ForgeTax Weapon Forms and Mastery Guide

In the dark roguelite ForgeTax, weapon forms are the various types of blades a player can hammer at the anvil to generate fortune or pay tribute to the dragon. There are at least nine distinct weapon forms confirmed within the game, each capable of being forged to high value levels to achieve "Mastery." Players must manage the risk of a blade shattering against the potential for massive financial gain or survival through tribute.

Confirmed Weapon Forms

Based on official achievement data, there are nine primary weapon forms that players can encounter and master. While the base gameplay involves hammering standard swords, these specific forms represent higher-tier or specialized objectives for the forge.

The known weapon forms include:

• Splitblade: A specialized form that can be mastered by reaching a +30 forge level.
• Holy Sword: A thematic blade form tied to the "Holy Sword Mastery" achievement.
• Runeblade: A magical or inscribed form requiring precise forging to reach +30.
• Dragonfang: A form likely themed after the dragon that owns the forge.
• Sawblade: A jagged weapon form that players can forge to +30 for mastery.
• Citadel Sword: A sturdy or high-tier blade form.
• Fishblade: A unique and likely "absurd" weapon form, as referenced in the game's description of "absurd fortunes."
• World Tree: A form named after the mythological tree, requiring high-level forging for mastery.
• Funerary Sword: A dark-themed blade consistent with the game's "dark fantasy" setting.

The Forging Loop

The process of interacting with these weapon forms follows a specific first-person mechanical loop. Players must first heat a blade before bringing it to the anvil. Once at the anvil, each successful strike of the hammer increases the sword's value.

Risk of Shattering

The primary tension in ForgeTax is the risk/reward balance of the hammer. With every strike, the value of the weapon form increases, but the likelihood of the blade turning to scrap also rises. Breaking 10 swords in a single run triggers the "Dopamine Syringe" achievement, indicating that failure is a common part of the roguelite progression.

The Frenzy System

To mitigate the risk of losing a valuable weapon form, players can utilize the Frenzy mechanic. By successfully forging the same sword 10 times, the player charges a Frenzy meter. Once unleashed, this provides a brief "blazing window" where the player can hammer the anvil without the fear of the blade shattering. Entering Frenzy five times in a single run is a requirement for the "No Rest for the Hammer" achievement.

Weapon Mastery and Progression

Progression in ForgeTax is measured by the "+" level of a weapon. While the "One More Hit?" achievement is granted for reaching +10 on any sword, true mastery is achieved at +30.

Reaching +30 on any of the specific weapon forms listed above (such as the Splitblade or World Tree) grants a corresponding Mastery achievement. These high-level forges are necessary to meet the increasing demands of the dragon's tribute or to prepare for the dragon battle introduced in the November 12 Major Update.

Synergies and the Relic Machine

Weapon forms are not just for selling or paying tribute; they are also the currency for the Relic Machine. Players can spend their forged blades to acquire relics, which provide various benefits:

• Draw Tickets: Change how items or opportunities are drawn.
• Synergies: Combine strange effects to create "ridiculous value."
• Luck Manipulation: Relics allow players to "build around luck" or fundamentally change the odds of a successful strike.

Every blade spent on a relic is one less blade available for the dragon's tribute, requiring the player to decide between long-term power and immediate survival.

The Dragon's Tribute

The ultimate purpose of forging these weapon forms is to satisfy the dragon. Players must lay their swords on the counter and ring the bell to meet the tribute requirement.

• Overpayment: Paying at least five times the required tribute earns the "Keep the Change" achievement.
• Rage Stages: If the player falls short of the tribute, the dragon enters "Rage" stages. Paying the tribute in full during the final Rage stage is considered a high-risk survival tactic ("One Last Chance").
• Contract Completion: Defeating the dragon completes the player's contract, though players can choose to continue paying tribute even after the contract is fulfilled ("A Job for Life").

System Requirements

As confirmed by the Steam Store Page, ForgeTax requires the following specifications for Windows and macOS: