The Forge is built around progression, and that progression depends heavily on money. At first, gold feels secondary while you explore Stonewake’s Cross and learn the basics. That changes quickly once you reach deeper areas and face stronger enemies. Pickaxes become expensive, upgrades matter, and every mistake costs time.

Many players struggle because they rely on slow or inefficient methods. Selling raw ore works early, but it stops scaling fast. In this guide, we explain how money works in The Forge and show the fastest and most reliable ways to earn it, without wasting effort or resources!

What money is used for in The Forge

Money is the core progression currency. You use it to buy better pickaxes, which unlock harder rocks and faster mining. You also spend it on potions, gear upgrades, and preparation for late-game zones. Without steady income, progress slows to a crawl.

You earn money in several ways:

• Selling crafted gear and materials
• Completing quests from NPCs
• Defeating enemies
• Claiming Index rewards
• Selling unused equipment

Not all methods scale the same. Some exist to support others. The key is knowing which ones to prioritize.

Fastest money method: Forge heavy armor and sell it

The most reliable way to make money is simple. Do not sell ore, forge it first.

When you place large amounts of ore into the forge, you increase the chance to create heavy armor pieces. These items sell for far more than the ore used to make them. Even average-quality heavy armor usually beats raw ore sales by a wide margin.

To run this method efficiently:

1. Mine until your stash is full
2. Return to the forge
3. Craft heavy armor in batches
4. Sell all crafted gear
5. Repeat the loop

This approach works with many common ores. Cobalt and similar materials are ideal because they are common yet still produce valuable armor. Crafting in large batches saves time and keeps your income consistent.

Quests and enemy farming combined

Quests and enemy farming work best together. On their own, they offer a moderate income. Combined, they add steady profit on top of your main farming loop.

Most quests align with normal play. NPCs often ask you to mine ore or defeat enemies you already encounter. Always accept quests before starting a long session. This turns routine actions into paid objectives.

Enemy farming becomes useful once your gear improves. Stronger enemies drop more money and respawn often. Areas like the Volcanic Depths reward players who clear fights quickly. You also gain essence and runes, which support upgrades or can be sold when needed.

This method is good when you:

• Farm enemies while completing active quests
• Clear zones you already need for mining
• Avoid overfarming weak enemies with low payouts

Claim Index rewards early and often

Many players miss this system. The Index tracks discoveries such as ores, enemies, and weapons. Each new entry often includes a claimable reward.

Claiming Index rewards gives instant money and experience. It is not repeatable, but it adds up fast if ignored for too long. Make it a habit to check the Index after exploration or long sessions. This is one of the easiest ways to get free gold with no risk.

Sell old pickaxes before upgrading

Pickaxes cost large amounts of money, especially later in the game. When you upgrade, do not keep the old one.

Selling an old pickaxe returns a solid portion of its cost. This refund often helps you afford the next tier sooner. Keep a basic spare pickaxe if the game blocks selling your last one. Treat pickaxes as investments, not collectibles.

Tips to increase money per minute

• Small optimizations matter. These changes improve every method listed above.
• Hit multiple rocks at once: Stand between close rocks and swing into the gap. You can damage two or more rocks with one hit.
• Expand your stash: More inventory space means fewer trips and higher profit per run.
• Use boosts with restraint: Luck and mining speed help, but only if your loop already works. Overusing potions early wastes money.
• Craft in bulk: Forging large batches saves time compared to many small crafts.
• Plan routes: Mine, quest, and fight enemies in the same zone whenever possible.

How codes help your money grind

Codes do not usually give direct gold. Instead, they offer rerolls, totems, or temporary boosts. These rewards support money farming when used correctly.

Redeem codes before long sessions. Use them when you plan to mine or forge heavily. Treated this way, codes improve efficiency and shorten the grind without replacing core strategies.

Best money methods by progression stage

• Early game: Learn forging, stop selling ore, accept every quest
• Mid game: Focus on heavy armor loops, stash upgrades, and Index claims
• Late game: Use strong pickaxes, farm high-value zones, and stack quests with combat

Making money fast in The Forge comes down to efficiency. Forge instead of selling ore. Stack quests with what you already do. Claim every reward the game offers. Sell outdated gear and reinvest wisely.

Follow these principles and gold stops being a problem. Progress becomes smoother, upgrades arrive faster, and the grind finally works in your favor.

We have plenty more The Forge guides that you can check out and learn more about the game. Here are some: