This guide separates verified currencies from community terminology. The game uses Cash, Training points, Specialization points, Friendship, and temporary run resources; a separate premium currency called diamonds, gems, or crystals is not confirmed by the current official documentation.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
For the best general farm, start a reliable run, collect every Cash pickup, follow the radar indicators when available, and finish the run instead of repeatedly dying early. Prioritize the Universal Income permanent upgrade, then use missions and repeatable Survivor quests to raise Friendship because Friendship permanently improves Cash and Specialization gains. Choose the shortest mode you can clear consistently; Hardcore is useful once your build is stable because version 1.0.2 increased Military Training spawns there, but it is not automatically the best Cash route. There is no verified separate diamond, gem, or crystal currency to farm, so treat those terms as player shorthand for pickups or other games unless your platform displays a specific new item.
Currency basics
What each resource actually does
Cash is the important run currency. You pick it up during missions, and the amount collected feeds permanent progression rather than disappearing entirely when the run ends. Cash is also used as a condition for Survival-level progression and supports the broader upgrade loop.
Training points are permanent upgrade currency. The official wiki identifies cash drops and achievements as sources, and the Upgrades screen spends these points on account-wide improvements. Universal Income is the obvious first farming investment because it increases the amount of money collected.
Specialization points are separate from Training points. They are tied to Survivor progression and are awarded at the end of a run. The 1.0 release added Friendship, which permanently increases Cash and Specialization gains as missions are completed.
Military Training is not a permanent currency. It is a temporary in-run power-up: collecting enough creates a choice of passive stat improvements. It improves the current attempt only, so do not confuse it with the points spent in the Camp or upgrade menus.
- Cash: collect during a run and use it for long-term progression.
- Training points: spend on permanent account upgrades.
- Specialization points: improve individual Survivors and their ranks.
- Friendship: a permanent multiplier-like progression bonus earned through missions.
- Military Training: temporary run power-ups, with increased spawning in Hardcore after version 1.0.2.
| Resource | Where it comes from | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | Pickups and run rewards | Survival progression and income-focused farming |
| Training points | Cash collection and achievements | Permanent account upgrades |
| Specialization points | Run-end rewards | Survivor-specific progression |
| Friendship | Main, Survivor, and repeatable missions | Improves later Cash and Specialization gains |
| Military Training | Enemy drops during a run | Temporary stats for the current run |
Players often call Cash coins, gold, or money. That is a useful shorthand, but the documented in-game name is Cash. I could not verify a separate persistent currency named Diamonds, Gems, or Crystals in the current official release notes or reference documentation. Do not follow guides that promise a premium-currency loop unless they identify a specific item and current patch.
Repeatable loop
The most reliable farming route
The strongest general loop is simple: choose a map and mode you can clear, collect nearby Cash while maintaining a safe movement pattern, complete any compatible mission objectives, finish the run, spend the resulting progression, and repeat. A completed moderate run usually beats an ambitious run that ends early because you lose time, mission progress, and consistent end-of-run rewards.
At the start of a run, move through the arena rather than circling one small area forever. Cash can land away from the squad, and the radar can help locate nearby pickups. Version 0.9.2 added closest-Cash indicators to the minimap, so use those indicators when your build can safely reach them. Increase pickup range when the opportunity cost is low, but do not sacrifice enough damage or survivability to chase a distant pickup through a dangerous horde.
Use the final minutes of a standard run to sweep for missed Cash only when the squad is safe. In a successful 20-minute Default run, dawn ends the danger and the run becomes a dependable benchmark. Endurance can produce more total resources if you survive well beyond the standard clear time, but its escalating difficulty makes it a poor first choice for consistent farming.
- Use Default for a dependable full-clear loop.
- Use Endurance only when your build survives long enough to outperform a standard clear.
- Use Hardcore after you can clear it consistently; its stronger Military Training availability is valuable for build testing, not proof of better Cash per minute.
- Use Boss Rush for boss-focused objectives and achievements rather than assuming it is the best general money route.
- Track Cash per minute across several completed runs instead of judging one lucky result.
| Goal | Recommended route | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Reliable Cash | Default, full clear | Stable completion and easy repetition |
| Long-run rewards | Endurance | Potentially higher total output if survival is consistent |
| Military Training | Hardcore | Version 1.0.2 increased its spawn frequency and total |
| Boss or mission progress | Boss Rush or the specified mission mode | Targets objectives more directly than a generic farm |
The game does not publish a current official Cash-per-minute table for every map and mode. The route comparison above is a practical recommendation based on completion reliability, mode rules, and documented systems rather than a guaranteed numerical ranking.
