Dead Cells
Dead Cells

Forge Upgrades — Dead Cells Guide

Understand Forge Upgrades in Dead Cells. Learn how to invest Cells with the Blacksmith to permanently increase your chances of finding higher-tier items.

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Forge Upgrades

The Forge is your primary means of improving the quality of gear you find throughout your runs. Located between biomes, the Blacksmith operates the Forge, allowing you to invest your hard-earned Cells to permanently increase the chance of higher-tier items dropping. This is a crucial long-term progression system that significantly impacts your power level, especially as you climb the Boss Stem Cell difficulties.

Understanding Item Quality

Gear in Dead Cells comes in various qualities, denoted by color and a '+' system:

  • White: Standard quality.
  • Green (+): Uncommon quality, offering a minor stat bonus.
  • Blue (++): Rare quality, providing a more significant stat bonus.
  • Purple (S): Legendary quality, the highest tier, offering substantial stat bonuses and often unique affixes.

The Forge upgrades directly influence the likelihood of finding Green, Blue, and Purple items in chests, shops, and from enemy drops. The higher the Forge upgrade, the more frequently you'll encounter superior gear, making your runs much smoother and more powerful.

Accessing and Upgrading the Forge

You'll encounter the Blacksmith and the Forge at the end of every biome, immediately after defeating a boss or completing a stage. The process is straightforward:

  1. Collect Cells: Cells are the primary currency for Forge upgrades. You acquire them by defeating enemies and bosses. Keep an eye out for Elite enemies and Cursed Chests, as they often drop a significant number of Cells.
  2. Reach the Blacksmith: After clearing a biome (e.g., Prisoner's Quarters, Promenade of the Condemned, Toxic Sewers, Ramparts, Ossuary, Ancient Sewers, Prison Depths, Black Bridge, Clock Room, Forgotten Sepulcher), you'll arrive at a transition area. The Blacksmith will be waiting there.
  3. Interact with the Forge: Approach the Blacksmith and interact with the Forge. You'll see a menu displaying the available upgrades and their Cell costs.
  4. Spend Your Cells: Select the upgrade you wish to purchase. The upgrades are cumulative, meaning you'll unlock increasingly better chances for higher-quality items.

Forge Upgrade Tiers and Costs

The Forge upgrades are divided into distinct tiers, each increasing the probability of finding better gear. Prioritize these upgrades early in your Dead Cells journey, as they provide a permanent power boost across all your runs.

  • Forge I (Green Items): This initial upgrade focuses on increasing the chance of finding Green (+) items.
    • Cost: Varies, typically starting relatively low (e.g., 50-100 Cells for the first few increments).
    • Strategy: This is the first set of upgrades you should focus on. Maxing out the Green item chance will ensure a steady supply of slightly improved gear in the early game.
  • Forge II (Blue Items): Once you've made significant progress on Green items, the Forge will offer upgrades for Blue (++) items.
    • Cost: Higher than Green item upgrades, increasing with each increment.
    • Strategy: These upgrades are vital for tackling higher Boss Stem Cell difficulties. Blue items often come with more powerful affixes and better base stats.
  • Forge III (Purple/S Items): The final and most expensive tier of Forge upgrades focuses on increasing the chance of finding Purple (S) items.
    • Cost: Significantly higher than previous tiers, requiring a substantial Cell investment.
    • Strategy: These are endgame upgrades. While S-tier items are incredibly powerful, their rarity means you'll still rely heavily on Blue and Green items. Focus on these once your Blue item chance is comfortably high.

Tips for Efficient Forge Upgrading

  • Prioritize Early: The sooner you start investing in the Forge, the better. Even small increases in item quality can make a big difference in the early biomes.
  • Don't Hoard Cells: Unless you're saving for a specific blueprint, it's generally better to spend your Cells on Forge upgrades at the end of each biome. These are permanent improvements.
  • Focus on One Tier at a Time: While you can mix and match, it's often more efficient to fully upgrade one tier (e.g., max out Green item chance) before moving on to the next. This ensures a consistent baseline of quality.
  • Higher Difficulties, More Cells: As you unlock and play on higher Boss Stem Cell difficulties, enemies will drop more Cells, accelerating your Forge upgrade progress.
  • Consider the Collector: Remember that the Collector, found in the transition areas, also accepts Cells for unlocking blueprints. Balance your Cell spending between the Forge and new gear. Generally, Forge upgrades offer more consistent power.

By diligently investing in Forge upgrades, you'll transform your runs from struggling with basic gear to consistently finding powerful, high-quality equipment, making your journey through the Hand of the King's castle much more manageable.