Unlike many games where crafting can feel like a gamble or a grind for specific rare components, Last Epoch's Forge provides a deterministic approach, empowering you to tailor gear to perfection with remarkable consistency. Understanding this system is key to maximizing your character's potential and enjoying the game's progression Last Epoch Gold.

The Crafting Altar: The Forge

All crafting takes place at the Forge, a dedicated crafting interface accessible almost anywhere in the game. When you place an item into the Forge, you'll immediately see its Implicit Affixes (inherent properties of the item base), Prefixes, and Suffixes. Each item also has a limited resource called Forging Potential, which acts as a crafting budget. Every crafting action consumes Forging Potential, and once it runs out, the item can no longer be modified.

Key Crafting Components:

Affix Shards: These are the most fundamental crafting material. 

Each shard corresponds to a specific prefix or suffix (e.g., "Increased Melee Damage Shard," "Resistances Shard"). To add an affix to an item, you need the corresponding shard. Each successful crafting attempt upgrades an affix to the next tier, up to a maximum of Tier 5.

Glyphs: These modify the crafting process.

Glyph of Hope: Essential for advanced crafting! This glyph has the potential to prevent the consumption of Forging Potential when utilized. It is advisable to apply this to valuable items.Glyph of Chaos: Rerolls the tier and type of all prefixes or suffixes on an item. It is beneficial for converting an item with undesirable affixes into something more advantageous.Glyph of Order: Ensures that an affix does not have its tier rerolled when employing a Glyph of Chaos, thereby maintaining specific desired stats at a high level.

Runes: These enact more significant transformations.

Rune of Removal: Eliminates a selected prefix or suffix from an item, restoring some Forging Potential. This is excellent for rectifying errors or removing unwanted affixes.Rune of Shattering: Annihilates an item, returning a portion of the Affix Shards it contained. This serves as your primary method for acquiring shards from unwanted loot.Rune of Refinement: Rerolls an item's implicit affixes. This is advantageous for optimizing base stats on a robust item.

Crafting in Practice:

Start by identifying a good base item with desired Implicit Affixes. Then, open the Forge, place your item, and select an empty prefix/suffix slot or an existing one to upgrade. Choose the appropriate Affix Shard and then, crucially, decide if you want to apply a Glyph. Always prioritize the Glyph of Hope on items you care about!

While crafting doesn't directly consume buy Last Epoch Gold, having a healthy stash of it can indirectly support your crafting endeavors. You can use gold to buy better base items from vendors, or trade with other players for specific rare shards, glyphs, or runes that might be elusive for your current build. This strategic acquisition of resources ensures you're always ready to upgrade your gear.

The beauty of Last Epoch's crafting lies in its transparency. You always know what you're getting and what the risks are. Experiment, learn which glyphs and runes best serve your needs, and enjoy the satisfaction of forging truly powerful items that perfectly complement your build.