In The Forge, enhancing your gear is essential for gathering resources effectively, and Miner Shards play a crucial role in this endeavor. These shards can be equipped on pickaxes, boosting various stats to aid you in your mining adventures. Here's a guide on how to get Miner Shards and the benefits they offer.

Where to Find Miner Shards

Miner Shards are unique in The Forge as they are the only runes applicable to pickaxes. To get your hands on them, you'll need to target specific enemies, such as Delver Zombies and Bomber Skeletons. These enemies are scattered across various areas, each offering a chance to drop these valuable items.

Delver Zombies

You can initially encounter Delver Zombies in Stonewake’s Cross, the game’s starting area. Recognizable by their hardhats with lights, these zombies wield pickaxes in battle. While early encounters with these foes might be familiar, higher-level versions located in other zones improve your chances of obtaining Miner Shards. Thus, while exploring, prioritize high-level Delver Zombies to increase your shard count.

Bomber Skeletons

For those who reach level 10, the Forgotten Kingdom becomes accessible, where Bomber Skeletons reside, specifically in the Ruined Cave. Similar to Delver Zombies, engaging with higher-level Bomber Skeletons increases your likelihood of acquiring Miner Shards, thanks to their more frequent spawning in certain areas.

Choosing where to farm Miner Shards depends on your strategy, with both Delver Zombies and Bomber Skeletons offering potential rewards.

All Miner Shard Stat Boosts

Miner Shards enrich gameplay by providing four distinct stat bonuses, each beneficial in its way: Luck, Mine Power, Swift Mining, and Yield. Understanding these boosts helps in deciding which to prioritize:

  • Luck: Enhances your luck stat, increasing the chances of finding resources.
  • Mine Power: Boosts the damage dealt with your pickaxe, allowing for faster rock destruction.
  • Swift Mining: Benefits the speed of your mining endeavors.
  • Yield: Provides a chance of receiving additional resources during mining.

Your preference will dictate which Miner Shard to aim for. Luck is ideal for rare resource hunters, whereas Yield might benefit those seeking more specific materials, especially if their current luck level is sufficient.

Investing in stronger pickaxes with more slots is crucial if you wish to slot multiple Miner Shards. However, be prepared as such upgrades can be costly, aligning with the game's longer-term goals.