The Forge Money Making Guide - Complete Gold Farming Guide
Gold is the universal currency in The Forge, gating every progression system from pickaxe upgrades to race rerolls, armor enhancements, and essential consumables. Understanding efficient gold-making methods separates players who grind hundreds of hours for basic gear from those who accumulate millions through optimized strategies.
Introduction
Gold is the universal currency in The Forge, gating every progression system from pickaxe upgrades ($125,000 for Arcane) to race rerolls (575 Robux = $7+ USD alternative), armor enhancements ($30,000+ per level past +5), and essential consumables like luck potions. Understanding efficient gold-making methods separates players who grind hundreds of hours for basic gear from those who accumulate millions in gold through optimized strategies, enabling them to purchase best-in-slot equipment, experiment with multiple builds, and progress through content 3-5× faster than inefficient farmers. This comprehensive guide covers all proven money-making methods ranked by efficiency: crafted gear flipping (200-300% profit margins), essence farming end-game ($75,000-120,000/hour), quest completion for instant payouts (10,000 gold rewards), AFK mining exploits for passive income, and resource optimization strategies that transform every activity into profitable ventures.
Gold-Making Tier List (By Efficiency)
S-Tier: Best Gold Per Hour
Method #1: Essence Farming (End-Game)
- Gold Per Hour: $75,000-$200,000
- Requirements: Level 30+, Epic+ gear, access to Volcanic Depths
- Difficulty: High (combat-intensive, requires good build)
Method #2: Crafted Gear Flipping (All Levels)
- Gold Per Hour: $30,000-$80,000 (mid-game), $100,000+ (end-game)
- Requirements: Ore stockpile, forging access
- Difficulty: Low (simple forging minigames)
A-Tier: Good Gold Per Hour
Method #3: Quest Completion
- Gold Per Hour: $15,000-$40,000 (varies by quest availability)
- Requirements: Quest unlocks, level appropriate for zone
- Difficulty: Medium (combat + fetch quests)
Method #4: AFK Mining Exploit
- Gold Per Hour: $10,000-$25,000 (passive, no active play required)
- Requirements: Level 15+, access to Basalt zones
- Difficulty: Very Low (set up and walk away)
B-Tier: Acceptable Early Game
Method #5: Raw Ore Sales
- Gold Per Hour: $5,000-$15,000
- Requirements: Pickaxe, access to mining zones
- Difficulty: Low (pure mining)
Method #6: Enemy Grinding (Common Drops)
- Gold Per Hour: $3,000-$8,000
- Requirements: Functional weapon
- Difficulty: Low (basic combat)
C-Tier: Inefficient / Last Resort
Method #7: Tutorial Quests Only
- Gold Per Hour: $1,000-$3,000 (one-time only)
- Requirements: New account
- Difficulty: Very Low (tutorials)
Method #1: Essence Farming (S-Tier End-Game)
Overview: The Best Gold Farm
Essence farming is the highest gold-per-hour method in The Forge once you reach end-game zones. Enemies in Volcanic Depths drop Large, Greater, and Superior Essence which sell for massive gold values.
| Essence Type | Sell Price | Drop Source | Drop Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium Essence | ~$500-1,000 | Mid-game enemies | Common |
| Large Essence | ~$2,000-3,000 | Elite Skeletons, Brute Zombies | Uncommon |
| Greater Essence | ~$5,000-8,000 | Elite Reapers, Deathaxe Skeletons | Rare |
| Superior Essence | ~$10,000-15,000+ | Volcanic Depths elites | Very Rare |
Efficiency Calculation
30 minutes of farming: 20-30 Large Essence + 5-10 Greater Essence + 1-3 Superior Essence. Gold earned: (25 × $2,500) + (7 × $6,500) + (2 × $12,500) = $62,500 + $45,500 + $25,000 = $133,000 per 30 minutes = $266,000 per hour. This far exceeds any other method's efficiency.
