How to Get Masterwork Quality in The Forge (December 2025) Pro Tips & Tricks

Welcome, fellow miners! If you’re looking to elevate your Deep Rock Galactic experience, achieving Masterwork Quality in The Forge is your ticket to becoming an elite dwarf. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about crafting these powerful weapons, from the basics to advanced strategies that will save you time and resources.

Standard vs. Masterwork Weapons

Feature	Standard Weapon	Masterwork Weapon
Base Stats	Standard values	Enhanced base stats
Unique Perk	None	Special ability/bonus
Upgrade Potential	Limited to OC	Fully upgradeable
Cosmetic Effects	Standard appearance	Unique visual effects
Crafting Cost	Base materials only	Base + rare materials

Understanding The Forge System

The Forge is Deep Rock Galactic’s weapon crafting and upgrading system, located in the Space Rig. This essential feature allows you to customize and enhance your weapons to suit your playstyle. While you can create basic weapon variants here, the true potential lies in crafting Masterwork Quality weapons – the pinnacle of dwarven engineering.

Masterwork weapons offer significant advantages over their standard counterparts, including:

• Enhanced base stats
• Unique perks that can change how a weapon functions
• Special visual effects that make your weapons stand out
• Greater upgrade potential

The Forge system was overhauled in Update 35 (December [cy-1]) and further refined in Update 36 (May December 2025), so if you haven’t visited in a while, you’ll notice some improvements to the interface and crafting options.

Prerequisites for Masterwork Crafting

Before you can start crafting Masterwork Quality weapons, you’ll need to meet several requirements:

Rank Requirements

• Reach Rank 25 to unlock Masterwork crafting
• Complete the “Master Smith” assignment (unlocked at Rank 20)
• Promote at least one class to unlock the full Masterwork potential

Resource Requirements

• Core Materials: These are the basic crafting materials you’ll need in large quantities:
• Bismor
• Croppa
• Enor Pearl
• Jadiz
• Morkite
• Nitra
• Special Materials: These rare resources are essential for Masterwork crafting:
• Error Cubes
• Phazyonite
• Magnite
• compressed resources

Credits

• You’ll need a substantial amount of credits (typically 10,000-15,000 per Masterwork weapon)
• Save your credits by completing weekly assignments and deep dives

Step-by-Step Masterwork Crafting Process

Now that you have the prerequisites, let’s walk through the Masterwork crafting process:

Step 1: Select Your Base Weapon

1. Approach The Forge terminal in the Space Rig
2. Select the weapon class you want to craft for
3. Choose the specific weapon you wish to upgrade to Masterwork quality
4. Review the available overclocks (OCs) for that weapon

Step 2: Choose Your Masterwork Configuration

1. Select the “Masterwork” tab in the crafting interface
2. Review the available Masterwork options for your weapon
3. Each weapon typically has 3-4 Masterwork variants with different focuses
4. Consider your playstyle and team composition when choosing

Step 3: Gather Required Materials

1. Check the material requirements for your chosen Masterwork
2. Note any special materials needed (Error Cubes, Phazyonite, etc.)
3. Plan your mining missions accordingly to collect these resources

Step 4: Craft the Masterwork Weapon

1. Ensure you have all required materials and sufficient credits
2. Confirm your selection and begin crafting
3. Wait for the crafting animation to complete
4. Your new Masterwork weapon will be available in your loadout

Step 5: Test and Refine

1. Take your new Masterwork weapon for a test run in a mission
2. Experiment with different overclocks to find your optimal build
3. Consider crafting additional Masterworks for different situations

Material Farming Strategies

Efficient material farming is crucial for Masterwork crafting. Here are my proven strategies for collecting resources quickly:

General Mining Tips

1. Always bring your mining tools: Even on combat-focused missions, take time to mine valuable resources
2. Ping for your team: Use the ping system to mark valuable deposits for your teammates
3. Know your locations: Learn which biomes have abundant resources of each type
4. Complete the secondary objective: These often provide large amounts of specific materials

Resource-Specific Strategies

Bismor

• Best found in Fungus Bogs and Salt Pits
• Look for large, blue crystal formations
• Often appears near cave ceilings

Croppa

• Abundant in Glacial Strata and Magma Core
• Appears as red, crystalline formations
• Can be found in deep caves and narrow passages

