The Curved Handle Axe in The Forge is a solid weapon choice with 7.7 damage, 0.48 seconds attack speed, and an 8-stud range. It stands out with its larger, curved blade compared to the standard Axe. But crafting it isn’t just about throwing ores in the furnace and hoping for the best : it takes some planning and skill.
Here’s a quick answer to get you started:
- Head to the Forge’s Furnace near the blacksmith on any map like Frostspire Expanse.
- Gather at least 9 ores (12 ores for better odds) and select the Axe category.
- Complete the three mini-games: smelt, pour, and hammer.
- Remember, the Curved Handle Axe has a 25% chance to craft within the Axe category, so you might need to try multiple times.
Let’s break down how to craft the Curved Handle Axe step by step
First, you need to collect your ores. Mining is the only way to get them, so no shortcuts here. Aim for 9 to 12 ores; 9 ores give you about a 10% chance to get any Axe, while 12 ores boost that chance to around 72%. These improve your chance to get an Axe category weapon only; the Curved Handle Axe itself has a 1 in 4 chance within that category. Within the Axe category, the four possible weapons have these chances:
| Weapon | Chance |
|---|---|
 Axe |
1/1 |
 Battle Axe |
1/4 |
 Curved Handle Axe |
1/4 |
 Spade Armed Axe |
1/8 |
For traits, aim for at least 10% of an ore type (30% for full effects); a common mix is 30-30-30-10 across ores to hit thresholds and balance multipliers.
When you’re ready, go to the Furnace near the blacksmith. Interact with it and pick the Axe weapon category. Then add your ores to the crucible.
Next comes the mini-games that really decide the quality of your axe:
- Smelt: Pump the bellows to fill the heat bar. Keep it full and stable; don’t let it drop too much or your weapon’s quality suffers.
- Pour: Control the flow by keeping the indicator inside the yellow zone. Small, steady adjustments work better than big swings.
- Hammer: Click when the moving circle touches the inner ring for Perfect hits. Chains boost quality; misses lower it.
If you don’t get the Curved Handle Axe on your first try, don’t worry. Just gather new ores and try again. The RNG means you might need a few attempts.
Note: Practicing the mini-games with cheap ores helps you get the timing right without wasting valuable materials.
The Curved Handle Axe sits nicely between the basic Axe and the rarer Spade Armed Axe in terms of damage and speed. It’s a reliable mid-tier weapon with a unique curved blade design that looks great and hits well.
Once you craft it, you can enhance it later at the Enhancer stand using Essence (Legendary Essence for relic-rarity weapons) to add runes and boost its power further.
Crafting the Curved Handle Axe takes patience and practice, but once you get the hang of the mini-games and ore mixes, you’ll be forging this weapon consistently. Keep your ore counts high, master the mini-games, and the curved blade will be yours soon enough.
Related crafting guides
If you’re interested in crafting other powerful weapons in The Forge, check out guides on crafting the Wyvern Axe for another axe option with detailed ore tips and mini-game strategies. For a different weapon type, learn how to craft the Scythe, which shares some crafting mechanics with axes. You might also want to explore crafting the Skull Crusher sword for a heavy-hitting melee weapon. For a broader look at weapons, the guide on crafting the Gladius Sword and all weapons offers comprehensive tips on ores and mini-games.
