Mining, Ore & How to Make Money
In the Colony, ore is the only currency that matters — you earn it four ways: hunting, thievery, smithing and mining. Grab the free pickaxe at your first mine, stand at a deposit and press F; the first cuts give about 3 nuggets each before the vein runs dry. Veins never recover, so spend your nuggets on training and gear.
Four ways to earn ore
Every nugget comes from one of four activities. Mining is the most reliable early on, but it is finite — the others scale better over a full playthrough.
| Method | What it is | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mining | Cut ore from deposits with a pickaxe | Reliable early, but veins deplete |
| Hunting | Sell hides and trophies from animals | Scales with combat skill |
| Thievery | Pickpocket and loot chests | Risky but high payoff |
| Smithing | Forge weapons to sell | Needs smithing access |
What ore buys
Costs add up fast — training and skills are the main ore sinks, so plan your spending before you grind.
| Purchase | Cost | Also requires |
|---|---|---|
| Sword training | 250 nuggets | — |
| Four Drax hunting skills | 725 nuggets | 4 Skill Points |
| Digger's Light Trousers (armor) | 313 ore | — |
How mining works
- 1
Grab the free pickaxe
Pick up the pickaxe at the entrance of your very first mine — it hits far harder than your fists.
💡 Free and worth getting immediately.
- 2
Stand at a deposit and press F
Position yourself at an ore vein and press F to cut. The first cuts give about 3 nuggets each.
- 3
Mine the vein dry
Keep cutting until the vein depletes — there is no point returning, it will not refill.
Ore veins are strictly disposable — once a deposit is mined out it never recovers. Don't count on a mine as a renewable income source; budget your nuggets accordingly.
Where to mine
There are three mines in the Valley to work through.
| Mine | Location |
|---|---|
| Old Mine | Northwest of the Valley |
| Free Mine | Valley |
| Abandoned Mine | Valley |
Fast ore in Chapter 1
The video below walks an efficient early route to a large nugget stack.
🚫Cheese: potion duplication — click to reveal
An item-duplication exploit lets you drink a potion during an attack animation to keep the item — most abused with permanent stat potions. Flagged as cheese; use at your own risk.
Frequently asked questions
What is the currency in Gothic 1 Remake?
Ore — magic ore nuggets are the only currency the Colony recognizes.
How do I mine ore?
Equip a pickaxe, stand at an ore deposit and press F. The first cuts give about 3 nuggets each before the vein depletes.
Do ore veins respawn?
No. Veins are strictly disposable — once mined out they never recover.
What are the fastest ways to make money?
Hunting, thievery, smithing and mining. Mining is the most reliable early on; the others scale better long-term.