Enor Pearl

• Exclusively found in the Aquarq biome
• Appears as blue, pearl-like formations
• Often located near water sources

Jadiz

• Common in Fungus Bogs and Salt Pits
• Green, crystalline formations
• Frequently found in clusters

Morkite

• Available in all biomes
• Dark, metallic formations
• Primary objective in most missions

Nitra

• Available in all biomes
• Red, glowing formations
• Used to call down supply drops

Special Material Farming

Error Cubes

• Found in the “Deep Dive” missions
• Also available as rewards from Weekly Assignments
• Trade with other players for surplus materials

Phazyonite

• Exclusive to the “Rival Presence” missions
• Can be obtained from destroying Rival Tech
• Limited availability, so prioritize carefully

Magnite

• Found in Hazard Level 4+ missions
• Appears as magnetic formations
• More common in specific mission types

Advanced Farming Routes

1. Fungus Bogs Circuit: Start at the drop pod, clear the immediate area, then move clockwise around the cave system, focusing on Jadiz and Bismor deposits
2. Salt Pits Deep Dive: Focus on vertical exploration, as many deposits are located in the upper regions of the caves
3. Glacial Strata Methodical Clear: Divide the map into quadrants and systematically clear each section, prioritizing Croppa deposits

Best Masterwork Options for Each Class

Each class in Deep Rock Galactic has optimal Masterwork choices based on their role and playstyle. Here are my recommendations:

Engineer

1. “Warthog” Shotgun

• Masterwork Effect: Increased damage and pellet count
• Best For: Close-quarters combat and crowd control
• Recommended OC: Turret Arc or Turret Shielding

1. Shard Diffractor

• Masterwork Effect: Faster crystal formation and larger explosion radius
• Best For: Area denial and sustained damage
• Recommended OC: Plasma Blast Carbine

1. LMG Gun Platform

• Masterwork Effect: Increased accuracy and reduced recoil
• Best For: Suppressing large swarms and supporting teammates
• Recommended OC: Lead Storm or Carpet Bomber

Gunner

1. “Thunderhead” Heavy Machine Gun

• Masterwork Effect: Increased damage and faster reload speed
• Best For: Sustained damage against large targets
• Recommended OC: Burning Hell or Lead Storm

1. “Hurricane” Guided Rocket System

• Masterwork Effect: Faster rocket speed and larger explosion radius
• Best For: Area damage and long-range engagements
• Recommended OC: Minelayer System or Salvo Module

1. BRT7 Burst Fire Gun

• Masterwork Effect: Increased burst damage and accuracy
• Best For: Precise targeting and conserving ammunition
• Recommended OC: Lead Spray or Neurotoxin Payload

Driller

1. “Cryo” Cannon

• Masterwork Effect: Increased freeze duration and area of effect
• Best For: Crowd control and support
• Recommended OC: Ice Spear or Snowball

1. Flame Thrower

• Masterwork Effect: Increased damage and longer range
• Best For: Close-quarters combat and area denial
• Recommended OC: Fuel Stream Nozzle or Sticky Flames

1. “Corrosive Sludge Pump”

• Masterwork Effect: Larger puddle size and increased damage over time
• Best For: Area denial and dealing with armored enemies
• Recommended OC: Neurotoxin or Sludge Blast

Scout

1. M1000 Classic

• Masterwork Effect: Increased damage and faster charge time
• Best For: Long-range precision damage
• Recommended OC: Active Precision or Homebrew Powder

1. DRAK-25 Plasma Carbine

• Masterwork Effect: Increased projectile speed and damage
• Best For: Medium-range combat and dealing with swarms
• Recommended OC: Lead Storm or Hellfire

1. Deepcore GK2

• Masterwork Effect: Increased accuracy and larger magazine
• Best For: Versatile combat at various ranges
• Recommended OC: Lead Spray or Magnetic Pellet Alignment

Prospector

1. Sawed-off Shotgun

• Masterwork Effect: Increased damage and reduced spread
• Best For: Close-quarters burst damage
• Recommended OC: Neurotoxin Payload or Oversized Shells

1. “Boomstick” Shotgun

• Masterwork Effect: Increased pellet count and faster reload
• Best For: Crowd control and area damage
• Recommended OC: Sticky Bombs or Tungsten Coated Pellets

Advanced Forge Techniques

Once you’ve mastered the basics, these advanced techniques will help you optimize your Forge experience:

