Mining is the backbone of progression in The Forge. Without efficient ore gathering, you’ll struggle to craft powerful gear and advance through the game. Many players spend hours mining with minimal results, not realizing that a few key strategies can dramatically increase their ore farming speed. This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to mine faster, secure better resources, and optimize your entire mining operation from start to finish.
Key Takeaways
- Upgrade your pickaxe regularly – Each upgrade significantly increases mining speed and unlocks new ore types
- Unlock the Forgotten Kingdom at Level 10 – This premium zone offers the best ore nodes and rare resources
- Boost your Mining Luck – Higher luck means more rare drops and valuable items from each node
- Prepare combat gear – The best mining spots are guarded by powerful enemies you must defeat
- Manage resources wisely – Know which ores to sell, which to craft, and how to maximize profits
Why Mining Speed Matters in The Forge
In The Forge, mining isn’t just a side activity—it’s the foundation of your entire progression. The faster you can gather ore, the quicker you’ll craft better weapons and armor. This creates a positive cycle where better gear helps you mine even more efficiently.
Think of mining speed as your primary engine for advancement. Players who master efficient mining techniques level up faster, access better content sooner, and generally enjoy the game more. Every minute saved mining is a minute you can spend exploring, fighting bosses, or crafting legendary items.
The difference between casual mining and optimized mining can be staggering. While some players might take weeks to gather enough resources for high-tier gear, those using the strategies in this guide can achieve the same results in days.
Essential Pickaxe Upgrades for Faster Mining
Your pickaxe is the most important tool in The Forge mining arsenal. A weak pickaxe not only mines slowly but might not even be able to break certain rocks at all. Here’s the progression path you should follow:
Start with the basic Iron Pickaxe you receive during the tutorial. It’s fine for learning the basics, but you’ll want to upgrade quickly. Your first major upgrade should be the Stonewake’s Pickaxe, costing $3,333. This early-game pickaxe provides enough power to destroy basic rocks quickly and even lets you access the Forgotten Kingdom’s Ruined Cave.
The mid-game Mythril Pickaxe ($67,500) is your next target. Available from Miner Fred’s Shop in the Forgotten Kingdom, this pickaxe breaks Basalt Veins and comes with a 55% luck boost. This luck bonus significantly increases your chances of finding rare ores.
For late-game mining, you have two excellent options. The Arcane Pickaxe ($125,000) offers balanced stats with 50% luck boost and three rune slots for customization. The ultimate choice is the Demonic Pickaxe ($500,000), found in the Volcanic Depths, which provides the highest mining power for breaking the toughest rocks.
Remember to enhance your pickaxe at the Enhancer NPC and add mining-specific runes at the Runemaker. These upgrades can add significant bonuses like +Damage, +Mining Speed, or +Luck that make a noticeable difference in your mining efficiency.
Unlocking the Forgotten Kingdom: Premium Mining Zone
The Forgotten Kingdom is where The Forge mining truly becomes exciting. This premium zone unlocks at Level 10 after you complete Sensei Moro’s tutorial quests. To access it, speak with the Wizard NPC in the Wizard Tower to receive the Portal item.
This zone offers several advantages over the starting area:
- Higher-tier ore nodes with better drop rates
- More frequent spawns of rare and valuable ores
- Special stones that yield unique crafting materials
- Better overall resource density for faster farming
However, the Forgotten Kingdom also presents challenges. The enemies here are stronger, requiring better combat gear and preparation. You’ll need to balance your mining setup with enough defense and offense to handle the tougher creatures guarding the best ore nodes.
The most valuable mining spots in the Forgotten Kingdom include the Ruined Cave for mid-tier ores and the deeper Volcanic Depths for the rarest materials. These areas require progressively better pickaxes and combat preparation but offer exponentially better rewards.
Maximizing Your Mining Luck for Better Drops
Mining Luck is a crucial stat that many beginners overlook. This stat directly increases your chances of receiving bonus drops from mining nodes, including extra ore, rare gems, and special items. Here’s how to maximize it:
Your character’s race can provide innate luck bonuses. Races like Angel offer passive luck increases that make a noticeable difference in your mining results. If you’re just starting, consider rerolling your race for a luck bonus, or use a reroll item if you’re already established.
