The Pickaxe is a unique hammer in the Elden Ring DLC that deals extraordinary damage that scales with strength and agility. Below, we'll break down the best positions and strategies for farming it efficiently, as well as tips for dealing with miners wielding the Pickaxe. Even if you're an experienced player, you can learn some valuable strategies here..

 1. Introduction to the Pickaxe Great Hammer

The Pickaxe is one of the rare Great Hammers inElden Ring’s DLC, offering not only high raw damage but also unique piercing damage—setting it apart from other Great Hammers. It scales with both Strength and Dexterity, making it a versatile choice for players with hybrid builds. Additionally, due to its niche design and impressive stats, the Pickaxe can be a gamechanger, especially in the hands of those who know how to wield it.

To obtain the Pickaxe, players must farm the Miners who carry them, usually found in specific locations throughout the game. Notably, there are two types of Miners: regular Miners and Glintstone Miners (or Sorcerer Miners). Glintstone Miners carry the Digger’s Staff instead, so it’s essential to focus only on regular Miners to avoid wasting time.

 2. Optimal Farming Locations for the Pickaxe

A. RuinStrewn Precipice

One of the best locations for midlevel players to farm the Pickaxe is the RuinStrewn Precipice. Here’s how you can farm effectively in this area:

1.Starting Point: Head to the RuinStrewn Precipice Site of Grace.

2.Path and Strategy: Move southward through the tunnel, rather than taking the nearby lift. You’ll come across six Miners in total as you progress.

    Upon reaching an open area, turn left to see the first Miner. Three more Miners are located further east, so take them down in sequence.

    Ignore the Vulgar Militia in a side room to avoid unnecessary combat; focus solely on the Miners.

3.Repeating the Route: Once you clear the area, return to the Site of Grace, reset the enemies, and repeat the process. If a Miner drops the Pickaxe, pick it up immediately and quickly return to the Site of Grace. This will allow you to avoid the Vulgar Militia, who will attack if you linger too long.

This location is efficient because of the nearby Site of Grace, allowing for quick resets and easy farming of consumables that increase Item Discovery if needed.

B. Limgrave Tunnels

If you’re starting with a lowerlevel character, Limgrave Tunnels is a more accessible area for farming the Pickaxe:

1.Preparation: Before entering Limgrave Tunnels, consider bringing consumables that enhance Item Discovery, as this will increase your chances of getting the Pickaxe more quickly.

2.First Farming Area: From the Site of Grace, proceed forward, where you’ll encounter five Miners.

    Three Miners are positioned on the wooden walkway, while the remaining two are on the ground level—one by the wall and another near a cluster of crates.

3.Second Farming Area (No Item Discovery Consumables): If you choose to farm without consumables, proceed deeper into the tunnels until you find the first lift. Jump down to access another area with five Miners, who are closer together, making for an efficient farming path.

After clearing each room, either return to the Site of Grace to reset or, if deeper in the tunnel, jump into the elevator shaft to respawn at the Stakes of Marika and restart.

 3. Recommended Tactics for Miner Encounters

The Miners you’ll encounter while farming the Pickaxe are particularly resistant to physical attacks due to their hardened stone skin. Here are some combat tips:

Elemental Damage: Elemental attacks, especially Firebased ones, are effective against Miners. Consider using weapons with fire attributes or offensive spells that deal elemental damage.

Sorcery and Incantations: If you started with Astrologer or Prisoner, use their starting Sorceries, which work well against Miners. Similarly, the Prophet class’sCatch Flame Incantation, though meleeranged, is highly effective. Confessors can obtainCatch Flame from Brother Corhyn in Roundtable Hold for 600 Runes.

Strike Damage Weapons: If you’re using a melee weapon, strike damage is the most effective physical damage type for these enemies. Weapons like the Mace or Club, which deal strike damage, are ideal choices. You can purchase the Mace from the Twin Maiden Husks for 800 Runes, or the Club from the Nomadic Merchant near Coastal Cave for 600 Runes.

 4. About the Pickaxe’s Unique Properties

The Pickaxe offers a unique advantage over other Great Hammers:

1.Piercing Damage: Unlike most Great Hammers, the Pickaxe exclusively deals piercing damage, making it suitable for breaking through enemy armor. This damage type can be advantageous against certain enemy types, allowing for versatile strategies.

2.Cannot Be PowerStanced: While many Great Hammers can be powerstanced (dualwielded for extra attack power), the Pickaxe cannot be. This may be due to a unique design choice or category error, but it’s best to keep this in mind when planning your loadout.

3.Scaling and Moveset: The Pickaxe scales with both Strength and Dexterity, making it a hybrid weapon. Its moveset resembles that of Greataxes, providing a range of powerful attacks, though it may feel heavier and slower than a traditional axe.

 5. Tips for Efficient Farming and Preparation

Here are a few additional tips to maximize your farming efficiency:

Increase Item Discovery: Equip items or use consumables that increase your Item Discovery stat. This can drastically cut down on the number of runs required to obtain the Pickaxe.

Avoid Unnecessary Enemies: While farming, skip fights with nonessential enemies like the Vulgar Militia in the RuinStrewn Precipice. This minimizes distractions and optimizes farming speed.

Optimize Your Loadout: Equip yourself with weapons or spells tailored for mining areas. Elemental attacks and strike damage are ideal, and consider leveling your Faith or Intelligence attributes if you’re relying heavily on spells.

Set a Budget for Consumables: Consumables like GoldPickled Fowl Foot can increase Item Discovery, so budget your Elden Ring Runes accordingly.

 6. Conclusion: Making the Pickaxe Part of Your Build

The Pickaxe Great Hammer is a powerful and unique addition to any Strength or hybrid build. Its high damage output, coupled with piercing damage, makes it versatile for PvE content. However, obtaining it requires patience and persistence due to the low drop rate and need to farm specific Miners.

By following these routes, optimizing your tactics, and using consumables where possible, you’ll enhance your chances of securing this formidable weapon. Whether you’re a new player looking to make a powerful acquisition or a seasoned veteran seeking to round out your weapon collection, the Pickaxe inElden Ring DLC can bring both aesthetic and tactical value to your journey in the Lands Between. Good luck!