The Forge Pickaxe Progression Guide (June 2026)

Welcome to the most comprehensive The Forge Pickaxe Progression Guide you’ll find anywhere! As someone who’s spent countless hours mining every ore type and testing every pickaxe in the game, I’m here to share everything you need to know about dominating the mining aspect of The Forge.

Whether you’re just starting with your basic Stone Pickaxe or grinding toward that coveted Prismatic Pickaxe, this guide will show you exactly which tools to invest in, when to upgrade, and how to maximize your mining efficiency. I’ve personally tested every pickaxe, mined every rock type, and discovered all the hidden locations – so you don’t have to learn the hard way!

Table of Contents

Quick Pickaxe Progression Overview

Stage	Recommended Pickaxe	Cost	Mining Power	Luck Boost	Key Benefit
Tutorial	Stone Pickaxe	Free	3	0%	Starting tool
Early Game	Iron Pickaxe	500 gold	10	5%	First real upgrade
Early-Mid	Gold Pickaxe	1,500 gold	16	15%	Luck boost starts
Mid Game	Cobalt Pickaxe	10,000 gold	40	35%	Basalt Rock access
Mid-Late	Mythril Pickaxe	67,500 gold	80	43%	Basalt Vein mining
Late Game	Arcane Pickaxe	125,000 gold	115	50%	Best value endgame
End Game	Prismatic Pickaxe	2,000,000 gold	650	72%	Ultimate mining tool

Complete Pickaxe Tier List 2026

After extensive testing and community feedback, I’ve ranked every pickaxe from best to worst. This tier list considers mining power, luck boosts, rune slots, cost efficiency, and overall usefulness.

SS Tier – God Tier

Prismatic Pickaxe (2,000,000 gold) – 650 power, 72% luck, 4 slots, +20% speed
Void Pickaxe (1,350,000 gold) – 550 power, 68% luck, 3 slots, -5% speed
Christmas Pickaxe (3,600 Xmas Tickets) – 550 power, 72% luck, 3 slots

S Tier – Excellent

Arcane Pickaxe (125,000 gold) – 115 power, 50% luck, 3 slots, +10% speed
Demonic Pickaxe (500,000 gold) – 180 power, 51% luck, 3 slots, -10% speed
Frost Pickaxe (1,000,000 gold) – 420 power, 62% luck, 3 slots, +5% speed
Snow Pickaxe (750,000 gold) – 320 power, 58% luck, 3 slots, +10% speed

A Tier – Great

Mist Pickaxe (500,000 gold) – 250 power, 55% luck, 2 slots, +15% speed
Aqua Pickaxe (375,000 gold) – 200 power, 52% luck, 2 slots, +5% speed
Magma Pickaxe (150,000 gold) – 135 power, 46% luck, 2 slots
Lightite Pickaxe (98,500 gold) – 100 power, 45% luck, 2 slots, +30% speed

B Tier – Good

Tungsten Pickaxe (200,000 gold) – 150 power, 48% luck, 2 slots, -15% speed
Mythril Pickaxe (67,500 gold) – 80 power, 43% luck, 2 slots
Uranium Pickaxe (37,500 gold) – 67 power, 41% luck, 2 slots
Titanium Pickaxe (22,500 gold) – 55 power, 38% luck, 2 slots

C Tier – Average

Cobalt Pickaxe (10,000 gold) – 40 power, 35% luck, 2 slots
Platinum Pickaxe (5,000 gold) – 24 power, 25% luck, 2 slots
Stonewake’s Pickaxe (3,333 gold) – 33 power, 10% luck, 3 slots, -30% speed
Gold Pickaxe (1,500 gold) – 16 power, 15% luck, 1 slot

D Tier – Skip These

Iron Pickaxe (500 gold) – 10 power, 5% luck, 0 slots
Bronze Pickaxe (150 gold) – 7 power, 0% luck, 0 slots
Stone Pickaxe (Free) – 3 power, 0% luck, 0 slots

Detailed Pickaxe Progression Guide

Stage 1: Tutorial & Early Game (Levels 1-10)

Start with Stone Pickaxe – You get this for free when you join. It’s barely functional but gets you through the tutorial.

Quick upgrade to Iron Pickaxe (500 gold) – This should be your first purchase. The 5% luck boost and double mining power make a huge difference in early ore collection.

Progress to Gold Pickaxe (1,500 gold) – This is where luck starts becoming meaningful. The 15% luck boost will help you find better ores while completing quests from Nord and Umut the Brave in Stonewake’s Cross.

