This guide explores the Volcano Forge in Stardew Valley, detailing how to enhance tools and weapons with magical enchantments. The 1.6 update expanded this feature, adding new enchantments and the ability to enchant the pan.

Obtaining Cinder Shards:

The forge requires Cinder Shards. These are obtained by:

• Mining Cinder Shard nodes (pink-orange specks) in the Volcano Dungeon.
• As drops from Magma Sprites, Magma Duggies, Magma Sparkers, and False Magma Caps (with varying drop rates).
• From a fishing pond with 7+ Stingrays (a low daily chance).

Cinder Shards are a resource, not gemstones, and cannot be duplicated 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

This functions identically to the Volcano Dungeon forge.

Weapon Forging:

Gemstones enhance weapons (up to three times):

• Amethyst: +1 knockback per forge.
• Aquamarine: +4.6% crit chance per forge.
• Emerald: +2/+3/+2 speed per forge (stacks).
• Jade: +10% crit damage per forge.
• Ruby: +10% damage per forge.
• Topaz: +1 defense per forge.
• Diamond: Three random upgrades (costs 10 Cinder Shards).

Each forge level requires more Cinder Shards (10/15/20).

Optimal Weapon Upgrades:

For maximizing damage, combine Emerald (speed) and Ruby (damage) with either Aquamarine or Jade (critical hits). For survivability, prioritize Topaz (defense) and Amethyst (knockback).

Unforging Weapons:

Use the red X in the forge to remove all forging enhancements. Some Cinder Shards are returned, but not the gemstones. Enchantments remain.

Infinity Weapons:

Upgrade Galaxy Sword, Dagger, or Hammer into Infinity versions using three Galaxy Souls (20 Cinder Shards each). Forged upgrades and enchantments are retained.

Galaxy Souls:

Obtain Galaxy Souls by:

• Purchasing from Mr. Qi (40 Qi Gems each).
• Dropping from Big Slimes (Dangerous Mines, Qi quests).
• From the Island Trader (10 Radioactive Bars, last day of season, after 50 Dangerous Monster kills).
• As occasional drops from Dangerous Monsters (after 50 kills).

Enchantments:

Enchant tools/weapons using a Prismatic Shard and 20 Cinder Shards. Effects are random.

Weapon Enchantments:

• Artful: Halved special move cooldown.
• Bug Killer: Double damage to bugs, kills Armored Bugs.
• Crusader: Double damage to undead, permanently kills mummies.
• Vampiric: Chance to regain health on kill.
• Haymaker: Double fiber/hay chance from weeds.

Bug Killer and Crusader are generally most valuable.

Innate Enchantments:

Use a Dragon Tooth for innate enchantments (one from each set guaranteed/possible):

Set 1 (Guaranteed): Slime Slayer, Crit Power, Attack, Speed.

Set 2 (Possible): Slime Gatherer, Defense, Weight.

Tool Enchantments: (Random, tool-specific)

See table in original text for details. Generally, Bottomless (Watering Can), Shaving (Axe), Generous/Reaching (Hoe), Swift/Powerful (Pickaxe), Preserving (Fishing Rod), and Generous/Reaching (Pan) are highly valued.