Dragon’s Dogma 2: Don’t Forge Everything, Learn the Hard Way

Yes, many Dragon’s Dogma 2 players are learning the hard way that forging every quest item is a mistake. The game’s Forge mechanic, while useful, can lock you out of unique rewards and even break certain questlines if used indiscriminately. This article explains exactly how forging works, when you should use it, and the common pitfalls that turn a helpful feature into a frustrating trap.

Formula

The Forge in Dragon’s Dogma 2 works on a simple time-based system. When you give a forgery request to an NPC blacksmith, it takes 2 in-game days to complete one item. The formula for how many items are ready on a given day is:

Items Ready = min(Items Ordered, floor(Days Passed / 2) + 1)

Where:

• Items Ordered (t) – the total number of items you asked the blacksmith to forge.
• Days Passed (d) – the number of in-game days since you placed the order.
• Items Ready (p) – the number of forged items you can pick up right now.

The +1 accounts for the day you place the order (day 0 counts as the first day). After that, every two full days yields another item. So, if you order 3 items and wait 7 days, you get min(3, floor(7/2)+1) = min(3, 4) = 3 – all three are ready.

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator above:

1. You order 3 forged items from the blacksmith.
2. You wait 7 in-game days (sleeping at an inn or camping advances time).
3. Calculate: floor(7 / 2) + 1 = floor(3.5) + 1 = 3 + 1 = 4.
4. Compare with items ordered: min(3, 4) = 3.
5. So all 3 items are ready to pick up.

The second output shows the days until all items are ready: max(0, 2*3 - 7) = max(0, -1) = 0 – meaning no more waiting.

How Forging Actually Works

The Forge is unlocked early in the main quest, after you reach Vernworth and complete the quest “The Caged Magistrate.” You gain access to a blacksmith who can create a replica of any key quest item you give him. The replica is visually identical but often lacks the magical or unique properties of the original.

You can forge things like a Wyrmslife Crystal, a Jasper, or a Seeker’s Token. The blacksmith takes the original item, keeps it for two days, and returns both the original and the copy. You can then give the copy to quest givers while keeping the original for yourself.

The problem is that many players assume forging is always beneficial. It is not. Some quests check whether you give the genuine article, and a forgery will fail the quest or give you a worse reward. Other quests are actually designed to be completed with a forgery, and giving the original locks you out of a better outcome.

When Forging Is a Trap

The most notorious example is the quest “A Veil of Gossamer” (or similar main quests involving the Dragonspine). You are asked to deliver a Wyrmslife Crystal to a character. If you forge it and give the fake, the quest continues but the character later discovers the deception, leading to a hostile outcome or a missed reward. Conversely, giving the real crystal may be required for a secret ending.

Another common trap is with Seeker’s Tokens. There are 240 tokens scattered across the world. You can forge duplicates, but the reward for collecting all genuine tokens is a unique ring that increases your carrying capacity. If you turn in forged tokens to the NPC in the morgue, they count toward the total, but you will not get the final reward because the game tracks how many real ones you found. You can still get the ring if you collect all 240 real ones, but forging earlier tokens can confuse your tracking.

Also, some side quests ask for a specific item like a Jasper or Goblin’s Fang. Forging these and giving the fake usually results in the quest giver noticing, giving you less gold or no reward at all.

How to Choose: Forge or Not?

Here is a practical checklist to decide whether to forge an item:

• Read the quest text carefully. If the NPC says “I need this exact item” or “only the genuine article will do,” do not forge it.
• Check if the item has a special effect. If the description mentions a unique property (like “glows with a faint light”), the forgery likely lacks it.
• Look up the quest on a wiki if you are stuck. The community has documented which quests accept forgeries and which do not. This is not cheating; it is avoiding frustration.
• Forge items that are purely for collection. If the item is a key for a door you already opened, or a letter you already read, forging it is safe.
• Never forge a quest item that is the main objective. If the quest says “deliver the crystal to the Duke,” give the real one unless you know for a fact a forgery works.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

A frequent misconception is that the blacksmith can forge any item. He cannot. Only items that are flagged as “key items” in your inventory can be forged. Normal materials like ore or plants cannot be duplicated.

Another issue is the time cost. The forge takes two full in-game days. If you are in the middle of a timed quest (some quests fail after a certain number of days), waiting for a forgery may cause you to fail the quest. Always check the quest’s time limit before ordering a forgery.

Players also confuse the Forge with the Enhancement system. Enhancing weapons and armor upgrades their stats; forging creates a duplicate. They are completely separate mechanics at different NPCs.

Finally, there is a bug in some versions where the forged item does not appear in your inventory after the two days. This usually happens if you have too many items in your storage. Make sure you have space in your inventory when you pick up the forged item.

Comparing Forging to Other Options

Forging is not the only way to deal with multiple quests wanting the same item. You can also:

• Buy the item – some quest items are sold by merchants, but rare ones like Wyrmslife Crystals are not.
• Find a second copy – some items exist in multiple locations. For example, there are two Jaspers in the world, so you can give one and keep one without forging.
• Ignore the quest – if the reward is not worth it, you can simply not complete the quest. The game does not force you to do everything.

Forging is best used when you have a unique item that multiple quests need, and you know that at least one of those quests accepts a forgery. It is also useful for keeping a copy of a sentimental item for your own collection.

Costs and Practical Tips

The Forge is not free. The blacksmith charges a fee based on the item’s rarity. Common items cost around 1,000 gold, while rare items like the Wyrmslife Crystal cost 10,000 gold. The fee is paid upfront, and you do not get it back if you cancel.

To use the Forge efficiently:

• Plan ahead. If you know you will need a forgery, order it before you start the quest that requires it. The two-day wait is much easier to handle if you are not on a timer.
• Sleep at an inn to skip days quickly. Each inn stay costs a small fee, but it is faster than wandering around.
• Keep a notebook of which items you have forged and which quests you gave them to. This prevents you from accidentally giving a forgery to the wrong NPC.
• Do not forge Seeker’s Tokens unless you are absolutely sure you have found all 240 real ones. The final reward is too good to risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I forge any item in Dragon’s Dogma 2?

No, only key quest items can be forged. The option appears when you talk to the blacksmith with a key item in your inventory. Normal materials, weapons, and armor cannot be duplicated.

Does the forged item look exactly the same?

Yes, the forged item looks identical in your inventory and when you give it to an NPC. The only difference is that it lacks any magical properties the original had. Some NPCs can detect the forgery, but you will not know until you give it to them.

How long does it take to forge an item?

It takes exactly two in-game days. You can speed this up by sleeping at an inn or camping. The blacksmith will tell you when it is ready.

Can I get the original item back after forging?

No, you give the original to the blacksmith, and he returns both the original and the forgery after two days. You do not lose the original, but you cannot forge the same item twice because you only have one original.

What happens if I give a forgery to a quest giver?

It depends on the quest. Some quests will accept it and continue normally, but you may get a smaller reward. Other quests will fail immediately, or the NPC will become hostile. There is no universal rule, so you must check each quest individually.

Is there a way to tell if a quest accepts a forgery?

Not in-game. The only reliable way is to consult a wiki or guide. Some players have noted that quests with a “!” marker are more likely to accept forgeries, but this is not confirmed. When in doubt, give the real item.

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in t | Forged Items | count | 3 | 0 | 50
in d | Days Passed | days | 7 | 0 | 365
out p | Items Ready Today | count | min(t, floor(d / 2) + 1) | 0
out w | Days Until All Ready | days | max(0, 2 * t - d) | 0