This guide details the Volcano Forge in Stardew Valley, explaining its functions, enchantments, and optimal upgrade strategies. Updated for Stardew Valley 1.6.

Obtaining Cinder Shards

The Volcano Forge requires Cinder Shards ( ). Obtain them by:

• Mining Cinder Shard nodes (pink-orange specks) in the Volcano Dungeon.
• Enemy drops (Magma Sprite, Magma Duggy, Magma Sparker, False Magma Cap – varying drop rates).
• Fishing ponds with 7+ Stingrays (2-5 shards, 7-9% daily chance).

Cinder Shards are a resource, not gemstones; they cannot be replicated in Crystalariums.

The Mini-Forge

After achieving Combat Mastery, craft a Mini-Forge ( ) using:

• 5 Dragon Teeth ( )
• 10 Iron Bars ( )
• 10 Gold Bars ( )
• 5 Iridium Bars ( )

It functions identically to the Volcano Dungeon forge.

Weapon Forging

Forge weapons up to three times using gemstones and Cinder Shards (10, 15, then 20 shards per forge). Gemstone effects:

• Amethyst ( ): +1 knockback per forge.
• Aquamarine ( ): +4.6% critical hit chance per forge.
• Emerald ( ): +2/+3/+2 speed per forge.
• Jade ( ): +10% critical hit damage per forge.
• Ruby ( ): +10% damage per forge.
• Topaz ( ): +1 defense per forge.
• Diamond ( ): Three random upgrades (10 shards).

Best Weapon Upgrades: Emerald & Ruby (DPS) or Topaz & Amethyst (survival).

Unforging Weapons: Place the weapon in the left slot, select the red X to remove all forging (recovers some shards, not gemstones).

Infinity Weapons

Upgrade Galaxy Sword, Dagger, or Hammer into Infinity Weapons using three Galaxy Souls (20 shards per soul).

Galaxy Souls: Obtain from Mr. Qi (40 Qi Gems), Big Slimes (Dangerous Mines, Mr. Qi quests), Island Trader (10 Radioactive Bars), or as rare 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, Bug Killer, Crusader, Vampiric, Haymaker (Bug Killer & Crusader generally best).

Innate Enchantments: Use a Dragon Tooth ( ) for additional enchantments (Slime Slayer, +Crit Power, +Attack, +Speed; potentially Slime Gatherer, +Defense, –Weight).

Tool Enchantments: Twelve enchantments, tool-specific (Auto-Hook, Archeologist, Bottomless, Efficient, Fisher, Generous, Master, Powerful, Preserving, Reaching, Shaving, Swift). Choose based on playstyle.

Best Tool Enchantments: Axe (Shaving, Swift, Efficient); Watering Can (Bottomless); Hoe (Generous, Archeologist, Reaching, Efficient); Pickaxe (Swift, Powerful); Fishing Rod (Preserving); Pan (Generous, Reaching).