Pro Tip: Don’t waste time on Bronze Pickaxe. Save your gold and go straight from Stone to Iron to Gold.

Stage 2: Mid Game Preparation (Levels 10-25)

Once you reach level 10 and unlock Forgotten Kingdom, it’s time to upgrade significantly.

Skip Platinum, go for Cobalt Pickaxe (10,000 gold) – This is a massive jump in power. The 35% luck boost and ability to mine Basalt Rock opens up Silver, Gold, Platinum, Cobalt, Titanium, and Lapis Lazuli ores.

Quick progression to Titanium Pickaxe (22,500 gold) – The 38% luck boost makes this worth the investment. You’ll need this power for the tougher rocks in Forgotten Kingdom.

Uranium Pickaxe (37,500 gold) – This is your ticket to mining Basalt Core and accessing rarer ores like Eye Ore, Emerald, and Amethyst. The 41% luck boost is substantial for mid-game progression.

Stage 3: Late Game Preparation (Levels 25-40)

This is where the real progression begins. You’ll need significant gold investments here.

Mythril Pickaxe (67,500 gold) – This is the first pickaxe that can mine Basalt Veins, which contain legendary ores like Lightite, Mythril, Uranium, and Rivalite. These ores have game-changing traits for your weapons and armor.

Lightite Pickaxe (98,500 gold) – The unique +30% mining speed makes this incredibly efficient. It’s also powerful enough to mine every rock type in the current game, making it a great transition pickaxe.

Stage 4: End Game (Levels 40+)

Now you’re entering the big leagues. These pickaxes require serious grinding but offer incredible power.

Arcane Pickaxe (125,000 gold) – This is my top recommendation for most players. At 125k gold, it’s incredibly affordable compared to other endgame picks, yet offers 50% luck boost and 3 rune slots.

How to get Arcane Pickaxe: Complete the Bard’s quest to find his guitar, which gives you the Unknown Key. Use this to unlock the gate in Stonewake’s Cross mine – the Arcane Pickaxe is inside.

Magma Pickaxe (150,000 gold) – Found in the Ashen Passage beside NPC Amber. It offers more raw power than Arcane but less luck and only 2 rune slots. Good if you prioritize speed over luck.

Demonic Pickaxe (500,000 gold) – The pound-for-pound strongest pickaxe in terms of raw stats. Found behind the locked door in Volcanic Depths after completing Skal’s quest (bring him 3 Demonite). The 51% luck and 180 power are incredible, but that price tag is steep.

Stage 5: Ultimate End Game (Island 3 – Frostspire Expanse)

Island 3 works differently – you need to complete Sensei Moro’s quests to unlock purchase ability for most pickaxes.

Tungsten Pickaxe (200,000 gold) – Requires Moro’s quest completion. Dense and heavy, built for frozen lands.

Aqua Pickaxe (375,000 gold) – Requires Moro’s quest 3. Can mine all deposits in Spider’s Cave. The +5% speed is nice.

Mist Pickaxe (500,000 gold) – Ethereal and phases through stone. The +15% speed boost makes it incredibly efficient.

Snow Pickaxe (750,000 gold) – Requires Moro’s quest 6. Can mine Small Ice Crystals in The Peak, which give high-multiplier ores like Crimsonite and Moltenfrost.

Frost Pickaxe (1,000,000 gold) – Freezes stone before shattering. Excellent for all Island 3 mining.

Void Pickaxe (1,350,000 gold) – A fragment of nothingness that tears through reality. One of the best picks in the game.

Stage 6: God Tier

Prismatic Pickaxe (2,000,000 gold + 1 Mosasaursit) – The ultimate mining tool in The Forge. With 650 power, 72% luck, and 4 rune slots, nothing compares.

How to get Prismatic Pickaxe:

Walk straight from Bjorn and take a left turn south
Turn right and walk northeast
Find the frozen lake to the southeast
Look for a spot with a chair and find the small hole in the lake
Go to the lake bottom through the hole
Find the huge ice block (500,000 HP, requires 420+ power to break)
Break it with Christmas or Frost Pickaxe to get Mosasaursit
Purchase Prismatic Pickaxe

Holiday & Event Pickaxes

These special pickaxes are only available during events and cost event currency instead of gold.

Christmas Pickaxe (3,600 Xmas Tickets) – SS tier with 72% luck and 550 power. If you can get this during Christmas events, it’s incredible value.

Candy Cane Pickaxe (800 Xmas Tickets) – Great mid-tier option with 65% luck and 280 power.