Best Farming Locations
Volcanic Depths (Active Farming - Level 35+):
- Enemies: Elite Skeleton Rogues, Reapers, Fire Slimes, Elite Deathaxe Skeletons
- Essence Drops: Greater and Superior Essence (highest value)
- Access: Enter Forgotten Kingdom Cave → Navigate to Ashen Passage → Break through Basalt Veins → Enter Volcanic Depths portal
- Danger Level: High (powerful enemies, environmental lava damage)
Forgotten Kingdom Ruined Cave (Good - Level 25-35):
- Enemies: Elite Rogue Skeletons, Bombers, Elite Axe Skeletons
- Essence Drops: Large and Greater Essence
- Access: Forgotten Kingdom → Ruined Cave entrance (past Captain Rowan NPC)
- Danger Level: Medium
Stonewake's Cave (Acceptable - Level 15-25):
- Enemies: Brute Zombies, Standard Skeletons
- Essence Drops: Medium and some Large Essence
- Access: Stonewake's Cross → Cave entrance
- Danger Level: Low
Goblin Cave (End-Game Best - AFK):
- Location: Goblin Cave accessed after completing Goblin King questline
- Setup:
- Complete Goblin King quest to unlock Goblin Cave access
- Enter Goblin Cave from Forgotten Kingdom zone
- Position yourself in the main corridor where enemies funnel toward you
- Enable auto-attack (hold left-click or use auto-clicker macro)
- Enemies continuously spawn and walk into your attack range
- Why Goblin Cave is Best:
- Tight corridors: Enemies funnel in straight lines toward you
- Fast respawn timers: Enemies respawn 3-5 seconds after death
- High density: 5-8 enemies on screen simultaneously
- Good drops: Goblin enemies drop Large and Greater Essence frequently
- Optimal Team Setup (3 Players):
- Player 1: Entrance area (spawns first wave)
- Player 2: Near Basalt Core zone (spawns second wave)
- Player 3: Near bridge area (spawns third wave)
- Result: Continuous spawns, no downtime, 3× individual essence gain
- Solo Efficiency: $80,000-120,000/hour
- Team Efficiency: $150,000-200,000/hour per player
Sunken Cells (Mid-Game Alternative - AFK):
- Location: Ruined Caves → Take LEFT path to Sunken Cells
- Setup:
- From Ruined Caves entrance, go LEFT (not straight)
- Find area with Greataxe Skeleton spawns (large groups)
- Position in center of skeleton spawn zone
- Enable auto-attack and AFK
- Why Sunken Cells Works:
- Dense spawns: Greataxe Skeletons spawn in groups of 4-6
- Medium respawn speed: 5-8 seconds between waves
- Accessible pre-Goblin Cave: No quest requirements
- Bonus ores: Skeletons also drop uncommon/rare ores while farming
- Efficiency: $40,000-60,000/hour (lower than Goblin Cave but accessible earlier)
Ruined Caves Entrance (Beginner Farm - AFK):
- Location: Ruined Caves entrance corridor (first area after entering)
- Setup:
- Enter Ruined Caves from Stonewake's Cross
- Walk straight, STOP before left path to Sunken Cells
- Find area where Bombers and basic enemies spawn
- Enable auto-attack in center of spawn zone
- Why Beginners Use This:
- Low enemy difficulty: Level 1-5 enemies, easy to survive
- No quest requirements: Accessible from tutorial completion
- Safe AFK: Won't die even with basic gear
- Steady income: Not high-tier but consistent for early game
- Efficiency: $15,000-25,000/hour (beginner-appropriate, scales with gear)
AFK Farming Optimization Tips
Best Races for AFK Farming:
- Demon: +20% attack speed = more kills per minute = more essence
- Dragonborn: +20% HP + 40% burn chance = survivability + DoT damage
- Golem: +30% HP = tank AFK without dying
- Minotaur: +15% damage + HP = balanced AFK performance
Best Weapons for AFK Farming:
- Fast weapons (Chaos, Ironhand): Higher attack speed = more kills/minute
- AOE weapons (Scythe, Great Axe): Hit multiple enemies simultaneously
- Magmaite trait weapons: 50% AOE explosion clears enemy groups faster
Best Armor for AFK Farming:
- Heavy Armor (Knight, Dark Knight): Maximum HP pool for survivability
- Obsidian trait armor: +30% defense prevents death during AFK
- Demonite trait armor: 25% burn chance on taking damage = passive DPS
Best Runes for AFK Farming:
- Drain Edge: 12% lifesteal sustains HP during long AFK sessions
- Briar Notch: Thorns damage passively kills enemies attacking you
- Blast Chip: AOE explosions clear groups faster
Macro Setup (Advanced - Use at Own Risk):
Some players use auto-clicker macros to enable true AFK farming:
- Download auto-clicker app (not officially endorsed)
- Record macro: Attack → Pause → Attack → Repeat
- Set infinite loop
- Start macro and leave game running
Warning: Macro usage may violate Roblox TOS. Use at your own risk.
Manual AFK Method (Safe):
- Hold left-click to auto-attack
- Press ESC to open menu (keeps attack going)
- Leave game running with ESC menu open
- Character continues auto-attacking while you're AFK
This method is TOS-compliant and works indefinitely.
How to Sell Essence for Maximum Profit
- Selling Location: Greedy Cey NPC near Stonewake's Cave entrance
- Selling Process:
- Talk to Greedy Cey
- Select "Sell Items"
- Click essence types in inventory
- Click "Max" button to sell all of one type
- Confirm sale
- Selling Strategy:
- Sell ALL essence types (Tiny, Medium, Large, Greater)
- Never keep essence unless needed for enhancement
- Essence has no crafting use beyond enhancement—pure profit when sold
Expected Income from 1-Hour AFK Session:
Open inventory after 1 hour AFK in Goblin Cave. Typical haul: 1,500-2,500 total essence. Sell all essence at Greedy Cey = $80,000-120,000 instant cash.
Overnight AFK Farming (8 Hours):
8 hours in Goblin Cave = 12,000-20,000 essence. Sell all = $640,000-1,000,000+ from single overnight session. This is why essence farming is the #1 gold method in The Forge.
Optimal Farming Route (Volcanic Depths)
Step-by-Step Farming Loop:
- Preparation:
- Buy 5-10 Luck Potions from vendor ($1,000-2,000 each)
- Equip best combat gear (Epic+ weapon, Heavy armor recommended)
- Use Demon or Dragonborn race for +damage
- Attach Drain Edge rune for sustain
- Enter Volcanic Depths:
- Navigate from Forgotten Kingdom → Ruined Cave → Ashen Passage → Volcanic portal
- Consume Luck Potion immediately upon entering (duration stacks but effect doesn't)
- Farm Circuit:
- Zone 1 (Northwest): Clear 4-6 Elite Skeleton Rogues
- Zone 2 (North-Center): Farm 3-5 Reapers (highest essence value)
- Zone 3 (East): Clear Fire Slimes (fast respawn, good drops)
- Zone 4 (South): Farm Elite Deathaxe Skeletons
- Return to Zone 1 (first enemies respawned by now)
- Inventory Management:
- Farm until inventory is 80% full (leaves room for rare drops)
- Return to Forgotten Kingdom vendor (NOT Stonewake—closer distance)
- Sell ALL essence (keep only what you need for gear enhancements)
- Return to Volcanic Depths, repeat loop
Time Per Loop: 20-30 minutes per full inventory (depending on kill speed)
Expected Gold: $50,000-$80,000 per inventory clear
Build Optimization for Active Essence Farming
Best Race: Demon (Mythical)
+20% physical damage = faster kills, +20% attack speed = more kills per minute, +20% fire damage = boosts Fire Slime damage
- +20% physical damage = faster kills
- +20% attack speed = more kills per minute
- +20% fire damage = boosts Fire Slime damage
Alternative Races: Dragonborn, Minotaur (Legendary tier with +damage bonuses)
Best Weapon: Chaos Sword or Crusader Sword (high DPS)
Fast attack speed = quick enemy clears, High DPS = efficient farming
- Fast attack speed = quick enemy clears
- High DPS = efficient farming
Best Armor: Medium Armor (Samurai Set)
Maintains mobility for dodging elite attacks, Sufficient defense for survivability, Doesn't slow movement (Heavy armor penalty hurts farming speed)
- Maintains mobility for dodging elite attacks
- Sufficient defense for survivability
- Doesn't slow movement (Heavy armor penalty hurts farming speed)
Essential Runes:
- Drain Edge: 12% lifesteal keeps you alive without stopping to heal
- Blast Chip: AOE explosions clear grouped enemies faster
- Flame Spark: (If available) Boosts fire damage against Fire Slimes
Alternative Budget Build:
If you don't have Mythical race or perfect gear, use:
- Race: Golem (tank build)
- Weapon: Dragon Slayer (10-stud range, safe farming)
- Armor: Heavy armor with Obsidian (maximum defense)
- Strategy: Face-tank elites, rely on defense and Drain Edge healing
Common Essence Farming Mistakes
Mistake #1: Not Using Luck Potions
Essence drop rates improve dramatically with luck
- $2,000 potion investment returns $20,000+ in extra essence drops
- Always use luck potions in Volcanic Depths
- Luck potions are essential for maximizing efficiency
Mistake #2: Farming Alone
Grouping with 2-3 players dramatically increases kill speed
- Shared drops mean everyone gets essence (not competitive)
- Communication allows efficient zone clearing
- 2-3× faster gold accumulation in groups
Mistake #3: Keeping Essence for Enhancements
Only keep 20-30 Large Essence and 10-15 Greater Essence reserves
- Sell all extras immediately (gold > hoarding)
- You can always farm more essence when you need enhancements
Mistake #4: Fighting Unnecessarily
Skip low-value enemies (standard zombies, weak skeletons)
- Target only Elite enemies and Reapers (highest essence value)
- Efficient farming = selective targeting
Method #2: Crafted Gear Flipping (S-Tier All Levels)
Why Crafting Beats Raw Ore Sales
Selling raw ores to Greedy Cey NPC yields terrible returns.
Raw Ore Sales Example:
- 25 Iron ore × $4 each = $100 total
Crafted Gear Sales Example:
- 25 Iron ore → Forge into Medium Chestplate. Medium Chestplate sells for $600-1,200 (depending on quality)
- Profit: $600-1,200 vs $100 = 600-1,200% return
Key Insight: Crafting adds value through transformation. The game economy rewards crafting, not raw resource sales.
Best Gear to Craft for Gold
Not all crafted gear sells equally well. Focus on high-value crafts:
S-Tier Crafts (Best Gold Value):
| Item Type | Ore Count | Sell Price Range | Profit Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colossal Swords | 51-70 ores | $50,000-$150,000+ | Massive (best) |
| Heavy Chestplate | 46-70 ores | $30,000-$80,000 | Excellent |
| Great Axes | 35-50 ores | $15,000-$40,000 | Very Good |
| Heavy Helmet | 26 ores | $8,000-$20,000 | Good |
| Heavy Leggings | 30-31 ores | $10,000-$25,000 | Good |
A-Tier Crafts (Decent Value):
| Item Type | Ore Count | Sell Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skull Crusher | ~30 ores | $8,000-$18,000 | Good hammer craft |
| Great Swords | 31-45 ores | $10,000-$25,000 | Solid heavy weapon |
| Scythes | 25-35 ores | $6,000-$15,000 | Mid-tier weapon |
B-Tier Crafts (Early Game Acceptable):
| Item Type | Ore Count | Sell Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Swords | 22-24 ores | $3,000-$8,000 | Early game flip |
| Medium Armor | 12-19 ores | $2,000-$6,000 | Low investment |
Avoid These Crafts:
Daggers / Knives: Terrible sell value ($500-1,500) for effort. Light Armor: Poor returns compared to Medium/Heavy. Low-Tier Weapons: Selling raw ore is often better than crafting basic gear.
Optimal Crafting Strategy (Great Axes Method)
Why Great Axes?
Great Axes offer the best balance between ore investment and sell value:
- Require 35-45 ores (achievable in 30-60 min mining). Sell for $15,000-$40,000 consistently. Higher success rate than Colossal Swords (fewer ores = better control)
Step-by-Step Great Axe Flipping:
- Ore Gathering (30-60 minutes):
- Mine Basalt Veins in Forgotten Kingdom (Epic ores best)
- Target: 150-200 ores total (enough for 4-5 Great Axe attempts)
- Focus on Epic ores (Cuprite, Emerald, Ruby) for highest sell value
- Crafting Phase (10-15 minutes):
- Go to Forge in Stonewake's Cross or Forgotten Kingdom
- Use 40-45 ores per Great Axe craft (slightly above minimum for better success rate)
- Use best ores (Epic/Rare tier) for maximum sell value
- Critical: Perform forging minigames carefully (quality affects sell price 30-50%)
- Forging Minigame Tips:
- Bellows: Click rapidly and consistently (maintain rhythm)
- Pouring: Time the pour when meter is in green zone
- Hammering: Hit at peak of animation (watch for visual cue)
- Quenching: Click when weapon glows brightest (timing critical)
- Perfect minigames: Increase craft quality from "Common" to "Masterwork" = +50% sell value
- Selling Phase (2-3 minutes):
- Go to Marbles NPC (gear vendor, NOT ore vendor)
- Sell all crafted Great Axes
- Expected revenue: 4 Great Axes × $25,000 average = $100,000 total
- Ore value if sold raw: 180 ores × $35 average = $6,300 total
- Profit: $100,000 vs $6,300 = 1,487% return
Time Investment: 45-75 minutes total (gathering + crafting + selling)
Gold Per Hour: $80,000-$130,000 (mid-game with Epic ores)
Advanced: Colossal Sword Flipping (End-Game)
For players with consistent Legendary ore access (Darkryte, Magmaite, Fireite):
Colossal Sword Method:
- Ore Requirement: 51-70 ores (target 55-60 for balance)
- Ore Type: Use Legendary/Epic ores (Darkryte, Magmaite, Emerald) for maximum sell value
- Sell Price: $80,000-$150,000+ per Colossal Sword
- Crafting Success: Lower success rate (heavy class) but massive profit when successful
Risk/Reward:
- High ore investment (51-70 ores = 1-2 hours of mining)
- Lower success rate (might craft Great Sword instead of Colossal)
- Massive payoff ($100,000+ per craft) when successful
- Recommendation: Use after accumulating 200+ Legendary/Epic ores to absorb failures
Expected Gold (with Legendaries): $150,000-$250,000 per hour
Goblin Race Bonus (Advanced Technique)
Goblin Race Perk: Cheaper shop prices (15-20% discount)
Exploit:
- Reroll to Goblin race (save in Slot 2)
- Buy expensive pickaxe (Cobalt $10,000 → $8,000 with Goblin discount)
- Equip new pickaxe
- Sell your old pickaxe for full value (~$6,000-7,000)
- Net cost: $8,000 purchase - $7,000 sale = $1,000 (saved $9,000!)
