ForgeTax Contract Guide: How to Survive the Dragon's Tribute

Completing the contract in ForgeTax requires players to survive a series of tribute cycles by forging high-value blades and managing the dragon's escalating demands. To fulfill the contract and reach the final confrontation, players must balance the risk of shattering swords against the need for "Frenzy" strikes and relic-based synergies. Success is marked by the Clocking Out achievement, which is granted upon defeating the dragon at the end of the contract term.

Understanding the Contract Loop

The core gameplay of ForgeTax revolves around a daily cycle of production and sacrifice. As a first-person forging roguelite, your goal is to generate enough wealth to satisfy the dragon that owns your forge.

1. Heating and Hammering: You must heat a blade and bring it to the anvil. Each strike increases the sword's value but also increases the chance it will shatter into scrap.
2. The Tribute: Once you have forged your blades, you lay them on the counter and ring the bell.
3. Rage Stages: If you fail to meet the tribute, the dragon’s patience thins. Community data from the Steam Achievements indicates there are multiple "Rage stages." Paying the tribute in full during the "last Rage stage" is a critical survival mechanic for players who fall behind.
4. Contract Completion: After surviving the required cycles, you face the dragon in a final battle. According to the November 12 Major Update, this battle allows you to use the weapons you have forged to finally "forge your revenge."

Advanced Forging: Frenzy and Mastery

To survive the later stages of a contract, simple hammering is insufficient. You must utilize the Frenzy mechanic to push swords to extreme values.

Charging Frenzy

Forging the same sword 10 times charges your Frenzy meter. Once unleashed, Frenzy provides a "brief, blazing window" where you can hammer the anvil without any risk of the blade shattering. This is the primary method for reaching high enhancement levels (such as +30) required for Mastery achievements.

Sword Types and Mastery

Different blades offer different challenges. Reaching a +30 enhancement on specific blades unlocks Mastery achievements. Confirmed sword types include:

• Splitblade
• Holy Sword
• Runeblade
• Dragonfang
• Sawblade
• Citadel Sword
• Fishblade
• World Tree
• Funerary Sword

The Relic Machine and Synergies

Wealth alone does not guarantee survival. The Relic Machine allows you to trade potential tribute (swords) for permanent or semi-permanent advantages.

• Synergy Building: Relics can change your draw tickets, combine strange effects, and "change what luck means."
• Sacrifice Strategy: Every blade spent on a relic is one less blade available for the dragon's tribute. Players must decide when a long-term synergy is worth the immediate risk of entering a Rage stage.
• Merchant Visits: During the run, a merchant may visit. Buying all available stock in a single visit grants the "I’ll Take Everything" achievement, often providing the necessary components for a powerful build.

Survival Tips for the Final Days

As the contract nears its end, the tribute requirements become "absurd fortunes." Use these strategies to ensure you aren't executed before the final battle:

• Overpayment: If you have a particularly lucky Frenzy run, pay more than the requirement. The "Keep the Change" achievement is awarded for paying at least five times the required tribute, which can help stabilize your standing.
• Dopamine Syringe: Do not be afraid to break swords early in a run. Breaking 10 swords in a single run is part of the learning curve and unlocks the "Dopamine Syringe" achievement.
• Post-Contract Play: Completing the contract does not necessarily end the game. The "A Job for Life" achievement suggests that dedicated players can continue to pay tribute even after their initial obligations are met.

System Requirements

ForgeTax is a 64-bit application. Below are the confirmed requirements for the version released on September 29, 2026: