The Forge All Skills Guide (March 2026) Complete Leveling & Unlocking Tips

In The Forge, skills are your secret weapon for dominating the game. These passive abilities provide permanent stat boosts that make every action more efficient – from mining faster to hitting harder in combat. What makes skills particularly powerful is that they work alongside other game systems like races, runes, and equipment traits to create powerful synergies.

Skill Name	Primary Bonus	Max Bonus	How to Unlock	Best For
Weapon Smith	Attack Speed	+20%	Forge Weapons	Combat Players
Monster Slayer	Stamina	+40%	Kill Enemies	Fighters/Explorers
Master Miner	Mining Power	+25%	Mine Rocks	Miners
Armor Smith	Health	+25%	Forge Armor	Tank Builds
Experience Master	XP Boost	+30%	Level Up Character	New Players
Explorer	Movement Speed	+25%	Discover Areas	All Players
Rune Master	Critical Chance	+35%	Apply Runes	Damage Builds
Dedicated Player	Luck	+40%	Play Time	Rare Ore Farmers
Boss Hunter	Damage	+20%	Kill Bosses	Boss Fighters
Upgrade Master	Critical Chance	+35%	Upgrade Equipment	Endgame Players

Each skill features five progression tiers, with bonuses increasing at each level. The beauty of this system is that you unlock skills naturally by playing the game – mine rocks to boost Master Miner, forge weapons to increase Weapon Smith, or simply play over time to level up Dedicated Player.

Important Note: You can only equip one skill at a time, so strategic switching based on your current activity is crucial for maximum efficiency. Press ‘T’ to open your menu, navigate to the Achievements tab, and select your desired skill.

Complete Skill Breakdown & Leveling Strategies

1. Weapon Smith – The Speed Demon

Bonus: +4% → +20% Attack Speed Unlock Method: Forge weapons at the forge station Best Use: Combat situations, boss fights, mob grinding

The Weapon Smith skill is essential for any combat-focused player. Each weapon forged contributes to your progression, with higher-tier weapons typically counting more toward advancement. At maximum level, you’ll attack 20% faster, giving you a significant advantage in both PvP and PvE encounters.

Pro Strategy: Focus on this skill early if you plan to spend significant time in combat areas like the Goblin Cave or when boss hunting. The attack speed boost synergizes perfectly with high-damage weapons, allowing you to stack more hits in the same timeframe.

2. Monster Slayer – Endurance Master

Bonus: +8% → +40% Stamina Unlock Method: Kill enemies throughout the world Best Use: Extended combat sessions, exploration, escaping danger

Stamina is your lifeline in The Forge, determining how long you can sprint, dodge, and attack before needing to rest. The Monster Slayer skill provides the highest percentage boost in the game at 40% maximum, making it invaluable for players who spend time in dangerous areas.

Leveling Requirements:

• Tier 2: 466+ mobs killed
• Tier 5: 500 mobs killed

Pro Strategy: Combine this skill with Explorer for maximum mobility, or pair it with Weapon Smith when engaging in prolonged combat sessions. The stamina boost is particularly useful when farming Slimite in the Goblin Cave or exploring deep cave systems.

3. Master Miner – The Resource King

Bonus: +5% → +25% Mining Power Unlock Method: Mine rocks and collect ores Best Use: All mining activities, resource gathering, gold farming

Mining is the core activity in The Forge, and Master Miner makes it significantly more profitable. Each level increases your mining power, allowing you to break rocks faster and gather resources more efficiently. This skill naturally progresses as you play, making it one of the easiest to max out.

Leveling Requirements:

• Tier 2: 500 rocks mined
• Tier 3: 820+ rocks mined
• Tier 5: 2,500 rocks mined

Pro Strategy: Always have this equipped during dedicated mining sessions. The time saved adds up quickly, especially when farming rare ores or grinding for gold. Pair it with Explorer for faster travel between mining locations.

4. Armor Smith – The Tank’s Choice

Bonus: +5% → +25% Max Health Unlock Method: Forge armor pieces at the forge Best Use: Surviving tough areas, boss fights, PvP combat

Health is your primary defense in The Forge, and Armor Smith provides a substantial boost to your survivability. Each armor piece crafted contributes to your progression, with higher-tier armor typically providing more advancement points.

Leveling Requirements:

• Tier 3: 26+ armor pieces forged
• Tier 5: 60 armor pieces forged

Pro Strategy: Essential for players exploring dangerous areas or attempting challenging boss fights. The health boost stacks with armor stats and other defensive bonuses, creating a formidable tank build perfect for group play or solo progression.

