- ForgeTax materials are the swords, blade value, relic-machine outputs, and draw tickets that drive every run
- Swords are currency: each blade is both a sellable asset and a potential tribute or relic investment
- Draw tickets are flexible: hold them for bottlenecks instead of spending immediately
- Risk control matters most: protect completed blades rather than chasing unnecessary upgrades
- Tribute budgeting wins runs: reserve a qualifying blade before Dragon Tribute pressure builds
What Are ForgeTax Materials?
In ForgeTax, "materials" is not a single inventory screen — it is the whole resource economy of a run. Every resource you touch falls into one of four categories: blades in progress, completed sword value, relic machine outputs, and draw tickets. Each category competes for the same limited forging actions, so understanding how they interact is the difference between a stable run and an early collapse.
The core loop is simple to state and hard to master: forge a sword, raise its value through repeated strikes, accept the risk that the blade may shatter, then decide whether to cash it in, feed it to the relic machine, or reserve it as a Dragon Tribute for the dragon that controls the forge.
Treat every sword as a spent material the moment you start striking it. If you cannot afford to lose the blade, do not swing again — that mindset governs all material decisions in ForgeTax.
Material Categories Overview
| Material | Primary Use | Risk Level | Renewability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blade in progress | Value growth through strikes | High — may shatter | Each run provides new blades |
| Completed sword value | Cash-in, tribute payment, relic input | Low once secured | Depends on forging success |
| Relic machine outputs | Long-term run power, synergies | Medium — investment cost | Limited per run |
| Draw tickets | Relic pulls, resource conversion | Low to medium | Earned through progression |
| Dragon Tribute reserve | Surviving tribute deadlines | Low if prepared | Must be rebuilt each cycle |
The table above is the foundation of every decision in this guide. When two categories compete for the same strike — for example, a blade that could either grow in value or be locked away as tribute material — the correct answer depends on your run stage, which we cover below.
Run-Stage Material Priorities
Material value changes dramatically depending on where you are in a run. A draw ticket is nearly worthless early when you have no relic direction, and extremely valuable mid-run when a specific relic effect would complete your build. Use this stage map to allocate resources correctly.
| Run Stage | Top Priority | What to Hoard | What to Spend Freely |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early run | Learning the risk curve | Draw tickets, one reserve blade | Low-value test strikes |
| Mid run | Relic direction and value growth | High-value blades, key tickets | Experimental forging on cheap blades |
| Pre-tribute | Securing a qualifying blade | The tribute blade itself | Excess resources on optional growth |
| Post-tribute | Rebuilding reserves | New reserve, tickets | Progression advantages |
| Late-run push | Converting surplus into outcome | Nothing — commit deliberately | Gambles only with defined loss caps |
Conservative Route
- Focus: stability and tribute completion
- Stop forging at modest value targets
- Hoard tickets for emergencies
- Best for first attempts and long survival runs
Value-Growth Route
- Focus: high-value blade production
- Pair value relics with break-risk reduction
- Requires confident stop-loss discipline
- Best when resources can absorb a failure
Relic-Machine Route
- Focus: converting blades into permanent power
- Feed surplus swords to the machine early
- Build synergy loops before pushing value
- Best for experienced players with a plan
Do not sacrifice every blade to immediate value growth. Players who reach the tribute phase without a reserve blade are forced into the single worst decision in the game: a high-risk strike with the run on the line.
Step-by-Step Material Management
Follow this workflow each run to keep your material economy healthy from the first strike to the final tribute.
Set a value target before striking
Choose a practical target for the current blade instead of forging without a limit. A defined milestone gives you a clear stopping point and prevents escalating risk from becoming your default strategy. Recalculate the target whenever relic needs or tribute requirements change.
Judge every additional strike
After each hit, compare the value already secured against the expected gain from one more strike. Continue only when the projected reward is meaningfully larger than the blade you are putting at risk. A high-value blade is already a success — the next swing is optional.
Route blades by purpose
Separate your blades into three lanes: cash-in blades for immediate economy, a protected tribute blade for the upcoming Dragon payment, and experimental blades for testing risk patterns. Never mix lanes mid-sequence unless the tribute target is unmet.
Invest in the relic machine deliberately
Feed the machine blades that can convert its rewards into meaningful improvement. Skip marginal investments — a secure blade is usually worth more than a small relic upgrade, especially before your build direction is clear.
Bank and rebuild
After a tribute or major cash-in, rebuild your reserve before chasing another high-value blade. Post-success overconfidence is one of the most common causes of avoidable material loss.
This workflow pairs every source of upside with a source of protection. Stable, repeatable results consistently outperform rare maximum-value outcomes — especially across multiple runs.
Swords, Tickets, and the Relic Machine
Sword Value Decisions
A completed sword has three possible destinations, and choosing correctly is the heart of ForgeTax material strategy.
| Destination | When to Choose | Key Trade-Off |
|---|---|---|
| Cash in | Resources are low, or run needs liquidity | Loses long-term scaling potential |
| Dragon Tribute | A tribute deadline approaches and the blade qualifies | Sacrifices sale value for run survival |
| Relic machine | Surplus blades and a clear build direction | Delays immediate reward for future power |
Ticket Discipline
Draw tickets are the most flexible material in the game, which makes them the easiest to waste. Spend a ticket only when it solves a clear bottleneck: a high-value blade that needs one push, a relic pull that completes a synergy, or a resource shortage that would otherwise end the run. Holding one ticket in reserve preserves options that no other material can replace.
Do not combine several narrow-trigger relic effects unless your run can activate them consistently. A modest effect that supports every forging decision usually beats a powerful effect that rarely fires.
Run Checklist and FAQ
Use this checklist at the start of every run to lock in good material habits.
Material Management Checklist:
- Set a value target before the first strike
- Keep at least one reserve blade for tribute preparation
- Hold one draw ticket for emergencies
- Choose a relic direction before feeding the machine
- Define a maximum acceptable loss before any gamble
Q: What are the main ForgeTax materials I should track?
Track four categories: blades in progress, completed sword value, relic machine outputs, and draw tickets. Each competes for the same forging actions, so knowing your balance in all four determines every major decision.
Q: Should I spend a high-value sword on the relic machine?
Only when the relic reward clearly improves your build direction. If the sword satisfies an approaching Dragon Tribute or your resources are low, securing it is usually the stronger play. Compare the blade's guaranteed value against the relic's expected benefit before committing.
Q: When should I stop striking a blade?
Stop when the next strike offers a small improvement but could destroy a blade that already meets your objective. This applies doubly to tribute blades — once a blade qualifies, treat it as protected material.
Q: How do I handle tribute pressure without ruining my economy?
Treat tribute requirements as a budget, not an automatic spend. Reserve a qualifying blade before pressure builds, keep a buffer of resources for the actions needed to finish the run, and avoid risking your only qualifying blade on further upgrades.
Key Takeaways
- Every ForgeTax run is a material balancing act between blade value, relic investment, and tribute preparation.
- Stop-loss discipline preserves more blades than any relic combo — a completed sword is a success, not a starting point for greed.
- Tickets and relic outputs scale best when spent on a defined plan, not on availability.
- The Dragon Tribute is a planning system: prepare early, protect the qualifying blade, and rebuild reserves afterward.
For the current release details, ForgeTax launches on Steam on September 29, 2026, developed and published by GraveYardDev — you can follow updates via the Steam store page and the Steam community hub.
Relic lists, tribute values, and forging numbers may shift with patches. Check the Updates section of this wiki after each patch for changes that affect the material strategies described here.