Valheim forge upgrades are Anvils, Forge Cooler, Forge Bellows, Grinding Wheel, Smith’s Anvil and Forge Toolrack. The standard Forge begins at level 1, and building all six unique improvements nearby raises it to the maximum level 7.
Build the Forge first
A Forge costs 4 Stone, 4 Coal, 10 Wood and 6 Copper and must be placed within Workbench range.
Before adding Valheim forge upgrades, give it a roof and enough cover to make the crafting interface usable.
The Forge handles metal equipment from the Bronze, Iron, Silver and Black Metal eras and repairs supported items for free.
Anvils
Anvils cost 5 Wood and 2 Bronze.
This is usually the easiest Forge improvement because it becomes available during early Bronze progression. Place the Anvils close enough for the connection effect to register.
With one unique improvement active, the Forge reaches level 2.
Forge Cooler
The Forge Cooler costs 25 Fine Wood and 10 Copper.
Fine Wood comes from Birch or Oak, while Copper is mined in the Black Forest.
It is one of the bulkier Valheim forge upgrades, so allow enough floor space when planning the workshop. The cooler only needs to be nearby and does not require manual operation.
Forge Bellows
Forge Bellows cost 5 Wood, 5 Deer Hide and 4 Chain.
Chains are the limiting ingredient and can be found in Swamp Sunken Crypts or dropped by Wraiths.
If the Forge level does not rise after placement, rotate or move the bellows closer until the connection is recognised.
Grinding Wheel
The Grinding Wheel costs 25 Wood and 1 Sharpening Stone.
A Sharpening Stone is crafted at a Stonecutter, so this Valheim forge upgrades step depends on Iron progression even though the wheel itself uses no Iron.
Place the wheel near the Forge to gain another station level.
Smith’s Anvil
The Smith’s Anvil costs 5 Wood and 20 Iron.
It does not replace the smaller Anvils. Both are separate improvements and both contribute a level.
Because of the 20-Iron cost, this is normally built after Sunken Crypt farming is well underway.
Forge Toolrack
The Forge Toolrack costs 10 Wood and 15 Iron.
It is the sixth unique Forge improvement. Mount it close enough for the connection to register.
With all six Valheim forge upgrades active, the standard Forge reaches level 7, supporting the highest upgrade tiers of equipment that use this station.
Full Forge upgrade material list
Across all six Valheim forge upgrades you need 45 Wood, 25 Fine Wood, 10 Copper, 2 Bronze, 35 Iron, 5 Deer Hide, 4 Chain and 1 Sharpening Stone.
The Sharpening Stone itself requires access to a Stonecutter, so the complete level-seven Forge is firmly tied to Swamp-era Iron progression even though several pieces unlock much earlier.
Planning the full list before a big workshop rebuild saves repeated trips between storage rooms.
Upgrade order and duplicate pieces
The order of Valheim forge upgrades does not matter. Each unique improvement adds one level regardless of when it is built.
Materials create a natural progression from Bronze into Iron, but the game does not require one specific sequence.
Duplicate pieces do not stack, so building two Forge Coolers will not add two levels.
Why your Forge level is too low
The most common cause is an improvement placed outside the connection range.
Walk around the Forge and check which Valheim forge upgrades show a glowing link. Move disconnected pieces closer and confirm nothing was destroyed during a raid.
Also make sure you are interacting with the correct Forge if your base contains several crafting rooms.
Forge level and repairs
Higher station level is not only about crafting new items. Valheim forge upgrades also matter when repairing or improving higher-quality versions of metal equipment.
If an upgraded weapon refuses to repair at a Forge that previously worked, check whether one of the improvement pieces was moved, destroyed or placed too far away during a base redesign.
Best Forge room layout
A compact workshop makes all six improvements easier to keep in range. Wall-mount the Toolrack, push the cooler and bellows toward the edges and keep the centre around the Forge clear.
Once the interface shows level 7, the standard Forge is complete. Later biomes introduce separate stations such as the Black Forge, but a fully upgraded normal Forge remains essential for earlier metal gear, upgrades and repairs.
Official site: Valheim
