The Forge Tide Carve Complete Guide (March 2026)

The Forge Tide Carve Complete Guide

Looking to master the art of finding Tide Carve ore in The Forge? This comprehensive guide will equip you with everything you need to know about this epic Winter Expansion ore! Whether you’re a seasoned miner or just starting your journey in Frostspire Expanse, I’ll walk you through every aspect of obtaining, using, and maximizing this valuable resource.

Tide Carve stands out as one of the most sought-after Epic ores introduced in The Forge’s Winter Expansion part 1 update. With its impressive 4.7x multiplier and unique combat traits, this smooth blue-magenta rock with cyan stripes has become essential for players looking to craft powerful damage-focused gear. But finding it requires strategy, patience, and the right knowledge.

AttributeDetails
RarityEpic
Multiplier4.7x
Market Price$88.13
Drop Chance1/980
Required Level70
LocationFrostspire Expanse
Main SourcesIcy Boulder, Ice Crystals, Red Crystals
Combat Traits+17.5% Lethality, -5% Swiftness

What is Tide Carve Ore?

Tide Carve is an Epic-tier ore introduced in The Forge’s Winter Expansion part 1 update. This rare mineral is characterized by its smooth dark blue-magenta color with distinctive stripes of dark cyan wrapping around its surface. When forged into weapons or armor, it imparts a beautiful blue and indigo appearance that makes your gear stand out.

The ore’s name references the natural process of erosion – where rocks are shaped and smoothed by the movement of water, ice, wind, or gravity. This theme is reflected in both the ore’s appearance and its in-game description, emphasizing how natural forces have shaped this unique mineral over time.

What makes Tide Carve particularly valuable is its exceptional 4.7x multiplier, making it one of the most profitable Epic ores for crafting high-value items. When used in forging, it provides significant power boosts that can dramatically enhance your combat effectiveness.

Location Requirements and Access

Reaching Frostspire Expanse

Before you can start hunting for Tide Carve, you need to meet some important prerequisites:

  • Level Requirement: You must reach level 70 to unlock access to Frostspire Expanse
  • Portal Access: Use the Portal tool to teleport to Frostspire Expanse once you’ve met the level requirement
  • Equipment Preparation: Bring your best armor and strongest weapons – Frostspire Expanse is filled with dangerous icy enemies

Best Mining Locations

Tide Carve can be found in two primary areas within Frostspire Expanse:

  1. The Peak: This elevated area offers numerous mining opportunities with high concentrations of ice formations
  2. Spider Cave: A dangerous but rewarding location where Tide Carve drops more frequently

Both areas contain the necessary rock nodes for Tide Carve drops, but I recommend rotating between them to maximize your farming efficiency. The Peak tends to be less dangerous, making it ideal for extended farming sessions, while Spider Cave offers better drop rates at the cost of increased enemy encounters.

Mining Sources and Drop Chances

Primary Mining Sources

Tide Carve drops from six different ice sources in Frostspire Expanse:

Source TypeDrop ChanceRecommended Pickaxe
Icy Boulder1/980Snow Pickaxe or higher
Small Ice Crystal1/980Snow Pickaxe or higher
Medium Ice Crystal1/980Snow Pickaxe or higher
Small Red Crystal1/980Snow Pickaxe or higher
Medium Red Crystal1/980Snow Pickaxe or higher
Large Red Crystal1/980Snow Pickaxe or higher

Important Note: All sources have the same 1/980 drop chance, so focus on mining whichever nodes are most abundant in your current location.

Understanding the Drop Rate

With a 1/980 chance (approximately 0.102%), Tide Carve is quite rare. Here’s what this means in practice:

  • On average, you’ll need to mine 980 nodes to get one Tide Carve
  • Some players might get lucky and find one in 200-300 attempts
  • Others might need to mine 1,500+ nodes before finding their first one
  • The drop chance is completely random – previous results don’t affect future drops

Optimal Farming Strategies

Strategy 1: High-Volume Mining

Since all sources have the same drop chance, focus on mining as many nodes as possible:

  1. Choose a location with high node density (The Peak is usually best)
  2. Mine systematically – clear one area completely before moving to the next
  3. Use speed boosts and mining potions to increase your efficiency
  4. Take breaks every 30-45 minutes to maintain focus

Strategy 2: Crystal Rotation

Different crystal types respawn at different rates:

  1. Start with Ice Crystals – they’re most abundant
  2. Move to Red Crystals when Ice Crystals are depleted
  3. Check Icy Boulders last – they take longer to mine but offer the same drop chance
  4. Loop back to Ice Crystals as they respawn

Strategy 3: Off-Peak Farming

Farming during less busy times can be more effective:

  1. Early morning or late night server times
  2. Weekday afternoons when fewer players are online
  3. New server instances after server restarts

Combat Traits and Crafting Applications

Tide Carve Combat Traits

When you forge Tide Carve into weapons or armor, it provides two specific combat traits:

TraitEffectBest Use Case
+17.5% LethalityIncreases damage output by 17.5%Damage-focused builds
-5% SwiftnessReduces movement speed by 5%Situations where mobility isn’t critical

Strategic Applications

For Weapons:

  • Ideal for damage-focused builds where maximum output is prioritized
  • Perfect for boss fights where positioning is less important
  • Excellent for PvP scenarios where burst damage matters more than mobility

For Armor:

  • Best for tank builds that can afford the speed reduction
  • Useful for stationary combat situations
  • Consider pairing with speed-boosting ores to offset the penalty

Crafting Combinations

Tide Carve works exceptionally well when combined with:

  1. Speed-focused ores (like Lightite) to offset the -5% swiftness penalty
  2. High-multiplier ores for maximum damage output
  3. Defense-focused ores for balanced builds

Remember that you need at least 10% Tide Carve in your crafting mix to activate its traits!

