This guide details the Volcano Forge in Stardew Valley 1.6, explaining how to enhance tools and weapons.
Obtaining Cinder Shards: The Volcano Forge requires Cinder Shards. These are obtained by:
- Mining Cinder Shard nodes (pink-orange specks) in the Volcano Dungeon.
- Enemy drops (Magma Sprite, Magma Duggy, Magma Sparker, False Magma Cap – varying drop rates).
- Fishing ponds with 7+ Stingrays (2-5 shards, 7-9% daily chance).
Cinder Shards cannot be created in a Crystalarium.
The Mini-Forge: After achieving Combat Mastery, craft a Mini-Forge (5 Dragon Teeth, 10 Iron Bars, 10 Gold Bars, 5 Iridium Bars). It functions identically to the Volcano Forge.
Weapon Forging: Weapons (not tools) can be forged up to three times, increasing stats. Each forge requires Cinder Shards (10, 15, 20) and a gemstone:
- Amethyst: +1 knockback per forge.
- Aquamarine: +4.6% critical hit chance per forge.
- Emerald: +2/+3/+2 speed per forge (cumulative).
- Jade: +10% critical hit damage per forge.
- Ruby: +10% damage per forge.
- Topaz: +1 defense per forge.
- Diamond: Three random upgrades (10 Cinder Shards).
Best Weapon Upgrades: Emerald & Ruby (damage & speed) are generally best for combat. Topaz & Amethyst are better for survivability.
Unforging Weapons: Place the weapon in the left slot and select the red X to remove all forging (some shards are returned, but not the gemstone).
Infinity Weapons: Upgrade Galaxy Sword, Dagger, or Hammer into Infinity Weapons using three Galaxy Souls (20 Cinder Shards each). Forged upgrades and enchantments are retained.
Galaxy Souls: Obtained from Mr. Qi (40 Qi Gems), Big Slimes (Dangerous Mines, Qi quests), Island Trader (10 Radioactive Bars), or occasionally from Dangerous Monsters (after killing 50).
Enchantments: Apply random effects to tools/weapons using a Prismatic Shard and 20 Cinder Shards. Re-enchant to try for a different effect.
Weapon Enchantments: Artful, Bug Killer, Crusader, Vampiric, Haymaker (Bug Killer & Crusader are generally most useful).
Innate Enchantments: Use a Dragon Tooth to add one enchantment from each of two sets to melee weapons.
Tool Enchantments: Twelve enchantments, tool-specific. Examples include Auto-Hook (fishing rod), Bottomless (watering can), Efficient (various tools), etc.
Best Tool Enchantments: Generally depends on playstyle, but Bottomless (watering can), Shaving (axe), and Preserving (fishing rod) are popular choices.
