In The Forge on Roblox, having the best weapon is only half the battle. Surviving high-level bosses and getting through dangerous zones like the Volcanic Depths requires good armor and leveraging the crafting system. Unlike static equipment in other RPGs, armor in The Forge is highly customizable, with stats and passive abilities determined by the specific ratios of ores you use during the smelting process. Our guide breaks down the best armor recipes for every stage of the game, including new armor added in the Winter Update, helping you maximize your defense, health, and utility.
How Armor Crafting Works in The Forge
Crafting armor follows a mini-game process similar to weapon recipes – involving smelting, pouring, and shaping. The outcome depends on two main factors: the quantity of ore and the variety of ore.
The amount of ore determines the armor class. Light armor requires the least amount of resources, while Heavy armor requires the most. Specifically, Heavy armor pieces like the Knight or Dark Knight sets often require upwards of 30 to 45 ores total to guarantee the highest tier of protection.
The second factor is the Ore Ratio. To activate a specific ore’s trait (such as increased movement speed or lifesteal), that ore must typically make up at least 30% of the total mix. If you dilute the recipe with too many different ores, you may miss out on powerful passive buffs.
Best Late-Game Hybrid Armor – The “Arctic” Knight Set
Introduced alongside the Winter Expansion, the Arctic Knight set is the new gold standard for players who want to balance the raw defense of the Dark Knight set with the utility needed for the new Ice zones. It is a Heavy armor class that specifically counters the “Freeze” debuff.
| Armor Piece | Ores |
|---|---|
| Chestplate | 9x Darkryte 9x Lightite 8x Demonite |
| Leggings | 7x Darkryte 7x Lightite 6x Demonite |
| Helmet | 5x Darkryte 5x Lightite 5x Demonite |
This specific ratio triggers a unique high-tier synergy. While the Lightite provides a +15% movement speed bonus (essential for dodging new boss projectiles), the combination of Darkryte and Demonite grants a 15% Dodge chance and a 25% Burn chance, making it the most well-rounded set for Island 3 progression.
Best New DPS Armor – The “Void” Slayer Set
For players looking to maximize their damage output after the level cap increase, the Void Slayer set has replaced the old Berserker builds. This recipe utilizes a high concentration of Eye Ore to push your weapon damage to its absolute limit.
| Armor Piece | Ores |
|---|---|
| Chestplate | 9x Darkryte 9x Obsidian 9x Eye Ore |
| Leggings | 7x Darkryte 7x Obsidian 7x Eye Ore |
| Helmet | 5x Darkryte 5x Obsidian 5x Eye Ore |
This build is designed for high-skill players who can manage the -10% health penalty. In exchange for that health loss, you receive a flat +15% Weapon Damage boost and a 15% Dodge chance. The addition of Obsidian provides a 30% Vitality boost that helps mitigate the Eye Ore’s health drain, allowing you to stay in the fight longer while dealing massive criticals.
Best Island 3 Farming Set – The “Radiant” Light Armor
If you are farming for the new rare Christmas drops, speed and luck are more important than defense. The Radiant Light armor is a specialized “utility” build designed to let you clear mining veins and move through the map as quickly as possible.
| Armor Piece | Ores |
|---|---|
| Chestplate | 9x Lightite 9x Eye Ore 8x Mythril |
| Leggings | 7x Lightite 7x Eye Ore 6x Mythril |
| Helmet | 5x Lightite 5x Eye Ore 5x Mythril |
This Light armor set is currently the fastest way to move between ore nodes. It stacks a 15% movement speed bonus with a 15% Vitality boost from the Mythril. Because it uses fewer ores total than the Heavy sets, it is much cheaper to “reroll” until you get the perfect stat multipliers for your specific mining route.
Best Early Game Armor Recipe
For players just starting their journey, the priority is accessibility. You won’t have access to legendary minerals yet, so focus on a balanced “Knight” or “Puppy” build that uses common and epic ores found in the initial zones. Use this recipe to get a head start:
| Armor Piece | Ores |
|---|---|
| Chestplate | 16x Ruby 10x Emerald 10x Cuprite |
| Leggings | 12x Ruby 10x Emerald 8x Cuprite |
| Helmet | 8x Ruby 8x Emerald 8x Cuprite |
This set provides a solid base defense of around 134 for the chestplate. If you are struggling with survival, replacing the Cuprite with Poopite can add a “Poison Cloud” effect that triggers when your health is low, giving you a chance to retreat.
Best Mid Game Armor Recipe
The Samurai armor is widely considered the best mid-game set because it offers a significant health boost without the heavy movement speed penalties of late-game heavy sets. It is a “Medium” class armor that relies on a specific 1/2 chance roll during the forging process. Here’s how to make it:
| Armor Piece | Ores |
|---|---|
| Chestplate | 5x Obsidian 5x Uranium 5x Mythril 2x Eye Ore |
| Leggings | 5x Obsidian 5x Uranium 5x Mythril 2x Eye Ore |
| Helmet | 3x Obsidian 3x Uranium 7x Mythril 3x Eye Ore |
This combination provides a total health boost of roughly 30%. The inclusion of Uranium is key here, as it grants a passive AoE damage effect that scales with 5% of your max HP, making it easier to clear mobs while mining.
Best Late Game Armor Recipe
For end-game content, the Dark Knight set is the gold standard. It offers the highest base defense and health multipliers in the game, though it requires rare materials like Darkryte and Demonite.
| Armor Piece | Ores |
|---|---|
| Chestplate | 20x Darkryte 8x Demonite 6x Obsidian 6x Mythril |
| Leggings | 16x Darkryte 6x Demonite 4x Obsidian 4x Mythril |
| Helmet | 12x Darkryte 6x Demonite 4x Obsidian 4x Mythril |
This build focuses on “The Shadow” trait from Darkryte, which grants a 15% chance to dodge damage entirely. When combined with the “Burn” effect from Demonite, you become a walking fortress that reflects damage while negating incoming hits.
Lightite Build for Speed and Farming
If you find the Heavy armor too slow for farming or boss dodging, a Lightite-focused build is the best alternative. This set trades raw defense for utility and speed. Use these alternatives for the build:
- Ores: 15x Lightite, 12x Darkryte, 12x Demonite (remember to adjust ratios for specific pieces).
Using Lightite as your dominant ore grants a 15% bonus to movement speed. This enables you to kite bosses or quickly move between ore veins in the Ashen Passage.
How to Maximize Your Armor with Runes
Once you have forged your ideal set, you must visit the Enhancer to unlock rune slots. Armor can be enhanced up to level 9 to unlock a maximum of three rune slots.
For most builds, the Ward Patch is the best general-purpose rune as it provides a flat damage reduction. If you are running a tank build, look for Briar Notch runes, which add a Thorns effect that reflects incoming damage back to attackers. For those using the Lightite speed build, Rage Mark runes are superior, as they boost physical damage and speed when your health drops below a certain threshold. For our breakdown of the best Runes on weapons, check out this guide.
Mastering the forge is a continuous process of trial and error, but with these recipes, you have the blueprint for the strongest currently available builds. Remember, your gear is only as good as the resources you use to craft it. To help you gather those rare ores and afford the high costs of late-game enhancement, you will need every advantage possible. Before heading back to the mines with your favourite pickaxe, make sure to visit our The Forge codes page to claim free rerolls and cash boosts that will make your next crafting session a guaranteed success. Additionally, check out our tier list of the best Races in The Forge.