Material Management

1. Bulk Storage: Keep a surplus of common materials (at least 500 of each type) to avoid last-minute farming
2. Special Material Prioritization: Focus on acquiring Error Cubes first, as they’re required for all Masterwork crafts
3. Resource Exchange: Take advantage of the material exchange system when you have excess of one type and need another

Crafting Optimization

1. Batch Crafting: Plan to craft multiple Masterworks in a single session to maximize efficiency
2. Loadout Planning: Consider your team composition when choosing Masterworks to create balanced squads
3. OC Synergy: Select overclocks that complement your Masterwork’s unique benefits

Credit Management

1. Weekly Assignments: Always complete these for substantial credit rewards
2. Deep Dives: These offer significant credit bonuses for completion
3. Promotion Bonuses: Save your promotion credits specifically for Masterwork crafting

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Based on my experience and community feedback, here are the most common mistakes players make when crafting Masterworks:

1. Impatient Crafting: Don’t rush to craft Masterworks without proper planning – you’ll waste valuable materials
2. Ignoring OCs: Overclocks can dramatically change how a Masterwork performs
3. Neglecting Team Synergy: Crafting Masterworks only for personal gain can hurt team effectiveness
4. Poor Resource Management: Not maintaining a surplus of materials will leave you scrambling when new updates arrive
5. Forgetting to Test: Always test new Masterworks in easier missions before taking them to Hazard 5

Platform-Specific Information

PC

• Use keyboard shortcuts for faster navigation in The Forge interface
• Take advantage of community-made spreadsheets to track your crafting progress

Xbox

• Utilize the radial menu for quick material checks during missions
• Consider joining Xbox-specific DRG communities for trading tips

PlayStation

• Use the PlayStation app to stay updated on community strategies
• Take advantage of screenshot sharing to document successful builds

Related Achievements and Rewards

Several achievements are tied to Masterwork crafting:

1. Master Smith: Craft your first Masterwork weapon
2. Arsenal of Excellence: Craft Masterwork weapons for all classes
3. Perfectionist: Fully upgrade a Masterwork weapon
4. Collector: Own all Masterwork variants for a single weapon

These achievements reward cosmetic items and crafting materials, making them worth pursuing.

Conclusion

Crafting Masterwork Quality weapons in The Forge is a rewarding journey that will significantly enhance your Deep Rock Galactic experience. By following this guide, you’ll be able to efficiently gather resources, make informed crafting decisions, and create powerful weapons tailored to your playstyle.

Remember, the key to success is patience, planning, and persistence. Don’t be discouraged if it takes time to gather all the necessary materials – the power of Masterwork weapons is worth the effort!

Happy crafting, and rock and stone!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to craft a Masterwork weapon?

The actual crafting process takes about 30 seconds, but gathering the necessary materials can take several hours of gameplay depending on your luck and efficiency.

Can I reset or change a Masterwork weapon after crafting?

Yes, you can visit The Forge and select the “Reset” option to revert your Masterwork weapon, though you’ll lose any materials invested in the upgrades.

Are Masterwork weapons worth the resource investment?

Absolutely! Masterwork weapons offer significant advantages over standard variants, especially at higher difficulty levels where every advantage counts.

Do Masterwork weapons work in all game modes?

Yes, Masterwork weapons can be used in all standard game modes, including Deep Dives, Weekly Assignments, and regular missions.

How many Masterwork weapons can I own?

There’s no limit to the number of Masterwork weapons you can craft and own, though you can only equip one per weapon slot in your loadout.

Can I trade Masterwork weapons with other players?

No, Masterwork weapons cannot be directly traded between players, though you can share the resources needed to craft them.

Do Masterwork weapons have any disadvantages?

The only potential disadvantage is the high resource cost to craft and upgrade them. Otherwise, they offer pure benefits over standard weapons.

Are there any seasonal or limited-time Masterwork options?

Occasionally, the developers introduce special event-based Masterwork options with unique effects. Keep an eye on seasonal updates for these opportunities.

How often are new Masterwork options added to the game?

New Masterwork options are typically added with major game updates, which occur approximately every 2-3 months.

Do Masterwork weapons affect mission rewards?

No, Masterwork weapons don’t directly affect mission rewards, though their enhanced capabilities may help you complete objectives more efficiently.