If you’ve been grinding through The Forge and finding yourself crafting the same weapons over and over, you’re not alone. The introduction of Blueprints has completely changed the game, offering exclusive weapons that can’t be obtained through regular forging. As someone who’s spent hundreds of hours mastering The Forge’s crafting system, I’m excited to share everything you need to know about these game-changing blueprints.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through every blueprint currently available, exactly how to obtain them, and pro strategies most players miss. Whether you’re a seasoned forge master or just starting your journey, this guide will help you unlock these powerful weapons before they disappear forever.
Quick Overview: All Current Blueprints
| Blueprint Name | Weapon Type | Cost | Forge Chance | Base Damage | Attack Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hell Slayer | Straight Sword | 200 XMas Tickets | 1 in 10 | 10 | 0.59 |
| Candy Cane | Straight Sword | 1,200 XMas Tickets | 1 in 8 | 7.5 | 0.44 |
Total Investment Required: 1,400 XMas Tickets for both blueprints
What Are Blueprints in The Forge?
Blueprints are special unlockable recipes that permanently add exclusive weapons to your forging pool. Unlike standard weapons that appear randomly, blueprint weapons:
- Cannot be crafted unless you own the blueprint
- Appear as special outcomes in the Forge menu
- Can be enhanced significantly using rare ores
- Remain unlocked permanently once purchased
- Are currently weapon-only (no armor blueprints exist yet)
The Winter Update introduced this system as part of the Christmas event, and based on my analysis of the official update logs, these blueprints are designed to be rarer and more powerful than typical gear.
How to Get Blueprints in The Forge?
Step 1: Reach Frostspire Expanse (Island 3)
Before you can access blueprints, you’ll need to reach the new winter zone:
- Requirement: Level 70 (confirmed from multiple sources)
- Method: Use the portal from any hub to teleport to Frostspire Expanse
- Warning: Enemies here are significantly tougher than previous zones
Step 2: Locate Santa’s Christmas Shop
The Christmas Store is your gateway to blueprints:
- Location: A decorated boat near the Frostspire Expanse hub shoreline
- NPC: Santa (hard to miss on his festive boat)
- Navigation: From spawn, head to the main hub zone and scan the shoreline
- Interaction: Press ‘E’ to open the shop menu, then select “Shop”
Step 3: Farm XMas Tickets Efficiently
XMas Tickets are the key currency for blueprints. Here’s my proven farming strategy:
Daily Holiday Tasks System
- Maximum: 3 Holiday Tasks per day
- Reset: Tasks reset daily at server time
- Rewards: Completing all tasks provides a surplus of tickets
- Duration: Only available during the Christmas event (December 25 – January 7, 2026)
Pro Tips for Maximizing Tickets:
- Log in daily to get all 3 tasks
- Complete tasks immediately to maximize farming time
- Focus on task efficiency – some tasks give more tickets than others
- Save tickets strategically if you’re close to blueprint costs
Blueprint Purchase Strategy
Based on my analysis and player feedback, here’s the optimal purchase order:
- Hell Slayer first (200 tickets) – Better value and easier to obtain
- Candy Cane second (1,200 tickets) – More expensive but unique aesthetic
Total Time Investment: With consistent daily task completion, most players can afford both blueprints within 7-10 days.
How to Use Blueprints in The Forge?
Once you’ve purchased your blueprints, here’s how to maximize their potential:
Unlocking Process
- Purchase blueprint from Santa’s shop
- Weapon recipe permanently unlocks in your forge menu
- Check the left side of your forging interface for “Missing Recipes”
- Blueprint weapons now appear in forge probability menu
Crafting Strategy
The final weapon quality depends heavily on your ore selection. Here’s what I’ve discovered through extensive testing:
Hell Slayer Optimization
- Best Ores: High-tier damage ores (4-8 rarity)
- Recommended Traits: Eye Ore, Fireite for maximum DPS
- Forge Chance: Improved from 1/20 to 1/10 (December 28, 2026 update)
- Performance: Can reach 27+ DPS with optimal ore combinations
Candy Cane Optimization
- Best Ores: Speed-focused ores for attack rate
- Forge Chance: 1 in 8 (better than Hell Slayer)
- Special Feature: Unique crystallized sugar edge (harder than steel!)
