The Forge Progression Guide (January 2026) Fast Leveling Level 1 to Frostspire
Looking to dominate The Forge and reach Frostspire Expanse faster than anyone else? I’ve spent countless hours testing every strategy, grinding through each phase, and discovering secrets that most players miss. This isn’t just another basic guide – it’s the ultimate roadmap that will take you from a complete beginner to Frostspire mastery in record time.
Whether you’re stuck on Island 2, wondering why Frostspire won’t unlock, or just starting your journey, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know. I’ve combined insights from the top progression strategies, tested every money-making method, and discovered shortcuts that will save you dozens of hours of grinding.
Quick Progression Overview
| Phase | Level Range | Main Goal | Key Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | 1-10 | Speed & Efficiency | Stonewake’s Pickaxe ($3,333) |
| Efficiency Engine | 10-40 | Economy Building | Cobalt → Mythril → Arcane Pickaxes |
| Bottleneck Breaking | 40-65 | Inventory & Skills | Storage Solutions & Index Rewards |
| Great Filter | 65-70 | Frostspire Unlock | Portal Tool + Level 70 |
| Endgame | 70+ | Essence & Mastery | Private Servers & Rare Ore Farming |
Phase 1: The Foundation (Level 1 – 10)
Race Selection – The Most Critical Choice
Before you mine your first rock, your race selection will determine your entire progression speed. When you talk to Sensei Moro during the tutorial, you’ll get 3 free rerolls. Don’t waste these!
Target Races (Priority Order):
- Archangel – Best all-around scaling with percentage boosts
- Dwarf – Mining speed bonuses that compound over time
- Angel – Defensive bonuses perfect for early survival
- Demon – Offensive bonuses for faster combat progression
Pro Tip: If you don’t get one of these races immediately, use codes from the official Discord server or save your rerolls until you do. The difference between a good and bad race can be 20-30% faster progression.
The “Rule of $3,333” – Pickaxe Revolution
Most new players make the same mistake: buying every pickaxe in order (Wood → Stone → Copper → Iron → Gold → Platinum). This is incredibly inefficient and wastes precious early-game time.
The Stonewake Strategy:
- Skip all intermediate pickaxes after Iron
- Farm exactly $3,333 Gold on Island 1
- Buy Stonewake’s Pickaxe from the cave entrance
- This single pickaxe carries you through Island 1 and into Island 2
Why This Works: Stonewake’s Pickaxe has enough power to mine boulders and some Island 2 rocks, saving you thousands of gold and hours of grinding.
Island 2 Preparation – The $10k Rule
Don’t rush to the portal immediately after hitting Level 10. I learned this the hard way after multiple playthroughs.
Preparation Checklist:
- Farm $10,000 Gold on Island 1
- Mine 30 Bananite (crucial for Monke quest)
- Buy Health Potion I from Maria (needed for Cure for Isaac quest)
Why $10,000? This allows you to instantly buy the Cobalt Pickaxe upon arriving at Island 2, preventing you from getting stuck with weak equipment.
Phase 2: The Efficiency Engine (Level 10 – 40)
The “Monke” Boost – $20,000 Instant Windfall
This single quest jumpstarts your entire mid-game economy and is the most important early quest in the game.
Monke Quest Execution:
- Head to the small island off Forgotten Kingdom’s coast
- Find the NPC named Monke
- Give him 30 Bananite (that’s why you mined them on Island 1)
- Receive ~$20,000 Gold and massive XP boost
Timing is Everything: Complete this quest immediately upon arriving at Island 2. The gold boost will fund your next several pickaxe upgrades.
Heavy Armor Gold Loop – Best Money Making Method
Stop selling raw ores! This is where most players get stuck financially. The Heavy Armor Gold Loop transformed my gameplay and can make you 3-5x more gold.
The Strategy:
- Mine common/uncommon ores in bulk (Iron, Copper, etc.)
- Go to the anvil and forge Heavy Armor (Chestplates and Leggings)
- Sell crafted gear instead of raw materials
- Profit Margin: 200-400% higher than selling raw ores
Optimization Tips:
- Bulk forge in large batches to save travel time
- Focus on Heavy Chestplates and Leggings (best value)
- Perfect the forging minigame for maximum profits
Pickaxe Progression Roadmap
Your pickaxe determines everything you can do. Here’s the optimal path:
| Pickaxe | Cost | Unlocks | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalt | $5,000 | Basic Island 2 ores | Immediate |
| Mythril | $57,500 | Basalt mining | Essential |
| Lightite | ~$100,000 | Volcano rocks | Important |
| Arcane | $125,000 | High-tier ores | Critical |
| Demonic | $500,000 | Maximum efficiency | Optional |
Critical Note: To get the Arcane Pickaxe, you must complete the Bard’s Quest. Find his guitar in the secret cave entrance (left side, hidden in grass), return it to get the key, then unlock the gate on the right side of the cave.
Phase 3: Breaking the Bottlenecks (Level 40 – 65)
Inventory Management – The Silent Progression Killer
Running out of inventory space is the #1 reason players get stuck. Here are two solutions:
Free Method:
- Grind levels via repeatable quests (Barakkulf or Masked Stranger)
- Every level up gives + inventory slots
- Focus on completing quests while mining
Paid Method:
- The Double Storage gamepass costs Robux but is widely considered the best value investment
- Essential for serious players who plan to reach endgame
Pro Strategy: Never delete items! Always sell common ores (Gray/Green) to NPCs, preferably after forging them into items first.
Skills and Index System – Free Power Ups
Don’t ignore the Index tab – it’s a goldmine of free rewards:
Index Tab Benefits:
- Every new item discovered gives free Gold and XP
- Claim rewards frequently to maximize gains
- Focus on discovering new ores and forged items
Achievement Skills:
- Check the Achievements tab to equip passive Skills
- Best early skills: Mining Speed, Damage Boost
- You can only equip one skill at a time, so choose wisely
Combat Preparation
Around level 40, enemies start getting tougher. Here’s what you need:
Weapon Priority:
- Great Axe – High damage, good for clearing groups
- Colossal Sword – Balanced damage and speed
- Heavy Chestplate/Leggings – Essential for survival
Enhancement Strategy:
- Visit the Enhance shop to upgrade equipment
- Unlock rune slots as soon as possible
- Best early runes: Burn (weapons), Movement Speed (armor)
Phase 4: The Great Filter (Level 65 – 70)
Island 3 (Frostspire Expanse) – The Hidden Requirements
This is where most players think their game is bugged. Frostspire won’t appear unless you meet both requirements:
Non-Negotiable Requirements:
- Level 70 – Level 69 won’t work, must be exactly 70
- Portal Tool Equipped – Must be in your hotbar and actively held
Common Mistakes:
- Reaching Level 70 but not having Portal Tool equipped
- Having Portal Tool but being Level 69
- Not checking the teleport menu after meeting both requirements
What Awaits in Frostspire?
Frostspire Expanse (often called “Frostfire” by the community) is a significant difficulty spike:
New Content:
- High-rarity ice ores required for endgame gear
- Vikings and Ice elementals – much tougher than previous enemies
- Santa NPC (during Christmas events) – offers limited-time rewards
- New pickaxes and crafting recipes
Preparation Tips:
- Bring your best gear (Arcane Pickaxe minimum)
- Stock up on Health Potions
- Consider joining a party for difficult areas
Phase 5: Endgame Farming & Mastery (Level 70+)
Essence Farming – The New Gold
Once you reach Frostspire, Essence becomes the primary currency for gear enhancement.
Manual Farming (Best Yield):
- Farm Volcanic Depths for consistent Essence drops
- Group up enemies like Elite Skeleton Rogues
- Use AoE attacks for efficient clearing
- Yield: 2-3x more Essence than AFK methods
AFK Farming (Only if Build Allows):
- Requires high sustain (Health Regen/Lifesteal runes)
- Risky – dying wastes significant time
- Only recommended for experienced players with optimized builds
Private Servers vs. Public Servers
Endgame mining nodes (Rivalite, Darkryte) are extremely competitive.
Public Servers:
- Pros: Easy to find parties, social interaction
- Cons: Rare nodes constantly camped, griefers common
Private Servers:
- Cost: 100 Robux/month
- Pros: Exclusive access to rare nodes, no griefers
- Cons: Additional cost, need to coordinate with friends
Pro Recommendation: If you’re serious about endgame progression, private servers are essential. The time saved and exclusive access to rare resources pays for itself quickly.