- Reroll out of Goblin race back to combat race
This Technique Saves:
- Cobalt Pickaxe: ~$2,000 saved
- Mythril Pickaxe: ~$10,000 saved
- Magma Pickaxe: ~$25,000 saved
- Arcane Pickaxe: ~$20,000 saved
- Total Savings: $57,000+ across all pickaxe purchases
Method #3: Quest Completion (A-Tier)
Why Quests Matter
Quests provide guaranteed gold payouts with no RNG. While not as profitable per hour as essence farming or crafting, quests offer:
- Instant gold rewards (5,000-25,000 gold per quest)
- One-time XP bonuses for leveling
- Unlock special areas (Goblin Cave, Volcanic Depths)
- No gear dependency (complete at any level)
Highest-Paying Quests
S-Tier Quests (Best Gold Rewards):
| Quest NPC | Quest Requirement | Reward | Time to Complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monke | Bring 30 Bananite ores | $10,000 + 5,000 XP | 15-30 min (mining) |
| Masked Stranger | Kill 50 Skeleton Rogues, 30 Axe Skeletons, 15 Deathaxe, 5 Bombers (recurring) | Cash + XP (varies) | 30-60 min per cycle |
A-Tier Quests (Good Value):
| Quest NPC | Quest Requirement | Reward | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain Rowan | Defeat undead enemies (recurring) | Cash + XP | Combat-focused, scales with level |
| Barakkulf | Mine 150 Basalt Rocks, 50 Basalt Cores (recurring) | Cash + XP | Mining-focused, pairs well with ore farming |
Optimal Quest Route (Early Game)
Level 1-15 Quest Path:
- Sensei Moro Tutorial → Portal Tool + $2,000-3,000
- Bard (Find Guitar) → Unknown Key (saves $125k for Arcane Pickaxe later)
- Isaac (Fetch Potion) → Quick $1,500-2,000 for 5 minutes
- Umut the Brave (Kill Zombies) → $1,000-2,000 per cycle, easy combat
- Nord (Find Ores) → XP for leveling (minimal gold)
Total Gold (First Hour Quests): $5,000-8,000
Time Investment: 45-60 minutes
Optimal Quest Route (Mid Game)
Level 15-30 Quest Path:
- Barakkulf (Mine Basalt) → $3,000-5,000 + XP, pairs with ore farming
- Captain Rowan (Kill Undead) → $4,000-6,000 + XP
- Monke (30 Bananite) → $10,000 (best single quest reward)
- Masked Stranger (Elite Kills) → $5,000-8,000 per cycle
- Line (Fetch Fireite) → $3,000-5,000 for rare ore fetch
Total Gold (Mid-Game Quests): $25,000-40,000
Time Investment: 2-3 hours (includes combat and mining)
Quest + Farming Synergy
Optimal Strategy: Complete quests WHILE farming essence/ores:
Example Synergy Loop:
- Accept Amber's quest (Kill Elite Reapers)
- Accept Masked Stranger quest (Kill Elite Skeletons)
- Farm Volcanic Depths for essence (Method #1)
- Quest objectives complete automatically while essence farming
- Return to NPCs, collect quest rewards ($10,000-15,000 combined)
Total earnings: Essence sales ($80,000) + Quest rewards ($12,000) = $92,000
This doubles your effective gold-per-hour by layering quest completion over essence farming.
Method #4: AFK Mining Exploit (A-Tier Passive)
How the AFK Exploit Works
The Forge has a built-in "exploit" allowing continuous mining while AFK:
Mechanics:
- Hold left-click to start mining a node
- Press Escape to open menu WHILE still holding left-click
- Release left-click AFTER menu is open
- Your character continues mining indefinitely while menu is open
- Menu pauses the game but mining animation persists
- Ores accumulate in inventory automatically
This is NOT a bannable exploit—it's a built-in game mechanic that developers haven't patched.
Best AFK Mining Locations
S-Tier Location: Ashen Passage (Basalt Cores)
- Location: Forgotten Kingdom → Ruined Cave → Ashen Passage area
- Rock Type: Basalt Cores (dual-node positioning)
- Why Best: Two Basalt Cores spawn close together, allowing alternating mining between nodes (one respawns while you mine the other)
- Safety: Position between two cores with enemies out of aggro range
- Ore Value: Epic tier (Cuprite, Emerald, Ruby) sell for $35-50 each
- Expected Gold: $15,000-25,000 per hour AFK
A-Tier Location: Basalt Veins (Volcanic Area)
- Location: Forgotten Kingdom → Volcano approach → Basalt Vein clusters
- Rock Type: Basalt Veins (highest Epic ore concentration)
- Why Good: Fast respawn rates, high ore value
- Safety Concern: Nearby enemies can aggro, interrupting AFK session
- Expected Gold: $18,000-30,000 per hour (IF uninterrupted)
B-Tier Location: Boulders (Stonewake's Cave)
- Location: Stonewake's Cross → Cave → Boulder area
- Rock Type: Boulders (Common to Rare ores)
- Why Acceptable: Very safe, no enemy aggro
- Downside: Low ore value ($3-15 per ore)
- Expected Gold: $5,000-10,000 per hour
AFK Mining Setup Guide
Step 1: Positioning
- Navigate to Ashen Passage in Forgotten Kingdom
- Find dual Basalt Core spawn (two cores within 6-8 studs)
- Stand between the two cores (equidistant positioning)
- Angle camera so you can target either core with minimal movement
Step 2: Safety Check
- Clear all nearby enemies (zombies, skeletons) before starting AFK
- Verify no enemies spawn within aggro range of your position
- Enemies respawning mid-AFK will attack and interrupt mining
Step 3: Activate AFK Mining
- Target first Basalt Core
- Hold left-click (mining animation starts)
- While STILL holding left-click, press Escape
- Menu opens, mining continues
- Release left-click after menu is open
- Walk away from computer—character mines automatically
Step 4: Monitoring
- Check every 30-60 minutes to ensure no interruptions
- Empty inventory if approaching full capacity (100-150 ore limit)
- Restart AFK mining if enemy aggro interrupted session
AFK Optimization Tips
Tip #1: Use Arcane Pickaxe
- 115 Mine Power breaks Basalt Cores quickly
- +50% Luck Boost increases rare ore drop rates
- +10% Mining Speed = 10% more ores per hour AFK
Tip #2: Equip Miner Shard Runes
- 5% extra ore chance per rune
- Stacks across 3 rune slots = 15% total extra ores
- Result: 100 ores becomes 115 ores = $5,000 extra gold per session
Tip #3: AFK During Off-Peak Activities
- Set up AFK mining before going to bed (8 hours AFK = $120,000-200,000 overnight)
- AFK while doing homework, watching TV, eating dinner
- Never AFK in dangerous zones—enemies will kill you and reset session
Tip #4: Dual-Monitor AFK
- Keep Roblox on second monitor
- Watch for enemy spawns or aggro
- Quick intervention if session breaks
AFK Safety & Ethics
Is This Bannable?
No official statement from developers, but community consensus is this is NOT bannable:
- No third-party software (macros, autoclickers) used
- Uses built-in game mechanics only (menu + mining)
- Thousands of players use this method publicly without bans
However:
- Some players consider this "exploiting" game design flaws
- Developers may patch this in future updates
- Use at your own discretion (risk appears minimal but non-zero)
Ethical Consideration:
This method provides massive advantage over players who don't know about it. If you value "fair play," consider limiting AFK sessions to reasonable durations (1-2 hours) rather than 8-hour overnight marathons.
Method #5: Raw Ore Sales (B-Tier Beginner)
When to Sell Raw Ores
Raw ore sales are ONLY acceptable in these situations:
- Absolute Beginner (Level 1-5): Before you understand crafting mechanics
- Inventory Emergency: Full inventory mid-farming session, need space immediately
- Common Ore Excess: Selling 500+ common ores (Stone, Copper) that aren't worth crafting
Otherwise, ALWAYS craft ores into gear before selling.
Ore Value Reference
| Ore Rarity | Sell Price | Better Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Common (Stone, Iron) | $3-6 each | Craft into Medium Armor ($2,000-5,000) |
| Rare (Diamond, Sapphire) | $25-35 each | Craft into Great Axes ($15,000-40,000) |
| Epic (Cuprite, Emerald, Ruby) | $35-50 each | Craft into Heavy Armor ($30,000-80,000) |
| Legendary (Darkryte, Magmaite) | $60-100 each | Craft into Colossal Swords ($100,000-150,000+) |
Key Insight: Crafting multiplies ore value by 5-20× depending on gear tier.
Exception: Speed Farming
If your goal is speed over efficiency (farming $100k as fast as possible):
Raw Legendary Ore Sales:
- Mine Volcanic Rocks for 2 hours
- Accumulate 100-150 Legendary/Epic ores
- Sell ALL ores raw (no crafting delay)
- Revenue: 125 ores × $75 average = $9,375
- Time: 2 hours mining + 2 minutes selling = 2.03 hours total
- Gold Per Hour: $4,616
Crafting Those Same Ores:
- 125 ores = 2 Colossal Swords (62 ores each)
- 2 Colossal Swords × $125,000 average = $250,000 revenue
- Time: 2 hours mining + 15 minutes crafting + 2 minutes selling = 2.28 hours total
- Gold Per Hour: $109,649
Conclusion: Crafting is ALWAYS more gold-per-hour efficient. Raw sales save 13 minutes but cost $240,000 in lost profit.
