Progressing in The Forge requires a steady flow of Gold and XP. Whether you’re upgrading your gear, buying potions, or unlocking new abilities, efficient farming is key. This guide breaks down the best methods to build your wealth and level up quickly through mining, combat, crafting, and smart use of game systems.
Mining: Your Foundation for Gold and XP
Mining is the most consistent and foundational method for earning both resources simultaneously.
Early to Mid-Game: Cobalt Ore
Cobalt Ore is an excellent starting point. It’s relatively common and sells for a good price, providing a reliable source of Gold for your first major pickaxe upgrades.High-Value Target: Basalt Cores
Basalt Cores are a top-tier mining objective. They always yield Rare or better ores, making them one of the most profitable mining activities. Prioritize these whenever you find them.Optimizing Your Mining Output
To maximize your mining efficiency:Race: Choose the Dwarf race for its innate mining speed bonus.
Potions: Use Mining Potions to gather ore faster and Luck Potions to increase your chances of getting rare drops. The initial cost of around 500 Gold for these potions is easily offset by the significantly higher returns.
Combat Farming: Targeting Valuable Drops
While mining is consistent, combat can yield specific, high-value materials.
The Skeleton Rogue Grind
Focus on farming Skeleton Rogues. These enemies have a known drop chance for Boneite, a rare and valuable crafting material. This material is a key component for creating high-value items.
Crafting for Massive Profits
Turning raw materials into finished goods is where you can make the most Gold.
From Boneite to Gold
Use the Boneite obtained from Skeleton Rogues to craft powerful weapons like the Colossal Great Swords.Masterwork Quality Matters: The selling price skyrockets if you perform well in the crafting mini-game. A Masterwork quality Colossal Great Sword with a high percentage bonus can sell for over 1.6 million Gold.
Leveraging the Index System
The Index is a built-in progression system that provides direct rewards for exploration and discovery.
Instant XP and Gold: Every time you discover a new item, new weapon type, or a new enemy for the first time, you can claim a reward of both XP and Gold from the Index. Make a habit of checking it regularly as you explore new areas and defeat new foes.
Questing for Steady Progression
Quests provide a structured and reliable way to gain both resources.
Main Story Questline (Captain Rowan):
Following the main quests, such as the Captain Rowan series, offers stable chunks of XP and Gold. This Gold is crucial for funding early-game necessities like pickaxe upgrades.Side Quests:
NPCs scattered around the world offer side quests. These often involve tasks like defeating elite enemies, mining specific ores, or exploring new areas. They are an excellent source of bonus XP and Gold without requiring you to grind mindlessly.
Farming Elite Enemies for XP
For a pure XP boost, seek out tougher enemies.
Elite enemies and monsters in advanced zones grant substantially more XP than common foes in starting areas. Defeating them is a fast, albeit more dangerous, way to level up.
The Optimal Farming Loop
The most efficient progress comes from combining all these methods:
Start with Mining: Farm Cobalt and Basalt Cores to build initial capital and XP.
Upgrade Gear: Use your earnings to upgrade your pickaxe and armor.
Switch to Combat: With better gear, efficiently farm Skeleton Rogues for Boneite.
Craft and Sell: Craft high-tier weapons and aim for Masterwork quality to sell for massive profits.
Always Quest and Index: Continuously accept quests and claim Index rewards as you go to maintain a steady stream of bonuses.
By rotating through mining, combat, and crafting while always completing quests and checking your Index, you will ensure fast and efficient progress in The Forge.
FAQ
Q: What is the single fastest way to make money in The Forge?
A: Crafting and selling high-quality weapons, like a Masterwork Colossal Great Sword made from Boneite, is the most profitable method. However, this requires you to first farm the materials through combat and mining.
Q: Is mining or combat better for XP?
A: For consistent, low-risk XP, mining is very effective. For bursts of higher XP (with more risk), farming elite enemies in later zones is better. A combination of both is ideal.
Q: How important is the Index?
A: Very important. The Index provides instant, free XP and Gold for simply playing the game and exploring. It’s a crucial bonus that significantly accelerates your progress without extra grinding.
Q: Are potions worth the cost?
A: Absolutely. The 500 Gold investment in Mining and Luck Potions will result in a much higher yield of ores, paying for themselves many times over during a single farming session.
Conclusion
Fast progress in The Forge is achieved by understanding and combining its core systems. Mining provides a reliable foundation for Gold and XP, especially when targeting Cobalt and Basalt Cores. Combat farming for specific materials like Boneite from Skeleton Rogues enables high-value crafting, which is the ultimate Gold-making method. Throughout this process, consistently completing main and side quests and claiming your Index rewards will ensure a steady and accelerated progression path, allowing you to level up and amass wealth efficiently.