Overview
Anvil Hill Cave is a cave situated on the cliffs of Anvil Hill in the Hernand region, near the border with Demeniss. Inside, accessible only by breaking through rock barriers, lies an ancient gold mining site beside a mural of a human figure. The cave holds historical significance as both a former mining operation and a possible ritualistic site. It is one of the best locations in the game for farming Gold Ore, yielding 15 to 20 ore in a single run.
Location
The cave entrance is found on the cliffs of Anvil Hill, in the southwest of the Demeniss region (near the Hernand border). The entrance sits at the bottom of a canyon, positioned slightly east of the Gold Ore icon on the world map. The cave is close to other Anvil Hill landmarks including Anvil Basin and Anvil Riverside Terrace.
How to Access
The cave mouth is easy to miss from a distance. Look for a large canyon with a suspicious-looking wall at the bottom, marked by a cluster of golden-tinted rocks. The wall looks slightly different from the surrounding stone, which is the game's visual cue that it can be broken. Drop into the canyon, approach the marked boulder, and hit it with Force Palm (the force punch ability) to shatter it and expose the cave entrance.
A large golden boulder blocks the cave entrance. Players have two options for getting inside:
Method | Details |
|---|---|
Use the Force Palm ability to smash the golden boulder blocking the entrance. Force Palm also works on ore deposits inside the cave. | |
A standard pickaxe can break the rocks, though it is slower. Buy one from the Provisioner's Shop in Hernand, or accept Rhett's Request outside the equipment shop for a free pickaxe. |
The interior is shallow in some areas but extends deeper where the gold mining site is located. Additional breakable rock walls may block inner passages.
Points of Interest
Feature | Description |
|---|---|
Ancient Gold Mining Site | The deeper sections of the cave reveal an old gold mine where ore was once extracted on a large scale |
Mural | A mural depicting a human figure is found alongside the mining remnants, suggesting the site held significance beyond simple resource extraction |
Gold Ore Deposits | Ore veins are embedded in the rock walls throughout the cave, available for mining |
Mining Guide
Anvil Hill Cave is one of the richest Gold Ore deposits in the game. Here is what to expect when mining here:
Yield: 15 to 20 Gold Ore per run
Deposit behavior: Each gold deposit can be struck 2 to 4 times before it crumbles into smaller pieces. Do not stop after the first hit.
Recommended tool: The Mining Knuckledrill is the fastest option. It is unlocked after defeating the boss Marni's Excavatron in the faction quest Estate in Dismay. The Knuckledrill mines ore faster and increases ore drops by 10%.
Alternative tools: Force Palm smashes deposits directly. A standard pickaxe works but is slower.
Auto-pickup: with the Mining Knuckledrill equipped, most mined Gold Ore is picked up automatically the moment each deposit crumbles. This saves time compared to walking over every chunk, though a few stragglers may still require a manual sweep after each node.
Target full gold nodes: focus on the deposits that are entirely gold-colored and sit in the corners of each cave room. Skip the half-stone, half-gold nodes, which yield less ore. Full gold nodes cluster densely, so sweeping the corners of each room is the fastest way to strip the cave.
Gold Ore is a valuable crafting material used for refinement at the blacksmith. It is essential for upgrading accessories and other high-tier equipment. Because Gold Ore is one of the rarest ores in the game, Anvil Hill Cave is a key farming destination.
Enemies
The cave interior is relatively safe compared to other dungeons. No major boss enemies guard the mining site, though players should remain alert for ambient wildlife and minor hostiles near the entrance. The primary challenge is navigating the breakable barriers and reaching the deeper ore deposits.
Connected Locations
Goldleaf Trading Post (nearby, for selling goods)
Tips
Bring a pickaxe or unlock Force Palm before visiting. You cannot enter without a way to break the golden boulder.
Hit each ore deposit multiple times (2 to 4 strikes) to maximize your yield.
Upgrade to the Mining Knuckledrill as soon as possible for a 10% ore drop bonus and faster extraction speed.
Gold Ore can be refined into Gold Bars at the blacksmith, which are worth significant silver when sold or used for high-end crafting.
Check the nearby Goldleaf Trading Post for the Sealed Abyss Artifact while you are in the area.
Gold Bar Crafting Connection
Anvil Hill Cave's Gold Ore deposits tie directly into the Gold Bar crafting system. Once you obtain the Alchemy Formula: Gold Bar (available from the Witch's Hideout in Pailune or the Spire of Insight), you can convert approximately 100 Gold Ore into one Gold Bar worth 500 Silver at any bank. With an upgraded Mining Knuckledrill and ore drop-boosting gems equipped, you can mine 50 or more Gold Ore in a single Anvil Hill Cave run.
The Gold Ore deposits inside the cave do respawn after several in-game days, making this a repeatable farming route. For players looking to maintain a steady Gold Bar supply without relying on the pickpocketing method at Demeniss Wildlife Park, combining Anvil Hill Cave mining runs with the alchemy recipe is a reliable alternative. See the Best Farming Locations guide for a comparison of all top farming methods.