The Forge Weapon Tier List (March 2026) Best Weapons Ranked

The Forge Weapon Tier List

Looking for the ultimate weapon tier list for The Forge in 2026? You’ve come to the right place! As a seasoned Forge player with hundreds of hours spent testing every weapon type and variant, I’ve compiled the most comprehensive weapon ranking guide available. Whether you’re just starting your journey in Stonewake’s Cross or dominating the Frostspire Expanse, this guide will help you forge the perfect weapon for your playstyle.

The Forge has evolved significantly with recent updates, including the massive Winter Expansion and Hidden Maze update that introduced over 26 new weapons. With so many options available, knowing which weapons truly dominate the meta is crucial for maximizing your combat effectiveness and ore efficiency.

Quick Meta SummaryBest Choice
Highest DPS WeaponKnight Spear (26.64 DPS)
Highest Damage Per HitExcalibur (26.0 damage)
Fastest Attack SpeedDark Knight Gauntlets (0.47s)
Best Mid-RangeKatana variants
Most Cost-EffectiveStraight Swords (6 ores)

The Ultimate Weapon Tier List

After extensive testing across all three islands and against every enemy type, I’ve ranked every weapon based on combat effectiveness, crafting efficiency, and meta viability. This tier list considers real-world performance, not just base stats.

S-Tier (Godly Weapons)

These weapons dominate the current meta and should be your primary targets when forging.

Knight Spear (Spear)

  • Base Stats: Damage 10.125, Speed 0.38s, Range 11 Studs, DPS 26.64
  • Why it’s S-Tier: The highest DPS weapon in the game with incredible attack speed and excellent range
  • Best For: Players who want consistent damage output with safe spacing
  • Crafting Priority: Highest priority for Island 3 players

Angelic Spear (Spear)

  • Base Stats: Damage 9.75, Speed 0.41s, Range 11 Studs, DPS 23.78
  • Why it’s S-Tier: Elite DPS with the safest attack range in the game
  • Best For: Boss fights and situations where positioning matters
  • Note: Scales exceptionally well into end-game content

Excalibur (Colossal)

  • Base Stats: Damage 26.0, Speed 1.12s, Range 10 Studs, DPS 23.21
  • Why it’s S-Tier: Massive single-hit damage with huge hitbox reach
  • Best For: One-shot builds and players who can time their attacks perfectly
  • Drawback: Slow swing speed requires precise timing

TerrorBlade (Colossal)

  • Base Stats: Damage 22.0, Speed 1.02s, Range 10 Studs, DPS 21.56
  • Why it’s S-Tier: Faster than Excalibur with excellent burst damage potential
  • Best For: Players who want colossal sword damage without the slowest animations

Dark Knight Gauntlets (Gauntlets)

  • Base Stats: Damage 10.0, Speed 0.47s, Range 6 Studs, DPS 21.27
  • Why it’s S-Tier: Massive DPS for brawling with surprisingly high damage per punch
  • Best For: Close-quarters combat and aggressive playstyles
  • Hidden Gem: Obtained from the Hidden Maze event – exclusive and powerful

A-Tier (Excellent Weapons)

These weapons perform exceptionally well and can carry you through any content.

Wyvern Axe (Great Axe)

  • Base Stats: Damage 18.75, Speed 0.91s, Range 9 Studs, DPS 20.60
  • Why it’s A-Tier: Near S-Tier damage with good swing speed for its size
  • Best For: Players who want heavy weapon feel without sacrificing too much speed

Gemblade (Colossal)

  • Base Stats: Damage 23.0, Speed 1.12s, Range 10 Studs, DPS 20.53
  • Why it’s A-Tier: Heavy hitter with excellent reach
  • Best For: Players who can tolerate slower attack speeds

Hook Blade (Straight Sword)

  • Base Stats: Damage 8.25, Speed 0.44s, Range 8 Studs, DPS 18.75
  • Why it’s A-Tier: Extremely fast with amazing DPS for a sword
  • Best For: Speed-focused builds and combo enthusiasts

Chaos (Straight Sword)

  • Base Stats: Damage 18.75, Speed 0.59s, Range 8 Studs, DPS 31.78
  • Why it’s A-Tier: Excellent balance of stats with fluid combat
  • Best For: Mid-to-late game players who can afford the crafting cost
  • Note: Extremely rare drop (1 in 16 chance for Straight Sword type)

B-Tier (Good Weapons)

Solid weapons that perform well but have noticeable limitations.

