The Forge Pickaxe Guide - Complete Pickaxe Progression Guide
Pickaxes are the single most important tool in The Forge, directly determining your mining efficiency, ore access, and overall progression speed. This comprehensive guide covers complete pickaxe progression from the starter Bronze Pickaxe to the legendary Arcane endgame tool, complete with stat breakdowns, cost-benefit analyses, optimal upgrade paths, and efficiency optimization strategies.
1. Pickaxe Mechanics Fundamentals
Pickaxes operate on four core statistics that determine mining effectiveness: Mine Power, Luck Boost Percentage, Mining Speed Modifier, and Rune Slots.
Core Pickaxe Stats
Mine Power (Mining Damage)
The primary stat determining which rocks you can mine and how fast. Each rock type has a damage threshold:
- Pebbles/Basic Rocks: Require 4-15 Mine Power
- Boulders: Require 20-30 Mine Power
- Basalt Cores: Require 39+ Mine Power
- Basalt Veins: Require 78+ Mine Power
- Volcanic Rocks: Require 100+ Mine Power
Luck Boost Percentage
Increases the probability of obtaining rare and high-tier ores from any rock. This stat becomes critical at end-game when farming legendary ores with drop rates of 1/2,000+.
Mining Speed Modifier
Affects swing animation speed, measured as a percentage. The Arcane Pickaxe's +10% Mining Speed allows 10% more swings per minute.
Rune Slots
Determines how many runes you can attach for additional bonuses. This is the most important stat for end-game pickaxes because runes provide effects that base stats cannot replicate.
Rock Damage Thresholds
Understanding which pickaxe can mine which rocks is critical for progression planning:
| Rock Type | Mine Power Required | Location | Ore Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pebbles | 4+ | Stonewake's Cave | Common (Stone, Copper) |
| Rocks | 7+ | Stonewake's Cave | Common (Iron, Cardboardite) |
| Boulders | 20+ | Stonewake's Cave | Common-Rare |
| Basalt Core | 39+ | Forgotten Kingdom | Rare-Epic (Diamond, Sapphire) |
| Basalt Vein | 78+ | Forgotten Kingdom | Epic (Cuprite, Emerald, Ruby) |
| Volcanic Rock | 100+ | Volcanic Depths | Legendary (Darkryte, Magmaite, Fireite) |
Why Pickaxes Cannot Be Upgraded
Unlike weapons and armor which can be enhanced through the Enhancer NPC, pickaxes have no upgrade system. Each pickaxe's stats are permanent and fixed:
- Rune slots are permanent—you cannot enhance to gain more
- Stats cannot improve—you must buy/craft a new pickaxe
- Investment is permanent—choose wisely
2. Complete Pickaxe Tier List
Pickaxes are ranked based on their stats, cost-effectiveness, and progression value.
S-Tier: End-Game Best-in-Slot
Arcane Pickaxe
Stats: 115 Mine Power | +10% Speed | +50% Luck | 3 Rune Slots | $125,000
Best pickaxe for 95% of players. 50% Luck Boost (highest), 3 Rune Slots (maximum), +10% Mining Speed. At $125,000, it's excellent value compared to Demonic ($500k).
Acquisition: Complete Bard's Lost Guitar Quest to obtain Unknown Key, unlock Fallen Angel's Cave gate in Stonewake's Cross
Demonic Pickaxe
Stats: 175 Mine Power | +47.5% Luck | 3 Rune Slots | $500,000
Highest Mine Power (175) in the game, meaning fastest rock breaking. Only purchase after maxing all other gear due to $500,000 cost.
Magma Pickaxe
Stats: 135 Mine Power | +46% Luck | 2 Rune Slots | $150,000
Budget S-Tier option with 135 Mine Power and +46% Luck. Only 2 rune slots instead of 3. Choose Arcane instead if quest is available.
A-Tier: Strong Mid-Game Options
Mythril Pickaxe
Stats: 80 Mine Power | +55% Luck | 2 Rune Slots | $67,500
Mid-game king with 55% Luck Boost (highest in game!) and 80 Mine Power exceeding Basalt Vein threshold (78). Your workhorse from levels 15-30.
Cobalt Pickaxe
Stats: 36 Mine Power | +35% Luck | 2 Rune Slots | $10,000
Provides minimum Mine Power (36, needs 39) to mine Basalt Cores, unlocking Rare ore farming in Forgotten Kingdom. At $10,000, achievable soon after reaching World 2.
Uranium Pickaxe
Stats: 67 Mine Power | +41% Luck | 2 Rune Slots | $37,500
Bridges gap between Cobalt and Mythril with 67 Mine Power. Generally skipped in favor of saving directly for Mythril.
B-Tier: Early Game Functional
Stonewake's Pickaxe
Stats: 33 Mine Power | +10% Luck | 1 Rune Slot | $3,333
First significant upgrade after Bronze/Iron. 33 Mine Power is insufficient for Basalt Cores but dramatically improves Boulder mining speed. Very affordable early-game.
3. Optimal Pickaxe Progression Path
Follow the optimal progression path to maximize efficiency and minimize wasted gold.
Level 1-10: Stonewake's Cross Foundation
Recommended path for beginners:
- Basic Pickaxe (Starter) → Mine Pebbles for 10-15 minutes
- Bronze Pickaxe ($150) → Buy immediately, mine Rocks and Boulders
- Iron Pickaxe ($500-1,000) → Optional if struggling with Boulders
- Stonewake's Pickaxe ($3,333) → First real upgrade, use until Forgotten Kingdom
Level 10-20: Forgotten Kingdom Entry
Transition to mid-game pickaxes:
- Stonewake's Pickaxe → Use until you have $10,000 saved
- Cobalt Pickaxe ($10,000) → Purchase immediately upon reaching Forgotten Kingdom
- Skip Titanium and Uranium entirely → Save gold for Mythril
- Mythril Pickaxe ($67,500) → Farm Basalt Cores with Cobalt, save for this upgrade
Why Skip Titanium/Uranium
The Mine Power increases don't unlock new rock types. Cobalt (36 MP) mines Basalt Cores slowly, Titanium/Uranium mine faster but still cannot mine Basalt Veins (78 threshold). Mythril (80 MP) exceeds Basalt Vein threshold, unlocking Epic ores. Save $60,000 by skipping both.
Level 30-40+: Legendary Ore End-Game
Final pickaxe upgrades for end-game content:
Arcane Pickaxe Quest
Complete Bard's Lost Guitar quest to unlock Arcane Pickaxe:
- Talk to Bard NPC in Stonewake's Cross to start 'Lost Guitar' quest
- Enter Stonewake's Cave, take the LEFT path to Undead Chamber
- Find Lost Guitar next to skeleton, hold E to pick up
- Return guitar to Bard, receive Unknown Key
- Use key on gate in Stonewake's Cave (Fallen Angel's Cave entrance), purchase Arcane Pickaxe for $125,000
4. Pickaxe Rune Optimization
Runes provide powerful bonuses for pickaxes. Choosing the right runes maximizes mining efficiency.
S-Tier Runes for Pickaxes
Miner Shard
Best Overall Pickaxe Rune
Increases Luck, 5% chance for extra ore, faster mining speed, higher pickaxe damage. Single rune providing four separate benefits.
Drop Sources: Delver Zombie (Stonewake's Cross Cave), Bomber (Forgotten Kingdom)
Yield Runes
Ore Doubling
Up to 9% chance to receive double ore from a single node. Multiple Yield Runes stack additively (9% + 9% = 18% total).
Optimal Rune Configurations
Maximum Legendary Ore Farming (Arcane Pickaxe)
- Slot 1: Miner Shard (Luck + Speed + 5% extra ore)
- Slot 2: Luck Rune (highest % available)
- Slot 3: Luck Rune (highest % available)
Total Luck: 50% (Arcane) + 7% (Elf race) + Miner Shard + 2 Luck Runes = ~100-120% total luck, effectively halving legendary ore drop rates.
Maximum Ore Quantity (Angel Race)
- Slot 1: Yield Rune (9%)
- Slot 2: Yield Rune (9%)
- Slot 3: Miner Shard (5% extra ore + bonuses)
Total Yield: 18% + 5% + Angel bonus = ~25-30% extra ores, perfect for bulk ore farming.
5. Advanced Mining Strategies
Advanced strategies to maximize mining efficiency and resource gathering.
Race Selection for Mining
Elf Race
Mining Bonus: +7% Luck. Best for mining. Combined with Arcane (50% luck) + Miner Shard + Luck Runes, Elf reaches 100%+ total luck.
Angel Race
Mining Bonus: Increased ore yield. Stacks with Yield Runes (9% each) for maximum ore quantity. Best build: Angel + Arcane Pickaxe + Double Yield Runes + Miner Shard.
Circuit Mining (Best Method)
Create a mining route that hits 6-8 rock nodes in a circular pattern. By the time you complete the circuit, the first rocks have respawned. This maintains continuous mining without downtime.
6. Cost-Benefit Analysis
Understanding where to allocate limited gold is critical for efficient progression.
| Pickaxe | Cost | Value Rating | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $150 | Excellent | Always buy |
| Cobalt | $10,000 | Excellent | Always buy |
| Mythril | $67,500 | Excellent | Always buy |
| Arcane | $125,000 | Excellent | Final pickaxe for 95% of players |
| Demonic | $500,000 | Poor | Only for min-maxers |
7. Common Pickaxe Mistakes
Mistake 1: Buying Wrong Progression Order
Why It's Bad: Purchasing Platinum → Titanium → Uranium wastes $60,000+ on intermediate pickaxes that don't unlock new content. This delays Mythril ($67,500) by 10-20 hours of grinding.
Solution: Follow optimal path: Stonewake's → Cobalt → Mythril → Arcane. Skip everything in between.
Mistake 2: Not Completing Bard Quest
Why It's Bad: Arcane Pickaxe requires Unknown Key from Bard's quest. Players who skip this quest are forced to buy Magma ($150k) or Demonic ($500k) instead, wasting $25k-375k gold.
Solution: Complete Bard's Lost Guitar quest ASAP after reaching level 20. The quest takes 10-15 minutes and unlocks the best pickaxe in the game.
Mistake 3: Using Wrong Runes
Why It's Bad: Using combat runes (Drain Edge, Rage Mark) on pickaxes provides zero benefit. Pickaxes need mining-specific runes.
Solution: Only use Miner Shard, Yield Runes, Luck Runes, or Mining Power Runes on pickaxes. Save combat runes for weapons and armor.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best pickaxe in The Forge?
Arcane Pickaxe is the best for 95% of players. It has 50% luck boost, 3 rune slots, and costs only $125,000. Demonic has higher Mine Power but costs $500,000 with marginal improvement.
How do I get the Arcane Pickaxe?
Complete Bard's Lost Guitar quest to get Unknown Key. Use the key to unlock Fallen Angel's Cave gate in Stonewake's Cave, then purchase Arcane inside for $125,000.
Should I buy Titanium or Uranium Pickaxe?
Skip both entirely. Save your gold for Mythril ($67,500) which unlocks Basalt Vein farming. Titanium and Uranium don't unlock new content, making them poor investments.
Can pickaxes be upgraded like weapons and armor?
No, pickaxes cannot be upgraded. Their stats are permanent, which is why rune slots are so valuable—runes are the only way to improve pickaxe performance.