The Forge Island 3 weapon recipes have completely changed the game with the Winter Update. If you’ve been struggling with weak weapons or wasting rare ores on failed crafts, you’re not alone. Many players enter Frostpire Expanse with old builds only to get destroyed by tougher enemies and bosses. The solution isn’t grinding more hours—it’s crafting smarter with the right ore combinations. This guide reveals the exact weapon recipes that top players use to dominate Island 3, from early survival builds to endgame god-tier weapons.
Key Takeaways
- Early Game: Use Snowite (100%) or Iceite/Snowite mix (70%/30%) for survival and crowd control
- Mid Game: Voidstar combinations offer massive damage but reduce your max health by 15%
- End Game: 100% Gargantuan provides the highest 25x multiplier for ultimate damage
- Best Weapons: Angelic Spear, Savage Claws, Hell Slayer, and Chaos variants dominate Island 3
- Critical Success: Always craft weapons on their optimal island to avoid wasting rare ores
- Power Creep: Island 3 ores mathematically outclass all previous content materials
Understanding Island 3 Power Creep
The Winter Update introduced massive power creep to The Forge. Island 3 ores like Voidstar, Gargantuan, and Heavenite have base stats that make older materials like Magmaite completely obsolete. If you’re still using Island 2 builds, you’re fighting with a significant handicap.
The key difference lies in the ore multipliers—the number that determines your weapon’s final power. While Island 2 ores might offer 5-10x multipliers, Island 3 Divine ores reach up to 25x. This mathematical advantage means you need fewer resources to create stronger weapons.
Understanding ore percentages is crucial for successful crafting. When a recipe calls for 70% Iceite and you’re using 10 total ores, you need exactly 7 Iceite and 3 of the other material. Precision matters when working with rare Island 3 materials.
Best Early Game Island 3 Recipes
Early in your Island 3 journey, survival is more important than raw damage. These recipes focus on crowd control to keep enemies away while you learn boss patterns and complete quests.
Snowite Survival Build
Recipe: 100% Snowite
- Multiplier: 8.0x
- Traits: 15% attack/movement speed slow (3 seconds), 30% chance on hit
- Best Weapon: Spear
- Why It Works: The slow effect gives you breathing room against aggressive Island 3 enemies
Iceite Control Combo
Recipe: 70% Iceite, 30% Snowite
- Multiplier: 9.75x
- Traits: Freeze enemies for 2 seconds (25% chance), Snow slow effect
- Best Weapon: Colossal Sword
- Why It Works: Freezing enemies prevents damage entirely, making it perfect for learning new boss mechanics
These early recipes work best with spears due to their range advantage. You can attack frozen enemies safely while building your ore collection for mid-game upgrades.
Mid-Game High-Risk, High-Reward Recipes
Once you’re comfortable with Island 3 combat, it’s time to boost your damage with Voidstar. This powerful ore offers incredible critical strike bonuses but comes with a dangerous health penalty.
Hybrid Control Build
Recipe: 33% Iceite, 33% Voidstar, 33% Crimsonite
- Multiplier: 9.66x
- Traits: Freeze effect, +33 crit chance, +15% crit damage, -15% max health
- Best Weapons: Gauntlet, Straight Sword, Katana
- Playstyle: Balanced approach with some crowd control
Pure Glass Cannon
Recipe: 70% Suryafal, 30% Voidstar
- Multiplier: 13.5x
- Traits: +33 crit chance, +15% crit damage, -15% max health
- Best Weapons: Spear, Katana
- Playstyle: Maximum damage for skilled players who can dodge consistently
Pro Tip: Voidstar builds require good armor to compensate for the health loss. If you’re getting one-shot by Yetis or Golems, stick with early game recipes until you upgrade your defense. Check our The Forge quest guide for armor upgrade opportunities.
Late-Game “God Mode” Recipes
When you’re ready to dominate Island 3, these recipes deliver unparalleled power. Forget crowd control—this is about raw damage scaling that melts bosses in seconds.
Heavenite Power Scaling
Recipe: 67% Heavenite, 33% Suryafal
- Multiplier: 18.33x
- Traits: Pure stat scaling with no special effects
- Best Weapons: Angelic Spear, Savage Claws
- Why It Works: Consistent high damage without health penalties
Gargantuan Nuclear Option
Recipe: 100% Gargantuan
- Multiplier: 25.0x (nerfed from 33.3x)
- Traits: 20% weapon damage as fire (2 seconds), 50% weapon damage AoE explosion (35% chance)
- Best Weapons: Any endgame weapon
- Why It Works: Highest damage output with explosive area effects
Even after the December 28, 2025 nerf, Gargantuan remains the king of damage. The fire damage and explosion effects make it perfect for clearing groups of enemies and dealing massive boss damage.
Optimal Weapon Crafting by Island
Not all weapons should be crafted on Island 3. Using this cheat sheet ensures you get the best variants without wasting rare ores.
| Weapon Type | Optimal Ore Amount | Best Island | Target Variant |
| Dagger | 3 Ores (100%) | Island 1 | Avoid “The Hook” |
| Straight Sword | 6 Ores (86%) | Island 3 | Hell Slayer, Chaos |
| Gauntlet | 9 Ores (65%) | Island 2 | Ironhands, Savage Claws |
| Mace | 9 Ores (65%) | Island 3 | Island 3 exclusive |
| Katana | 12 Ores (72%) | Island 2 | Tachi |
| Spear | 16 Ores (69%) | Island 3 | Angelic Spear |
| Great Sword | 17 Ores (69%) | Island 1 | Crusader Sword |
| Great Axe | 22 Ores (67%) | Island 3 | Wyvern Axe |
| Colossal Sword | 40 Ores (65%) | Island 3 | Excalibur |
Critical Success Tip: Always craft one weapon as a test before mass-producing. The 40-ore Colossal Sword recipes are expensive, so verify your build works before committing all your resources.