Luck Potions from the Maria NPC provide temporary but significant luck boosts. These are best used during dedicated mining sessions when you plan to farm for extended periods. Time your potion use with any in-game events or bonuses for maximum effect.
For permanent luck improvements, socket luck-enhancing runes into your gear at the Runemaker. These runes provide constant bonuses that stack with other luck sources. Focus on adding luck runes to your mining gear first, as they’ll provide the most benefit for ore farming.
The combination of racial bonuses, potions, and runes can push your Mining Luck to impressive levels, sometimes exceeding 300-400% with optimal setup. At these levels, you’ll see rare drops frequently and may even find legendary ores that are nearly impossible to get with low luck.
Combat Preparation for Securing Prime Mining Spots
The best ore nodes in The Forge are almost always guarded by formidable enemies. Elite Zombies and other powerful creatures protect the most valuable mining spots, making combat preparation essential for serious miners.
Always equip viable combat gear when heading to high-yield zones. This doesn’t mean you need full combat equipment, but you should have enough defense to survive attacks and enough offense to defeat enemies reasonably quickly. A good balance might be 70% mining gear and 30% combat gear.
The benefit of preparing for combat is twofold. First, you secure access to the best mining spots without constant interruption. Second, the monsters themselves drop valuable crafting materials and resources that complement your mining efforts. Some enemies even drop rare items that can’t be obtained through mining alone.
As you progress to deeper areas like the Volcanic Depths, combat becomes even more critical. The enemies here are stronger and more aggressive, requiring better gear and more careful play. Consider teaming up with other players for these areas, as having a dedicated combat player can make mining much safer and more efficient.
Top Mining Spots in The Forge
Location is everything when it comes to efficient The Forge mining. Here are the best spots organized by progression level:
Stonewake’s Cross (Early Game)
- Inner Cave center: Good concentration of basic ores
- Near the entrance: Safe mining for beginners
- Hidden boulder areas: Often contain uncommon ores
Forgotten Kingdom (Mid Game)
- Ruined Cave entrance: Balanced mix of ore types
- Deep Ruined Cave: Higher-tier ores with better rewards
- Near the Enhancer: Convenient for quick upgrades
Volcanic Depths (Late Game)
- Demonic Pickaxe Altar area: Highest-tier ores available
- Lava pools: Unique fire-related ores
- Hidden chambers: Secret mining spots with rare spawns
Goblin Cave (Specialized)
- Slime farming areas: Good for money and experience
- Crystal formations: Specialized ore types
- AFK-friendly spots: For passive resource generation
Each location has its own optimal approach. Early spots focus on volume and safety, while late-game locations emphasize quality over quantity. Always match your location to your current gear level and combat capabilities for the best results.
Smart Resource Management Strategies
Gathering ore is only half the battle in The Forge mining. Managing those resources effectively is what separates successful players from struggling ones. Here’s how to make the most of your mined materials:
Common ores like Stone, Copper, and Iron should generally be sold in bulk to Greedy Gey. These stack quickly and provide steady income that funds your pickaxe upgrades and other improvements. Don’t hoard these basic materials unless you specifically need them for crafting.
Uncommon ores such as Silver, Gold, and Platinum offer more options. You can sell them directly for good profit or craft them into basic gear, which often sells for more than the raw materials. Experiment with both approaches to see which works better for your current goals.
Rare and epic ores should almost always be kept for your own crafting. These materials are essential for high-tier equipment and become increasingly valuable as you progress. Only sell them if you have a substantial surplus or urgently need gold for a specific upgrade.
Legendary and mythical ores are extremely valuable and should be carefully managed. Use these for your best gear upgrades or save them for end-game crafting. Selling these should be a last resort, as they’re incredibly difficult to replace.
Consider setting up a simple storage system where you organize ores by rarity and intended use. This helps prevent accidentally selling valuable materials and makes crafting sessions more efficient.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start mining in The Forge?
Mining in The Forge begins as soon as you complete the tutorial. You’ll receive a basic Iron Pickaxe that can break the simplest rocks. Head to any cave or mining area, equip your pickaxe, and start hitting rocks to collect ore. The basic controls are straightforward—just approach a rock and click to mine. As you gather ore, you can take it to a forge to craft better equipment or sell it to NPCs for gold. Remember to upgrade your pickaxe as soon as possible, as the starter tool is quite slow and limited in what it can break.
