Staying alive in The Forge gets harder the deeper you go, and weak armor is usually the main reason players end up dying fast. This guide explains how forging works, which ores you should focus on, how traits are calculated, and how to build strong armor that actually helps you survive. Also check out our Roblox The Forge Beginner Guide for those interested and the Race Tier List.
How Armor Forging Actually Works
Forging in The Forge is based on two simple rules:
- More ore = heavier armor
Adding more total ore pushes your result from Light → Medium → Heavy armor. - Ore rarity and traits decide your bonuses
Each ore has its own trait. If the trait percentage is high enough, the bonus activates on your armor.
Example
- Low total ore = light helmet / light chestplate
- Medium amount = medium armor
- High amount = heavy armor
Rarer ores increase multiplier quality and can unlock strong traits.
Understanding Traits and Composition
Traits do not activate just because an ore is added. They activate when the composition ratio is high enough.
Example:
If you put 1 Obsidian and 10 Diamond, Obsidian’s trait won’t show because its composition is too low.
If you raise Obsidian to match the ratio (such as 10 Obsidian with 20 Diamond), you’ll unlock a higher trait percentage.
Key rule:
The more of a specific ore you include, the stronger that trait becomes.
Best Ores for Armor (Survivability Build)
These are the main ores used in top-tier defensive armor:
Obsidian
- +30% Armor Defense
- Found in volcanic rocks
- Best defensive ore in the game
Mithril
- +15% Armor Defense
- Found in Basalt veins
- Great to stack with Obsidian
Uranium
- +5% Max HP AoE Aura Damage
- Extra survivability + small damage boost
Iron
- Adds simple damage reduction and durability
- Common filler to keep multiplier stable
Optional High-End Ores (for players who have them)
- Demon Eye – Adds burn damage
- Dark Ore – High trait output
These are extremely rare, so most players won’t build around them.
Recommended Armor Recipe (Balanced Heavy Build)
This recipe gives strong defense, HP boosts, and good multipliers without requiring rare ores.
Base Armor Mix
- 10 Obsidian
- 10 Mithril
- 10 Uranium
- 10 Iron
This creates heavy armor with:
- Very high defense
- Multiple stacked traits
- A strong defensive multiplier
- Enough composition to activate every major trait
If you want even stronger defense, increase Obsidian to 12–15 and reduce Iron slightly.
How to Maximize Trait Strength
To keep traits active and powerful:
- Ensure the ore with the trait you want is at least 25–30% of the total mix
- Avoid adding too much Diamond or Quartz if you don’t need them
- Keep the composition ratio balanced across your chosen ores
For example, adding too much cheap ore will lower Obsidian or Mithril composition and weaken their traits.
Adding Runes (Optional Upgrade)
Runes give extra bonuses depending on the type. A few examples:
- Health Rune (Brawn) – +5% HP
- Reflect Rune – Reflects damage taken
- Wood Patch Rune – Rare early-game rune from tutorial
Most armor runes are hard to get, so don’t worry if you can’t fill every slot. The ore mix itself provides most of your defense.
The secret to strong armor in The Forge is simple: use the right ores and maintain a good composition ratio. Obsidian + Mithril alone gives a massive defense boost, and adding Uranium and Iron rounds out the build for survival in any zone. Experiment with your own ratios as you gather more ores, but the recipe above is a solid start for nearly every player.