Make your own weapons

xTATTEREDx  · +FINE+  · *SUPERIOR*  · ≡EXCEPTIONAL≡  · ☼MASTERWORK☼

v50.14 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF. Note that some content may still need to be updated. More Info · V

Making your own weapons on embark can save embark points and kick-start your metal industry. It can also serve as a minimalist embark and add an early-game challenge for advanced players. Just keep in mind, that you'll need time to forge your axes and picks, potentially leaving your wood cutter and miner standing around waiting. Also, you'll probably have other concerns during your first year; choose wisely.

Nevertheless, making your own weapons is quite easy. Currently a wooden training axe created at a carpenter's workshop is capable of felling trees, which is by far the least expensive option for your fortress's early woodcutting (requiring no embark supplies). Picks are slightly more complicated, requiring metal, an anvil, and fuel.

The embark savings can be quite considerable, allowing you to concentrate points on other skills or supplies, or even an early steel-equipped military. Occasionally a civilization may not have access to an iron anvil but curiously has access to a steel one which cost 300 points; any savings are much harder to obtain with such a large expenditure up-front. Copper is the cheapest material for creating mining pick axes and a metal battle axe provides a wood cutter with a better weapon to defend themselves from dangerous wildlife. However, Bronze is a better material for creating military grade weapons and armor if your civilization has access to it.

Crude copper supplies

The basic item selection in "Prepare for the journey carefully" comes with two copper picks (at 44 points each), two copper battle axes (68 points each), and an iron anvil (100 points). Since copper ores (except tetrahedrite) cost 6 points each, and bituminous coal costs 3 points each (and you already have an anvil included), you can carry the supplies necessary to create FOUR copper items for less than a third of the cost of ONE copper battle axe:

• 1 copper ore (native copper or malachite): 6 points
• 1 wood (for charcoal to smelt the coal): 3 points
• 1 bituminous coal (for 9 fuel to create weapons): 3 points
• 2 stone (for fire safe buildings): 6 points
• Total points: 18

Once embarked you must build a wood furnace to make a bar of charcoal, once done disassemble the furnace. Build a smelter and process your bituminous coal to fuel. Smelt the copper ore into 4 copper bars. Build a metalsmith's forge and start creating copper equipment. Battle axes and picks cost 1 bar each so you can create 2 of each with 1 bar. If you plan to bring more than one copper ore, consider upgrading to bronze instead.

Note: if your embark has trees you can avoid spending points on fuel or wood. Deconstruct your wagon to yield 3 logs, build a carpenter's workshop, create a wooden training axe, and cut wood and process to charcoal as necessary for fuel. This process requires more effort and takes a little longer but it saves a few more points.

Note: Ash counts as a "fire-safe bar" and can be used to construct the smelter and metalsmith's forge.

Better bronze supplies

For a minimal increase in costs you can upgrade to bronze equipment. An additional 6 points will provide up to EIGHT bronze items:

• 1 copper ore (native copper or malachite): 6 points
• 1 cassiterite: 6 points
• 1 wood (for charcoal to smelt the coal): 3 points
• 1 bituminous coal (for 9 fuel): 3 points
• 2 stone: 6 points
• Total: 24 points

Build a wood furnace, make a bar of charcoal, then disassemble the furnace. Build a smelter and process your bituminous coal to fuel. Smelt the ores into 8 bronze bars. Build a forge and start creating bronze equipment.

Superior steel supplies

Unfortunately, iron ores will cost you 24 points each, and steel-making requires an equal investment in flux stone, so if you're hoping to go directly for steel equipment you'll need:

• 1 iron ore (any type): 24 points
• 4 flux (any type): 24 points
• 1 wood (for charcoal to smelt the coal): 3 points
• 2 bituminous coal (for 17 fuel): 6 points
• 2 stone: 6 points
• Total: 63 points

Build a wood furnace, make a bar of charcoal, then disassemble the furnace. Build a smelter and process your bituminous coal to fuel. Smelt the iron ore into 4 iron bars. Smelt two iron bars into pig iron. Smelt the pig iron into steel. Build a forge and start creating steel equipment.

Minimalist challenge

For the hardcore survivalist dwarves only.

Start out with only

• 1 iron anvil
• 1 copper ore.

And figure it out from there. Real dwarves (or real DF players) won't need to peek.

Step-by-step

Deconstruct the initial wagon for the 3 wood it provides. Build a wood furnace with the copper nugget. Make 1 ash and 2 charcoal from the wood. Deconstruct the wood furnace. Build a smelter with the ash (a fire-safe "bar"). Smelt the copper ore into 4 copper bars. Deconstruct the smelter. Build a metalsmith's forge with the anvil and ash bar. Forge a copper battle axe. Chop down 2 trees. Build a wood furnace with a copper bar. Make 2 charcoal. Forge 2 copper picks. ... and proceed as normal. (this procedure can be shortened considerably if you are willing to cut down trees with a training axe)