Permanent progression
What to upgrade first
If your goal is to accelerate future farming, put early Training points into Universal Income before purely offensive luxuries. The permanent upgrade increases money collected, so every later run benefits. After that, improve the damage, cooldown, movement, and pickup-range options that help you clear safely and reach Cash without detours.
Achievements are part of the resource loop, not just a checklist. They provide Training points and can unlock items, modes, or other progression rewards. Complete easy achievements naturally during normal runs, then use targeted runs for objectives such as reaching a team level, surviving a mode, or using a specific Survivor.
Missions add another layer to the loop. Check the Briefing Room before starting, select a mission that fits the mode you already plan to play, and use the Mission Log to retry unfinished objectives rather than waiting for random availability. Completing missions raises Friendship, and repeatable Survivor missions make the bonus useful after the story objectives are complete.
Do not reset a successful build solely to chase a theoretical farming setup. A slightly slower build that clears every run produces more practical progress than a fragile build with higher damage on paper.
- Buy Universal Income early if Cash is your priority.
- Take pickup range when it helps you collect safely, especially if your damage is already comfortable.
- Complete achievements during ordinary runs before farming specialized objectives.
- Pair missions with your chosen route so each run advances two progression systems.
- Treat Friendship as a long-term multiplier and keep repeatable missions in the rotation.
| Priority | Action | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Universal Income | Improves future Cash collection |
| 2 | Clear speed and survival | Raises completion consistency |
| 3 | Pickup range | Reduces missed or dangerous Cash pickups |
| 4 | Achievements | Adds Training points and unlocks content |
| 5 | Missions and Friendship | Improves later Cash and Specialization rewards |
The existence of Universal Income, Training points, achievements, missions, Friendship, and run-end progression is documented. The upgrade order is a recommendation for farming efficiency, not an official developer-prescribed path.
Troubleshooting terms
Why diamond and gem guides can be misleading
Searches for how to get diamonds, gems, crystals, or gold often mix this game with other survivor-likes. In this game, colored pickups during a run are primarily part of the leveling and power-up flow, while Cash is the resource associated with money and permanent progression. A named achievement such as Diamond Jubilee is not evidence of a diamond currency; it refers to reaching team level 75 in one run.
Likewise, item names containing jewels or gems do not establish a separate currency. Check the exact icon, tooltip, and menu where a resource is spent. If it does not appear in the official upgrade, Survivor, Camp, mission, or end-screen interfaces, treat the claim as unverified rather than spending time on a supposed farm.
- Use the in-game tooltip and end-screen label as the source of truth.
- Do not confuse experience-colored pickups with Cash.
- Do not interpret achievement names as currency names.
- Recheck patch notes after updates because balance and terminology can change.
The official sources reviewed do not provide a separate Diamonds, Gems, or Crystals economy. A future patch or platform-specific update could add one, so verify the resource in your own current build before relying on older guides.
FAQ
Common questions
How do I get coins in Yet Another Zombie Survivors?
Collect Cash pickups during runs, complete the run whenever possible, and improve Universal Income. Missions and Friendship also increase later Cash gains, making them part of the best repeatable loop.
What is the best gold farm?
There is no officially published best map or exact Cash-per-minute ranking. In practice, farm the shortest mode you can clear consistently, usually Default at first. Compare completed Cash rewards and run time over several attempts before switching to Endurance or Hardcore.
How do I get diamonds or gems?
No separate persistent Diamonds, Gems, or Crystals currency is verified in the current official documentation. Those terms may describe experience pickups, achievement wording, or confusion with another game. Check the exact in-game tooltip before farming.
Are Training points the same as Cash?
No. Cash is collected during runs, while Training points are spent on permanent account upgrades. Cash collection and achievements are documented sources of Training points.
What material should I farm in Hardcore?
Hardcore is especially useful for Military Training because version 1.0.2 increased its spawn frequency and total. It is a temporary in-run resource, so choose Hardcore for build development or objectives unless you also clear it reliably for your broader progression goals.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.