Mining Rare Island 3 Ores
Getting the recipes is only half the battle—you still need to mine the rare ores. Here’s how to access the most valuable materials:
Gargantuan Ore Mining
- Location: The Peak cave on Frostpire Expanse
- Required Pickaxe: Prismatic Pickaxe (650+ mining power)
- Drop Rate: 1/333,333 chance from Large Ice Crystals
- Price: $624.38 if sold to Greedy Cay NPC
- Mining Strategy: Use Luck Totems and Miner Shards to improve odds
Prismatic Pickaxe Requirements
To mine Gargantuan, you need the Prismatic Pickaxe:
- Cost: $2,000,000
- Stats: 650 mining power, +20% mine speed, +72% luck
- Location: Under the lake left of Frostspire Expanse village
- Additional Cost: 2 B currency + 1 Mosasaursit
The investment is substantial, but the Prismatic Pickaxe is essential for endgame ore farming and accessing the best weapon recipes.
Common Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
Many players waste valuable resources on preventable mistakes. Here are the most common errors:
Wrong Island Crafting
Crafting a Katana on Island 3 when the best variant (Tachi) only drops on Island 2. Always check our cheat sheet before crafting expensive weapons.
Ignoring Percentage Math
Using 6 Iceite and 4 Snowite when you need a 70/30 split. This creates a 60/40 ratio instead, reducing your weapon’s effectiveness.
Wasting Divine Ores
Using Gargantuan on basic weapons instead of saving it for endgame builds. Divine ores should only be used on your final weapon choices.
Not Testing Builds
Mass-producing weapons without testing one first. Always craft a single weapon to verify the build works before committing all your ores.
Advanced Crafting Strategies
For players looking to maximize their efficiency, these advanced techniques can save time and resources:
Ore Stockpiling
Save mid-tier ores like Suryafal and Crimsonite for mid-game Voidstar builds. Don’t use them in early recipes where common ores work fine.
Variant Targeting
Focus on getting the right weapon variant before applying rare ores. A perfect recipe on the wrong variant still results in a weak weapon.
Market Timing
Sell extra rare ores when prices are high, then buy back when you need them. The The Forge multiplayer economy fluctuates based on update cycles.
Rune Integration
Combine your weapon recipes with the right runes for additional power. Critical damage runes work perfectly with Voidstar builds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Island 3 weapon in The Forge?
The current meta points to the Angelic Spear for range DPS and Chaos Straight Sword for balanced gameplay. For pure burst damage, Savage Claws (Gauntlet) are top-tier. These weapons combine the best base stats with Island 3 ore multipliers for maximum effectiveness.
What is the best Ore multiplier in the Island 3 update?
Gargantuan Ore holds the crown with a 25x multiplier (confirmed post-December 28, 2025 nerf). While it was previously 33.3x, the nerf still leaves it as the highest multiplier in the game. Heavenite comes in second at around 18x when properly combined.
Where can I find Gargantuan in The Forge?
Gargantuan only spawns inside The Peak cave on Frostpire Expanse island. You need a Prismatic Pickaxe with 650+ mining power to harvest it from Large Ice Crystal rocks. The drop rate is extremely rare at 1/333,333, so patience and luck-boosting equipment are essential.
How do I increase my chances of getting Gargantuan?
Improve your odds by using the Prismatic Pickaxe (+72% luck), socketing Miner Shards via the Runemaker, deploying Luck Totems before mining, and increasing your overall Luck stats. Mining during server events with boosted drop rates also helps significantly.
What pickaxe is required to mine Gargantuan?
You need a pickaxe with more than 620 mining power. The Prismatic Pickaxe (650 mining power) is currently the most reliable option. It costs $2,000,000 plus 2 B currency and one Mosasaursit, but it’s essential for endgame ore farming.
Is Voidstar worth the health loss?
Only if you have high-tier armor to compensate. The -15% Max Health debuff can get you one-shot by Island 3 bosses if you’re running basic gear. Upgrade your defense first using our armor recipes guide, then consider Voidstar for the massive critical damage boost.
What is the best new Spear in The Forge Winter Update?
The Angelic Spear is by far the best spear due to its superior range and highest DPS in its class. It’s exclusive to Island 3 crafting and works perfectly with both control and damage-focused ore recipes, making it versatile for all playstyles.
Conclusion
Mastering The Forge Island 3 weapon recipes is the key to dominating the Winter Update content. Start with survival builds using Snowite and Iceite, progress to Voidstar damage builds when your armor is ready, and aim for Gargantuan god-mode weapons for endgame domination.
Remember that precision matters—use exact ore percentages, craft on the right islands, and always test builds before mass production. The investment in rare ores and pickaxes pays off when you’re melting bosses that previously destroyed you.
Ready to become an Island 3 master? Start with our recommended early game recipes, gather those rare ores, and craft your way to the top of the leaderboards. The Forge awaits your legendary creations!