Trident (Spear)

  • Base Stats: Damage 7.5, Speed 0.45s, Range 11 Studs, DPS 16.67
  • Why it’s B-Tier: Great balance of speed and damage with superior range
  • Best For: Early-to-mid game players wanting spear advantages

Crystal Sword (Straight Sword)

  • Base Stats: Damage 9.975, Speed 0.62s, Range 8 Studs, DPS 16.08
  • Why it’s B-Tier: Decent damage per hit but feels clunky/slow
  • Best For: Players who prefer straight swords but can’t craft Chaos

Curved Dagger (Dagger)

  • Base Stats: Damage 4.95, Speed 0.30s, Range 6 Studs, DPS 16.50
  • Why it’s B-Tier: Incredibly fast (0.3s attack speed) but very short range
  • Best For: Players who want maximum attack speed regardless of range

C-Tier (Average Weapons)

These weapons are usable but significantly outclassed by higher tiers.

Axe (Basic)

  • Base Stats: Damage 7.0, Speed 0.48s, Range 8 Studs, DPS 14.58
  • Why it’s C-Tier: Basic starter stats with no clear advantages
  • Best For: Very early game when you have no other options

Shark’s Fangs (Dagger)

  • Base Stats: Damage 3.87, Speed 0.27s, Range 6 Studs, DPS 14.33
  • Why it’s C-Tier: Fastest weapon in the game but lowest damage per hit
  • Best For: Players who prioritize speed over everything else

Mace (Basic)

  • Base Stats: Damage 6.0, Speed 0.46s, Range 8 Studs, DPS 13.04
  • Why it’s C-Tier: Lowest stats in the game with no redeeming qualities
  • Best For: Avoid unless you have no other choice

Weapon Type Rankings

Beyond individual weapons, understanding which weapon types dominate the meta is crucial for long-term success.

S-Tier Weapon Types

Straight Swords

  • Crafting Cost: 6 ores (cheapest in game)
  • Why S-Tier: Best overall balance of cost, speed, and damage
  • Best Variants: Chaos, Crystalized Broadsword, Hell Slayer
  • Meta Impact: The most cost-effective weapon type for progression

Spears

  • Crafting Cost: 9-12 ores (moderate)
  • Why S-Tier: Excellent range with comparable damage to swords
  • Best Variants: Knight Spear, Angelic Spear, Compass Spear
  • Meta Impact: Dominates Island 3 with safe spacing options

Gauntlets

  • Crafting Cost: 9 ores (very affordable)
  • Why S-Tier: Fastest base attack speed with excellent DPS
  • Best Variants: Dark Knight Gauntlets, Savage Claws, Ironhand
  • Meta Impact: Best brawling option with incredible pressure potential

A-Tier Weapon Types

Colossal Swords

  • Crafting Cost: 30-50 ores (most expensive)
  • Why A-Tier: Highest base damage but very resource-intensive
  • Best Variants: Dragon Slayer, Excalibur, TerrorBlade
  • Meta Impact: End-game dominance but poor cost efficiency

Katanas

  • Crafting Cost: 12-15 ores (moderate-high)
  • Why A-Tier: Good damage and speed balance with excellent range
  • Best Variants: Uchigatana, Tachi
  • Meta Impact: Solid mid-game option but outclassed by spears

