Stonewards Forge Guide: Upgrade Priorities for Early Access

Use the forge to solve the next wave

The forge converts the mining phase into defensive power. The team returns with resources, repairs the stronghold, prepares ammunition, and chooses randomized upgrades before the next monster attack. A good forge decision solves the next likely failure instead of chasing the largest-looking number.

Upgrade decision checklist

• Walls failing: reserve resources for repair before personal upgrades.
• Low damage: improve the damage source that is consistently landing hits.
• Slow mining: increase economy or movement so the team returns on time.
• Poor sustain: prioritize health, healing, or safer positioning.
• Ranged shortage: craft the required ammunition before the horn.
• Companion build: compare Companion Damage after its 0.1.7 buff.

Read current Ring values

Hotfix 0.1.8 did not replace the forge loop, but it matters for upgrade decisions. The official Steam notes list a temporary multiplayer pause after End-of-Wave upgrades are selected, anti-stall enemy behavior, expanded backup saves, a Staff rarity fix for Healer and Mage, and Artificer bomb fixes. Use those as current-version checks before following older upgrade routes.

Hotfix 0.1.7 reduced the per-upgrade value of Jump Height, Knockback Chance, Life Steal, Enemy Item Drop Chance, and Sprint Speed. It increased Companion Damage and Movement Speed. Old screenshots and tier lists may therefore rank the wrong effects.

Long-run scaling

Hotfix 0.1.5 increased the Blacksmith maximum level from 101 to 999. That permits much longer scaling, but it does not mean every early resource should be spent on the Blacksmith. Immediate repairs and ammunition still decide whether the team reaches the late run.

Source

Check the official Steam news page and the official Hotfix 0.1.7 notes whenever a displayed value differs from this guide.