Vintage Story: Complete Metallurgy Guide
Metallurgy is the key to technological progression in Vintage Story. This guide covers ore prospecting, smelting techniques, alloy creation, and the path from copper tools to steel production.
Metal Age Progression
| Age | Primary Metal | Tool Durability | Mining Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Age | None (Flint tools) | Low | Tier 1 |
| Copper Age | Copper | Medium | Tier 2 |
| Bronze Age | Bronze (Copper + Tin) | High | Tier 3 |
| Iron Age | Iron | Very High | Tier 4 |
| Steel Age | Steel (Iron + Carbon) | Extreme | Tier 5 |
Ore Prospecting
Prospecting Pick Usage
Essential tool for finding ore deposits:
- Craft Prospecting Pick: 1 stick + 3 copper/bronze ingots
- Right-Click Ground: Shows ore density in 32-block radius
- Read Results: "Very Poor" to "Ultra High" density
- Triangulate: Use multiple readings to pinpoint veins
Ore Density Readings
| Reading | Ore Concentration | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Very Poor | 0-5% | Move to new location |
| Poor | 5-10% | Keep searching |
| Decent | 10-20% | Worth mining if desperate |
| High | 20-40% | Good mining location |
| Very High | 40-60% | Excellent vein |
| Ultra High | 60%+ | Jackpot - establish mine |
Pro Tip: Ore veins run horizontally, not vertically. Once you find ore, mine sideways at the same Y-level for maximum yield.
Smelting Basics
Firepit Smelting (Early Game)
First method for processing ores:
- Setup: Firepit + 4 dry grass + fuel
- Capacity: 4 ore chunks per smelt
- Time: 45 seconds per smelt
- Efficiency: 100% (no loss)
- Limitation: Only native copper and gold
Bloomery (Mid Game)
Advanced smelting for iron:
- Construction: 8 fire bricks + chimney
- Fuel: Charcoal (more efficient than wood)
- Capacity: 8 ore chunks
- Output: Iron bloom (requires further processing)
- Time: 15 minutes real-time
Crucible Smelting (Late Game)
Precision alloy creation:
- Material: Ceramic or metal crucible
- Capacity: 100 units of metal
- Precision: Mix exact alloy ratios
- Casting: Pour into molds for tools/ingots
Alloy Recipes
Bronze Alloys
| Alloy | Recipe | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 90% Copper + 10% Tin | Standard tools, good durability |
| Tin Bronze | 92% Copper + 8% Tin | Slightly harder than bronze |
| Bismuth Bronze | 50% Copper + 30% Zinc + 20% Bismuth | Best bronze variant |
| Black Bronze | 70% Copper + 20% Silver + 10% Gold | Decorative, expensive |
Steel Production
Most advanced metal in the game:
- Smelt Iron Ore: Create iron blooms in bloomery
- Work Bloom: Hammer on anvil to create wrought iron
- Add Carbon: Heat wrought iron with charcoal
- Cementation: 24-hour process to create blister steel
- Refine: Hammer and fold to create steel ingots
Smithing Mechanics
Anvil Working
Voxel-based metalworking system:
- Heat Metal: Forge to working temperature (orange-yellow)
- Place on Anvil: Right-click with heated ingot
- Hammer Voxels: Shape metal by removing/adding material
- Follow Recipe: Match target shape exactly
- Quench: Cool in water to set shape
Smithing Tools
🔨 Hammer
Primary shaping tool. Removes voxels.
⚒️ Tongs
Rotate and manipulate hot metal safely.
🔥 Forge
Heat metal to working temperature.
⚙️ Anvil
Work surface for shaping metal.
Ore Locations by Type
Copper Ores
| Ore Type | Depth Range | Biome |
|---|---|---|
| Native Copper | Y: 10-60 | All biomes |
| Malachite | Y: 20-80 | Temperate |
| Chalcopyrite | Y: 15-70 | Mountains |
Tin & Bronze Component Ores
- Cassiterite (Tin): Y: 40-100, rare in all biomes
- Sphalerite (Zinc): Y: 20-60, common in limestone
- Bismuthinite (Bismuth): Y: 30-80, rare
Iron Ores
- Limonite: Y: 10-50, swamps and wetlands
- Hematite: Y: 5-40, mountains
- Magnetite: Y: 0-30, deep underground
Advanced Metallurgy
Charcoal Production
Essential fuel for bloomery and forge:
- Build Charcoal Pit: 16+ logs in 4x4 pile
- Cover with Dirt: Seal all sides except ignition hole
- Light Fire: Ignite through small opening
- Wait 24 Hours: Real-time for conversion
- Harvest: Break dirt to collect charcoal
Tool Durability Comparison
| Material | Pickaxe Uses | Mining Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Flint | 50 | 1.0x |
| Copper | 150 | 1.2x |
| Bronze | 400 | 1.5x |
| Iron | 800 | 2.0x |
| Steel | 1600 | 2.5x |
Important: Steel tools last 4x longer than bronze and mine 67% faster. The investment in steel production pays off quickly.
Common Metallurgy Mistakes
| Mistake | Why It's Bad | How to Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Mining Without Prospecting | Waste time on poor veins | Always prospect before establishing mine |
| Vertical Mining | Miss most of the vein | Mine horizontally at same Y-level |
| Skipping Bronze | Iron requires bronze tools to mine | Progress through metal ages in order |
| No Charcoal Production | Can't smelt iron efficiently | Build charcoal pit early |
Master metallurgy and forge your path to the Steel Age. Host your Vintage Story server with Supercraft for multiplayer metalworking and trading.