaxe | A | 85-95 | +20% | 2 | Balanced mid-game choice |
💡 Mid-Game Recommendation
The Mythril Pickaxe is the sweet spot for mid-game progression. It provides the significant power spike needed to efficiently mine Basalt Cores and Basalt Veins, enabling Rare ore farming. The 70-80 Mine Power and 15-20% Luck Boost make it excellent value for the investment.
End-Game Pickaxes (Level 30+)
🌋 Magma Pickaxe (S-Tier)
Mine Power: 135
Luck Boost: +46%
Rune Slots: 2
Cost: $150,000 or craft from Volcanic Rock
Characteristics
- Immense mining power for breaking any rock quickly
- Can instant-break most mid-tier rocks
- Excellent for pure farming speed
Best for: Speed farming when you've maxed out luck elsewhere
😈 Demonic Pickaxe (S-Tier)
Mine Power: 135
Luck Boost: +40-45%
Rune Slots: 2
Acquisition: Requires demonic crafting materials
Characteristics
- Matches Magma Pickaxe in raw power
- Alternative acquisition path
- Identical performance to Magma
Best for: Players who prefer demonic aesthetic/lore
✨ Lightite Pickaxe (S-Tier)
Mine Power: 125-135
Luck Boost: +45%
Rune Slots: 2-3
Special: Light-based bonuses
Characteristics
- Excellent all-around stats
- May have unique light-based bonuses
- Requires rare crafting materials
Best for: Crystal ore farming and light-themed builds
🔮 Arcane Pickaxe (S-Tier - BEST OVERALL)
Mine Power: 120-130
Luck Boost: +50% (HIGHEST)
Rune Slots: 3 (MAXIMUM)
Acquisition: Bard quest → Unknown Key → Stonewake gate
Why it's the best
- 50% Luck Boost dramatically increases Legendary ore drop rates
- Three rune slots allow full customization
- Can stack additional luck, speed, or gold-find runes
- Cannot be upgraded further (makes rune slots critical)
Best for: Legendary ore hunting and end-game optimization
📈 Optimal Upgrade Path
Basic → Iron Pickaxe
When: As soon as possible (level 3-5)
Why: Essential 2x speed boost for early game
Iron → Mythril/Cobalt Pickaxe
When: Level 15-20, entering Forgotten Kingdom
Why: Enables efficient Basalt farming
Mythril → Titanium/Uranium (Optional)
When: Level 25-28, if resources allow
Why: Intermediate step before end-game
Any A-Tier → Magma/Demonic
When: Level 30+, for volcano access
Why: Required Mine Power for Volcanic Rocks
Magma/Demonic → Arcane (End-Game)
When: Complete Bard quest, end-game focus
Why: Maximum Luck Boost for Legendary farming
⚠️ Important Pickaxe Notes
- No Upgrades: Pickaxes cannot be upgraded like weapons and armor. You must craft or buy each new pickaxe in full.
- Resource Planning: Plan your resource investment carefully—you cannot "improve" the pickaxe later.
- Rune Slots Matter: End-game pickaxes with more rune slots provide better customization options.
- Luck vs Power: For Legendary ore hunting, prioritize Luck Boost over raw Mine Power.
3. Ore Locations & Maps
Stonewake's Cross (Starting Area)
- Rock Types: Pebbles, Rocks, Boulders
- Ore Quality: Common tier (Stone, Copper, Iron)
- Recommended Level: 1-15
- Strategy: Focus on Boulders for better drop rates
Forgotten Kingdom (World 2)
- Rock Types: Basalt Core, Basalt Vein, Volcanic Rock
- Ore Quality: Rare to Epic tier
- Recommended Level: 15-30
- Requirement: Minimum 60-70 Mine Power
Volcanic Areas (End-Game)
- Rock Types: Volcanic Rock exclusively
- Ore Quality: Epic to Legendary tier
- Recommended Level: 30+
- Requirement: 100+ Mine Power (Magma/Arcane tier)
4. Farming Strategies
Multi-Node Mining
Position between multiple rock spawns to mine 2-3 nodes with one pickaxe swing. This technique works especially well on Basalt Vein clusters, effectively doubling or tripling your ore-per-minute rate.
Respawn Farming Loops
Create a circular mining route that hits 4-6 nodes in sequence. By the time you complete the loop, the first nodes have respawned, maintaining continuous mining without downtime.
Level-Based Strategies
Level 1-15: Foundation Building
- Focus on Stonewake's Cave Boulder nodes
- Save gold for Iron Pickaxe ($500-1000)
- Accumulate 200-300 Iron ore for crafting
Level 15-30: Basalt Transition
- Farm Rare tier ores (Diamond, Sapphire)
- Use multi-node technique on Basalt Veins
- Save for Magma Pickaxe ($150k)
Level 30+: Legendary Hunting
- Volcanic Rock farming with max Luck Boost
- Use Arcane Pickaxe with luck runes
- Run 1-2 hour dedicated sessions
5. Legendary Ore Hunting
Target Legendary Ores
| Ore | Drop Rate | Multiplier | Special Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darkryte | 1/2000 | 4x | General purpose |
| Fireite | 1/2187 | 4.5x | 20% Burn chance |
| Magmaite | 1/3003 | 5x | 50% AOE explosion |
Optimal Setup for Legendary Farming
- Pickaxe: Arcane Pickaxe (50% base Luck Boost)
- Runes: All three slots with Luck runes
- Consumables: Luck potions/buffs active
- Target: 75-100%+ total luck boost
Statistical Reality
At 1/3000 drop rate for Magmaite, you need approximately 3000 Volcanic Rock breaks for statistical expectation of one drop. With 50% Luck Boost, this effectively halves the required time.
6. Mining Efficiency
Gold per Hour by Location
| Location | Level Range | Average GPH | Best Pickaxe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stonewake Cave | 1-15 | 2k-5k gold | Iron → Mythril |
| Basalt Zones | 15-30 | 15k-30k gold | Mythril → Titanium |
| Volcanic Areas | 30+ | 50k-100k+ gold | Magma/Arcane |
Inventory Management
- Return to vendors every 15-20 minutes
- Keep inventory at minimum 25% empty
- Prioritize rare ores over commons when full
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Neglecting Pickaxe Upgrades
Better pickaxe has more impact than better weapons/armor for overall progression.
Solution: Always prioritize pickaxe upgrades first.
❌ Mining Without Luck Boosts
Legendary ore drop rates are so low that farming without maximum luck wastes time.
Solution: Don't farm Volcanic Rocks without Arcane Pickaxe + luck runes.
❌ Ignoring Multi-Node Positions
Mining rocks one-by-one is 50-70% less efficient.
Solution: Always position between 2-3 nodes for simultaneous mining.
❌ Wrong Location for Level
Using wrong pickaxe tier for your mining location.
Solution: Match pickaxe power to zone requirements.
8. Mining FAQ
Q: Which pickaxe should I get first?
A: Iron Pickaxe is your first priority upgrade, typically reached around level 3-5.
Q: How do I get Arcane Pickaxe?
A: Complete the Bard NPC quest to obtain Unknown Key, then unlock the special gate in Stonewake's Cave.
Q: What's better: high Mining Power or high Luck Boost?
A: For common/rare ores, prioritize Mine Power for speed. For legendary ore hunting, Luck Boost is more important.
Q: How many ores should I keep before selling?
A: Keep 50-100 common ores, 20-30 rare ores, 5-10 epic ores, and all legendaries.