Forge

The Forge is a core crafting station used for working with metal-based equipment and for repairing many items that contain metal in their recipe. It is one of the most important stations in progression because it unlocks the crafting of numerous weapons, tools, and other advanced items once the player has access to the necessary smelting materials.

Like the Workbench, the Forge can be upgraded to expand what it can craft and repair. Each upgrade level also increases the station’s build radius by 3 meters, up to a maximum of 38 meters. A fully upgraded Forge reaches level seven, with upgrades built nearby to raise its tier and open additional recipes.

The Forge must be sheltered to function properly, including having a roof overhead. If it is left exposed, it will not serve as a valid crafting station for its intended use.

Forge upgrades are built with the following nearby structures:

• Anvils — 5 Wood, 2 Bronze
• Smith's Anvil — 5 Wood, 20 Iron
• Forge Tool Rack — 10 Wood, 15 Iron
• Forge Bellows — 5 Wood, 5 Deer Hide, 4 Chain
• Grinding Wheel — 25 Wood, 1 Sharpening Stone
• Forge Cooler — 25 Finewood, 10 Copper

Upgrading the Forge enables additional crafting recipes and higher upgrade levels for items. This makes its progression especially important for improving gear quality and expanding what can be produced at a settlement. Because the station is tied to metalworking, it becomes a central part of base development once metal resources are available.

A few practical notes are worth keeping in mind:

• Holding Shift crafts 5 items at a time.
• Crafting Bronze one piece at a time levels the Crafting skill faster than crafting in batches, because each individual craft grants skill progress.
• Since the Forge’s build radius increases with upgrades, placing its upgrade structures efficiently can help keep a larger work area covered by one station.

The Forge is therefore not just a place to make metal gear, but a progression hub for advanced crafting and repairs. Players who plan their base around its upgrade path gain access to better equipment sooner and keep their most important tools in working order with less travel between stations.