Hidden Pickaxes & Secret Locations

Some of the best pickaxes aren’t sold in shops:

Stonewake’s Pickaxe: Found in the center of Inner Cave in Stonewake’s Cross, lodged in a rock
Arcane Pickaxe: Hidden in Fallen Angel’s Cave (requires Unknown Key from Bard’s quest)
Prismatic Pickaxe: Hidden in underwater chamber in Frostspire Expanse (see guide above)

Rune Slots & Optimization

Rune slots become crucial in the late game. Here’s my optimization strategy:

3 Rune Slots (Arcane/Demonic/Snow/Frost/Void):

2x Miner Shard (Luck)
1x Miner Shard (Power or Speed)

4 Rune Slots (Prismatic):

2x Miner Shard (Luck)
1x Miner Shard (Power)
1x Miner Shard (Speed)

2 Rune Slots (Most mid-tier):

1x Miner Shard (Luck)
1x Miner Shard (Power or Speed based on your needs)

Money Making Strategies

To afford these expensive pickaxes, you need efficient gold farming:

Quest Grinding: Complete quests from NPCs like Nord, Umut the Brave, Captain Rowan, and Sensei Moro
Ore Mining: Focus on high-value ores and sell them
Weapon/Armor Crafting: Forge and sell equipment
Event Participation: Holiday events often provide valuable rewards

Common Mistakes to Avoid

After helping hundreds of players, here are the most common mistakes I see:

Upgrading too slowly – Don’t hoard gold, invest in better pickaxes as soon as you can afford them
Skipping rune optimization – Proper rune setup can double your efficiency
Ignoring quest requirements – Some pickaxes need specific quests completed first
Wrong pickaxe for the area – Make sure your pickaxe can break the rocks in your current area
Not planning ahead – Save for bigger upgrades instead of small incremental ones

Platform-Specific Tips

Mobile Players: Focus on pickaxes with higher luck over raw power, as mobile controls can make precise mining harder.

PC Players: Take advantage of higher mining speed pickaxes since you have better control.

Console Players: Balance luck and power, as console mining falls between mobile and PC efficiency.

Advanced Strategies

Speed Running Progression

If you want to progress as fast as possible:

Skip Bronze and Platinum pickaxes entirely
Go Stone → Iron → Gold → Cobalt → Titanium → Mythril → Arcane → Prismatic
Focus on luck-boosting runes over power
Grind quests continuously for gold

Money Optimization

For maximum gold efficiency:

Use The Forge codes for free totems and potions
Sell forged equipment rather than using it yourself
Focus on high-demand ores
Participate in every event for bonus rewards

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When should I upgrade my pickaxe?

A: Upgrade as soon as your current pickaxe struggles to break new ore types. If you can’t mine Basalt Veins or Volcanic Rock, that’s your cue to move up.

Q: Do pickaxe rune slots matter in the late game?

A: Absolutely! Rune slots make a huge difference once you reach Arcane and Demonic tiers. They boost mining power and luck, helping you get rare ores faster.

Q: Should I get Demonic or Arcane Pickaxe?

A: For most players, I recommend Arcane Pickaxe. It’s much cheaper (125k vs 500k gold) and offers nearly identical luck boost with 3 rune slots. Only get Demonic if you have excess gold and want maximum raw power.

Q: How do I get the Prismatic Pickaxe?

A: You need to break a 500,000 HP ice block underwater (requires 420+ power pickaxe), get the Mosasaursit, then purchase for 2,000,000 gold.

Q: Are holiday pickaxes worth it?

A: Yes! The Christmas Pickaxe is SS tier and incredible value if you can get the Xmas Tickets during events.

Q: What’s the fastest way to earn gold for pickaxes?

A: Complete quests from NPCs, mine and sell high-value ores, and participate in events. Using The Forge codes for free totems helps too.

Q: Can I skip pickaxes in progression?

A: Yes! I recommend skipping Bronze, Platinum, and sometimes even Iron if you can afford the next tier quickly.

Q: Do pickaxes break or need repairs?

A: No, pickaxes in The Forge don’t break or require repairs – it’s a one-time purchase.

Conclusion

Mastering The Forge Pickaxe Progression is essential for becoming a top player. While the journey from Stone to Prismatic Pickaxe requires significant investment, following this guide will help you make smart decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

Remember: the best pickaxe is the one that matches your current goals and budget. Don’t feel pressured to rush to Prismatic – enjoy the progression and optimize each stage.

Reyansh Jett

I’m a competitive gamer and content creator fascinated by the mechanics of speed, precision, and performance. When I’m not testing gaming hardware, I’m analyzing how emerging technologies shape the next generation of competitive play and immersive experiences for gamers worldwide.