Updated on November 28, 2025: Added additional sections for Runes, Enhancing and how to farm gold/cash/EXP with your crafted gear.
In this The Forge crafting guide, let’s dive deep into the intricacies of crafting in the game. From understanding essential mechanics to exploring advanced strategies like armor variations and ore trait combinations, we’ll cover it all. Whether you’re just starting or have been forging for a while, there’s something here for everyone. Here’s my complete The Forge crafting guide.
Understanding Crafting in The Forge
Crafting in The Forge might seem complex, but it follows a straightforward structure:
- Weapon Basics: You can create Dagger-class weapons with just three ores. As you add more ores, you can craft larger weapons. While more ores don’t boost weapon stats, larger weapons typically deal more base damage but attack slower. For refined categorizations, check out our Weapon tier list.
- Armor Basics: Armor crafting also scales with ore quantity. It progresses from Helmets (smallest) to Leggings, to Chestplates. The next tier is determined by weight—Light, Medium, and Heavy. Heavier armor generally provides better defense and health, so aim for Heavy Armor if possible!
- Weapon Variations: Within each weapon class, various types can be crafted. For instance, if you’re in the Dagger category, you might produce daggers, gladius daggers, or hooks, depending on your ore input. The more ores you use, the better your chances of crafting specific variations, some of which might require a certain level to unlock.
- Armor Variations: Similar to weapons, armor variations feature unique styles, like the Dark Knight set, that can only be crafted on Island 2. There’s no variation available for Light armor yet, even there.
- Optimal Crafting Requirements: Below is a handy table outlining the required and optimal ores for each weapon and armor category.
| Item | Min Ore | Optimal Ore |
|---|---|---|
| Dagger | 3 | 3 |
| Straight Sword | 4 | 8 |
| Gauntlet | 7 | 11 |
| Katana | 9 | 15 |
| Great Sword | 12 | 20 |
| Great Axe | 16 | 37 |
| Colossal Sword | 21 | 46 |
| Light Armor | 3 | 3 (For Helmet, More for Leggings/Chest) |
| Medium Armor | 10 (Helmet) | 17 |
| Heavy Armor | 20 (Helmet) | 46 |
Our Best Ores for Weapons/Armor guide will show you how to make the strongest weapons and armor out of these combinations.
What Are Ore Multipliers?
Each type of ore brings a multiplier that enhances the fundamental stats like damage or defense. Higher rarity ores pack better multipliers. When blending different ores, the game averages out the multipliers. For example, mixing some x2 ores with x1 ores results in a 1.5x multiplier. Also, when crafting, if you include more of the higher rarity ore, your gear gets the benefits from that rarity. If you toss in 15 common ores and just 3 legendary ones, the legendary buffs won’t apply. Ensure you organize your ores wisely for maximum effect!
Check out all The Forge Ore Stats and Locations for details on each one.
Understanding Ore Traits
Certain ores are special and come with traits that apply when crafting your gear. To activate a trait, you need a minimum of 10% of that ore in your total mix when forging. For optimal effect, aim for at least 30%. For instance, if you want the Obsidian Defense trait on your armor made with 10 ores, use at least 3 Obsidian ores for the best boost. Below is a list of ores with traits.
| Ore & Rarity | Drop Chance | Rock Node | Multiplier | Price | Trait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 PoopiteEpic |
1/131 | Pebble, Rock, Boulder (Island 1) | 1.2x | 18$ (~17 EUR) | Deals % poison damage around you for X seconds, causing enemies to fear. Activates below 35% HP with a 15s cooldown. |
 ObsidianEpic |
1/333 | Volcanic Rock | 2.35x | 35.25$ (~33 EUR) | 30% extra defense on Armor. |
 RivaliteEpic |
1/569 | Basalt Vein, Volcanic Rock | 3.33x | 49.95$ (~46 EUR) | +20% critical strike chance on Weapons. |
 UraniumLegendary |
1/777 | Basalt Vein | 3x | 66$ (~62 EUR) | 5% of player max health as AOE damage while in combat, on Armor. |
 MythrilLegendary |
1/813 | Basalt Vein | 3.5x | 52.5$ (~49 EUR) | 15% extra defense on Armor. |
 Eye OreLegendary |
1/1333 | Basalt Rock, Basalt Core, Basalt Vein, Volcanic Rock | 4x | 37.5$ (~35 EUR) | -10% health, +15% damage boost on Weapons/Armor. |
 FireiteLegendary |
1/2187 | Volcanic Rock | 4.5x | 67.5$ (~63 EUR) | 20% burn for 2 seconds with 30% chance on-hit on Weapons. |
 MagmaiteLegendary |
1/3003 | Volcanic Rock | 5x | 75$ (~70 EUR) | 50% AOE explosion with 35% chance on-hit for Weapons. |
 LightiteLegendary |
1/3333 | Basalt Vein | 4.6x | 69$ (~65 EUR) | Speed Boost. |
 DemoniteMythical |
1/3666 | Volcanic Rock | 5.5x | 82.5$ (~77 EUR) | 20% burn for 2 seconds with 15% chance on-hit & Demon’s Backfire passive on Armor. |
 DarkryteMythical |
1/5555 | Volcanic Rock | 6.3x | 94.5$ (~89 EUR) | Armor Only: When hit, a 15% chance to dodge the attack by transforming into a shadow. |
Dark Knight and Samurai Armor Variations
You can craft two unique armor types: the Dark Knight Heavy Armor and the Samurai Medium Armor, exclusive to Island 2. Light armor doesn’t have variations yet. The special armor options usually have crafting odds of 1/2 compared to the normal 1/1. Both types provide increased health compared to their standard counterparts. For a visual comparison, check the image above that showcases differences in the Heavy Armor Knight Chestplate versus the Dark Knight variant.
Runes & Enhancements
Once your weapon or armor is crafted, you can add Runes that drop from monsters, which can be done at the Rune NPC. Our Rune Tier List provides insights into the best rune effects and which monsters drop specific runes. Before applying a Rune to your gear, you must Enhance it at the Enhancer, which boosts its stats and unlocks a Rune Slot, typically after the third upgrade. Always upgrade weapons you’re satisfied with, especially those where you’ve poured valuable ores with excellent multipliers.
How Can You Farm Money in The Forge?
For a sure-fire method to build your fortune, check out the The Forge Money Farm guide. This resource walks you through top strategies for earning gold and XP. Focus on farming ores and crafting, followed by crafting and selling Heavy Armor and Colossal Weapons for maximum profit. In due time, you’ll be grinding through monsters and cashing in their essence for a serious payday.
That wraps up my The Forge crafting guide. If you’re looking for additional tips, don’t miss my The Forge race tier list for more insights.
What are the basics of crafting in The Forge?
Crafting starts with gathering ores. You can create different weapon classes based on the number of ores you use, unlocking larger weapons as you gather more.
How do ore multipliers affect crafting?
Ore multipliers enhance the base stats of your equipment. Using higher rarity ores increases your multipliers, significantly impacting damage and defense.
What are the Dark Knight and Samurai armor variations?
These armor types are exclusive to Island 2 and offer better health stats. Crafting these requires specific ores and has different odds compared to standard armor.
How can I farm money effectively in The Forge?
You can farm money efficiently by focusing on crafting and selling Heavy Armor and Colossal Weapons. Also, consider grinding monsters for additional essence.
What role do Runes play in enhancing gear?
Runes can be added to weapons and armor after enhancing them. They provide additional effects that significantly impact your gameplay, so choose wisely!