Gold Optimization Strategies
Strategy #1: Bankrolling Progression
Goal: Accumulate target gold amount for specific purchase (e.g., $125,000 for Arcane Pickaxe)
Method:
- Calculate target: $125,000 for Arcane Pickaxe
- Choose gold method: Essence farming ($100k/hour) or Great Axe flipping ($80k/hour)
- Dedicated session: 2 hours of chosen method = $160k-200k earned
- Purchase Arcane immediately
- Arcane's improved mining accelerates all future farming (virtuous cycle)
Principle: Invest gold into efficiency multipliers (pickaxes, runes) before luxury purchases (cosmetics, unnecessary gear).
Strategy #2: Quest + Farming Hybrid
Goal: Maximize gold-per-hour by layering quest completion over farming activities
Method:
- Accept all combat quests (Amber, Masked Stranger, Captain Rowan)
- Accept all mining quests (Barakkulf, Line)
- Farm Volcanic Depths for essence (kills enemies, mines ores)
- Complete quest objectives passively while farming
- Return to NPCs every 60-90 minutes, collect $15,000-25,000 in quest rewards
- Total gold: Essence ($80k) + Quests ($20k) = $100k per 90 minutes
Result: 33% gold-per-hour increase by combining methods.
Strategy #3: AFK Overnight Wealth
Goal: Generate passive income while sleeping
Method:
- Set up AFK mining in Ashen Passage (Basalt Cores)
- Position safely between two nodes
- Activate AFK mining exploit
- Sleep 8 hours
- Wake up to 120-200k gold in Epic ores (depending on luck and interruptions)
Time Investment: 5 minutes setup, 0 minutes active play, 8 hours passive earning
This is the highest PASSIVE gold-per-hour method (technically infinite gold-per-active-hour since active time = 5 minutes).
Strategy #4: Goblin Arbitrage
Goal: Exploit Goblin race shop discounts for massive savings
Method:
- Save Goblin race in Slot 2 (after rerolling to Legendary combat race in Slot 1)
- Before any major purchase (pickaxe, consumables)::
- Swap to Goblin race (Slot 2)
- Buy item with 15-20% discount
- Sell old gear for full value
- Swap back to combat race (Slot 1)
- Net savings: $10,000-25,000 per major purchase
- Over full progression: $50,000-80,000 total saved
Requirements: Level 30+ (Slot 2 unlock), Goblin race saved in storage
Common Money-Making Mistakes
Mistake #1: Selling Raw Ores Instead of Crafting
Why It's Bad: Selling 25 Epic ores for $1,125 when crafting them into Great Axe yields $25,000 = losing $23,875 per craft
Compounded Over Time:
- 10 crafting opportunities ignored = $238,750 lost
- This lost gold funds an Arcane Pickaxe + Magma Pickaxe
Solution: ALWAYS craft ores into gear unless you're in absolute emergency (full inventory mid-run).
Mistake #2: Ignoring Forging Minigame Quality
Why It's Bad: Poor minigame performance = "Common" quality craft = 50% lower sell value
Example:
- Perfect minigames: Masterwork Great Axe sells for $40,000
- Failed minigames: Common Great Axe sells for $20,000
- Lost Profit: $20,000 per craft (50% reduction)
Solution: Pay attention to forging minigames. Practice timing on low-value crafts before attempting expensive Colossal Swords.
Mistake #3: Farming Without Luck Potions
Why It's Bad: Essence drop rates without luck = 50-60% of potential drops
Math:
- 1 hour farming WITHOUT luck: 15 Greater Essence = $97,500
- 1 hour farming WITH luck: 25 Greater Essence = $162,500
- Lost Gold: $65,000 per hour
- Potion Cost: $2,000 per potion
- Net Benefit: $63,000 per hour (3,150% ROI on potion)
Solution: Always use luck potions in Volcanic Depths essence farming. The 2,000 gold investment returns 30-40× value.
Mistake #4: Hoarding Essence
Why It's Bad: Keeping 200 Large Essence "in case you need it later" locks up $400,000-600,000 in gold
Opportunity Cost:
- 200 Large Essence = $500,000 if sold
- $500,000 funds: Demonic Pickaxe ($500k) OR 4× Arcane Pickaxes for entire friend group
- Meanwhile, you can re-farm 200 essence in 3-4 hours when you actually need enhancements
Solution: Keep 20-30 essence reserve for immediate needs, sell ALL extras immediately. Gold in hand > hoarded resources.
Mistake #5: Solo Farming
Why It's Bad: Farming alone = 100% of effort, 100% of rewards. Farming with 2-3 friends = 40% of effort, 100% of rewards (shared drops)
Group Benefits:
- Faster enemy kills (combined DPS)
- Shared essence drops (everyone gets loot)
- Safety (revives, healing, tanking)
- 2-3× faster gold accumulation
Solution: Join Discord, find farming groups, coordinate Volcanic Depths runs. 3-person groups earn $300k/hour vs $100k/hour solo.