Essential Equipment and Preparation

Recommended Pickaxes

For efficient Tide Carve farming, you’ll need:

  1. Snow Pickaxe – Minimum requirement for Frostspire Expanse
  2. Prismatic Pickaxe – Best endgame option with 650 mining power
  3. Demonic Pickaxe – Excellent alternative with 180 mining power and +51% luck

Essential Gear

Armor:

  • Cold resistance gear for Frostspire Expanse
  • High defense to survive enemy encounters
  • Speed-boosting items to offset mining time

Weapons:

  • Area-of-effect weapons for crowd control
  • High damage weapons for quick enemy elimination
  • Ranged options for dangerous enemies

Consumables:

  • Mining potions for speed boosts
  • Health potions for survival
  • Luck potions (if available) for better drop rates

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mining Mistakes

  1. Focusing on only one node type – All sources have the same drop chance
  2. Ignoring smaller crystals – Small Ice Crystals are just as valuable as large ones
  3. Mining in dangerous areas unprepared – Frostspire Expanse enemies can be deadly
  4. Not using appropriate pickaxes – Using weak pickaxes wastes time and effort

Strategy Mistakes

  1. Giving up too early – The 1/980 drop chance means patience is essential
  2. Farming during peak hours – More competition means fewer available nodes
  3. Not rotating locations – The Peak and Spider Cave both offer good opportunities
  4. Ignoring enemy threats – Dying loses your progress and ore

Economic Mistakes

  1. Selling Tide Carve immediately – It’s often more valuable for crafting
  2. Not checking market prices – Prices can fluctuate significantly
  3. Crafting without a plan – Random crafting wastes valuable ore

Advanced Tips and Pro Strategies

Mining Efficiency Tips

  1. Use Mining Shards – Equip as many as possible on your pickaxe
  2. Master node patterns – Learn respawn times for optimal farming routes
  3. Utilize terrain – Some areas have higher node concentrations
  4. Join farming groups – Coordinate with other players for maximum efficiency

Combat Optimization

  1. Learn enemy patterns – Frostspire Expanse enemies have predictable behaviors
  2. Use environmental advantages – Ice formations can provide cover
  3. Master dodging – Movement is key despite the speed penalty
  4. Bring healing items – Survival is crucial for long farming sessions

Economic Strategies

  1. Track market trends – Tide Carve prices fluctuate based on demand
  2. Bulk crafting – Save multiple Tide Carve for high-value items
  3. Trade strategically – Consider trading with other players for better deals
  4. Invest in storage – Proper inventory management maximizes farming time

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to find Tide Carve?

Based on the 1/980 drop chance, most players find their first Tide Carve after 2-4 hours of dedicated farming. However, this can vary significantly – some get lucky within 30 minutes, while others might need 6+ hours.

Is Tide Carve worth the farming time?

Absolutely! With its 4.7x multiplier and valuable combat traits, Tide Carve is one of the most profitable Epic ores. It’s especially valuable for players focused on damage builds.

Can I find Tide Carve in other areas?

No, Tide Carve is exclusive to Frostspire Expanse. You cannot find it in Stonewake’s Cross, Forgotten Kingdom, or Goblin Cave.

What’s the best time to farm Tide Carve?

Early morning (2-6 AM server time) typically offers the best farming conditions with fewer competitors and more available nodes.

Do I need a specific pickaxe for Tide Carve?

You need at least a Snow Pickaxe to mine in Frostspire Expanse. However, higher-tier pickaxes like Prismatic or Demonic will significantly improve your farming efficiency.

Can I increase my drop chances?

While you can’t directly increase the 1/980 drop chance, you can improve your overall farming efficiency through better pickaxes, mining potions, and strategic location choices.

Conclusion

Tide Carve represents one of the most valuable and sought-after ores in The Forge’s current meta. Its impressive 4.7x multiplier and unique combat traits make it essential for players looking to maximize their damage output. While the 1/980 drop chance requires patience and dedication, the rewards are well worth the effort.

Remember these key takeaways:

  • Preparation is crucial – reach level 70 and gear up properly
  • All sources are equal – focus on volume over specific node types
  • Strategy matters – rotate between The Peak and Spider Cave
  • Patience pays off – don’t give up after a few hours
  • Plan your crafting – Tide Carve is most valuable when used strategically

Whether you’re looking to craft devastating weapons or profitable items, mastering Tide Carve farming will significantly enhance your The Forge experience. Stay persistent, use these strategies, and you’ll be swimming in blue-magenta ore before you know it!

Happy mining, and may the drop odds be ever in your favor!

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