If you’re pushing into the late game of The Forge, sooner or later you’ll run into Demon Skal. This NPC is tied directly to one of the most demanding grinds in the game and gates access to one of the strongest pickaxes available. If you want everything squared away before committing hours of mining, here’s exactly how Demon Skal works, where to find him, and what you get for finishing his quest.
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Table of Contents
- Who Is Demon Skal?
- Where to Find Demon Skal
- Demon Skal’s Quest Explained
- Demonite Key Reward
- What the Demonite Key Unlocks
- Is Demon Skal Worth the Grind?
Who is Demon Skal?
Demon Skal is a hostile-looking NPC hidden deep in the Volcanic Depths. He isn’t optional fluff: he’s the only way to obtain the Demonite Key, which is required to open the room containing the Demonic Pickaxe. There are no alternate legitimate routes and no shortcuts once glitches are patched. If you want the pickaxe the intended way, you deal with Skal.
Where to find Demon Skal
Skal is located in the Volcanic Depths of the Ruined Caves, inside the Forgotten Kingdom. You’ll need access to this region first, typically via a portal tool.
Once inside the Ruined Caves, take the right-hand path and continue until you reach the room with the Amber NPC. From there, break the Basalt Vein to drop into the lower section. You’ll have to move carefully through molten lava zones before taking another right path. Skal’s room is tucked away nearby, positioned just to the left of the locked door that eventually leads to the Demonic Pickaxe room. If you can see the locked door, you’re already very close.
When you reach him, interact and select the first dialogue option. He’ll immediately tell you what he wants.
Demon Skal’s quest explained
Skal only asks for one thing: three Demonite Ores. There’s no branching dialogue, no alternative objectives, and no hidden tasks. The difficulty comes from actually obtaining the ore.
To farm Demonite Ore, you must mine Volcanic Rocks found throughout the Volcanic Depths. Your pickaxe must have at least 100 base damage; anything lower won’t even break the rocks. If your tool doesn’t meet that threshold, come back later.
Each Volcanic Rock has roughly a 1 in 3,333 chance to drop Demonite. That means results vary heavily. You might get lucky quickly, or you might be mining for a long time. There’s nothing you can do to increase the drop rate directly, so patience and efficiency are your best allies.
Once you’ve collected all three Demonite Ores, return to Demon Skal and hand them in.
Reward: the Demonite Key
After submitting the ore, Skal gives you the Demonite Key. This key unlocks the previously sealed room nearby—the one tied to the Demonic Pickaxe. Without it, the door stays shut.
This also serves as a soft endgame checkpoint. At this stage, you’re expected to already have good tools, solid survivability, and enough currency to afford what comes next.
What the Demonite Key unlocks
Using the Demonite Key opens the Demonic Pickaxe Room. Inside, you can buy the Demonic Pickaxe for 500,000 currency. It’s expensive, but the stats justify the cost if you plan to continue mining high-tier resources.
The Demonic Pickaxe comes with 175 mining power and three rune slots, giving it strong flexibility for optimized builds. Once equipped, it significantly speeds up late-game mining and removes many prior limitations.
Is Demon Skal worth the grind?
If you care about max-tier tools, the answer is yes. Demon Skal is intentionally positioned as a commitment check: long mining sessions, strict gear requirements, and a heavy currency sink. But once completed, you’re rewarded with a pickaxe that clearly outclasses earlier options and prepares you for everything the late game throws at you.
If you’re not ready to grind Volcanic Rocks or don’t yet meet the damage requirement, it’s better to progress elsewhere and return later. Demon Skal isn’t going anywhere.
That’s everything you need to know about Demon Skal in The Forge: where he is, what he wants, and why finishing his quest matters.
FAQ – Demon Skal in The Forge
Who is Demon Skal in The Forge?
Demon Skal is a demon NPC found in the Volcanic Depths. He gives a quest that rewards the Demonite Key, which is required to access the Demonic Pickaxe room.
Where is Demon Skal located exactly?
He is hidden inside the Volcanic Depths of the Ruined Caves in the Forgotten Kingdom, near the locked Demonic Pickaxe door.
How do you get Demonite Ore?
Demonite Ore drops only from Volcanic Rocks. You need a pickaxe with at least 100 base mining power to break them, and the drop chance is extremely low.
What does the Demonite Key unlock?
The Demonite Key opens the Demonic Pickaxe room, allowing you to purchase the Demonic Pickaxe for 500,000 currency.
Is the Demonic Pickaxe worth the grind?
If you are in the late game and plan to mine high-tier resources, yes. With 175 mining power and three rune slots, it outperforms earlier pickaxes by a wide margin.