Mistake #6: Not Completing High-Value Quests
Why It's Bad: Ignoring Monke quest (30 Bananite) = missing free $10,000 that takes 20 minutes to obtain
Total Quest Gold Ignored:
- Monke: $10,000
- Masked Stranger cycles: $20,000+
- Barakkulf: $15,000+
- Total: $45,000+ in "free money" from quests
Solution: Complete all A-Tier and S-Tier quests listed in Method #3 section. Takes 2-3 hours total, pays $40,000-60,000.
Quick Reference Tables
Gold Per Hour Comparison
| Method | Level Required | Gold Per Hour | Requirements | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essence Farming (Volcanic) | 35+ | $75k-$200k | Epic+ gear, luck potions | High |
| Colossal Sword Flipping | 30+ | $100k-$250k | Legendary ores, forging skill | Medium |
| Great Axe Flipping | 20+ | $60k-$130k | Epic ores, forging access | Medium |
| Quest Completion | Any | $15k-$40k | Quest unlocks | Variable |
| AFK Mining (Basalt) | 15+ | $15k-$30k (passive) | Safe positioning | Very Low |
| Raw Ore Sales | Any | $5k-$15k | Mining only | Low |
Best Gold Method by Level
| Level Range | Primary Method | Secondary Method | Expected Gold/Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-10 | Quest completion + raw ore sales | Basic gear flipping | $5k-$12k |
| 10-20 | Medium Armor flipping + quests | AFK Boulder mining | $15k-$30k |
| 20-30 | Great Axe flipping | Quest + ore farming hybrid | $50k-$100k |
| 30-40+ | Essence farming (Volcanic) | Colossal Sword flipping | $100k-$250k |
Quick Gold Targets
| Item Purchase | Cost | Fastest Method | Time Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalt Pickaxe | $10,000 | Quest (Monke) | 20-30 min |
| Mythril Pickaxe | $67,500 | Great Axe flipping (2 crafts) | 2-3 hours |
| Arcane Pickaxe | $125,000 | Essence farming | 1-2 hours |
| Magma Pickaxe | $150,000 | Essence farming + quests | 2-3 hours |
| Demonic Pickaxe | $500,000 | Colossal Sword spam + essence | 6-10 hours |
Crafting Profit Margins
| Craft | Ore Investment | Sell Value | Profit Margin | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colossal Sword | 60 ores × $75 = $4,500 | $100,000-$150,000 | $95,500-$145,500 | 2,122%-3,233% |
| Heavy Chestplate | 50 ores × $50 = $2,500 | $40,000-$80,000 | $37,500-$77,500 | 1,500%-3,100% |
| Great Axe | 40 ores × $40 = $1,600 | $20,000-$40,000 | $18,400-$38,400 | 1,150%-2,400% |
| Skull Crusher | 30 ores × $35 = $1,050 | $10,000-$18,000 | $8,950-$16,950 | 853%-1,614% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the fastest way to make money in The Forge?
Essence farming in Volcanic Depths ($75k-200k/hour). Requires Level 35+ and Epic gear. Alternative: Great Axe flipping ($60k-130k/hour) for mid-game players.
Should I sell my ores or craft them into gear?
ALWAYS craft first, then sell. Crafting multiplies ore value by 5-20×. Only sell raw ores in absolute emergencies (full inventory).
What's the best gear to craft for gold?
Great Axes (35-45 ores) offer best balance ($20k-40k each). Colossal Swords (51-70 ores) have highest ceiling ($100k-150k) but lower success rate.
How do I AFK mine without getting banned?
Hold left-click → Press Escape → Release left-click. This uses built-in mechanics and appears safe (no confirmed bans). Position in Ashen Passage between two Basalt Cores.
What quests give the most gold?
Monke ($10k for 30 Bananite), Masked Stranger ($5k-8k per cycle), Goblin King (unlocks Goblin Cave). Complete all combat/mining quests while farming for 30% gold bonus.
Should I use luck potions for farming?
YES for Volcanic Depths essence farming. $2k potion returns $60k+ in extra essence drops (3,000% ROI). Don't use for common ore mining (wasted).
How much gold do I need for end-game?
Arcane Pickaxe ($125k) + Epic weapon/armor ($100k in ores) + enhancements ($50k-100k) = $275k-325k minimum for functional end-game build.
Can I make gold without combat?
Yes—AFK mining ($15k-30k/hour passive), mining quests (Barakkulf, Nord), and crafting/selling gear. Combat methods earn more but aren't required.
What's the Goblin race discount trick?
Save Goblin in Slot 2, swap to Goblin before major purchases (15-20% discount), buy item, sell old gear for full value, swap back to combat race. Saves $50k-80k across full progression.
How long to farm $1,000,000 gold?
Essence farming (Volcanic): 5-8 hours. Colossal Sword spam: 6-10 hours. AFK mining overnight: 3-5 nights (8 hours each).