5. Experience Master – The Leveling Accelerator

Bonus: +6% → +30% XP Multiplier Unlock Method: Level up your character Best Use: New players, fast progression, unlocking content

Experience Master is arguably the most important skill for new players. The 30% maximum XP boost significantly accelerates your progression through the early and mid-game, helping you unlock better equipment and areas faster.

Leveling Requirements:

• Tier 4: 44+ levels reached
• Tier 5: 50 levels reached (maximum level)

Pro Strategy: Start with this skill equipped until you reach level 50. The XP boost compounds over time, saving you hours of grinding. Once maxed, switch to skills that match your preferred playstyle.

6. Explorer – The Speed Demon

Bonus: +5% → +25% Movement Speed Unlock Method: Discover new areas and territories Best Use: Travel efficiency, exploration, escaping danger

Movement speed is crucial for efficient gameplay in The Forge, and Explorer provides a significant boost. The game features 10 main areas: Stonewake’s Cross, Stonewake Mine, Abandoned Caves, Frozen Peaks, Ashen Lands, Volcanic Rock, Forgotten Kingdom, Goblin Cave, Wizard Tower, and one additional area.

Leveling Requirements:

• Tier 4: 9+ areas explored
• Tier 5: 10 areas explored (all areas)

Pro Strategy: Essential for all players due to the time saved traveling between locations. Pair with Monster Slayer for combat mobility or Master Miner for efficient mining routes. The speed boost is particularly valuable when transporting heavy loads of ore.

7. Rune Master – The Critical Specialist

Bonus: +7% → +35% Critical Chance Unlock Method: Apply runes to equipment Best Use: Mining critical hits, combat damage

Critical hits can double your ore yield or damage output, making Rune Master incredibly valuable for both miners and combat players. Each rune applied to your equipment contributes to progression, with Mining Shard Runes on pickaxes being particularly effective.

Leveling Requirements:

• Tier 3: 12+ runes applied
• Tier 5: 35 runes applied

Pro Strategy: Combine with Upgrade Master for maximum critical chance potential. The 35% boost from each skill can stack for incredible critical hit rates, especially valuable when farming rare ores.

8. Dedicated Player – The Luck Master

Bonus: +8% → +40% Luck Unlock Method: Play time, meeting NPCs, completing quests, rerolling races Best Use: Rare ore farming, valuable drops, overall luck

Dedicated Player is the most important skill for players focused on rare ore farming. The 40% maximum luck boost is one of the highest single luck sources in the game and is essential for obtaining ultra-rare ores.

Ultimate Luck Build:

• Dragon Head Pick: +78% luck
• Angel race: +30% luck
• Luck Potions: +20% luck
• Dedicated Player (max): +40% luck
• Mining Shard Runes: Up to +48% luck
• Luck Totem: +25% luck
• Total: 241% luck

Pro Strategy: Start working on this skill immediately as it progresses naturally with playtime. The luck boost dramatically increases your chances of finding rare ores like Gargantuan (1/333,333) and Galaxite (1/1,000,000).

9. Boss Hunter – The Damage Dealer

Bonus: +4% → +20% Damage Unlock Method: Kill bosses throughout the world Best Use: Boss fights, difficult enemies, damage-focused builds

Boss Hunter provides a straightforward damage boost that’s essential for taking down The Forge’s most challenging enemies. Bosses are rare spawns or may require specific unlock conditions, making this skill more challenging to max out.

Leveling Requirements:

• Tier 1: 1 boss killed

Pro Strategy: Equip this skill specifically for boss fights or when hunting difficult enemies. The damage boost stacks with weapon stats and other damage bonuses, creating powerful combat builds perfect for endgame content.

10. Upgrade Master – The Enhancement Expert

Bonus: +7% → +35% Critical Chance Unlock Method: Upgrade weapons and armor with essences Best Use: Endgame optimization, critical hit builds

Upgrade Master provides the same critical chance bonus as Rune Master but progresses through equipment enhancement rather than rune application. Items can be upgraded at the Enhancer NPC in the Forgotten Kingdom.

Leveling Requirements:

• Tier 4: 65+ items upgraded
• Tier 5: 75 items upgraded

Pro Strategy: Combine with Rune Master for maximum critical chance potential. This skill is particularly valuable for endgame players who have access to enhancement materials and want to optimize their equipment for maximum effectiveness.

Strategic Progression Priority

Based on community insights and gameplay analysis, here’s the recommended order for prioritizing skill development:

Early Game (Levels 1-20)

1. Dedicated Player – Start immediately for passive luck bonuses
2. Experience Master – Accelerate leveling to unlock better content
3. Master Miner – Natural progression through essential mining
4. Explorer – Unlock all areas for maximum mobility

Mid Game (Levels 21-40)

5. Monster Slayer – Build stamina for extended exploration
6. Weapon Smith/Armor Smith – Progress through natural crafting
7. Rune Master – Begin critical hit optimization

Late Game (Levels 41-50)

8. Upgrade Master – Maximize equipment potential
9. Boss Hunter – Take on endgame challenges

Advanced Skill Combinations

The Ultimate Miner Build

• Primary Skill: Master Miner
• Secondary Options: Dedicated Player (for rare ores), Explorer (for efficiency)
• Focus: Maximum mining speed and rare ore acquisition

The Combat Master Build

• Primary Skill: Monster Slayer
• Secondary Options: Weapon Smith (for attack speed), Boss Hunter (for damage)
• Focus: Extended combat capability and maximum damage output

The Critical Hit Build

• Primary Skill: Rune Master
• Secondary Options: Upgrade Master (stacking crit chance), Dedicated Player (for luck)
• Focus: Maximum critical hit rates for both mining and combat

The Speed Runner Build

• Primary Skill: Explorer
• Secondary Options: Monster Slayer (for stamina), Master Miner (for efficiency)
• Focus: Maximum mobility and efficient resource gathering

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not Switching Skills: Don’t keep one skill equipped permanently. Switch based on your current activity for maximum efficiency.
2. Ignoring Dedicated Player: This skill progresses naturally and provides the best long-term benefits for rare item farming.
3. Focusing Too Early on Combat Skills: Prioritize mining and exploration skills first to build your resource base.
4. Forgetting About Skill Synergy: Skills work best when combined with appropriate equipment, races, and other game systems.
5. Not Planning for Endgame: Consider which skills will be most valuable at level 50 when planning your progression path.

Platform-Specific Tips

Mobile Players

• Prioritize Explorer and Master Miner for efficient resource gathering
• Use touch-friendly skills that don’t require precise timing
• Focus on passive progression skills like Dedicated Player

PC Players

• Take advantage of precise controls for combat-focused skills
• Utilize keyboard shortcuts for quick skill switching
• Focus on active skills that benefit from better control precision

Console Players

• Prioritize skills that complement controller gameplay
• Focus on broader bonuses rather than precision-based skills
• Consider skills that enhance mobility and exploration

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I equip skills in The Forge?

Press the ‘T’ key to open your menu, navigate to the Achievements tab, select your desired skill, and click “Equip Skill.” Remember, you can only have one skill equipped at a time.

Can I level multiple skills simultaneously?

Yes! Skills progress automatically as you perform related actions. You can work on multiple skills at once, though you can only equip one for its bonus effect.

What’s the fastest way to level Dedicated Player?

Simply play the game regularly, meet new NPCs, complete quests, and occasionally reroll your race. The skill progresses based on total playtime and engagement.

Which skill is best for new players?

Experience Master is highly recommended for new players due to its 30% XP boost at maximum level, significantly accelerating early progression.

Do skill bonuses stack with other game systems?

Yes! Skill bonuses stack with races, equipment traits, runes, potions, and other boost sources for powerful combined effects.

Can I reset my skill progression?

Currently, there’s no way to reset skill progression, but you can switch between unlocked skills at any time through the Achievements menu.

What’s the maximum level for skills?

All skills have 5 tiers, with Tier 5 being the maximum level providing the highest bonus percentage.

How do I find bosses for Boss Hunter?

Bosses are rare spawns or may require specific unlock conditions. Check the official Discord and community resources for current boss locations and spawn information.

Is it worth maxing all skills?

Yes, each skill provides unique benefits for different situations. Having all skills maxed gives you maximum flexibility for any activity.

Do skills persist when changing races?

Yes, achievement skills are permanent and persist even when changing races, making them superior to temporary buffs.

Conclusion

Mastering The Forge’s skill system is essential for dominating the game and achieving your goals, whether that’s farming the rarest ores, becoming the strongest fighter, or simply progressing efficiently. By understanding how each skill works and strategically planning your progression, you can maximize your effectiveness and enjoy the game to its fullest.

Remember that skills are a long-term investment – focus on the ones that match your playstyle, but don’t neglect the universally valuable skills like Dedicated Player and Explorer. With this comprehensive guide, you’re now equipped to make informed decisions about your skill development and dominate The Forge like never before.