ForgeTax Holy Relic Combination and Synergy Guide

In ForgeTax, the Holy Sword and the relic machine are central to surviving the game's dark roguelite loop. While a specific "Holy Relic" item is not explicitly named in official documentation, the "Holy" designation refers to the Holy Sword, a high-tier blade that players can forge and enhance using the relic machine's synergy system. By sacrificing forged blades to the relic machine, players can combine strange effects to manipulate luck, increase forging success rates, and ultimately achieve the Holy Sword Mastery achievement by reaching a +30 reinforcement level.

The Relic Machine and Synergies

The relic machine is the primary method for "bending the odds" in ForgeTax. Unlike the anvil, which increases a sword's raw value, the relic machine requires players to spend their precious blades to acquire permanent or semi-permanent buffs for the duration of a run.

Combining Effects

According to developer GraveYardDev, the relic machine allows players to:

• Change Draw Tickets: Modify the types of swords or upgrades available during a run.
• Combine Strange Effects: Layer multiple relic bonuses to turn a few small advantages into "ridiculous value."
• Build Synergies: Use specific sword types (like the Holy Sword) in conjunction with relics to mitigate the risk of shattering.

Every blade spent on a relic is one less blade available to pay the dragon's tribute. This creates a high-stakes resource management choice: do you sell a high-value Holy Sword to meet the current quota, or sacrifice it to the relic machine to ensure your future swords reach even higher values?

Holy Sword Mastery (+30)

The Holy Sword is one of several specialized blades in ForgeTax that features its own mastery track. To achieve Holy Sword Mastery, a player must successfully forge the blade to a +30 level.

Given the "Mixed" difficulty reported by the community, reaching +30 is a significant feat that typically requires a combination of the following mechanics:

1. Frenzy Charging: Forging the same sword 10 times charges the Frenzy meter.
2. Frenzy Unleashing: Once active, the next hit provides a "blazing window" where the hammer can be used without the fear of the sword shattering.
3. Relic Support: Using relics to "change what luck means" is essential for the final push from +20 to +30, where the base success rate is at its lowest.

Compatible Sword Types for Combinations

While the Holy Sword is a primary target for high-value runs, it exists within a larger ecosystem of blades that can be used to fuel relic combinations. Achievements confirm the existence of several other blade types that may interact with the relic machine:

Players often use lower-tier blades to "fish" for specific relics before attempting to forge a Holy Sword to its maximum potential.

Strategic Tips for Holy Synergies

Managing the Dragon's Rage

The dragon that owns the forge is not patient. If you spend too many Holy Swords on relic combinations and fail to meet the tribute, you will enter the Rage stages. The achievement "One Last Chance" suggests that players can still pay the tribute in full even at the final Rage stage, but failing to do so results in death ("Now Hiring").

The "Keep the Change" Strategy

For advanced players, paying at least five times the tribute requirement (the "Keep the Change" achievement) is often a sign that a relic combination has reached "absurd fortunes." If your current relic synergy allows you to reach +30 on a Holy Sword, the value generated usually far exceeds the dragon's demands, allowing you to bank extra blades for future relic machine rolls.

Dopamine Syringe and Shattering

The "Dopamine Syringe" achievement is awarded for breaking 10 swords in a single run. When building a Holy Sword combination, shattering is an inevitable part of the process. Effective relic combinations focus on reducing the penalty of these breaks or increasing the speed at which you can return to the anvil with a new blade.

Game Availability and Requirements

ForgeTax was released on September 29, 2026. It is a first-person simulation/strategy game. The version and specific platform controls are not independently confirmed beyond the PC system requirements (Windows 10/11, 8-16 GB RAM). The developer has noted that Generative AI was used for some promotional images and audio assets, but no live-generated AI is used during the actual gameplay of forging or relic combining.