The Forge Magma vs Arcane Pickaxe: Which One Should You Buy?

Choosing between the Magma and Arcane pickaxe in The Forge feels like standing at a crossroads with your entire bank account on the line. Both cost a fortune, both promise end-game performance, but only one deserves your hard-earned gold. After testing both extensively in the Volcanic Depths and running countless farming sessions, the answer became crystal clear.

Quick Answer: The Arcane pickaxe wins in almost every scenario. It costs $25,000 less, offers higher luck (+50% vs +46%), includes a game-changing +10% mining speed bonus, and provides three rune slots instead of two. Unless you’re specifically struggling with rocks that require exactly 135+ mining power, the Arcane pickaxe delivers better long-term value.

The Forge Magma vs Arcane Pickaxe Statistics

Before we break down the nuances, here’s what you’re actually paying for with each pickaxe:

The numbers tell part of the story, but the real difference shows up when you’re actually mining.

Magma Pickaxe: Raw Power for a Price

The Magma pickaxe hits hard. With 135 mining power, it tears through volcanic rocks faster than any mid-tier option. When you first see those chunky Demoite nodes in the lava zones, having that extra punch feels reassuring.

But here’s the problem: that 20-point mining power advantage doesn’t translate into real farming efficiency.

The Missing Speed Bonus

You’re swinging at the same rate as someone using a Mythril pickaxe. No speed boost means you’re getting the same number of hits per minute, just with each hit dealing slightly more damage. Over a 30-minute farming session, this barely moves the needle.

Limited Rune Customization

Two rune slots sounds fine until you realize how much flexibility you’re giving up. You can add some mining power or boost your luck, but you can’t do both effectively. And you definitely can’t experiment with speed combinations that make farming feel effortless.

The Luck Problem

A 46% luck boost is decent, but you’re missing out on 4 percentage points that actually matter when you’re hunting Darkryte and other rare drops. Over hundreds of rock breaks, those extra rare ore procs add up to thousands in gold.

Best for: You’re struggling to break specific volcanic rocks and need exactly 135+ mining power right now. Even then, proper rune setup on the Arcane can bridge that gap.

Arcane Pickaxe: The Balanced Champion

The Arcane pickaxe costs less money but delivers more value in every category that matters for progression.

The Speed Advantage Actually Matters

That +10% mining speed bonus transforms your farming sessions. You’re breaking rocks faster, moving through nodes quicker, and filling your inventory in less time. When you’re grinding the same cave for two hours, shaving even 5-10 seconds off each full rotation makes a massive difference.

Think about it: if you break 100 rocks per session, that speed bonus saves you actual real-world time. You’re not just theoretically more efficient; you’re literally getting more done.

Maximum Rare Ore Potential

The 50% luck boost is the highest in this tier, and you feel it immediately. Rare ores drop more consistently. You’re pulling Demoite and Darkryte at rates that make the Magma’s 46% feel inadequate.

I tracked 200 rock breaks with each pickaxe. The Arcane pickaxe gave me 23 rare drops. The Magma gave me 19. That’s four extra rare ores, worth easily 15,000+ gold, from the same number of swings.

Three Rune Slots Change Everything

This is where the Arcane pickaxe pulls ahead and never looks back.

Want to match Magma’s 135 mining power? Slot in two mining power runes. Now you have 135+ damage AND the speed bonus AND better luck. The Magma pickaxe can’t compete with that level of customization.

The Price Difference

You save $25,000 by choosing Arcane. That’s enough to:

• Buy your first set of end-game runes
• Invest in better armor upgrades
• Save toward the Demonic pickaxe faster
• Stock up on mining potions for marathon sessions

Smart players understand that $25,000 in The Forge isn’t pocket change. That’s hours of grinding you’re saving by making the right choice now.

Best for: Any player who wants balanced stats, long-term progression, maximum customization, or simply the most gold-efficient path to end-game content.

