Resource names and rewards can vary by game mode, map, unlocked meta, and later patches. The game does not appear to use “crystals,” “diamonds,” and “gems” as interchangeable names for one universal spendable currency.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
For coins, play reliable runs and open as many chests as possible; chests are the verified source most directly associated with coin income. Spend coins on Boneraiser Lore and other Mausoleum upgrades, not on trying to convert ordinary gems into money. Gather bones continuously because they create your in-run power, and collect Hero Souls when offered for class and minion progression. Gems, big gems, and diamonds are primarily score pickups, so treat them as score or as potential bone value only when a specific relic or spell gives them that function. The strongest repeatable loop is: choose a survivable build, enable useful enemy-force modifiers once you can handle them, gather bones between waves, seek chest-producing effects, open every chest, and finish the run rather than risking an early death for a small extra pickup.
Verified resources
What each currency and material actually does
Coins are the main Mausoleum currency. The Steam store describes them as the resource used to increase Boneraiser Lore and improve meta progression. Community references also list coins as chest rewards and as payment for certain Mausoleum purchases.
Bones are the central in-run material. Enemies drop different bone pickups, and collecting enough lets you perform a Boneraise or upgrade a minion. Bones therefore have immediate combat value even though they are not a hub currency.
Hero Souls are separate from coins. They support minion upgrades and Class Heritage progression, including class-specific abilities and perks. A run that earns fewer coins but more Hero Souls can still be better for unlocking a new class build.
Gems, big gems, and diamonds are pickup types that normally add score. They are not confirmed to be a second coin wallet. Some effects can make gems useful for bone generation, but that is a build interaction rather than a general exchange rate.
Scrap belongs to certain Architect or contraption systems and should be treated as a mode-specific material. Do not assume that scrap, coins, Hero Souls, and score can be exchanged freely.
- Coins: meta upgrades and some Mausoleum purchases.
- Bones: in-run Boneraises and minion upgrades.
- Hero Souls: minion and Class Heritage progression.
- Gems and diamonds: usually score pickups.
- Scrap: mode-specific construction or contraption economy.
| Resource | Where to focus | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Coins | Chests and completed runs | Boneraiser Lore and hub upgrades |
| Bones | Enemy waves and bone pickups | Raise and upgrade minions |
| Hero Souls | Hero-type enemies and soul rewards | Class Heritage and soul-based upgrades |
| Gems or diamonds | Slimes, chests, bosses, and special minions | Score, or bone value with the right effect |
| Scrap | Architect or contraption systems | Mode-specific construction |
Searches for “crystals,” “diamonds,” or “gems” often mix score pickups with class-progress gems shown around the Mausoleum. Check the icon and menu before treating a pickup as spendable currency.
Recommended route
A safe coin-farming run
There is no developer-confirmed universal best gold farm. In practice, the most dependable route is a full survival run built around opening chests rather than chasing isolated coin drops. Chests provide score, spells, relic chances, and coin income, so they improve both immediate strength and end-of-run earnings.
Start with a class and minion family that can clear ordinary waves without constant manual risk. Early movement and bone collection matter more than a fragile high-roll economy build. Once your army is stable, sweep the edges of the playable area and return toward the center before major waves or bosses arrive.
Prioritize any reliable chest-producing opportunity offered by your current map, relic pool, spell pool, or contraption setup. Open every chest you can reach safely. Gold, Royal, and Giga chest variants are especially valuable because community testing reports higher score values and better spell or relic chances for stronger chest tiers, although exact probabilities may change.
Do not abandon a winning run to collect one distant gem. A completed run with several opened chests is normally a better farming attempt than a risky death while carrying an incomplete build. This is a recommendation based on the reward structure, not a guaranteed mathematical optimum.
- Collect nearby bones first so your army remains strong.
- Use a circular sweep that keeps pickups accessible and avoids dead-end terrain.
- Prioritize chest effects and safe chest collection over low-value detours.
- Take Hero Souls when they advance an active class or minion plan.
- Finish the run whenever the route becomes dangerous; survival preserves the value of the whole attempt.
| Goal | Route priority | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Coins | Chests, chest-generating effects, completed runs | Ignoring chests while chasing score gems |
| Bones | Dense enemy groups and safe pickup loops | Long detours that leave waves unmanaged |
| Hero Souls | Hero-heavy encounters and soul rewards | Skipping progression rewards for minor score |
| Gems | Slimes, chests, and special drops | Assuming every gem is spendable currency |
The chest-first route is the most defensible general strategy, but the best result depends on map, mode, unlocked meta, and whether your build already kills enemies quickly.
