Find the Sleeping Survivor (Recruit Blacksmith)

Among the many survivors scattered across the world of Enshrouded, one holds the key to unlocking advanced metalworking: the Blacksmith. Finding this sleeping survivor is a crucial step in progressing your crafting capabilities.

In Enshrouded, rescuing specific survivors is essential for unlocking new crafting stations and advancing your technological capabilities. The Blacksmith is one such vital NPC. He is not found wandering the open world but is instead located within a specific, often challenging, dungeon known as an Ancient Vault. Your task is to locate this vault, navigate its dangers, and find the Blacksmith, who is usually found in a dormant or trapped state. Once you interact with him and free him, he will return to your base, allowing you to build the Forge. This station is indispensable for smelting ores and crafting metal-based equipment, significantly boosting your combat effectiveness and base-building options. This guide will focus on the general process of finding and recruiting the Blacksmith survivor.

The Blacksmith's Location:

The Blacksmith survivor is typically found within an Ancient Vault. These vaults are distinct, often underground or heavily fortified structures that serve as mini-dungeons. The specific Ancient Vault containing the Blacksmith is often one of the earlier ones you'll encounter in the game, usually in the starting regions or areas accessible shortly after establishing your initial base.

How to Find the Ancient Vault:

Exploration: The most common way to find these vaults is through general exploration. Keep an eye out for unique structures on your map or in the environment that stand out from the natural landscape.
Quest Markers: Certain main quests or side quests might guide you towards the location of an Ancient Vault, often with a specific objective related to its contents.
Map Icons: Once discovered, Ancient Vaults are usually marked with a distinct icon on your world map.

Inside the Vault:

Once you locate the entrance to the Ancient Vault, prepare for a challenging delve:

Combat: Expect to encounter various enemies, often Scavengers or Fell creatures, guarding the vault.
Puzzles: Many vaults contain simple puzzles, such as pressure plates, levers, or finding keys, to open doors and progress deeper.
The Blacksmith: The Blacksmith survivor is usually found towards the end of the vault, often in a central chamber or a locked room. He might be sleeping, unconscious, or trapped.

Recruiting the Blacksmith:

Interaction: Approach the Blacksmith and interact with him (usually by pressing 'E').
Freeing Him: Depending on his state, you might need to perform a simple action, like breaking a nearby restraint or simply interacting with him to wake him up.
Return to Base: Once freed, the Blacksmith will automatically return to your base. You will receive a notification that he has arrived.

Unlocking the Forge:

After the Blacksmith arrives at your base, you will be able to craft the Forge. This is a critical crafting station that requires resources like stone and copper. The Forge allows you to smelt ores into ingots and craft a wide range of metal-based items, significantly advancing your progression in Enshrouded.

Finding and recruiting the Blacksmith is a pivotal moment in your Enshrouded journey, opening up a whole new tier of crafting and combat possibilities.