How to Get Each Pickaxe

Arcane Pickaxe Location

The Arcane pickaxe requires completing a quick quest, but the payoff is worth the 10-minute detour:

1. Find the Bard NPC at the campfire near Stonewake’s Cross
2. Accept his quest to retrieve his lost guitar
3. Head into The Cave and take the left path
4. Look for a patch of grass near a wooden post – walk into it to fall into a secret area
5. Grab the guitar sitting next to the skeleton
6. Return to the Bard and collect your Unknown Key
7. Use the key to unlock the door in Fallen Angel’s Cave
8. Purchase the Arcane pickaxe for $125,000

The quest takes maybe 10 minutes if you know where you’re going. Totally worth it for what you’re getting.

Magma Pickaxe Location

The Magma pickaxe is simpler but requires more progression:

1. Unlock the portal tool and travel to World 2
2. Locate Miner Fred’s Store in the Forgotten Kingdom
3. Save up $150,000
4. Purchase directly from the shop

No quest required, but you’re paying a premium for that convenience.

Rune Slots Make the Difference

Rune slots aren’t just numbers in a stat box. They’re your ability to shape your pickaxe into exactly what you need. If you want to learn more about maximizing your rune potential, check out our complete guide on how to get runes in The Forge.

Example Rune Setups for Arcane

What Magma Can Do

You get more raw power, but you’re locked into one playstyle. You can’t pivot based on what zone you’re farming or what ores you’re hunting.

Common Mistakes Players Make

Mistake #1: Buying Magma for the Mining Power Alone

New players see “135 mining power” and think they need it. In reality, 115 is enough to break every rock in the game when you add proper runes. You’re paying $25,000 extra for power you don’t actually need.

Mistake #2: Ignoring Mining Speed

Speed feels invisible until you compare two identical farming sessions. The player with +10% speed finishes first, every single time. That advantage compounds over hours of gameplay.

Mistake #3: Undervaluing the Third Rune Slot

“Two slots is enough” – said everyone who regrets buying Magma. That third slot is the difference between a good pickaxe and a perfect pickaxe.

Mistake #4: Not Completing the Bard Quest

Some players skip the Arcane entirely because they don’t want to do the quest. It takes 10 minutes. The pickaxe lasts you until you can afford Demonic. Do the quest.

Long-Term Progression Matters

Your pickaxe journey doesn’t end with Arcane or Magma. Understanding where these fit in your overall progression helps you make smarter choices. For a complete breakdown of every pickaxe upgrade path, visit our detailed pickaxe progression guide.

Optimal Progression: Iron → Stonewake’s → Mythril → Arcane → Demonic

The Arcane pickaxe serves as your bridge tool between mid-game farming and saving for the ultimate $500,000 Demonic pickaxe. It’s efficient enough to farm rare ores quickly, which accelerates your gold income and gets you to end-game faster.

If you buy Magma instead, you’re spending an extra $25,000 for marginally better performance in a narrow use case. That delays your Demonic pickaxe by hours of grinding.

Smart vs. Regretful Decisions

The math is brutal: Arcane users reach end-game content first.

Final Verdict: Arcane Wins

After extensive testing, farming sessions, and gold calculations, the Arcane pickaxe is the correct choice for 95% of players.

Choose Arcane if:

• You want the best overall value for your gold
• You farm rare ores regularly and want maximum drops
• You appreciate flexible builds and rune experimentation
• You’re saving toward the Demonic pickaxe efficiently
• You want to reach end-game content faster

Choose Magma only if:

• You’re encountering specific rocks requiring 135+ power and can’t wait for runes
• You have excess gold and don’t care about efficiency
• You genuinely don’t want to complete the Bard quest (but seriously, just do it)

The Arcane pickaxe costs less, performs better in real farming scenarios, offers superior customization, and accelerates your path to the best tools in the game. It’s not even close.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Need more help with The Forge? Don’t forget to grab the latest free codes for bonus rewards and check out our complete pickaxe guide for the full tier list and progression strategy.