Multiplayer Coordination
The Forge lacks an in-game invite system, so coordination requires planning:
Party Strategy:
- Use Roblox’s “Party” feature before joining
- Coordinate server joins through Discord
- Designate roles (miner, fighter, looter)
Guild Benefits:
- Shared resource gathering
- Protection against griefers
- Access to group mining strategies
Advanced Strategies & Meta Tips
Money Making Beyond Heavy Armor
Once you master the Heavy Armor Loop, try these advanced methods:
Volcanic Ore Flipping:
- Mine rare ores in Volcanic Depths
- Forge high-demand items (Great Axes, Colossal Swords)
- Sell during peak player hours for maximum profit
Event Farming:
- Seasonal events offer limited-time high-value items
- Christmas events in Frostspire are especially profitable
- Stock up on event items for future trading
Combat Optimization
Enemy-Specific Strategies:
- Skeletons: Use fire-based weapons for bonus damage
- Ice Elementals: Bring fire resistance gear
- Vikings: High defense – use armor-piercing weapons
Rune Combinations:
- DPS Build: Burn + Critical Hit + Damage Boost
- Tank Build: Health Regen + Defense + Lifesteal
- Speed Build: Movement Speed + Mining Speed + Attack Speed
Resource Management
Ore Priority System:
- Essential: Demonite, Darkryte, Magnemite (endgame crafting)
- Valuable: Fireite, Rivalite, Eye Ore (high-value items)
- Common: Iron, Copper, Stone (bulk forging)
Storage Strategy:
- Keep 10-20 of each rare ore
- Forge common ores immediately
- Use storage expansion wisely
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is “Frostfire” different from “Frostspire Expanse”?
A: No. “Frostfire” is a common community nickname. The official name is Frostspire Expanse (Island 3). Both refer to the same location.
Q: Which is better: Arcane or Demonic Pickaxe?
A: Most players stop at Arcane ($125k). The Demonic Pickaxe ($500k) offers higher Mining Power, but the cost difference is massive. Arcane provides better value with its Luck Boost, helping you find rare resources more often.
Q: Can I trade items with friends in The Forge?
A: No. The Forge does not have a direct trading system to prevent black-market economies. You must farm your own resources, though you can help friends gather materials.
Q: My stash is full, what should I delete?
A: Never delete valuable items! Sell common (Gray/Green) ores to NPCs, preferably after forging them into items first. For rare items, consider using storage expansion or creating mule characters.
Q: Why won’t Island 3 appear in my teleport menu?
A: You’re likely missing one of two requirements: Level 70 (not 69) or having the Portal Tool equipped in your hotbar. Both must be met simultaneously.
Q: What’s the fastest way to level up in The Forge?
A: Combine mining with repeatable quests from NPCs like Barakkulf and the Masked Stranger. Focus on Index rewards and achievement skills for passive XP bonuses.
Q: Should I buy the Double Storage gamepass?
A: Yes, if you plan to play long-term. It’s widely considered the best value investment in the game and will save you countless hours of inventory management.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Progression in The Forge is a marathon, not a sprint. By following the Stonewake Strategy in the early game and mastering the Heavy Armor Gold Loop in the mid-game, you’ll reach Frostspire Expanse while other players are still struggling on Island 2.
Key Takeaways:
- Race selection matters more than most players realize
- Skip inefficient pickaxe upgrades with the $3,333 rule
- The Monke quest is your biggest early-game opportunity
- Never sell raw ores – always forge first
- Island 3 requires BOTH Level 70 AND equipped Portal Tool
Ready to take your Forge journey to the next level? Check out our The Forge All Races Guide for detailed race statistics, or explore our The Forge All Armors & Crafting Guide for advanced crafting strategies.
For those struggling with essence farming, our guide on How to Get Superior Essence in The Forge will help you maximize your endgame efficiency.
Remember, The Forge is constantly evolving with new updates and content. Bookmark this guide and check back regularly for the latest strategies and meta changes. Happy forging, and I’ll see you in Frostspire!