Smelt and Shape Your First Metal Tools

Building and Using a Kiln

Once you've progressed past stone tools, you'll need to smelt raw ore into usable metal. Construct a kiln using clay blocks—this is your primary smelting station. Place raw ore inside and heat it until the metal glows. The kiln will signal when your metal is ready to work with.

Shaping Metal on the Anvil

Remove the glowing hot metal using tongs—never grab it with your bare hands. Carefully transfer it to a nearby anvil. Using a hammer, strike the hot metal repeatedly to shape it into tool heads or armor pieces. Each strike refines the shape; work quickly before the metal cools and becomes unusable.

If your metal cools before you finish, return it to the kiln to reheat. This cycle of heating and hammering is essential for creating anything beyond basic stone tools. Plan your workspace so your kiln and anvil are close together to minimize travel time while metal is hot.

Once shaped, you can attach handles and other components using your primitive crafting table to complete functional tools and weapons.