Frost vs. Lava: choose a route, not a number

First, resolve the names

Ice Wood is a common name for Frost Wood. Lava Wood and Red Wood refer to Volcano Wood. The database treats each alias group as one species, so you are comparing two woods rather than four. Frost is associated with Taiga Peak, while Volcano Wood belongs to the volcanic route.

What the reference rates actually say

The community table lists Frost at $9 per raw unit and $106 per processed unit. Volcano is listed at $3.50 raw and $28 processed. Those are NPC rates, not payouts for an entire log. At an identical processed volume, Frost has the larger gross value. That statement alone says nothing about the time needed to return that volume safely.

Count the friction

For Frost, account for the Taiga approach, your transport capacity, the shape of the load and processing time. For Volcano, account for the climb, descent and hazardous terrain. Add any access costs you pay. A failed trip belongs in the comparison rather than disappearing from the spreadsheet. The calculator accepts your own volume, costs and minutes for that reason.

Match the axe to the wood

Frost Axe is the specialist for Frost; Fire Axe is the specialist for Volcano. Neither is required merely to understand the route. If you do not own a specialist, start by measuring a run with equipment you already have before assuming an expensive collectible purchase will pay for itself. Historical gift prices are not today’s trading quotes.

Choose for your stage of play

A beginner may be better served by a dependable local loop. An experienced player with suitable transport and milling can test a more demanding route. Run both routes under comparable conditions and compare the total net income against the total time. Keep collectible or building stock out of the cash-farming calculation.

Common questions