- Aesthetic: Festive appearance with competitive stats
Advanced Forging Techniques
From my experience crafting dozens of these weapons, here are the pro strategies:
- Save rare ores specifically for blueprint weapons
- Use ore traits that complement the weapon’s strengths
- Experiment with combinations – different ores can dramatically change performance
- Consider weapon purpose – PvP vs PvE might need different builds
Are Blueprint Weapons Worth It?
This is the question everyone asks, and based on my extensive testing, the answer is yes, but with conditions.
When Blueprints Excel:
- Mid to late-game content where base stats matter less
- High-tier ore crafting that maximizes their potential
- Collection purposes for dedicated players
- Unique aesthetic builds (especially Candy Cane)
Performance Analysis:
- Base stats alone: Decent but not game-changing
- With optimal ores: Can outperform many standard weapons
- Hell Slayer: Reaches competitive DPS levels with right build
- Candy Cane: Surprisingly effective despite festive appearance
Investment Consideration:
At 1,400 total XMas Tickets, this represents a significant time investment. However, considering these are permanent unlocks and potentially limited-time exclusives, most dedicated players find the investment worthwhile.
Content Gaps & Future Possibilities
Based on my research across multiple sources and the official Discord, here are some interesting developments:
Potential Future Blueprints
- Boss drops: Reports suggest blueprints may drop from bosses (like Wolf Armour)
- Armor blueprints: Currently unavailable but likely coming
- New weapon types: With Spears, Maces, and Axes added, blueprint variants may follow
Event Exclusivity Concerns
According to ProGameGuides, these blueprints are purely cosmetic and not P2W, but their availability after the January 7, 2026 event end date remains uncertain.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Based on community feedback and my own experience, here are mistakes that cost players time and resources:
- Waiting too long to start farming XMas Tickets
- Not saving rare ores for blueprint crafting
- Ignoring daily tasks and missing ticket opportunities
- Poor ore selection when crafting blueprint weapons
- Not understanding forge mechanics and wasting materials
Platform-Specific Information
Mobile Players
- Task completion: Can be more challenging with touch controls
- Forge interface: Smaller screen may require more precision
- Recommendation: Consider playing on PC for complex crafting
PC Players
- Advantage: Better control for precise ore selection
- Multi-tasking: Can manage Discord/wiki while playing
- Hotkeys: Use keyboard shortcuts for faster navigation
FAQ
How many blueprints are currently in The Forge?
As of January 2026, there are exactly 2 blueprints available: Hell Slayer and Candy Cane. Both are Straight Sword variants exclusive to the Christmas event.
Are there armor blueprints?
No. Currently, blueprints are weapon-only. However, based on developer patterns and community speculation, armor blueprints may be introduced in future updates.
Can I get blueprints after the Christmas event ends?
Uncertain. The official sources state these are limited-time event exclusives. While nothing is confirmed, it’s safest to obtain them before January 7, 2026.
What happens if I miss the event?
You’ll need to wait for potential future events or discover alternative methods. Some players report boss drops for certain blueprints, but this isn’t officially confirmed.
Are blueprint weapons better than regular weapons?
Context-dependent. With base stats alone, they’re decent. With high-tier ores and optimal traits, they can outperform many standard weapons, especially in specific builds.
Can I trade or sell blueprints?
No. Blueprints are account-bound once purchased, making them permanent unlocks for your character only.
Do blueprints expire?
Never. Once purchased, blueprints remain permanently unlocked on your account, even after the event ends.
What’s the best ore for blueprint weapons?
This varies by build, but generally:
- Hell Slayer: Damage-focused ores (Eye Ore, Fireite)
- Candy Cane: Speed-focused ores for attack rate optimization
How long does it take to get all blueprints?
With consistent daily task completion (all 3 tasks daily), most players can afford both blueprints within 7-10 days.
Are blueprint weapons P2W?
No. According to official sources and community analysis, these are purely cosmetic/event-based and can only be obtained with in-game currency, not real money.
Final Thoughts
Blueprints represent one of the most significant additions to The Forge in recent memory. While the current selection is limited to two Christmas event exclusives, they offer unique weapons that can become staples in your arsenal when properly optimized.
The key takeaway is act now. With the event ending January 7, 2026, these blueprints may become unavailable indefinitely. Whether you’re a completionist, a PvP enthusiast, or simply want to expand your weapon options, investing the time to obtain these blueprints is well worth the effort.
Remember to bookmark this guide and check back for updates as new blueprints are discovered. The Forge is constantly evolving, and staying informed is the key to mastering the forge!
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