Why do players struggle to farm runes from Delver and Elite Zombies, and how can you improve your drop rate? If you’ve spent hours clearing rooms in Roblox The Forge and still walk away with barely any runes, you’re not alone. Both Delver enemies and Elite Zombies have decent rune potential, but the game doesn’t exactly explain what influences drop rates or how to make your farming more efficient. After testing different routes, builds, and team setups, here’s a clear breakdown of what actually helps.

What makes Delver enemies one of the better rune sources?

Delvers might look like regular mobs at first, but their spawn density is what makes them great for farming. When you hit the deeper layers of the dungeon, the rooms naturally generate clusters of Delvers, which means more chances for rune drops per minute. They’re not tanky either, so if your build focuses on splash damage or rapid single-target hits, you’ll melt through them quickly.

From my experience, the best part about Delver farming is that the combat flow stays fast. You’re not stuck waiting for respawns, and you don’t need a perfect build to see progress. If your gear is still mid-tier and you haven’t fully optimized your stats, Delver rooms are forgiving enough to grind while experimenting.

Some players also like to buy The Forge items before diving into Delver zones just to get an early push in damage or survivability. It’s not required, but if you're trying to get through the early walls faster, having slightly better weapons or upgrades helps smooth things out.

Why are Elite Zombies considered high-value rune targets?

Elite Zombies are basically the opposite of Delvers. They don’t spawn often, but when they do, you can expect a solid chance at rare rune drops. Their drop table overall feels higher quality, so it makes sense why many players prioritize them in farming routes.

The catch is that Elite Zombies hit hard. Their slow movement can trick you into lowering your guard, but a single hit can chunk your HP bar if you’re not running good mitigation traits. That’s why I recommend keeping mobility tools ready so you can reposition without taking unnecessary damage.

If you’re still building your loadout and want to test different setups without spending too much time grinding materials, some players prefer to buy The Forge items cheap to make early build testing smoother. It’s not mandatory, but it helps if you don’t want to spend hours crafting only to discover the stat roll isn’t what you needed.

Which areas are most reliable for finding Delvers consistently?

Delver density depends mainly on map generation, but several zones have consistently better results:

1. Mid-depth tunnel layers These rooms have narrow hallways where enemies clump together. If your weapon has pierce or chaining, you’ll clear them extremely fast.

2. Large chamber rooms You’ll sometimes find Delvers grouped in groups of eight or more. If you run abilities or traits that reward multi-kill streaks, these rooms feel amazing.

3. Floor transition rooms These areas often spawn a mix of mobs, but Delvers pop up often enough to include them in rune farming loops.

A small personal tip: If you enter a layer and immediately see low density, don’t force it. Just reset the run. The Forge’s procedural generation is random enough that it’s better to reroll until you get a map that feeds you Delvers non-stop. It saves a ton of time in the long run.

Should you solo-farm Elite Zombies or go with a team?

This depends on your build and your patience level.

Solo Pros: You control pacing, routes, and respawn cycles. No one steals kills, and farming feels more focused.

Solo Cons: If your damage isn’t high enough, you might spend too long killing each Elite Zombie, and the efficiency drops hard.

Team Pros: More encounters cleared per minute, more chances for rune drops, and much safer.

Team Cons: Drops may feel streaky because kills get shared, and pacing becomes less predictable.

Personally, I prefer duo farming. It preserves most of the solo efficiency but still gives you the safety net of shared firepower. Whether you go solo or not, make sure your mobility is high enough to kite properly. Elite Zombies punish players who stay still too long.

What builds work best for rune farming?

Rune farming favors builds with consistent damage output over long bursts. Here are a few setups that have worked well for me:

1. High-mobility crit builds Great for clearing Delvers fast and repositioning during Elite Zombie fights.

2. AoE slash or explosion-based weapons Ideal for rooms with high Delver density.

3. Sustain-based tank builds Useful when you want to grind continuously without resetting every few minutes.

If you're unsure which direction to go, try a hybrid build focusing on moderate damage, some AoE, and at least one mobility boost. It keeps you flexible for both enemy types.

How do you maximize rune drops overall?

Here’s a quick checklist to keep your farming as efficient as possible:

1. Stick to maps with high Delver density.

2. Always target Elite Zombies when they spawn.

3. Use builds that can handle both mob clearing and single-target damage.

4. Keep mobility tools active so you avoid unnecessary deaths.

5. Rotate routes instead of staying in one spot hoping for respawns.

6. If you’re still learning the game, U4GM is sometimes brought up by players discussing ways to adjust their gear faster, but regular gameplay progression works perfectly fine as well.

One thing I noticed is that patience really pays off. Rune drops can feel streaky, but as long as you’re clearing efficiently, the long-term gain is consistent. Roblox games often involve grind-based progression, and The Forge is no different, so the best mindset is staying steady rather than expecting instant luck.

Final Thoughts: Is Delver or Elite Zombie farming better overall?

If your main goal is quantity, Delvers win easily. If your goal is quality, Elite Zombies are the way to go.

Most players eventually combine both into a single route, especially in mid-depth layers where the map has a chance to spawn both enemy types. It keeps the gameplay varied and ensures you’re always progressing, even during unlucky streaks.

Farming runes in The Forge can feel like a slow process at first, but once you understand where the best enemies spawn and how to optimize your build, things get much smoother. Hopefully this guide helps you set up your own farming runs with fewer headaches and more reliable results.

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