How do I unlock the Forgotten Kingdom in The Forge?
The Forgotten Kingdom unlocks when you reach Level 10 and complete Sensei Moro’s initial tutorial quests. Once you meet these requirements, visit the Wizard NPC in the Wizard Tower. He’ll give you a Portal item that allows you to travel to the Forgotten Kingdom anytime. This zone is significantly more dangerous than the starting area but offers much better mining opportunities with higher-tier ores and more valuable resources. Make sure you’re prepared with decent combat gear before venturing into this area, as the enemies are much stronger.
What should I do with excess ores?
Managing excess ores is crucial for efficient progression in The Forge. For common ores like Stone and Copper, selling them in bulk to Greedy Gey is usually the best approach, as they provide steady income for upgrades. Uncommon ores such as Silver and Gold can be either sold directly or crafted into basic gear, which often sells for more than the raw materials. Rare and epic ores should generally be kept for your own crafting needs, as they’re essential for mid-to-high tier equipment. Only sell these valuable materials if you have a large surplus or urgently need gold for a specific upgrade.
How do I get a better pickaxe in The Forge?
There are several ways to upgrade your pickaxe in The Forge. The most straightforward method is purchasing better pickaxes from the Miner NPC—check his shop regularly as you progress. You can also find rare pickaxes by exploring deeper caves and defeating powerful monsters, which sometimes drop superior tools with special stats. For enhancing your current pickaxe, visit the Enhancer NPC to add stat boosts like +Damage or +Mining Speed. Finally, the Runemaker can socket special mining runes into your pickaxe for permanent improvements to mining power, speed, or luck. Each upgrade method has its place in your progression path.
What does Mining Luck do in The Forge?
Mining Luck is a crucial stat that increases your chances of receiving bonus drops from mining nodes. This includes extra ore pieces, rare gems, special items, and higher-quality materials overall. The higher your Mining Luck, the more likely you are to get valuable drops from each rock you break. This stat affects both the quantity and quality of your mining results. You can increase Mining Luck through several methods: choosing a race with luck bonuses, consuming Luck Potions during mining sessions, equipping luck-boosting gear, and socketing luck-enhancing runes into your equipment. Maximizing this stat can dramatically improve your mining efficiency and profitability.
Where is the best place to mine in The Forge?
The best mining location depends on your current level and equipment. For beginners, the Inner Cave in Stonewake’s Cross offers safe, accessible mining with basic ores. Once you reach Level 10 and unlock the Forgotten Kingdom, the Ruined Cave becomes the best overall spot, offering a good balance of ore types and manageable difficulty. For late-game players with high-end gear, the Volcanic Depths provides access to the rarest and most valuable ores in the game, though it requires excellent combat preparation. The Goblin Cave also offers specialized mining opportunities, particularly for AFK farming and unique crystal ores. Always choose a location that matches your current capabilities for the best results.
Why do I need combat gear for mining?
Combat gear is essential for mining in The Forge because the most valuable ore nodes are always guarded by powerful enemies. These creatures won’t let you mine in peace—you need to defeat them first to access the best resources. Good combat gear allows you to clear these enemies quickly and safely, maximizing your mining time. Additionally, many mining areas have roaming monsters that will attack you while you’re trying to mine, interrupting your progress and potentially causing you to lose resources. The right combat preparation ensures you can focus on mining rather than constantly fighting for your life. Plus, the enemies themselves often drop valuable crafting materials that complement your mining efforts.
Conclusion
Mastering The Forge mining is about more than just swinging your pickaxe faster—it’s a comprehensive approach that combines the right equipment, optimal locations, strategic preparation, and smart resource management. By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you’ll dramatically increase your mining efficiency and accelerate your overall progression in the game.
Remember to prioritize pickaxe upgrades as soon as possible, unlock the Forgotten Kingdom at Level 10 for access to premium mining areas, and always boost your Mining Luck for better drops. Prepare combat gear to secure the best mining spots and manage your resources wisely to maximize profits and crafting potential.
The difference between casual mining and optimized mining is substantial. Players who implement these strategies consistently report faster progression, better gear, and more enjoyable gameplay overall. Now it’s your turn to apply these techniques and transform your mining experience in The Forge.
Get out there, upgrade that pickaxe, and start mining smarter—not harder. Your legendary gear awaits!