B-Tier Weapon Types

Great Axes

  • Crafting Cost: 20-25 ores (expensive)
  • Why B-Tier: Lower stats than colossal swords for similar cost
  • Best Variants: Wyvern Axe, Executioner
  • Meta Impact: No clear advantage over other weapon types

Axes

  • Crafting Cost: 8-10 ores (affordable)
  • Why B-Tier: Similar damage to gauntlets but slower and more expensive
  • Best Variants: Ornate Axe, Spade Axe
  • Meta Impact: Outclassed by gauntlets in every aspect

C-Tier Weapon Types

Great Swords

  • Crafting Cost: 15-20 ores (moderate)
  • Why C-Tier: Only useful in early game as introduction to heavy weapons
  • Best Variants: Anchored GS, Crusader Sword
  • Meta Impact: No advantage past early game progression

Maces

  • Crafting Cost: 10-12 ores (moderate)
  • Why C-Tier: Only available in Island 3 but offers no advantages
  • Best Variants: Grave Maker, Winged Mace
  • Meta Impact: Weakest weapon class in the game

Daggers

  • Crafting Cost: 4-6 ores (cheapest)
  • Why C-Tier: Only useful for tutorial/introduction purposes
  • Best Variants: Curved Dagger, Hook
  • Meta Impact: Immediately replaced with better options

Advanced Weapon Strategies

Crafting Optimization

To maximize your weapon potential, follow these pro crafting strategies:

Ore Selection Guide

Weapon TypeBest OresPriority Traits
Fast Weapons (Daggers, Gauntlets)Fireite, MagmaiteOn-hit effects
Medium Weapons (Swords, Spears)Eye Ore, MagmaiteDamage multiplier
Slow Weapons (Colossal)Darkryte, DemoniteMaximum damage

RNG Manipulation

  • Lock weapon types during forging by using specific ore amounts
  • 6 ores = 86% chance for Straight Sword, 14% for Dagger
  • 9 ores = Higher chance for Gauntlets and Spears
  • 30+ ores = Guaranteed Colossal Sword type

Quality Enhancement

  • Crafting quality significantly impacts final stats
  • Perfect mini-game performance = +20% base damage
  • Enhancement levels unlock rune slots every 3 levels
  • Rune combinations can dramatically change weapon effectiveness

Meta Builds for Different Playstyles

The Speed Demon Build

Primary Weapon: Dark Knight Gauntlets or Hook Blade Supporting Stats: Maximum attack speed, on-hit traits Best For: Players who love rapid combat and pressure Ore Focus: Fireite, Magmaite for burn effects

The One-Shot Warrior

Primary Weapon: Excalibur or Dragon Slayer Supporting Stats: Maximum damage multiplier, critical hits Best For: Patient players who time their attacks perfectly Ore Focus: Darkryte, Demonite for maximum damage

The Balanced Fighter

Primary Weapon: Knight Spear or Chaos Supporting Stats: Balanced damage and speed Best For: Most players – excellent all-around performance Ore Focus: Eye Ore, Magmaite for balanced traits

The Range Master

Primary Weapon: Angelic Spear or Trident Supporting Stats: Maximum range, consistent damage Best For: Players who prefer safe combat positioning Ore Focus: Eye Ore for damage, range-enhancing traits

Island-Specific Weapon Recommendations

Island 1 (Stonewake’s Cross)

Best Weapons: Hook Blade, Ironhand, Curved Dagger Strategy: Focus on speed and cost-effective options Ore Priority: Copper, Iron, Tin combinations

Island 2 (The Cave)

Best Weapons: Chaos, Savage Claws, Uchigatana Strategy: Transition to mid-tier weapons with better stats Ore Priority: Aite, Bananite, rare combinations

Island 3 (Frostspire Expanse)

Best Weapons: Knight Spear, Angelic Spear, Excalibur Strategy: Go for the best weapons available with end-game ores Ore Priority: Darkryte, Demonite, Crimsonite, Lgarite

Hidden Maze (Island 3 Expansion)

Best Weapons: Dark Knight Gauntlets (exclusive), Heavenly weapons Strategy: Target exclusive maze-only weapons Ore Priority: Use your best ores for guaranteed high-tier results

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Ignoring Crafting Quality

Many players rush through the crafting mini-games, resulting in broken or poor-quality weapons. Take your time with each crafting attempt – a perfect craft can add 20% or more to your weapon’s base damage.

2. Wrong Ore Combinations

Using mismatched ore rarities can significantly reduce your weapon’s potential. Stick to similar rarity ores for the best multiplier results.

3. Neglecting Rune Slots

Don’t forget to enhance your weapons to unlock rune slots. Every 3 enhancement levels unlocks a new slot, and the right rune combination can transform a good weapon into a god-tier one.

4. Chasing Rare Weapons Early

While weapons like Excalibur and Dragon Slayer are powerful, they’re extremely resource-intensive. Focus on cost-effective options like Chaos or Knight Spear until you have consistent access to end-game ores.

5. Ignoring Weapon Range

Many players focus only on DPS without considering attack range. Weapons like spears offer safer combat options that can be more effective in boss fights and difficult areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the absolute best weapon in The Forge?

The Knight Spear currently holds the title of best weapon with the highest DPS (26.64) in the game. However, the “best” weapon depends on your playstyle – Excalibur has the highest damage per hit, while Dark Knight Gauntlets offer the fastest combat experience.

How do I get the Chaos weapon?

Chaos is a rare variant of the Straight Sword type with a 1 in 16 chance when crafting straight swords. You’ll need 6 ores and luck on your side. Using higher-quality ores increases your chances of getting rare variants.

Should I focus on DPS or damage per hit?

For most players, DPS (Damage Per Second) is more important as it represents your overall damage output over time. However, if you have perfect timing and can consistently land hits, high damage-per-hit weapons like Excalibur can be more effective.

What ores should I use for the best weapons?

For fast weapons, use Fireite and Magmaite for on-hit effects. For balanced weapons, Eye Ore and Magmaite work best. For slow, heavy weapons, prioritize Darkryte and Demonite for maximum damage multipliers.

How do weapon runes work?

Runes are special enhancements that you can apply to weapons with available rune slots. You unlock rune slots by enhancing your weapon – every 3 enhancement levels gives you one new slot. Runes can add effects like burn damage, increased critical hit chance, or special abilities.

Is it worth crafting Colossal Swords?

Colossal Swords have the highest base damage but require 30-50 ores to craft. They’re worth it for end-game players with consistent access to rare ores, but most players should focus on more cost-effective options like straight swords or spears.

How often is the weapon meta updated?

The Forge developers release major updates monthly, with balance changes and new weapons. The Winter Update and Hidden Maze update significantly changed the meta, so stay tuned to official sources for the latest changes.

What’s the most cost-effective weapon progression path?

Start with Hook Blade or Ironhand in early game, transition to Chaos or Savage Claws in mid-game, and aim for Knight Spear or Angelic Spear in end-game. This path offers the best balance of cost and performance at each stage.

Conclusion

Mastering The Forge weapon meta is essential for dominating combat and progressing efficiently through the islands. While S-Tier weapons like the Knight Spear and Angelic Spear currently dominate the meta, the best weapon for you depends on your playstyle, available resources, and current progression.

Remember that weapon quality matters just as much as weapon type – a perfectly crafted A-Tier weapon can outperform a poorly crafted S-Tier weapon. Focus on mastering the crafting mini-games, optimizing your ore combinations, and enhancing your weapons with the right runes.

The Forge is constantly evolving with new updates and weapons, so bookmark this guide and check back regularly for the latest meta changes and tier list updates. Happy forging, and may your weapons always strike true!

Shruti Agarwal

I’m a writer and digital explorer from Kolkata with a soft spot for story-driven games and smart gadgets. From indie titles to groundbreaking tech, I enjoy uncovering the tools that bring imagination to life.
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