Elite Rogue Skeletons sit behind some of the toughest progression checks in The Forge. You need a specific region unlocked, a strong enough pickaxe, and gear that can survive a lava-filled dungeon. Once that setup is done, though, they become one of the more efficient enemies to farm for quests, XP, gold, and rune drops.
Requirements before you can reach Elite Rogue Skeletons
Before thinking about the Volcanic Depths, your character needs to be far enough into The Forge’s early progression.
- Reach the Forgotten Kingdom: Push your character to around level 10 by completing Sensei Moro’s quests in the starting region.
- Unlock and equip the Portal Tool: Once obtained, add it to your hotbar and use it to travel to the Forgotten Kingdom.
- Have a strong pickaxe: You must be able to break Basalt Veins, which need a pickaxe with at least 78 base damage.
- Bring solid combat gear: The Volcanic Depths are filled with lava hazards, Reapers, and other high-damage enemies, so upgraded weapons and armor are strongly recommended.
Without these pieces in place, you either will not be able to physically reach the Elite Rogue Skeletons or will struggle to stay alive once you do.
How to reach the Volcanic Depths and Elite Rogue Skeletons
The Elite Rogue Skeletons spawn in a lava-filled sub-area called the Volcanic Depths, hidden behind Basalt Veins in the Ashen Passage.
Step 1: Use the Portal Tool to travel to the Forgotten Kingdom. This places you in the second major region of The Forge.
Step 2: From the Forgotten Kingdom spawn, go down to the dock and use the cannon there to launch yourself toward Captain Rowan’s camp near the Ruined Cave entrance.
Step 3: Head straight into the Ruined Cave. Once inside, keep moving forward along the main tunnel.
Step 4: Take the path to the right under the warning sign marked “DANGER”. This corridor leads into the Ashen Passage.
Step 5: Follow the right-hand wall of the Ashen Passage. Eventually, you will find an NPC named Amber, who offers a Magma Pickaxe for sale.
Step 6: Stand near Amber and look toward the southwest using the compass at the top of your screen. You will see a pit with two Basalt Veins blocking an opening.
Step 7: Break both Basalt Veins using a pickaxe with at least 78 base damage. If someone else has already broken them, you can skip this and drop in directly.
Step 8: Drop through the cleared hole into the Volcanic Depths. This is the lava-filled zone where Elite Rogue Skeletons spawn among other high-threat enemies.
Elite Rogue Skeletons appear throughout the Volcanic Depths in this cave-like volcanic area. They respawn over time, so you can loop the space to farm them as long as you can survive the ambient damage and other mobs.
What to expect in the Volcanic Depths
The Volcanic Depths are much more dangerous than the areas you pass through to reach them. A few things define the space:
- Lava everywhere: Flowing lava on the ground deals ongoing damage while you stand in it. Any misstep during combat can drain your health quickly.
- High-damage enemies: Alongside Elite Rogue Skeletons, you will encounter enemies like Reapers, which hit hard even at low displayed levels.
- Dense spawns: Several enemies can aggro at once if you move aggressively, turning simple pulls into chaotic fights.
Elite Rogue Skeletons are relatively manageable compared with some neighbors, but the environment makes careless play expensive.
Elite Rogue Skeleton stats, damage, and rewards
Elite Rogue Skeletons are classified as tougher skeleton enemies tied to several quest objectives. Their baseline profile looks like this:
| Attribute | Value / Behavior |
|---|---|
| Health | Roughly 295 HP |
| Damage | About 45–114 damage per plunge attack |
| Defense | Moderate; melts quickly under strong late-game weapons |
| Primary role | Quest objective enemy and midgame XP/gold farm |
| Rewards | Good XP and gold, plus a chance to drop runes |
The rewards make them a solid target once you can clear the Volcanic Depths safely. Runes in particular are valuable for long-term character progression.
Combat tips for beating Elite Rogue Skeletons
Elite Rogue Skeletons hit decently hard but are not mechanically demanding. With the right setup, they are closer to chunky mobs than true bosses.
- Prioritize gear upgrades: If you already have upgraded weapons and armor, these skeletons become straightforward. Their 295 HP disappears quickly under well-crafted blades or hammers.
- Parry is optional: Unlike enemies such as the Reaper or Elite Deathaxe Skeleton, perfect parries are not essential here. You can dodge their simple attack strings or burst them down before they matter.
- Tanking is viable: With good armor, you can comfortably eat several hits. Their 45–114 damage chunks hurt, but not enough to overwhelm a well-built tank.
- Use elemental weapons: Weapons built using Magmaite or Fireite ores are particularly effective, shredding their health bar quickly.
- Watch your footing: The main threat in many fights is lava, not the skeleton itself. Always kite on stable ground and avoid backing into flowing lava while dodging.
Most failed attempts come from pulling multiple enemies or getting cornered near lava. If you keep pulls small and maintain spatial awareness, Elite Rogue Skeletons drop quickly.
Efficient farming of Elite Rogue Skeletons
Once you can comfortably clear the Volcanic Depths, Elite Rogue Skeletons turn into a repeatable farm for XP, gold, and rune chances.
- Loop the main corridors: Move through the Volcanic Depths in a consistent route, clearing Elite Rogue Skeletons as they spawn and circling back as timers reset.
- Avoid unnecessary fights: Reapers and other high-damage enemies are time sinks and risk factors. If you only need skeletons for quests or farming, skip dangerous engagements where possible.
- Leverage broken Basalt Veins: If someone has already opened the Basalt Veins, re-entering the Volcanic Depths for another farming session becomes trivial. Take advantage of this to run multiple cycles quickly.
- Track quest progress: Many quests only require a set number of Elite Rogue Skeleton kills. Once those are complete, you can decide whether the farm loop is still worth the risk.
Used this way, the Volcanic Depths act as a midgame proving ground: clear enough to collect runes and cash, then move on once the risk-to-reward ratio shifts.
Reaching Elite Rogue Skeletons is more about clearing progression gates than mastering a complex encounter. Unlock the Forgotten Kingdom, secure a pickaxe that can crack Basalt Veins, prepare for a hostile volcanic arena, and the skeletons themselves become one of the more forgiving enemies in the region to grind.