Repeatable loops
Resource loops for progression
The basic loop is simple: enter a run, raise a functional army, collect bones, clear waves, open chests, take useful Hero Souls, and complete or intentionally end the run after extracting the available value. Repeat this on the map and mode you can clear consistently.
For bone-heavy runs, use effects that increase pickup collection or improve bone value when available. Community documentation identifies Bonechemist Slab as an important interaction because it allows gem score to become bone value. That makes gems relevant to a bone-farming build, but it does not turn them into coins.
For chest-heavy runs, combine safe movement with chest-producing spells, relics, or contraptions. The community strategy guide describes chest tiers and several chest-focused interactions, while official patch notes confirm that contraptions and map-specific systems continue to receive changes. Treat exact loop counts as version-sensitive.
For class progression, alternate coin runs with Hero Soul runs. Spend coins on broad account upgrades first, then target the class improvements that support the minion family you actually use. This prevents a common mistake: farming one resource while neglecting the progression system that unlocks the build’s power.
- Coin loop: survive, open chests, finish the run, buy hub upgrades.
- Bone loop: increase collection, gather dense waves, use gem-to-bone effects when available.
- Soul loop: target Hero Souls and spend them on the active class or minion plan.
- Chest loop: select chest-producing tools, convert safer openings into more rewards, and avoid risky detours.
| If you need... | Repeat this loop |
|---|---|
| More coins | Run a stable build, open every reachable chest, and complete the run. |
| More bones | Stay near enemy density, collect continuously, and use bone-value effects. |
| More Hero Souls | Choose encounters and rewards that include heroic enemies or soul pickups. |
| More score or class gems | Clear bosses, special modes, and class-specific objectives rather than farming coins. |
Modes such as Necrotic Skirmishes, Mausoleum Awakens, Castle Conquest, and normal runs have different objectives and reward contexts. A route that is excellent for score or class gems may be poor for coins.
Spend wisely
What to buy first with coins
Use early coins on upgrades that improve consistency rather than narrow bonuses that only work in one unusual build. Broad Boneraiser Lore improvements, additional minion options, and systems that make future runs safer generally provide better long-term value than saving indefinitely.
After your core upgrades are comfortable, buy unlocks that support the class or minion family you enjoy. The Steam store confirms that meta upgrades can be increased and refunded, so experimentation is part of the intended progression. If a purchase does not fit your current plan, you are not necessarily locked into it forever.
Do not spend coins expecting them to improve ordinary gem or diamond drops unless the menu explicitly says so. Those pickups usually serve score, and their value depends on the selected mode or an effect that changes how pickups work.
- Buy broad progression before highly specialized bonuses.
- Spend enough to improve survival and chest access.
- Use refunds or respec options when the game offers them.
- Treat score gems and class-progress gems as different systems until the menu confirms otherwise.
| Priority | Suggested use |
|---|---|
| High | Broad meta upgrades that improve future runs |
| Medium | Class or minion unlocks matching your preferred build |
| Situational | Economy relics or niche upgrades for a planned farming build |
| Low | Saving coins for a vague future purchase when a clear upgrade is available |
The existence of coin-funded meta progression and refunds is documented by the official store page. The priority order above is a practical recommendation, not an official developer ranking.
FAQ
Common questions
How do you get coins in Boneraiser Minions?
Open chests during runs and complete reliable runs. Chests are the clearest documented source associated with coins, while the coins are then spent on Mausoleum meta upgrades and certain hub purchases.
Are gems and diamonds the same as coins?
No. Gems, big gems, and diamonds are generally score pickups. They can become useful for bones with particular relics or spells, but they are not a universal replacement for the coin currency.
What are crystals used for?
“Crystals” is not a consistently verified universal currency name in the available references. It may refer to class-progress gems, score pickups, or a mode-specific resource. Check the pickup description or the menu where the item is spent.
What is the best gold farm?
There is no confirmed single best route for every version and mode. The safest general method is a chest-first survival run: build enough power to clear waves, open every reachable chest, collect useful bones and Hero Souls, and finish the run.
Should I farm coins or Hero Souls first?
Farm whichever blocks your next upgrade. Coins improve broad Mausoleum progression, while Hero Souls advance minions and Class Heritage. For a new class, Hero Souls may be more valuable; for account-wide improvements, coins are usually the better target.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.