The Forge Weapon Guide - Complete Weapon System Guide
Weapons are your primary offensive tools in The Forge, determining your damage output, attack speed, combat range, and overall effectiveness. This comprehensive guide covers all weapon types from basic Daggers to legendary Colossal Swords, complete with stat breakdowns, DPS calculations, best-in-slot recipes, rune configurations, and specialized build recommendations.
1. Weapon System Fundamentals
Weapons in The Forge operate on four core statistics that determine overall combat effectiveness: Base Damage, Attack Speed, Attack Range, and DPS (Damage Per Second).
How Weapons Work
Base Damage (DMG)
The raw damage value dealt with each successful hit before multipliers, traits, or runes apply. Higher base damage increases both regular hits and critical strikes proportionally.
Attack Speed (ATK Speed)
Measured in seconds between swings. Lower values = faster attacks. A 0.5s weapon swings twice as fast as a 1.0s weapon, dramatically affecting DPS.
Attack Range (ATK Range)
Measured in studs, determining how far your weapon reaches. Longer range (9-10 studs) allows safer combat by keeping distance from enemies, while shorter range (6 studs) forces close-quarters fighting.
DPS (Damage Per Second)
Calculated as Base Damage ÷ Attack Speed. This is the single most important stat for comparing weapons, as it represents true sustained damage output.
Ore Count Determines Weapon Class
The total number of ores used in crafting determines which weapon category you receive:
| Ore Count | Weapon Class | Examples | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-15 ores | Small weapons | Daggers, Knives, Short Swords | Lowest damage, fastest attack speed |
| 16-30 ores | Balanced weapons | Straight Swords, Katanas, Gauntlets, Cutlass | Moderate damage, good attack speed |
| 31-50 ores | Heavy weapons | Great Swords, Great Axes, Hammers, Scythes | High damage, slower attack speed |
| 51+ ores | Colossal weapons | Colossal Swords like Dragon Slayer, Skull Crusher | Highest base damage, slowest attack speed |
Weapon Quality & Crafting Success
Each craft attempt produces a weapon with variable quality affecting base stats:
Poor Quality
80-90% of intended stats
Normal Quality
95-105% of intended stats
Masterwork Quality
110-125% of intended stats
2. Weapon Tier List Rankings
Weapons are ranked based on their DPS, versatility, and effectiveness across different content types.
S-Tier: Best Overall Weapons
Chaos (Straight Sword)
Stats: 9.75 DMG | 0.5s ATK Speed | 8 Studs Range | 19.5 DPS
Highest DPS in the entire game at 19.5 damage per second. The 0.5s attack speed creates a machine-gun effect that melts enemies before they can react.
Dragon Slayer (Colossal Sword)
Stats: High DMG | Slow ATK Speed | 10 Studs Range | ~18 DPS
Second-highest DPS with massive 10-stud range allowing safe kiting. Perfect for tank builds (Golem race) where you maintain distance while dealing enormous damage.
Crusader Sword (Straight Sword)
Stats: 9-10 DMG | 0.55s ATK Speed | 8 Studs Range | ~17 DPS
Reliable high DPS with excellent crafting availability. Easier to obtain than Chaos while still providing top-tier performance.
A-Tier: Strong Alternative Weapons
Ironhand (Gauntlet)
Stats: 7.6 DMG | 0.51s ATK Speed | 6 Studs Range | 14.9 DPS
Highest DPS among non-S-tier weapons with extremely fast attack animations. The short 6-stud range is the only drawback.
Cutlass (Straight Sword)
Stats: 9.375 DMG | 0.66s ATK Speed | 8 Studs Range | 14.2 DPS
Easy to craft with excellent balanced stats. Nearly as effective as S-tier options while being much cheaper to produce.
Uchigatana (Katana)
Stats: 8.5 DMG | 0.6s ATK Speed | 9 Studs Range | 14.2 DPS
Most well-rounded weapon in the game with excellent range. The 9-stud reach combined with good DPS makes it viable for all content.
3. Best Weapon Crafting Recipes
Different recipes produce different weapon types and quality levels. Here are the best recipes for each game stage.
Early Game Recipes (Levels 1-15)
Basic Straight Sword - Resource Efficient
| Recipe | Ore Count | Expected Stats |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Iron + 6 Copper + 4 Stone | 22 ores | ~7-8 DMG, 0.6-0.7s speed |
This recipe produces a functional Straight Sword using ores you'll accumulate naturally through early mining.
Budget Cutlass - Best Early DPS
| Recipe | Ore Count | Expected Result |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Iron + 8 Copper | 23 ores | Cutlass (14.2 DPS) |
Cutlass is the best early game weapon for its exceptional DPS. The 1/8 crafting rate in World 1 isn't guaranteed, but the investment is minimal—only common ores risked.
Late-Game Recipes (Levels 30-40+)
Legendary Quality - Maximum Multiplier (5.22x)
| Recipe | Ore Count | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Darkryte + 8 Magmaite + 6 Eye Ore | 24 ores | 5.22x multiplier |
This recipe produces Epic Straight Sword with 5.2x multiplier. Combined with Demon race bonuses, this reaches 200+ DPS—the absolute pinnacle of weapon crafting.
