Ever stared at a pile of essence drops after clearing Volcanic Depths and wondered if you should upgrade your gear or cash them in? In The Forge, essence is your ticket to stronger weapons and big gold stacks: let's break it all down so you don't waste a single drop.
Here's what you need upfront:
- Seven essence types: Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Greater, Epic, Superior.
- Rarities range from Common to Epic, with Tiny and Small as Common; Medium and Large as Uncommon; Greater as Rare; Epic and Superior as Epic.
- Sell prices start at 2.5g (Tiny) up to 500g (Superior).
- Use essence to sell for gold or enhance gear at Enhancer NPCs.
- Essence only drops from enemies; tier matches enemy strength.
All Essence Details
Essence in The Forge is a remnant of defeated enemies’ life force, varying in size and rarity depending on the foe you defeat. Each essence type has a specific sell price and use, making it important to know what you’re holding.
| Image | Type | Rarity | Sell Price | Description | Typical Drop Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Tiny | Common | 2.5g | Faint remnant of life force | Stonewake’s Cross – Basic Zombies and low-tier enemies (approximate) |
 |
Small | Common | 5g | Slightly stronger essence | Stonewake’s Cross – Basic Zombies and low-tier enemies (approximate) |
 |
Medium | Uncommon | 15g | Noticeable life energy | Forgotten Kingdom – Skeleton Rogues, Bomber Skeletons; Stonewake’s Cross – Brute Zombies; Goblin Cave – Slimes (approximate) |
 |
Large | Uncommon | 35g | Strong essence | Forgotten Kingdom – Axe Skeletons, Bomber Skeletons; Goblin Cave – Slimes; Stonewake’s Cross – Brute Zombies (approximate) |
 |
Greater | Rare | 50g | Potent life force | Forgotten Kingdom – Deathaxe Skeletons, Elite Skeleton Rogues; Goblin Cave – Slimes (approximate) |
 |
Epic | Epic | 100g | Very powerful essence | Forgotten Kingdom – Elite Deathaxe Skeletons, Reapers; Goblin Cave – Elite mobs (approximate) |
 |
Superior | Epic (Highest) | 500g | A gleaming reservoir of pure essence, left behind only by the mightiest foes. Its concentrated power enables remarkable upgrades and unlocks new rune slots. | Volcanic Depths and Goblin Cave – Reapers, Elite Death Skeletons, Blazing Slimes, Elite Skeleton Rogues (approximate) |
Note: Drop chances are approximate and based on consolidated community data and the in-game Enemy Index. Exact fractional rates vary and are not fully confirmed.
Where Essence Actually Drops From Enemies
Essence drops only come from enemies, and the essence tier matches the enemy’s strength. Elites and bosses drop the best essence, so targeting them is key.
Early game, you’ll mostly get Tiny, Small, and some Medium essence from Stonewake’s Cross zombies and variants. Mid-game enemies like Forgotten Kingdom Skeleton Rogues drop Medium and Large essence. Late game is where the big stuff drops: Volcanic Depths and Goblin Cave elites such as Reapers, Fire and Blazing Slimes, Death Axes, and Elite Skeleton Rogues drop Greater, Epic, and Superior essence.
To boost your farming, use the Minor Shard for extra loot, equip the Drain Edge Rune for lifesteal, and take advantage of night raids which double loot drops. Also, Forge codes can give you access to races and totems that speed up runs.
Enhancer NPCs are located opposite the spawn point in Stonewake’s Cross and beside the forging station in Forgotten Kingdom.
I personally loop Volcanic Depths elites for 20-30 kills per run: it turns into tens of thousands in gold fast.
How to Use Essence in The Forge
Essence serves two main purposes: selling for gold or enhancing your gear. You can sell any essence type at NPC vendors to quickly boost your gold reserves, which is handy for buying upgrades or supplies.
Alternatively, take essence to Enhancer NPCs who use it to upgrade your weapons and armor. Enhancement requires a mix of essence types and gold; costs escalate per level (e.g., level 1: Small; level 2: Medium + Small; level 3: Medium + Small + Tiny). All tiers remain useful for new or low-level gear.
Higher-tier essence yields better enhancements, so saving your Greater, Epic, and Superior essence for upgrades is usually worth it.
Balancing selling versus upgrading depends on your current needs. If you’re low on gold, selling lower-tier essence is smart. But if you want to push your gear’s power, invest your best essence into enhancements.
In short, keep farming the right enemies for the essence you need, use boosts to maximize drops, and decide wisely when to sell or enhance. That’s the essence of mastering The Forge’s essence system! For more on upgrading gear, see our pickaxe progression guide.
