The Forge gives players two ways to gather Essence: slow but safe AFK farming, or fast manual grinding. Many beginners choose AFK for convenience, yet end up wasting time because they don’t know the right spots or don’t prepare their gear properly.
This guide breaks down the most efficient AFK Essence method, plus when you should stop using it and switch to manual farming for far better results. Also check out our Roblox The Forge Beginner Guide for those interested and the Race Tier List.
Best Gear Setup Before AFK Essence Farming
Before you sit in one place and let enemies hit you, you need to survive long enough for farming to work. Make sure your build has:
- Weapon with good damage, preferably enhanced several times
- Armor pieces with at least 100 defense per item
- Runes attached for bonus stats
- A weapon that can consistently auto-attack, such as a dark tachi or similar swords
Strong weapons speed up kills, while decent defense keeps you alive through constant monster hits for long AFK sessions.
Best AFK Location:
Auto Attack Tips for AFK Grinding
There are two ways to stay attacking without touching your keyboard:
- Use an auto clicker, the safest option since it prevents disconnecting
- Use the in-game trick: hold left click, then press ESC. This triggers auto attacks but often disconnects after around 20 minutes
Because of that risk, an auto clicker is the recommended choice for long AFK sessions.
Why Manual Farming Is Better Than AFK
Once you have strong enough gear, AFK farming becomes a waste of potential. Manual grinding in the lava zone can earn players massive amounts of essence and up to 100,000 cash per hour, depending on gear and speed. With solid stats, farming by hand beats AFK every time.
AFK essence farming in The Forge is only worth doing when your gear is still mid-tier or when you prefer a passive grind. Once you’ve built stronger equipment, switch to manual farming in the lava area, where the profit per hour is significantly higher. Use AFK only for low-effort runs or mining, but push manual combat when you’re ready for real progress.