Hey fellow Forge enthusiasts! If you’re anything like me, you’ve been counting down the days until The Forge’s Winter Expansion dropped, and let me tell you—it’s absolutely worth the hype! I’ve been grinding this event since day one, and I’m here to share everything I’ve learned about maximizing those precious XMas Tickets.
When I first stumbled upon Santa’s boat on Frostpire Expanse, I had no idea I was about to dive into one of the most rewarding seasonal events The Forge has ever offered. After spending countless hours perfecting my daily routine and testing every strategy imaginable, I’ve cracked the code to consistently hitting that sweet 420-ticket cap every single day.
Trust me, this guide will save you from the common mistakes I made early on and get you geared up with those limited-edition items before they disappear forever!
The Forge’s XMas event is the game’s annual Winter Expansion that transforms Island 3 into a winter wonderland complete with Santa’s workshop, holiday-themed enemies, and exclusive rewards. This isn’t just another seasonal reskin—it’s a complete progression system that can seriously boost your character’s power if you play your cards right.
What makes this event special is the XMas Ticket system—a limited-time currency that you’ll earn through Santa’s daily Holiday Tasks. These tickets are your golden ticket to some of the best gear in the game, including limited-edition pickaxes and weapons that you won’t be able to get once the event ends.
Pro tip: The event typically runs for 2-3 weeks, so you’ve got a limited window to grind those tickets. Don’t sleep on this!
Let me be real with you—I’ve played my fair share of seasonal events across different games, but The Forge’s XMas event hits different. What I absolutely love is how integrated it feels with the core gameplay. Unlike some games where seasonal events feel tacked on, this one actually enhances your regular progression loop.
My favorite part? The daily routine becomes incredibly satisfying once you nail the rhythm. There’s something magical about starting your day, porting to Frostpire Expanse, and knowing exactly what you need to do to maximize your rewards. It’s like having a perfect gaming morning routine that actually makes you stronger.
Plus, let’s talk about the rewards—those limited pickaxes aren’t just cosmetic; they’re game-changing for your mining progression. I went from struggling with mid-tier ores to absolutely shredding through high-level materials once I got my hands on the Christmas Pickaxe.
Before you can start raking in those XMas tickets, you need to actually reach Santa. Here’s what you need:
Level Requirement: Level 70+ (no exceptions!) Location: Frostpire Expanse (Island 3) Santa’s Position: On the boat right next to your spawn point
Here’s my personal strategy for getting there efficiently:
Trust me, having that portal ready saves you so much time. I learned this the hard way during my first few days when I was manually traveling to Island 3 every time.
After dozens of iterations, I’ve perfected what I believe is the most efficient route for completing all three Holiday Tasks. Here’s my step-by-step method:
Spawn on Frostpire Expanse → immediately run to Santa → accept all three quests before doing ANYTHING else. I can’t stress this enough—if you start mining or fighting before accepting the quests, you’re wasting precious progress.
This always comes first in my route because:
My mining technique: Focus on the dense ice clusters near the spawn point. Use your best pickaxe and consider popping a mining potion if you have one saved from previous days.
Here’s where most people waste time—they try to forge high-quality items. Don’t do this! Santa only cares about quantity, not quality.
My forging strategy:
This should take you less than 5 minutes if you’re prepared.
Save this for last because it’s the most variable in terms of time. Here’s my combat approach:
Positioning is everything: Don’t just charge in blindly. I like to pull Crystal Spiders in groups of 3-4 to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Diamond Spider strategy: These guys hit hard. I recommend using your strongest single-target attacks and saving any cooldowns for them. If you’re struggling, consider buying a Warrior Totem from Santa’s shop—it’s a game-changer for this phase.
Head back to Santa, claim your 420 tickets, and immediately note the time. This is crucial for planning your next run.
This is probably the most misunderstood aspect of the event, and I’ll admit I messed this up my first few days. Here’s the deal:
Santa’s quests reset 24 hours FROM WHEN YOU COMPLETE THEM, not at a fixed server time like midnight.
Here’s what this means in practice:
My personal reset strategy: I pick a consistent time (usually 7 PM for me) and stick to it religiously. This prevents my reset time from drifting all over the place and causing confusion.
After grinding those tickets, you need to know where to spend them. I’ve personally tested every item in Santa’s shop, and here’s my complete breakdown:
After weeks of grinding, I’ve developed some advanced techniques that most players miss:
If you know you’ll miss a day, bank your materials in advance. I keep a stash of cheap crafting materials ready so I can blast through the forging phase in under 2 minutes when I’m pressed for time.
If you have friends playing, coordinate your spider hunting. One player can tank while others focus damage. This cuts the combat phase time by 60-70%.
Time your completion for when you’ll actually be playing tomorrow. If you finish at 2 AM but normally play at 7 PM, you’re essentially losing 17 hours of potential grinding time.
I’ve made these mistakes so you don’t have to:
Let me break down exactly how many days you need for the big items:
My recommendation: If you can commit to 11 days of perfect grinding, go for both pickaxes. If not, prioritize the Christmas Pickaxe and use the Candy Cane Pickaxe as a fallback.
Based on patterns I’ve observed, here’s what I expect for future XMas events:
My advice? Don’t wait for “better” items next year—grab what’s available now.
A: Unfortunately no. Santa’s three daily quests are hard-capped at one completion each per 24-hour cycle.
A: You lose out on 420 potential tickets, which could be the difference between getting that Christmas Pickaxe or not. Try to be consistent!
A: Absolutely. The Christmas Pickaxe alone has transformed my mining efficiency. These aren’t just cosmetic—they’re powerful progression tools.
A: Spend strategically on limited items first, then invest in permanent upgrades. Don’t hoard tickets until the last minute!
A: No, XMas tickets are soulbound and cannot be traded or transferred.
There you have it—my complete guide to dominating The Forge’s XMas event! I’ve poured dozens of hours into perfecting these strategies, and I genuinely hope they help you maximize your rewards and enjoy the event as much as I have.
Remember, consistency is key here. Even if you can’t perfect every day, showing up and completing all three quests regularly will still get you some amazing rewards. The limited items are absolutely worth the grind, and you’ll thank yourself later when you’re tearing through high-level ores with that Christmas Pickaxe.
What’s your favorite part of the XMas event? Have you discovered any strategies I missed? Drop a comment below and let’s discuss—I’m always looking to optimize my grinding routine!
Happy forging, and may your ticket drops be ever in your favor!