4. Weapon Ore Traits
Different ores provide unique traits that enhance weapon performance. Understanding these traits is crucial for optimal weapon crafting.
Offensive Traits (Priority for DPS)
Magmaite - AOE Explosion
50% chance for AOE explosion on weapons. Explosions deal weapon damage in area around impact.
Best for multi-enemy farming and dungeon clearing.
Fireite - Burn Damage
Up to 30% chance to burn enemies with 20% damage for 2 seconds.
Best for boss fights and elite enemies where sustained burn damage accumulates.
Eye Ore - Pure Damage Boost
+15% weapon damage, -10% health penalty. The damage boost applies to final damage after all multipliers.
Glass cannon builds prioritizing maximum damage over survivability.
Darkryte - Multiplier King
4x multiplier (no special trait on weapons, shadow dodge only on armor). Highest multiplier ore in the game.
Any build seeking maximum base stats.
5. Weapon Enhancement System
Enhancement increases weapon level, which scales all base stats proportionally. This system requires Essence and Gold.
How Enhancement Works
Enhancement increases weapon level, which scales all base stats proportionally.
| Enhancement Level | Essence Type | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| +1 | Tiny/Medium | ~5-8% stat increase |
| +3 ⭐ | Medium/Large | Unlocks first rune slot |
| +5+ | Large/Greater | ~25-40% total stat increase |
Enhancement Strategy
Don't enhance weapons until you have Epic quality (3x+ multiplier). Once you craft your final legendary weapon (Darkryte + Magmaite recipe), invest all resources into enhancement to +5 or higher.
6. Weapon Runes Guide
Runes provide powerful passive effects and active abilities. Choosing the right runes for your weapon is crucial for optimal performance.
S-Tier Runes: Universal Must-Have
Drain Edge
Lifesteal + Damage Boost
Restore HP based on 12% of Physical DMG dealt + Physical DMG increases by 15%. Best combat rune in the game providing both offense and sustain.
Blast Chip
AOE Explosion
Creates explosion dealing a percentage of weapon damage in AOE. Stacks with Magmaite ore trait for dual explosion chances.
Miner Shard
Mining Speed
Increases mining speed. Essential for any player prioritizing ore farming. Must-have for Dwarf race mining builds.
7. Complete Build Guides
Complete build guides combining race, weapon, recipe, and runes for optimal performance in different playstyles.
Build #1: Maximum DPS Demon
Race Demon (Mythical)
Weapon Chaos Sword
Recipe 10 Darkryte + 8 Magmaite + 6 Eye Ore
Runes Drain Edge + Blast Chip
Demon race provides +20% Attack Speed, +20% Physical Damage, and +20% Stronger Fire Damage. Combined with Chaos Sword and legendary ores, this reaches 200+ DPS—the absolute highest achievable in The Forge.
Build #2: Immortal Golem Tank
Race Golem (Legendary)
Weapon Dragon Slayer
Runes Drain Edge + Ward Patch
Golem race provides massive HP pool and defensive bonuses. Dragon Slayer's 10-stud range allows you to fight from safe distance while dealing high DPS. Combined with Drain Edge lifesteal, you're nearly unkillable.
8. Common Weapon Mistakes
Mistake 1: Crafting Wrong Ore Counts
Why It's Bad: Using 15 ores when you want a Straight Sword results in Daggers or Knives instead. Wrong weapon class = wasted rare ores.
Solution: Always reference ore count tables: Straight Swords/Katanas require 16-30 ores, Great Swords require 31-50 ores, Colossal Swords require 51+ ores.
Mistake 2: Ignoring DPS Over Damage
Why It's Bad: A weapon with 20 damage and 1.0s speed (20 DPS) looks impressive but is worse than 10 damage with 0.5s speed (20 DPS). Players often choose high-damage slow weapons over fast weapons with better DPS.
Solution: Always calculate DPS = Damage ÷ Attack Speed. Choose weapons by DPS, not raw damage numbers.
Mistake 3: Enhancing Before Rune Slot
Why It's Bad: Enhancement costs scale exponentially. Players waste gold on +1, +2 when they should save for +3 (rune slot unlock).
Solution: Don't enhance weapons until you have enough resources to reach +3 in one session. The rune slot at +3 is far more valuable than the stat increases from +1 and +2.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best weapon in The Forge?
Chaos Sword (Straight Sword) has the highest DPS at 19.5. Combined with Demon race and legendary ores, it reaches 200+ DPS—no other weapon comes close.
How many ores for Straight Sword?
22-24 ores targets Straight Sword class with ~50% success rate. More ores shift toward heavier weapon classes.
Should I use Colossal Swords?
Only if you have Angel race (infinite stamina) or Golem race (tank + range). Otherwise, Straight Swords provide better DPS with less investment.
When should I enhance weapons?
Enhance to +3 once you have Epic quality (3x+ multiplier). Save full enhancement (+5) for your final legendary weapon.