Mining Guide
Mining is a gathering skill that lets players break down mining nodes into ores. It feeds directly into Smithing and is one of the more reliable ways to make gold early on, growing steadily more profitable at higher tiers — especially once Mithril Ore and Gold Ore enter the picture.
Requirements
- A pickaxe must be equipped — having one in your inventory isn't enough.
- You need the node's required Mining level.
- Higher Mining Power from gear improves your success rate.
- Inventory is 28 slots and ores don't stack, so plan bank trips ahead of time.
- Every ore has a chance to also yield a bonus gem, with rarer ores producing better gems.
- All players start with a Copper Pickaxe equipped.
- Banking your ores lets you sell them or feed them into Smelting/Smithing; dropping them instead trades that value away for a faster mining rate.
Ore XP & Profit
Approximate rates for mining continuously at each tier. The Essence Geode numbers are still rough estimates pending confirmed timing data.
| Ore | Level | XP per Ore | Approx. XP/Hour | Approx. Gold/Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tin Ore | 1 | 15 | ~24,000 | ~1,600g |
| Copper Ore | 1 | 15 | ~24,000 | ~1,600g |
| Iron Ore | 10 | 30 | ~29,000 | ~1,900g |
| Coal Ore | 20 | 80 | ~73,000 | ~1,500g |
| Mithril Ore | 30 | 150 | ~71,000 | ~3,700g |
| Gold Ore | 40 | 350 | ~153,000 | ~24,500g |
| Gold Dust | 40 | 350 | ~271,000 | ~54,000g |
| Essence Geode | 50 | 550 | ~172,000* | ~21,900g* |
* Essence Geode's action speed hasn't been confirmed, so these two figures are extrapolated rather than measured directly.
Best Mining Locations
| Ore | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mithril Ore | West Mine | Quick trips, but only 3 rocks here |
| Mithril Ore | Elven Haven | More rocks than West Mine, at the cost of a longer bank run |
| Gold Ore | Grave Town | The best gold spot, close to a bank |
| Gold Dust | Darklands | The only source of Gold Dust; a dangerous PvP zone |
| Copper Ore / Tin Ore | Town Mine | Best starting spot for new miners |
| Iron Ore / Coal Ore | Near the Forest Alcove entrance | Low-risk, suited to mid-level players |
| Essence Geode | Essence Rock | Requires level 50 Mining |
Recommended Progression
| Levels | Ore | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–9 | Copper Ore & Tin Ore | Fast XP, low profit, low-quality gems |
| 10–19 | Iron Ore | Decent XP and profit, medium-quality gems |
| 20–29 | Coal Ore | Moderate profit; can also be bought at Grave Town |
| 30–39 | Mithril Ore | Strong XP and profit; can't be purchased, must be mined |
| 40+ | Gold Ore / Gold Dust | The best XP and income in the skill; mine near Grave Town |
Tips
- Always equip your pickaxe before you start — an unequipped one in your bag does nothing.
- Plan around the 28-slot inventory limit; know your bank route before you start a session.
- Mining next to a bank is almost always more efficient than mining somewhere scenic but far away.
- Dropping ores as you go raises your XP/hour but earns no gold — decide which you're optimizing for.
- Stick to one ore type per session rather than bouncing between tiers.
- Upgrade your pickaxe and Mining Power gear as soon as you can afford to.
- Banking Mithril Ore ahead of time saves a trip when you're ready to smith it.
- Gold Dust has the best XP and income in the skill, but the Darklands carries real PvP risk — go prepared.